FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 3C-Houfe, N a vr n v K y -P o k r , At t k ff Deflre. o£ the Church and Congregation, Fbbruar? ^8th, 1774. By OLIVER NOBLE, A, M. Paftor of a Church in Newbury. Printed at the Deflre of the Mufical Society > In Newbury-Port. And of a Number or Gentlemen and Ladies who heard it. Yhen fang Motes and the Children of IYrael this Song. MOSES; Come before his Prefence with Singing. King DAVID. t will fing with the Spirit, and with, the Undemanding. PAUL BOSTON: Printed by Mills and 'Hicks, for Daniel Baylsy, ia Newbury-Pcrt, 1774, DEDICATION, TO the Church and Con- gregation that ufiially worfhip in the North Meeting-Houfe, Newbury- Port y and to the Mufical Society in faid Town ; and to the Singing Men and Sing- ing Women, wherever this lhall come;— This Sermon is humbly dedicated, by± their moft L Obedient and humble Servant, for Jefus's Sake, The Author. A DISCOURE on MUSIC, &c I. C H II O N. xv. 22. u4nd Chenaniah, Chief of the Levites, was for Songs; he inftrutted about the Song , becanfe he was fkilful. THAT the blefled God, the author of nature, the God of providence and grace, the Lord of angels and men, fhould be worlhipped with praife and thankfgiving by all intelli- gencies, is founded in the moral and un- changeable fitnefs of things, and belongs to the religion or law of nature ; and will re~ main binding upon all moral beings, as long as the relation of Creator and creature fub- fifts. Our account of the duty of praifing God with the voice of melody, or finging forth the praifes of the Almighty, is coeval with creation itfelf . For when God had finifhed the flupendious work of creation, and had ta- ken, as it were, a retrofpeft of the grand machine, and faw that all was very good, all fuited to his divine and infinite plan, and had pronounced it fo in the prefence of the heavenly L 4 j heavenly hoft ; the heavenly Choir celebrat- ed the workmanfhip, and worfhipped and glorified the infinite Workman, in a Jong of praife, as the moft proper and fublime way of praifing, and worshipping God, For, and on that great occafion, the an*- gels (who are called morning ftars, and fons of God) fang together and jbouted for joy. That is, they expreffed their praife in a vocal anthem. — And indeed, it feems to be a kind of natural worfhip, that forces itfelf upon the intelligent mind : The obligation to which, feems to be written on the heart ; that has always excited all moral beings, that have had any true fenfe of God upon their minds, to exprefs their homage to him with their voice in fongs of praife. For we find the people of God in the early ages of the wc-ritr^ exprefling their homage to God this way ; and that before there were any pofitive inftitu- tions of God about this part of worfhip . This is evident, not only from the account we have of that memorable tranfaction at the Red Sea ; but at other times, and on other occafions. Vocal Mufic is, in itfelf a noble and fublime art, and an fwers fublime purpofes ; efpecially when it takes a ferious and facred turn, and is employed in the worfhip and praife of God. It has not only been revered, honored, learned, and praftifed, by the greateft, wifeft, and beft of men in all ages, as that which ennobles the foul C s 1 foul of man, raifes its ideas, and fweetly calms the rougher pafMons, and furprifingly pre- pares the mind for the fublimeft, and moll vigorous exertions and meditations ; but thi$ excellent art, has been introduced into the worfhip of God by his oivn fpecial inftitution, under hoth difpenfations : Which adds dig- nity to it, and gives weight to the fubjeCi ; and which ihould animate all that are capable of it, to a facred ambition to learn, in fome good meafure, this important art, and to get {kill in muiic, efpecially in pfalmody \ and to ufe it well, in the praife of their God, and to the honor of their Redeemer, and to their own, and others edification. The bleffed God was long worfhipped by facrifices, before he was pleafed to fettle their nuuiber, kind, quality, and the manner of fa- crificing as we find them in the Jewifh law, inftituted of God, by Mofes, his fervant. So it was with this part of worfhip of which we are treating : — Though it is founded in the mo- ral reafon, and unchangeable - /ft«e?/i of things, and the obligations to vocal praife inforced by the law of nature ; yet God was pleafed to give particular orders about it, and to regu- late its form and manner by fpecial command and inftitution . This he did in particular in the time of David that great and excellent King of Ifrael ; under that great Maftcr of divine mujic^ the wan after God's own heart. The [ 6 ] The blefTed God was pleafed, as it were, to fettle the mufical part of his worfhip, under the countenance and infpeclion, of his favo- rite King ; toko himfelf was the moft fweet pfahniji and finger of Jfrael. He therefore gave particular orders and directions about this fublime part of the worfhip of the Lord in his f anCluary ; that the facred fong might be managed decently, and in order, to the honor of God, and to the edification of the pious and devout worfliipper. And to this end, a very confiderable number, both of finging men, and ringing women, were ap- pointed, to lead in*, if not wholly to perform this part of divine worfhip. And they were to devote their time, and talents, to the employ- ment, or to qualify themfelves for it. They were to make divine mufic, and the art and knowledge of it, their principal bu fine fs. *f This was, that they might be Jhilful in mufic, and know how to manage the facred fong in the beft manner, that the praifes of the Lord might be fung in all its parts, in various chords and proportions of mufical found ; that it might be calculated, to ennoble the foul, to warm the heart, and to wrap every power in facred • I am not certain but that the congregation of the Lord joined with the fingers in the public worfhip of praife, under ihe Jewifh difpenfation, efpecially thofe whofe voices were to- lerably formed to mufic ; though a late ingenious writer is of a different opinion. f This appears from their having a public nuuMCfianCC allowed them, as r^ s friefts. had, fftf, xi, *3< C 7 3 facred devotion. Though the inftru&ions about the divine mufic, that we find recorded in this chapter, relate more especially to 3. particular occafion, viz. that of bringing back the Ark of God, and fitting of it in the place that King David had prepared for it 5 