Let them take the trouble of searching the annals of the Church, particularly the writings of the 15th and 16th centuries, and they will see what contrivances were practised to foist rhyme psalmody into the Church, and to expel chanting out of it. And let them consult the ecclesiastical historians of ancient times, together with the liturgies of the primitive church; and with one accord they will be found to testify, that the practice of chanting scripture hymns, selected verses of scripture, such as the hymn for Easter-day, and also hymns of human composition, such as the Te Deum, the Gloria in Excelsis, &c. obtained among all Christian nations, from the times of the apostles down to the beginning of the 15th century, when those usages suffered in some countries a temporary interruption, and in others a total excision.

In settling the present, and indeed every question of reform, great regard is to be paid to the coincidence between scripture testimony and the primitive usage of the Church of Christ; and therefore, to the diligent inquirer after primitive truth and order, the direction given by the prophet Jeremiah will never fail to be a safe and sure rule of procedure-" Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein.*"

* Jeremiah vi. 16.

As various objections have been offered to the venerable and once universal usage of vocalizing the appointed psalms and hymns of our holy offices; these are collected, and answered one by one, that the objector may see that more deference hath been paid to his individual objection, than could have been done in a general reply, consisting of one continued argument. If, in any of these replies, the objector's partialities should appear to be treated with what he may think too much freedom, it is hoped, that candour of argument, and the elucidations of historical evidence, will at least obtain for them a patient perusal, and induce him to consider them as reasonings offered to wise men, " zealous for holding the truth in

a good conscience."

Great would be the change in the lives of men, were the praises of God continually in their hearts, or on their tongues; they would then resemble the glorified spirits in heaven. If churchmen would commit the psalms and hymns of the church to memory, and teach them to their children, they might then, without book, turn their duty into recreation, and fill up many a vacant hour in their solitudes and walks to good account; instead of idling away their time, or "whistling as they go for want of thought," as the manner of some is.

Were the Christians of modern times to devote themselves to the holy and heavenly exercise of scripture psalmody, as the primitive Christians did; were we to pay as much regard to the constituent acts of praise in the Church, as the pious Jews of old did to those in the Temple, we should have infinitely more of the spirit of devout supplication, and infinitely more of the spirit of unfeigned obedience, than we do possess.

These assertions are founded upon the uncontrovertible fact, that we are more governed by our affections, than we are by our understandings.

To win upon our affections, "the most worthy praise" of our heavenly benefactor is wonderfully calculated. Its language is poetic and harmonious, its sentiments are interesting and sublime, and it may be said to be the whole of the scriptures in miniature. In these psalms and hymns, every article of faith, every rule of moral obligation, every institution of the Gospel, and every thing appertaining to life and godliness, are either expressed or implied.*

On these accounts, how precious ought the "most worthy praise" of our heavenly Father to be in our eyes? How worthy ought we to esteem those psalms and hymns of "double

* See Blackwell's Saered Classics, p. 219, to p. 223.

honour;"-the honour of pronunciation in the best manner that the rules of good reading prescribe-and also the honour of superadding to a correct pronunciation those chaste and simple harmonies called chants, which, of all kinds of musical compositions, are the best calculated for making " Jehovah's praise to be glorious."