Gospel Music, Part 2
2. The unqueſtionedneſſe of Singing in former Ages.
Auguſtine, Aug. Tom. 1. Retractat. lib. 2. cap. 11.who flouriſhed about 385 years after Chriſt, makes mention of one Hilarius (ſhould ſeem he was a Roman, becauſe he ſaith he was of the order of Tribunes) who through hatred of the ſuperſtitious Prieſts, was wont to diſlike Eccleſiaſticall ſinging of Pſalmes. Againſt whom the ſaid Auguſtine (as he ſaith himſelfe) wrote a book in the behalfe of Eccleſiaſticall, or Church-ſinging of Pſalmes; which book began thus: They that make mention.
Zanchie that was a famous Writer ſome 50. yeares ſince, ſaith that ſome argued againſt ſinging of Pſalmes. He tells us their Arguments,
1. That Elijah derided the ſinging of Baals Prieſts.
2. Chriſt bids us pray in our ſecret Chambers.
3. Hanna is commended for ſilent prayer, ſhe moving only her lips.
4. The Church of Rome when it was more pure, did not ſing, as witneſſe whereof at this day there is nor Organs nor ſinging in the Popes ſecret Chappell.
Which arguments are ſo ſilly, that they deſerve no anſwer: I leave them to thoſe that ſcruple at ſinging to anſwer; for ſure they will find that in that 1 Kings 18. There is not the leaſt intimation that Baals Prieſts ſang. They will eaſily ſay, that privat prayer, and ſinging of Pſalmes are two diſtinct things. They wil queſtion if the Church of Rome, while purer, did not ſing (which is doubtfull, as we ſhall ſee in the antiquity of the practice of ſinging in all ages ſince Chriſt) whether it will follow that not ſinging was any part of the purity of the Church of Rome. If it had, the Popes would not ſo obſerve the omiſſion of it in their more ſecret Chappell. Sure their Apoſtle Peter, whoſe ſucceſſors the Pope pretends to be, did ſing with Chriſt and his Apoſtles at the holy Supper. And thus you heare all the queſtion that hath been made (that I know of) of ſinging in all ages, till this age, wherein every old Hereſie, is revived, ſtripping Chriſt of all. Anabaptiſme that began to oppoſe Reformation in famous Luthers time, is riſen againe, taking away Baptiſme from beleevers children. Antinomianiſme, that oppoſed in worthy Pareus his time, is ſprung up to take away commandements and duties. Familiſme in H. N. the authour his time, is ſprung up to take away the ſignes of grace, and ſet up immediate revelations. Arminianiſme, in Pelagius and Socinus his time, the brood of him, is ſprung up to take away the power of grace, and the condition of faith, to advance nature and univerſall redemption. Socinianiſme in the time of Hereticall Arrius, is ſtarted up again to take away the Deity of Chriſt. Epicuriſme, as ancient as the time of the Sadduces, is riſen, which takes away the immortalitie of the ſoule. Antiſabbatarianiſme that was rank in the reigne of the Prelats. B. White, D. Heilin, D. Poclington, &c. is now revived, taking away the Sabbath.
And ſo the opinion of the Hilarians unlawfulneſſe of ſinging Pſalmes, is riſen again from the dead, that before lived in Hilarius his time, to take away this Goſpel ordinance, and ſweet ſolace of the ſanctified ſoule.
But before the great fall of Antichriſt, there muſt be a great falling away of ſeeming Chriſtians, as the Scriptures warn us. If we have not a mind to fall away, let us keep cloſe to the Scriptures.
The Scriptures hold forth to us moſt clearly this Goſpel-muſick, or be ſure of it, it had been buried with the Jewiſh ceremonies, But being Moſes taught the Iſraelites ſinging before the Tabernacle was built, Exod. 15. And Chriſt and his Apoſtles injoyn and practiſe ſinging after all Davidicall muſicke, and Temple Hymnes were down; and the beſt reformed Churches ever ſince have practiſed: let us not loſe our ſweet ordinance, all little enough to cheer our ſoules.