yet we find the fame care about the order and regularity of mufic, continued in the ftated worihip of God, all along under the Jewifh ceconomy. That it wajs not of hu- man invention, or meerly by the command of Davids the King ; but by the command of God, and having the ftamp of divine appoint- ment, fhall be confidered in the fequel. What has been already faid opens the way for a more particular confideration of the text. * c And Chcnaniah, chief of the Levites, was for fongs." Can it be a queftion, what Jongs. thefe were, that he was to be mafter of, and to manage with beauty and order f Surely no, the point is obvious ; they were the fongs and pfalms of the Lord, compofed by holy men of old , under the guidance of the Holy- Ghoft ; defigned and adapted to worfhip and glorify- the God of Ifrael. And to this end, they had not only the fongs of Mofes, and others that were infpired by the facred fpirit, Jet to mujic ; but David himfelf^ the fvveet finger of Ifrael, was moved by the Holy- Ghoft: to compofe many divine pfalms and fa- cred hymns, which he either fet to mufic himfelf t 8 3 himfeif, or commited them to feveral fkilfut matters of mufic for this purpofe j that they might be fung with fk.il! , and made ufe of in the public worfhip of God • Such a matter of mufic was Chenaniah, mentioned in the text, and it is worth our notice in this place that he was chief of the Levites : That he fuftained one of the firft characters for honor and dignity in the king- dom of Ifrael $ yet, notwithstanding, fo no- ble, fo excellent was the art of mufic, efteem- ed in that day, efpecially divine mufic , to be employed in the worfhip, and to the honor of the true and living God ; that the greateft perfonages of the age did not think it below their dignity to apply themfclves to, and fpend much of their time in the fludy and practice of it. King David himfeif, though one of the greateft monarchs of the age in which he lived, though he was poflefled with a capa- cious mind, and was remarkable for his wif- dom, for his prudence, as well as for his va- lor, power and authority ; was no lefs re- markable for his piety and clofe attachment to the worfhip of God and a moft fervent promoter of it in every part, and is memo- rable for his /kill and zeal in this excellent part ; that it might be performed by rule, with (kill, with decency and order, fo as to anfwer in the beft manner the good ends of its appointment. And C 9 ] And with this view was Chcnaniah appoint- ed maftei of the facred fongs of the Lord ; in the original it is, he was a lifter up of the fongs, it is, as if it was laid, that he was the moderator of the facred mufic, l« t* he not only directed about the tunes and parts thereof, composing fome and choofing others, adapted to the meafure, nature and foleni- nity of the pfklm, and fong to be made ufe of in the worfhip of God, on this, or that occafion, fo that the melody might be fweet and engaging, fuited to raife the foul to the higheft pitch of devotion ; but he took pains with, and inftructed the fingers, how to lift up their voices together in harmony, on the various parts that he afligned them, fo that the various notes mould chord, and afford the fweeteft mufic to the ear ; that by this means the divine inftruction of the fong, or the mat- ter of the pfalm, might find the readieft ac- cefs to the heart, and better the foul by raif- ing it to God, and directing all the defires and affections, to things divine and heavenly. Thus much at lead, is fiiggefled to us, by his being the lifter up of the facred fongs of the Lord, and inftructing about them, be- caufe he was flulful. For this is the reafort given, why he was afligned to this honorable employ ; why, he was appointed moderator of this part of God's worfhip, and to fit and qualify others for this excellent bufinefs, by B inftructing [ io ] inftru&ing them in this fublime art. It was becaufe be was fkilful ; q. d. he was well qualified to regulate the time and movement of the facred fong, becaufe he entered into the fpirit and defign of this method of praif- ing and worfhipping the God of Ifrael ; not only fo, but he well underftood the fcale of mufic, and was ready at theufe of it, and apt to teach others the regular and harmonious performance of the duty, that it might be acceptable to God, and well anfwer the ends of its inftitution* with regard to men, their comfort and edification* This fhort paffage of infpiration affords ns the following fentiments, which I think are either exprefTcd, or fairly implied, viz. That praifing God with the voice as well as with the heart, or fin gin g forth his praif- es with the voice of melody, and that with fkill, gracefulnefs and harmony ; is a duty of great importance, and incumbent upon all that are capable of it : Founded in the moral fitnefs of things^ enforced by the fpecial in- ftitution of God , and binding upon the chrif- tian, as well as l he Jewifh church and people of God. That the duty is founded in the reafon and unchangeable fitnefs of things, and taught us by the law of nature, may appear not only, from the relation there is between God and the creature, but from the fenti- ments and practice of men, on great and weighty weighty occafions, while under the guidance and direction of reafon, and natural conference only. Natural reafon without, and before there was any pofitive institution of God, about the matter, has proved fufficient to teach men that they could no way fo pro- perly exprefs the earned defires and warm emotions of their fouls, in pious gratitude and jpy, as in the fymphony of foitg, and ani- mating chords of mufic. This is not only evident from many tcfli* monies that might be brought from profane hiftory, but from the fketches we often find in the (acred records ; where we find that pious men of old, without any fpecial direc- tion of God about it, and meerly from the dictates of their own minds ; on great and animating occafions, break forth into finging, and expreffed their religious thankfulnefs, in fongs of praife to the Rock of their falvation. This was undeniably the cafe, with Mofes and the children of lfrael at the Red Sea , then fang Mofes and the children of lfrael this fong. And it does not appear, that as yet there was any divine inftitution about this part of the worfhip, but otherwife, that it was the natural overflowings of their pious joy and thankfulnefs on. that great occajion^ and the dictates of reafon and natural confer- ence, that