To the MUSICIONERS,Humphrey Smith:
To the Musicioners: modernized version
Original version
Commentaries by Edwin Alton and Douglas GwynContents
- Notes by Esther Greenleaf Mürer
- To the Musicioners
- Concerning Poets, Jesters, Rhymers, and all that wanton crew
- Scripture index
- Genesis 4
- Genesis 10:9
- Genesis 11:1-9
- Exodus 32
- 1 Samuel 16:14-23
- 1 Samuel 28
- 1 Kings 18, 21
- Job 21
- Psalms 2:2
- Psalms 137
- Ecclesiastes 2:8-11
- Jeremiah 31:34
- Lamentations 5:15
- Ezekiel 32:2-6
- Daniel 3, 4
- Amos 6
- Matthew 14
- Mark 6
- John 16:20
- 1 Corinthians 9
- 1 Corinthians 13
- Hebrews 10:34
- Revelation 17:1-5
NOTES by Esther Greenleaf Mürer
It is not my aim in this version to attempt a full translation into modern English; I am merely trying to make Smith's tract more accessible to the non-scholarly reader.
I have modernized the spelling, but let the capitalization and the italics stand. I have attempted to rationalize the punctuation and unravel the syntax I have done little paraphrasing of words, except where necessary in for the sake of the syntax, or in a few cases where a word had changed meaning since the 17th century.
I have broken the orgiginal paragraphs somewhat arbitrarily into shorter ones. The original paragraph boundaries are indicated by horizontal rules.
Bible references in parentheses are in the original; those in square brackets I have supplied. As a further help I offer modern commentaries by Edwin Alton and Douglas Gwyn. The last section, Concerning Poets, Jesters, Rhymers, and all that wanton crew, is signed "G.F." Alton quotes it as if it were by Humphrey Smith, but it seems to be by George Fox (although it does not appear in the 8-volume edition of his works).
London, Printed in the 11th month, 1658.
[Gen 4]
Jubal was the father of all those who play the harp and organ, and so the father of all such Musicians. He himself was of the seed of Lamech, who slew a man; and so the son of a man-slayer was the father of all such as play the harp and organ--and the man Christ, the Light, is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
And Jubal was of the generation of Cain, who first slew a man, and then built a City; he slew his brother, someone that was near to him; and the light of the Lamb slain is near to everyone, for that which comes from the man of sorrows is in the heart. Cain's seed slays the man of sorrows, the Musicioners were of Cain's seed; hence that which slays the man of sorrows invents, sets up and delights in the instruments of music.
So the father of all such musicians was Jubal, the seed of Cain, who built a City, and so was a rich man, and his seed delighted in music; and so his seed, who are begotten from the Lord, are building Cities, strongholds, high and large houses with painted parlours, and then set up the instruments of Music in the houses which are outwardly ceiled, but full of rottenness within—a Cage of unclean spirits, by which the just is murdered, and the houses which should be the Temple of the holy Spirit lie waste and desolate with respect to the life of God.
And the father of all these was Jubal, the seed of Lamech a man-slayer, who also had another son, Tubal-Cain (the seed of Cain) an instructor of every artisan working with brass and iron. According to I Corinthians 13, however great our achievements, if we have not arrived at that which fulfils the perfect Law, we are as sounding brass. So too there are many of the seed of this instructor, whose instructions cause people to be merely as sounding brass.
And this first instructor, and Jubal, were the offspring of Cain—the wanderer, driven from God, against whom the blood of the righteous cries out; yet Cain was so rich in worldly things that he built a City, being separated from God (who confounds man's wisdom). Then comes that which makes merry over the Witness (Gen. 4).
[Exod. 32]
And they who danced in the wilderness, sang and made a great noise, and indulged in mirth and vain delights—they were a stiff-necked people, the kind who sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play; like those in our own time, who are stiff-necked and do not bow to him who is the Light, are not humble-hearted before him to whom every knee shall bow; but eat and drink, and rise up to vain delights, having music at their feasts, feeding themselves without fear (Jude 12).
[I Kings 18, 21]
They are like Jezebel (at whose table the false Prophets feed), who gave a feast when she intended to murder the righteous man to gain his possession. Inside they have that which murders the just; people who forget God delight in these things. For they who sang and danced in the wilderness forgot the mighty power of the Lord which brought them out of bondage; therefore they became carnal libertines, as many others are now before they come to the true rest.
