Devotion and

Music.

Eph. v, 19.

Col. iii, 16.

And as there is a profound relation between devotion and poetry, so there is a profound relation between devotion and music.

Devotion borrows music's tone,

And music takes devotion's wing;
And, like the bird that hails the sun,
They soar to heaven, and soaring sing.

Accordingly, music is an essential, vital part of
public worship. It was so in the ancient temple
service. In fact, many of the psalms were com-
posed for a distinctively liturgical purpose; for
example, Psalms xx, xxix, xlvii, xlviii, lxvi-lxviii,
xcii, xcv, c, etc. It was so in the apostolic church:
Be filled with the Spirit, speaking one to.another
in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing
and making melody with your heart to the Lord.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all
wisdom teaching and admonishing one another
with psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, sing-
ing with grace in your hearts unto God. It was
so in the Church just succeeding the apostolic.
The heathen Pliny, writing to his imperial master
Trajan, about the close of the first century, de-
scribes the early Church as wont to assemble be-
fore light, and sing responsively a song to Christ
as to God.*
It has been so evermore and every-
where since. Even the Quakers, although they
allow not music, yet preach intoningly, in a sing-
song way. Music is the natural outlet of de-
votion.

* Ante lucem convenire, carmenque Christo quasi Deo dicere secum invicem.-Epist. x, 97.

But the music, not less than the feeling and Superiority of the words, must be religious; singing with grace Chanting. in our hearts unto God, making melody in our hearts unto the Lord. And herein lies the superiority of chanting. It is in certain respects the simplest form of music, and therefore offers the least temptation to pride of artistic execution. Moreover, chanting is intelligible. Even things 1 Cor. xiv, 7-9. without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war? So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air. Once more, chanting is the most natural as well as ancient form of temple music. Instruments may be improved, but not the spontaneous expression of feeling. To the reflective worshiper, few things are more inspiring and sublime than the sense of joining in strains centuries old.

Life.

But devotion is even more than a song, it is a Worship, life. And here even the deaf and dumb may sing, singing and making melody in their hearts to the Lord. Oh, how many spiritual Beethovens there are!

There are in this loud, stunning tide

Of human care and crime,

With whom the melodies abide

Of th' everlasting chime;

Who carry music in their heart

Through dusky lane and wrangling mart,
Plying their daily task with busier feet,

Because their secret souls a holy strain repeat.

John Keble.

a

Gal. iv, 26.

Rev. v, 12.

Collect.

What God is like our God, who giveth songs in the night, turning the raven's croak into the nightingale's warble! God be praised! there is such a thing as rhythm of life, an inward lifepsalm, and so an outward-heaven the phone, earth the antiphone. Our heavenly Father, thy will be done, as in heaven so on earth! The real liturgy, after all, is the service of daily character. Thus warbling on earth, we shall be trained to take our place in the celestial choir of the true Notre Dame, even Mother Jerusalem, which is above and free, and where, with the saints of all lands, and ages, and names, we shall chant world without end the true Magnificat: Worthy is the Lamb that hath been slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and glory, and blessing! Amen and amen!

O Lord Jesus Christ, in whom the whole fullness of the Godhead and manhead, without sin, dwelleth in one Person forever; who, for us men and for our salvation, didst die and rise again, and now sittest at the right hand of the Father Almighty as our Prophet, Priest, and King, able and willing to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by thee: Thou art worthy to receive the grateful homage of all ages and creeds and tongues; and, with the glorious company of the apostles, with the goodly fellowship of the prophets, with the noble army of martyrs, with the holy Church throughout all the world, with the heavenly Jerusalem, the joyful assembly of the first-born on high, with the innumerable host of angels around thy throne, the heaven of heavens, and all the powers therein, we worship and adore thy glorious name, saying with a loud voice:

Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever! Amen!

THE BIRTH AND TRAINING OF

JOHN THE BAPTIST.

LUKE i, 57-80.

Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare

the way before me.

Malachi iii, 1.