Singing of Psalms a Gospel Ordinance, Chapter 1
SINGING OF PSALMES A GOSPEL-ORDINANCE. OR A TREATISE, WHEREIN Are handled these Particulars:
1. Touching the Duty it selfe.
2. Touching the Matter to be Sung.
3. Touching the Singers.
4. Touching the manner of Singing.
By JOHN COTTON, Teacher of the Church at Boston in New-England.
LONDON, Printed for J. R. at the Sunne and Fountaine in Pauls-Church-yard: and H. A. at the Crowne in Popes-Head-Alley. 1650.
OF THE SINGING OF PSALMES.
CHAP. J. Propounding the severall Questions about it; and handling the First.
TO prevent the godly-minded from making melody to the Lord in Singing his Praises with one accord (J meane with one heart, and one voyce) Satan hath mightily bestirred himselfe, to breed a discord in the hearts of some, by filling their heads with foure heads of scruples about the Duty.
1. Touching the Duty it selfe of singing Psalmes with lively voyce, whether there be any such Worship at all now to be allowed and practised in the dayes of the New Testament.?
2. Touching the matter to be sung, whether Scripture Psalmes penned by David, Asaph, Moses, Solomon, Hezekiah, Habakkuk, Zachary, Simeon, Deborah, Mary, Elizabeth, or the like: Or songs immediately indited by some personall spirituall gift of some Officer, or Member of the Church?
3. Touching the Singers, If vocall singing may be allowed.
Who must Sing?
1. Whether one for all the rest, the rest onelyonly saying Amen? or the whole Congregation?
2. Whether women as well as men, or men alone?
3. Whether carnall men and Pagans, as well as Church-members and Christians?
4. Touching the manner of singing; Whether the Psalme may be sung, either
1. In Meeter Devised?
2. In Tunes Invented?
3. In Order, after the Reading of it?
For the first Question, wee lay downe this Conclusion for a Doctrine of Truth; That singing of Psalmes with a lively voyce, is an holy Duty of Gods Worship now in the dayes of the New Testament. When we say, singing with lively voyce, we suppose none will so farre misconstrue us, as to thinke wee exclude singing with the heart; For God is a Spirit: and to worship him with the voyce without the Spirit, were but lip-labour▪ which (being rested in) is but lost labour (Isa. 29.13.) or at most, profiteth but little, 1 Tim. 4.8. But this wee say, As wee are to make melody in our hearts, so with our voyces also. In opposition to this, there be some Anti-psalmists, who doe not acknowledge any singing at all with the voyce in the New Testament, but onelyonly spirituall songs of joy and comfort of the heart in the word of Christ.
¶ 1. Proofe for the Truth.
The first proofe for the truth is taken from the Commandement of the Lord by Paul, who instructeth and exhorteth the Ephesians, To speake one to another in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall Songs, foreign, &c. Ephes. 5.19. And so in Col. 3.16. Teaching and admonishing one another in Psalmes, Hymnes, &c. which cannot be done without lively voyce. And so in 1 Cor. 14.15, 16. The Apostle commandeth the Church of Corinth, that such as sing in the Church, should not onelyonly sing in the Spirit, but with understanding also: that is, not onelyonly with their own understanding (for all that sung with the Spirit did so) but with the understanding of the hearers, that so he that occupied the place of the unlearned, might be edified, and say, Amen, at such giving of thankes. Whence it followeth unavoydably, That singing of Psalmes is not onelyonly a making of melody to the Lord with inward grace in the heart, but also with lively and audible voyce, which is the point in Question.
Ob…ect. 1. This place in the Corinths maketh nothing to the cause in hand; For these Corinthian Psalmes, were not the Psalmes of David, nor sung by the whole Congregation, much lesse in Meeter and Tunes devised by men, as ours be; but they were spirituall songs, immediately inspired and endited by the Holy Ghost, and sung onelyonly by him that received that gift, as the Spirit gave him utterance.
Answ. Neither did wee alledge the place, to prove the singing of Davids Psalmes, by the whole Congregation in such like Meeter and Tunes as ours be. These poynts doe all of them belong to the other Questions, which follow to bee handled (God willing) …n their place. But to this purpose we alledge the place, That singing of Psalmes in the New Testament, is to be dispensed in Christian Churches, not onelyonly with inward grace in the heart, making melody to the Lord; but also with outward audible lively voyce: which is the very point in hand, and which this commandment of the Apostle doth clearely demonstrate.
