Family-Hymns out of Davids Psalms, Title page – To the reader
Family-Hymns. Gather'd (mostly) out of the best Translations of David's Psalms.
Psal. 118.15.
The voice of rejoycing and of salvation is in the Tabernacles of the righteous.
Psalmis & Hymnis cùm oratis Deum, hoc versetur in corde quod profertur in voce.
Aug. Epist. 109. ad Monachas.
Licenced
15 January 1694/5. Edward Cooke.
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns, the lower End of Cheapside. 1695.
ERRATA.
IN the Preface, p. 3. lin. 13. r. cap. 9. p. 6. l. 21. r. pronuncianti. Pag. 4. l. 11. for th' read the. p. 5. l. 27. add I. in the beginning of the line. p. 9. l. 17. for Thou art then, read Thus art thou. p. 13. l. 21. for wo read who. p. 17. l. 14. for fulness, read fatness. p. 19. l. 24. for on, read in. p. 22. l. 13. for will be perform'd, read, will we perform. p. 23. l. 17. for adorn'd, read advanc'd. p. 29. l. 6. for Ages, read Age. p. 45. l. 5. for ond, read and. p. 49. l. 5. for Hill, read Hills, p. 53. l. 9. for was, read wast. p. 63. l. 18. add And in the beginning of the line.
TO THE READER.
MY Design in this Essay is to promote the singing of Psalms in Families, as a part of their Daily Worship, especially their Sabbath-Worship; an Exercise which (however it be now with other Instances of the warmest Devotion sadly disus'd, yet) was antiently practised by the generality of serious Christians, who thus turn'd their Houses into Churches, (such Churches as Saint Paul speaks of, Rom. 16.5. … 2.) by praising God together, and by teaching and admonishing one another in singing of Psalms. If we ask for the good Old Way, we shall f…nd this Path in it trodden by the Primitive Christians in the Church's early days; among the particulars of whose Religion that Learned Pen, which wrote the Primitive Christianity, traceth remarkable Foot-steps of this Family-Exercise, Part 1. Ch. 9. The sound of this Melody was not only heard in their Solemn Assemblies, where it appears by many passages (particularly that known Account which Pliny gives to Trajan of the Christians, Epist. l. 10.) to have been a considerable part of their Publick Worship, but in their private Houses also, where it seems to have been the common usage to sing Psalms with their Wives and Children, especially at and after their Meals; a practice commended by Clemens Alexandrinus Paedag. lib. 2. c. 4. by Chrysostom in Psal. 41. which made the Psalms so familiar to them, that, as Jerom tells us (Epist. ad Marcel.) in the place where be liv'd you could not go into the Field but you should bear the Plow men, and the Mowers, and the Vine-dressers thus employ'd: Sonet Psalmos convivium sobrium, saith Cyprian. Socrates Hist. Eccles. lib. 7. cap. 22. speaks of it as the practice of Theodosius the Emperor, to rise early every morning to sing Psalms with his Sisters; so that his Palace (saith he) was like a Monastery, or Religious House, foreign And I have sometimes thought that the Service of the Monasteries in the degenerate Ages of the Church (which is known to have consisted very much in Singing) was but the remaining Form and Carcass of that Life and Power of Godliness and Religious Worship which had originally reign'd in most Christian Families. That's a good hint of Tertullian in his Book ad Uxorem (written about the Year 205.) lib. 2. cap.— where cautioning Christian Women not to marry with Unbelievers, he urgeth this against it, that those who were so link'd, could not have their Husbands to sing Psalms with them, in their Houses; whereas, when those in that Relation draw together in the Yoke of Christ, sonant inter duos Psalmi & Hymni, & mutuo provocant quis melius Deo suo canet; their only strife then is, which shall be most affectionate and serious in singing Psalms. And to come nearer our own day, that is worthyour notice which Mr. Quick in the In roduction to his Synodicon tells us, Vol. 1. p. 5. that the singing of Psalms in Families, even those of the best. Rank, not only at their Morning and Evening Worship, but at their Meals, conduced very much to the strength and growth of the Reformed Religion in France in its first and best days. And the Title page of our old English Translation of the Psalms into Metre, set forth and allowed at the beginning of our Reformation, in Edw. the 6th's Time, recommends them to be sung in private houses for their godly solace and comfort. And how the houses of the good old Protestants were perfum'd with this Incense daily, especially on Lord's days, we have heard with our Ears, and our Fathers have told us. Gladly therefore would I contribute something towards the revival of this duty in Christian Families, which, if they be (as they should be) Nurseries and Seminaries of Piety, would certainly embrace this as an excellent means of instilling Religion betimes into the minds of their little Children, who, as they commonly attend most to this duty, so they will sooner receive the good impressions of it, than of any other; and thus out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings will praise be perfected, to the glory of God, and strength ordained to the comfort of Families; compare Mat. 21.16. with Psal. 8.2. Austin (Prolog. in Lib. Psalm.) suggests, that Psalms were written, and the singing of Psalms appointed, very much for the sake of Youth. Propterea Psalmorum (saith he) nobis per modulos aptata sunt Carmina, ut vel aetate Puerili, vel qui Adolescentes sunt moribus, quasi cantilenâ quâdam psallentes delectari videantur.
