Hymns and Spiritual Songs

“Singing the praises of God, as a religious duty—this may be done in a private manner, by a person singly and alone (Js 5:13), and between two or more; so Paul and Silas sang aloud praises to God in the prison (Acts 16:25), and in the family, between a man and his wife, with his children and servants. Singing the praises of God has always been a branch of natural or revealed religion, in all ages and periods of time, and ever will be. That the churches of Christ under the gospel dispensation were to sing, is evident from express precepts and directions given to gospel churches concerning it (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). Inasmuch as the “word of God” and Christ in general furnishes out matter for singing his praises, I deny not, but that such hymns and spiritual songs, composed by good men, uninspired, may be made use of; provided care is taken that they be agreeable to the sacred writings, and to the analogy of faith, and are expressed as much as may be in scripture language.”—John Gill, “A Body Of Practical Divinity”

THE TRIUNE JEHOVAH
SALVATION AND SOVEREIGN GRACE
GRACIOUS COVENANT AND ELECTION
REDEMPTION AND REGENERATION
INCARNATION AND RETURN
STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS
TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
DEATH AND HEAVEN
THE CHURCH

  • • Fruit of the Spirit,  Anne Steele

    How Oft, Alas, This Wretched Heart

    Jeremiah 3:12: "Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever." Psalm 119:176: "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments. Hosea 6:1: "Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up."

  • • Redemption and Regeneration,  William Cowper

    There Is A Fountain

    1 Peter 1:18-21: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." Ephesians 1:3-7: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him…

  • • The TriUne Jehovah,  Isaac Watt's Hymns

    O God, Our Help, In Ages Past

    Daniel 3:13-25: "Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my…

  • • The TriUne Jehovah,  Isaac Watt's Hymns

    I Sing The Mighty Power Of God

    Psalm 104: "Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. They go up by the mountains;…

  • • Fruit of the Spirit,  William Cowper

    O Lord, My Best Desire Fulfill

    Philippians 4:10-13: "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

  • • The Church,  Samuel Medley

    Dear Lord, To Us Assembled Here

    Numbers 6:22-27: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,  The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:  the LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them."