Next to the Bible, the most important book you will ever read is your hymnal.

"Singing--the Puritan wrote--"is the most sacred act o public worship". !artin "uther thought it the best way to "resist the devil". #he $postle Paul took it as a sure sign o being " illed with the Spirit" and having "the %ord o &hrist dwell richly in you". #hus, it is no surprise that the holiest and most learned o men have occupied themselves with writing, composing, collecting, and publishing, and singing sacred hymns. $s ar as we know, !oses wrote the irst &hristian song, sung at the crossing o the 'ed Sea. (avid was the most proli ic author, writing perhaps a hundred psalms. $saph chipped in with eleven. #he sons o )orah added a ew. *aggai accompanied himsel "on a stringed instrument". $nd other inspired men, too. "adies were also encouraged to use their poetic and musical gi ts in the praise o +od. !iriam is the irst. (eborah and *annah ollow. ,lisabeth -oins the chorus. $nd, o course, the !other o our "ord, with the blessed "!agni icat". ,ven angels burst into song at the .ncarnation o +od/s Son. But it was our "ord 0esus *imsel , who orever sancti ied this art by closing the "ast Supper with a hymn. #hus, singing is a part o the worship o +od--public, amily, and private. ".s any cheer ul among you1 "et him sing Psalms". But how should we sing1 %e should sing "skill ully with a loud noise", says the Psalmist. ,nthusiasm is a must. $nd ability helps, too. But all the talent in the world, matched with ear-splitting volume will never compensate or a lack o understanding. ". will sing with the spirit and . will sing with the understanding" wrote Paul. %hen we don/t, we "sing into the air"--or waste our e orts. But how do we "sing with the understanding"1 #wo items are necessary and another, 2uite help ul. %e must understand the words. #his seems obvious, but is not always regarded. #ake, or example, "$ll hail the Power o 0esus/ Name". .ts i th verse begins3 ""et every kindred, every tribe, on this terrestrial ball"

4ou might do well to ask your children i they have any idea what a "kindred, tribe or terrestrial ball" is. . not, tell them. . you don/t know, look it up. #he second thing we have to understand is the theology o the hymn, or what it teaches. &harles %esley bears close watching here. No one wrote more beauti ully than he, but sometimes his doctrinal error crept into his hymns. 5or example, in the unedited version o ""ove (ivine $ll "oves ,xcelling", we wrote3 "Breathe, 6 breathe #hy loving Spirit .nto every troubled breast, "et us all in #hee inherit, "et us ind that second rest". #his "second rest" which he longed or is a special act o the *oly Spirit by which *e "entirely sancti ies" the &hristian. !akes the believer sinless in this world. Should we ask or such a thing in prayer1 . not, we shouldn/t ask or it in song, either. But don/t get me wrong. %e don/t want to be suspicious and hypercritical o our hymns, but care ul. $nd appreciative. . ind Paul +erhardt/s great hymn supremely beauti ul--especially i you understand its theology. #hinking o the *oly Spirit, he writes3 "6 #hou glory shining down, 5rom the 5ather and the Son". #his is one o the most critical issues in &hurch *istory. .t is called the " ilio2ue clause". (oes the *oly Spirit proceed rom the 5ather only or rom the 5ather and the Son e2ually1 #he heretics said " rom the 5ather only". #he 6rthodox said " rom the 5ather and rom the Son". %hat/s the di erence1 6nly this3 . the Spirit proceeds rom the 5ather only, 0esus is not +od7 #hus, when singing this hymn with understanding, you are a irming the deity o 0esus &hrist. But when this knowledge is lacking, you/re -ust making noise. $nd so, i you/re to "sing with the understanding", you must know what the lyrics say and what they mean. #here is a third thing, too. .t is not necessary, but very help ul to our

