only knew
the rewards He gives--very often then and there; the recognition that you
are one of the King's friends by some lonely and timid one; the openings
which you quite naturally gain of speaking a word for Jesus to hearts
which, without the song, would never have given you the chance of the
word! If you only knew the joy of believing that His sure promise, 'My
Word shall not return unto Me void,' will be fulfilled as you _sing_ that
word for Him! If you only tasted the solemn happiness of knowing that you
have indeed a royal audience, that the King Himself is listening as you
sing! If you only knew--and why should you not know? Shall not the time
past of your life suffice you for the miserable, double-hearted,
calculating service? Let Him have the _whole_ use of your voice at any
cost, and see if He does not put many a totally unexpected new song into
your mouth!

I am not writing all this to great and finished singers, but to everybody
who can sing at all. Those who think they have only a very small talent,
are often most tempted not to trade with it for their Lord. Whether you
have much or little natural voice, there is reason for its cultivation
and room for its use. Place it at your Lord's disposal, and He will show
you how to make the most of it for Him; for not seldom His multiplying
power is brought to bear on a consecrated voice. A puzzled singing
master, very famous in his profession, said to one who tried to sing for
Jesus, 'Well, you have not much voice; but, mark my words, you will
always beat anybody with four times your voice!' He was right, though he
did not in the least know why.

A great many so-called 'sacred songs' are so plaintive and pathetic that
they help to give a gloomy idea of religion. Now _don't_ sing these; come
out boldly, and sing definitely and unmistakeably for your King, and of
your King, and to your King. You will soon find, and even outsiders will
have to own, that it is a _good_ thing thus to show forth His
loving-kindness and His faithfulness (see Ps. xcii. 1-3).

Here I am usually met by the query, 'But what would you advise me to
sing?' I can only say that I never got any practical help from asking any
one but the Master Himself, and so I would advise you to do the same! He
knows exactly what will best suit your voice and enable you to sing best
for Him; for He made it, and gave it just the pitch and tone He pleased,
so, of course, He is the best counsellor about it. Refe