Calvin’s Institutes, on Music

I came across this excerpt as I was listening through the chapter on prayer and thought that some might appreciate knowing what Calvin said about music, as certain posts in this blog in the category of music get a lot of hits.

I emboldened a few areas and underscored the final part of section 32, the reason I posted the quotation.

John Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion

Book Third

CHAPTER 20 Of Prayer—A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits Derived from It

Section 32 (of 52)

  1. It is certain that the use of singing in churches (which I may mention in passing) is not only very ancient, but was also used by the apostles, as we may gather from the words of Paul, “I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also” (1 Cor 14:15). In like manner he says to the Colossians, “Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col 3:16). In the former passage, he enjoins us to sing with the voice and the heart; in the latter, he commends spiritual Songs, by which the pious mutually edify each other. That it was not a universal practice, however, is attested by Augustine (Confess. lib. 9 c. 7), who states that the church of Milan first began to use singing in the time of Ambrose, when the orthodox faith being persecuted by Justina, the mother of Valentinian, the vigils of the people were more frequent than usual;20 and that the practice was afterward followed by the other Western churches. He had said a little before that the custom came from the East.21 He also intimates (Retract. lib. 2): that it was received in Africa in his own time. His words are, “Hilarius, a man of tribunitial rank, assailed with the bitterest invectives he could use the custom which then began to exist at Carthage, of singing hymns from the book of Psalms at the altar, either before the oblation, or when it was distributed to the people; I answered him, at the request of my brethren.”22 And certainly if singing is tempered to a gravity befitting the presence of God and angels, it both gives dignity and grace to sacred actions, and has a very powerful tendency to stir up the mind to true zeal and ardor in prayer. We must, however, carefully beware, lest our ears be more intent on the music than our minds on the spiritual meaning of the words.Augustine confesses (Confess. lib. 10 c. 33) that the fear of this danger sometimes made him wish for the introduction of a practice observed by Athanasius, who ordered the reader to use only a gentle inflection of the voice, more akin to recitation than singing. But on again considering how many advantages were derived from singing, he inclined to the other side.23 If this moderation is used, there cannot be a doubt that the practice is most sacred and salutary. On the other hand, songs composed merely to tickle and delight the ear are unbecoming the majesty of the church, and cannot but be most displeasing to God.

Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion (p. 130). Hendrickson Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Both Athanasius and Augustine gave much thought to the subject of singing in the church: how and what to sing.

I think the following 3 minute video by Dr. John MacArthur contributes much to the conversation of those two giants of the Christian faith:

 

 

So, MacArthur seems to be saying that singing is the fruit of a mind that has imbibed the truth of God via understanding doctrine: the root – doctrine; then, emotions that derive from understanding of doctrine; then emotions that drive one’s expression of worship via singing. 

The following link is to a post in this blog on cross centered music. C. J. Mahaney basically states that his meditations on the cross move him to praise God via singing about the cross; as in the process noted above.

CROSS-CENTERED SONGS: Why sing them? C. J. Mahaney

For other posts on music in this blog, see Categories: Christian Music

See categories: Calvin’s Institutes for other posts from Calvin’s work.

I recently purchased a Kindle version of Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion for $2.95 on Amazon, so I could copy and paste to this blog. The book and audible versions are in the $25 + range.