Singing of Psalms a Gospel Ordinance, Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Propounding and clearing the second Proofe for singing Psalmes with lively voyce.
THe second Proof is taken from the examples of Christ himself, and of his Saints and Disciples in the New Testament. Christ himselfe with his Disciples sung a Psalme or an Hymne together in the end of the administration of the Lords Supper, Math. 26.30. And Paul and Silas are said to have sing a Psalme in the Prison, so as the Prisoners heard them, Acts 16.25. Now if in singing they had onelyonly spiritually rejoyced, and not expressed their joy and their song in audible and lively voyce, the Prisoners could not have heard them. The stranger doth not know nor meddle with the spirituall joy of the heart, Pro. 14.10.
Object. 1. The place in Math. 26.30. may as well be translated They praysed God, as they sung an Hymne.
Answ. Though the meaning be, they praised God, yet the word implyeth, they praised God with an Hymne; for it is improper in that language to translate the word to Praise (whether God or man) but either with a Song, or with a Poeme. I… is more probable, then any reason can wave, that Christ and his Disciples did shut up the Lords Supper with singing one of their Hebrew Psalmes, as the Jewes were wont to shut up their Celebration of the Passeover (as their own Records tell us) with singing Psalme 111. with the five other Psalmes next following together. But all that I now intend, is to shew that Christ and his Disciples sang together, and therefore with the voyce as well as the heart.
Object. 2. They might be said to sing together, if one alone sing and the rest said Amen, in the close: as men may be said to pray together, where one alone speaketh, and the rest consent.
Answ. 1. True: but then one at least speaketh with an audible and lively voyce, though the rest doe not. And that's enough to cleare the point in hand, that singing in the New Testament, consisteth not onelyonly in making melody with grace in the heart, but also in singing to the Lord with lively voyce.
Answ. 2. If the Disciples did not joyne in singing that Hymne, but onelyonly by silent consent, they might as well be said. To have taken the bread, and blessed it, and broken it, and distributed it, (and so the wine;) for all this Christ did with their silent consent. But what Christ did alone is expresly recorded, as done by himselfe: when it cometh to the singing of the Psalme, that is recorded as done by them in the Plurall number, When they had sung an Hymne, they departed into the Mount of Olives: They that departed into the Mount of Olives, they sung the Psalme. Now it was not Christ alone, but the whole eleven Disciples with him that departed into the Mount of Olives. And therefore it was Christ with his Disciples that sung the Psalme together.
Object. 3. Against the proofe from Acts 16.25. It is not said (say some) that Paul and Silas sung the Psalmes of David or Asaph, much lesse with Meeter and Tunes devised by men. Had they so done, the Prisoners that heard them might have sung for the outward dispensation such a song of praise to God, as well as they.
Answ. Wee doe not alledge this Example of theirs (as hath been often said in like case before) to prove they sang any Psalme of David, though it stand with good reason, that they joyning together in singing, did rather sing a Psalme (or Hymne) knowne to them both, then any new Song devised by either of them; But what Psalmes are to be sung is another Question, which (by the helpe of Christ) wee shall speake to in the sequell. Neither doe we alledge their Example to prove, they sang in a devised Meeter or Tune. For themselves being Hebrewes, it is likely they sang the Hebrew Songs in the tunes of the Sanctuary, but that also is another Question, of which we are to speake in his place, when wee come to it. All that we gather from this place now, is, no more then the words doe plainly hold forth, that they sung an Hymne to God, not onelyonly with inward melody of grace in their hearts, but also with outward melody of the voyce; for else the Prisoners could not have heard them.
Against this; it is of no force to object (as some doe) that if they had sung any of the Psalmes of David or Asaph with an audible voyce, then the other Prisoners also might have joyned with them, and have worshipped (externally at least) as well as they.
For the answer is plaine and ready: First, the Prison was in Philippi, a City of Macedonia, consisting partly of a Colony of the Romans, partly of the Grecians: no Jewes at all are mentioned to be Inhabitants there, much lesse Prisoners at that time. And for Pagans to joyne in singing Hebrew Songs▪ in Hebrew verses and tunes, it seemeth to be farre beyond either their skill, or devotion.
Secondly, suppose the Prisoners had been Jewes (of which there is to hint at all in the Text▪) and suppose those Prisoners hearing the melody of Paul and Silas, and knowing the Song, had joyned in the outward singing of it, and that without any grace in their hearts (none of all which things appeare in the story) yet suppose all this; shall the unbeliefe of those Jewes make the holy worship of these Apostles, and their faith to God, or the faith of God to them, of none effect? Paul renounceth and abhorreth such carnall reasonings, Rom. 3.3.