What shall I say then to persuade Masters of Families who have hitherto neglected their duty, to begin it now; Better late than never. The experience of many that make conscience of it will testifie both the sweetness and profit of it. If Psalms were more sung in Families, they would be better sung in Congregations. Let none plead want of time as their excuse; for how can time be spent better than in praising God? And is there not a great deal of our precious hours thrown away every day upon other things that are less to the purpose of a Christian? Nor will there be room for this pretence, if care be taken not to defer Family Worship too late, either morning or evening, so as to crowd it into a corner (as many do by a thousand impertinences) as likewise so to proportion the other parts of the duty, that they may not justle out this. It is the wisdom of Masters of Families, so to manage their Family Worship, that they may make it, as much as possible, a pleasure, and not a task to their Children and Servants. Nor let want of skill be an excuse; there may be much of acceptable Affection, where there appears but little of Art. Plain Song best befits plain Israelites. A small degree of skill (and that easily attain'd by any that give their minds to it) will suffice to the management of this duty decently and in order, and more there needs not; for in private Families the quickest way of singing seems to be most agreeable; such singing as the Great Athanasius appointed in the Church of Alexandria, ut pronunciani vicinior esset quàm canenti, more like reading than singing. So Austin tells us, Confess. lib. 10. cap. 33. and approves of it as a good means to preserve that spiritual delight which should be in this Ordinance, from degenerating into a sensitive pleasure, which it is apt to do when Tunes and Notes are over-much study'd and affected, and the Ear tickled with them.
Nor let any be afraid that their Neighbours should over-hear them: We serve à Master that we have no reason to be asham'd of, to whom we have engaged, that whatever others do, we and our houses will serve him; and whose hold is so great of the Consciences even of bad men, that those whose contempt and reproach you fear, even of them perhaps you will be had in honour, 2 Sam. 6.22. Nay, your Light hereby may so shine before men, that others may be brought to glorifie your Father which is in Heaven, Mat. 5.16.
If any make it an excuse that they are unready in finding out such Psalms, or passages in the Psalms, as are most proper for Family use, such may perhaps receive some help from this small Collection.
It is taken out of David's Psalms, and further we seldom need to go for Hymns and Spiritual Songs, though other Scriptures may, no doubt, be us'd this way much to edification. Nolite cantare nisi quod legit is esse cantandum, is a good Rule which Austin gives Epist. 109. This Collection will be the more useful (and it is what I chiefly aim at in it) if every one in the Family have a Book, so that the Psalm or Hymn (for the distinction is but nominal) may be sung without reading the Line betwixt, which is the general practice of the Reformed Churches abroad, and renders the duty more pleasant and profitable, and takes up less time, and is practicable enough in a Family, if not in large Congregations.
The gathering of Verses out of several Psalms, and putting them together, may seem to be a violation of their own native coherence. But I hope it will not give offence to any, since it is no more so, than the joyning of several passages of Scriptures remote from each other, and putting them together in our Prayers and Sermons, which is generally practis'd: Besides that, it is a liberty which is often taken by the Clarks that give out the Psalms in publick; And I think those who dislike it not there, will the rather allow it in private Families. Nay, I am in h…pes that the reference. I have made all along to the Psalms and Verses, will increase and lead to an acquaintance with the Book of Psalms in general, which I would not that this Essay should at all lessen or supersede.
I have made use of the best approved Translations, especially Mr. Patrick's, and Mr. Barton's; as likewise Bishop King's, Mr. Smith's, Dr. Ford's, and Mr. Baxter's, who have each of them labour'd well in this Province; nor have I neglected the Old Translation, which considering the Age in which it was done, and that it broke the Ice, is not such a contemptible piece us some love to represent it. I have taken that out of each which I judg'd the best and most suitable to my purpose, acting herein not as a Censor, but as a Gleaner. Books are known to have their Fate ad captum Lectoris, and therefore I hope my pardon for making this use of the Labours of others will be easily granted, and this general Acknowledgment will suffice to acquit me from the Charge of Plagiarism. I have not varied at any time from my Authors meerly for variation sake, yet throughout I have seen cause very often to alter, and in many places to build a-new (especially where I was willing to contract) according to the best of my skill. The performance indeed is but very small, yet the Design is honest, and it will be fruit abounding to a good account, if it do but help forward the work of singing Psalms, in which the will of God is done on Earth somewhat like as it is done in Heaven, where singing Hallelujahs to him that sits upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb, is both the everlasting work, and the everlasting felicity of those glorified Beings.
M. H. Jan. 14, 1694/5