The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-06-08

economy (Deut. Nv: Z; XII: 81 as 1t Is
now; that Moses authorised no instru-
mental music in even the service of the
altar; that hence its introduction" etc.
(See quotation above)
Now, either the worship of God with
instruments, in the time of David and
subsequently,, was acceptable to God, or
it was not. No one will say that it was
not. But if it was, then it must have
been worship in a avay appointed IN HIS
acord-.1us divinatna, and not mere polit-
ical ordinance made by the secular az
thority of David I hope that the DR..
has not forgotten that the second COM
mandment forbiddeth the worshipping Of
God by images, OR ANY OTHER WAY NOT
APPOINTED IN HIS WORD" That musical
instruments were introduced into the wor-
ship Of God by Has authority and not by
the mere secular authority of David, is
proved from 2 Chron xxx: %, "And
he (Hezekiah) set the Levites in the
house of the Lord with cymbals, with
psalteries, and with harps, according to
the commandment of David, and of Cad
the kings seer, and Nathan the prophet;
FOR so WAS THE COMMANDMENT OF THE
LORD BY HIS PROPHETS"
3. | object to the statement that Gin
strumental music was made part only
of the typical ordinances of sacrifice"
In the first place, supposing that the
aw relating to musical instruments was
not Jus dIUinuna, what right had David
by his mere royal secular authority to
interfere with Gods typical ordinances
of sacrifice" And if instrumental music
Was ga part only of the typical ordi-
nances of sacrifice, aOhat aoas 1t talpical
of? What IS ats antitype9 What con-
hectlon had it with the sacrifice, and in
what way, being abolished has it met
its tulfilment in the sacrifice Of Calvary?"
But perhaps. when it is said that {" in
Strumental music was made part only
of the typical ordinances Of sacrifice" it
IS not meant that it was made an essen
tial element in these ordinances, but that
1t was only an adventurous part of them
"a something added to the ceremonies
of the occasion. If so, then if it was typ
zeal, insist upon an answer to the ques-
ton, of what was it typical? If it was
not typical, then why bring in the spe-
cious plea that the types being abolished,
instrumental music must of necessity be
abolished, and by such an argument main
tain that It's present use as a part of wor-
ship is sin? Singing and praying were
Just as much parts of the typical ordi-
nances CT sacrifices, as was the use of
musical instruments. Have they too
been abolished, having met their "ful-
filment in the sacrifice of Calvary ?"
Neither can the statement that "the
with the typical sacrifices" be proved :;
If, by that statement it is meant that in
strumental music was never used in the
worship of God except in connection with
the offering up of sacrifices, singing the
ongof Moses, in which his sister, Miriam
he prophecies, and the Jewish women
oined, with timbrels and with dances"
vas an act of aOorShip. The prophets
who prophesied when they met Saul,
we're coming down from the high place,
With psaltery, and a tabret and a pipe,
md a harp before them" David had
his psaltery and harp with him in the
cave when he composed and sang the
tifty-seventh Psalm. Compare also 2
Chron. Xxx %, with Xxx: 81, IS.
4. The argument of the DR.. against
musical instruments, that they are used
by the Papists, needs no special answer.
might offset it by saying that they were
used also by David, by Gods command.
AS much as I abhor the Papal religion, [
do not intend to cut off my nose, because
the Pope has one on his face.
5. His argument that musical -instru-
ments have been abused by the Papists,
is inconclusive The worship Of God has
been as much profaned by improper sing
ing and praying and preaching, as by an
improper use of musical instruments.
As well quit preaching because the dead
ly heresies which have polluted the Church
and caused the ruin of thousands, have
been FOR the most part proclaimed from
the pulpit as abandon the use of musical
instruments, because some people who are
ritualists, manifest their ritualism in their
use Of them, as they manifest it in other
parts of worship.
If any Kind Of use Of musical instru-
ments tends to destroy the spirituality
of Gods worship, Of course their use
had this tendency IN the time of DaUid.
But it is the loss Of spirituality that has
produced their improper use, or their
abuse-the "vain inexplicable dumb show
of instrumental overtures and interludes, -
and "profane and Inappropriate operatic
airs" just as it has produced heresiec,
the "opas opera1otun1 power of the sac
/ 70 manic OIL ,.;4,o1;.1. Ill - a. Il.