4 God, the Father, with his Son, Who in fubftance is but one Alpha and Omega thou, First and last, to whom we bow! G CCLXIV.. Praife and Prayer AT PARTING.. REAT JEHOVAH! heav'nly Father And difmifs us with thy favour; Till in glory we appear. 2 Holy, like the hosts of heaven, Make and keep us all till then: So fhall conftant praise be given By the ranfom'd1 sons of men :: Alleluia, Glory be to God-Amen! (f) Gal. iv. 4.—1 John i. 3. (e) 1 Cor. viii. 6. 10. (h) Jer. x. 10. (j) Rev. i. 8, 11.-xxi. (1) Rom. viii. 14, - - - 17.(0) Rev. xix. 1, 3, 4, 6.. John v. 20. 6.-xxii. 13. (g) 1 Corvi (i) Pfal. xx. 6. (k) Matt. xviii. 35. (n) Ifa. xxxv. 10. THE CONCLUSION. Ir is evident that the duties of Religion are all calculated to promote the happiness of mankind, fince none are truly happy but those who are found in the conftant exercise of them. For this reafon, I cannot conclude without making a few remarks concerning the real happiness which the righteous experience, who have, among other duties, devoted fome part of their time to fing praises to God. By reading the Scriptures, we may clearly fee that this noble exercife has always been much practifed among the righteous; for one of the questions which the Almighty put to fob is, Where waft thou when the morning fars fang together, and all the fons of God fhouted for joy? Job xxxviii. 4, 7. From which we may infer, that these have frequently burst forth in joyful fongs of praise to their Maker ever fince the creation. But as it would take too much time here to mention all the examples that are before us, of these which have engaged in this delightful employment, I will only felect a few to fhew that the faithful in all ages have compofed Hymns and Spiritual Songs, and used them in such a manner as was truly acceptable to God; and that we are well furnished both with precepts and examples to recommend this kind of worship to all fucceeding generations. The first that I fhall mention is that remarkable fong, which was fung by Mofes and the children of Ifrael, after the Lord had faved them out of the hands of the Egyptians. I will fing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously, &c. Exod. xv. 1, --- 21. The fecond is that which they fung when they were refreshed with water at a place called Beer, ins the wilderness: Then fang Ifrael this fong, Spring up,» O well; fing ye unto it, &c. Num. xxi. 16, 17, 18. The third is ftill more remarkable: for the Lord (who faw a rebellious fpirit rifing up among them) did exprefsly COMMAND Mofes, faying, Now, therefore, write ye this SONG for you, and TEACH it to the children of Ifrael: PUT IT IN THEIR MOUTHS, that THIS SONG may a witnefs for me against the children of Ifrael, &c.-Mofes, therefore, wrote this SONG the Fame day, and TAUGHT IT the children of Ifrael Deut. xxxi. 19, be -- 22, 30. The fourth is that excellent hymn which was fung when God fubdued Fabin, the King of Canaan, before them: Then fang Deborah, and Barak, the fon of Abincam, on that day, fuying, Praife ye the Lord, &c. Judg. v. 1, --- 31. The fifth is that compofed by the mother of the prophet Samuel, after the had been devoting him to the fervice of the Lord: And Hannah prayed, and faid, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord; mine horn is exalted, &c. 1 Sam. ii. 1, The fixth is a mournful fong of lamentation, compofed by David on the death of Saul, and Jonathan his fon: The beauty of Ifrael is flain upon the high places;: how are the mighty fallen! &c. 2 Sam. i. 19,---27. The feventh is another fong of David's, which in cludes a whole chapter of 51 verfes; wherein he fets forth the greatnefs and majefty of God, rehearses, the deliverances wrought for him, and beautifully clothes the whole with praife and thanksgivings 2 Sam. xxii. The eight is the book of Pfalms, which contains a wonderful variety of fubjects, fuited to almoft every ftate. This book is in reality no other than a choice collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, compofed by different authors. The ninth is the fong of Solomon, which is faid to be the most excellent of all fongs, being an allegory, wherein is reprefented the