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to be tried, and admitted or rejected by those to whom God has given the charge of his courts; and who are responsible both to him and to the public for the manner in which public psalmody is conducted."Psalm-tunes," says an eminent Divine, ought to be solemn and grave; not vain, light, and airy, as if they were only designed to please and gratify a wanton and sensual mind. This would be to turn one of the most noble and spiritual duties of religion into a mere entertainment for the senses and fancies of carnal men,-to turn God's house into a theatre; and would desecrate his sacred worship, and make it distasteful to pious minds. The power of music is very great, and may be abused to bad purposes, as well as improved to holy ones; and therefore only such tunes must be used in God's house, as become his Majesty and Holiness, and the gravity and the spirituality of the worship in which we are engaged."

"All wise and sober persons,' observes BISHOP TAYLOR, "do find fault when the Psalmody, which is recommended by the practice of CHRIST and his Apostles, does sensibly pass farther into art, than into religion, and serves pleasure more than devotion; when it recedes from that native simplicity and gravity, which served the affections and holy aspirations of so many ages of the Church; when it is so conducted that it shall not be for edification; that is, when it is made so accurate and curious that none can join in it but musicians, and they also are not so recitative, they do not sing and express the words so plainly, that they which hear do understand; for by this means the greatest benefit and use of edification is lost."*

Let nothing, however, which has been said be construed into an intention to discourage the cultivation

to her services, that too great care cannot be taken to render it attractive, so that our "praise be comely" and devotional. As a holy means to great and noble ends, science is sacredly employed in giving it as much perfection as possible; for unless singing be so ordered as, in some measure, to be grateful to the ear, the ordinance will be exposed to contempt. "GOD is the God of order, and not of confusion."

genius, but is the effect of it; and Simplicity excludes not those modulations which form the best examples of psalmody, are all the productions of eminent genius, under the guidance of a proper sense of what is fit and becoming in the worship of GOD. Such must have been the airs in which the primitive Christians celebrated the praises of Christ; for Pagans were attracted by their singing to their churches, and were often deeply and effectually wrought upon by the service. By the musical services of the Roman church, before they became elaborate and artificial, powerful effects were produced upon those barbarous nations of Europe, whose conversion was effected by her missionaries. The music of LUTHER is well known; and many of the compositions of LEWIS GUADIMET, the ASAPH of the Genevan churches, have great merit. Nothing but the productions of real genius could have called forth those emotions which rendered psalmody so popular a service among the adherents of the Reformation, and so attractive to Papists themselves, that the singing of psalms was prohibited throughout France by a royal declaration.† And we have all witnessed the effects produced on whole congregations, when all have joined in a well

+ That was a noble act of a pious artizan of the town of Castres, in Upper Languedoc, who, when an officer showed him the declaration against singing psalms, in order to silence him, wrote at the bottom of the act the French version of Psalm xxxiv. 1: "1

and improvement of this part of will bless the Lord at all times: his praise

divine worship, both in families and in congregations. On the contrary, it is a religious ordinance of so high an antiquity, one which has been so signally owned of God for comforting and edifying his church, and for alluring even those who are without

• Ductor Dubitantium.

shall continually be in my mouth:"

"Jamais ne cesserai

De magnifier le Seigneur:

En ma bouche aurai son honneur
Tant que vivant serai."

In the English version of Tate and Brady:
Through all the changing scenes of life,

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In trouble and in joy,

The praises of my God shall still

My heart and tongue employ." Many were grievously persecuted on this

account.

VOL. I. Third Series. JANUARY, 1822.

F

adapted tune, and especially Luther's Old Hundredth Psalm Tune, to sing the high praises of our God.

Neither genius in composition, nor skill in execution, are therefore discouraged by the recommendation of simplicity in singing. This is a It is in complex common mistake. airs that genius is usually most absent; and in a rattling and noisy execution, that skill in execution is least employed.

