"Sing Lustily and with a Good Courage"

John Wesley's Singing Instructions from his 1761 "Select Hymns"

Eighteenth-century English pastor and father of Methodism, John Wesley, released a hymnal compilation titled, Select Hymns in 1761. At the back of this volume were the following instructions for the singer. Points 3 and 4 are compelling and encouraging for Christians to sing out and press on in their singing ability.

John Wesley’s Directions for Singing

1. Learn these tunes before you learn any others; afterward learn as many as you please.

2. 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.

3. Sing all. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find a blessing.

4. Sing lustily and with a 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, than when you sung the songs of Satan.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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 words, “if it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find a blessing,” are particularly poignant. Don’t give up if you struggle to sing in church and various singing activities. There is a reward for your cheerful diligence. The blessing will be to you and those around you witnessing your persistence.

Two Additional Hymn Stanzas

I am reminded of two hymn stanzas that speak to this sentiment. First is Scottish poet and hymn writer James Montgomery’s Songs of Praise the Angels Sang where stanza five says,

Saints below, with heart and voice,
Still in songs of praise rejoice;
   Learning here, by faith and love,
   Songs of praise to sing above.

We do not know exactly what we will be doing for all eternity, but we do know we will be singing. Montgomery’s stanza states that very clearly. Of course, there’s the well-known stanza from John Newton’s Amazing Grace which declares,

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
    Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise,
    Than when we first begun. 

Of all of God’s creation, we have the most reasons to be thankful and to “sing lustily and with a good courage!”

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