mutual love which fub 3 fifts betwixt Chrift and his Church: The fongs of this Author were A THOUSAND AND FIVE, I Kings iv. 32. The tenth is a fong delivered by the prophet Ifaiah, concerning a vineyard, which alludes to God's kind dealings with an obftinate and rebellious people: Now will I fing to my well-beloved, a fong to my beloved touching his vineyard, &c. Ifa. v. 1, -7. The eleventh is another delivered by the fame Prophet, inciting to confidence in God: In that day ball this fong be fung in the land of Judah; we have a firong city: falvation will God appoint for bulwarks, &c. Ifa. xxvi. 1, --- 4. The twelfth is a fong of Hezekiah, King of Judah, when he had been fick and was recovered of his ficknefs: I faid, in the cutting of my days, I fhall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the refidue of my &c. la. xxxviii. 10, The thirteenth is by the mother of our Lord: And Mary faid, My foul deth magnify the Lord, &c.Luke i. 46, --- 55: years, 20. The fourteenth is that elevated fong of juft Simeon, when he had taken up Jefus in his arms,-he bleffed God and faid, Lord, now letteft thou thy fervant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have feen thy falvation, Luke ii. 29,- - 32. These three laft rather differ fomewhat from the reft, being delivered in a peculiar ftrain of thankf giving; yet they are of the fame nature, and all contribute to the fame glorious end, which is to fet forth the praises of God. But when all these paffages which I have here referred unto are confidered at large, we cannot but fee that the faints of old have delighted in composing Hymns and Spiritual Songs; and that fome of them were also very great. Authors. With respect to Vocal Mufic, it was used publicly in the Church before the Temple was built at Jerufalem. To prove this we have only need to take notice that the office, which fome of the fons of Levi was appointed unto in the house of the Lord, was to be SINGERS. And thefe are they whom David fet over the fervice of fong in the house of the Lord, after that the ark had reft: and they miniftered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation, with SINGING, until Solomon had built the houfe of the Lord in Jerufalem: and then they waited on their office according to their order. Of the fons of the Kohathites; Heman a SINGER, &c. I Chron. vi. 31, -47. Other fingers, which are far more modern than thefe, are mentioned under the Gospel difpenfation; for Jefus Chrift and his difciples were fingers. See Matt. xxvi. 30. and Mar. xiv. 26.-In both these places it is faid, And when THEY had SUNG AN HYMN, they went out into the mount of Olives. Here we have the example of the Son of God, who is both High Priest and Head of the Church, whofe order is not liable to change like that of Levi; for Chrift hath an unchangeable Priesthood, Heb. vii. 24. This infallible Teacher joined in chorus, and fang an Hymn with his difciples, which is a certain proof that vocal mufic belongs to the Church, and is acceptable to him whofe infinite wildom has formed his creatures with mufical voices; and whofe boundless love continues to bestow grace on all those who feek it. This tunes their hearts and fully prepares them for fuch noble employment. An eminent proof of this was dif-played in Paul and Silas, who was made joyful in the midst of fuffering, infomuch that although they' were in prifon with their feet made faft in the ftocks, at midnight they prayed and SANG PRAISES to God-Not with their hearts only; it is evident they made use of their voices alfo, for the prifoners HEARD them, Acts xvi. 24, 25 Another proof in favour of vocal mufic may be had by inquiring into the experience of those true believers, who at this day worship God in the fame manner. Note, these are still led by the very fame fpirit which directed our Lord and his Difciples to fing; and their teftimony is equally as true as that. of Paul and Silas, or any of the Apostles that fang with our Lord; for they have received the Spirit of Truth which guideth them into all truth. Hence God is not without thousands of living witneffes,. who know, by heart-felt experience, that finging is |