They fell into idolatry, the worship of that which the physical eye can perceive; they had lost the true guide, and when they were engaged in their singing and dancing, they lost all connection with Him, the Minister of the Law that discovers sin. But though they who were dancing stopped seeing him for a time, and began to despise him—yet without warning he came upon them in the fierceness of his anger, executed the judgments of the Lord upon those vain dancers, with whom he was grieved. He who was in the Church in the wilderness, and is the holy One in the midst, with a sudden slaughter destroyed these dancers.
Their singing was not because of the spirit's leadings, nor was their voice the cry of the oppressed; these were idolaters, with uncircumcised hearts, who did not know the ways of God. God therefore condemned and overthrew them utterly, so that they perished in the wilderness where they had committed these sins after the Lord had delivered them—just as many of the Rulers and people of England have done, who have forgotten their Leader, and who may learn from from the example of the Israelites, of whom about thirty thousand were slain because of their singing, dancing, and false sworship (Exod. 32, I Cor. 9).
[Mark 6, Matt 14]
And Herod had dancing before him; and she that danced, and he that was pleased with the dancing, caused the person to be beheaded that pointed to him that is the Light, and preached the Lamb that takes away the sin and their carnal nature. And so this murders that, which is to prepare the way of the Lord.
Ad they took off his head, and murdered him who was a burning and a shining Light, and slew him that preached Repentance; and so the dancers, and the Rulers of the earth who were pleased with dancing and music, murder that in themselves which calls to repentance, and are ready to murder those who preach repentance to them: And whilst there is a delighting in dancing and music, that which calleth to repentance is in bondage; for John was in prison when Herod was pleased with the dancing; and there is not a greater Prophet, than he that preaches repentance.
And he that proclaims the way of the Lord was in prison, and she that danced desired his death, and he that caused him to be beheaded was a King, a great one in the earth, who was pleased with dancing. And he was a swearer, which is contrary to Christ's doctrine; for he promised with an oath whatsoever she would ask, who danced before him; then nothing would satisfy the dancer, but the death of him who preached repentance.
And the King was an observer of days, and kept the day of his birth with dancing : it was his birthday, the day of his birth in which he was brought forth, he who was a swearer (the swearers delight in dancing) and caused the one to be beheaded who warned those who had the Oracles of God to fly from the wrath to come, and said they were a generation of Vipers, who had the Scriptures, and came also to his baptism, and brought not forth fruits meet for repentance (these are the Vipers).
And so that which is to lead unto Christ suffers in bondage, and is murdered, and the head or first appearance of it is taken off on that day on that which is pleased with the dancing is born; not like Job [Job 21] and Jeremiah [Lam 5:15], and delights in the music. And that which exercises the mind of the creature in dancing desires the death and murder of that which in prison—the call to repentance—above all other things; yea, then there is nothing so much desired by him that delights in the music as the killing and overcoming of that which is cast into prison (Matt 14).
[Psalm 137]
And when those in Israel who had Harps (the Musicians, those who delighted in music) were carried captive into Babylon, the land of Confusion, [Gen 11:1-9] in which land Nimrod the mighty one in the earth went hunting before the Lord [Gen 10:9] -- by the River of Babylon they sate down and wept, who had previously been the Musicians with their Harps; these went into captivity because of their sin, and hanged their Harps upon the Willows, and sat down mourning by the River of confusion.
And that which delighted in the Music caused the seed to be captivated, and leads that which should come to liberty into bondage, whereby sorrow, weeping and mourning come in the end; for the songs of the temple are to be turned into howling, and their delight in musick into weeping; and they led those captive from Zion, who had come to the land of promise and there took liberty in these fleshly delights (Psalm 137). The mind that has wisdom may read this.
[Dan 3-4]
And it was the King of Babylon (who said, "Is not this great Babylon that I have built by the might of my power, for the honour of my Majesty?" [Dan 4:30]) who set up the golden image to be worshipped at the sound of all kinds of Music [Dan 3:1-6]. And he too was a great man in the earth, a great King, the King of Babylon, a mighty one in confusion, who commanded the Magicians, the Astrologers, and Sorcerers, and Chaldeans [Dan 4:7], and ruled over them, and all them that dwelt in the earth; and he sent greetings of peace to all people, nations and languages that dwell in all the earth [Dan 4:1]. But he that is the light comes not to send peace on the earth; and the Angel cried woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth [Rev 8:13].
But he that was King over nations in the earth had many instruments of Music, all kinds of Music; and he that delighted in the musick set up the golden image, and by his command those who heard the music were immediately to fall down and worship the great golden image, like the children of Israel who set up the golden Calf. And these were idolaters, and in the false worship. And that which delighted in all kinds of Music was in the enmity to the righteous seed, and sought to murder those who denied the Music and false worship—and thus appears to be of Cain the Murderer, and of Lamech the manslayer. And these great ones in the earth, who had all kinds of music, were in Babylon.
