Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-04-02

so precious wOrsd God be willing to
waste any of the time of church service
in singing if music was not Il divine
means Of spiritual grace? Yes here
after we must look upon music as n
preacher. We must reverently consider
or hymn books as second only in i'm
portauce TO the holy Bible itself. God
has placed his divine approval and in
dorsemcnt upon them.
The Importance Of Music.
Why does God honor sacred music In
the salvation of men? This fact should
he easily analysed when you open any
hymn book and begin to sing the grand
old songs which have come ringing
down the corridors of the centuries.
What Is the Keynote of nine tcnths--
aye, nnety-nine hundredths-of the
hymns which are sung? Gods wrath?
NO. 1t Is Gods love. OF course there
are some of the old hymns which con
tain warnings to the sinner but In
nearly all the hymns that we love the
central magnet of our affection Is the
sorry they contain OF the cross and
Gods protecting care for his children
Hell and the tclrofs Of future punish
mont may lift their red lights of warn
ing. but II is only the cross of Christ
that can make men cling to God rs Il
heavenly Father. lust read over The
favorlte songs Of your hymn book ana
see II what | say is not true. And
this is the reason why the song which
IS sung after the sermon often docs
moro good than the whole sermon.
upon which the minister has expended
weeks OF labor Why? Because the
preacher too often Yields the gospel
bludgcou lie is bound to declare the
whole counsel of God. and sometimes
1t must sound harsh. He says. "rhc
end of sin is DEATH and God will not
by any means accept the impcnltent.'
Then some sweet throated songstross
arises in the choir loft and lifts mp h"r
voice In praise 20 him for his mercy
in redem1tion. As the sweet message
of Gods love WINGS its way to The
heart Of the worshipers men say. u
will do this not bccause fear hoil, but
because Christ died for me and be-
cause Christ loves me-" Was not this
fact demonstrated in the great services
of Dwight l., Moody2
Moody and Sanl<ey.
No intelligent man can study the
work of Americas greatest evangel-
istic preacher unless at the same time
he follows the wonderful career of
Americas most wonderful gospel sing
er. what do you think of the work
of Ira ID. SankeyT' asked one of the
greatest and most influential ministers
of tie west "Ile is emphatically the
messenger of Centleness. This fact
was never better illustrated than by
comparing the work of a Moody and
Saukey." Great team that" | said.
"1cs, great team" Why? Because
each mans work supplemented the
work OF the other man Moody was
an earnest. conscientious preacher.
Moody would stir an audience until
men and women could see their Sins
marching before them in an appalling
procession ana they could realize the
peril OF their condition. Then Sankcy
would sing Of the life line of the nine
" and mine and the love of God touch
ell The hearts of men until the whole
audience would be melted into tears.
Moody was essentially the blower and
the sowcr. Ira ID. Sankey was the
reapcr lie was the one who could
soften the heart and make sinners fee
the love of God by the power Of gospel
song. Tho blowing had to lie done
Each man supplemented the work of
the other man. Moody and Sankey
formed the most potent evangelstic
team of the past century
But there is another reason why Cos
pei singing has been baptized by the
. UolT Spirit for the salvation OF men
Gospel singing stimulates the Worship
| cr To do something for Christ. 1t IS his
/ part Of the church service. The min
! lister may he praying. but the members
/ of the congregation nay not be follow
/ Ing him in his prayers. While the min
lister is preaching the so'e.u faced
, elder sitting before him may hr plan
ming how he is going to rum his bust
ness the next day. That was a quaint
/ ana peautilul compliment WIIch MArk
wal" E,'c ~ ms INNS G' some "n''
"s'' "e S''"' ''"'.','''' '''t me
/ p'o"'ie '' '''e u.'' W 'ne '".''" a'E
/ e' ''e SERMON anu sun " "'"T N"c-
'''' 80" VIA 'i'le 10 '""Ne oar ser
/ iH'l' HIp'N "''I'l'l'''4hS "a 'tFH''