A Musick-Lector:
OR,
The Art of MUSICK (that is so much vindicated in Christendome) Discoursed of, by way of Dialogue between three men of several Judgments:
The one a MUSICIAN, and Master of that Art, and zealous for the Church of England; who calls Musick The gift of God.
The other a BAPTIST, who did affirm it to be a decent and a harmless practice.
The other a QUAKER (so called) being formerly of that Art, doth give his Judgment and Sentence against it; but yet approves of the Musick that pleaseth God.
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Written by SOLOMON ECCLES.
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Wo to them that are at ease in Sion, to you that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; to them that lie upon Beds of Ivory, and stretch themselves upon their Couches, and eat the Lambs out of the flock, and the Calves out of the stall: That chant to the sound of the Viol, and invent to themselves Instruments of Musick like David: That drink Wine in Bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief Ointment: but they are not grieved for the Afflictions of Joseph. Amos 6.1,3,4,5,6.
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London, Printed in the Year, 1667.
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A Musick Lector:
OR,
The Art of MUSICK that is so much vindicated in
Christendom, discoursed of by way of Dialogue,
between three men of several judgments.
Musitian. Well Friend, we understand that all men in Christendom generally do acknowledge Musick to be a pleasant and heavenly harmony, which delights the ears of all the Nobility, both Kings, Princes and others, yet all will not do; for there be some men are quite against it. But O how notably did the Gentleman handle the matter in this Musick Lector for the vindication thereof, but all will not do.
Baptist. Why, who are they that can speak against this harmless Calling in the practice of Musick? is there any think you?
Mus. Yes; for yonder goes a man, was once a Master of Musick, and a very honest man once; but now he's turn'd Quaker: Prethee Friend let's know his ground and reason for it, and let's see what principle they hold.
Bap. Friend, beware; for Quakers hold dangerous tenets.
Mus. Pray what dangerous tenets do they hold, that we may beware of them: we must not accuse them before we hear them; pray will you instance.
Bap. Why one of their dangerous tenets is, That a man may be perfect and free from sin on this side the grave: and another is, They deny Ordinances, or the two Sacraments, the Baptism of Water, and Bread and Wine: and another is, That a man may fall away after he believeth. Those are horrid tenets.
Mus. These are strange tenets indeed. However, he's my old Acquaintance, let's venture now we have an opportunity, though I should have been afraid to have ventur'd alone; but you being with me, I do not question but we shall convince him of his error: how think you?
Bap. We shall but trouble our selves with him: for there is nothing but thee and thou; they are the unmannerliest people that ever came.
Mus. Peace a little. Your humble Servant, Sir; I am glad to see you well.
Quaker. Leave off thy deceit, Psal. 10.7.
Mu. Truly Sir, I am very joyful to see you, for I have not seen you of a long time.
Qua. Mind the Witness of God in thee, John 1.5,9.
Mu. You say very well, Sir; but what do you mean by the Witness of God, what is it?
Qua. Something that God hath placed in thee, which bears witness for God; Acts 14.17.
Mu. But what do you call this Witness of God?
Qu. He that witnesseth for God in every man, is Christ; Rev. 1.5.
Mu. But is Christ within a man; how can that be? for he is glorified with the Father in Heaven: what strange doctrine do you preach?
Qu. Search and try thy own self: for, knowest thou not how that Jesus Christ is in thee, except thou be a Reprobate? 2 Cor. 13.5.
Mu. You are right for that indeed. But why do you charge me leave off my deceit; for what deceit can you charge me with?
Qu. Yes: for the first word thou spakest was deceit and vain; for thou saidst, Your humble Servant, Sir, and thou wast never my Servant: for when did I ever set thee at work, and thou wast my humble Servant? Must thou not give an account for every idle word? besides, he that respects mens persons, commits sin; Jam. 2.9.
Mu. But you know it is our custom in England so to do; and you have done so your self to my knowledge.