And they were the persecutors (like those who persecute now) whose rage was exceeding great against the servants of the living God—who, though in Babylon, were faithful to Him and neither regarded their music nor feared their great threatening words nor yet obeyed their strict commands. Neither would they keep their decrees , nor take much care to answer them in that matter, nor bow before their image even though it was made with gold, nor worship any other God than he that dwells in his people—even though they were in the land of captivity, among those in the land of confusion who at last were brought to confess to, fear, and tremble before the living God (who is a light) that reveals secrets in the hearts.
But that which delights in the Music seeks to murder the just. And to that which seeks to murder and persecute, all thosee who are yet great in the earth are joined, being not out of the earth redeemed; and the Rulers of the earth take counsel together against the Anointed [Psa 2:2], who needs not man to teach [Jer 31:34], and whose seed is preserved and anointed amongst the flames of their burning enmity.
For the Princes, the Governors, the Captains, the Judges, the Rulers, the Counsellers, the Sheriffs, and all the Rulers of the Provinces [Dan 3:2], who were of Babylon, and who delighted in the music, stood before the image, were in the false worship, and joyned together—as such do now—in persecuting the seed of God, and in confirming the Decree made by the King of Babylon; a Decree made with such fierce Tyranny, such a height of pride and envy, that nothing less than casting the just forthwith into the burning fiery furnace would satisfy that nature which ruled in these great Rulers in the earth, who loved the Music, and whose fire of enmity burned within them.
And they caused their Decree to be Proclaimed with a loud voice, that upon hearing their music all men should worship their Image, or forthwith be cast into the outward fire, because of the rulers' fire of enmity within. And when the Decree was not obeyed, nor their Image worshipped, nor their enmity within, nor furnace without regarded by the servants of the living God, the King of Babylon was immediately as full of fury as the furnace was full of fire, so that the form of his visage was changed, and rose up in that power of enmity against the righteous seed, like Cain the murderer—who rose up against his brother, whose countenance also was changed. From this it appears that the king and the rest were of Cain's seed, and the Musicians of their father Jubal the seed of Lamech who slew a man (read Dan. 3). When the Harp and the music go, they must worship the Image in the world's figure.
And the persecuting Rulers of England need not dismiss this as not applying to themselves. They are rich and mighty in the earth, and envious like Cain, and delight in music like the rest of his seed. For the great Whore, and mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth, Mystery Babylon, have made all the Kings of the earth drunk with the wine of her fornication, and the great men, the rich men of the Earth, and all nations have committed fornication with her, who have corrupted the earth [Rev 17:1-5].
And all Nations wander after the Beast, and in all nations the seed and children of Mystery Babylon and of Cain and Lamech are sprung up; and even in this nation and other adjacent Kingdoms, the Princes, the Governors, and Captains, the Judges, the Treasurers, the Counsellers, the Sheriffs, and the Rulers of the Provinces, delight in the instruments of Music, and are envious against the righteous seed who cannot bow to any image, or worship any golden glorious image or likeness whatsoever, but only the living God who is able to deliver them, and is a Spirit dwelling in his people, and in spirit is worshipped by them who cannot bow to or worship any image or outward likeness set up by the will of man.
And therefore it is this day that the Governors, and Captains, the Judges, the Treasurers, the Counsellers, the Sheriffs, the Justices, and all the Rulers in the earth—who are of the stock of Babel and of their Fathers, Cain, Lamech, and Jubal—are joining together to persecute those who worship God in spirit, who commanded them not to bow down or worship any Image or likeness; and so the rulers' likenesses are denied, the substance being come [Heb 10:34], and Christ revealed within—who is a man of Sorrows, who said the wolrld should rejoyce (John 16.20). But their joy should be turned into sorrow, and it is his light in the conscience which judges those vain delights in carnal music, which perish with the using.
[1 Sam 16:14-23]
For when the Spirit had departed from Saul, he sought for someone to play upon a Harp before him. For a time he was satisfied with that, and when he heard the music, he would be well; but later his delight in the music could not overcome that murdering spirit in him, but at the very time that Saul heard the music he sought to slay him that was to be King. And people like Saul, who reject the Counsel of God, slay him that is the light, and do not want that he should reign who is a man of sorrows.
