Page:Answer to Andrew Moffat's small poem, on singing church-music.pdf/8

 If thus we do the Scriptures read, It too might be disputed If such a person had a head, Since nothing’s said about it. There’s many simple things like that The Scripture has omitted; It has not room for idle chat To please the self-conceited.

The man that’s willing to dispute, He never wants a plea; For instance, ye may ask what fruit Was the forbidden tree. But what is that for you or me To stand about debating? The fruit was fruit, the tree a tree, And Adam’s sin was eating.

To David’s psalms is oft affix’d The subject they were made on; Sometimes the tune that suits the text, And whistle it was play’d on. But names o’ tunes like names of towns, Or man or woman’s name, Will not translate to other tongues, But always stands the same.

Yet music in the Hebrew tongue Had quavers,flats, and sharps. Or how could e’er their psalms been sung, Or play’d on flutes or harps. So after a’ that ye have said, Your arguments are frail, The sweetest song that e’er was made Without a tune’s a tale.