The Practical Sabbatarian, Chapter 35
CHAP. XXXV. Singing of Pſalmes, is the Muſique of a Sabbath.
THe Feaſt of a Sabbath is not to want the muſique of a Epheſ. 5 19.Pſalm: The Lords day, ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Pſalm 118. Revel. 5. 11.24. is a day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoyce and be glad in it: And Pſalms are the ecchoes of joy, the hearts Revel. 4. 11.melody, the Saints tuning his Hallelujahs. When we ſing Revel. 5. 13.Pſalms, we ſeem to joyn iſſue with the 24 Elders mentioned in the Revelation, and with the Quire of Angels, the Pſalm 100. 2.ſubject of whoſe Song is the Lord, and the Lamb who ſit 2 Sam. 23. 1.upon the Throne. David was not onelyonly the great King of Judah, but the ſweet Singer of Iſrael; and he did not onelyonly 1 Chron. 13. 8▪compile his pſalms for the Church, but himſelf did ſing Nehem. 12. 27.forth his Songs to the Lord; nay, the whole body of the Judg. 5. 3.people of Iſrael, though they cannot be Pſalmiſts, they Pſalm 30. 4.will be joyous in the praiſes of the Lord, 1 Chron. 13. 8. The wall of the City was not dedicated without ſinging, Pſalm 147. 1.much more the worſhip of the Temple was not celebrated without the ſame method of praiſe & thankſgiving. Singing is the commanded mirth of Mountains, Iſa. 44. 23. It is the Exultation of the Earth, Iſa. 49. 13. It is the pleaſant triumph of Saints, Iſa. 51. 11. It is the Trophie of Victories, Exod. 15. 21. It is the Muſique of Iſraels Quire, 1 Chron. 16. 9. And then ſurely, it is the joyful melody of Gods holy day. Gods praiſe is much ſet forth by ſinging; and all varieties joyn in conſort. The trees of the Wood, 1 Chron. 16. 33. The ſphears of the Heavens, Iſa. 44. 23. The Kingdomes of the Earth, Pſalm 68. 32. The Saints in their greateſt numbers, Pſalm 149. 3. The Saints in their greateſt ſtraights, Iſa. 26. 19. The Saints in their greateſt flight, Iſa. 42. 10, 11. The Saints in their greateſt deliverances, Zeph. 3. 14, 15. The Saints in their greateſt neceſſities, Iſa. 52. 9. Iſa. 54. 1. The Saints in their greateſt plenties, Iſa. 65. 14. Jer. 31. 12. How comely then doth ſinging divine praiſe to the divine Majeſty befit the holy day of God? And we are to take notice, that Pſalms are not onelyonly calculated 1 Cor. 14. 26.for the publick Congregation, but likewiſe for private Col. 3. 16.families. There muſt be a Quire in our houſes; Our Loquitur Apoſto…us non tantum de publicis in eccleſiâ cantatis hymnis, ſed etiam de privatis. Dr Jun.children like the leſſer birds muſt ſing the praiſes of the Creatour; Our ſervants muſt underſtand the chief ſervice in ſinging forth thankſgivings to the Lord, and Governours of Families muſt be guides of the Chore, they muſt be Preſidents in this complacential ſervice. Tertullian tells us, That the Chriſtians in the Primitive times had their meetings before day to ſing to Jeſus Chriſt; ſo ſweet was this Duty to Chriſtiani habuere caetus antelucanos ad canendum Chriſto et Deo. Tertul. Lib. …0. Epiſt. 97. Hymnipro ſympanis ſumantur Pſalmodia pro fl…gitioſis cantibus. Naz. Niceph. lib. 13 cap. 8. Ruffin. Hiſtor. lib. 10. cap. 9.them, and reputed ſo neceſſary. Euſebius mentions ſome Hymnes, which the Chriſtians in the early times of the Goſpel uſed to recite and ſing forth: And Nepos compiled many of theſe divine Songs for the ſervice of Dyoniſius and his Brethren. Plinius ſecundus, though an Heathen, makes mention of Chriſtians ſinging of Pſalms to their great praiſe, in his Epiſtles to the Emperour Trajan. Gregory Nazianzen much preſſeth the ſinging of Pſalms and Hymns upon Chriſtians in their ſolemn days, for the avoidance of fidling Inſtruments, and of light and jocular ſongs. And as if pſalms were not onelyonly the diſcharge of our duty, but the confutation of the errours of others, Chryſoſtom commanded Pſalms to be ſung in the night for the ſuppreſſion of the Arrian Hereſie. Baſil, as Ruffin atteſts, commanded the people to meet for the pouring out of their prayers, and ſinging of Pſalms. The Eaſtern Church, from the time that the Mos cantandi in Orient…li eccleſiá jam inde ab Apoſtolis eſt obſervatus. Dr. Jun.Sun of Righteouſneſs aroſe in the Eaſt, did propagate the uſe of