(Read Psalm 145)

I do not think that I ever wished more passionately to be able to sing than this morning when I was preparing to bring before you this great psalm.

Merely to read it especially in this prose version, does not begin to bring out the glory and magnificence of it.

But to join in singing it to that ["magnificent" is scratched out] sublime old tune Duke street is to be lifted up to the very gates of heaven.

Since I cannot sing it either with you or for you, I am going to read part of it in the metrical version in which it is usually sung, so that those of you to whom it is familiar may recall something of the exaltation and the exultation with which you used to sing it.

I myself venture to sing out when I am alone or when the people around me are singing so lustily that I think they will not hear me. But some day you and I are going to join our voices with those of the heavenly choirs in a triumphant jubilation such as this earth has never yet heard. And I only hope we sing this psalm. He are the words of the first part of it. (Read from Book of Praise).