Breach Repaired in Gods Worship, Treatise 1 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Proving Singing of Pſalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, a Goſpel-Ordinance, to continue in the Church, from the practice of the Churches in the ſucceeding Ages next the Apoſtles Times, particularly in the ſecond and third Centuries; with the practice of all the Godly generally in all Ages, nay, the moſt ſtrict in Grace and Godlineſs till this preſent Age.
AS Singing of Pſalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, was inſtituted and given forth by the Holy Ghoſt in the Goſpel, and practiſed by Chriſt and his Saints in the Primitive Times: ſo we ſhall ſhew you, from the beſt and moſt approved Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtories, it was practiſed in the Ages next unto the Apoſtles Days.
Here I ſhall give you what Mr. Roberts in his Key to the Holy Bible, hath ſaid upon this account, pag. 173.
And as Singing of Pſalms, &c. (ſaith he) was uſed in the pureſt Primitive Apoſtolical Times in the Church-Aſſemblies: ſo it was continued all along in the ſucceſſive Churches hitherto, though it is too evident that ſome Corruptions and Vanities, by little and little, crept into this, as into other parts of God's Worſhip.
Singing of Pſalms, &c. was uſed in the ſecond Century, to celebrate Chriſt and his Deity, againſt the Calumny of Theodoſi… Euſeb. Eccl. Hiſt. Lib. 5. cap. 28.
Euſebius tell us, that Pliny the Second, abo… Anno 98, wrote an Epiſtle to Trajan the Emperor, that the Chriſtians being gathered together before day, were wont to ſing Hymns together, and praiſe Chriſt as God. And the ſame Euſebius affirmeth, that Philo-Judaeus did teſtify the ſame of this Chriſtian Practice; and alſo aſſures us, that the ſaid Pliny and Traja lived in the Time of the Apoſtle John, who did not die till about 100 Years after Chriſt.
This very Paſſage out of Euſebius, This Epiſtle of Pliny is extant in Euſeb. Hiſt. Eccleſ. lib. 2. c. 17.I find cited by Mr. … berts, Mr. Wells, Mr. Cott…, and alſo by Mr. Sidenham … others. But having the Hiſtory. I need not mention them; yet for one Reaſon I ſhall add the ſame over again out of Mr. Sydenham's Treat. of Singing, p. 209.
Euſebius (ſaith he) in his Eccleſ. Hiſt. lib. 3. cap. 35. quotes two Epiſtles of Plinius Secundus to Trajan the Emperor, teſtifying that the Chriſtians were wont to aſſemble themſelves, before day, to ſing Pſalms and Hymns together. The ſame doth Philo-Judaeus teſtify, who lived in the Apoſtles Time, as the ſame Eſebius ſaith, Lib. 2. cap. 22. Now in the Time of Plinius and Trajan did the beloved Diſciple live, ſaith Zanch on Epheſ. 5. 18, 19.
Tertullian, who flouriſhed near the Apoſtles Time, about 194, ſaith, the Chriſtians were wont to ſing out of the Holy Scripture, Apol. cap. 1. 9. as their uſual cuſtom.
Athanaſius maintains it was practiſed in his Days, Epiſcop. eo locis.
Cyprian preſſed this Duty in his Epiſtle to Donatus.
Chryſoſtom in his Commentary on Pſal. 41. admoniſhes all Perſons, Countrymen, Mariners, Weavers, &c. to ſing Pſalms and Spiritual Songs.
Eſtius cries out, ſaith Mr. Wells, to take notice of the Cuſtom of the Primitive Chriſtians, who did not only ſing Pſalms and Hymns in their publick Aſſemblies, but in their private Families.
I might quote Ambroſe, who zealouſly preſſed this Duty on the Weſtern Churches, of ſinging Pſalms and Hymns, Lib. 9. Confeſſionum.
Mr. Cotton ſaith, that one Samoſaten… the Heretick, who denied the Deity of the Lord Jeſus, was one of the firſt that within theſe firſt 300 Years, oppoſed the Singing he ſpeaks of.
No marvel if the Saints ſung to Chriſt, as unto God, that ſuch a Man oppoſed the practice of Singing ſuch Hymns.
Baſil the Great, a moſt Famous, Pious, and Learned Man, mightily commends the Singing of Pſalms, as I find him quoted by ſeveral worthy Writers, I need not go lower.
Obj. But they Sung with Orrgans, or muſical Inſtruments; the Ordinance was corrupted, and we cannot come at it now, &c.
Anſw. 1. We find no mention in the leaſt of any other Singing, but that of united Voices, in Euſebius, nor Tertullian, &c.
2. But, pray, what Ordinance hath not been corrupted and the purity of it (as practiſed in the Primitive Time) loſt? Now by the ſame Argument, viz. becauſe adulterated and intermixt with fooliſh Ceremonies, we muſt not Sing: So we muſt not practiſe Baptiſm, nor the Lord's Supper, nor any other … ſtitution of the Goſpel, for none have been more abuſed and corrupted than they have; and indeed it is rather an Argument for Singing, than againſt it; for here in Satan ſhewed his Malice and Hatred of it, by ſeeking thus … add Poiſon to it.
But ought not we to labour to reſtore it … its primitive Practice (as in other Ordinances through Grace, we have been helped to do?) Shall we not have the pure Food of God… Word, becauſe Antichriſt hath put Poiſon … theirs?
There is one thing I omitted which is worthy to be noted in Euſebius; It ſeems the Chriſtians would not part with this ſweet Ordinance of the Goſpel, though it coſt them the loſs of their Lives, for though they were diſcovered by their Singing in their Aſſemblies, yet they would not leave it off.
To paſs by the Wald…nſes practice in Singing, &c. and all other Godly Chriſtians ſince the beginning of the Reformation; How zealous were the Godly Puritans (as they were called) for this bleſſed Ordinance, in whom Godlineſs ſhone ſo gloriouſly, that few ſince may compare with them?
Alſo our Brethren of the Independent and Presbyterian Perſwaſion are as well eſtabliſhed in this ſweet Ordinance, as in Prayer and Preaching. What though they miſtake in Baptiſm, doth it therefore follow they muſt needs miſtake here too? Why may they not be wrong, and off the Rule in their Preaching and Praying and all elſe they do?
I muſt confeſs, I value not the Practice of all Mankind in any thing in God's Worſhip, if the Word of God doth not bear witneſs to it, but ſence 'tis poſitively injoined in the New-Teſtament, and alſo an Example left of our Saviour, and his Diſciples practice, I thought it could not be amiſs to take notice of the unanimous Agreement, and joynt Conſent and Practice of the Churches and Godly Chriſtians in the ſucceding Ages next after the Apoſtles, and to this very Day; but all this is needleſs, ſince …tis to me all one as to go about to prove the Saints in every Age of the World did pray and praiſe God, this of Singing being an Ordinance of the ſame nature.