Qu. I do confess that I was in the dark, and had mens persons in admiration: but now the true Light is come which reproves for those things, glory be to the Lord for ever. And whatsoever makes manifest is Light, Eph. 5.13.
Mu. But methinks you do not speak like other men; for I never heard of the Light within till you Quakers came.
Qu. Turn to it now, and be obedient, and it will bring thee out of the fall, and deliver thee from destruction and perdition; 1 Tim. 6.9.
Mu. Why our Ministers and Fathers of the Church of England, are the true Ministers of Christ no doubt; yet they do not bid men turn to the Light within, as you Quakers do.
Qu. Fathers of the Church of England, we grant they are, and some of them Ministers of the Letter also; but if thou couldst prove them the Ministers of Christ, thou wouldst do them great service; for they cannot prove it themselves: and they dare not for shame say that they are Ministers of Christ, because they receive the wages of unrighteousness; Jude 11.
Mu. Pray good Sir give me a favour; must we not acknowledge them to be the Ministers of Christ who preach the Gospel, and prove their Ministry by Scripture?
Qua. The Scriptures prove no man a Minister of Christ, but he that is called of God, and chosen for that work; Rom. 1.1. 1 Cor. 1.1. 1 Pet. 1.1. 2 Pet. 1.1. These were not of men, nor by men, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, Jam. 1.1. Gal. 1.1.
Mu. Lord bless me! why is not the Scripture the Word of God, and a Rule for men to walk by? and do they not fetch all their Proofs from Scripture? and all their building is on the Scripture; therefore we hear them: For they that are of God do hear God's Word, do they not?
Qua. Yea, they that are of God do hear God's Word: but we cannot hear them, because they preach not God's Word, because they stand not in God's Counsel, as saith the Lord to Jeremiah concerning the priests: For, if they had stood in my Counsel, saith the Lord, they should have taught the people my Word, and have turned them from their evil wayes, and from the evil of their doings. Mark, they that are Ministers of God's Word, do turn people from their evil ways, and from the evil of their doings. Jer. 23.33. And it is my Faith for ever, and I'll give my Voice for it, that they are the true Ministers of Christ, that turn people from darkness to Light, and from the power of Satan to God. Act. 26.18.
Mu. I must confess our Ministers are great Scholars as Oxford and Cambridge can afford, and we look upon such to be the Ministers of the Gospel and none else; but yet I cannot say they turn people from their sins: But pray are there no true Ministers of Christ but they?
Qua. Nay, none can be said to be Ministers of Christ, but such as turn people to the Lord.
Mu. Why who then did send them? came they of themselves?
Qu. I never sent them, saith the Lord, yet they run: but they shall not profit the people at all; Jer. 23.22.
Mu. Truly I think they have been much better than they are now.
Qua. Yea, they have lost their Courage, their Faith, and their Zeal; and some of them have spued up the Common-Prayer- Book in their Zeal; but now they have (many of them) lickt it up again. See what the Prophet calls such, Isa. 56.10.
Mu. Indeed our Ministers do love their bellies too well to be the Ministers of Christ. Truly Friend, I cannot speak much for them: I see they feed their flock but sparingly, but themselves they feed without fear I think, for they grow in belly amain: but what shall I say, when such men as they go wrong, what shall become of me that am a sinner?
Qua. Believe in the Light that shines in thy heart; for that Teacher will never deceive thee, but will make thee wiser than all thy Teachers; Psal. 119.99,100.
Mu. Your counsel is good: but me-thoughts you were a very honest man and strict before you were a Quaker; if I were so, I should desire no more.
Qu. I had a Zeal, but not according to Knowledge; and all that I have given up to the Bats and to the Moles; such as come not forth to look on the Sun, for fear of persecution. Joh. 10.1. 2 Tim. 2.3,12. Isa. 2.20.
Mu. 'Tis good to avoid Persecution as near as we can, for the Scriptures advise us so to do.
