His advent was announced to shepherds, "keeping "watch over their flock by night," by an Angel, ac companied with "a multitude of the heavenly host, "praising God," and singing in heavenly strains "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, "good-will towards men."

When our Lord had instituted the holy Sacrament, being about" to offer the great Sacrifice which was "to take away the sins of the world, He sung an " hymn with His disciples"-the usual hymn, it may be supposed, which was sung in the night of the Passover beginning at the 113th, and ending with the 118th Psalm. So that praise in singing psalms and hymns, being ascribed unto the Almighty, previous to the entrance of the Son of God into the world, and also to His departure out of it, we may, rea sonably, conclude, that " to make melody unto the "Lord," is a sacrifice acceptable unto God, and, therefore, the indispensable duty of man.

In the Revelation of St. John, we read of the total destruction of the great city Babylon, and as an image of its desolation, the Prophet declares, that "the * voice of musicians'shall be heard no more at all in ❝ her."

The Prophet, further, relates, that "the voice of "much people was heard in heaven, saying, Alleluia, "Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto "the Lord our God. And again they said Alleluia; "and immediately after that, the voice of a great "multitude, as the voice of many waters, and as the "voice of mighty thunderings, was heard in heaven, "saying, Alleluia, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth." Alleluia, synonimous with these words

Hh 2

of

of the Psalmist, "Praise the Lord, O my soul, praise

"the Lord:" as also with these blessed be the "Lord from everlasting, and world without end, and "let all the people say, Amen."

From these several passages it may, probably, appear, that it is natural and congenial to the human mind to express its feelings in songs and hymns; and moreover, that to raise our voices to the praise of our Creator and Redeemer" to sing unto the Lord, to

shew forth, from day to day, his Salvation”—is not, merely, an emblem of some part of the employment of the Saints and Angels in heaven, but that such employment is, actually, assigned them.

Now that psalmody, or the singing of psalms, constituted a part of the public service of the Jews, is obvious from innumerable passages of holy writ; and :hat, from the time of David, to the promulgation of the Gospel, the book of psalms or hymns, signifying praises of the Lord, was daily chaunted to the glory of God, is as obvious to the most superficial attention.

When the Jewish sacrifices were abolished "by the "Offering which Christ made of Himself once for "all," the sacrifice of praise alone remained as the principal service of the Christian Church; several persons being inspired not only to pray divinely, but to prophecy also, or to sing psalms and hymns of praise. In this distinguished part of devotion the Apostles and Elders were employed; and, as we perceive from many texts of the New Testament, with their voices, were those of the whole congregation united. From that æra, through succeeding ages to the present period, where the service is conformable to the dictates of unprejudiced reason, and conducive to

the

the interests of genuine piety, to sing praises unto God, has, always, formed an essential part of the worship of Christians. The Psalms of David, written with the pen of inspiration, have, for that reason, the first, and the highest, claim on the attention of a Christian assembly. They are a portion of the Scriptures recommended to the more frequent perusal of every man "who names the name of Christ:" they contain the terrors of wrath, and the comforts of Grace. In no other compositions, whether human or divine, are such appropriate expressions of praise to be found. To which may be added, that they are applicable to every situation of the soul. Is the heart troubled with the recollection of the sins we have committed, and are we solicitous to obtain the remission of them? We pour out our souls unto God in the words of the holy Psalmist, "Unto thee, O "Lord, will I lift up my soul, for thou art the God "of my Salvation. O remember not the sins and "offences of my youth, but according to thy mercy, "think thou upon me, O Lord, for thy goodness. "For thy name's sake, O Lord, be merciful unto 65 my sin, for it is great." Is the mind depressed by anxiety, and overwhelmed with affliction? We are taught to put our trust in God; "because the Lord "being our light and our Salvation--what shall we "fear? the Lord being the strength of our life"of what shall we be afraid?" Does the soul expand with thankfulness for the mercies vouchsafed unto us? We breathe out expressions of gratitude, in the sublime strains of Inspiration; "I will alway give thanks unto "the Lord, His praise shall ever be in my mouth. "O praise the Lord with me, and let us magnify His Hh3

name

"name together. Thou hast turned my heaviness

into joy; thou hast put off my sackcloth, and "girded me with gladness; therefore will I sing of "thy praise without ceasing-O my God, I will give "thanks unto thee for ever." Thus, whatever be the affections excited, the psalms supply us with congenial, and affecting, passages in which we can express

them.

Now, if these divine compositions have such a powerful tendency to fill the soul with religious emotions, and to transport it with extatic raptures; if they infuse into it holy thoughts, and pious resolutions, surely it is desirable that they should receive every possible advantage from elegance of diction, and melody of versification. In earlier times, when the language of the country was less perfect, the translation, of course, wanted many of the essential properties of metrical compositions. This was so evident, that an attempt has been made by many, who, to the ardor of piety, united elegance of taste, and solidity of learning, to produce versons of the sacred hymns, which might both please the ear, and elevate the mind. Laudable was the motive, and in many instances, and to a certain degree, successful the attempt: but it is, I believe, universally allowed, that the version which your Choir, sanctioned by your approbation, has

• The Minister very properly applied to the Archbishop of York for his Grace's permission to use Merrick's translation of the Psalms. It were to be wished that every Clergyman, before he presumes to introduce hymns into his Church, sometimes injudiciously chosen, and sometimes manifestly improper, would shew so much respect and deference to the opinion and directions of his Diocesan, as first to obtain his concurrence and approbation.

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adopted

adopted, is, abundantly, superior to every other, of transboth in harmony of numbers, and accuracy lation. The translator hath adorned it with the graces of poetry, and the editor recommended it by the charms of music. Often hath it occasioned painful reflections, that the discriminating ear should so frequently be wounded, and the pious disposition so severely shocked, by the extreme impropriety of continuing in our Church, the same measures and har mony throughout a musical composition; the several parts of which convey a different sense, and produce, in consequence, very different emotions. Of the necessity, however, of introducing improved melody; of the absurdity of applying the same returning notes, I not only speak with diffidence, being ignorant of the principles of the science; but because I am precluded from expatiating on this part of the subject, by the very judicious, and elaborate, discourses*, which were first delivered from this place for your edification, and have since been published for your perusal.

That piety is enlivened, and devotion heightened, by well-selected psalmody, every heart, powerfully, feels, and every tongue, loudly, proclaims. I may here appeal to yourselves, whether you do not, often, experience sensations of pious rapture, and devout ecstacy, which are, by means of your melodious Choir, peculiar to the service of this holy temple? If then your piety be awakened, and your affections enkindled, by the efforts of this infant establishment,

See occasional Sermons, in three volumes, by the late Rev. RICHARD MUNKHOUSE, D.D. the very worthy Minister of St. John's, and afterwards Vicar of Wakefield. Hh 4

what