Delightful as this service is, it has its corresponding dangers. The very means we take to engage our hearts with ardour to "give thanks unto God," may, by their appeal to steal our senses, away our attention, and leave our worship a "sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal,”.

"Vox, et præterea nihil."

"Let us take care that we be sincerely devoted to that GOD whose praises we sing. Let every grace have its proper and lively exercise. We must offer a reasonable service, understand and attend to the sense of what we sing, lest we be no 'wiser than the fowls of heaven,' who sing they know not what. We

presence

must set ourselves as in the
of an all-seeing God, that a sense
of his inspection may awe us into
a decent reverence, and make us
watch against every thing unsuitable

to the solemnity of his worship, be-
lieving and being firmly persuaded
that we must give an account in the
Let us think
day of judgment.
within ourselves, that while we are
conscientiously singing the praises
of GOD in his church below, we are
training up for that better world,
where everlasting joy shall be upon
our heads, and our mouths eternally
filled with the high praises of GOD =
and let us not forget to consider how
dreadful it will be, for our cries and
wailings in hell to receive a higher
accent from our hypocritical songs
of praise on earth."*

On the contrary, we know, that if rightly performed, nothing is more acceptable to GOD our SAVIOUR. Wonderful, indeed, is his condescension, that when the "sons of the morning" still sing together, and surround his throne with hallelujahs, he should say to a child of earth, "Let me hear thy voice, for it is pleasant!" "Whoso offereth praise, glorifieth me."

The Sacred Harmony," in the present edition, is put into a form more convenient for general use; and it has been carefully revised and figured for organ, harpsichord, or piano-forte, by MR. CHARLES WESLEY.

London, Nov. 3, 1821.

• Eastcheap Lectures.

LETTER FROM THE REV. J. WESLEY TO MR.
OF LINCOLN COLLEGE, oxford.

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has taken the charge of between thirty and forty children. There is therefore great need that God should put it into the hearts of some to come over to us, and labour with us in his harvest. But I should not desire any to come, unless on the same views and conditions with us,-without any temporal wages, other than food and raiment, the plain conveniences of life. For one or more, in whom was this mind, there would be full employment in the province, either in assisting MR. DELAMOTTE or me, while we were present here, or in supplying our places when abroad, or in visiting the poor people in the

smaller settlements, as well as at Frederica, all of whom are as sheep without a shepherd.

By these labours of love might any that desired it be trained up for the harder task of preaching the Gospel to the heathen. The difficulties he must then encounter, GoD only knows; probably martyrdom would conclude them: but those we have hitherto met with have been small, and only terrible at a distance. Persecution, you know, is the portion of every follower of Christ, wherever his lot is cast; but it has hitherto extended no farther than words, with regard to us, (unless in one or two inconsiderable instances:) yet it is sure, every man ought, if he would come hither, to be willing and ready to embrace (if God should see good) the severer kinds of it. He ought to be determined, not only to leave parents, sisters, friends, houses, and land, for

his Master's sake, but to take up his cross too, and cheerfully submit to the fatigue and danger of (it may be) a long voyage, and patiently to endure the continual contradiction of sinners, and all the inconveniences which it often occasions.

Would any one have a trial of himself, how he can bear this? If he has felt what reproach is, and can bear that for but a few weeks as he ought, I shall believe he need fear nothing. Other trials will afterwards be no heavier than that little one was at first; so that he may then have a well-grounded hope, that he will be enabled to do all things through CHRIST strengthening him.

May the GoD of peace himself direct you to all things conducive to his glory, whether it be by fitter instruments, or even by your friend and servant in CHRIST,

JOHN WESLEY.

LETTER FROM THE LATE LADY MARY FITZGERALD TO MRS. FLETCHER.