2. Object. The Apostle to the Ephesians and Colossians, doth not say, Sing one to another in Psalmes, but speake or preach one to another; or in other word…, Teach and admonish one another, The Psalmes dwelling in their hearts, they were to dispense them in a way of Teaching and Admonishing. But as for singing hee maketh no mention of that, untill he came to teach them the manner of dispensing the words of Christ unto God in the end of the verse. And then indeed hee teacheth them to sing in the Spirit, making melody with grace in the heart unto God.
Answ. Such as tremble at the word (as the framer of this objection professeth himselfe to doe,) they should rather bow their …udgements and practise to Scripture and language, then bow the …ence of Scripture to their owne conceptions against the language of Scripture. It is one thing, to speake one to another in Psalmes, and Hymnes, and spirituall songs, as is done in singing, another thing to preach and teach one another, out of Psalmes, and Hymnes, and spirituall Songs. It is true, they were to Teach and admonish one another out of the Psalmes, and the scope of Paul will reach that. But if Paul had only meant that, to wit, That they should teach and preach one to another out of the Psalmes, he would not have said▪ Speake yee one to another in Psalmes ▪ or with Psalmes: but out of the Psalmes or from the Psalmes; for such is the language of the Holy Ghost in expressing such a duty. Paul is said to have expounded, and testified, and perswaded the Jewes out of the Law of Moses, and out of the Prophets, Acts 28.23. So Philip is said to begin to Preach Jesus to the Eunuch, foreign, from that Scripture in Isaiah, or at that Scripture, Act. 8.35. He did not Preach Jesus to him in speaking that Scripture.
Object. If that speaking of the Ephesians one to another in Psalmes, did not hold forth their expounding and preaching in Psalmes one to another, but onelyonly the bare reading or singing the letter of the Psalmes, This were such a service wherein there in nothing of Christ held forth externally. I speake not of the matter of the Psalmes, (which is full of Christ, as other Scriptures:) but of the outward manner of dispensing it. There is nothing held forth in the singing of it after the usuall manner, but what nature and art may attaine unto. There is no exercise of any spirituall gift held forth in it, as is in all other administrations, which Christ hath ordained.
2. Besides, as such a singing is not a gift of Christ, so neither doth it tend to the glory of Christ. The Church not edified by it: else a Pagan singing with us, might edifie the Church.
3. From both these, it appeareth, That such singing of Psalmes tendeth to the dishonour of Christ: seeing it holdeth forth externally no more, then what a carnall man (a man out of Christ) yea a Pagan might expresse.
Answ. 1. Singing of Psalmes holdeth forth as much of Christ externally, as reading of the Word, or as the hearing of it read or preached, or as the falling downe upon our knees in prayer, and saying, Amen, in the end of it. Fot though the Word, when it is publiquely read, ought also to be opened after the reading: yet the very reading of it, is it selfe an Ordinance, and is not without a blessing to the faithfull reader or hearer of it, …o more then other Ordinances. Or else there would be some Ordinances of God like unto humane Ceremonies, empty and beggarly.
Answ. 2. Morall duties, even in Pagans, may edifie the Church, as Abimeleths reproofe of Abraham and Sarah, Gen. 20. Pro. 9, 10.
Answ. 3. Singing of Psalmes is accompanied and blessed of God (by his grace) with many gracious effects, above nature or art; As 1. It allayeth the passions of melancholy and choler, yea and scattereth the furious temptatians of evill spirits, 1 Sam. 16.23. Whence also is helpeth to asswage enmity, and to restore friendship and favour, as in Saul to David. It was not the sound of Davids Harpe that could have this power, either over the evill spirit, or over the sinfull passions of Saul himselfe, if the sound of the Harpe had not been quickned and enlived, as it were by a spirituall song, and by the Spirit of God breathing therein.
2. Singing of a spirituall song, prepareth to prophecy, by ministring the Spirit, 2 King. 3.15. Whilest the Minstrell played, the hand of the Lord (that is, his Spirit) came upon Elisha: The Minstrells playing, if it had not been accompanied with a spirituall song, it could not have conveyed such a spirituall blessing. In 1 Sam. 10.5, 6. they could not be said (as there they be) to have prophecied with Harpes and Violls, unlesse they had sung some holy songs, together with their playing on Instruments. For Prophecy is an unterance onelyonly of the word of God, and of the things of God contained in it; which Instruments without voyce cannot doe. Nor had their playing with Instruments been a means of conveying the Spirit to Saul, had not their voyces concurred and sung with their Instruments.
