glory of which eye hath not seen nor ear heard ; it is "reserved;" yet it is "prepared" for them that love him ; where song and harp and organ blend with sweet odors ; while they sweep the chords of the heart to the Lord. (R. H.)
II. In favor of Instrumental Music for Chiirclies, it may be replied that the above considerations, however plausible in general and often beautiful in sentiment, are rather speculative than logical. But more particu- larly, it is not sufficient to show that such performances were not customary or known in the sacred services of the primitive Christians; if we would authoritatively exclude them, it must be proved that the N. T. posi- tively forbids, or by direct implication discountenances them. There are many practices of modern times which are perfecth' lawful, proper, expedient, and edi- fying, which were not known in the earliest days of Christianity. Such an argument would reprobate Sun- day-schools and numerous well-approved institutions of the present day. Our Saviour and his apostles pur- posely left all these immaterial questions and detailed arrangements discretionary with the Church, and it is best they should so remain. Times change, and relig- ious observances, where not absolutely prescribed, must be modified accordingly.
We might justly add, under this head, that there is no positive proof, after all, that instrumental music did not in any case accompany the songs of the early Chris- tians. The evidence a silentio is always insecure. In- deed the reasoning above is not altogether conclusive on this very point. The presumption is certainh' the other waj^, for it can hardly be presumed that persons who had always been accustomed to associate instru- mental music with the services of the sanctuary— as was the case at least Avith the Hebrews, who formed the nucleus and dominant element of the infant Church — • would have suddenly and totally abjured this delightful and inspiring part of divine worship under a new econ- omy, unless there had been some express prohibition or absolute incompatibility respecting it. On the contrary, such an accompaniment has been found in a\\ ages a de- cided stimulus to devotion, and a powerful auxiliary to the strains of vocal melody. It is so congenial with the spirit of Christianity that the most remarkable and sub- lime efforts of genius in this field have been those of Christian composers and Christian performers.
Finally, therefore, to interdict these concomitants of congregational worship is a mistake savoring of asceti- cism and iconoclasm. It is, moreover, a scientific blun- der, as well as an aesthetic degeneration. If the O.-T. saint could profitably employ instrumental music as a means of grace, why should it be denied the Christian ? If David's soul took wing with celestial vigor as he strung his lyre in accord with his devout lays, why may not the modern saint refresh his soul with the ravishing harmonies of the organ ? The immortal productions of Mozart and others require the full orchestra to bring out their grandest effects, and even the ordinary songs of the Church are greatly enhanced in their power over the , heart when properly accompanied from the choir. The human voice itself is but one instrument of music; and the experience of the truest and purest believers in ev- ery age, whether in high or low condition, has attested the healthful and edifying influence of instrumental symphony, when duly subjected as a handmaid to sacred lyrics and vocal execution.
Musical Instruments of the Hebrews. The obscurity attaching to this subject has long been felt and complained of. The rabbins themselves know no more of this matter than other commentators who are least acquainted with Jewish affairs. The older writ- ers on the subject had no means of assisting their speculations bj' examining any representations of the actual instruments in use, either among the Hebrews themselves or in the neighboring nations. But much light has of late been thrown, by the discovery of Egyptian and Assyrian monuments, upon the instru-
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ments which were used by these two great peoples — the nearest neighbors of the Hebrews, and with whom, at different periods of their history, they came into close and long-continued contact; and we have now the advantage of being able to infer, with a high de- gree of probability, if not with absolute certainty, from these collateral examples what were the forms and powers of at least tlie principal instruments referred to in the Hebrew Scriptures. This recent enlarge- ment of our knowledge, however, still leaves much room for further light, especially in regard to the pre- cise instruments intended by particular Hebrew words. There is yet much ditlerence of opinion among Hebrew scholars and antiquarians upon this point of primary importance ; and indeed, in the absence of all direct means of identification, and of any clear and steady traditi(m among the Jews themselves upon the matter, it is hardly to be expected that the obscurity whicli still encumliersthis part of the subject can ever be en- tirely removed. We see certain instruments different from our own in use among the modern Orientals, and we infer that the Hebrew instruments were probablj- not unliive these, because the Orientals change but little, and we recognise in them the peoples, and among them the haliits and the manners described in the Bible. We find also many instruments presented in the sculptures of Greece and Eome, and we need not refuse to draw inferences from them, for they derived their origin from the East, and the Romans distinctly re- fer them to Syria (Juvenal, Sat. iii ; Livy, Hist, xxxix, 5). When, however, we endeavor to identify witli these a particular instrument named by the Hebrews, our difficult}' begins, because the Hebrew names are seldom to be recognised in those which they note bear, and because the Scriptures afford us little information respecting the form of the instruments which thej' mention.