rhaps find the
music, and the prelude has to be played, and all this gives quite enough
time for us to recollect whose we are and whom we serve, and to arouse to
the watch. Quite enough, too, for quick, trustful prayer that our singing
may be kept free from that wretched self-seeking or even
self-consciousness, and kept entirely for Jesus. Our best and happiest
singing will flow when there is a sweet, silent undercurrent of prayerful
or praiseful communion with our Master all through the song. As for
nervousness, I am quite sure this is the best antidote to that.

On the other hand, it is quite possible to sing for Jesus without singing
a sacred song. Do not take an ell for the inch this seems to give, and
run off with the idea that it does not matter after all what you sing, so
that you sing in a good frame of mind! No such thing! And the admission
needs very careful guarding, and must not be wrested into an excuse for
looking back to the world's songs. But cases may and do arise in which it
may be right to gratify a weary father, or win a wayward brother, by
trying to please them with music to which they will listen when they
would not listen to the songs you would rather sing. There are cases in
which this may be done most truly for the Lord's sake, and clearly under
His guidance.

Sometimes cases arise in which we can only say, 'Neither know we what to
do, but our eyes are upon Thee.' And when we honestly say that, depend
upon it we shall find the promise true, 'I will guide thee with Mine
eye.' For God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above
that ye are able, but will, with the temptation, also make a way (Gr.
_the_ way) to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

I do not know why it should be so, but it certainly is a much rarer thing
to find a young gentleman singing for Jesus than a young lady,--a _very_
rare thing to find one with a cultivated voice consecrating it to the
Master's use. I have met some who were not ashamed to speak for Him, to
whom it never seemed even to occur to sing for Him. They would go and
teach a Bible class one day, and the next they would be practising or
performing just the same songs as those who care nothing for Christ and
His blood-bought salvation. They had left some things behind, but they
had not left any of their old songs behind. They do not seem to think
that being made new creatures in Christ Jesus had anything to do with
this department of their lives. No