And he that loved the music had an evil spirit, or something that troubled him; and that which moved in him while he heard the music to murer that which was to Reign—the Lord's Annointed—the same thing led him to the Witch [1 Sam 28]. And so first he left the Spirit of God, then sought ease by music, then sought counsel from the Witch, and he was shortly after destroyed. They follow witchcraft who do not obey the Truth which makes free; and he that is the Light is the Truth, and the Lamb is slain by that which takes delight in that which is out of the Truth, invented by the generation of Cain, a fugitive in the earth of whom his deceived mother said, "I have gotten a man from the Lord" [Gen 4:1]; but whose seed loves that which keeps from the Lord, and leads into Witchcraft (like Saul), not obeying the Lord, nor the Truth of his Son, who is the Light.
And Saul being in need made use of the Harp to quiet himself for a time, once the spirit of the Lord had departed from him; and afterwards the seed of the evildoers, including the chief of the Nations, did chant to the sound of the viol , and invent for themselves instruments of music, and, like David, put far away the evil day, lying upon beds of Ivory, drinking wine in bowls, but not grieved for the affliction of the Righteous seed; and these were them that were at ease in Sion, who were to be among the first to go into captivity when the woe comes upon them as may be read (Amos 6).
And Solomon's wives, men singers, women singers, and instruments of music, drew away his heart from the Lord, and later he cried against the vanity of these things [Eccl 2:8-11], for they lead out from the Spirit (and fear) of the God of order within, into the many confused things without. And those who follow them are of Babel, the mother of Harlots, who has made all nations drunk, in whom the time is come that the voice of Harpers and Musicians shall be heard no more at all; for the foundation and Skirts of that great whore, and her Craftsmen, are discovered with the Light, which judgeth these things.
From a prisoner of Christ, in whom my life is hid.
H. S.
All ye Poets, Jesters, Rhymers, makers of Verses and Ballads, who bend your wits to please novelties, light minds, who delight in jests and toys more than in the simple naked truth which you should be united to, you are for the undoing of many poor souls. It is your work to tickle up the ears of people with your jests and toys. This proceeds from a wrong heart where dwells the lust; it feeds the wrong heart and mind and wits, brings them to the grave and dust, and there buries the minds and clogs the nature, which is a shame to all that be in the modesty and pure sincerity & truth and cleanness of mind.
Therefore, all you young wits, learn not to make verses; for it is the Ballad-maker's trade and fiddler's road, and the scholars of Oxford & Cambridge's gain and learning. And lay aside all your learning of Logistical Arts, for that brings you into and keeps you in the dark; but come to the naked simplicity of truth, so that with that you may rule, and may have a pure understanding.
You think yourselves witty when you can make verses and rhymes, and this you learn in your Schools, like Ballad-makers; and when you have gotten on your garment and coat of Logic, you think to deceive the hearts of the people. But that is out of the path of Christ and his road and way that he walked in, as you may read in the Scriptures of truth, you Jesters, and Rhimers, and inventors of Logic, with which you deceive the minds of vain and light people, amongst whom you are called witty.
But I shall tell you, Scholars of Oxford and Cambridge, with your rhimes and your jests your verses and your Logic: it would be more pleasing to God for you to get a spade on your backs, and a great old glove; and a bill in your hand, and stop gaps and make up old hedges, and thresh out corn, and go amongst the day labouring men to 3.d. a day. This is more wholesome, this is a sweet savor. Burn all your Logic books and verse books, ye scholars of Oxford and Cambridge.
And you Ballad-makers and Fiddlers and Players and Mountebanks, who poison the world and poor people—now you are discovered! Throw away your inventions, for the rod of God and the power of truth have gone over you, and stand atop of your heads; and with the wisdome of God you are comprehended, and the wrath of God is come upon you all, and your swimming seen, and what you swim in [Ezek 32:2-6], with all your verses and your Logic and your Ballads and Rhymes, both Ballad-Makers and Mountebanks, and Scholars and Fiddlers.
The ground of your Scholistical Phrases and Verses, Rhymes and Jests, you Verse makers, Scholars, Fiddlers, Players and Mountebanks, are all alienated from the witness of God in you. The Lord hath a controversie with you, and will answer the witness of God in you by his power, by his sword, by his hand for all your inventions and actions. Rhymes, Verses, Logic are alien to the plain innocent witness of God in you; and if that witness should ever stir and be awakened in you, it will judge you for your actions. For the terrible God is come to reign, and you have no place to hide yourselves, when every hailstone shall fall upon you with the weight of a Talent. This is in love to your souls.
G. F.
This may be Translated (truly) into Latin, French or other Languages by any friend in truth.
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