p. 208 | SING by E. BOOTH.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 10, 1867

SING.

By E. BOOTH.

LUTHER, who sang much, truly said, “Singing will ever drive evil away.” We, as a people—as American citizens—as professing godliness, do not sing forth that measure of praise due the Giver of every good gift. We are silent, thoughtful, morose, taking too earnest heed to little cares and trifles which a few hours’ time would float gently away, without troubling heart or brain. In our singing moments we can accept with cheerfulness the misfortune of a broken mirror or upset cream jar, forgetting to rise in rebellion against our sphere of human troubles. In full aspiration of praise and love there was no room for the tempter to enter. Did you ever sing when hate or envy annoyed, or perplexity aroused the natural man, without a great effort or strenuous endeavor to rise above these malevolent affections? But the moment you sang, the trouble was over, the antidote found.

The same Being that created the angels hears the faint lullaby; and he who watches the insect and knows the fall of the sparrow, hears the song at the wheel, the anvil, and plow, no less than the prayers of his children, or the praises of the cherubim.

E. BOOTH.