Gospel Music, Part 1
GOSPEL MUSICK. OR, THE SINGING OF DAVIDS PSALMS, &c.
In the publick Congregations, or private Families aſſerted, and vindicated,
Againſt A printed Pamphlet, entitled, Certain Reaſons by way of Confutation of ſinging Pſalms in the letter.
Againſt Objections ſent in, in writing.
Againſt Scruples of ſome tender Conſciences.
By thy loving Brother, N.H.D.D.M.M.S.
VntoUnto which is added, the Iudgement of our worthy Brethren of New-England touching ſinging of Pſalms, as it is learnedly and gravely ſet forth in their Preface to the Singing Pſalms, by them tranſlated into Metre.
LONDON: Printed for Henry Overton in Popes-Head Alley. 1644.
In handling this Queſtion, or Caſe of Conſcience touching ſinging of the Pſalmes found in the Scriptures, being tranſlated into Engliſh metre, you have theſe 6. generals preſented to you.
1. The warrantableneſſe of it from the word of God.
2. The unqueſtiondeneſſe of it in all Ages.
3. The ancientneſſe of uſe of it in all the reformed Churches.
4. The neceſſarineſſe of it with other Ordinances.
5. The uſefulneſſe of it for Gods glory and mans comfort.
6. The unjuſtneſſe of mens exceptions againſt it, and their objections anſwered.
Goſpel Muſick.
1. The warrantableneſſe of it from the word of word.
CHriſtians under the Goſpel, and New Teſtament, have commended, yea commanded to them the ſinging of Pſalmes in publick and privat, both by precept and paterne, Epheſ. 5.19. Speaking to your ſelves in Pſalmes, and Hymnes, and ſpirirituall Odes, or Songs, (as we tranſlate it) making melody in your hearts to the Lord. This Apoſtle having cut the Epheſians ſhort of all vain mirth,The Greeke word foreign is the name of a virtue in Ar. Ethic. verſ. 4. not allowing them ſuch jeſting which the wiſeſt moral men counted virtue*, yet enjoynes them this heavenly muſick of ſinging Pſalms, as that which will both glad their hearts (making, ſaith he, melody in your hearts) and glorifie God (making it to the Lord) So Coloſſ. 3. 16. Let the word of Chriſt dwell in you richly, in all wiſedome, teaching and admoniſhing your ſelves in Pſalmes, and Hymnes, and ſpirituall Odes, or as it is in our tranſlation, ſpirituall Songs, ſinging with grace in your hearts to the Lord. The Apoſtle having zealouſly inveighed againſt all Jewiſh ceremonies, ch. 2. yet here puts home this duty of ſinging of Pſalmes, as that which did ſuit with a godly mans grace, and Gods glory. Jam. 5.13. Is any afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him ſing Pſalmes. The Apoſtle doth as well command ſinging as praying; and ſhewes that ſinging Pſalmes is as proper to Chriſtian joy, as praying is to Chriſtians afflictions. Chriſt himſelfe ſang with his Diſciples, Matth. 26.30. And Paul and Silas ſang in the Stockes, Acts 16. St. Paul ſaith, 1 Cor. 14.15. he will ſing with the ſpirit, that is, by the holy Spirit, in his own ſpirit and affections, but with underſtanding alſo; that is, in a tongue underſtood of him and others in common with whom he ſang, as the 16. verſe cleareth. The Angels vocally doe ſing, Luk. 2.13. The Chore, the Greek word,Gr. A foreign … oft applied by the Sept. to Davids Pſalmes. Syr. foreign Sign. Hymnodiam dice… canere. The Hebrew word foreign is the Title of Davids Pſalms the Syriack word in the Syriack copie, the Hebrew-word in Hutters Hebrew tranſlation, the matter and occaſion ſhew they ſang*. In the Revelation we have oft mention of ſinging, alluding to Moſes Songs, and Davids Pſalms, by mentioning Hallelujah: Whether you underſtand the Church triumphant, or rather militant, both confirme the excellencie of ſinging, theſe places are as evident as evident may be, and ſo farre beyond all exception, as that no pretence can be made againſt them. They are alledged out of the new Teſtament, ſo that there is no pretence to be made, that they belong to the time of the Law. They are not onelyonly ſpoken, but practiſed by Chriſt and his Apoſtles: And their expreſſions are ſo full, that they include all godly ſinging, by what names or termes ſoever they be expreſſed; whether we diſtinguiſh as Jerom according to the ſubject, that
Hymnos eſſe dicendum, qui fortitudinem & majeſtatem praedicant Dei & ejuſdem ſempervel beneficia, vel facta mirantur. Quod omnes Pſalmi continent, quibus Hallelujah vel proepoſitum vel ſubjectum eſt. Pſalmi autem proprie ad Ethicum locum pertinent, ut per organum corporis quid facidum & quid vitandum ſit noverimus. Qui vero de ſuperioribus diſputat & concertum mandi, omniumque creaturarum ordinem atque concordiam ſubtilis diſputator ediſſerit, iſte ſpirituale canticum canit. Hieron. in Epheſ. comment. largior. lib. 3. in c. 5.Pſalmes are of Morall things, as what wee ought to practiſe, or leave undone. Hymnes of Divine things ſetting forth the power and Majeſtie of God, admiring his benefits and acts of providence. Canticles, Odes, or (as they are here tranſlated) Spirituall Songs are of Naturall things, as of the concent, order, and concord of the world, and all the creatures, but in a ſpirituall way, as he hath it in the beginning of his diſtinction: He that is full of the Spirit (ſaith he) can take Pſalmes and Hymnes, and Canticles, ſpiritually.
