BY

REV.

In respect to the New Testament worship, singing is enjoined both by prophets and apostles. Isaiah, in numerous passages, predicts the coming of Christ's kingdom as an occasion of joy and singing; and the apostle Paul gives the following direction:--Col. iii., "Let the words of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing, with grace in your hearts, unto the Lord." To the Corinthians he says, "I will sing with the heart, and I will sing with the understanding also." And James enjoins, if any is merry, "Let him sing psalms."

In the music of the New Testament church, however, as well as in all the other ordinances of worship, there is less of external magnificence and display. The mode of its performance is not particularly enjoined; nor is it described. The first converts to Christianity being Jews, were accustomed to the music of the temple-service, and it is to be presumed that they followed the mode of singing there practiced. But they were poor and persecuted. They could not take with them the musical instruments of the temple into the "upper rooms" and retired places of their worship. From necessity, therefore, if not from choice, they used the simple melody of the voice in their hymns of praise. So Paul and Silas, in prison at midnight, "prayed and sang praises to God, and the prisoners heard them." And, at the solemn institution of the Lord's Supper, Christ himself sang a hymn with his disciples. This was, doubtless, the practice of the first Christians at all their religious meetings. They were led by the usages to which they had been accustomed, and by the various directions in their sacred books, to employ religious songs; and there can be no doubt that they continued to sing the psalms and hymns which are recorded in the Old Testament Scriptures. The Christian fathers bear testimony to the use of these sacred songs in the first century, and in churches planted by the apostles; and some of them were great admirers of the music of those early worshipers.

As to the manner of singing, in the early Christian assemblies, we are told that it was some

times in solos, sometimes in alternations and responses, and sometimes there was a chorus of the whole assembly, who united in repeating short passages which had been before sung or read. In the fourth century, precentors, or leaders, were appointed in the churches, for the ordering of this part of worship. Singing-schools and choira were introduced at still later dates. The organ, and other instruments of music, were added in the thirteenth century; and, since the Protestant Reformation, the science of music has been greatly improved. In our own times, sacred music has taken a high rank among the sciences and arts.

From all this it would appear that singing, in religious worship, is an ordinance of God, founded in the very nature of worship, as well as in the nature of man, and that it is of perpetual obligation. 'Sing praises to God, sing praises," is a divine command. But as, in respect to prayer and preaching, the precise forms and modes are not enjoined, so the modes and styles of performance in the music of the churches are not prescribed. The use of the "psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs," which have been associated with the worship of the church in all ages, is in. cumbent on us as a duty. But our range is not restricted to the sacred songs recorded in Scripture. Piety is permitted to utter its praises, an well as its prayers, in new forms of words, answering to its varied thoughts and emotions; and, as to the modes of its utterance, we are allowed the liberty of every improvement attainable by man. Keeping ever in mind the sacredness of the themes, and the proprieties of time and place, there is room for the exercise of a cultivated taste in adapting our music to our songs.

The largest liberty, in this respect, is permitted. A whole congregation may unite in singing, guided by some commanding voice, provided it be done decently and in order, as becometh the house of God. Or a choir, trained and instructed in this service, may take the lead in its performance, and others may join their voices in lower tones, as they should always lift up their hearts in praise. The sweet and thrilling tones of the organ may be added, to regulate and sustain the