A Counterblast to the Organ; Or, the Lawfulness of Using Instrumental Music in Worship During the Present Dispensation Discussed and Denied.

BY

JAMES HARPER,

PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY IN THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,

XENIA, OHIO.

PRICE 25 CENTS.

New York:

MAGILL & DE LA MARE, BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS,

76 CORTLANDT STREET.

1881.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

PART FIRST—DECLARATIVE, OR THE STATE OF THE CONTROVERSY.

CHAPTER.

I.—Theories as to the relation of Instrumental Music to the worship of God in the New Testament Church — 4

II.—Pleas urged for the Preceptive Theory — 5

III.—Pleas urged for the Permissive, or Optional Theory — 7

PART SECOND—THE COMPETING THEORIES CONSIDERED.

I.—Inquiry touching the law of worship — 8

II.—Considerations in support of the Radical doctrine as to the law of worship — 10

III.—Further Confirmation of the Radical view as to the law of worship — 13

IV.—The Preceptive theory as to the use of instrumental music—Examination of the Æsthetic or Rationalistic plea for said theory — 16

V.—The Preceptive theory—Further consideration of the Æsthetic Argument — 20

VI.—The Preceptive theory—The arguments drawn from ancient appointment and alleged non-repeal considered — 24

VII.—The Preceptive theory—Further proof that instrumental music was ceremonial — 27

VIII.—The Preceptive theory—Instrumental music in worship peculiarly associated with the temple — 30

IX.—The Preceptive theory—Inquiry as to the use of instrumental music in the Synagogue — 32

X.—The Preceptive theory—Inquiry in relation to Synagogue worship continued — 34

XI.—The Preceptive theory—Argument against it from the method of worship in the Synagogue — 37

XII.—The Preceptive theory—What was symbolized by the instrumental music of the temple—Patristic evidence — 39

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XIII.—The Preceptive theory—Argument against it from the specification of particular instruments — 45

XIV.—The Preceptive theory—Argument against it from the silence of the New Testament — 49

XV.—The Preceptive theory—Argument against it from the silence of the New Testament—Meaning of Psallo — 53

XVI.—The Preceptive theory—New Testament evidence—Meaning of Psallo — 57

XVII.—The Preceptive theory—New Testament evidence—Consideration of Psallo concluded — 58

XVIII.—The Preceptive theory—The argument for it drawn from directions in the Psalms to use instruments considered — 61

XIX.—The Preceptive theory—The argument in its favor founded on certain Old Testament predictions considered — 64

XX.—The Optional or Permissive theory—The pleas in its behalf founded on alleged church authority and on the fact of divine appointment and alleged non-repeal considered—Some quibbles noticed — 66

XXI.—The Optional theory—The argument in its favor drawn from supposed parallel cases considered — 70

XXII.—The Optional theory—The “Circumstance” plea considered — 73

XXIII.—The Optional theory—The “Tuning fork” plea considered — 77

XXIV.—The Prohibitory theory—Recapitulation of Arguments—Argument for it from the absence of New Testament sanction of musical instruments in worship — 79

XXV.—The Prohibitory theory—Argument in its favor drawn from the silence of the New Testament—The cavil drawn from infant baptism noticed — 82

XXVI.—The Prohibitory theory—New Testament evidence in its favor — 84

XXVII.—The Prohibitory theory—Historical evidence in its behalf — 86

XXVIII.—The Prohibitory theory—Value of the historical fact that in the Early Church instruments of music were not used in worship — 89

XXIX.—The Prohibitory theory—Evidence in its favor derivable from modern church history — 92

XXX.—The Prohibitory theory—Evidence in its behalf from modern church history — 93

PART THIRD—ECCLESIASTICO-POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE QUESTION.