John Wesley's
Instructions for Singing (1761)
I. Learn
these tunes before you learn any others; afterwards learn as many as you
please.
II. Sing them exactly as they are printed here,
without altering or mending them at all; and if you have learned to sing them
otherwise, unlearn it as soon as you can.
III. Sing all. See that you join with the
congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a single degree of weakness or
weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find it
a blessing.
IV. Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of
singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with
strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being
heard, then when you sung the songs of Satan.
V. Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard
above or distinct from the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy
the harmony; but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear
melodious sound.
VI. Sing in time. Whatever time is sung be sure to
keep with it. Do not run before nor stay behind it; but attend close to the
leading voices, and move therewith as exactly as you can; and take care not to
sing too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it
is high time to drive it out from us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we
did at first.
VII. Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to
God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any
other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you
sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered
to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve
here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.
The United Methodist Hymnal. The United Methodist Publishing House, 1989, p.vii.
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