The New Song

I enjoy reading the Church Fathers (although I must confess the archaic online translations are ponderous) and I came across this gem by St. Clement of Alexandria in his "Exhortation to the Heathen":

• "Behold the might of the new song! It has made men out of stones, men out of beasts. Those, moreover, that were as dead, not being partakers of the true life, have come to life again, simply by becoming listeners to this song. It also composed the universe into melodious order, and tuned the discord of the elements to harmonious arrangement, so that the whole world might become harmony. It let loose the fluid ocean, and yet has prevented it from encroaching on the land. The earth, again, which had been in a state of commotion, it has established, and fixed the sea as its boundary. The violence of fire it has softened by the atmosphere, as the Dorian is blended with the Lydian strain; and the harsh cold of the air it has moderated by the embrace of fire, harmoniously arranging these the extreme tones of the universe. And this deathless strain,—the support of the whole and the harmony of all,—reaching from the centre to the circumference, and from the extremities to the central part, has harmonized this universal frame of things, not according to the Thracian music, which is like that invented by Jubal, but according to the paternal counsel of God, which fired the zeal of David. And He who is of David, and yet before him, the Word of God, despising the lyre and harp, which are but lifeless instruments, and having tuned by the Holy Spirit the universe, and especially man,—who, composed of body and soul, is a universe in miniature,—makes melody to God on this instrument of many tones; and to this instrument—I mean man—he sings accordant: “For thou art my harp, and pipe, and temple.”—a harp for harmony—a pipe by reason of the Spirit—a temple by reason of the word; so that the first may sound, the second breathe, the third contain the Lord..."

Clement began this work with a scathing criticism of the popular music of his day, music that celebrates evil and sensuality (sound familiar?). The "new song" he mentions here is the song that was sung at Creation and renewed by the Son of Man, and is now sung by redeemed Man -- homo adorans -- whom Clement calls the "instrument of many tones": a harp, pipe, and temple for God, so that we might "sound, breathe, and contain the Lord." God has "made men out of stones, men out of beasts" simply by our having become listeners to the new song.

Hallelujah!