Hymns and Instruments in Worship
The Reformed Presbyterian Synod which was recently held at Cedarville, O., heard a peculiar report from Rev. F. M. Foster, who had been appointed a delegate to the Ecumenical Conference of Missions. It was to the effect that he had not been able to attend, because hymns were sung and instrumental music was used at the meetings. The delegate who had been appointed to the Presbyterian Council reported that that body, in deference to the scruples of his church, had foreborne to sing hymns and use instruments. As to the use of instruments in God's service, the psalmist (whose psalms are used exclusively by the Reformed Presbyterians) also says: "Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance [margin, "pipe"]; praise Him with stringed instruments and organs; praise Him upon the loud cymbals." Ps. 150: 3-5. As to the use of hymns in worship, part of the exhortation in Paul's letter to the Ephesians is to "be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." Eph. 5: 18, 19. Also, in Col. 3: 16, he expresses a like sentiment: "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." We have no evidence that the inspiration to sacred song writing expired with David.