The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 239

known how to take advantage of harmonious sound in encouraging men to go into battle in "the shrill t111mp, the spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife." It is also known how to use it e.s e.n auxiliary in the service of superstition, revelry, and vice. And God, in his infinite wisdom, has seen fit to make use of the same instrumentality. In the old Jewish temple four thousand Levites, an entire fourth division of them, were employed in connection with the service of praise. God he.s inspired and enabled men to write psalms and hymns for. the sanctuary; and he has also enabled men to compose suitable music for them. The singing of musical words, with or without an instrumental accompaniment, has a wonderful power in stirring emotion, in waking sweet and glad memories, and even in exciting the imagination in a certain vagueness and immensity which belongs to the sounds. As in a sea-shell pressed to the ear we are said to hear the sound of the ocean from which it has come, so in the sweet strains of music may we hear a sou'nding as from the eternal shores. "Thou, Lord, art the Father of mnsfo: Sweet sounds a.re e. whisper from thea." In an elevated mood (as here supposed) we naturally give expression to our feelings in sono-. "ls any cheerful? let him sing praise." (a) Singing together. "Speaking one to ;nother in 1psalms and hymns and spiritual songs." Men, under the excitement of the Spirit; <Might to sing spiritual songs (as distinguished from the songs of the drunkard). Under this come the psalms in their grand historic position. And there also come hymns, that is, songs other than the psalms, which are used in praise. "\V c are to speak one to- another by means of these. Pliny records of the early Christians that they were wont on a fixed day to meet before daylight (to avoid persecution), and to recite a hymn among themselves by turns to Christ as to God. Luther greatly advanced the cause of the Reformation by his hymns, which were sung at the firesides of the people. How we can thus breathe the spirit of confidence, of courage, of hope, into one another! Having encouraged ourscl ves iu the Rock of our strength, we turn and thus speak to our fellow-worshippers, one to the rest, or one section to another- " Yo people, plllce yolll' confidence In him continuo.lly; Before him polll' ye out your heo.rt: God is our Refuge high." (/3) Singing with the heart. "Singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord." Singing together can only occupy a small proportion of our time. llut in our other cnga'!cments we may be so full of trust, so free from care, that wo sing with tho heart. Am! the song that we sing all day is sot to the Name of Christ, to the work 1,i redempliuu, "There o.re in this low stunning tide Of human co.re o.nd crime, With whom the melodics o.bide Of the cverlo.sting chi.me; Who c!lrry music in their heo.rt Through dusky lime and wranglinA' mart. Plying their do.Uy to.sk with busier feet Bcmuso their secret souls a holy stmin repeat." (b) Tlianlcsgiving. "Giving thankR always for all things, in the Name of our Lord ,Tcsus Uhrist to God, even the Father." 'l'hi!l is another bmrntiful manifestation of spiritual excitement. In our higher moods we no.turally turn to God iu joyful gmtitudc. Thanksgiving (to which the drunkard must be a stranger, for he. abuses his mercies), like song, is to run like a golden thread through the whole of our hfe. In the depths of our heart we can be always thankful, though the language of thankfulness cannot be always on our lips. We have to thank God that o. joyful thrill of the Spirit can pass through our being, better than or wine. We have to thank God for innumerable werciea. "New morcics each returning do.y Hover o.round us whilo wr prny: New perils pnst, new sins foq!;ivcn, Now thoul{hl• of God, new ho1•cs of heaven." 2i0 THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. [OH, V. 1-33,