| Citation |
CC-H.768.013
6 Jun 1768:41,42 (180)
May 5th, 1758. . . [4 lines introduction] [signed] D----n.
HALLELUJAH.
It is enough to make the heart of a christian leap for joy,
to observe the spirit of harmony which seems to revive in
this land and nation. The wonderful effects and advantages
of musick are too sensibly felt to be disputed by those who
have a relish for heavenly anthems, and those divine
exercises which resemble the grand employment of angels and
glorified saints. This is an art which cannot be too much
cultivated and improved by those who expect shortly to join
in a concert of heavenly music, and to mingle with the
celestial choir, who are continually surrounding the throne
of God with hallelujahs and hymns of praise. Psalmody, or
the singing of psalms, when rightly performed, "raises noble
hints in the mind of the hearer, purifies and exalts the
passions, gives the thoughts a proper turn, and cherishes
those divine impulses in the soul, which every one feels
that has not stifled them by sensual and immoderate
pleasures. It fills the mind with great conceptions,
strengthens devotion, and advances praise into rapture; it
lengthens out every act of worship and produces more lasting
and parmanent impressions in the mind, than those which
accompany any transient form of words that are uttered in
the ordinary method of religious worship."---This spirit of
harmony and zeal for the improvement of divine musick in our
churches opens a glorious prospect and is big with important
events, and in the opinion of many, will prepare the way of
the Lord, and serve as a prelude to the latter day glory;
but however this may be, it has a kind and salutary
influence upon the minds of multitudes, especially the
younger sort, who, by its powerful and attractive charms,
are flocking round the pools of divine institution, and are
found watching at wisdom's gates, and waiting at the posts
of her doors.---And how charming the sight! to behold
numbers of young people in every part of the country forming
into societies, not to riot in luxury, or to wallow in the
puddle of sensual pleasures, but in spite of all the
bewitching prospects that are found in the paths of vice,
invariably fixed to seek after and gain the knowledge of
this delightful art.--It is to be hoped that all who are
tenderly concerned for the honour of divine institutions,
especially those who are leaders in the house of God will
endeavor to promote the cultivation of divine musick; and
instead of throwing stumbling blocks & discouragements in
the way of those who are learning the art of psalmody, lay
themselves out to facilitate and encourage their laudable
design. I think no person in the free exercise of the
faculty of hearing, unless born with an unconquerable
aversion to peace and harmony, and like the salamander,
formed to live in the fire, can possibly be offended with
musick; at least he must be reduced to the wretched
condition of an envious man, who is offended with
excellence. and hates a man because he approves him one who
has no ear for musick, and cannot perceive any harmony in
sounds, for that reason cannot be disturbed with it. It is
true he may have an aversion to sound and not the harmony
(which is unperceived) that creates the disgust. But such
as really have an ear for musick, and yet will venture to
declare they are offended with it unless they can
demonstrate that perfect symmetry and proportion are
offensive, I shall beg leave to exclude from my charity, let
who will give credit to their testimony. They may possibly
dislike the musician, but that they can be offended with the
musick is what I utterly deny.---To conclude, if vocal
musick, or a regular method of singing in our worshipping
assemblies, was duly encouraged and improved, it would
supercede the necessity and perhaps prevent a great deal of
otherwise necessary expence for musical instruments in the
house of God; if the natural organs were duly exercised and
improved, those which are artificial would be rendered
useless; and it is doubtless in a great measure owing to the
abuse of vocal musick, the jarring notes and hedious cries
of unskillful fingers, that has induced many to be willing
to be at the expense, and to earnestly desire the benefit
and advantage of artificial organs. [signed] David.
N.B. If there is a person on earth compounded of such
jarring and contradictory principles as to be offended with
musick, his case is truly wretched and desperate; he is
truly to be pitied, but cannot be relieved. Every pacific
and healing measure would serve only to enhance his
distress, and a state of perfect peace and harmony would
make him raving distracted.
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