expreffed itjb/fm muiic, and direct- ed them thii6 to. fing God's praife, I [ 12 ] I might mention a like inftance at the well of Beer, where the people of God, being de- livered from diftreffing thirft, brake forth into fongs of praife ; worfhipping the God of their falvation with vocal mufic ; andmoft likely the fongs of Deborah, and Barak were of the fame kind. But I (hall not enlarge upon this thought. — I am next to obferve, that this excellent and fublime art of muijc, was in- troduced into the ancient church of God, by his own fpecial appointment , and made a ne- ceflary and important part of his worfhip. The great Creator of all things, having wonderfully conftituted man, with regard to the organs of ipeech and found, as well as on other accounts, forming his voice in fnch a manner that it is eafily tuned to various notes of concord and harmony ; and having imprefTed his very nature with a confcioufnefs of ufing it in the praife of his Creator, was plea fed, in his own time and way, to give ipecial direction about it. And after he had erected a church in the world, and from time to time, had revealed his mind and will con- cerning his worfhip, and fhewnhowhe would be worfhipped, as well with regard to the man- ner as matter of Worship, was alfo plea fed to give fpecial command and direction about this part of worfhip, directing that it mould be performed in the beft manner, moft agree- able to the nature of the duty, and to the nature C '3 3 nature of man ; i. e. with (kill and harmony of the voice : That it might tend to roufe a fpirit of devotion in the mind of man, and to elevate his foul in the praifes of his Creator and Redeemer : And to this purpofe there Mere a great number appointed to the facred fervice, and were instructed in the art and (kill of muiic under the belt mafters of the age ; that in the worfhip of God, it might be performed without difcord or confufion, but with decency and order ; for our God is a God of older, not of confufion. Now the obvious reafon, why fo much (kill was to be exercifed in, and pains taken about this part of worfliip was, to prevent confufion and diforder, in a part of worfliip where fo many were to lift up their voices to- gether ; in a part, defigned and calculated to reach inftruction to the foul, by the harmony of Sou n d , and to warm the heart, in the ex- ercife of true devotion ; which would be im- poflible were it to be performed without rule, fkill or order — Now to evidence that all this care and pains about the tnufical part of God's worfliip, which we find recorded in the text and context, did not originate from the mere humour of King David ;™but was by the ap- pointment of the Lord, we need but turn yoa to the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. For upon the return of the captivity, in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, when %he true wor- fliip C 1.4 1 fhip of God was again fet up in Jerufalcm, and the enquiry was Jiriclly made, what is that mo- del the Lord -commanded us, by Mofes and the Prophets : — The Singers in the worfhip of God were appointed in their order, according as we find it recorded in the text and con- text ; and this is exprefsly faid to be as the Lord had commanded, by the mouth of his fervants, the Prophets ; and again it is laid that Jehoiada, the prieit, appointed the fingers in the worfhip of God ; as it wai 'written in the law of Mofes, and commanded by David, the King : All which refer to what is written in our text, and context, and to the regulation of the facred mufic, under the man after God's own heart : Which is fuffi- cient to illuftrate the point, that voeal mufic was introduced into the worfhip of God, by his own inftitution \ and tha^ the Jcwifli church were under not only moral, but pofitive obligations, to perform it with all poflible re- gularity and harmony, as well as with pious frames of heart and religious exercife of foul. But if the queftion fhould arife, is this binding upon chrifiians f Or fhould any en- quire, is it yet obligatory upon the church of God under the chriftian difpenfation, to wor- fhip God with the voice of melody, in finging foith his praife ? To which I anfwer, that the affirmative is fully evident, and may be clearly illustrated, both from the reafons of the C i* 3 the inftltution, that ftill remain, and from the pojitive teftimony of God in this matter, found both in the old and new-teftaments. Now, it is evident, that the reafons of the duty ftill remain, and always will, as to fub- ftance ; though it may vary as to fome cir- cumftances. — The reafons of the duty, as to fubftance, are of a moral nature ; originate from the relation between the Creator and creature * and will always continue, fo long as that relation fubfifts. They depend upon the unalterable fitnefs of things, and therefore the reafons of the duty are unchangeable. Therefore it follows, that as the reafons and nature of the duty, were not peculiar to the ftate and circumftances of the Jewifh church, but of equal obligation under every difpen- fation ; fo muft of confequence, have equal weight with, and be equally binding upon chriftians. Now, one obvious reafon why finging with the voice of melody, was intro- duced into the Jewifh church, and by divine appointment made part of their religious wor- fhip was, becaufe that this facred mufic had a fir iking tendency, and peculiar force and energy, to elevate the foul of man, and to engage the mind in the moft fervent exercif- es of religion ; and, as it were, to abforb it in the warmeft raptures of devotion. For nothing perhaps (in a way of means) can have a greater tendency, to ajjimul 'ate the humble humble foul to God, and more and more liken him tohisbleffed image, and raife every power to the higheft pitch of gratitude, praife and thankfgiving : And facred mufic has evidently the fame bleffed tendency now, it had of old, and for the fame reafons ; for human nature is much the fame now, as it was. then ; God is the fame yefterday, to-day, ted for ever, and as worthy to be worfhipped and praifed as ever he was, and pious obliga- tion to do it is the fame, and (till remains ; fo that, that which was the obvious reafon for its being then inftituted, is as conclufive for, its being now inftituted, and to continue bind-^^ upon the chriftian church . And ifregular,fkilful, and harmonious ma- nagment of the facred fong, in all its parts and movements, had a tendency then to en- kindle devotion, to