In order to convince us once and for all how edifying and beneficial Christian singing is, today let us hear what a well-known preacher of the 19th century had to say:
“When the old Christianity was still active among men, and people truly loved the Lord Jesus and were joyful in the Lord, then this showed itself also with the desire to sing. In the morning every house resounded with the sounds of the morning devotion, and in the evening was the evening devotion consisting of beloved spiritual songs which all members of the family joined together in singing. At the table, prayers were sung both before and after the meal. And that was not enough. The farmer sang behind the plow, the servant sang out in the field, the maid sang as she went about her duties. And when several of them were together, for example, on the way to church, or when harvesting hay or grain, there was seldom a time that there was no singing. The people sang happily and merrily in the midst of their hard work, and then got back to work with renewed strength and vigor.”
What beautiful and blessed times those must have been! Who will now choose to follow their good example?
Lord, strengthen us, that we may continue with prayer and with giving of thanks. Amen. |
