were half the pains which are taken in teaching a parrot to sing, or a magpie to speak, bestowed upon the smallest portion of human voice and ear, especially at an early period of life, they might be improved to a degree far surpassing expectation. If God were more frequently in our thoughts, and gratitude for his mercies more fervent in our hearts, our mouths would be more full of his praises, and we should hear no complaints of the want of voice and ear. If the soul vehemently longed after God, and thirsted after celestial joys, as the hart panteth for the cooling stream, the voice for praise would not be wanting, nor would any one complain that he had no ear for the music of the sanctuary.

He, who is really unable to join with any of the upper parts of a chorus, may always unite with the fundamental one. A consciousness of not being able to praise God as a leader, ought not to prevent one singing as a follower. Only let him take care that his voice be kept in due subordination; let him "of the ability which God giveth" sing as well as he can, or even (if he can do no better,) speak the psalms and hymns of the Church, he participates in the oblation of the general jubilee of praise. If he do not sing or speak too loud, the rotundity of the bass will always prove a sufficient covering to his voice, and prevent any sensible discord. Under the bass, as a musical umbrella, he may go on his

way rejoicing in the grace of his God, and in the power of his might, "making a joyful noise before the Lord the King."

If his voice yields no novelty to gratify the ears of his fellow-worshippers, his heart may make as perfect "melody to the Lord," as the heart of those who display the finest powers of voice and

ear.

"Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord," according to the law of its nature; and every human being magnify his glorious name, "according to the measure of the gifts of Christ" conferred upon him.

OBJECTION VIII.

"I am too old, and it is too much trouble to learn to chant."

REPLY.

If the objector hath not learned metre psalmody in his younger years, it were unreasonable to expect that he should learn prosaic music at an advanced period. Every person, who hath learned to sing metre tunes by following the organ or chorister, may, in the same way, and with equal facility, become acquainted with chanting..

The chants are few in number, and to any ear, capable of musical discrimination, there can be no great difficulty in becoming acquainted with them, as they are stationary, the same chant being sung to the same psalm or hymn, however often it occurs.

There is in man a natural indolence, which is apt to increase with his years, and strengthen with his age. In the affairs of religion, this indolence is not only intrusive, but very operative; and then we call it by another name-" the infirmity of our mortal nature.”

A want of resolution to perform our Christian duty discovers itself in a variety of ways. It pleads excuses for" doing those things which we ought not to have done," and also for neglecting to "do those things which we ought to have done." It is eloquent in defending the omission of every thing in public worship, that is unfashionable, or in any measure troublesome to flesh and blood. Whatever trouble attends the purchasing of a field, or a yoke of oxen, or any other article of merchandize; whatever inconvenience or fatigue attends the going to such a city, or to such a place, by land, or by water, for the purpose of buying or selling, in order to get gain, are readily surmounted; but the trouble of learning to sing the constituent hymns of public worship, though few in number, and extremely accessible to the ear, is said to be too great!

Not to those whose shadows are like the shadows of the evening, but to those who are but a little past the meridian of their days, do I address this paragraph. Remember, and forget not, I beseech you, that he in whose service ye are employed, did not think it too much trouble to exert his utmost stretch of voice, in prayer upon the cross for you; and now in glory neglects not to mention your names among those for whom his intercession is continued.

Granting, objector, that thou art somewhat advanced in life, and that thou art well practised in praising God with measures of human contrivance; let me ask at what age is a person too old to praise him in forms which the Holy Ghost hath dictated? Be assured, that however much advantage thou derivest from the use of a species of psalmody, which is only of human devising, thou wilt experience a great deal more from a psalmody which hath the Holy Spirit for its editor.

By devoting a small portion of thy attention to the genuine psalmody of the Church militant, when thou shalt have joined the society of the Church triumphant, thou wilt perceive that, by anticipation, thou hadst verily antedated the hallelujahs of the celestial choirs.

OBJECTION IX.

Let chanting be omitted during our life-time (say some aged persons), and when we are gone hence, let our posterity accept or reject it, as they please."

REPLY.

Such would be the effect of this objection, were it once admitted, that the Church would continue destitute of a musical accompaniment to God's "most worthy praise," even unto the end of the world.

Had the objectors, in the days of their youth, been acquainted with prosaic psalmody, at the present time they would have made no opposition to it. This is a virtual inference from their offering no objections to their posterity's adopting it. But, it ought to be remembered, that cathedral music is verily a part of every churchman's inheritance, and that he cannot voluntarily continue a divestment thereof, without taking part with those adversaries of the Church who first effected it.

It is hoped that the moderation of senior years will permit the objectors to be informed, or reminded, if they know it already, that, next to the order of the priesthood, nothing characteristie

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