and announced the new year, the fasts, and the Sabbath; [216:5] but they did not introduce instrumental music into their congregational services.  The early Christians followed the example of the synagogue; and when they celebrated the praises of God “in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs,” [216:6] their melody was “the fruit of the lips.” [216:7] For many centuries after this period, the use of instrumental music was unknown in the Church. [217:1]

The Jews divided the Pentateuch and the writings of the Prophets into sections, one of which was read every Sabbath in the synagogue; [217:2] and thus, in the place set apart to the service of the God of Israel, His own will was constantly proclaimed.  The Christians bestowed equal honour on the holy oracles; for in their solemn assemblies, the reading of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament formed a part of their stated worship. [217:3] At the close of this exercise, one or more of the elders edified the congregation, either by giving a general exposition of the passage read, or by insisting particularly on some point of doctrine or duty which it obviously inculcated.  If a prophet was present, he, too, had now an opportunity of addressing the auditory. [217:4]

As apostolic Christianity aimed to impart light to the understanding, its worship was uniformly conducted in the language of the people.  It, indeed, attested its divine origin by miracles, and it accordingly enabled some to speak in tongues in which they had never been instructed; but it permitted such individuals to exercise their gifts in the church only when interpreters were present to translate their communications. [217:5] Whilst the gift of tongues, possessed by so many of the primitive disciples, must have attracted the attention of the Gentile as well as of the Jewish literati, it must also have made a powerful impression on the popular mind, more especially in large cities; for in such places there were always foreigners to whom these strange utterances would be perfectly intelligible, and for whom a discourse delivered in the speech of their native country would have peculiar charms.  But in the worship of the primitive Christians there was no attempt, in the way of embellishment or decoration, to captivate the senses.  The Church had no gorgeous temples, no fragrant incense, [218:1] no splendid vestments.  For probably the whole of the first century, she celebrated her religious ordinances in private houses, [218:2] and her ministers officiated in their ordinary costume.  John, the forerunner of our Saviour, “had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins;” [218:3] but perhaps few of the early Christian preachers were arrayed in such coarse canonicals.