understanding. .t is good to know something about the men who wrote the hymns. #o illustrate3 Psalm 89 stands on its own as a song o pain ul repentance. But how much better do we understand it in light o (avid/s adultery, treachery, murder, and cover-up1 &ould we know anything about the Psalm without this history1 %e could. But not nearly as much. .n the same way, it is use ul to know something the men whose words we sing. $nd, when possible, the circumstances in which they wrote them. "et/s begin with the Psalter or the Psalms put to meter. #he Psalter was irst used, in the 98:;/s by 0ohn &alvin and the 'e ormed &hurch o +eneva. #his choice proceeded rom &alvin/s theology. *e believed that +od must be worshiped *is way. $nd that the only songs *e le t us to sing are the Psalms. #here ore, we must sing Psalms exclusively. #o sing uninspired hymns in the worship o +od is there ore, an act o "sel -willed worship". &alvin was a good theologian, but a mediocre poet and musician. #hus he needed help in developing his Psalter. Providence gave him "ouis Bourgeois, a musician o "rare capacity and distinction" &alvin said. Bourgeois, trained in the inest schools o Paris, went to work and soon produced the irst complete Psalter in 5rench. 5ollowing the instructions o &alvin, it was "simple and carried weight and ma-esty suitable or the sub-ect and it to be sung in church". #he people o +od "received it gladly". .n +eneva and elsewhere, too. #he Scottish and ,nglish brought it across the &hannel and translated into their native tongue. $s did the (utch &alvinists, the +erman 'e ormed, and other conservative &hristian groups. But it was with the 5rench *uguenots that it ound a special home. #hey worshiped with the Psalter< they ought with it< they died with it. #he *uguenots avorite tune was "#he 6ld *undredth". $nd their avorite Psalm was 9;;, which in translation reads3 "$ll people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the "ord with cheer ul voice< *im serve with ear, *is praise orthtell, &ome ye be ore *im and re-oice". #he Puritans brought the Psalter to this country, and used it or two hundred years. #he Scottish &ovenanters =those men who died rather than give up the crown rights o )ing 0esus> have used it or three hundred years. $nd everyone who loves the +od/s %ord ought to love the Psalter, too.

6ne does not have to believe in "exclusive psalmody" to admire the theology and godly ear which went into its development and publication. %hether we use the Psalter or not, it is good or us to "exhort one another in Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs". ----------------6ne man who made good use o the Psalms is .saac %atts. *e paraphrased them brilliantly and wrote many original pieces, too. .saac %atts was born, 9?@A, in Southampton, ,ngland. *is ather was a dissenting minister and a man o solid learning. *is mother was o a poetic bent. 4oung .saac excelled at his studies and displayed a real knack or poetry. $t B;, he criticiCed his ather/s song service. #he elder %atts snapped back3 ". you are dissatis ied with our hymns, compose something better". "ittle did he suspect that his son would do -ust that. #he ollowing Sunday, the younger %atts came to church with his irst hymn3 "Behold the glories o the "amb, $midst his 5ather/s throne< Prepare new honours or *is name, $nd songs be ore unknown. "et elders worship at *is eet< #he &hurch adore around< %ith vials ull o odours sweet, $nd harps o sweeter sound. #hose are the prayers o the saints, $nd these the hymns they raise-0esus is kind to our complaints, *e loves to hear our praise. ,ternal 5ather, who shall look .nto #hy secret will1 %ho but the Son shall take that book, $nd open every seal1 *e shall ul ill thy great decrees< #he Son deserves it well< "o, in *is hands the sovereign keys 6 heaven and death and hell.

Now to the "amb that once was slain, Be endless blessings paid< Salvation, glory, -oy remain 5or ever on #hy head. #hou hast redeemed our souls with blood, *ast set the prisoners ree, *ast made us kings and priests to +od, $nd we shall reign with #hee. #he worlds o nature and o grace $re put beneath #hy power< #hen shorten these delaying days, $nd bring the promised hour." #his was only the beginning. %ithin a ew months, %atts had churned out B;; more hymns, o e2ual beauty and power. $t BA, he entered the ministry in "ondon, where he labored--with much ill health and great success-- or the next A? years. *e was a riend o Philip (oddridge, 0ohn Newton, +eorge %hite ield, and other ,vangelical leaders o the day. %hen %atts came to the pastorate in "ondon, his church sang rom a Psalter more than one-hundred years old. #he language, then, was outdated. #his irked the young preacher, who thought that &hristians ought to "sing with the understanding". $nd so, he went to work moderniCing the hymnal. Not everyone liked his innovations at the time, but history has vindicated him in ull. *is paraphrases are unmatched. Psalm D;, or example, he put like this3 "6ur +od our help in ages past, 6ur hope or years to come, 6ur shelter rom the stormy blast, $nd our eternal home". *is Psalm @B is e2ually splendid3 "0esus shall reign wher/er the sun

