1876-James Begg.-This treatise argues that the Church of Scotland’s constitution, as established at the Reformation, confirmed by the Westminster Standards, and secured by the Revolution Settlement and Acts of Union, mandates a simple worship of prayer, preaching, psalm-singing, and sacraments—expressly excluding instrumental music and liturgies as unscriptural innovations. He demonstrates that this uniformity of worship was legally fixed by civil and ecclesiastical law, binding upon all office-bearers by solemn vow, and enforceable by the rights of heritors and parishioners. The recent toleration of organs and read prayers by Church courts therefore constitutes a subversion of the Presbyterian constitution, a violation of ordination engagements, and a dangerous drift toward Prelacy and Congregationalism that must be firmly resisted.
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1875-James Begg.-In this urgent 1875 defense of Presbyterian worship, Dr. James Begg confronts the “anarchy” threatening the Scottish Church through unauthorized innovations—organs, liturgies, and ritualistic practices—that violate both Scripture and solemn ordination vows. Drawing upon the Westminster Standards, the Scottish Reformers, and the Revolution Settlement of 1690, Begg argues that true worship requires divine prescription, not human invention, and warns that congregational independence in worship undermines the very foundation of Presbyterian government. This passionate appeal to historical continuity and constitutional fidelity offers essential reading for those concerned with maintaining the purity, simplicity, and spiritual integrity of Christian worship according to the Scottish Presbyterian tradition.
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1866-James Begg.-This book contains an elaborate and well organized argument against the use of musical instruments in the worship of God. Some of the book is set against the backdrop of 19th century arguments in the Free Church and the Church of Scotland but this only adds historical interest to the work. Overall, this is a very complete rebuttal of the proponents of musical instruments in worship.
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