lost the sense of God's
true worship, which is in spirit and in truth, they began to worship
in outward observances, which is not the worship of God, but
superstitious and idolatrous." "When singing in the spirit and with
the understanding ceased, then people began to introduce the form of
singing David's experiences, in rhyme and metre; and thus, in the
apostacy, the form grew as a substitute for that which the saints
had enjoyed in power; shadows were set up instead of the substance,
and death instead of life."

The same writer in an appeal to the professors of his day to test
their religious profession by the Scriptures, says:

"Likewise you sing and give to sing David's psalms in rhyme and
metre, professing it is to the glory and honor of God. Ye practise
this as an ordinance of God, as a part of his worship, and as a part
of your religion; but this practice and profession also are manifest
not to be according to the Scriptures; because it was never
commanded; neither is there any precedent for this practice in the
Scriptures in gospel times."

Robert Barclay says, "We confess this [singing of Psalms] to be a part
of God's worship, and very sweet and refreshing when it proceeds from
a true sense of God's love in the heart, and arises from the Divine
influence of the spirit." But he condemns "the formal, customary way
of singing," which was practised by professors in his day, and has
been continued down to the present time, as having "no foundation in
Scripture, nor any ground in true Christianity." He concludes his
remarks on this subject in the following words: "As to their
artificial music, either by organs or other instruments, or voice, we
have neither example nor precept for it in the New Testament."

* * * * *

Independently of that harmony of sound which is the result of musical
skill, there is a modulation of the voice which is an index of the
feelings of the mind. Where the heart is melted under a sense of
Divine goodness and love, and thanksgiving to the Author of all our
blessings flows from it, true melody is often shown in the tones of
the voice; and this is sometimes apparent even when no words are
distinctly uttered. It is to such a state of mind we understand the
Apostle Paul to refer when he speaks to the Ephesians, of "making
melody in your heart to the Lord." When an outward harmony, dependi