Does the New Testament forbid musical instruments in the church?

This text is from a letter written by David Gooding in 1994.

I know of no passage myself in the New Testament which forbids the use of musical instruments in the church, nor, of course, of any that positively prescribe them—as, for instance, the Old Testament positively prescribes the use of musical instruments in the services of the temple. Some people, of course, are of the opinion that anything that is not positively mentioned in the New Testament in connection with the procedures in church is thereby positively forbidden. But that, it seems to me, is a very doubtful principle.

On the other hand, wide sections of Christendom have, at different points in history, refrained from, or even forbidden use of, musical instruments—the Byzantine churches, for instance, for some centuries; and many to this present day refuse to have an organ in the church. For this there have been many local reasons, and to this present day those whose conscience would not allow them the use of musical instruments in the church will give different reasons why they feel they must abstain from such usage.

In matters, however, where the New Testament does not explicitly forbid the practice, then perhaps ultimately the principles initiated in Romans 14 are our best guide.

Yours sincerely,