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    Chris to quasi deo diceresqcvm in ~ vicerhm ) On this passage I have t < $ ] observe , 1 , that it is very far frorrf certain , that Pliny means , by carmen , a song or hymn : the , ^ prd may denote any established solemn formula , any preconceived form >

    whether in verse or prose , what * ever be its subject . * 2 , I do not know that any adequate reason can be assigned for Pliny ' s using

    dicere 9 to say , if he meant that the Christians sung the carmen , whatever it was . They mif feefore day-break , doubtless toJs | jpkl the observation of their pe ^ s ^ Wtors ; and they would from tfe ^

    same cause , naturally employ'the more quiet modes of worshi p * S Whatever mode was employed , me carmen was used by the Chriistia «» secvm irrvicem each one by hflB self in turns . This I conceiv ^ pt be the true force of the expression and if they really did sing , their

    mode * of doing it , probably , Sb setnbled the first mentioned pl ^ n of the Therapeutae , and the mer thod adopted in Tertullian ' s time *

    wculd be absolutely uncertain ; Evell admitting ( what I see iw reason tm believe ^) that they regarded fthn as truly God , and farther , that their catrriuen was .

    properly speaking , a prayer , I should say , that they had not learnt the $ | . Chri ttatiity from our scriptures . Bwf ttyhcn we consider , trrat half a centurj ^ % ft « r , J ustin Martyr , who was acquainted with the practice of the Asiatic churches /!^ presents the Christians as worshipping the Creator of all ; the Father , through Christ or in his name , we have good reason to conclude , that these earlier

    disciples had not forsaken the precepts and-practice of the apostles ; and that if the carmen- were not simply a hymn in honour of Christ , hut reaJly a prayer , it was , as Lardner says , a prayer td ^ od upon Christian principles * in -whichifeod was praised for all the blessings of the Christian revelation . *' * See among other authorities the not * in ) ixx l 4 urduer »

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    It is ctear that in this case we I || g ^ l 4 st ill be without any tneafa ^ i determining whether orlaot the Pflfnitive Christians used instrumental accompaniments with their ^ jBvotional songs ; and at any rate , w ^ could not possibly infer any

    Aing from PlinyV . words , as to ^ the ir views on the propriety , oC em # ploying them . I think it by fep the most probable thai tfi € y * dicf

    not sing , and in this I am confirm * ed by the testimony of ? 3 , Justin Martyrf . This emu nent writer flourished in the for * mer part , and till beyond the mid * die of the second century , * He is

    | placed by ( Lardner at a . j > . 14 > Qm Williams Psalm . Evang . vol . ii . p . 31 ) says that Justin describes Ringing as a principal part of the ' worship of ttye primitive Christens ; and he refers to Burner ' s Hiltory N 5 f Music , vol . ii . p . 3 , 4 , where that writer speaks of Justin ' s

    havfig left " a clear and indisputable stimony to the early ttfee of hymns by the Christians * approving ourtselves grateful to God , by celetating his praises w \ th fiynins and her solemnitiesb'" The passage referred to is in his Apology to

    - Antoninus Pius ( p . 60 , of the Paris 5 ^ 0 He there repels the charge urged against the Christians that they were Atheists ; stating their belief that the Maker of all things llfes not require libations and IRpnt offerings , and that they

    t Justia Martyr was bora in Pales * tine . During his studies he travelled to Egypt , where he was converted a . d « 13 a . Fle ^ ent to Rome , in the reign of Antoninus Pius , whertto&AreW tfpnit nrst Apology , a . i > . jfeo . H& tlffctt

    went into the east , visiting Ephesus ; whenve > be remrned ^ to ^ , Rome- Thettf he . wrQte 1 * 49 second Apology * a » d ««< attcrwMJida fttgcxc 4 martyrdofi ^ - m . »• XQpdi m , r ^ »• '' . : >

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    4 & 2 On the lj * e of Vocal qnd Instrumental Music in public Worship ^

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1813, page 462, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2430/page/38/