Dec. 25th, 1797. MY VERY DEAR AND MUCH-VALUED

FRIEND,

YOUR welcome letter did not reach me till long after the date. Many thanks for the account of those two happy boys, who have so soon finished their course, and are safely arrived out of all danger, to be for ever with our adorable SAVIOUR, whose presence makes fulness of joy. You ask me what the LORD has been speaking to me of late? Indeed, I seem to be only just beginning to peep into the wonders of redeeming Love. I am stupid, andslow of heart to believe; but he is so gracious, he will not give me up, and now and then gives me such glimpses of the astonishing transaction we are now commemorating, that I am for a moment lost in wonder, love, and praise; and my soul longs to be a temple for my GoD,-to be continually swallowed up in that one thought. But oh! what cause have I to complain of coldness and deadness, who ought to be burning with a flame of gratitude and adoration. If such a wretch as I am pardoned, justified, and in a state of salvation, surely heaven and earth must wonder at the

mercy and patience of my GOD,—yes, I trust, my GOD, my SAVIOUR, my REDEEMER, and my ALL. Sometimes I want every atom to be a tongue, to tell of his long-suffering, patience, love, and mercy: at other times I am so basely ungrateful, as to doubt of my interest in that precious, precious, all-atoning blood, though I know it is free for the vilest; and but too often so wandering and dead, that I cannot fix my thoughts: then I long to depart and be free from this burthen of clay, which keeps down my eager soul from mounting to the GOD I love and adore.

But I am ashamed to see how much I have written about myself, which your question has occasioned. By your account of MRS. CHILD, I fear (but, I ought not to say, I fear, though I pity her husband and children,) that she is by this time out of the body;-happy she, if it be so. I am thankful that our adorable LORD has brought ANNA SMITH and family safe through the furnace inwhich they were so long kept. I think I have heard you say you remembered something of MRS. BARR, who had her arm cut off, many years ago, at the shoulder

36

blade, and who, when she was put
to bed after the operation in the Hos-
pital, sung,
"Praise GOD from whom
She belonged
all blessings flow."
many years to Mr. WESLEY'S Connex-
ion, and, as she has often told ine,
always did so in heart; though she
worshipped at the Lock, where she
and her husband were chapel-keepers,
each till they died. You will there
fore, I am persuaded, rejoice to hear
how triumphantly she departed.
Though she had long been much
afflicted in body, her death-sickness
was rather sudden, being an obstruc-
tion, from which she suffered great
pain till the mortification took place,
just twenty-four hours before her
happy soul took its flight...

My eyes ached so much after
writing, that I was obliged to lay
down my pen yesterday, and now
will only copy the account sent me
by the friend who sat up with
her:-" Being in great bodily pain
till the last day and night, her time
was chiefly spent in prayer, that faith
Once
and patience might hold out.
she cried out, (when in great agony
of pain,)
"Cut short thy work, my
GOD! yet in thy own good time;" and
then repeated, "JESU, lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly;" &c.; and
again, with her one arm lifted up,

"Prepare me, LORD, for thy right hand,
Then come the joyful day;
Come, death, and some celestial band,
To bear my soul away."

66

A worthy and respectable friend, hear-
ing how happy and perfectly sensible
she was, came to see her, to whom she
said, I am going where there is no
more sickness; I am going home; shout
and rejoice!" On taking her leave,
she said, "Don't weep; we shall soon
meet again." To another neighbour
she said, "Don't go back; look to
JESUS." In the middle of the night,
she began to sing sweetly and
loudly,

"Freely, fully, justify me,

Give me eyes thy love to see." When she saw one of her children crying, she said, "Don't cry; rejoice,

rejoice, I am going home; this is
not my home; into the hands of
JESUS, I commit the five children
he gave me; you are his; Fear
Him, love Him, trust Him, and
we shall meet in his kingdom.'
"I have a
To another she said,
good hope for you, that I shall meet
Fre-
your spirit in the realms above, and
be for ever with the LORD.
quently she said, "I am coming;
LORD, I am coming." To an old
christian friend she said, "It is al-
most over; what a precious SAVIOUR,
to have found a ransom for unworthy
my stead!
me, by dying himself in
adding, "Present me, LORD, to thy
Ah! this victorious
FATHER and my FATHER, to thy GOD
and my GOD.
spirit will triumph over the corruption
of flesh and blood."