warm the heart, and to animate the foul, as it were to the raptures of joy and gratitude ; — it has now, and for the fame reafons ; and it is as binding upon the chriftian, as it was upon the Jewifh church and people of God. It is readily granted, that there were many things in the inftituted worfhip of God's ancient church and people, that were peculiar to them, and to that ftate and period of the church, and have no place under the chriftian difpenfation : And that becaufe the reafons of this appointment do not now ob- tain C 17 3 tain, they being abolifhed by the coming and kingdom of Chrift. Such were all things purely ceremonial and typical^ which are now entirely done away by the coming of Chrift the antitype, and the introduction of the gofpel ftate. And indeed, it appears to me to be a very juft and fafe way of determining what things were ceremonial and what were not, what were peculiar to the then ftate of the church, and what were not ; by taking into our view the particular reafons of the inftitution. For thafe practices and ordinances that had place then, not for reasons that were peculiar to the Jews and that difpenfation, but for reafons that are of equal weight under every difpenfation, are no doubt bind- ing under every difpenfation, and ought to be— conformed to, by every ferious worfliip- per of God. This reafoning is applicable to the duty we are now confidering. Whatever circumftances may differ, yet the fubjlance or ejfence of the duty, remains ftill the fame, and as binding upon us, as them ; and that with regard to the general manner, as well as matter of the duty, i. e. with gracefulnefs and harmony, as well as with grace in our hearts. — But further, the fame fentiment is plainly taught us in the word of God. There are feveral intimations to this amount in the old-teftament, that fuggefts to us that C this C is 3 this duty of worfhipping and praifing God with the voice of melody, was to be continued under the gofpel difpenfation ; one or two of which I fliall mention, that to me appear to imply a command, and to make the duty binding upon the church of God under the gofpel difpenfation ; — particularly in the iooth pfalm, make a joyful noife unto the Lord, all j/e lands ; i. e. ye people of all lands, — ferve the Lord with gladnefs ; — come before his prefence with Jinging. This we find is anaddrefs to all people, of all lands, and at all times. It is allozved by all com- mentators, and by the Jewifh Doctors and Rabbies themfelves, That this pfalm has a peculiar reference to the gofpel day, and ftate of the church, and therefore, is a command to chriftian wormippers to come before, or into the prefence of the Lord, with Jinging, and to pour out the gratitude and joy of their hearts in harmony of found, in the charming accents of Jhilful and zvellregulated mufic . But it is time that I hint to you a few things, that will afford us further light in this matter, which we colled: from the new-teftament. I fliall but mention the fongs of the bleffed virgin, of Zachariah and Elizabeth, and of good old Simeon, and others, that vented the pious raptures of their fouls, in vocal fongs of praife ; but fhall more particularly confider the examples and teflimonies, that Chrift L 19 ] Chrift and his apoftles have left us upon fa- cred record. When the Lord Jefus, by his example and command, had inftituted the fucrament of the holy fupper, at the fame time, did fignify, and fuggeft to us, that it was his will that we fhould fing his praifes, as a part of religious worfhip under the gof- pel difpenfation : For he concluded the im- portant, the inflructive celebration with a f acred hymn- — Should it be objected, that this is the only time we have any account of our Saviour's finging as a part of divine wor- ship, and fo it cannot be argued from thence, that he would have his church fing as a part of religious worfhip : In reply we may . ob- ferve, that we have no account of his cele- bration of the holy fupper at an}/ other time; what then ? He no doubt left the whole for our imitation, and hereby fully fijggefts to us, that it is his will that we fhould worfhip him by finging forth his praife. Neither have we any account of his pray- ing before, or after his fermons, What then ? Why no doubt he was a conftant at tender on the Jewifli temple worfhip ; of which fing- ing was a conftant and important part, equal- ly known, and equally binding as the duty of prayer, or any other part of divine woribip. But it will be to our purpofe %o comment a little, upon what we find in the writings of St. Paul, relating to this duty oi finging the praifes C 20 ] praifes of God in our worfhip ; efpecially fee to this purpofe the 14th chapter of his firft epiftle to the Corinthians. — And it is obferveable here, that the profeffed defigu of this chapter is to regulate the worfhip of God, fo that it might be performed decently, and with order, he aims to reform feveral ir- regularities in the worfhip of God, that had fo foon crept into the church, that the chris- tian worfhip might be guarded againft con- fuiion and diforder ; and managed with that decency and order that would have a ten- dency to promote the declarative glory of God, the honor of the Redeemer, and the mutual edification of chriftian worfhippers. And it is in this connection that he fays, / will pray ivith the fpirit^ and Izvill pray with the underftanding ; I will Jing with thefpirit* and I will fing with the underftanding : And he does not fay this only with reference to himfelf, as what he refolved upon with re- gard to his own conduct, but this is what he enjoined upon the whole church of God in his name, fpeaking with the authority of an infpired apoftle. And it is much to our purpofe, and worth particular notice, that we find this great apoftle fpeaking of finging as a well known part of religious worfhip, in common and ftated ufe and practice, equally known and acknowledged with either praying or preach- c 2i : ing, and a duty equally binding upon the chriftian church. And here he lets us know that it fhould be performed not only in the fpirit, but with the voice, not only with a right temper of mind, and with true devotion of heart, but with underfi anding : Not only with un- derstanding as to the matter and meaning of the facred Jong , but as to the rule and man- ner of its performance, i.e. with fkill and harmony. This glofs upon the words is ea- fiiy justified, from the fimilitude the apoftle brings