3. Upon an instrument of ten strings. With the
fullest range of music, uttering before God with the full compass of melody the
richest emotions of his soul. And upon the psaltery, thus giving variety
to praise: the psalmist felt that every sweet-sounding instrument should be
consecrated to God. George Herbert and Martin Luther aided their private
devotions by instrumental music; and whatever may have been the differences of
opinion in the Christian church, as to the performance of instrumental music in
public, we have met with no objection to its personal and private use. Upon the harp with a solemn sound, or upon “meditation with a harp”; as
much as to say, my meditative soul is, after all, the best instrument, and the
harp’s dulcet tones come in to aid my thoughts. It is, however, much to be
feared that attention to the mere mechanism of music, noting keys and strings,
measures and quarter notes, has carried many away from the spiritual harmony
which is the soul and essence of praise. Fine music without devotion is but a
splendid garment upon a corpse.
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