Church Pageantry Displayed, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Many of the Reformed Churches without Organs. Animadverſions on thoſe that have 'm. Several Modern Divines, Church-Men, Papiſts, and others, and the Church of England it ſelf, againſt the uſe of Organs in Divine Worſhip.
IN the next Place, we'll conſider the extent of this Organical Worſhip, and in doing that, it mayn't be amiſs to lay before you an Account of thoſe Places, where (1.) Organs are not us'd in their Spiritual Worſhip. And (2.) Where they are us'd.
(1.) There are many of the Reformed Churches, and ſome of 'm, the beſt in the World, that never us'd Organs, or any other Muſical Inſtruments in their Sacred Aſſemblies and Worſhip. As the Reformed Churches in Germany, the Helvetian and French Proteſtant Churches: Many of the Proteſtant Churches in Poland, Sweedland, Denmark, and many of thoſe in the Belgic Provinces. The Hungarian, and Tranſilvanian Churches, and thoſe of Piedmont. The Scotch Churches. All the Proteſtant Diſſenting Churches, and indeed the greateſt Number of Pariſh Churches in England and Ireland. Obſerve here, (1.) That the greateſt Number, and ſome of the pureſt Proteſtant Churches in the World, have always been without Organs. And (2.) That the defect thereof, has been no hindrance to the flouriſhing State of thoſe Churches; nay (3.) If we may judge of the Tree by it's Fruit, ſome of the Anti-Organical Churches have been the moſt eminently Pious, and have moſt remarkably ſignaliz'd their Courage and Conſtancy, in the perſecuted Cauſe of Chriſt, and Defence of Goſpel-Simplicity, which is the main Thing pleaded for in this Eſſay, in Oppoſition to pompous and carnal Devotion.
(2.) On the other Hand, Organs are us'd in ſome of the Dutch Churches, in ſome of the Lutheran Churches, in Germany and Poland, and the Greek Churches; In our Cathedral Churches in England, and in ſome few Parochial Churches, and in the Popiſh Churches. But then,
[1.] As to the Dutch Churches; it muſt be remembred that Organs were forc'd upon 'm by ſome Civil Magiſtrate againſt the Conſent of the Dutch Miniſters; for at the National Synod held at Middleb. Anno 1581. and in the Synod of Holland and Zealand in the Year, 1594. 'twas decreed, That they wou'd endeavour to prevail with the Magiſtrates to baniſh Organs — out of their Churches. Nothing leſs than Baniſhment, it ſeems, wou'd ſerve their turn. Such clamorous, noiſie, bawling Creatures were not fit to dwell within the Calm, and orderly Territories of the Church.
[2.] As to the Lutheran Churches; they ought not to be admitted as Patterns, for they approve of, and uſe many other Popiſh Novelties, which all other Proteſtants juſtly abhor and condemn, as, Auricular Confeſſion, the Pictures of the Trinity, ſinging Pſalms in Latin, Crucifixes in their Devotion — Cum multis aliis— But what if a Parcel of Conſubſtantiating Lutherans are inclin'd to divert 'mſelves by the inarticulate ſound of a few Muſical Pipes, muſt it therefore follow that Engliſh Proteſtants ſhou'd Dance after 'm? As to the Greek Churches their Errors in material Things are equally obvious —
But (1.) Zepperus obſerves, that the Organs us'd in the Tranſmarine Reformed Churches are to Delight People at ordinary Times, when the Worſhip of God is not perform'd. But ſome of our high-flown Caſſandrian Engliſh Love a little innocent Auricular Diverſion in their Eccleſiaſtical Retirements, and will not as much as open their Eyes towards the Heavens, till they're awaken'd and rouz'd up by the ſound of an Organical Machin. But that which makes me ſmile is, to ſee poor little diminutive Pariſhes ſo eager for Organs, when ſome of the Richeſt Parſonages in England are content to go to Heaven without 'm. But oh what a curſed Miſery is it to be Poor and Proud!
And (2.) He that Writes the late Hiſtory of Denmark, An Account of Denmark, as 'twas in the Year 1692. Edit. 3. Chap. XVI. pag. 233.tells us in Particular of the Danes, That they're all great Lovers of Organs, and have many very good ones, with skilful Organiſts, who entertain the Congregation with Muſick during half an Hour, either before or after Service.
