Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1867-12-12
For tie Fayetteville Observer.
Instrumental Music.

lHStFuuenUal MUSIC.
"Who is this that darkeneth
by words without knowl-
edge 2'-JoB.
AS there has been an inter-
change Of thought on this subject,
in the words Of Job, 81 also will
show mine opinion : for "Great
men are not always wise" jon.
II has been contended that In
St,atmentat Music in the church is
to elevate her character as to taste
and refinement.
That there was instrumental mu-
sic in the Jewish church is admit
ted. But there were sacramental
offerings, circumcision, long boards,
and many other things. Where
are they now? None of those
usages are continued. Sacrificial
offerings were discontinued. st.
Paul says, circumcision is moth
ing" and, that it is a "shame for
a man to have long hair"
Not one word is said by Christ
or the Apostles in favor of instrss-
mental music. Had it been in
tended to be continued, is it not
most probable, that some direction,
or sanction would have been Civ
en-, or left on record in regard to it :?
But what is said in regard to
uocal music? Teaching and ad-
monishing one another in psalms
and hymns, and spiritual songs,
singing with gracein yourhearts to
the Lord" Col. 3-l6; EPF. $40.
"Paul and Silas sang praises un-
to God" James says, sis any
merry? let him sing Psalms. I"
When Christ and his disciples had
''sung an hymn, they went out in
to the Mount of Olives"
Now in all this, and in all the
New Testament, not one word is
said in favor of organs, or of in
strumental music in the church.
Are not its advocates wise above
what is written? They wish to
exalt the church to a higher state
Of taste and refinement: AS if
Instrumental was above vocal, and
Jewish taste and refinement above
Christian. O! that | could satisfy
! them that ''great men are not al
ways wise"
But what were the teachings
and practices of the first ministers
and advocates of Methodism p
Were John and Charles Wesley,
Fletcher and Benson, Watson and
Clark, and others of their time, in
favor of an organ? Or. the first
Bishops and Ministers of Ameri-
ca, were they in favor of instru-
mental music? Where is it writ.
ten?
Do those dignitaries and persons
who have already injured the
church with instrumental music,
and, who wish to pollute all the
churches with organs, think they
are wiser, holier, more useful, and
on higher elevation of sanctified
taste and refinement than those
first ministers and men of God?
What would they think, who un-
der God, originated and establish
ed Methodism, of the present teach
ing and practice on the subject !?
They who were at the highest
pitch of sanctJfed taste and refine
ment? They who enjoyed the
blessing of regeneration in the full
ness of sanctification, by the Holy
Ghost? They who preached JUS
LITIGATION, regeneration, and sancti-
fication by faith in Christ? And
who had exceeding happiness to
witness the great work of grace
continually under their ministry 2
[ say, what would these men of
God think of such pretensions to
higher taste and refinement through
instrumental music, or through
the dumb sound of an organ :?
Would they think it superior to
intelligent, spiritual, congregation
al singing, making melody in the
heart to God, according to the d.
rection of His word
How men have "darkened coun-
sci by words without knowledge in
every age of the world! How
frequently Gods ancient people
went astray? To say nothing of
the downfall of Greece and Rome,
of the ruin of empires and king
doms anterior to them; and of
the church through false and erro-
NOUS teachings; what was the