The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-03-26

sung as it were new song before the
throne and no man could learn
that song, but the hundred and forty
and four thousand."-Rev. 14:2, 3.
The world knows its hacchanalian
songs, and its foolish dittics, and its
plaintive melodies tinged With pain
and sorrow; and the latter are most
in favor with its thoughtful because,
as the Scriptures declare, The whole
creation is grooming and Travelling in
pain"
Ii is amongst the hymns OF Chris
tianity that we find the noblest, grand
est. most sublime expressions OF the
human soul, because their authors, I'M
der the influences Of the precious
promises of Gods Word, look with
hopeful eye beyond the clouds and
shadows OF their present pilgrim way
towards the glorious things which Goo
hath in reservation for them that love
him. Some of these have well Deen
styled "ageless hymns, so new are
they every morning and so fresh every
evening. We'll may the Lords conse-
Grated people delight their souls IN
harmonious worship at the throne OF
grace, using these hymns as the beau
tiful channels of their sentiments and
Detitions Would that all who sing the
songs of Zion might appreciate them
as poetic prayers, so that not merely
with their lips would they make mel
ody unto the Lord. but also with their
hearts.
But neither of our texts refers TO
such songs and hymns. Rather they
are symbolic and poetic expressions
which represent the thought that
new theme, new message, has been
received into the heart and that it is
so happifying that il continually over
flows through the lips-the Scriptures
joyful message, harmonious, metrical.
AS a poem may be either in meter or
blank verse, so may song be either
a cadence on the air or harmonious
message in the heart or on the lip,
publicly or privately delivered.
THE JOYFUL SONG HUSTLED.
Who has not noticed the exultant
songs of the prophets and the apostles
that Notwithstanding their trials,
their difficulties, their prosecutions for
righteousness sake, they were joyful
in the house of their pilgrimage: and
a note Of triumph may be found in all
of their messages to the Church. AS
for instance, the Apostle Paul states
eXultantly in the midst of great trib-
ulation, Rejoice Away! and again
| say rejoice," He tells them of re-
joicing also in tribulation. and in
everything giving thanks. Never do
we hear the note of murmuring or
complaint, repining or despair. But
h. in.r x.f hn trcf cal
with the death of the apostles, there
came upon the Church gradually a
horror of great darkness. OF this our
Lord in his parable tells, saying, But
while men slept. the Enemy came and
sowed tares among the wheat" Matt.
1920 Of the same the Apostle tells,
saying, For | know this, that after
my departing grievouS wolves shall
enter in among you, not sparing the
flock Also of your own selves shall
men arise. speaking perverse things,
to draw away disciples after them"
Acts 20:29, 30) And again we read,
LET no man deceive you by any
means; for that day shall not come,
except there come falling away first,
and that man of sin be revealed, the
son of perdition - Thess. %.
With the coming Of the error of doc
trine came multitudeS of nominal
Christians who were in reality merely
''tares" or imitation wheat" Proper
tionately the songs of triumph and
confidence in the Lord faded from the
hearts and died on the tongues OF
those who were the Lords nominal
mouthpieces. A horror of great dark.
ness came upon the souls of men by
reason of the doctrine of devils" be
ing given a place in the Gospel mes
sage. The true Church is symbolic
ally represented as having gone into
captivity to Babylon. Undoubtedly the
world was never left entirely without
witnesses for God, but the conditions
were such then that few could sing
the songs of lions triumph.
"HARPS UPON THE WILLOWS"
The condition of Gods faithful dur
ing that period of history known as
the dark ages" was graphically por
trayed long before in the Psalms
Speaking for these by inspiration the
Prophet says, by the rivers OF Baby
Ion, there we sat down; yea, we wept
when we remembered Zion. We hanged
our harps upon the willows in the
midst thereof. For there they thai
carried us away captive required o.
us a song; and they that wasted rs
required of us mirth, saying, Sing u.
one of the Songs of Zion. How shall
we sing the Lords song in a strange
land psalm 1877: IA.
Nevertheless, here and there in ;
very humble manner the saints die
hum the song OF Zion, though ulti
mately many of it's joyful notes were
lost, forgotten. Hence the implication
of our text that in the end of this ag'
the song of triumph, of faith of con
fidence in God, OF the harmonies o
his Word would be revived, but woult
be, "as il were a new song" 1t j!
not a new song, for it is the Song o
Moses and the Lamb" REV. 1873.
1t is the old, old story Of the Lamb o
God, which taketh away the sin OF thu
world"--the Lamb of God who as thu
King of kings and Lord of lords, il
soon to set up his Kingdom for thu
overthrow of the reign of Sin ant
Death amongst those whom he re
deemed by the sacrifice of himself
This old, old story. dear friends, be
came so warped, SO twisted, so forgot
ten, so covered with human tradition
and superstition and error and doc
trines Of devils" that when now 1t i