The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-29

enemy, The Lord hath :r!umphed glo-
riously," etc. It was a song Of victory,
of Thanksgiving for Gods loving care
and tender mercy in redeemins them
from the hateful vassalage. Az, 1t was
song OF redemption, sung unto the
Lord" which was echoed by the multi
tude of the heavenly host, as has re-
echoed all down the vista OF unfolded
years. for 1t was the foreshadowing OF
the great song of redemption In Jesus
Christ, and which Is to be sung through
all eternity. Yes, out Of this great his
torlcal, poetical, prosaic law-tome has
grown characteristic of song which no
other book has been able TO develop. For
the history. law prophecies and prom
ises have filled the reader with The very
spirit Of It's author, which finds vent in
praise and Thanksgiving. Ardln our day
when the whole realm OF Christian song,
OF the masters Gregory and Bede and
Marian, Beethoven, Handel, Buck. and
a host of others is at our command, and
when the character of the times is such,
we cannot be too careful in our choice,
so as 10 make the public service, the
worship Of God, rather than the worship
of the song itself. Sing praises unto
God" Is an excellent admonition, and
well will It be for us to look back and
consider the rise. progress and influence
OF Christian song, for in this considera-
ton we will learn much from the people
of the days gone by when Christian ex-
perlence and love to God could only e%-
press Itself in making melody In the
heart"
Are the times too rushing and full of
care for these considerations? Well,
"thou weary and worn and sad" what
will give the heart and mind the rest
and refreshment 1t needs better than
pausIng for little while to this reiiec-
ton and to speak to yourselves In
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs?
Nature grows tired when too much is
asked OF 1t, and sometimes think that
at the creation, when the morning stars
sang together, It refreshed and beautl-
fled the world which God had created,
and earth has never since been without
her song to God. It Is true there Is no
record OF such until we hear 1t by the
Red sea, but think you, the promise
made to Adam when he slnned did not
find response In his soul? Think you
that when Abraham returned with his
rescued kinsman, that there did not rise
a song of Thanksgiving and rejoicing at
the eS ening worship In the tent OF the
patriarch? All, no. AL along the
shores Of time the voice OF song has
been heard. Nature itself, rejoicing in
the goddess Of God. offers her me.o-
dies. and the masters OF song, catching
the sound thereof, have given 1t life In
the lank uage and sound OF man. The
gentle murmur Of the brook, the soft
zephyrs, in which the leaves rustic their
sunset lullaby, furnish us songs OF peace
and love, while the war OF the elements
illustrate and give life to the battle
songs OF the church in It's struggle WIFE
the world.
When David sang THE Lord is my
Shepherd, I shall not want his soul
was heavy and sorrowful, and as MS
mind wandered back TO the days when
he kept his fathers flock In the green
pastures and by the still waters, and
down through the troubled years oil ms
reign. he could say, MY cup runneih
DER" because God had been a refuge
and strength 10 him, and when he sang,
81 will l..st up mine eyes unto the hills
from whence cometh my help" we can
believe that he was looking Beyond the
hEls OF Palestine, which had sheltered
him wneI. pursued by Saul and Abss..
ION, I'D to thu hills OF eternity where God
Is In the midst Of them All, how these
old psalmc Of the 6Seet singer OF Israel
have chetred the despnndenC, conferred
the ,sorr. wing, lifted up the fallen
strerzthened the weak and made the
strong stronger, and the good better
All down the ages the service Of song
grew-soms OF Il l.. sorrow, some in JOY,
some in battle, some in victory, and
lyhen that b.GSt of song rang out on the
plains of Bethlehem, from the angelic
choir, the sons Of G0d agar shouted lot
10y, because the DSyspring from on hlEh
had c0He With Sealing on his wings,
and a new theme WIS given and a new
song was sung, even by the manager
cradle when Mary the mother OF Jesus
chanted her "Magriiicat la the ear oil
her listening Savior. This was tho hrst
Christian strain in the great chorus OF
redemption. which has been growing III
power and extent all these centuries
until the utte4most parts OF the carth
resound with the melodies OF Hefven'
bringing JOY and hope TO many souls
and we'll may sing:
Hail to the brightness OF lions glad
JOY to the lands that in darkness have
laln."
for they are taking up the strain and
finding In II the Joy which Simeon dld
when he held the child Jesus In his arms
in the temple and poured forth strange
song In that place OF worship.
Now Lord, lettest thou thy servant
depart in peace, for mine eyes hay seen
thy salvation" He had waited l)ag for
the consolation Of Israel. What hope,
what strength, what assurance comes 20
us in these songs. The power OF God
for the salvation OF many soul. ThinR
OF Sankey's and Stebblns' work in sing
Ing the Gospel, and then let the mind
run over the effect OF Christian song all
these centuries since Christ cried ut is
finished" and which furnished the re-
deemed Of God new song, and in which
we one day expect - Join, Al, what a
song and what a chorus, choral union
gathered out OF every nation a..d tongue
and people,, gathered round the throne
OF God and tie Lamb. Let the eye of
faith pierce through the veil. listen TO
the seer Of PItmos as he speaks Of the
new song.
Oh. what wondrous melody.
Harmonious 10 the ear.
Oh, what words OF eulrgy,
That conqucrs ever fear.
The song OF redemption which lifts us
out OF the market-dIn aud ba'tle-tumull
OF the world. 10 stand H. 6pi.it with
those who nave entered into tn" fun en-
joymcnt Of the Paradise " God.
- H.1t "a