Nay (3.) It ſeems in Dr. Rivet's Time, only Vocal Muſick was us'd in our Engliſh Service, and ſaith he,*— Si in Anglia vel alibi iis utuntur, id aliis fit horis quam iis quae praeipuo Divino cultui ſunt deſtinatae. — A. Rivet. Cathol. Orthod. Qu. 36. p. 564. If Organs were us'd, 'twas not in the Hours of Divine Worſhip, but at other Times, and that to divert and recreate the People and not to edifie 'm.
[3.] And as to the Engliſh Churches; there are Three Things I wou'd obſerve concerning 'm.
1. That the Churches that have Organs are very few, compar'd with thoſe that have no Organs at all. If they are ſo eminently uſeful in Devotion, as a mouthing Cathedraliſt Swears they are, there's no doubt but the Patrons and Rectors of our Rich Parochial Synagogues that are without 'm, wou'd ſoon make their Eccleſiaſtical Arches eccho, with the ſound of Melodious and Charming Organiſts.
2. Several eminent Church-men, and other Reformed Divines have expreſly ſhow'd their diſlike of Organs in our Divine Worſhip. We'll begin with;
The Learned Dr. Taylor's Opinion about this ſort of Eccleſiaſtical Muſick. He delivers himſelf to this Purpoſe, The Ʋſe of Singing Pſalms — is very apt for the Edification of Churches, but as for Muſical Inſtruments, they are more apt to change Religion into Fancies, Duct. Dubit. lib. 3. about the 329. p.and take off ſome of it's ſimplicity, and are not ſo fitted for Edification. He ſeems plainly to aſſert, that this ſort of Muſical Service is really repugnant to ſpiritual Worſhip, which is particularly injoyn'd in the Goſpel. And I've heard many Devout Kirk-men complain, that inſtead of elevating their Affections, it diſtracts their Thoughts, and diverts the mind from being ſeriouſly intent on the Matter Sung. But alas Sir, you're miſtane in our Organiſts, for they ne'r intended to be Religious among their Pipes.
Mr. Maxwell, a Divine of the true Prelatical and Tory ſtamp,In his Book entituled, The Excellency of the Church of England above that of Geneva. ſaith, We agree with Reformed Divines, that Inſtrumental Muſick is neither a Part of nor a help to Divine or Eccleſiaſtical Worſhip. Bravely ſaid Maxwell! The high-flown Scot is in the right on't; and the Confeſſion is the more conſiderable, becauſe it's voluntary, and not forced by the preſſure of a Scotch Boot.
Cowper, *His Works in Folio Printed at London, 1621. p. 371.Biſhop of Galloway, ſaith, That the beſt Muſical Inſtrument for God's Praiſe, is an upright Heart: And in's Comment on the Revelations, ſaith, The Heart is the Harp, the Strings of the Heart are the Affections.
The famous Dr. Lightfoot, †His Works, Vol. 11. p. 1060.has a very pertinent Paſſage to the Purpoſe, ſaith he, Chriſt aboliſht the uſe of the Temple, as purely Ceremonious, but he perpetuated the Uſe of the Synagogue, ſuch as Reading the Scriptures, Preaching, Praying and Singing of Pſalms, and tranſplanted it into the Chriſtian Church as purely Moral. Now obſerve, that Inſtrumental Muſick was part of the Temple-Service, and peculiarly ſo, for 'twas never us'd in the Jewiſh Synagogues, or in their Parochial Worſhip. And therefore we've no more warrant to recall it into the Chriſtian Church, than we have to introduce Lamps, Dances, Frankincenſe, Silver Trumpets— or the like.