to illuftrate his argument, which is taken from the defign and ufe of a trumpet in war ; for if the trumpet gives an uncer- tain found, who mall prepare himfelf for the battle; i'. e. if the trumpet give an irregu- lar, confufed, or uncertain found, it throws the foldiers into confufion, and differ ves the caufe which it was defigned to promote. So it is with the vifible worfbip of God in all the parts of it, if the whole affembly be fpeaking or praying at one time, or all to- gether, or ia an unknown tongue, it intro- duces confufion ; though sve hear the found the understanding is not inftructed, and the heart cannot be bettered ; the affections are not excited, devotion and pietv are not pro- moted. The fame is obferveablc with regard to ringing the praifes of God ; (the defign of which part of worflrip is, that our voices may C M 1 may be lifted up together) there muft be fome known and determinate method, or mode of found) well underflood, in which we can unite, or it cannot anfwer the purpofe of edification : Therefore the praifes of the Lord are to be fang forth, not in uncertain founds, not in confufion and diforder, with the harfh and jarring notes of difcord ; but with harmony and concord, underftanding the manner, as well as the matter of the fa- cred fong. For if, in finging the fongs of the Lord, we do it in irregular and uncertain founds, where is the harmony ? How fhall we ling together ? How fhall we keep time and movement together in this part of worfhip ? How mall we underfland one another ? And how is it poifible that we fliould be excited hereby to devotion, and be mutually edified. So it appears that by underftanding, the apoftle means Jhill in the manner, as well as underftanding in the matter, to be fung in the worfhip of God ; and anfvvers to inftruc- tion and (kill, mentioned in the text. To the fame purpofe is that of the fame apoftle to the Coloflians, iii. 16. where the duty now under confideration is exprefsly enjoined upon all chriftians in common, un- der the go {pel difpenfation, viz. that they teach and admonifh one another, in pfalms, hymns and fpiritual fongs, finging -with grace in C 23 3 in their hearts unto the Lord. Though in this paffage of fcripture, a gracious temper of mind is enjoined, the neceffity and impor- tance of grace in the heart inforced, in order to the right performance of this duty ; which indeed is the leading fe-ntiment in the right performance of every duty. Yet he cannot mean to exclude the harmony of the voice, for the end aimed at depends upon its heing vocal ; which is teaching and admonifhtng one another : The external part of the duty is taken for granted as a well known part of worfliip ; but here the apoftle reminds us of the better and internal part of it, viz. Grace in the heart that fhould always accompany the external performance of the duty, as the beft method, in order to anfwer the great and important end of the duty ; teaching and admonifhing one another, that is, by ftirring up gracious affections in ourfelves and others, by the elevating accents of mu- jic in fongs of praife, and by the united har- mony of voice. Now it is evident this end cannot be anfwered without ringing toge- ther in a focial manner, and fkilfully uniting our voices in the folemn, in the mnructive fong. Thus have I fhewn that the duty of prais- ing God with the voice of melody, or iinging forth his praife in fkilful and well regulated miijic, is binding upon the chrifthvu church and C *4 ] and people of God, as much as it was upon the Jewifh, and is taught us in the fcriptures both of the old and new teftaments. But* perhaps it will be expected that on this oc- caflon fomething fhould be faid, more parti- cularly, concerning the manner, decency and order of this part of divine worfhip. We have fhewn already in this difcourfe that finglng the praifes of God as an act of worfhip, is a duty taught us, both by reafon and fcripture ; but how frequent it is to be practifed or how often we mould fing praife when we come together for woifhip, is no where pointed out in the word of God. But it is to be a part of our public worfhip, and if fo, why not a part of our family worfhip for the fame reafons, it has the fame blefled tendency to warm the heart, and to excite fpiritual devotion in the family as well as in the houfe of God. Since therefore the duty it f elf is clearly taught us in the word of God, and the frequency and fome other circum- ftances are not, chriftian prudence muft di- rect ; but reafon and conftant experience of the benefits of it, urge us to frequency in this foul-cheering and heart-animating duty. But further, I fhall obferve, that in the compofition of this difcourfe, I have attend- ed to fome fcripture intimations that have convinced my mind more than ever of the propriety of beginning our public worfhip with with a fong of praife. That before men- tioned paffage in the looth pfalm fuggefts as much, come before his prefence with fing- ing j which words in their plain and obvious meaning, naturally lead us to conclude that finging fhould be our firft employ when we come into the prefence of the Lord ; that we fhould begin his worfhip with this fublime and holy exercife ; but let us take the fourth verfe in connection with the firft, and the latter will ferve as a comment upon the for- mer, enter into his gates with thank/ giving ^ and into his courts with praife ; which I think fully intimates to us, that when we come into the courts of the Lord, we fhould begin his worfhip with a fong of praife : The reafon and nature of the thing fpeaks the fame language i and points out the pro- priety of beginning the worfhip of God with finging, when we can with any conveniency and decency of voices 3 for this duty devoutly performed, has a powerful tendency to com- pofe and folemnize the mind , and to raife the affections, and thereby to fit and qualify the foul, for all fubfequent parts of worfhip. The thought I leave for the ferious confe- deration of all, God's people. But further, as finging is a part of God's appointed worfhip, no doubt it aught to be performed, with the moft decent and reverend pofture of the body : For we are to offer unto D God, C 26 ] God, in his worfhip, the body, as iv ell as foul and fpirit, which are his. This duty is an immediate addrefs to Cod, and that equally -with prayer ; and why mould we not ftand up to worfhip God, in this duty, as well as in that; — unlefs want of health, or bodily