1

Alamoth, and Mattithiah and Elipheleti, and Mik-
nejah and Obed-Edom, and Jeiel and Azaziah,
with harps on the Sheminith to excel; and Che-
naniah, chief of the Levites was for song; he in-
structed about thesong because he was skilful.”-It
appears from Esdras that this college of musicians
was denominated the “Holy Singers,” and from
Ezekiel * that they had apartments in the inner
court of the temple.

101

1

Thus evident is it, that Choir-service is strictly
of scriptural character and origin. But among
the extraordinary allegations of the present day is
the revival of an ancient objection founded upon
the strange notions, that sacred music, as part of a
Liturgy, is inconsistent with the simplicity of christ-
ian worship; that music may be performed or heard
without devotional feelings, and that it is discoun-
tenanced in a particular text, to which I shall soon
advert. These notions have been industriously
propagated, and I am sorry to say injuriously, as to
the publick good, for the mischievous purpose of
preventing music * being made auxiliary to cha-
rity; because patronage and encouragement may
thius be given to performers or auditors, who may
not be persons of religious or moral character.
The fallacy, trickery, and pseudo-theology of these
*Ezekiel, XL. 44. Crellii ii, Ethicæ Christianæ, p. 349.
* The circumstance alluded to occurred at the last Norwich
Musical Festival,

notions, ought in a strict sense, not to be noticed, because, he who would improve upon the dictates of tlie Holy Spirit is rather to be pitied than confuted. Nevertheless, as all men are not divines or students of holy writ, a concise exposure may be beneficial. David was an inspired writer and if any objections to the connection of music with devotion were ever well founded they were as valid in the days of Da.vid, as they are now. As to any inconsistency with the simplicity of christian worship, we may ask, whether St. Paul and St. James would have sanctioned such an incorporation, if they had disapproved of it, for that they did sanction it is unquestionable? would the Almighty himself have chosen, that the Liturgy used before his throne should be musical ? As to the supposed patronage thus given to irreligion or immorality, surely they who are bad

may

be made better, but cannot be made worse, by a connection of the art, with religion or virtue; nor can it be admitted, that the abuse of a thing is any argument against the use of it, since by the same mode of reasoning men ought not to have hands, lest they should commit murder with them. The text quoted from St. Paul as prohibitory of musical aids to devotion is that in the Epistle to the Ephesians ; * where the Apostle, after mentioning psalms and hymns directs them to make melody in their hearts. This phrase has been

mis tel 01904, Vas
made to imply a qualification of the preceding
words by a " limitation to the heart," but this is

actual sense. The Apostle simply meatis
not the actual sense.
with the heart, that is with attention of the mind,
not with the lips only. Besides, this
rmerely refers to private singing, and avoidance of
die impure songs of the heathebose. The Apostl

the heathens," A text in the Colossians," is really to the purpose. The Apostle there says "Let the word of God dwell in you

richyly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing

one another in psalms and hymns singing with grace bin your hearts to the Lord.” Here the Apostle (most certainly considers music, as one of the

oor DO269T od ar eids methods fitted to produce piety,

giderow to fabon 1291911

he run amelv. prayer or petitioh, and

The truth is, that divine worship is divided into two panel beideas to the latter tusit is thanksgiving or praise. especially appropriated. "This'is clearly shown from the following passages in St. Paul and St. James,

psalmody are antithetically opMosede , brat with the understanding also

ys Pei Will pray with othe spirit, and I will pray (allyding to prayer)

d again, *'I Willsing with the spirit , and I will sing

with the understanding also,
dhe Buplingon the distinietidir'made
ingreferance to thanksgiving
by St. James is still more explicito*«Is ágyamong
posla v hledaroola reef. 44277119 T

9 Bloomfield's Recensio,
• Chape. III. 16. + Corinth, XIV. 15.

were

e

11 you afliçted, let him prayals any merry, let him sing psalms.cat e prayer.cat

Byd ebrow under sorrow, and psalmody under joy.

1911 2011 brim sudbis thètes

prest authority of the Apostles, in behalf of Church music, and

Y and that Forms nearly analogous to the present Choir-service ma exist in the earliest christian worship is incontestably proved by contemporary history, even that of the Heathens. I The only real

' undecided points, whether any but inspired hymns were used by Liebe nennt that any others were allowed and the first christians. It cannot be proved from the new Testament, that any this is the reason, why in

in our truly "seriptural model of worship, no other are authorised. 1901 bobrvib et guderow saisibilit: base truth, the art of Music is of the highest

What, eirank in scripture, in reason, and in nature." min fact is Music, but vocal Sculpture, the confort sation of sounds.đo a standard of beauty What

Sofia tas ata bulan elevation of the character of

from humanity to þerojsın. Musiç unlocks the Stores of memory, reminds us of impressionis, 3dwhich once were felt in rapture, and makes vous dixebagain beyerda hauales skiebon Buge ? hours of

. situhrings, back eve of thoughtalbusteeps ip, teasias sabartina sustia.ed

tears, the sparkling 9 Plinya Tertullian, &c, see Bloomfield, vii. 641, 642.

bess merrimentand yet does not destroy its felicity.
Itec reaches the imourner; that there may be a joy in
grief itself Does not the very power of producing
such wonderful effects show that the production
of firie sounds ris a condescension of providence,
alloited to us for the benevolent purpose of elicit
ing part of the divine attributes ? mày there not
be vision in sounds and colours in words ? áre
there not Sun-rise and Sun-set, golden clouds,
blue Skies, and gay rainbows in the

e varied atmos
phere of music are not lightnings, thunders,
and all the mightiest impressions of the senses to be
effecte di un

by sounds ? will not the trumpet alone of
Piano
the Giant Archangel, be an Earthquake which
will raise us out of our very graves ? and when
we are in heaven itself, all exterior pleasure will
consist in eye and ear, in vision and music? even
upon earth, Church-music is the Epick poetry of
devotion-as

far a

as lies, within our mortal means
lose
we bring down from heaven , the Hosannas of the
Seraphs, who sing around the throne of God; and
we set to the holy tunes the sublime ideas of the
inspired prophets. Shall I mention him, who has
bob diwon
shown that this is possible-need l name
Handel.
10 7SW 52 Th •
bas tragiba !

There are those, who solemnly believe, that
PSN 0001

to be a learner not a teacher;
there are those, who do not like the wisdom of
11300 1970s Dow

it becomes ignorance to

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