"I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also " (i Cor. 14:15).

A new song or hymn, with music, among the precious ministry of Help and Food, may cause surprise to some of its readers. Perhaps an explanation, if not an apology, may be in place here.

Our purpose is to awaken in our assemblies a deeper interest in the singing, and to stir up neglected gifts in the way of adapting or composing suitable melodies for the precious truth and thoughts of Christ, and the experiences which the Holy Spirit would awaken in God's people on their homeward way, with praise and worship.

Without giving undue prominence to music, since we do use it is certainly worthy of care and attention. Many a hymn or spiritual song is robbed of its sweetness and power by being sung to an inappropriate tune.

In realizing the increasing difficulties of the times, one would earnestly covet a more tender heart, a more diligent mind to treasure up all the help and comfort so largely provided for us. Some sweet verses of praise, or of experience, might be happily fastened upon the mind, and their usefulness increased by an appropriate melody to which they might be sung. Fresh love-songs to offer up to our Lord are certainly worth possessing. " Songs in the night,'1 Spirit-breathed aspirations, driving away our fears and leading our minds into peaceful confidence, are valuable acquisitions well worth preserving.

Our Little Flock Hymn Book has been a source of encouragement and comfort for many years, a helpful companion in our pilgrimage; but how great the loss if with it the canon were closed, if the wondrous touch of the Spirit of God had no more fresh chords from the harp of our hearts worth recording, wherewith to gladden the heart of our adorable Saviour and Lord and lighten our steps through the wilderness! How great the loss if we were to claim for that loved little book the completeness, the perfection, which belongs alone to our Bible! Indeed, neither the compilers nor the revisers of it (to whom we are so much indebted) would have claimed for their labor any more than what it really was-a help by the way for the time being.

One rejoices at the thought that there shall be fresh songs given us until the end of the journey. The Comforter will never fail us in this scene where the Valley of Baca may be changed into a place of springs. New difficulties and fresh trials may and should give birth to new songs.

Then, as various materials are gathered, a revision of our hymn-book might be indicated wherein new hymns would be added, and those left out or altered which had failed to be useful through various reasons. Should not our zeal in this direction be manifest as, through grace, it is in other ways ?

It is not only our privilege but should be our concern to leave to those coming after us, if He tarry, the testimony of our own joys in the Lord, and of the constancy of His tender care for a needy and failing people. A hymn-book is perhaps one of the best expressions that could be given of it. It is a precious legacy.
Oh, that we might overcome any sluggishness of heart, any spiritual slothfulness which might cause us to let slip things whereby we may edify one another and our fellowship be made sweeter and closer till He come!

"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" (Col. 3 :16).
C. Jouard
O God, a World of Empty Show.