THE VOICE OF OUR CONGREGATIONS; OR, Responsive Services, WITHOUT PREPARED PRAYERS, FOR THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST. BY J. W. C. DRANE. SOLD BY JOHN SNOW, 35, PATERNOSTER ROW. Price Two Shillings and Sixpence. MDCCCLVIII. 38. d. 222. INTRODUCTION. TO MY READERS. There are certain peculiarities in the structure of Hebrew verse which have struck the attention of nearly all who have duly examined the subject. One of the most marked of these is the parallelism of sentiment and expression everywhere abounding as the essential of Jewish versification. Slovenly rendered in prosaic English, these parallelisms have to modern ears a smack of tautology. But it has long struck the author that Jewish poetry was originally and essentially responsive, consisting of the utterance of a sentiment in excited and elevated mood by one party as leader, and responded to impromptu by another party, who echoed the sentiment of the first with varied expression, and sometimes with varied phase, of the initiative thought. Occasionally a third or fourth joined to sustain and amplify the poetic theme. And at certain emphasized intervals all echoed and re-echoed together some spirit-stirring proposition of no small importance in reference to what had been already enunciated or had to follow. The choruses, in fact, constituted the telling epitome, or the thrilling disclosure, or the vital link of the poem as far as it had proceeded. Such, in my humble conception, was the origin of the peculiar form of verse prevalent amongst the Israelitish people. And this conclusion is in part sustained by the customs of Shemitic tribes to this day. The following graphic passage I take from "The Mission of Inquiry to the Jews," (p. 61) :"The young Arabs (say the writers), in order to cheer the way, commenced a native dance and song. One of them advancing a little before the rest, began the song, : dancing forward as he repeated the words, when the rest following him in regular order, joined in the chorus, keeping time by a simultaneous clapping of hands. They sang several Arabian songs in this way, responding to one another, and dancing along the firm sand of the sea-shore, in the clear beautiful moonlight. The response, the dance, and the clapping of hands, brought many parts of the Word of God to our minds." Other travellers have noted the same thing. The immutability, or at most slight modification of customs is such in the East, that this scene may be no insignificant index of primeval singing amongst some of the first populations of the world. Of the like kind, in all probability, was the song, chorus, and dance of Miriam and her companions when Jehovah gloriously triumphed at the Red Sea. There is further confirmation of the matter, inasmuch as when analysis of the poetic passages of Scripture is attempted, antiphonal structures and expressions everywhere abound, and impart character to the parallelisms as thought-rhythms. At any rate, without disfigurement or violence antiphonals may be constructed; more, the sense, pathos, and beauty of the whole composition are frequently enhanced by such a disposition of the parts. Take for instance : PSALM II. A DIALOGUE OR RESPONSIVE SONG.* First chorus. 1 Why rage the nations? And the peoples contrive vanity? 2. The kings of the land have set themselves, And the princes are firmly leagued together, Against Jehovah, and against his Messiah. Chorus, representing the rebellious. 3. Let us burst their bands, And cast from us their cords. Second chorus. 4. Sitting in the heavens He will laugh; The Lord will hold them in derision. * Dr. Pye Smith's "Testimony to Messiah," vol. 1, p. 195. 1 5. Then He will rebuke them in his wrath; 6. But I have anointed my king, Upon Zion, the mountain of my sanctuary. 7. I will declare the decree: Jehovah hath said to me, My Son art Thou; I this day have begotten Thee. 8. Ask from me, and I will give the nations, thine inheritance; As the vessels of a potter shalt Thou dash them. 10. Now, therefore, ye kings, bethink yourselves; 11. Serve Jehovah with reverence, And rejoice with trembling. 12. Do homage to the Son, lest He be angry, And ye perish on the road, When his wrath is even for a moment kindled! OR THE TWENTY-FOURTH PSALM. First Voice. The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: And established it upon the floods. First Voice. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Second Voice. He that hath clean hands, And a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, Nor sworn deceitfully; He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. Chorus. This is the generation of them that seek Him, Who seek thy face are Jacob indeed. First Voice. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; Second Voice. Who is this King of glory? |