Helpful note From C.H. Spurgeon
It is to be feared that the psalms are by no means so prized as in earlier ages of the church. Time was when the Psalms were not only rehearsed in all churches from day to day, but they were so universally sung that the common people knew them even if they did not now the letters in which they were written. Time was when Bishops would ordain no man to the ministry unless he knew “David from end to end and could repeat each psalm Correctly; even councils of the church have decreed that none should hold ecclesiastical Office unless they knew the whole PSALTER BY HEART. Other practices on those ages had better be forgotten, to us the laborer, while he held the plough, sand Hallelujah; the tired reaper refreshed himself with the psalms, and vinedresser, while trimming with his curved hook, sang something of David. He tells us that that in his part of the world, PSALMS WERE THE LOVE SONGS OF THE PEOPLE OF God; Could any others be so pure and heavenly? These sacred hymns express all modes of holy feeling; they are both fit for childhood and old age; they furnish maxims for the entrance of life and serve as watchwords at the gates of death. The battle of life, the repose of the Sabbath, the ward of the hospital, the guest chamber of the mansion the church, the oratory, yea, even heaven itself may be entered with Psalms. “It may be added that although the comments were the work of my health, the rest of the volume is product of my sickness. When protracted illness and weakness laid me aside from daily preaching, I resorted to my pen as an available means of doing good. I would have preached had I been able, but as MY master denied me the privilege of thus serving Him, I gladly availed myself of the other method of bearing testimony for His name. O that He may give me fruit in this field also, and His shall be all the praise. C.H. Spurgeon. |
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