A56 ON THE EDUCATION' OF YOUTH. But poetry bath still some sublimer powers. It raises our dying religion to a heavenly degree, and kindles a flame of holy love and joy in the heart. If the memory he well stored with devout songs, we shall never be at a loss for divine medita- tion : we may exalt the praises of God and oar Saviour at all times, and feel our souls borne up as on the wings of angels, far above this dusky globe of earth, till we have lost all its flattering vanities and its painful vexations. Poesy was first designed for the service of religion, and dedicated tó the temple. Moses and David made divine and illustrious use of it. The royal psalmist is raised on the wings of inspiration and sacred verse, far above the level of the Jewish ceremonies and shadows, and converses with heavenly things, and sheds abroad the glories of the future Messiah, amidst the raptures of his sublime and iuimi- table poesy. But it is time to descend and mention some of the accom- plishments of animal nature. The first of this kind, and per- haps the nearest to poesy is the art of singing. A most charming gift of the God of nature, and designed for the solace óf our sorrows and the improvement of our joys. Those young per- sons who are blest with a musical ear and voice, should have some instruction bestowed on them, that they may acquire this de- lightful skill. I am sorry that the greatest part of our songs, whereby young gentlemen and ladies : are taught to practise this art, are of the amorous kind, And some of them polluted too. Will no happy genius lend a helping hand to rescue music from all its defilements, and to furnish the tongue with a nobler and more refined melody ? But singing must not be named alone. Various harmony both of the wind and string were once in Ilse in divine worship, and that by divine appointment. It is certain then that the use of these instruments in common life is DO unlawful practice, though the New Testament has not ordain- ed the use of it in evangelical worship. But if the voice be happily capable of this art, it is preferable to all instruments fashioned and composed by man : this is an organ formed and tuned by God himself. It is most easily kept in exercise, the skill is retained longest, and the pleasure transcends all the rest. Where an ode of noble and seraphic composure is set throughout to music and sung by an artful voice, while the spirit at the same tune enjoys a devout temper, the joys of the soul and the sense are united, and it approaches to the scriptural ideas of the celestial state. Happy the youth who has a bright and harmo- nious constitution, with a pious turn of soul, a cheerful spirit, and a relish of sacred melody ? He takes a frequent flight above this lower world, beyond the regions of sense and time ; he joins the concert of the heavenly inhabitants, and seems to anticipate the business and the blessedness of eternity.
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