Peter Martyr, ‖Pet. Mart. in Judg. c. 5.(who dyed about Year 1562) ſpeaking about this ſort of Church Muſick ſaith, It cannot be lawfully retain'd, becauſe the Auditors are ſo taken with it, that they cannot apprehend and perceive the Words if they wou'd. And therefore, I think it's almoſt as good, for a Man to pay his Religious Devoirs to Heaven at B — in the midſt of Roſemary-Lane S —where nothing is heard but the confus'd Rumblings of ſonorous and clat'ring Tongues. Or, for ought I know, his Advantage may be as great, if he ſpends two or three Hours at a Quakers Dumb and Silent Conventicle. The Truth on't is Sir, I Love Muſick dearly well in it's proper Time and Place; and Scruple not to divert my Self now and then, by a pair of Domeſtical Organs, but really I had almoſt as good hear the Myſterious Humms of a Parcel of Leaden-Hall Quakers, as the loud inarticulate confus'd Noiſe of Eccleſiaſtical Pipes. The one is as intelligible and edifying as t'other: But I muſt not attend my demure Enthuſiaſtical Quaker too long, leſt my Cloaths be ſing'd, for he ſmells ſtrong of Italian Smoak which makes me preſume there are ſome Roman Cinders in his Chimney.
To proceed. Wendeline †Syſt. Theol. Edit. Poſt. p. 1643.ſaith of the ſame Muſick, That the Devil by a Canorous Muſick tempts the Ears of Chriſtians, that it may emaſculate and weaken their ſpiritual Vigor by a ſweeter ſound. So that you may conclude hence, when th' Organiſt Plays on's Pipes there's an inviſible Dancer.
Zanchy, on Eph. 5.19. ſaith, read St. Jerom on this Place — What he Writes againſt this Theatrical Gaudy ſort of Muſick, by which Men are drawn to be more attent to the Melody of the Sound than the Words.
Calvin ſaith, that the Jewiſh Altars and Frankincenſe, are every whit as lawful as Muſical Inſtruments in God's Worſhip: But I'll not inſiſt upon a Geneva Cut, when triangl'd Inſtances are ſo much in Faſhion.
Zuinglius (the firſt Reformer of the Helvetian Church) is very warm againſt this ſort of Worſhip.*Zuinglii Act. Diſp. 2. p. 106. It's evident (ſaith he) that Eccleſiaſtical Chanting — is a moſt fooliſh vain abuſe, and a moſt pernicious hindrance to Piety.
Pezelius, †Pez. in Sleid. de Quatuor Imperiis.who was Profeſſor of Divinity at Bremen in the lower Circle of Saxony, in his Notes upon Sleidan, calls the Muſical Inſtruments of Pope Vitalian, the Thieves of Prayer, and the Word Preached.
Many more might be added, but I'll conclude this Head with the Judgement of the Thirty Two Proteſtant Commiſſioners, who were in the Reign of Henry VIII. and Edward VI. appointed by Act of Parliament to examine and purge all Canons, Conſtitutions, and Ordinances, Provincial and Synodal, do declare, that they wou'd have all Inſtrumental Muſick as Organs — quite taken away out of the Church.Reformatio legum Anglicarum de Divinis Officiis. Imperf. Tract. The ſame Commiſſion was reviv'd in Queen Elizabeth's Reign, but quickly dropt, and to the great Prejudice of the Church has ſlept ever ſince, as the Learned and Reverend Biſhop Burnet ſaith.
The Perſons Deputed to this Purpoſe were, Cranmer Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, Ridley Biſhop of London, Ponet Biſhop of Wincheſter, Goodrick Biſhop of Ely, Coverdale Biſhop of Exeter, Hooper Biſhop of Gloceſter, Knight Biſhop of Bath, Scory Biſhop of Rocheſter, Mr. Taylor of Lincoln, Mr. Cox the King's Almoner, Parker of Cambridge, Latimer, Cook, Pet. Martyr, Sir John Cheek, John a Laſco, Mr. Peter, Mr. Cecyl, Sir Tho. Smith, Mr. Taylor of Hadley, Dr. May, Mr. Traheron, Dr. Lyel, Mr. Skiner, Juſtice Hales, Juſtice Bromley, Goodrick, Goſnal, Stamford, Carel, Lucas and Brook Recorder of London.
