Select Portions

OF

PSALMS AND HYMNS,

FOR THE USE OF

TRINITY CHURCH,

ST. MARY-LE-BONE.

London:

PRINTED AND SOLD BY

W. REYNOLDS, PRINTER AND STATIONER,
11, OLD CAVENDISH STREET,

By

370

15445

1831

OF

AN ADMONITION,

PRINTED

BY ORDER OF THE SOCIETY

For Promoting Christian Knowledge,

ON THE REVERENCE REQUIRED
IN SINGING PSALMS.

IN order to reform the Custom, which has prevailed, of SITTING While the Psalms are sung in the Public Service of God; it is necessary to observe that the Church has, in all ages, appointed the reverent Practice of STANDING in singing praises to God. It plainly appears from several Passages of Scripture, that this was the Practice of the Jewish Church. And whenever the Angels are said to sing praises to God (as in the Visions of Isaiah and St. John) they are represented as Standing.

One of the Fathers, describing the Practice of the Church in his time, says, “The

66

People rising from Prayer STAND UP to

sing Psalms." And as we STAND UP with reverence to praise God when the Psalms are read, we ought to do the same when they are sung.

Let the people praise THEE, O GOD! Let ALL the People praise THEE !

PSALM I.

HOW blest is he who ne'er consents,

By ill advice to walk;

Nor stands in sinners' ways, nor sits
Where men profanely talk.

But makes the perfect law of God
His business and delight;
Devoutly reads therein by day,
And meditates by night.

Like some fair tree which fed by streams
With timely fruit doth bend,
He still shall flourish, and success
All his designs attend.

For God approves the just man's ways,

To happiness they tend;

But sinners, and the paths they tread,
Shall both in ruin end.