The problem of music is outside the province of this paper but is involved in any serious study of hymnology at any period of its development. Here the student is almost totally at a loss for manuscript evidence bearing musical notation from the primitive period. The Oxyrhynchus hymn is a solitary example.[88] This does not mean that the subject is altogether obscure. Many statements about Christian practice, inspired by biblical precedent, are found in patristic literature. The traditions both of Hebrew music and of the early Church are well known. It seems clear that melody only was employed and that it was, for the most part, unaccompanied. Instrumentation was opposed and forbidden in public worship of a liturgical nature.[89] No student can leave the consideration of early Christian hymnology without a sense of defeat. The past cannot be forced to yield the hidden knowledge of which it is the custodian. Sources are very scanty, especially in proportion to other literary remains of early Christianity. Specifically, there is no collection of hymns in existence which might correspond to a modern hymnary. On the contrary, isolated examples or groups appear from place to place and from time to time in varied forms. But in one respect our evidence is sure, if not complete. Springing from the culture and the vicissitudes of the age, Christian hymns of the early Church, as in every other stage of its development, not only express the spiritual aspiration of the time but also respond to the challenge of a new day. [1]H. LeClercq, "Hymnes," _Dictionnaire D' Archeologie Chretienne, etc._ (Paris, Letouzey, 1925), vol. 16, 2826-2928; Part I, _Hymnographie des trois premiers siecles_, 2826-2859. [2]C. S. Phillips, _Hymnody, Past and Present_ (London, S. P. C. K., 1937). [3]J. Kroll, "Die Hymnendichtung des fruehen Christentums," _Die Antike_, 2 (1926), 258-281. [4]J. Mearns, _Canticles of the Christian Church_ (Cambridge, Un. Press, 1914), 1; F. Cabrol, "Cantiques," _Dictionnaire D' Archeologie Chretienne, etc._, vol. 2 (2), 1976. [5]All biblical passages quoted in this paper are given in the _King James Version_ of the English Bible. [6]R. H. Charles, _The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament_ (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1913), vol. I, 627-629. [7]J. Mearns, _op. cit._ (see note 4), 1. [8]F. Cabrol, _op. cit._ (see note 4), 1976-1977. [9]J. Julian, _Dictionary of Hymnology_ (London, John Murray, 1892), "Canons," 461, 463. [10]Quotations from the Psalms are not included in this paper. [11]C. H. Toy, _Quotations in the New Testament_ (New York, Scribners, 1884), 199-200. [12]E. F. Scott, _The Pastoral Epistles_ (New York, Harper, no date), 14. [13]J. Kroll, _op. cit._ (see note 3), 264. [14]M. Dibelius, _A Fresh Approach to the New Testament and Early Christian Literature_ (New York, Scribners, 1936), 247.