Or whether we diſtinguiſh of Pſalmes according to the authours (as ſome doe) that Pſalmes ſignifie Davids Pſalmes; Hymnes, the ſongs compoſed by Moſes, Exod. 15. Dent. 31.30. Deborah, Judg. 5. Iſaiah chap. 5. &c. Spirituall ſongs, are thoſe that are compoſed of other godly men, touching the benefits of God: as at the beginning and ending of our ſinging Pſalms there is the Song of Ambroſe, a thankſgiving after the Lords Supper, and a prayer againſt the Turk and Pope in meeter by R. W. And many of the pious Ancients penned many ſpirituall Songs in Latine and Greek.*See Biblioth. Patrum. Now whether Chriſtians had rather ſing theſe, or thoſe compoſed by men endued with the infallible ſpirit of Propheſie, I leave them to conſider. But of this after.
Or whether we diſtinguiſh with Calvin, A Pſalme is ſung together with an inſtrument. A Hymne is a Canticle, or ſong of praiſe. An Ode, or ſpirituall ſong, contains praiſes and precepts, or inſtructions and exhortations.
Or whether we diſtinguiſh as Beza, Zanchie, and the notes in our Engliſh Bibles. That Pſalmes are thoſe that containe various and mixt arguments, as Lamentations and complainings to God, narrations of our condition before God, expoſtations and reaſonings with God, to grant good, or remove evill. Theſe (they ſay) the Hebrewes call Mizmorim, *MIZMOR is the particular Title of many pſalmes.of Zamar to ſing. Hymnes are foreign, Laudative, which properly handle the praiſes of God. Therefore the Greek Writers ſay,‖Gr. Schol. Chryſ. foreign: That is, a Hymne is more holy then a Pſalme: for the ſupernall powers, or Angels doe ſing Hymnes of God to God; but doe not ſing Pſalmes. Theſe Hymnes (they ſay) are called in Hebrew Tehillim, praiſes, of Halal to praiſe. Odes, or ſpirituall Songs, are peculiar Hymnes of ſome ſpeciall matter of praiſe; ſhorter in quantity, and of an higher forme and ſtraine of Divine Poetry; and theſe, ſay they, the Hebrewes call Schirim, of Scur to ſing.**The word SCHIR is the title of thoſe ſhort pſalmes of degrees, which for their excellency and uſe, and form, are called Pſalmes of Degrees some nice criticiſmes may be made on the words, by ſome, but not ſolid enough to ground a diſtinction for all three. The Apoſtle applies two of the words foreign to all three ſorts of canticles. viz. Pſalmes & Hymnes and ſpiritual ſangs Epheſ. 5.19.
Yet I muſt tell you by the way, that theſe words in Hebrew doe not make ſuch a preciſe difference. For Tehillim is the generall Title of all the Pſalmes. Miſmor the particular Title of moſt Pſalmes. Ad Schir the promiſcuous Title ſometimes of other Pſalmes, as well as of the Pſalmes of Degrees. Nor doe the Greek words make ſuch a diſtinguiſhing difference: For a Pſalme is of foreign, to ſing. And a Hymne of foreign, to ſing praiſe. And an Ode, called a ſpirituall Ode or Song, by our tranſlators is of the word A' foreign, to ſing. So that it ſeemes to me, that the Apoſtle uſeth many words to ſignifie that all our ſinging, of what ſort ſoever, ſhould be of divine things, and not vain things, to glorifie God, and not to pleaſe our fooliſh phantaſies.
But whether we diſtinguiſh the one way or the other, we ſee the Apoſtles preſſe the dutie of ſpirituall ſinging, whether of this kind, or that kind, whether called of men by this name or that name. In which injunctions the Apoſtles are ſo cleare, that very few, ſince the comming of Chriſt, that I know of, have made ſcruple of the thing. And if any have, of late, they never mention theſe places, as if either they did not remember them, or could not anſwer them.