(oth his successive -ourneys run< *is kingdom stretch rom shore to shore, #ill moons shall wax and wane no more." But my avorite is his re-wording o Psalm 9;;3 "Be ore 0,*6E$*/s aw ul throne, 4e nations bow with sacred -oy3 )now that the "ord is +od alone, *e can create and *e destroy." But %atts did more than update the Psalter. *e introduced hymns into the ,nglish 'e ormed &hurches. *e thought it unreasonable or &hristians to sing rom the perspective o the *ebrews waiting or !essiah. But this is all that the Psalter could o er. %atts brought the &hurch into the New #estament, which gloried--not in the !essiah who is to come--but in the inished work o 0esus &hrist. "Not all the blood o beasts, 6n 0ewish altars slain, &ould give the guilty conscience peace, 6r wash away the stain. But &hrist, the heavenly "amb, #akes all our sins away, $ sacri ice o nobler name, $nd richer blood than they". $nother avorite3 "%hen . survey the wondrous cross, 6n which the Prince o glory died, !y richest gain . count but loss, $nd pour contempt on all my pride". 6ne more3 "$las and did my Savior bleed, $nd did my Sovereign die1 %ould *e devote that sacred head 5or such a worm as .1"

#hese hymns in particular ring with -oy. Speaking o which, %atts wrote this one, too3 "0oy to the world, the "ord has come3 "et earth receive her king< "et every heart prepare *im room, $nd heaven and nature sing". %atts made another important contribution to &hristians singing. *e wrote a -uvenile songbook called "(ivine and !oral Songs or &hildren". #his little work is back in print and worth its weight in gold. #he songs are simple, Scriptural, and clever. 6ne example must su ice, "$gainst Fuarrelling and 5ighting"3 ""et dogs delight to bark and bite, 5or +od has made them so< "et bears and lions growl and ight, 5or tis their nature to. But children, you should never let Such angry passions rise< 4our little hands were never made #o tear each other/s eyes. "et love through all your actions run, $nd all your words be mild< "ive like the blessed virgin/s Son. #hat sweet and lovely &hild. *is soul was gentle as a lamb< $nd as *is stature grew, *e grew in avor both with man $nd +od *is 5ather too. Now "ord o all, *e reigns above, $nd rom *is heavenly throne, *e sees what children dwell in love, $nd marks them or *is own". . asked my son this week what this song was about. "5ighting" he said.

*e was right, o course. But i you look closely, it is also about the virgin birth, the deity o &hrist, *is active obedience, *is ascension, and *is -udging the world, including children. %hat a practical way to teach duty and theology. .saac %atts died in 9@AG, aged @A years. $nd so great was this man that %illiam &arey had his tombstone inscribed with a line rom %atts3 "$ wretched, poor and helpless worm, 6n #hy kind arms . all". --------------"$maCing grace7 *ow sweet the sound, #hat saved a wretch like me< . once was lost, but now ./m ound, %as blind, but now . see". #his may be the best known &hristian hymn in the ,nglish-speaking world. .ts author is 0ohn Newton, who learned -ust how "$maCing" "+race" is. Newton was an ,nglishman, born in 9@B8. *is ather was sea captain< a rough and irreligious man. *is mother, though, was a warm a loving mother, who devoted hersel to her son and taught him to read the Bible, memoriCe the catechism =o .saac %atts, oddly enough> and to sing &hristian hymns. Hnder her in luence, young 0ohn was well cared or. But at the age o eleven, 0ohn lost his mother, and went to sea. #here, he met the most vicious o men, especially blasphemers. $nd or a while, this hurt him deeply. But only " or a while". 5or soon, he hardened himsel and became the most pro ane man on his ship. *is avorite pastime1 "aughing at &hristians and arguing them into unbelie . But +od was working on young !r. Newton. By chastisement. 6nce he was late to board ship and was publicly logged or it and stripped o rank. #his hurt his pride badly, but not enough. "ater, he would all overboard, and unable to swim, call to +od or help. *is prayer was answered in the orm o a harpoon7 Newton dodged the barb, grabbed the line, and pulled himsel to sa ety. $gain, he was shaken, but not yet broken. "ater he -oined a slave trader and sailed to $ rica. #here, he was le t with the trader/s wi e--a black woman--who enslaved him. *e su ered a raging ever, and had to grub about or ood. So desperate did he become that the slaves--the very men he put in chains--took pity on him and gave him ood. 5inally, the master returned, and instead o caring or his sick riend, only added to his hardships.