3. Singing of Psalmes honoureth God with our glory, Psal. 108.1. & Psal. 57.…, 8. Where Davids glory being distinguished not onelyonly from his Harpe, but from his heart, it cannot fitly be understood of any other member, but his tongue, by which he was wont in singing to glorifie God.
Object. These gracious effects and fruits of singing Psalmes▪ doe plead as much for singing and playing with instruments, as for singing with voyces.
Answ. 1. This last effect of singing to the glory of God with our glory, is peculiar onelyonly to singing with our tongues.
Answ. 2. Suppose it were true, that these effects of singing Psalmes did plead as much for singing and playing with Instruments, as singing with voyces; yet evident it is, that singing with voyces had the preheminence▪ as that which uttering the word of God, did chiefly utter the Spirit of God breathing in it. And withall evident likewise it is, that it is no impeachment to an Ordinance, that the outward dispensing of it may be performed by nature and art: but notwithstanding that, it may be accompanied of God with a spirituall blessing.
Answ. 3. Singing with Instruments was typicall, and so a ceremoniall worship, and therefore is ceased. But singing with heart and voyce is a morall worship, such as is written in the hearts of all men by nature: As to pray in distresse, so when we are mercy, and have cause of solemne thankesgiving unto God, then to sing Psalmes, which the Holy Ghost by the Apostle James approveth and sanctifieth, Jam. 5.13. Or suppose singing with Instruments were not typicall, but onelyonly an externall solemnitie of worship, fitted to the solace of the outward sences of children under age, (such as the Israelites were under the Old Testament, Gal. 4.1, 2, ….) yet now in the growne age of the heires of the New Testament, such externall pompous solemnities are ceased, and no externall worship reserved, but such as holdeth forth simplicitie, and gravitie; nor is any voyce now to be heard in the Church of Christ, but such as is significant and edifying by signification, (1 Cor. 14.10, 11, 26.) which the voyce of Instruments is not.
Answ. 4. It is an honour to Christ, and to his grace, not onelyonly when we hold forth spirituall gifts, but also when wee performe Christian duties. And duties performed in Faith (without which prayer it selfe is not accepted) they goe not without a spirituall blessing, though Nature and Art might performe the same for the outward worke. The Trayling of the weapons of the Israelites, and their Military March, both in silence and shouting, about the walls of Jericho, was no greater worke externally, then carnall men and Pagans might have performed as well as Israelites; but this being done by Israelites in faith and obedience to Gods command, it was mightie through God to cast downe the high and strong walls of Jericho, Josh. 6.13.14, 15, 16, 20. And the Apostle looking at this and the like Precedents, setteth forth Faith as that which is prevalent and effectuall in both Testaments, howsoever the worke or worship be externall▪ Heb. 11.30. In like manner is it with the reading of the Word, and the hearing of it, as also the silent joyning in Prayer, and concluding it with Amen, though all these be such duties as Nature and Art may performe the outward worke of them: yet when the people of God doe performe the same in the faith of Christ, and in the obedience of Gods command, they find a gracious blessing of God. Yea carnall and prophane persons and Pagans, though they cannot expect the like blessing from their empty outside performances; yet they sometimes taste more sweetnesse and enlargement therein, then flesh and bloud could imagine, 1 Sam. 10.5, 6. Saul joyning with the Prophets in their holy melody found another Spirit coming on him, which also argueth (by the way) that the joyning of prophane and carnall hypocrites in such spirituall songs, doth not evacuate the blessing of God to his people, but rather reach forth some spirituall blessing, (though common) to such carnall hypocrites.
Object. It may be in the old Testament, such an outward worship as Nature and Art could accomplish, might be allowed and blessed of God: But now in the New Testament, as God is a Spirit, so he alloweth and blesseth no worship, but what is dispensed in Spirit and Truth.
Answ. God was a Spirit in the old Testament, as well as in the New; nor did he then allow and blesse any worship, but what either was performed in Spirit and Truth, or did convey Spirit and Truth. Albeit more externall rites in worship were then appointed▪ then in the New Testament are now continued; for which end Christ alledgeth those words in the place in John, to which you allude: But neverthelesse, though Christ have not limited his worship to any certain place now, as then (which was the point Christ there speaketh to;) nor doth he rest in externall performance; yet evident it is, God hath appointed in these dayes of the Gospel sundry externall worships now as well as then, (and the same in both Testaments to be performed in Spirit and Truth;) as hearing and reading the Word, kneeling in Prayer, and saying▪ Amen; All which Nature and Art may performe as well as the singing of Psalmes with vocall melody.