p. 127 | Music by Eliza H. Morton

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Apr 25, 1878

Music.

By Eliza H. Morton

MUSIC is one of the most ancient of the fine arts. The Scriptures are full of canticles of praise and mourning, and songs of thanksgiving and joy. Since the "morning stars sang together" the world has marched to music. It has been said, that, "the universe is an instrument, and God is the player"; and it is true, that all nature tends to music. The birds sing beautiful songs in the wildwood. The brooks murmur tender solos over the pebbles. The winds play a louder treble among the tree-tops, and the great ocean dashes its waves over the bare rocks on the sea shore, with a deep base melody. The tiny raindrops beat a diminuendo and crescendo over the roofs and against the panes, while, ever and anon, mingling with the gentler music, comes the hoarse, deep-toned peals of thunder, forming a chorus, grand and sublime.

Music speaks to the soul. It touches the hidden strings of the heart, and whatever is pure and noble in man is often awakened by hearing again the sweet strains of some simple long-forgotten melody.

Human life may be called a song. Tenderness and love are the keynotes of that mysterious harmony and if these are omitted discord is the result.

The songs of earth are but the prelude of the song to come. Rich and full will be the symphonies of heaven, when the saints are crowned with "songs and everlasting joy;" and the celestial arches echo and re-echo with the "song of Moses and the Lamb." In that glad day the jars of this discordant universe will all be blended into "eternity's grand anthem."

ELIZA H. MORTON. Allen's Corners, Me.