ON THE IMPROVEMENT OE PSALMODY. part of Judaism which they have so long indulged. I hope the difficulties that appeared frightful and discouraging will be lost and vanish by a diligent and fair perusal of what is written ; yet those that pay a sacred reverence to the inspired writings, may still find it hard to yield to the conviction : Scruples and relics of an old opinion will perhaps hang about their consciences still : A fear aml jealousy of admitting any forms of human composure in the worship' of singing, will scarce permit their lips to practise that to which their understandings have given their assent. I would entreat such to give this discourse a thoughtful review; and though they may not judge every argument conclusive, nor every objection sufficiently removed, yet if there be but one unanswerable reason it ought to be attended to; and the whole Trot together may give such light and satisfaction as may en- courage the practice of this duty. It is very easy to make cavils and replies to the strongest reasonings ; but let us have a care lest we rob our souls and the churches of those divine comforts of evangelic psalmody, by a fondness of our old and pre- conceived opinions. " He that believed', may eat all things," and should ¡not be forbidden : He may partake of flesh and drink wine : He may taste of the various pleasures of the gospel, and sing the new song : Another who is weak eateth herbs; and satisfies himself with ancient melody. " Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not, and let not him which eateth not judge him which eateth, for God bath received him ;" Rom. xiv. 2. If the hymns and spiritual songs which are here presented to the world; are so unhappy as to discourage the design of this essay, I will censure and reprove them myself: If they are condemned as being unsuitable to the capacity or experience of plain christians, I will easily confess a variety of faults in them : It was hard to restrain my verse always within the bounds of my design ; it was hard to sink every line to the level of a whole congregation, and yet to keep it above contempt. However among so great a number of songs I hope there will be some found that speak the very language, and desires, and sense of the meanest souls, and will be an assistance to their joy and wor- ship. The blemishes of the rest may serve to awaken some more pious and judicious fancy to a more successful attempt; and whoever shall have the honour of suoh a performance, I promise myself a large share in the pleasure. But we must des- pair of hearing the new song of the Lamb in its perfection and glory, " till Babylon the great is fallen, and the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ, till the new heavens and the new earth appear, till all the former things are passed away, and all things are made new."
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