Prophets of thy Father and to the Prophets of thy Mother At his further presentation of their imminent destruction the Propher subjoyneth As the Lord of Hosts liveth before whom I stand surely were it not that I regard the presence of Iehoshaphat the King of Iudah I would not look toward thee nor see thee But now bring me a minstrel and it came to pass when the minstrel played that the hand of the Lord came upon him and he said that is he prophesied It may here be demanded Why Elisha so great a Prophet of the Lord being to prophesie to so serious and so grave a work would seem to require so youthfull an expedient as a minstrel and musick Concerning which here are several probable Reasons assigned 1. It was necessary to lift up and comfort his mind at present perplexed and troubled with bitterness of sudden passion as indignation at the presence of the idolatrous Iehoram so also for sorrow and sympathy in the distress of good Iehoshapat and the people of Israel with him in so evident a danger of destruction by the Enemies of God 2. To revive and chear up his drooping spirit that it might be enabled and fitted to prophesie as also the hearts of the people to attend unto the same 3. This Musician was probably a Levite skilfull in singing Psalms and Hymns to Gods glory and Services thereto appertinent and playing them on Lute Harp Organ Viol or other like Instrument So had the people of God in those days solemn Musick at their Sacrifices to quicken them up to prayer and praises of God So at that great Solemnity 2 Chron. 7.6 performed by Solomon The Priests waited on their offices the Levites also with instruments of musick of the Lord which David the king had made to praise the Lord because his mercy endureth for ever and the Priests sounded trumpets before them So Hezekiah set the Levites in the house of the Lord with Cymbals with Psalteries and Harps according to the commandement of David for so was the commandement of the Lord by his Prophets Now David having excellent skill in Divine Poetry and solemn Musick knowing that both of these were accommodate and necessary for the service and House of God left behind him many Psalms and as some learned Divines observe was the Author of joyning Melody to Poesie in publick Prayer for the raising up of mens hearts to attention without which he well knew all our service would be but vain and fruitless and also by vocal and instrumental musick for the sweetning of humane affections towards God that men might delight in the Worship of God So the Church of Christ still reteineth these as an ornament in Gods service and for an help to Devotion 4. Thus the Prophets used to have Musick when they were to prophesie So Saul according to the word of Sà muel met a company of Prophets with a Psaltery and a Tabret and a Pipe and an Harp before them and they prophesied and Saul also prophesied with them From all which it may appear That Musick where it can be conveniently had is of excellent use in relation to prophecy and other parts of Gods service publick or private Now Musick is either Instrumental Vocal or mixt of both Concerning the First and Third of these some School-men make scruple Whether Instruments with Voices in the Churches and Gods publick service under the Gospel be lawfull Concerning vocal Musick or singing Psalms no sober Christian makes any question we say both Vocal and Instrumental are here respectively both lawfull and convenient For which we offer these following Reasons 1. Musick whether vocal or mixed is scientia benè modulandi or of high and low sounds a due proportionable disposition Therefore they who acknowledge the one still necessary and lawfull ought to shew cause why the other is not or in what part of Holy Scripture that which all know was once commanded as necessary is since forbidden as no longer necessary or unlawfull 2. Mixt Musick is as an ancient in Gods service as the Temple or Tabernacle whose Structure Rites and Services the Lord himself appointed yea before the Ceremonial Law was given Moses and the people of God did sing unto him and Miriam the Prophetess took a timbrel in her hand and all the women went out after her with timbrels answering them Sing ye to the Lord. Mixed Musick therefore in Gods service and praises seems not a branch of the Ceremonial Law that it should thence be concluded abrogated but as subordinate to Gods service and fitting mens minds thereto of the ever-binding Moral Law which faith in the Gospel Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God wherein are comprehended all things thereto subordinate and necessary for Gods service as is all that which conduceth to edification in Christ. 