Body of Divinity, Book 8 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Of Singing Psalms.
A Psalm is a strict composition of words in measure and number fit to be sungA Song or Psalm is a composition of words in strict numbers fit to be uttered in a tunable voice, or with an instrument, David made many of these. The word Psalme is usually limited to signifie a holy Song. Fuisse in usua apud Christianos ab ipso exordio nascentis E…clefiae, ut in conventibus Ecclesiasticis Psalmodia primum locum haberet, cognosci potest ex loco illo Apostoli 1 Cor. 14. 26. Item ex Tertulliano in libro de velandis virginibus extremo. Bellarm. de bonis operibus, lib. 1. cap. 14. That singing of Psalmes is a duty of the Gospel, see Mr Cotton of Singing of Psalmes, cap. 4. and M. Manton on Jam. 5. 13. and M. Fords, Singing of Psalms a Christian Duty. to some tune.
Singing of Psalms hath been of ancient and commendable use in Gods publick worship. It was used in Moses his time, Exod. 15. 1. and in the times of the Judges, Iudg. 5. 1. and in the dayes of Samuel, 1 Sam. 18. 6, 7. in Davids and Salomons time, 1 Chron. 6. 32. in the dayes of Iehosaphat, 2 Chron. 20. 21, 22. and of Hezekiah, 2 Chron. 29. 28, 30. and after the Captivity in Nehemiahs time, Nehem. 12. 42. Yea in the New Testament our Saviour himself and his Apostles used it, Matth. 26. 30. and prescribed it to Gods people, Col. 3. 16. See 1 Cor. 14. 15. & 26. Ephes. 5. 19.
Yea it was the exercise of the holy Angels themselves, Luke 2. 13, 14. The people of God in the Psalms are provoked, quickned and stirred up to this duty, Psal. 95. 1. and the Psalme specially destinated for the Sabbath.
It was used at Gods publick worship, 1 Chron. 23. 30. and at their private prayer, Acts 16. 25. Most usually they did sing Davids Psalms in the worship of God and those that are accounted his, 2 Chron. 29. 30. Ezra 3. 10, 11. Nehem. 12. 46. The Psalms of David were in such continual use with the people of Israel, that the boyes learnt their Hosannah from that, with which they cried to Christ in the Temple, which is a familiar acclamation with the Hebrews, as Io triumphe with the Romans, for the Jews on the Feast of the Tabernacles carrying leaves and boughs according to Gods Commandment, did continually sing Hosannah.
The Psalms of David contain the very spirits, as it were, and are an abstract of all the whole word of God, the choisest works of God, the choisest promises, threats, instructions, comforts. Some have the inscription, and that worthily, of Jewels or golden Psalms, because they comprehend most precious matter.
Reasons. 1. God hath often shewed himself to take great delight in this part ofAll the while the burnt-offering was in offering they bestowed themselves in singing▪ and gladnesse, as we sing a Psalm in the celebration of our Sacrament, warrantably by this. his worship, 2 Chron. 5. 13. & 20. 22.
2. It is a singular help and means to stir up in us holy affections in Gods service, Eph. 5. 18, 19. Acts 16. 25.
Reformed Churches use to begin and end with a Psalm, and to sing Davids Psalms in order, that the people of God might be acquainted with them all, and professors used to sing Psalms in their families, Psal. 118. 15.
The Protestants in Mountaban in France, when they (being besieged) were compelled to fight in their own defence, they alwayes went out to fight singing of Psalms, and grew so terrible to the besiegers, that in the end, as soon as they heard their singing voice lifted up within the Town; before the Portcullis was drawn up, or the Gates were opened, their hearts would fail them, and they used to cry out, They come, they come, and even fled away for fear. M. Martial on Psal. 8. 2.
The Church of Rome have abandoned this point of Christian devotion from all both publick and private use, because they sing not in a known tongue.
Some think we ought to use as much or rather more devotion, attention and reverence in singing of Psalms, as in making of prayers or hearing, and that to sing a Psalm well and as we ought, is one of the hardest exercises of Christian Religion, because it requireth most attention and most affection.
We should sing in a right manner:
1. With understanding, Psal. 47. 7. 1 Cor. 14. 15. which condemns Latine chanting in the Popish service.
2. With feeling, Col. 3. 16.Mr Hildersam Heron.
3. To the Lord, lifting up our hearts to him in this service, Psal. 101. 2.
4. To edifie our selves by it, Ephes. 5. 19.
5. In a decent manner, observing the tune, that the whole Congregation may be as one man in this service.
It were good to learn by heart some choice Psalms of most use and plainnesse, that if we should be cast into dungeons and dark places, and could not enjoy a book or light, yet we might be able to edifie or solace our selves in such extremities, as divers of Gods people have done.