flrength prevent, which will equally warrant us to fit in the duty of prayer, and no more in one duty than in the other : Will any object the fatigue and wearinefs to the body 5 fuch may do well to confider, that this was the cry of old : What a wearinefs ! What a wearinefs ! — And it is obferveable that their character was none of the beft ; befides the natural advantage of a {landing pofture in this part of worfhip, as it gives play to the lungs and advantage to the voice, there is a moral reafon for it arifing from our obli- gation to offer unto God our very felves (as the apoftle expreffes it) both in foul, body and fpirit, which is but our reafo liable fervice . And now I will appeal to the common fenfe of mankind, whether {landing in an immediate addrefs to God is not moft becoming the duty . We often read of their flanding up to fing, and they flood up to praife the Lord in the beauty of holinefs, &c. But no where as I remember of their fitting down to fing forth the praife of the Lord. But further, it is a fair deduction from what has been ftid of the ufe and end of facred mudc [ *7 ] mafic ; that it fhould be performed with (kill, and harmonious modulation of thevoice. The fentiment is fully taught us in the text and context, and in other parts of the holy fcrip- tures. This part of divine worfhip of old was performed with (kill and harmony of the voice, and there was great care and pains taken that it might be fo ; and to this end was Chenaniah appointed moderator of the facred fongs of the Lord : He was Jkilful himfelf, and inftrucled others to be fo, that this part of worfhip might be performed with gracefulnefs and harmony. Now fkill in any thing implies a rule, according to which that fkill is to be exercifed ; and inflruclion fup- pofeth, the being taught this rule ; and the ufing and applying of it fkilfully to the pur- pofe defigned. — So ringing in concord and harmony, dr fkill in mufic, neceffarily implies a rule, and that they perform it fkilfully. are acquainted, in fome good meafure; with this rule ; and apply it to the purpofe defigned, with gracefulnefs of voice, and harmony of found, Mufic has its foundation in the nature of things ; it takes its fife from the unalterable proportion of Bounds one to the other; all the variations of notes and changes of the voice or inftrument in mufic, are frill depen- dant upon the foundation, i . e. the invaria- ble proportion o/jounds, It depends upon as C 28 2 as exact proportions, as any part of mathe- matical fcience whatever, of which it is an im- portant part. And therefore is pleafing and edifying fo far, and no farther, than it is compofed by, and performed according to that rule, and exact proportion ; the farther from it, the more diftant is the found from muftc ; but the nearer to this, proportion, and the more exatfnefs in performing, the more excellent and charming the muiic ; and of confequence the greater power and influence upon the human mind ; and the greater ten- dency to excite pious affection, and true de- votion in the worfliip of God* It hath pleafed the great Author of nature, not only fo to form and conftrucl: the human voice, as that it may be, in general, eafily formed to the rule and fc ale of mufic, where- by we are rendered capable of making melody to God, with our voices ; but hath formed in us, the curious organ of the ear, a faculty whereby we arc capable of diftinguifhing the fweet chords and accents of well proportioned mujic, from the jarring notes of diflbnance ; and to be highly delighted with the one, and not lefs difpleafed and difgufted with the other : For the ear tryeth founds, as well as words ; therefore, that the facred mufic ufed in God's holy worfliip, may be both pleafing and edifying (for one it cannot be without the other) it muft be performed with regular exa&ne fs • C 29 ] exa&nefs of found, time and movement*. As far diftant, as it is from this, fo much it loofeth of its power and influence to pleafe and * In order further to illuftrate this thought, and to throw light upon the fubjeel, I (hall favour the public with fome critical remarks of my worthy friend and brother, Mr. Strong, of Simfbury, the only author I had read upon the fubjeel, and to whom I am indebted for feveral fentiments in this difcourfe, though I truft I have fo far digefled them, and wrought them into my cwn method of thinking and fpeaking, that they have fo far become my own as that neither he nor others, can ac- eufe me as a plagiary. 1 fhall therefore extract fomething from his piece by way of marginal note, as it is wrote with great j'uftnefs and ingenuity, and better exprefies the thought that I am now confidering, than any language of my own ; but let us hear what Mr. Strong fays upon the point ; he, fpeaking of the ground and foundation of mufic, as founded in the nature of things, takes this inference, " Is it true that mufic has its foundation in the nature of things, and depends upon exact proportion ; and as to its eiTentials always remains invariably the fame ; then certainly the principal and fundamental rules by which it is taught are alfo the fame in all ages. Whenever therefore a regular attempt is made to reform pfalmody, it is not to introduce properly a new way of ringing, but to xcco- ver men from their errors, and to bring them back to practice npon the only good old way : And whoever difapproves of, •r oppofes fuch an attempt through diflike, does fo through ignorance or fomething worfe. Yet this, notwithiianding, when people have been long without a regular method of ringing in the wormip of God, and have departed from it, it is not at all to be wondered at, if many warmly oppofe an attempt for a reformation^ through an averiion to innovations in matters of divine worihip, and the more precife and confeicntious per- fons are, the warmer their oppofition ; and yet all through ig- norance or miftake : Such has always been the cafe with re- fpec~l to reformations of all kinds, in things pertaining to re- ligion or the worfhip of God.