3. As Musick was appointed by God to praise him in his Tabernacle and Temple to which Christ in the days of his flesh often resorted so was it used by Christ as at his last Supper and institution of that great Mystery appointed by him to represent and shew his death and passion till he come wherein Christ sung his pare with his Apostles for we may not think that he sat by them onely to keep time or as an Auditor Add hereto that even under the Gospel Musick is expresly commanded for edification in Christ and therefore must still be lawfull and necessary of which the Apostle faith Ephes. 5.19 20 Be filled with the spirit speaking to your selves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord giving thanks always for all things unto God and the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So Colos. 3.16 Let the word of Christ dwelt in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in psalm and hymns and spiritual songs this could be no Iewish ceremony How is it then brethren when ye come together every one of you hath a psalm hath a doctrine Let all things be done unto edifying 4. Musick hath such natural proportion with the reasonable soul that some defined the soul it self by harmony It is remarkable that Solomon the wisest of meer men and the worlds greatest Philosopher made a thousand and five Songs wherein he excelled all the children of the East-countrey as in that Song of Songs Solomon in deep mysteries excelled Solomon And David the man after Gods own heart and sweet Singer of Israel composed many Psalms to divers musical Instruments as may appear in the Titles of many of his Psalms which have ever been in use in the Church of Christ as to the matter and substance though not always to the same manner and circumstances which the Exigents and times of persecution could not at all times permit the Christian Churches not then constituted as may appear in Plinies Epistle unto Trajan reporting the custome of the Christians then used
A SERMON Lately delivered in the Cathedral Church OF CANTERBURY CONCERNING Church-Musick By JOHN READING D. D. Prebend of the same Church LONDON Printed by Tho. Newcomb 1663. Imprimatur M. FRANCK S. T. P. R. P. Ep. Lond. à Sac. Dom. Mar. 13. 1662 3. A SERMON lately delivered in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury concerning Church-Musick 2 KING 3.15 16. And it came to pass when the Minstrel played that the hand of the Lord came upon him And he said I Come to you this day as Iacob to Padan-Aram to remove the Stone and Rock of Offence taken at our Church-Musick that the Flock may be watered My endeavour shall be by Gods assistance and your wonted patience to shew why we use it and you should joyn with us therein and my desire is your serious attention left the loss of one point beget a misunderstanding in others God mercifully indulgeth to mans infirmity omitting no means to save him as'tis written What could have been done more to my Vineyard that I have not done in it Whereas therefore mans innate affections bear a great part in good or evil much byassing the Will and Understanding to either God not willing to destroy but to correct the Affections that they may be necessary hand-maids to Virtue faith not Thou shalt not hope but Hope thou in God Neither Thou shalt not fear but Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God so Thou shalt love the Lord thy God and Ye that love the Lord hate evil and Delight thy self also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart The Holy Ghost seeing mankinde hardly drawn to Virtue and that Righteousness is less esteemed by reason of our Affections proneness to that which delighteth in his Wisdom mingled Heavenly Mysteries with pleasing Melody that by the Ear he might secretly convey the Treasure of Divine good into the Soul To which purpose were those melodious Hymns and Psalms appointed for us in God's service that we might at once be both delighted and profited To the words of the Text It came so pass when the Minstrel played Et suit secundumm modulari modulantem Thus it came to pass by Gods Providence so appointing it The LXX give the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Singer or Musician The word is of that which signifieth to sing or make musick and here signifieth any kind of Musician skilfull in singing or playing on Instruments Lute Harp Organ or other like the fence is When the Prophet heard the Musick the hand of the Lord came upon him that is a Divine motion or influence of Gods Spirit and he said or spake the words of the following Prophecy Here are two Causes of the Effect following The 1. Subordinate or minus principalis it came to pass when the Minstrel played 2. Principal chief and supream efficient producing the effect He said Thus faith the Lord. I. That such a Cause as a little Musick should open the Archives of Gods secret counsel concerning things to come in matters so dubious and unexpected of such high consequence and concernment as the saving of three Kings and the lives of all the Israelites and much other auxiliar Forces present and by means so improbable to carnal wisdom as filling