168

MUSIC IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

indicate to the scholars which lines or verses are to be sung softly and which more loudly,-in short, to do all he can to make the singing a proper musical expression of the sentiments of the hymn.

(2.) Let a Sunday-school choir be formed, chosen by the Precentor from among such scholars as he may have observed to possess musical ears and voices. Let these, at the proper time, come up from their respective classes and stand together on either side or in front of the instrument, returning to their places after the prayer. And let the Precentor, if possible, occasionally meet with this choir on a week-day evening and instruct them in the elements of music. It is obvious what a fine recruiting-ground this Sunday-school choir will be to the leader of the congregational choir. And thus the improvement of the schoolsinging will in more ways than one act beneficially on the service of praise as offered by the church.

(3.) Whilst the great end of Sunday-school teaching must never be forgotten, it appears to me that the time would not be misemployed if about once a month twenty minutes or so were spent by the whole school in the practice of hymns, in learning new tunes or trying to improve in the singing of old ones. On a dull or drowsy afternoon the change would be agreeable to both teachers and scholars. Kept within due limits the plan would help to make the school popular, and add to the children's pleasure in anticipation of their Sunday gathering.

(4.) The last suggestion I would offer is to ministers rather than teachers. It is that in the Sunday morning service in the chapel one of the hymns should be sung by the scholars and children of the congregation, and by them only. It may be well that their voices should be supported by the organ or harmonium,—and that they should be led by their own Precentor; but the hymn should be chosen from the children's book, and announced as to be sung by them. In first adopting the plan the pastor may select hymns which are common to both the chapel and school hymnals, and there are at least sixty or seventy of this class. The numbers being announced from both books, the congregation will be able intelligently, though silently, to accompany the children. But after a time many of the congregation will be prompted to possess themselves of the School Hymnal, and then hymns may be used peculiar to this latter.

The writer has tried this plan for some time past in his own congregation, and he believes with universal approval. The scholars and other children present are thus made to feel that they, as well as the grown-up people, have a part in the service. And there are very few persons to whom it is not a pleasure to hear children sing.

To act upon some of the preceding suggestions will no doubt involve an expenditure of time and thought and trouble; but surely the worship of God is a matter in connection with which we ought to be willing to take trouble? The children themselves may not improperly be reminded, as a reason for greater attention to their singing, that when we present an offering to God,-such a kind, loving, Heavenly Father as He is, it is our duty gratefully and joyfully to offer to Him of our very best. W. R. STEVENSON.

Ahab's Adage.

BY REV. T. R. STEVENSON.

MINISTERS Who read their sermons have several obvious advantages. For one thing, they are more accurate than they otherwise would be. Dispense with the manuscript and you are almost sure to lose in precision of thought and expression. Fervid feeling often goes beyond the bounds of moderation. When he has finished his discourse the extemporaneous preacher not seldom has to lament that in some particulars his emotion has run away with his discretion.

A second ill which he suffers is the following: Do what he may, he cannot enjoy the devotional part of the service as much as he would like. His mind is weighted, and heavily weighted too. Half an hour's coming talk forms a burden, anything but pleasant, on the spirit. As far as he is concerned the wings of worship are clipped, and the bird fails to rise to its loftiest altitudes. He fears joining in the chant and the hymn lest his attention should be diverted from introduction, and divisions, sub-divisions and applications. Commonly, people like the written discourse best when it is left in the study; but, unhappily, the pastor often finds their gain to be his loss.

This being the case a genuine prayer-meeting is a greater boon to the minister than to anybody. He is free and unfettered. No prospect of homiletical responsibilities stands, like a dark shadow, before him. His intellect and heart are fully open to the genial, gracious influences of the occasion. The late Dr. James Hamilton said that the Monday evening gathering was his Sunday, and the words will be readily endorsed by others. It is a good thing for the preacher to forget his official position and mingle his prayers and his praises with others, a brother among brothers. Strength is renewed, and he leaves the place "a wiser" though not " a sadder" man than he was.

A

Yes, wiser; for we often learn much from the prayers of others. sentence is uttered which sets one thinking, or a text is quoted which comes home with new power. Perhaps the said text may be extremely familiar, read and repeated again and again beforetime, but, somehow, it is seen in a fresh light. It is recalled and pondered when the engagements of the evening are over, and proves really fine food for reflection.

