Wesley’s Rules for Congregational Singing
- Sing All – See that you join the congregation as frequently as you can.
- 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.
- 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.
- Sing in Time – whatever the time is sung, be sure to keep with it. Do not run before and do not stay behind it; but attend close to the leading voices, and move therewith as exactly as you can; and take care not to sing too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it his high time to drive it out from among us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.
- Sing Spiritually – have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing Him more than yourself, or any other creature.
John Wesley (1703-1791)
from my notebook 