Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 37:146 (Apr 1880)
Article: Music, A Language
Author: Thomas Hill

BSac 37:146 (April 1880) p. 249

Music, A Language

Rev. Thomas Hill

In the apocalyptic visions of John we have the mention of books, of lampstands, and other articles of ordinary utility, but nothing concerning statues or pictures. John Bunyan, in his Pilgrim’s Progress, has Christiana and her children shown pictures; but it was before they reached the heavenly gates. Nor do I recall any popular representation of heaven which represents its streets adorned with statues, or its halls with paintings. Statues are not needed where the living forms of the greatest and noblest are always visible; nor paintings, where the vision of immortal beauty is never obstructed.

But the popular representations of heaven always include music, and the Revelations of John give the strongest endorsement of this popular belief by their frequent and wonderfully grand descriptions of the music which ever fills the resounding courts above. The reason of this is obvious. Whatever other employment the redeemed souls may have in heaven, it would seem certain that they will take great delight in praising God, and in expressions of their wonder, love, and gratitude; great delight, also, in communing with each other, in that company of the redeemed, in mutual expressions of fellowship and good-will. Increasing knowledge, increasing powers, increasing occupations, — these will give ever new joys; and the expression of that joy, and the expression of mutual sympathy in such joys, must, one would think, largely occupy the redeemed.

Now, music is the most perfect language of the heart; it is the clearest, most definite, most forcible mode of expressing

BSac 37:146 (April 1880) p. 250

emotion; and if there be not in heaven that music which is heard with the outward ear, there is, at least, nothing known on earth which can so fitly as music symbolize the mode in which the saints and angels actually do express their feelings.

Most persons are willing to acknowledge, in a vague and general way, that music has the power of expressing emotions. There are styles of music which are recognized as ecclesiastical, martial, song music, dance music, etc. But I believe music to be capable of expressing, with precision and power, every shade of simple and of complex emotion. The majority of hearers receive from hearing the music a correct impression of the more obvious and common feelings thus expressed; while more sensitive and aesthetically discriminating souls perceive the finer shades of sentiment.

In Dr. Darwin’s Zoönomia, he says, “Our music, like our architecture, seems to have no foundation in nature; they are both arts of purely human creation.” He further says they rest” on the caprices that are introduced into our minds by our v...