Such was the writer's fortunate experience only a few weeks ago. A church-meeting was held. The business was but limited: we soon got through it. Then followed what nearly always proves a helpful episode, namely, a short time spent in devotion. In the course of his prayer a dear friend and useful brother mentioned a passage which (why, he cannot tell,) impressed your humble servant as it never had done before, although it was an old acquaintance. He conned it over when he returned to his house, and found it very suggestive. Perhaps the reader will also find it to be so. At any rate, inasmuch as what benefits one is almost sure to aid another, the matter shall be put to the proof.

This was the quotation: "Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off." It is a proverb used, perhaps coined, by the notorious Ahab, King of Israel. How apposite the

170

AHAB'S ADAGE.

counsel is to us as Christians! It reminds us of our twofold dutywork and war. We are to be at once the servants of Christ and the soldiers of Christ. This is indicated by the word "harness." We harness animals for labour. Nobody keeps horses that they may stand in the stable, feed well, receive good grooming, and be exhibited to visitors. They are for work. They are for work. And so are we. Do you say that the comparison of believers to beasts of burden is strained and undignified? Be it so if we sin against superfine taste we have at least one vindication; we sin in excellent company. Turn to the Epistle to the Philippians and you will find that Paul calls someone his true "yoke-fellow." What does he mean? Clearly enough he likens the person whom he thus addresses to an ox, just as in another of his letters he speaks of the minister resembling "the ox that treadeth out the corn." His thought, therefore, is this;-that the Christian is to be a spiritual toiler. Do we pity mankind? Are we sorry for their sins and sufferings? Emotion must be followed by action. "Jesus was moved with compassion;" moved to heal the poor leper. We are not to be stoics: ill bodes it for our welfare if we steel ourselves against right feeling. But neither are we to be mere sentimentalists: feeling should generate effort. What are we doing for Christ and humanity? What Canon Kingsley wrote in his daughter's album should be inscribed on the page of our common life:

"Do noble deeds, nor dream them all day long." There is a place for each of us in the wide field of usefulness. Are we filling it? We are to gird on the "harness" that we may work.

"Be

Closely allied to this is war. When the Bible was translated "harness" signified more than it does now. It denoted armour. tween the joints of his harness," or armour, a Jewish king was wounded. Shakespeare puts into the mouth of an English monarch these words: "Come winds, come racks,

We'll die with harness on our backs."

If we toil, we must also fight. The very toiling necessitates the fighting. Temptation connects itself with all service for Christ, and we should vigorously contend against it. Are you successful in attempts to be useful? Then you are in danger of pride. How soon vanity creeps in! It is a base and noxious weed which springs up rapidly in the garden of the soul. If the gospel net which we fling into the vast sea of society encloses a multitude of fishes," we are prone to "burn incense" to our own "net and drag." Beware! keep humble. Guard against complacent self-conceit. Are you unsuccessful? Do your endeavours as a philanthropist seem to be failures? In this case you often have to do battle with despair. You are liable to abandon your work as futile. Walk by faith, my brother! Remember the promise, "In due season ye shall reap, if ye faint not." Then mind you don't faint. Strike out with the sword of the Spirit against your own unbelief and despondency. Why, the grand essential to success is patience. After the London Missionary Society had laboured twelve years in Madagascar so vain appeared its attempts to evangelize the island that the whole enterprise had the narrowest escape of being totally abandoned. A meeting of the directors was called. After the matter had been discussed it was proposed and seconded that the missionaries be

recalled. Just as the chairman was about to put the resolution to the assembly an old and eccentric member arose and asked to be heard. He said that he should like to read one or two short extracts from a book of which he happened to be very fond. He accordingly produced the volume and read, "As I live, saith the Lord, the whole earth shall be filed with my glory." "And you are going to give up the mission, are you?" he asked. He continued his quotations: "The knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea." "And you are going to give up the mission ?" again he inquired. He went on: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Once more he interrogated his brethren, "And you are going to give up the mission?" It was the very nick of time. A word spoken in season, how good is it." So impressed were the directors with these God-sent commands and encouragements that the decision to which they had come was abandoned, the mission was continued, and let the heroic history of Madagascar say with what sublime results.