two

My eyes are now so fatigued and painful, that I can only see to beg you will give my love to MRS. YATES; pray give her one or of the enclosed papers, which I send you for distribution as you think proper. I must just tell you, lest you should not have heard it, that LORD DUNCAN Went to prayer before the battle, and said, he felt a confidence when he rose from his knees, that the LORD would give us the victory the moment it was over, before the deck could be cleared, he called up the whole crew to return GOD thanks, and says, he never saw any thing equal to the ardour of the whole crew on their knees, thanking our adorable GOD and SAVIOUR, while their safety was fresh on their minds. 0 that we had many such Admirals and Captains!-My love to all my dear Madeley friends, high and low, rich and poor, with many grateful thanks for the kind prayers of our blessed LORD's dear children. I hope I do not forget them in my poor way.

Farewell, my beloved friend! I scarcely see or know what I write; but I know I am, at all times, your truly grateful and affectionate, tho' unworthy, Friend and Servant,

MARY FITZGERALD.

ON THE LORD'S PRAYER.

To the Editor of the Wesleyan-Methodist Italics, or, where they consist in omissions, by the insertion of a blank space.

Magazine. TAE very incorrect manner in which the LORD'S PRAYER is repeated by some persons, is most improper and unpleasant. With the intention of amending such improprieties, I shall put together a few of the mistakes, omissions, and additions, which I have witnessed. And for the benefit of all whom it may concern, I request you to favour me, by publishing in your Magazine the subjoined view of these foolish and censurable variations, which may be distinguished by printing them in

AMICUS.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hollowed be thy name. Thy king

dom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us all our truspasses, as we forgive them that truspass against us. leave us not in tem-tation, but deliver us from all evil: For thine is the kingdom, the power, .-Amen. and the glory, for ever

THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT:
AN ANECDOTE OF ARCHBISHOP USHER.

Tuis great and good man, in crossing the Channel from Ireland to this country, was wrecked on some part of the coast of Wales. On this disastrous occasion, after having reached the shore, he made the best of his way to the house of a clergyman, who resided not far from the spot on which he was cast. Without communicating his name, or the diguified station which he held in the church, the Archbishop introduced himself as a brother clergyman in distress, and stated the particulars of his misfortune. The Cambrian- Divine, suspecting

his unknown visitor to be an im-
postor, gave him no very courteous
reception; and having intimated his
suspicions, said to him, "I dare
say, now, if I were to ask you how
many Commandments there are, you
"There are
could not tell me.

eleven," replied the Archbishop,
very meekly. "Repeat the ele-
venth," exclaimed the other, “and
"Put it in
I will relieve you."
practice, and you will," rejoined
the Primate:-"A new command-
ment give I unto you, that ye love one
another."

ON THE NUMBER OF PLANTS.
THE most minute, as well as the
most magnificent of the objects of
creation, exhibit to the contemplative
mind evident proofs of the wisdom
and goodness of their almighty Au-
thor. This has been strikingly illus-
trated occasionally, in those articles
of the Methodist Magazine which
Could
display the Works of God.
we enlarge our view from specific
instances to general arrangement;
could we range through every order
of created things; could we view
every part of the system of being
around us, and discern the relations
of these parts to each other, and
their wonderful adaptation to the
good of the immense whole, our ad-

miration would be excited to the ut-
most, and with the ardour of the se-
"The whole
raphim we should cry,
earth is full of God's glory!" Our
view is limited: we see but a part of
his ways, and knowbut comparatively
few of the wonders scattered over
the earth, in endless diversity. The
more
we explore, the more the
field of discovery opens to
The lovely variety
researches.
of objects in the vegetable world is
more extensive than, perhaps, is ge-
nerally imagined. According to the
calculations of BARONVON HUMBOLDT,
the number of plants now known,
amounts to 44,000; of which 6000
are agamous, such as champignons,

our

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