Directions for Singing

Learn these tunes before you learn any others; afterwards learn as

many as you please.

Sing them exactly as they are printed here, without altering or

mending them at all; and if you have learned to sing them otherwise,

unlearn it as soon as you can.

Sing all. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you

can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If

it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find it a blessing.

Sing lustily and with a good courage. Beware of singing as if you were

half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no

more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard,

than when you sung the songs of Satan.

Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard above or distinct from

the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony;

but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear

melodious sound.

Sing in time. Whatever time is sung be sure to keep with it. Do not

run before nor stay behind it; but attend close to the leading voices,

and move therewith as exactly as you can; and take care not to sing

too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and

it is high time to drive it out from us, and sing all our tunes just

as quick as we did at first.

Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you

sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other

creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you

sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but

offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord

will approve here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of

heaven.