— Again, —Though the rule be one and the fame, yet it may be differently applied, and as to non-eiTentials, very perceptable alterations and variations may take place, perhaps in all cafes ; for instance in finging, the notes ufed in jnufic may be founded ilower or quicker, longer or fhorter, being juilly proportioned, and the rule dTentuliy C 30 ] and delight the foul, and to excite it to, and animate it in the exercife of true devotion. Therefore from hence follows the importance of acquiring (kill in facred mafic, that our voices may be lifted up together in all the parts of the facred fong ; and that with as great exactnefs, and with as much harmony as poflible* There are many pailagesin facred fcripture, that reprefent God's approbation of the fkilful and melodious performance of this the fame. In former times, the longeft note was to be founded four times fo long as the longed now in ufe : So that although it be eflential to good mufic that the feveral notes have their proper founds* yet as to the length or continuance of their founds, it is not of the effence of mufic, but of its circum- ftantials, and may therefore be varied. Alfo with refpect to keeping time with utmoft exaclnefs, in all the feveral parts of the tune ; this is fo eflential to good finging* that it cannot poflibly be good without it ; of the truth of this every one is vvitnefs, who has any tafte for mufic : He quick perceives the difagreement, and finds his ear wounded whenever it is want- ing ; though others v/ho have not that tafte, difcern nothing of it, and therefore are by no means competent judges in the cafe. But the methods ufed to meafure and keep the time ex- actly have been different, in different times and places ; and it is but a circumftantial thing, what method or motion be ufed, provided it be decent and well anfwer the end. The prefent method of beating the time, as it is called, has been found the moft eafy and exadl of any hitherto tried among us. The ex- cellency and beaofy of mufic, and I add its tendency to anfwer the purpofes of religion, much depend upon giving the founds properly, and keeping the time with critical exaclnefs. All the cavals and objections that can be thrown in the way, againft regular finging, will go but very little way towards convincing any one who has a tafte for mufic, and finds himfelf tranfport- ed almoft to rapture, by its fweet harmonious drains, that re- gular, well proportioned mufic has nothing in it preferable, to the finging we have been wont to have, while we went without xule." C 3* 1 this duty of finging forth his praife ; I (hall mention but one or two. When King Solo- mon conveyed the ark of the covenant of the Lord to the temple he had built for it, and fat it in the deflgned place for its reft, he did it with a band of mufic, the moft grand and fublime that we have any accoant of; and it is worth our notice, that when the fingers, fang all as one, and when all the inftrumeni- tal m-ufic coincided with the vocal, fo as to become all as one, & e* in perfect concord and harmony ; that then, and not till then, the glory of the Lord rilled the houfe ; and the cloud of glory which was the cymbal and token of the divine prefence and favour, fo covered the ark, and the mercy-feat, that the priefts could not ftand to minifter, be- caufe of the glory and perhaps becaufe of the exftatick rapture of their fouls in holy de- votion, 2d Ghron. v. 13. which fee, Sec. and God has often appeared for his people and given them fignal deliverances, in confe- quence of the devout finging of his praife. chriftians of every denomination, ftation and relation of life, be perfuaded to put to their moulders in fo good a work, as the revival of facred mufic : As it cannot be done with- out labour and pains, and not commonly without fome little coft, let thofe that have voices, and can learn, efpecially the younger part, take pains in this excellent art, and let others, efpecially thofe that are opulent, contribute to this good defign as God has given themincreafe, and as the caufe may re- quire ; whether they mean to learn or not, that others may have all poflible advantage, who may be difpofed to apply themfelves to the bnfinefs of learning the art of mufic, to be employed in the worfhip of God ; it is of public utility, and a public fpirit will excite to this., This is a flourifliing, opulent town, and it would be no great burden to fupport a free and open -fchool, for the learning of facred mufic^a great part of the year ; and were this come into, the whole town would foon feel, and would quickly be convinced of the general benefit ; it is much to your ad- vantage at home, and to your honor abroad, that you have not only made ample provi- sion C 4° 3 fion for the fupport of the public worfhip of God in other parts of it, but have taken li- beral care for the fchooling, and training up children and youth at the public expence *. And will you be wanting in this part of inftruclion that demands fo little expence, and is of fuch public and divine advantage I I charitably hope you will not : If you would have the fpirit of pfalmody make rapid pro- grefs among you, let the rich and honorable, perfons of diftinclion, of both fexes, engage in it, as well as others, and let none be too big to learn fo excellent an art, and fo fhall your example redound to the glory of God, and general benefit in this regard. It is no difhonor to the moft dignified perfon among us, to be engaged in facred mufic ; it is a genteel accomplishment for the honorable of both fexes, and has always been efteemed fo by the wifeft and belt of men in all civilized nations : It will recommend you as men ; but how much more fo as chriftians ; it en- larges the mind, it ennobles the foul, it fil- leth it with refined fentiments, and turns out from the mind low grovling ideas. But above all, it is to the glory of God, and ferves your be ft, your religious inter eft, and will you not be perfuaded by this ? Are you wore honorable than King David, are you more # There are three public fchools in Newbury-Port, fupported with handfome falaries, befides a very considerable number of private fchools. C 4i 3 more refpectable than Chenaniah the chief of the Levites : And they thought it no dif- honor to make this facrcd muiic much of their employ ; and in this heavenly art they could inftruct others, and think it no ftoop, no tarnifh to their honor. — Befides, ye rich^ ye honorable in this world, will ye not be willing, by and by, to join ifTue, and fing in con fort with thofe that are now beneath * you, when they, leaving the church mili- tant, mall join the church triumphant, and eternally iing forth the praifes of God in heaven • When perfons of diftinction, wealth and honor, come to be engaged in fo good a work, then there will be an open fchool or fchools for pfalmody, upon a generous plan, free for all denominations without diltinc- 1 tion ; and