rule was gradual and
insensible. Singing-schools and singing-books being laid aside, there
was no way to learn, but only by hearing of tunes sung or by taking the
run of the tunes, as it is phrased. The rules of singing not being
taught or learnt, every one sang as best pleased himself; and every
leading-singer would take the liberty to raise any note of the tune, or
lower it, as best pleased his ear, and add such notes and flourishes as
were grateful to him; and this was done so gradually as that but few if
any took notice of it. One Clerk or Chorister would alter the tunes a
little in his day, the next a little in his, and so one after another,
till in fifty or sixty years it caused a considerable alteration."

John Eliot, who was having famous success with the Indians, particularly
in teaching them psalm-singing,--for Dr. Mather says "their singing was
most ravishing,"--made a long contribution to the general discussion,
which contains the following "Lamentation:"--

"That musick, which in itself is concord, harmony, melody, sweetness,
charming even to irrational creatures, cheers the spirits of men, and
tends to raise them in devotion, and in the praises of God, and was
instituted by God as a means of divine worship, which is a terrour to
evil spirits, the delight of the holy Angels, and will be everlasting
imployment of those Seraphim and the glorified Saints, should be an
occasion of strife, debate, discord, contention, quarelling, and all
manner of disorder. That men, the only creatures in the lower creation
that are accomplished with reason and apt organs to praise God with,
should improve them so to dishonour him; and that instead of an
angelick temper in man, which they are capable of, and is required of
them, and especially in this matter, there should be rather a cynick
disposition and an improvement of such noble Organ to bark, snarl at,
and bite one another; that instead of one heart and one voice in the
praises of our Glorious Creator and most bountiful Benefactor, there
should be only jangle, discord, and sluring and reviling one another,
etc., this is, and shall be, for a lamentation."

The essay closes with the following exhortation:

"Whatever our thoughts are as to the mode or vocal part, whether the
_old_ or the _new way_ (as it is called) be most pleasing to us, it
would be our wisdom and a manifestation of our Christianity to deny
ou