that dry valley with water to relieve them and their cattle when neither wind should be perceived nor rain seen that such an occasion as Musick should come within the verge of Causes thereto subordinate Could be by no other means or others appointment but his who by his unlimited power produceth the most difficult effects by what causes he pleaseth He created this Universe of nothing praeexistent Dixit facta sunt He appointed that Naamans leprosie should be cleansed by his washing seventimes in Iordan and that Iericho's deathfull Waters should be cured by casting into them a new cruse of salt and that the Widows Oyl should increase in the barrel by pouring out so long as there was a vessel to receive it and that Israel should march into the Red Sea to be saved that it might be to them a type of Baptism wherein the water toucheth the body to cleanse body and soul from all sin by the blood of Iesus Christ. 1 Joh. 1.7 He commanded Moses to smite the Rock at Horeb with his Rod that the waters might flow to relieve the numerous Hoste of Israel with their herds and flocks He to supply the want of Wine at the Canamarriage commanded the Waiters to fill their water-pots with water to the brim It were too long to pursue the Examples of this kind which demonstrate God the most free Agent not bound to the use of any second causes but producing what he will how he will Fear not whatever work or estate God assigns thee to He is Almighty who provides for his Agents Fear not thy abilities but remember that thou art in Gods service who by a sufficient measure will enable thee to that which he enjoyneth thee Were it thine own work thou mightest reasonably require probable and apparent means to warrant thy undertakings but if God command thee thy sufficiencie shall be of him so that thou shall not need to say with Gideon O my Lord wherewith shall I save Israel Behold my family is poor in Manasseh and I am the least in my fathers house if God be with thee who can be against thee If there remained but wounded men they should be enabled to do that which God will have done Thou needest not say as Moses Send I pray thee by the hand of him whom thou wilt send While he looked not toward the power of God but his own abilities diffident of the success he said O my Lord I am not eloquent I am slow of speech and Isaiah said Wo is me for I am undone because I am a man of polluted lips and Ieremy Ah Lord God behold I cannot speak for I am a child they remembred not at present that God could touch their lips to enable whom and to what he will In Gods service to forget his power is so dangerous that Ionah will rather be miching toward Tarshish then obey Gods command at Nineve And good Ananias willing to decline the service will say Lord I have heard by many of this man how much evil he hath done to thy Saints at Ierusalem But to come to the intended point we must necessarily consider the coherence of these words with the rest of this History Moab after the death of Ahab rebelled Iehoram his Son implored aid against them of Iehoshaphat King of Iudah he consented they agree to fetch a compass by the Desert of Edom in seven days march they are distressed by want of water they are enforced to consult the Lord by Elisha they come to meet him he sharply greeteth Iehoram What have I to do with thee get thee to the
preach it to them I hate him said Ahab he prophesieth no good but evil to me That sweet Oyntment should kill Vultures and Scarabes which delight in carrion and filthy stench it must needs be in the indisposition of the receivers for good savours are very pleasant and comfortable to others 2. They are offended because we sing some Prayers And are not many parts of David's Psalms excellent Forms of Petitions to God and did not he and the Church of God with and after him in every Age since sing the same Was it then lawfull and expedient to sing holy Elegies solemn Prayers and Doxologies to God If so how cometh it since to be unlawfull 3. They say they cannot understand what is sung On whom is their not understanding to be charged Aquinas after S. Augustine answereth hereto All the affections of our souls as they are divers have their proper Moods in the voice and singing by whose secret familiarity they are stirred up so in hearers among whom though some understand not those things which are sung by others yet they understand why they are sung to wit to the praise of God and this faith he is enough to stir up devotion Give me leave to doubt whether if these pretenders to so much knowledge were presently taken up into Paradise as S. Paul was and admitted to hear those ineffable words there sounding they would understand c. though c. all to the praise of God c. 4. They say Musick is abused to superstition and corruption of good manners I answer so have the best things been meat drink and the spiritual food of souls Gods holy Word and Sacraments not excepted