Qu. The Thief and the Robber would climb up some other way; but all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer Persecution. 2 Tim. 3.12.
Mu. But Christ sayes, If they persecute you in one City, flee into another.
Qu. Before the Holy Ghost was given, which was the promise of the Father, they were more in fear, and in the Childs state, till our Lord and Master was offered up for a pattern to them; then the same Spirit of Christ came into them, and made them of the same mind for holy boldness and courage; and, they loved not their lives to the death; and as Christ suffered in the flesh, they do arm themselves with the same mind. 1 Pet. 4.1.
Mu. Well: but my Friend I have something else to say to you, and I will leave these things to my Friend here, who is better able to answer you than I can. But pray let me ask you one question.
Qua. Use thy freedom.
Mu. Why did you forsake and dispise so harmless a Calling and Practice in the Art of Musick as you have done? Besides, you burnt and brake many good Instruments of Musick, and burnt your Books of great price and value? and why did you burn and break them at Tower-Hill? I thought to tell you of it, for it was an injurious thing, to make our Calling contemptible. And it is well known that Musick is the gift of God, and an honourable practice. I wonder you were not ashamed; a man that lived so well and civilly, to go and cast off such a Livelihood, who maintained your Wife and Family very well and in good order; and it is very probable, if you had continued, you had been of great esteem at this day.
Qua. I have found out the true Teacher, who teaches the best Musick that ever any did learn; who for rarity and skill out- strips all that ever had a name; and such Musick as takes in the ears of God himself. Jer. 9.24.
Mu. Lord bless me! is there such a rare Musick-teacher among the Quakers? I have heard indeed, that the Quakers will come together in one place, and sit an hour, two or three, and not speak a word one to another, except sign, groan or weep; do you call this good Musick?
Bap. Pray Friend, what ground of Scripture have you to come together, where some do sign and groan, and some do weep. What Edification is there in this dumb show?
Qua. The Spirit breathes in whom it listeth, and thou mayest hear the sound thereof, but knowest not from whence it comes, nor whither it goes, John 3.
Bap. Did you ever hear such Nonsense as this man speaks? what strange stuff is this? did I not tell you, Sir, what Nonsense we should have?
Qua. Are the Scriptures Nonsense?
Mu. Hold, hold, my Friend, and be not offended at him, for he hath spoke Scripture; only some Translations do much differ.
Bap. All that I grant is true: but what Scripture hath he to prove that Silent-meeting is a Worship of God?
Qua. The three Friends of Job, when they beheld what misery he lay in, they lift up their voice and wept, and rent their cloaths indeed, and sat down on the ground with him, but spake nothing one to another for seven dayes, and seven nights; Job 2.last. yet I do not bring this as a proof.
Mu. Indeed it was a long time for men to keep silence; seven days and seven nights, and not speak a word! there was never such a thing done in our days I must confess; but Job was a patient man.
Qua. I would ask thy Friend one Question, and if he be free to answer me, then the thing will appear more plain.
Mu. I'le warrant hee'l answer you, for he is an able man; and though he and I do differ I must confess in judgement, yet I know he is able to answer you; for he is a baptized person, and stands for the vindication of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, which are the Ordinances of God.
Qua. And I also stand in the defence of the holy Truth of God, which was once delivered to the Saints, Jude 3.
Bap. Well, Friend, what's your Question?
Qua. Who is it that tempts men to sin, and to disobedience?
Bap. That is soon answered: for he that tempts men to sin, is the Devil.
Qua. Thou hast rightly answered; for God tempts no man to sin, neither is he tempted of any: but every man when he is tempted is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed; and when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin; and sin when it is finished, brings forth death. Jam. 1.14,15.
Bap. All that is true; you have answered your self.
Qua. Then this is the Question: By what means? is it by a vocal voice, or outward sound that he teaches men to sin?
Bap. Nay I do believe that the Devil is a spirit, and doth not teach men to sin by personal appearance, or by a vocal voice that may be heard by the outward ear.