The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-04-21
SUNDAY. MEDITATION.
A Study Of the International Sunday
School Lessen Appointed for May
l, 1899. :.
Subject: Repentance, Confession. and Reformation

| - Ao'A' S
Subject: Repentance, Confession. and Reformation.
| tone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures a.
| indicated above.l
INTRODUCTION.
The Bay Psalm Book was the first book
printed in the United States. The press was
| at Cambridge Mass. The title of the first
edition ran as follows:
WHOLE
BOOKE of PSALMES
Faithfully
TRANSLATED into ENGLISH
Metre.
Whereunto IL prefixed q discourse do
claring not only the lawfuness. but also
the necessity OF the heavenly Ordinances
of singing Scripture Psalmes in
the Churches of
Imprinted
I6i0.
This was a purely Puritan, New England
translation from the original Hebrew. The
custom which had prevailed of trying to sing
in religious services the prose rendering of the
Psalms, marked off in a sort of clumsy way TO
match certain tunes, proved irksome. Cotton
Matber said: About the year 1859 the new
English reformers resolved upon n new trans
lation, and the chief divines of the country
took each of them a portion to be translated,
among whom were Rev. Richard Mather, of
Dorchester and Rev. Thomas Weld and Rev.
John Elliot, Of Roxbury." By Country" 10
meant New England. The religious tendency
of the early settlers is shown in the fact that
precedence in book printing was given to the
Bible
Copies Of the first edition are very rare, and
it would be difficult to secure ono for 81 900.
In 1860 President Dunster and Richard Lyon
,Gc,Y.. Il If Del ppnL
is known as " Dunster's Revision"
The Bay Psalm Book was in general use till
the translation Of DR.. Watts appeared nearly to
the Revolution, when it gradually lost its hold.
The Bay Psalm Book is also known as the
New England Psalm Book.
We may say in this connection, that Calvin
was the first Christian divine to suggest that
the Book of Psalms be rendered into meter and
made fit for general use in praising God ~ .
part of public worship.
Many of the Scotch Irish divines insist that
the Psalms are the only permits words to
be used in the worship of the Almighty. Thia
opinion is very exceptionable. As rule the
Psalms as rendered by DR.. Watts are no longer
used. Nearly all religious bodies now have
hymns mostly composed by modern poets.
Tho Psalms, however. have a wonderful hold
on the Church. The Episcopal Church respon-
sively read them through every month. Most
denominations of Christians use them in wor-
ship reading rather than singing them.
Rev DR.. Thee i. Cuyler says: when we
come TO the Book OF Psalms, seem to leave
the world and to enter the temple of Jehovah.
Hitherto We have been in patriarchs tents, in
royal courts, and in the camp of tho warrior.
Bat now the gates of Gods house swing open
before US, and we hear the solemn voices issu-
ing forth: How amable are thy tabernacles,
0 Lord of hosts! Blessed are they that
dwell in thy house, Come, let US worship and
bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our
Maker"
He adds: I've claim the privilege to sing not
only the Psalms, but Jesus. lover of my soul y
and Rock Of Ages likewise. We inaist on
singing the New Testament as we'll as the old
bnt we heartily acknowledge that in all tho
Old Testament there are no utterances dcarer
to the devout heart than these delicious melo.
dies. Sweeter are they than honey and the
honeycomb."
EXPLANATION OBJ PSALM 81.
!. Preliminary.
The SIS Palm is one of the seven Psniten-
tial Psalm They-are the following: 6, az, 80,
81. 1G2, 10 143.
One Of tic penalties inflicted on Calico %.
1910 after his racantstion was to "recits once
a week, icr three years, the seven Penitential
Psalms"
BY arrangement Of the Vulgate, Psalm 81 Ia
Psalm 80. The Psalm is known as the
"Miserere" from its first word in Latin. The
Miserere is much used in churches on mourn
full or calamitouS penitential occasions. The
tone is that Of pity and mercy. Lowell has
the line
Where only the wind sings naiserere.'
The Roman Catholic Church in special makes
use of this Psalm in Holy Week, ging it We'd
nesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons or
evenings after the Tenebr@. Sacred music has
m fiar chant Ia sung hv the pops's
choir at Rome in the Sistine Chapel. Three
times il is thus rendered in Holy Week The
music Of the Miscrcre is different for the three
occascns having different author in each
case, to wit, Bal Bain and Allegri.
SavcnarOia's Miserere is composition in o
devout strain similar to Thomas A. Kempis's
Limitation of Christ" 1t is Kind of pietistic
commentary on tho Psalm. It was written
before his martyrdom and while he was in
prison. The original was Latin. There are
English TRANSACTIONS.
We use the entire Psalm. It Is evidently
unit of thought, and ought not be divided for
study.
g. Time.
We may date about A. NJ. 2971 or B. G. 1888.
4. Place.
The Psalm was written most likely at Jeru-
salem.
s. author.
We cannot in these notes enter into tho dis
cussion az to authorship. For all practical
purposes VIC may accept as true the statement
in the title of the Psalm, "a Psalm of David"
and explain it accordingly.
6. Occasion.
The title is unusually specific in mentioning
details. The conduct of David in the case
of Uriah was most deplorable (Sss Sa.,
Chapter H. The dealing of Nathan In the
case is q splendid offset. u So, ~ And the
penitent attitude of David on account Of his
grieyous sin is beautiful instance OF the power
OF religion TO set men right.
Z. Divisions of the Psalm.
In general We may say the entire Psalm Ia o
prayer. David was cast down, ashamed, hum
bic, contrite. His human weakness was a ever
before so apparent to him. We have
a. The address Of the prayer.
b. The items of the prayer.
C. The conditions Of the prayer being an
swered
d. Confession Of sin.
G. Determination to reform.
a. The address This in general Ia "God " or
40 God" Va. /, 10, IA ItgiceI I'D We have
in verse Is 90 Lord +" and in v IA "God Of
my salvation" The Holy Spirit is referred to
in " IL. We connect with titles the attributes
of God, to wit, Lowing kindness" and tender
mercies." ". H. God is our judge. ". ~
lie is truthful. (V.6.) He is righteouR (Vs.
Ia, 49,
b. Items OF prayer:
/. Mercy. /.