American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-06-12
Communications.



"What has an argument to prove the
Almighty y'ssword superior to Adlington's
knife, to do with answering the question
whether we are commanded to sing
Psalms only in Christian Worship"
The above quotation from an unknown
pen is complete answer to an article Of
a half column in length, over the sigma
ture of William Allen. The article pur-
ports to be written for the information of
one who claims to be ignorant of any de-
mands made by the Almighty, upon His
followers, to sing only Psalms in His
worship If | had not been acquainted
with the precise nature of the request,
certainly would have concluded that Mr..
Allen was trying to convince some Inf
del Of the authenticity Of the Bible l
at first considered the quotations so ir.
relevant that | would give them no fur
ther attention. Upon reflection, howev.
er, l concluded that my first impressions
might be correct, and that because | was
not willing to inscribe on my altar, " To
the unknown God" psalm singing alone)
and ignorantly worship him (for with my
present light it would be in ignorance),
that perhaps Mr.. Allen was threatening
me with the swerd of the Lord. If not
this, the best Interpretation could give
his article would be this: /" Now, Mr.. T
if you do uct cease writing against my
God, you will be oyertaken by something
worse than Adlington's knife" | hope
Mr.. Allen win pardon me for being so
obtuse, but | confess | never learned
enough from nature or revelation to cons
vince me of the existence of this God.
am pleading for light. 1t is true there
are specimens of sacred poetry in the
Bible, and that they were sung, or rather
chanted, not to move the auditory with
the melody and harmony of sounds, but
to impress the hearers with the doctrines
and duties of the poetry thus sung or
chanted The Bible requires us to sing.
1t says in some places that we are to sing
Psalms The meaning of Psalm is "a
song or hymn" The Bible nowhere com.
mands us to sing inspired Psalms, songs
or by mns 1t proves too much to say
that, because we have specimen Psalms,
or songs, i. is a legitimate inference that
we are to sing them alone in Worship
BY parity OF reasoning, | will find many
specimen prayers in the Bible, and will
contend that they alone are to be used in
praying; or, l will fn6 many specimen
sermons and, on the same ground, / will
argue that we are onIy authorized to re-
peat them in preaching. The conclusion
is as fair in one case as in the other
When am convinced (and am open to
couytction) that God requires us to sing
nothing but inspired Psalms, songs. or
hymns; that is, inspired in word, will
tremble at the threatened sword of Mr..
Allen if fail to comply with the injunc,
tion of Jehovah but, until this convic,
tion is wrought in my soul by clearer
reasoning than | have ever yet heard
from an exclusive Psalm singer, in stolid
Indifference | shall risk my salvation, and
with a joyful heart sing away:
Rock ofages, cleft for mo,
Let me hide myself in thee;
u Let the water and the blood
From thy wounded side that flowed
Be OF sin the do uble cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and power.
2 Not the labor fmy hands
Can ulhll the laws demands: ..
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever aow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and thou alone.
Nothing in my hand bring,
Simply to thy cross cling;
Naked, como to thee for dress;
Helpless, look to thee for grace;
Vile, l to the fountain fly,
Wash me- Savior, or Idiel
While di isw this feeting breath,
When my eyelids close in death,
whsn to worlds unknown
See thee ii y judgment throue,
Rock Of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee.
But, as to the Psalms claimed to be a
tronslo tion hy Mr. Rouse will some one