8. We object to choirs and instrumental music in the house of God, for the very important reason that, in our opinion, Christian union or primitive Christianity will never be fully restored so long as they are continued in use. They are clogs to the wheels of salvation!

9. They retard growth in grace, hinder revivals, the conviction and conversion of sinners.

Spiritual singing, or singing with grace in the heart, making melody to the Lord, is not only soul-cheering and soul-elevating to the Christian, but very often sends conviction to the heart of the sinner. Many a rebel against God has dated his first serious, abiding impressions from the heavenly praises flowing from sanctified hearts. Did choir music ever produce these happy and glorious results?

10. Choir singing tends to backsliding and cold formality. How can it be otherwise when Christians disobey God— refuse to open their mouths in praise!

"Whoso offereth praise, glorifieth me.”—Psa. 1. 23.

11. Choir singing in the house of God tends to banish singing in family worship. Does one family in ten ever think of tuning the heart in praise around the family altar? Why not? No singing of God's praise in the sanctuary, of course none in family devotions.

12. No Christian who fails to sing praises to God as an act of Christian worship, complies with God's command. The command of God to sing praises to him is equally positive with that in respect to prayer or supplication.

"Sing unto the Lord, all ye lands," "sing praises, sing unto him, sing psalms unto him." 'Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of the saints." "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.”

13. Have we any more right to sing by proxy, (by the

SACRED MUSIC IN PUBLIC WORSHIP.

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Knew they of prais

mouth of sinners,) than to pray by proxy! Why not employ some one of fluent speech, to do our praying-while we look on and gaze with wonder at the marvelous gifts! Will our souls be benefited? Is God well pleased? How was singing attended to in the apostolical churches? Did Christians then sing by proxy? When the hymn of praise was sung, who were the choir? ing God by proxy? No, no, indeed-themselves sang "with grace, making melody in their hearts unto the Lord." The choir were they-they each, they all-and like the church in heaven, the church on earth herself did sing, in strains so sweet and fervent, the praises of the Lamb. In every act of worship "they served the Lord themselves. None asked to be excused, nor thought of delegation or proxy, but themselves prayed and praised, and that with fervency of spirit.

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Such were the churches then. Are such the churches now?

Would the apostles, first preachers, and first Christians feel at home in the churches now? Would they admire the change that has come over them? Would they pronounce them improvements? We think not-but would be moved to tears at the sight of our silent, close-lipped professors, and our proxy worshipers, together with the cold, lifeless formalism which pervades the churches; and would exhort them to an immediate return to the spiritual simplicity and fervency of first Christians and first Christian churches.

No one need wonder that the churches grew and multiplied, under such preaching, and amid such living, practical Christianity as that which distinguished and was the glory of the first Christian churches. Nor need wonder exist that things now are as they are in the churches, when so much

that is vital in itself, and life-inspiring, is found to be wanting.

That there should be a leader and leaders in public acts of prayer and praise, who can condemn? But proxyism in either, who would not? Do they in heaven by proxy worship? Did Christ by proxy die? Or does he now in heaven by proxy pray for us? Till this primitive, this personal,* this individual fervency of spirit in the worship and service of the Lord shall again distinguish the pulpits and the pews, the pastors and the churches, "Ichabod" shall stand written upon them in characters of DEATH!

Churches of Jesus Christ! come back; come back to first principles-first practices" your first love!" "Remember how you [then] heard and received, and hold fast, and repent." Then you served the Lord-served him in fervency of spirit. Then you prayed, you sang his sounding praise, not by proxy, but you yourselves; and served, and sang, and prayed with a "fervent spirit!" Do again your "first works." Return to your first love, first simplicity, first humility, honesty, zeal and fervency in the service of God; and he, the Lord, will return and dwell among you, and bless you, and make you a blessing to untold multitudes!

Away, away with show and parade-with cold, stiff forms and formalism, in the service of God! Such were not to be found in the church in her first and best days, and such must disappear, before she be terrible to her enemies as an army with banners."

In the day of conflict, what combatants think of the polishbut of the strength and keen edge of his sword? These, not the polish, do the work required-gain for him the victory.

"If singing come not from the heart," says Calvin, "it is worth nothing, and can only awaken God's wrath."

WHAT a noble animal the horse! Treat him kindly and gently, and he will treat you kindly and gently. See the sister of Charley placing her hand on this beautiful pony.

"There, 'mid the sunshine and the flowers,

No longer mayst thou lightly stray;

The great trust of thy womanhood
Is laid upon thy soul to-day."

WHEN God lays a new-born babe in the arms of a wedded pair, he says to them, "Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages." God offers the only wages that can satisfy the claims of love. He pays the heart's claim in the heart's own coin. What wages could repay Hannah's prayerful care like the sight of Samuel's after-career as Israel's upright judge? Moses standing on the mount was the "wages" of the Hebrew mother who