Theſe were the Flowers of the Engliſh Reformation, and Men eminent for Sacred and Polite Literature. And I think the Judgment of ſuch a valuable Sett of Men deſerves a Particular Regard. And therefore wonder with what Confidence ſome can pretend to have ſuch a mighty Veneration for our firſt Reformers, when yet they ſo zealouſly defend, and are ſo eager for retaining; what the Old Reformers thought better aboliſht and quite remov'd.
Thus you have th' expreſs Opinion of many great and good Men againſt your erecting a pair of Devotional Organs in the Chriſtian Church. But if you think, that you can't attain the Supremacy of Bliſs without Converting the Church into an Organical Quire, e'en go on, and let your well-inſtructed Organiſt begin his Anthem of O be joyful — while the reſt of the Pariſh are devoutly Praying, like 'mſelves, From all blindneſs of Heart, from Pride, Vain-Glory, and from all the Deceits of the World, the Fleſh, and the Devil — and Contempt of thy Word and Commandment. Good Lord deliver us. And for once I'll ſuppoſe my ſelf in the AMEN-Officer's Desk, and preſume to ſay A—m—e—n—. But before you begin, you'd do well to take Advice from thoſe that are able to give it, and who more fit to Counſel you in this Grand Affair than,
3. The Church of England it ſelf, whoſe Judgement comes next to be conſider'd, and if you'll not be advis'd by her, for my Part I ſhall give you over as a pack of obſtinate Sons of the Church. But what ſaith the Church of England? Why, to be brief, She utterly Condemns the Uſe of Organs in Divine Worſhip, as unlawful, and Thanks God She was rid of 'm in the Infancy of the Reformation; as appears by the following Paſſage out of her Homilies — Alas Goſſip (ſaid a Woman to her Neighbour) What ſhall we do at Church? Since all the Saints (or Images) are tak'n away; ſince all the goodly ſights we were wont to have are gone; Book of Homilies of the Time and Place of Prayer. Part II. p. 131. Lond. Prinsed 1621.ſince we cannot hear the like Piping, Singing, Chanting, and playing upon the Organs that we cou'd hear before — To this the Church very gravely Replies, But dearly Beloved, we ought greatly to rejoice and give God thanks, that our Churches are deliver'd out of all thoſe things which diſpleaſed God ſo ſore and filthily defil'd his Holy Houſe —.
Take Notice here, (1.) That 'twas the Opinion of the Church of England in Queen Elizabeth's days, that Organs — in Churches did greatly diſpleaſe God. And are they more acceptable in God's account now? Or are our Eccleſiaſtical Engineers grown more wiſe than their famous Anceſtors? (2.) That Organs — did filthily defile God's Houſe; and therefore ſhe thanks God for the removal of this Organical defilement among other Superſtitions. But leaſt you ſhou'd Queſtion the Authenticalneſs of the good Old Homilies, and to look upon the Evidence as weak and impertinent; I'll add, (3.) That the Thirty Fifth Article of the Church of England, confirms the Doctrine of the Homilies, as good, ſound, and wholeſome. Whoever therefore aſſerts this New, or rather Old Romiſh mode of Worſhip by Organs, directly contradicts the Judgment of the Renowned Church of England, And yet theſe Organical Hot-ſpurs wou'd be thought her only true Sons, tho' at the ſame time they publickly and cotumaciouſly Rebel againſt her Maternal Authority. The Church of England in another place ſaith,*— Of Ceremonies why ſome be aboliſht, and ſome retain'd in the Preface part of the Common Prayer. That ſome Ceremonies enter'd into the Church by indiſcreet Devotion, and ſuch a Zeal as was without Knowledge. And for becauſe they were winked at in the beginning, they grew daily to more and more abuſes, which not only for their unprofitableneſs, but alſo becauſe they have much blinded the people, and obſcur'd the Glory of God, are worthy to be cut away and clean rejected: — Injenuous Confeſſion Monſtrum horrendum — The Mother and Children ſo very unlike! What pitty is it that ſo Excellent a Mother ſhou'd have ſuch a degenerate Brood — but corruptio optimi, peſſima.
