12 ON THE IMPROVEMENT OP PSALMODY. The patrons of another opinion, will say we Must sing the words of David, and apply them in our meditation to the things of the New Testament: But can . we believe this tobe the best method of worshipping God, to sing one thing and mean another ? besides that, the very literal "sense of many of these expressions is exceeding deep and difficult, and not one in twenty of a re- ligious assembly can possibly understand them at this distance from the Jewish days ; therefore to keep close to the language of David, we must break the commands of God by David, who requires that we " sing his praises with understanding ;" Ps. xlvii. 7. And I am persuaded, that St. Paul, if he lived in our age and nation, would no more advise its to sing unintelligible sentences in London, than himself would sing in an unknown tongue at Corinth ; 1 Cor. xiv. 15, 19. After all, if the literal sense were known, yet the application of many verses of David to our state and circumstances was never designed, and is utterly impossible; and even where it is possible, yet it is so exceeding difficult, that very few persons in an assembly are capable of it ; and when they attempt it, if their thoughts should be enquired one by-one, you would find very various, wretched, and contra- dictory meanings put upon the words of the Hebrew Psalmist, and all for want of an evangelical translation of him. It is very obvious and common to observe that persons of seriousness and judgment that consider what they sing, are often forced to break off in the midst, to omit whole lines and verses, even where the best of our present translations are used ; and thus the tune, and the sense, and their devotion is interrupted at once, because they dare not sing without understanding, and almost against their consciences. Whereas the more unthinking multitude go on singing in chearful ignorance wheresoever the clerk guides them, across the river Jordan, through the land of Gebel, Ammon and Amalek " He leads them- into the strong city, he brings hl them into dom; anon they follow him through the valley of Bacha, till they come up to Jerusalem ; they wait upon him in the court of burnt - offerings, and " bind their sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar ;" they enter so far into the tem- ple, till they join their song in consort with the high - sounding cymbals, their thoughts are be-darkened with the smoke of in- cense, and covered with Jewish veils. Such expressions as these are the beauties and perfections of a Hebrew song, they paint every thing to the life : Such language was suited by infinite. wisdom to raise the affectiòns of the saints of that day : But I fear they do but sink our devotion, and hurt our worship. I esteem the. book of Psalms the most valuable part of the Old Testament upon many accounts : I advise the reading and meditation of it more frequently than any single book of scrip- ture ; and what 1 advise 1 practise. Nothing is more proper to furnish our souls with devout thoughts, and lead us into a world
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