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1. Singing is the music of nature. The Scriptures tell us "the mountains sing," "the valleys sing," "the trees of the wood sing before the Lord." The air of summer is filled with melody of birds.

2. Singing is the music of the Ancient Church. Pliny makes mention in a letter he wrote to the Emperor Trajan, that the Christians of those times being gathered together before day, sang hymns and praises to Christ as God. Paulinus testifies that this practice overspread every province of the Western Church. tells us that in his time they sang and sent up prayers to God. Beza confesses that at his first entrance into the congregation, hearing them sing the 91st Psalm, he felt himself exceedingly comforted, and did retain the sound of it afterwards upon his heart. St. reports of himself, that when he came to Milan and heard the people sing, it was the occasion of his conversion. His words in his Confessions are, "When I remember my tears at my conversion under the melody of Thy Church."

3. Coming to more modern times, we find the same practice not only in vogue, but also of greater practical advantage. The reformation in Germany, under Martin Luther, was greatly promoted by singing. Luther taught the children to sing hymns, expressing the great truths of the Gospel. The children went about the streets singing these Gospel hymns, and thus conveying the truth on every hand. The Romanists said "Luther has done us more harm by his songs than by his sermons." The followers of Wickliffe and Huss were named psalm-singers. In later times the great religious movements and revivals, which have greatly aided the spread of religion, have been more or less connected with singing to the Lord.

4. Singing is the music of heaven. The glorious saints and angels express their praises in this way, and make one harmony in their state of blessedness. This is set forth in many passages of the Book of Revelation.

(J. Shillito. .)

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KJV: I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

WEB: I will sing to Yahweh as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.