The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1891-04-15
THE SONGS or ZION


guage have come from evangelical
sources. Christian sentiment is
always associated with profound
reverence for the Scriptures, and
deep conviction of the fundamental
dogmas they reveal. Rationalism
cannot inspire the warm tone of
sacred song with sustained success.
There are few examples of religious
lyrics from pens not in full sym
pathy with the gospel The most
prolific writer's of this class have
been those whose minds have been
fully imbued with the spiritual
tervOr which nothing but an ardent
faith can produce. Watts, Newton,
Cowper, Wesley, and Bonar, to
whom are credited the bulk of our
collections, were all devout believers
in the cardinal articles of the faith.
and drank deeply of the sacred
fountain of the Word. The same
was true, on a smaller scale. with
Doddridge, Montgomery and Heber.
1t is now familiar proverb that
the welfare of a nation is more de-
pendent upon those who indite its
ballads than those who construct
its laws. Not less influential upon
the people of God are the spiritual
songs that flow from loving pens
and dwell upon loving lips. There
would be no doubt of the healthy
state of the Church whose congre-
cations should unite heartily in
singing these productions, and
whose families generally should
find enjoyment in a similar exer-
else. Paul eXhorted the Ephesians
to this very purpose "Be filled
with the Spirit; speaking to your
selves in psalms, and hymns, and
spiritual songs, singing and max
ing melody in your heart to the
Lord A memorable illustration
of what this means was given by
himself and silas in the dungeon
at Philippi, where they sang praises
TO God.
The self-imposed restraint of the
society of Friends, who object to
all singing, seems to US almost as
absurd as the habits of the ancho-
rite who voluntarily subjects him
self to many privations, and refuses
the comforts his Father in heaven
has provided for him. DR.. Watts
gives point to this unreasonable
austerity in the lines
" Let those refuse to sing
Who never knew our God"
But another reflection arising
from the subject of hymnology is
chat the doctrine of divine sove-
reignty and free grace is made so
conspicuous i'm our best and most
popular hymns. 1t has been said
of prayer that it spontaneously re-
cognises mans dependence upon
God. Few devout and humble
Christians affirm ON their knees
their ability to live as the Bible re-
luires. On the contrary they habi
ually deplore the corruption Of.
their hearts and their helpless need
of divine grace. tits equally plain .
that vast majority of our best
hymns breathe the spirit found i'm
Z he canopical Psalms of self-dis-
trust and -eIf-renuuciation.
What we now emphasize is the
fact that devout hymuists generally
express the spirit of The gospel.
and sing redeeming love-eyen
salvation by the blood of the Lamb.
let rationalism produce its volumes
off devout lyrics that Shall acquire
mastery over the popular heart
tationalism is fatal to the poetic
continent No man who objects.
ON this ground. 20 the contents of
the Scriptures, can become sum-
oianly fervid TO put IBIS notions
into worse and melody Such cuti-
gism IS negative II holds That the