In the front of the Methodist Hymnal, you will find John Wesley's instructions for singing. They are as follows:
I. Learn these tunes before you learn any others;
afterwards learn as many as you please.
II. 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.
III. Sing all. See that you join with the
congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a single degree of weakness or
weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find it
a blessing.
IV. Sing lustily and with 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, then when you sung the songs of Satan.
V. 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.
VI. 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 to 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.
VII. 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.
Lucy seems to have got number IV and VII down. . . . :)
