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REV. T. D. FOSBROKE, M.A. F.A.S. &c. &c. &e.

Published for the benefit of the Choir.

ROSS:

PRINTED BY W. FARROR,

AND SOLD BY T. B. Watkins, Hereford, Mr. Jew,
GLOUCESTER, AND T. FARROR, MONMOUTH.

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Choir-service Vindicated.

11. CHRON. CHAP. XXXV; VER. XV: "And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their places, according to the commandment of David."

IT was an opinion of all the ancient nations, that however invidious might be the ostentation of individuals for display and self-exaltation, no magnificence could possibly be too great for places of worship; and all the wealthy of a state were expected to be either founders of new temples, or benefactors to the old. Such was the general impression, for at no period of time has the Almighty suffered himself to be without witness. Indeed the necessities of our nature, all within us, and all without us, must inevitably generate Religion; for Atheism however pretended, never actually existed, or could exist. It never could imply more than confession of ignorance, as to the entity and acts of Deity. However rode the exhibition of religion

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will be the finest known exemplar of rational piety. He had endured strange vicissitudes; and severe afflictions; and had been rescued from the dangers of such situations, by miracles, which proved to him, that the very darkness of providence was visible and might be even felt. In the hand, which had borne the shepherd's crook, the Almighty had placed the sceptre; in the hand, which had wielded the sling, he had placed the thunderbolt. All was wonder. He was not only fed, but aggrandized by the word, which proceeded out of the mouth of God. How could he duly laud this ineffable being! How little was he, a mortal, a child of dust, beside the Almighty, who reigneth from everlasting to everlasting! He prostrated himself at the feet of him, who gave him a living soul! He confessed, that God was all; that he himself was nothing. He sought his greatness only in the in the possession of an understanding, ble of knowing God, and of a heart, that can with 153 Capareverential awe appreciate his infinite worthiness and power. He saw He saw that this gift made man the Lord of the Earth, and brought with it felicity. For to man thus illuminated the mind unfolded a thousand charms, which which would otherwise have escaped observation, and rendered them at once a source of pleasure and devotion: Indeed it is most certain that through this influence of the Holy Spirit, man is qualified rightly to admire the productions of his Creator, to exalt himself above this sublunary

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sphere, and in higher realms to enjoy the presence of God, and be like to him and magnify him for ever. t

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It was natural for a man of such a mind and feelings to derive from music solace in adversity, and exultation in prosperity. It was a natural impulse, by which he was taught to abate sorrow, and augment happiness. It was a pure and rational method of expressing piety and praise, worthy the human ancestor of a holy Saviour. Accordingly he became the founder of Choir-service, in the celebration of divine worship. I do not mean that first who connected music with the praise of God, for that was common among all nations, both before and after his æra. I only mean that he seems to have been the first patron or author of its systematic incorporation with the Hebrew Liturgy. The history of this event is given as follows, in the Book of Chronicles." + And David spake to the chief of the Levites, to appoint their brethren to be the singers, with instruments of music psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding by lifting up the voice with joy.So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass, and Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth and Jehiel, and Unni and Eliab, and Maaseiab, and Benaiah, with psalteries on make babaqep Stugomisip ar Visnudde en 1st. ChronXV16, 19, 22 2016910

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