Inglis Collection of printed music > Printed text > Introduction to the skill of musick

Of MUSIC K in General, and of
fixthfrom Adam, who, as it u recorded Gen.4.27. was
the Father of all that handle the Harp or Organ.
St. Auguikim goeth yet farther, jewing, that it is the
gift of God himfelf, and d Reprcfentatiori or Admonition
ofthefweet Gonfent and Harmony which hisWifdom hath
made in the Creation and Adminifiration of the World.
And well it may he termed a Divine and Myfterious Art,
for among all thofe rare Arts and Sciences, with which
Godhath endued Men, this of Mufick is the mofifublime
and excellent for its wonderful Effects and Inventions ;
It hath been the Jhtdy of Millions of Men for many thou-
fand years, yet none ever attained the full fcope and per"
feEtion thereof-, but fiill appeared new Matter for their
Inventions ; and which is mofi wonderful , the whole
My fiery of this Art is comprifed in the compafs of three
Notes or Sounds , which is mofi ingenioufly obferved by
^/r.Chriftopher Simipfonjn his Divifion-Violift,^.
18. in thtfe words, All Sounds than can poffibly be
joyned at once together in Mufical
Concordance, are ftill but the re-
iterated Harmony in Three ; a fig-
nificant Emblem of that Supreme
and Incomprehenfible Trinity , t
Three in One, Governing and Dif-
pofing the whole Machine of the
World, withall its included Parts
in a perfed Harmony } for in the
Harmony of Sounds, there is fome great and hidden
My fiery above what hath been yet difcovered. And
Mrs. Catherine Phillips in her Encomium on Mr.Htnry
Laws his fecond Book^of Ay res, hath thefe words :
Nature, which in the vaft Creation's Soul,
That Heady curious Agent in the whole ,
The