[4.] As to the Popiſh Churches, I ſhall only declare the Sentiments of ſome of their learned Men touching the concern in debate. We'll begin,
1. With Thomas Aquinas, †Inſtrumenta Muſica ſicut Cytharas — non aſſu…it Eccleſia in Divinas laudes nè videatur judaizare — Aquin. Sum. 2a. 2ae. Qu. 91. Art. 2. Obj. 4 ta.who liv'd about the Year 1270, he tells us that Organs were not receiv'd into the Church, in his time. The Church (ſaith he) does not take Muſical Inſtruments into the Divine Praiſes, leaſt it ſhou'd ſeem to judaize. And it's obſervable that Cardinal Cajetan ‖Notandum tempore Thomae — Cajet. in eund. loc ſum Tho. Aquin.upon Aquinas ſaith, Take notice that in the times of St. Thomas the Church made no uſe of Organs. And Gregory de Valentia is of the ſame Opinion. It's manifeſt from hence that the Gallican Churches which boaſt ſo much of Antiquity, had no Organs in their Churches about 500 Years ago.
2. Others of the Romiſh Stamp look upon Organs to be really prejudicial to the Devotion of the Holy Church tho' they may accidentally excite the Mind.
Cornelius Agrippa (who was Counſellor to Charles the V. and a Papiſt as appears by his Reflections on Luther) vehemently†De Vanitate Scient. Cap. 6. & 17. declaims againſt Organs as abus'd ad fornicariam pruriginem, and filling the Church with ſuch a loud noiſe that the Worſhippers can neither hear nor attend to what is ſpoken: He looks upon Church-Muſick to be a Lecherous licentious ſort of Devotion, and reſents it ill that the Holy Myſteries ſhou'd be chanted out by a Company of wanton Muſicians who're hir'd with a great Summ of Money —*Ibid.. And Aquinas in th' above quoted Queſtion,†Aquin. Sum 2a. 2ae. Qu. 91. Art. 2. Reſp. 4ta. ad 4t. Objectionem. ſaith out of Ariſtotle, That thoſe ſort of Muſical Inſtruments, do rather Create in the Mind a ſenſual Delectation, than Form in the Mind a good Diſpoſition.
Another Learned Papiſt, who reſolv'd not t'approve all he ſaw and heard in the Romiſh Synagogue, ſaith in theſe Words. Let a Man be a greater Worldling than Craſſus, a greater Reviler than Zoilus, yet is he accouned a Devout Man, becauſe he Sings Service well, tho' he underſtands nothing of it — Nor are they Content with this, but we have alſo brought into Churches, a Laborious and Theatrical Muſick, a tumultuous pratling of divers Voices, ſuch a one as I think was ne'r heard upon any Stage among the Romans or Graecians — All Places roar with Pipes,Eras. in 1 Corinth. Cap. 14. Trumpets, Cornets, Dulcimers, and with theſe Mens Voices are mixt; Love-Songs, and Filthy Songs (to which Whores and Mimicks Dance) are heard. People run to Church as to a Stage to tickle their Ears, and for this uſe are bred Organiſts and maintain'd at great Charge — A Rabble of ſordid and light Perſons is bred, and the Church is loaded with their maintenance, and that too for a peſtilent Imployment. How many poor People that are ready to famiſh might be maintain'd with the Salaries of theſe ſinging Men?
It's remarkable how our Author ſaith, that People came to Church as to a Stage-play, and Hoſpinian ſaith, they went away ordinarily as ſoon as th' Muſick (for which alone they came) was over. And it's well if th' Organical Part of Mankind be reform'd in our Days. Now Sir, ſhall Proteſtants declare ſo vehemently for th' uſe of theſe Eccleſiaſtical Whiſtles, when even Roman Catholicks 'mſelves condemn 'm as Enemies to ſpiritual Devotion? And thoſe of 'm that Dance after theſe Pipes, how do they laugh at us for being their filly Apes. It's to me unaccountable, that there ſhou'd be any Engliſh Proteſtants, who in ſpite of Scripture, Reaſon, Antiquity, and th' Church it ſelf, I ſay, in ſpite of all theſe, will yet be the Pope's Baboons and expoſe th' Engliſh Reformation to the Jears of Jeſuits, Prieſts, and Fryers, who deride us ſadly for this notorious Piece of Religious Mimickry.