Newton had ound much sorrow in li e--but no repentance. 5inally, on the sail rom $ rica, he was caught in a right ul storm, and lashed to the wheel. Hnder the terrors o the sea, the hard exterior crumbled and the arguments o in idelity lost their power. Newton began to pray and sing the hymns his mother had taught him. .n their truth, he ound hope. %hich led him to &hrist. .n later years, he would become a minister o the &hurch o ,ngland, much used in revival, and--with his riend %illiam &owper--produced a ine collection o songs, called "the 6lney *ymnal". 6ne line in "$maCing +race" is especially pertinent to his li e3 "#was grace that taught my heart to ear, $nd grace my ears relieved< *ow precious did that grace appear, #he hour . irst believed". Newton/s conversion was "all o grace". But this grace only "appeared the hour =he> irst believed. .t was present long be ore. .t taught =his> heart to ear3 in the $ rican ever swamps, in the raging sea, in the deaths which o ten stalked him. #hese were the orerunners o salvation. #hey brought 0ohn Newton to his knees...and to the Savior. ----------$nother beloved hymn is ".t is well with my soul". .ts author was *oratio +. Spa ord, 9GBG-9GGG. *e was not a minister or poet, but a success ul attorney in &hicago. (espite his prestige and wealth, however, he remained a humble servant o 0esus &hrist. .n 9G@9, Spa ord/s estate was nearly wiped out by the great &hicago ire. Hnmoved by the loss, however, he bought passage or himsel , his wi e and our daughters to ,ngland, where he hoped to help his riend, (.". !oody in his evangelistic e orts. But, at the last minute, some business came up, and Spa ord had to remain in &hicago or a ew days. *is wi e and daughters, though, were sent on their merry way. $ ew days later, Spa ord received a cable3 the ship had sunk near the ,nglish coast--"saved alone" wrote his wi e. #he grieving husband then boarded ship and sailed or ,ngland. $nd, as he drew near the spot where his daughters had drowned, a song came to him3 "%hen peace, like a river attendeth my way, %hen sorrows, as sea billows roll-%hatever my lot, #hou hast taught me to say, .t is well, it is well with my soul".

Not since 0ob "knew that *is redeemer lived" has a man pro essed such aith in +od, whatever betides. But note care ully< though poignant, the hymn is anything but maudlin or introspective. .t is not to himsel that Spa ord is looking, or to his daughters--but to &hrist3 "#hough Satan should bu et, #hough trials should come< "et this blest assurance control, #hat &hrist hath regarded my helpless estate, $nd hath shed *is own blood or my soul. !y sin--6 the bliss o this glorious tho/t-!y sin, not in part, but the whole, .s nailed to the cross, and . bear it no more< Praise the "ord, praise the "ord, 6 my soul. $nd "ord, haste the day when the aith shall be sight, #he clouds be rolled back as a scroll3 #he trump shall resound, and the "ord shall descend, ,ven so, it is well with my soul". ----------------6ne more must do. 0ohn 5awcett, 9@A;-9G9@. *e was a Strict Baptist pastor in %ainsgate, ,ngland. #he church he served was small and povertystricken. #hus, the elder "worthy o double honor" was put on starvation wages. But a ter the death o 0ohn +ill =9@@9> 5awcett was called to the biggest and best paying Baptist &hurch in ,ngland, *orsely-down, "ondon. *e loaded his wagons and bid his dear people adieu. But then, as he saw the old aces, streaked with tears, he turned to his wi e, who said3 "0ohn, . cannot bear to leave. . know not how to go". 5awcett agreed3 "Nor can ., either". #he word was given3 "Hnpack the wagons". 0ohn 5awcett stayed at that little church--with no pay raises-- or another orty-plus years. %hat motivated him to surrender a good living, prestige, and wide service or a little church out in the middle o nowhere1 "et him speak or himsel 3 "Blest be the tie that binds 6ur hearts in &hristian love< #hat ellowship o kindred minds

.s like to that above". 5awcett was bound to his people, not by contract or convenience, but by "cords o love". *e would not leave them because he loved them. $nd he has given every church a glimpse o his heart--and an example to ollow. ---------#hese are a ew hymns we o ten sing. . hope my talk about their authors will help us "sing with the understanding". 5or &hrist/s sake. $men.