IN creating man with a nature susceptible of so many and varied emotions, and the world with so many sources of delight, God has displayed more than wisdom. The object in view must have been the happiness of his creatures, and must have sprung from a benevolence coextensive with the wisdom that designed and the power that executed. The eye looks upon nature's vast domain, and derives pleasure from every object on which it rests; but a being equal to God in power, and wanting in that love which is so conspicuous in the character of our heavenly Father, might have made this sense the source of unceasing misery, by creating every object so shapeless, loathsome, and repulsive, that sight would leave been a curse from which man would have prayed to be delivered, rather than a blessing, so deservedly prized. An omniscient and omnipotent, yet malevolent being would have made the former attributes subservient to the latter, and the creation of such a being would have been a universe of gloomy horror, bitter wailing, and hopeless despair. But love rules the wisdom and power of Jehovah; hence, the eye luxuriates in scenes of gorgeous splendor and quiet beauty; hill and dale, mountain and stream, forest shade and flowery mead have each a varied and peculiar charm; and when we look from earth to the mild evening sky, we there behold a revelation of deep and strange beauty traced in characters of flame.

      Our world, too, is redolent of fragrant perfumes; and wafted on every soft gale sweet odors minister to our gratification. But it is through the ear, the charmed portal of the soul's dwelling-place, that emanations the most exquisite are excited.

      The soft sigh of the evening zephyr, the swelling song of the storm, the glad notes of birds, and the silvery song of the stream find entrance there; and never do these sweet voices of nature come on a fruitless or thankless mission; their message is ever a welcome one, and at their voice the soul is glad. Music was born in heaven; for at creation's dawn the morning stars sang together, and the sons of God, in loud and melodious peals, shouted aloud for joy; and never does the human soul ascend so near that heaven, where music had its birth, as when it soars upward on the wings of song.

      The world is full of music; it is heard in the rush of the river, the flow of the fountain, and the solemn swell of the sea; the wind sways the forest trees and leaves unnumbered lift up their tuneful tongues; the moan of the lofty pines is an elegiac strain, and the tangled vines are natural harp-strings on which soft winds play.

      From the hour that Jubal first woke his burning shell, music has performed a glad or solemn ministry among the children of men; childhood's happy hours sped by in gay carols, and in youth love was wakened in the heart by notes soft and sweet as the wind harp's sigh; the warrior's courage has been roused by the clarion's blast, and his dying eye has lighted up at the swelling note of victory; the soul of the departing saint has been cheered by strains which seemed like the songs of waiting angels; and over graves unnumbered have its notes, in wild and solemn requiems, rolled.

      Music gladdens earth, brings sleep and sweet dreams to infancy, lightens the burdens of the sons of toil, adds new charms to joy, soothes in sickness, gives wings to our devotion, sweetens even our sorrows, and hallows our tears.

      All earthly scenes will close with the startling clangor of the archangel's trumpet, a new scene will burst upon our eyes, and the ceaseless melodies of the skies will begin. Let us, then, while on earth attune our hearts and voices to glad yet solemn melody, even the high praises of our God, that we may be prepared in heaven to mingle with the harper-train and join in the everlasting song. Yes, the everlasting song! for while God lives shall we too live to sound forth the praises of his name. [379]

[The Ladies' Repository 12 (October 1852): 379.]

      William Baxter's "Song" was first published in The Ladies' Repository: A Monthly Periodical Devoted to Literature and Religion, Vol. 12, No. 10, October 1852, p. 379. This volume, edited by W. C. Larrabee, was published in Cincinnati by L. Swormstedt and A. Poe and in New York by T. Carlton and Z. Phillips.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 16 April 2000.
Updated 28 June 2003.