Can you reasonably think that impious abuse by some concludes a necessary abolition of an holy use of these to all others I say of things so excellently serving to our necessary use in the worship and praise of God keying and tuning of holy Chores so much approved by the Prophets Apostles and Martyrs the wisest and best of the sons of men as also by the continual practice of heavenly Chores of Saints and holy Angels above all by Iesus Christ daily hearing therewith their Prayers and accepting the same as sweet odours of incense what is this lawfull in Heaven but not in Christ's Church on earth May we not in imitation of such patterns of sanctity with sacred musick heighten our dull minds to speak hear pray and in the praises of God as it were tune at the door until we be admitted into the full Chore in the Church triumphant Doth not our Saviour Christ teach us to say and do we not accordingly say Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven Must we pray to be enabled to do that which however enabled we may not do Let the most bitter-spirited Antagonist ingenuously say Is not the whole Book of Psalms so often avowed cited and used by Christ Sepher-Tehillim a Book of Praises composed for the Churches use unto the end of time or think you that this so excellent a part of Scripture was written onely to inform us what the Saints of God did before us but not what we also must do by their example As for the abuse of Musick we abominate it but affirm that holy melody is accommodate to every estate and condition the Apostle saying without exception Is any merry let him sing There may here be a fault in defect for some like those curious Solar instruments make sweet musick and bless the Lord so long as the Sun of prosperity shines on them but no sooner is that clouded but they are silent and then Musick is to them as the Lords Song in a strange land But David in his affliction called to remembrance his song in the night And Paul and Silas laden with stripes and in strict durance did sing and pray at midnight with admirable effect to their own comfort and others It is above all dispute that we have as much need to have our minds and affections calmed and lifted up from worldly thoughts deviations and distractions in God's service now as his Israel had of old time when he prescribed them both singing and instrumental Musick to prepare and fit them to his Worship and why we may not now use the means thereto expedient and formally commanded I challenge all gain-sayers to shew us any good Reason So come I to the Principal Cause of the specified Effect The hand of the Lord came upon him that is the power and influence of Gods Spirit which Metonymical manner of speaking is frequent in Scripture as Ezek. 3.22 The hand of the Lord was there upon me Judg. 6.34 The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon So on Iephtah so on Sampson So Elisha said to Elijah I pray thee let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me that is of Gods Spirit wherewith thou hast been assisted The sum of all amounteth to thus much The Spirit of the Lord enableth his servants to prophesie Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost His hand and power is still upon them in their Ministration as 't is written The spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets And our Saviour Christ faith to his Apostles I am with you alwayes even unto the end of the world and He that heareth you heareth me And now the time admonisheth me that the remainder of this Discourse be like a natural motion swiftest near the end I must tell you therefore that the Apostle makes our Application 1 Thes. 5. 20. Despise not prophesyings He gave the reason before 1 Thes. 4. 8. He that despiseth despiseth not man but God who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit and He that despiseth you despiseth me Let the Grecians in their profane levity account Preaching of the Gospel foolishness and the Pharisees reject the counsel of God against themselves they shall once though too late know who now neglect so great means of salvation undervaluing this Heavenly Treasure because we have it in earthen vessels that it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth Consider therefore before it be too late That he that despised Moses Law died without mercy under two or three witnesses of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath done despite to the Spirit of Grace Which secure sinners do when they undervalue the Word and Ordinance of God If thou so do there will be in thine own Conscience not onely two or three but a thousand unavoidable Witnesses which can neither be withdrawn by favour nor silenced by reward If thou hast been a careless or negligent Hearer yet seriously repent thee and henceforth more diligently frequent holy Assemblies and more attentively hear the Word of God It is as the Eastern Star to