Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-23

The world knows its bacchanalian songs.
and its foolish dittes. and it's plaintive melo'
dies tinged with pain and sorrow; and the
latter are most in favor with its thoughtful
because, as the Scriptures declare, The whole
creation is groaning and Travelling in pain"
1t is amongst the hymns of Christianity that
we find the noblest, grandest, most sublime
expressions of the human soul, because their
authors, under 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 God hath in reservation for them
that love him. Some of these have well been
styled "ageless hymns" they every
morning and fresh every evening. Well may
the Lords consecrated people delight their
souls in harmonious worship at the throne of
grace, using these hymns the beautiful
channels of their sentiments and petitions
Would that all who sing the songs of Zion
might appreciate them as poetic prayers, 50,
that not merely with their lips would they
make melody unto the Lord but also with
their hearts.
But neither Of our texts refers to such songs
and hymns. Rather they are symbolical and
poetical expressions which represent the
thought that new theme, a new message, has
been received into the heart and that it is so
happifying that it continually overflows
through the lips the Scriptures joyful mes
sage. harmonious, metrical. As a poem may
be either verse in meter or blank verse. so may
song be either a cadence on the air or a
harmonious message in the heart or on the
lip. publicly privately delivered.
THE JOYFUL SONG HUSHED.
Who has not noticed the exultant songs Oh
the prophets and the apostles-that notwith-
standing 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 tribulation. 'Retoice Away! and again
say. rejoicer' He tells them of rejoicing also
In tribulation, and in everything giving thanks
NeXer do we hear the note of murmuring or
complaint. repining, despair But with the
passing of the first century, with the dealt
zF Tho, -
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. 1880 OF the
same the Apostle tells. saying "'For / know
this. that after my departing grievous wolves
shall enter in among you. not sparing the
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, eX-
cept there come falling away first and that
man Of sin be revealed, the son of perdition."
QI. Thess. 2:3)
with the coming Of the error of doctrine
came multitudes of nominal Christians who
were in reality merely "tares" or imitation
wheat" Proportonately the songs of triumph
and confidence in the Lord faded from the
hearts and died the tongues of those who
were the Lords nominal mouthpieces. hOr-
ror of great darkpess came upon the souls Of
men by reason Of the doctrine of DEVILS be-
ing given place in the Gospel message. The
true church is symbolically represented hav-
fns gone into captivity to Babylon. UndOubt-
edly 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 during that
period of history known as the dark ages" was
graphically portrayed long before I'm the Psalms
Speaking for these by inspiration the Prophet
says, BY the rivers Of Babylon, there we sat
eown; yea, we wcpt, when we remembered Zion
We hanged our harps upon the willows I'm the
1idst thereof. For there they that carried us
away captive required of song; and they
that wasted us required Of us mirth. saying.
Sing rs one of the songs Of Zion. How shall
we sing the Lords song in strange land|'-
Psalm 1S7:1-4.
Nevertheless. here and there in a very humble
manner the saints did hum toe song of Zion,
though ultimately many of it1 joyful notes were
lost, EDrgotten Hence the implication of our
text tnat I'm the end of this age the song of
triumph of faith, of confidence in God of the
harmonies of His Word would be revived. but
would be, LAS 1T WERE new song" 1t is
not new song, for it is the Song of Moses
and the Lamb" (Rev. 1881 1t is the old, old
story of the Lamb of God. which taketh away
away the sin Of the world'-.he Lamb of God
who, the King of kings and Lord of lords
is to set up his Kingdom for the overthrow
of the reign of Sin and Death amongst those
whom He redeemed by the sacrifice of himself.
This old, old story, dear friends, became so
warped, twisted. so forgotten so covered with
human tradition and superstitutiOn and error
and doctrines of devils" that when now it is
being resung IL is. As il were, new song
The real story of the Cross-the Love of God
behind il, and the blessing of God before Ii,
first for the elect" and subsequently for
the non-elect--is indeed a wonderful story: but
let us not forget that the Scriptures cOntinu-
ally declare that these things at the present
time are mysteries. except to those to whom the
Lord will reveal them. Thus He said to His
disciples at the First Advent when they in
uuired respecting some Of his parallels and DARK
savings at is given unto you to know the
mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven. but 70
them X is not given. Therefore. speak l 70
them in parallels; because they seeing, see not
and hearing, they hear not, neither do they un-
ders tand." Matt. 1311-13.) And again the
Psaimist SAYS, The secret of the Lord is with
them that reverence Him; and He Will snow
them His covenant" Psalm 25:14.
THE BURDEN OF THE SONG.
The real gst of this Song, which so FEW can
appreciate and sing at the present time, and
that few only the saints and not the worldly,
is stated as follows Having the harps of God.
they sing the Song of Moses. the servant of
God and the Song of the Lamb saying Great
and marvellous are Thy works Lord God Al
mighty; lust and true are Thy WAYS. thou King
of saints Who shall not fear thee, Lord,
and glorify thy name? For thou only art holy;
for ali nations shall come and worship before
Thee when thy righteous acts are made mani
fest" Rev. 1884.
AS we have heretofore seen the symbolic
harp symbolizes the Word of God, which is the
source and the accompaniment of this song,
which is ''as il were, a new song" 1t is the
ters 1 am just home from New Orleans, La,
VIII I went 10 nv dear little girl babV