66

But while we diligently work and bravely fight, we are not to boast. "Let not him that girdeth on the harness boast himself." Why not? Because he who, girdeth on the harness may never put it off. It may be put off for him: pulled off by the hand of temptation. Are there no such persons as backsliders? Don't we read of making shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience? It is possible to begin well, but end ill. "From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him." "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world." The most illustrious apostle wrote thus: "I keep under my body, lest having preached unto others I myself should be a castaway." Make your calling and election sure," cried Peter. In the Epistle to the Hebrews we are told to be ever "looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God." Some are like a sailor flung ashore by one wave, and then swept back into the sea by another. The person who once stimulated and helped John Bunyan in religious pursuits afterwards became an atheist, a fatalist, and a voluptuary. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." When Croesus was envied on account of his enormous wealth, Solon counselled his admirers to call no man happy until he was dead. Sage advice, and amply vindicated by subsequent events; for, ere he died, the rich monarch was reduced to captivity and poverty. Similar reverses occur in the spiritual world. We meet, too often, with people who in a solemn sense were once "better off" than they now are. The lesson thus taught is palpable for the present none should boast.

:

For the present, we say. "To everything there is a season," boasting included. A time comes when it is entirely allowable, and even commendable. You ask, perhaps, how that can be the case. Peradventure you quote the texts: "Boast not thyself:" "Boasting is excluded." Yes: that is all right. We know much better than to set our puny lance in rest, put spurs into the horse, and gallop full tilt against any word of inspiration. But, mark, just as we are enjoined both to "be careful for nothing," and to "be careful to maintain good works," so we are to boast and yet not to boast. While we gird on and wear the harness we are not to boast; but "he that putteth it off" is quite at liberty to boast. Aye, brethren, when a man has completed his

172

FLAWS IN CHRISTIAN CHARACTER.

66

Christian course and goes to his everlasting reward he may well exult : don't you think so? My soul shall make her boast in the Lord"-the Lord who has given strength for work and courage for warfare. "The humble shall hear thereof and be glad:" yes, the humble angels, for instance. Are they not humble? So lowly that when they brought news of the Saviour's birth they went not to sovereigns but to shepherds, to peasants rather than to princes. These "shall hear thereof and be glad," for "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over sinners that repent" and are restored.

Labour on, O spiritual toiler! forward, Christian soldier! keep the harness firmly buckled: be a busy labourer and a bold fighter. By and by pay-day and furlough will come. He who called us to the field will exchange harness for white raiment, and replace the sword with the palm.

Flaws in Christian Character."

AND here it is that our want of Christian completeness becomes most strikingly apparent. The increase and height to which a basis of consistency leads is, like itself, harmonious. It is "abounding in everything;" "in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, and in all diligence and love;" "abounding in this grace (liberality) also." How emphatic is the insistence of the apostles, here and elsewhere, on universality of growth. They do not seem to regard that as Christian progress at all which leaves anything omitted. Is this the characteristic of modern Christianity? True, the church may combine all virtues in a high degree; but surely this is not what the apostle means. When he says

ye," he means not "ye" as a body, but "ye" individually. He means "every one of you" abound "in everything;" just as Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you," in his sermon on the day of Pentecost. The call to personal faith and confession is not more distinct and emphatic than the call to personal attainment of every Christian grace. But where shall we look for this in the present day? Examples of particular virtues may be easily met with. Mr. A. is a pattern of Patience; Mr. B. is the ideal of Generosity; Mr. C. is a paragon of Uprightness; Mr. D. is a fountain of Sympathy. But where is the Christian who combines all these virtues-who combines all virtues? We do not ask this in any censorious spirit. We are speaking from personal experience, quite as much as from observation; and we think no candid reader will question that the point here urged is a very striking and serious defect in current Christian character.

The Christian church as a whole-for we refer to no particular section-has unquestionably drifted into the habit of sectionizing character, so to speak; noting and applauding men for some special excellence, which may, or may not, be due to divine grace. We thus often think of prominent Christians simply as the representatives of particular

*Continued from page 126.

+ Gal. v. 16, 22; Phil. i. 9, 10; iv. 8, 9; Col. iii. 12-17; 2 Peter i. 5-10; Eph. iv. 15; and num. bers of other passages quite defying indication.