I cannot but natter myfelf, that this will foon be the cafe : And are there any Chenaniahs among you, that are able to in- ftruct about the fong, becaufe they are fkil ful, and are they willing to fpend their ftrength, time and talents in the work, let a fufficient number be employed in this bu- frnefs, and let them have a reafonable, and but a reafonable reward. Then, and per- I haps not till then, (hall we fee facred mufic 1 generally revived, and God be worfhipped 1 in our religious affemblies with the fweetefl 1 harmony in fongs of praife 3 and our hearts Ithereby be warmed with th* mod fervent ol Idevotion, F A C 4* 1 A thought or two more and I have done ? How melancholy is it, that we fcarce hear a female voice in our public worfhip of praife, though they make up fo great a part of our worfhipping afTemblies. — Suffer me, there- fore, an addrefs, ye females of this large and refpeclable affembly, efpecially to the younger part of you : — For what did the great Author of Nature throw peculiar fweet* nefs into your Voices, as well as delicacy in your general conftitution ? — Why did he form it upon a different and fublimer key ? Why has he given it the force of charm f Was it to trill a loofe air, or chant a wan- ton fong ; to excite defire, and to give fuel to the loofer paflions ? — Surely no. — Was it not rather that you might ufe the fweetnefs of your voice in finging the praifes of your God, and to the honour of your Redeemer ; and that by a diftinct part of the muftc, in the public worfhip ; you might add dignity, foftnefs and the Jweeteft harmony to the fo- lemn fong. It is worth your consideration, that though the infpired apoftle feems to have fhut your mouths in every other part of public worfhip, yet he hath left them open in this ; and will you fhut them in the only part of public worfhip, in which you can open them with decency, and to your own, and others comfort and edification ? Will you not improve tie liberty God hath given you, and f C 43 ] and in a peculiar manner fitted you fov y har- mony of found, and to grace the worfhip of his praife ; your imaginations are quick and lively, and by induftry and application, you may foon learn, in a good meafure, this ex- cellent art 9 and lb your charming voices (hall add beauty to, and give inftruction in the worfhip of God. Had 1 time I migH perfuade you to the duty, by many affecling arguments, by the confideration of the re- deeming mercy and dyinglove,by the bowels of a Saviour, who wept, agonized and died, that you might rejoice and fing ; I might perfuade. you by the frequent appearances of a gracious God, in difpenfing fpeciai lav- ing mercy in anfvver to praife, as well as prayer. — But I forbear.— Let me clofe with a general addrefs, and perfuade all that can., to engage in, or promote facred mufic, by the excellency and tendency of it, as it raifes the foul to God, and excites holy defires af- ter him, and the tokens of his favour, and calms the foul, quiets the rougher paffions, and prepares the mind for ferious medita- tions, and for the re/idence of God by his holy fpirit ; it muft be excellent ; and thus it is an excellent antidote againft Satan's in- jections and temptations, whether fubtle wiles, or fiery darts. Sacred mufic is a bar- rier to keep Satan out of thejffcul, it fhuts, as it were, againft him each avenue to the heart ; C 44 3 heart ; mufic is in direct oppofition to this fubtle adverfary, he cannot live where it is, in any perfection, he muft flee before the pious and harmonious mufic of the people of God ; David's mufic could diflodge him from Saul himfelf, where he had long pof- i billon : So my friends, if you will unite in a gracious harmony of heart and voice, you fhall keep the devil out, or drive him from your hearts, you fliall drive him out of town, what I mean is, that ye fliall triumph over his temptations, through the promifed aid of him that hath loved you, and died for you ; by this, every litigating party may be foothed into love, peace, and harmony. — Wrath, malice, evil fpeaking and backbiting, thofe tools and engines of the devil, and promoters of his kingdom, fliall flee before vour united facred mufic ; while you meet together for this heart-chearing, and love and peace begetting and promoting employ : Thefe angry, turbulent paflions fliall find no place, for they fliall be foothed and huflicd to filence, by the practice of this facred art. The malicious heart, the angry paflions up- on a flandcring backbiting tongue, fet on fire the courfe of nature ; and are fet on fire of hell. But the fofter and manly paflions, love, peace, Jo y^ gratitude and friendship, ■j.ve fet on nre^K^raw/zV, and thereby neigh- bourhoods and communities are cemented in t 45- J m the bonds of love and affection. Theft furely this heavenly art is worth taking fome pains about ; it is a laudable ambition, to flrinc in the knowledge and practice of it, and by thefe arguments would I permade you to the fublime employ. Butlfhall fhut up the whole by turning your attention to fome where between fifty and an hundred motives, to learn and practice this excellent art * ; there they are before you 5 and it affords me no little pleafiire, to obferve that thefe motives are, a number of them, of the feminine, as well as of the mafculine gender : -—How are we charmed when they fing in confort, how does the fkilful, and divine mu- fic thrill through every pore and vein j and how are our fouls wrapt in facred devotion • O what would the mufic be, how finking and inftructive the harmony ; could a whole affembly fing with like exactnefs. Go on my mufical friends and profper, and may the Lord be with you, and blefs you ; fee to it that you get the melody of the heart, the grace of God, and true fpiritual devotion there , that from fweetly finging together here, ye may join the church triumphant, and the eternal anthem to God and the lamb in the heavenly ftate. — And oh ! That the facred fire may catch from n»an toman, and J^ from * Aboot the number of the ibciety of fingers, that were pre- sent on the occafion. t 4«'3 from houfe to houfe, until it burn to a glo- rious flame. May the laudable ambition, to learn this fublime art, fpread through the whole town, and into the neighbouring towns and parifhes ; and may there be ma- ny Chenaniahs raifed up, who (hall in ft nidi about live _ long, becaufe they are .fkilful. Which may God of his infinite mercy grant, through Jefus Chrift, Amen, N S. I IS: m I W^,\ n