A fresh suit against human ceremonies in God's vvorship. Or a triplication unto. D. Burgesse his rejoinder for D. Morton The first part

Cathedrall musick with Organs.

2. THe first question was, If the Primitive Church had such chaunting Idol-service, as is in out Cathedrall Churches? The Rejoynder after some words spent about singing, (about which he bring∣eth not the least resemblance of that in question, untill the fourth age after Christ) excepteth first, that Organall musicke was gods ordinance in the old Testament, and that not significant, or typicall; and therefore is sinfully call••d Idol-service. 2. That all men whose hearts are not averse, by di∣straction, stupidity, or prejudice, feele such musicke to worke much upon their affections. To this I say 1. that his de∣nying of Organall musicke to have beene significant or typicall, is without reason, and against the current of our Divines; taken (as it may seeme) out of Bellarmine de missa. lib. 2. cap. 15.) who useth this evasion against

those words of P. Martyr: Musicall organs perteyne to the Iewish Ceremonie, and agree no more to us, then Circumcision. So that we may neglect it, and take him as saying, that nothing which was ordained in the old Testament (no not sacrificing of beasts) is now an Idol-service. 2. For that, and the other, both together, it is fit the Rejoynder should be put in minde how many, and what kinde of men, he accuseth of distraction, stupidity, or prejudice!

1. Thomas Aquinas (in whose time this faction was not in generall request,* 1.1 much lesse in the Primitive) in 22. q. 91. a. 2.4. opposeth thus: The Church useth no mu∣sick for divine praises, lest it should seeme to Indaize, and an¦swereth thus: Musicall instruments doe more stirre up the minde to delight, then frame it to a right disposition. In the old Testament there was some need of them, both, &c. and al∣so because they did figure out something. Erasmus, in 1. Cor. 14. sayth thus: We have brought a tedious and player-like musicke into the Church, a tumultuous noyse of many voyces, such as I thinke was not heard among the Theaters of Grecians or Romans. For which purpose, whole flockes of boyes are maintained at great charges, whose age also is all spent in lear∣ning such gibble gabble. At such cost is the Church ••or a pe∣stiferous thing, &c.

It is evident that that some Eccl••siasticall chanting and roarings in our Temples (scarse also understood of the Priests themselves) is a most foolish and vaine abuse,* 1.2 and a most per∣nicious let to piety. I make no question but all that kinde of

musicke was a part of the legall pedagogie. In the solemne wor∣ship of God, I doe not judge it more sutable, then if we should recall the incense, tapers, and other shadowes of the Law, into use. I say againe, to goe beyond what we are taught, is most wicked pervicacy.

It would be too tedious, if I should reckon up all that have assented to these. I will adde onely the two and thirty grave learned men, which were chosen in King Edwards dayes, to reforme Ecclesiasticall lawes, and observances they judged this law fitting,* 1.3 It likes us well to have this te∣dious kinde of musicke taken away. Certainely these were neither distracted, nor stupid men: whence their prejudice came, let the Rejoynder himselfe judge.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Instrumenta musica non as∣sumit Ecclesia in divinas lau∣des, ne videa∣tur Iudaizare: Musica instru∣menta magis animum mo∣vent ad dele∣ctationem, quam ut per ea forractur bona dypositio. In et Test. usus erat taiium in∣strumentorum, tum-tum quia aliquid figura∣bant Opero∣sam quandam, & theatricam musi••am in sa∣c••as a••es in∣duximus, tu∣multuosum diversarum vocum garritum, qualem non opinor in Graecorum, out Rom morum theatris unquam audi∣tumsuisse. In hunc usum, magnu sala••ijs aluntur puororum greges, quorum omnis aet as in perdiscendus hujusmodi garnitibus consumitur, tantus sumptibus oneratur Ecclesia, ob rem pestiseram, &c.
• * 1.2

  Zuinglius, Act. Disp. 2. pag. 100. Ecclesiasticum ittum cantum, & templorum boatus, ab ipsis quoque sacer∣dotibus non in∣tellectos, abu∣sum stultum, & inanem, ••••••∣pietatis verae temoram perni∣tiosissimam esse constat. Calvin in Psalm 23 Mihi d••bium non est, quin totum illud musicae genus, pars fuerít legalis padagogia. In solemni Dei cultu, nihilo 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ad canendas Deì laud••s congruere arbitror, musica instrumenta, quam si quis suffitus, lucernas, & similes legis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bras in usum revocet. Vltra progredi, quam docemur, 1. Cor. 14. impiam pervicaciam esse dico.
• * 1.3

  De divinis of∣ficijs cap. 5. Vibratam illam & operosam musicam, qua figurata dicitur aufetri plac••t.