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Doubtful Fragments on the Psalms

Hippolytus

Section 6

About this work

Author: Hippolytus

6. It is likely, also, that a similar

‹ Section 5 Section 7 ›

account

is

to

be

given

of

the

fact

,

that

David

alone

of

the

prophets

prophesied

with

an

instrument

,

called

by

the

Greeks

the

“

psaltery

,

”

and

by

the

Hebrews

the

“

nabla

,

”

which

is

the

only

musical

instrument

that

is

quite

straight

,

and

has

no

curve

.

And

the

sound

does

not

come

from

the

lower

parts

,

as

is

the

case

with

the

lute

and

certain

other

instruments

,

but

from

the

upper

.

For

in

the

lute

and

the

lyre

the

brass

when

struck

gives

back

the

sound

from

beneath

.

But

this

psaltery

has

the

source

of

its

musical

numbers

above

,

in

order

that

we

,

too

,

may

practise

seeking

things

above

,

and

not

suffer

ourselves

to

be

borne

down

by

the

pleasure

of

melody

to

the

passions

of

the

flesh

.

And

I

think

that

this

truth

,

too

,

was

signified

deeply

and

clearly

to

us

in

a

prophetic

way

in

the

construction

of

the

instrument

,

viz

.

,

that

those

who

have

souls

well

ordered

and

trained

,

have

the

way

ready

to

things

above

.

And

again

,

an

instrument

having

the

source

of

its

melodious

sound

in

its

upper

parts

,

may

be

taken

as

like

the

body

of

Christ

and

His

saints

—

the

only

instrument

that

maintains

rectitude

;

“

for

He

did

no

sin

,

neither

was

guile

found

in

his

mouth

.

”

This

is

indeed

an

instrument

,

harmonious

,

melodious

,

well

-

ordered

,

that

took

in

no

human

discord

,

and

did

nothing

out

of

measure

,

but

maintained

in

all

things

,

as

it

were

,

harmony

towards

the

Father

;

for

,

as

He

says

:

“

He

that

is

of

the

earth

is

earthly

,

and

speaketh

of

the

earth

:

He

that

cometh

from

heaven

,

testifies

of

what

He

has

seen

and

heard

.

”

Notes

7
[See learned remarks of Pusey, p. 27 of his Lectures on Daniel.]
8
Isa. liii. 9. [Vol. i. cap. iv. p. 50.]
9
John iii. 31.