As we may lawfully sing Scripture psalms, so also Songs and Psalms of our ownSinging of Hymns is by some counted an Ordinance, that is, any person of the Congregation exercising their own gifts, should bring an Hymne and sing it in the Congregation, all the rest being silent and giving audience. M. Edw. inditing (say some) agreeable to Scripture, Sing unto the Lord a new Song, framed on a fresh occasion, therefore 1 Cor. 14. 26. a Psalm is named among those things which they had for the use of the Church. For seeing a Psalm is but a musical praier for the most part, therefore we may make Songs for our selves agreeable to the Word of God as well as prayers, and God knowing the efficacie of Poetry and Musick, to help memory and stirre up affection doth allow his people to use it for their spiritual comfort as well as natural. The Apostle speaketh of Psalms, Hymns and spiritual Songs, Ephes. 5. 19. & Col. 3. 16. Who can shew any reason to limit his speech to Scripture-psalms? Why may not one praise God in a Song for our deliverance in 88, or the Gun pouder treason?
Whether instrumental Musick be lawful in the Church of God?
Bellarmine pleads for it, lib. de bonis operibus c. 16, 17.
D Burgess who wrote in defence of the ceremonies, and some other of our Divines defend it. They say Musick used in the Old Testament was no figure, type or ceremony, but a real thing for elevation of the soul, types had their principal use in signifyingSee Dr Willet on Exod. 15. pag. 192. See 1 Chron. 15. 27, 28. & 17. 4, 5. Baptisteria multae Ecclesiae retinent, quaedam tollunt; Organis p…eumaticis quaedam utuntur aliae non utuntur. Nullae, quod sciam, ut Antichristianas Ceremonias damnant. Crocius in August. Confes. Quaest. 2. cap. 29. something to come, but the first time we hear of a Psalm we hear of Tymbrel too, therefore they were used to it before, else they could not have played presently, therefore that precept, Psal. 150. Praise God with Flute and Harp, they think is moral and binds in respect of the thing it self, and warrants in respect of the manner. Musick (say they) is a natural help to devotion, which doth not further it by any mystical signification but by a proper and natural operation, and therefore is not a typical Ceremony. Nature it self and God have fitted it to accompany a holy Song. Paul bids us edifie our selves in Psalms, and a Psalme is a Song upon an instrument.
Not only Dr Ames opposeth it, but Aquinas, Rivet, Zanchius, Zepperus, Altingius Hinc fracta illa Musica, quae intelligentiam excludit, abesse debet à sacris exercitiis pictatis, saltem quae cum aliis habemus. Ames. Medul. Theol. l. 2. c. 9. Hujusmodi Musica instrumenta magis animum movent ad delectationem, quam per ea formetur interius bona dispositio. In veteri autem Testamento usus erat talium instrumentorum, tum quia populus erat magis durus & carnalis. Unde erat per hujusmodi instrumenta provocandus: sicut & per promissiones terrenas: tum etiam quia hujusmodi instrumenta corporalia aliquid figurabant. Aquin. 2a, 2ae. q 91. Art. 2. ad 4tum. Musicae Organicae aec instrumentalis usus ita est permissus, ac privatim inter Christianos indifferens, ut multo satius sit publicè … eo abstinere, quam eam introducere aut continuare, quia majus subest periculum quam aedificatio. Rivet. in Cathol. Orthodox. Talis debet esse Cantus qui intelligentiam verborum non impediat, sed potius juvet. Proinde quo modo probari potest illa fracta, clamosa & fragesa Musica in Templis, qua ita canitur, ut nihil penitus intelligas aut percipias, praet…r harmoniam Musicam. Zanchius in Ephes. 5. 19. Minimè omnium tolerabitur in Ecclesia Musica instrumentalis, & Organa illa Musica confragosa quae varium vocum garritum efficiunt & Templa lituis, tubis & …is…ulis personare faciunt. Quorum Ditalianum Pontificem primum auctorem fuisse Platina affirmat. Zepperus. in Polit. Eccles.and others, dislike of Organs and such like Musick in Churches, and they do generally rather hinder edification.