The Beauty of Singing the Canticles and Hymns of Our Faith

 Hymn Singing and Getting Going 

    One of the weeks we just experienced in the 28 liturgy in the 21st Sunday after Trinity was a lesson from Ephesians 6 .  It is a familiar one, but we struggle with its application. We should not be without our spiritual  armour as we go through our day.  

I find that what gets me going and is helpful is not only our own liturgy,but the wonderful hymnal that we have to use---1940 Episcopal hymnal.  What gets you going in the right direction in your day?  Of course the liturgy of Morning and Evening Prayer is a tremendous help to us .  I seem to need a kick often to get on the right path.  Yes, even ordained clergy struggle!  When I was in the US Army of course we had the Physical Training at 6:30 am .  That was a big boost. We ran usually and did some silly sit ups and push ups. In the same manner we need to be boosted in the spiritual realm of our souls.sp

Hymns are so helpful , and especially the ones that encourage us . Hymn 555 in the 1940 hymnal was so enlightening to me . It seems to fit our struggle against " the wiles of the devil "(p. 219 Prayer Book 1928 from Ephesians 6) Look at I Peter 5:8. It is the verse to think about here, " Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking  whom,  he may devour."

Here are the lyrics. The tune is also very singable....

" My soul, be on thy guard,

Ten thousand foes arise,

And hosts of sin are pressing hard

To draw thee from the skies.

Oh, watch, and fight, and pray,

The battle ne’er give o’er,

Renew it boldly every day,

And help divine implore.

Ne’er think the vict’ry won,

Nor once at ease sit down;

Thine arduous work will not be done

Till thou hast got the crown.

Fight on, my soul, till death

Shall bring thee to thy God;

He’ll take thee at thy parting breath

Up to His blest abode."

   Sometimes a familiar tune can help us get going in the way of righteousness and service to God. It  often helps---the singing of Psalms is such an example as well ( Satan is powerless against the proper singing of Scripture) .  Or it could be a prayer partner, perhaps as well a good mentor to allow  us to share our struggles . A friend will certainly do for that too.  

The hymn above was written by Rev. George Heath 1745-1822.  He was a Presbyterian for a time ( he was dismissed for cause according to what I read ,but I don't know the reason), and for some reason found his way into a Unitarian group ( not a good theology at all there)...but eventually became Anglican.  I like what is said after this is noted, " The hymn's primary goal is to encourage spiritual watchfulness and steadfastness in the Christian life. It is written in 6.6.8.6 meter and presents vivid imagery of spiritual conflict and persistent prayer.  "  from  bingsearch/copilot about Heath

1. "My soul be on thy guard "is a theme certainly of this hymn.  We can be taken in by false views which tend to unwind our steps toward growing in holiness.  Some views in theology and thinking may look good, but they are actually not true Biblically . We must test all of these things that come at us by Scripture.

I Peter 5:8 is the key here.  " Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour"

"It is not sufficient for any man to run well for a season only. We must endure to the end, if ever we would be saved. Whatever your attainments may be, and whatever you may have done or suffered in the service of your God, you must forget the things that are behind, till you have actually fulfilled your course and obtained the crown."

- Rev'd Charles Simeon (1759-1836), English evangelical Anglican ( from a friend who shared this on fb)

"The Seven Deadly sins are: pride, envy, wrath,sloth , avarice, guttony and lust---The Seven Holy Virtues are: humilty, kindness, patience, diligence, temperance, abstinence, and chastity.  "( fb again where I saw this.)

2. O Watch and fight and pray, Renew it boldly every day .

I sometimes think we are not bold enough to stand against the things we know are sins , and not good for us either in our Christian lives.  Taking a good rounded hour or less in our devotional lives is a good start.  I find the Prayer Book lessons , 1928,a great way to begin.  Whatever we use the Scriptures should be at the heart of our prayer lives.

I also find a good assistance from written prayers.  Some object to that,  but I see written prayers in the Bible.  Mary's Song is an example of that in Luke 1:46-..... We know it as the Magnificat ( " My Soul doth magnify the Lord")in the Evening Prayer office.  The Lord's Prayer is another example of a prayer we say .  It is not just a model for prayer.  It should be said too.

We need to follow the saints of God in our quest for holiness and service.  The models we have today are not helpful in many things.  Our culture as we know follows sin to the extent that they go right up to the line of total debauchery and foolishness.  Unfortunately we need to realize that the older models were the better ones, not the ones in vogue now.

3. Lastly another good source for us to consider are the wonderful things in the 28 BCP that we can sing.  The Canticles in Morning and Evening Prayer are singable, the Venite ( Psalm 95), others that we have already mentioned.  Personally I find these to be of great help in my days of meditation upon the Scriptures.  They are mostly Scripture themselves or take their meaning from Scripture.  

The Te Deum is an ancient Christian hymn is an outstanding canticle to sing in anytime of the year.  The parts glorify Christ especially in His humanity and Divinity. The second part changes tune and helps us in so many ways to lean on God's eternal Son.

"THOU art the King of Glory, O Christ.

Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.

    When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, thou didst humble thyself to be born of a Virgin.

    When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.

    Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.

    We believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge.

    We therefore pray thee, help thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.

    Make them to be numbered with thy Saints, in glory everlasting."

I conclude these short thoughts to encourage us all to say the liturgy,  but also to sing so much of it, its hymns, and Canticles are full of deep Biblical truths to glorify God.  Happy singing in the traditional forms of worship.  I have found so much to learn and sing about in these places of the liturgy.