ſinging of Pſalms and Hymns to ſucceſſive Generations: Nor was the Weſtern Church defective, in praiſing and practiſing of this ſweet and reviving Duty. Holy Ambroſe ſo zealouſly preſſed this duty of ſinging of Pſalms, that he would not allow times of perſecution, a ſufficient reaſon to intercept it; But the Empreſs Juſtina raging againſt Plebs in eccleſiá excub…bat, et tum pſalmi, et hymni cantabantur ſecundum morem in Orientalium partium, ut populus reficeretur, &c.him, He commanded the common people to lye in the Church, and there ſing Pſalms and Hymns, according to the practice of the Oriental Chriſtians, that they might not be ſenſible of any ſorrow or tediouſneſs: and this cuſtom prevailed in aftertimes, and was ſcattered into other places: the Churches in other parts imitating this worthy practice. And Paulinus teſtifies, that the ſame excellent Ambroſe brought Hymnes and Pſalms to be ſung in publick in the Churches of Millain, and this practice overſpread almoſt the whole Weſtern Per omnes penè Occidentis provincias manaſſe reſert. Paulin.Church. Paulin. in Vit. Ambroſ. And if you ask what Pſalms were ſung in thoſe Early dayes of the Church, Auguſtine informeth us, The Pſalms of David. Aug. confeſ. lib. 10. cap. 33. And Theodoret joyns in the ſame aſſertion, Theodor. Hiſt. lib. 2. cap. 24. And theſe Oracles were warbled forth with a lively and ſweet voyce, that the truths which were ſung did ſeem to get a new life by the tune, as the ſame Auguſtin averres. Chryſoſtom aſſures us, That the words of Ipſe de cantatorum pſalmorum Davidicorum verba inter canendum prolata recenſet. Chryſoſt. Homil. de verbis Iſai. 1. lib. 5.Davids Pſalms were the conſtant matter which was ſung, that which did feed the voyce, and the rejoycing of Chriſtians in his time. Thus ſinging of Pſalms was the uſual and commendable practice of the golden times of the Church. And ſing to the Lord, Pſalm 47. 6. muſt be the command which muſt lead us up and down a Sabbath, and eſpecially put an Higgaion Selah upon the cloſe of it. Now for our more comfortable management of this heavenly ſervice and ſpiritual recreation, we muſt conſider,
Singing of Pſalmes hath excellent Preſidents. That ſervice is much ſweetned, which is exemplified by the beſt Patterns: We have the beſt of Perſons going before us in this Job 38. 7.way of holy delight. The Morning ſtars of the Church have ſung together;Heb. 2. 10.
1. Chriſt himſelf, the Captain of our ſanctification as well as our ſalvation, hath gone before us in this holy practice; he ſang a Hymn with his Apoſtles, Mat. 26. 30. He ſang with the Apoſtles, to ſhew us, that Pſalms are calculated not onelyonly for the publick Congregations, but private Families: He ſang not with the multitude, but with the Diſciples: And Chriſt ſang in the Evening, to evidence, that the Evening of his own day is the moſt fit ſeaſon for this heavenly duty. And he ſang immediatly before he ſuffered, Hymni ſunt laudes dei cum cantico. Et ſi ſit laus, & non dei, non eſt hymnus, & ſi ſit laus dei, et non cantetur, non eſt hymnus: Oportet ergo ut ſit hymnus habeat haec tria; et laudem, et dei, et canticum. Auguſt. Pſalmi Davidici ſunt ſacri hymni. Philo. foreign Archimuſico, vincenti, praecentori cui cura eſt de re muſicà, inſtat que ut ad debitum finem perducatur. Prefecto cantorum, Occurrit in Pſalmis 35 vicibus. Bithn.to ſeal this Ordinance with his blood. And if it be Queried what Hymn Chriſt ſang? Learned Expoſitors are various in their opinions, and ſhoot ſo much at Rovers, that I ſhall not ſtay to take up their arrows. But it is not without remark, that Auguſtin gives us the full and rare deſcription of an Hymn, which may help us in this caſe: Hymns, ſaith he, are the praiſes of God ſet forth in ſinging: If it be praiſe, and not of God, it is no hymn; And if it be praiſe of God, and theſe praiſes are not ſung, it is not an Hymn; And therefore if it be an Hymn, it muſt have theſe three things; It muſt be praiſe, the praiſe of God, and that with a ſong. Chriſt then was verſed in this holy practice: and ſo the Holy Ghoſt pens a Pſalm for the Sabbath, viz. the 92 Pſalm: that as there is the Lords Prayer to guide us in that holy duty, ſo there i… the Lords Pſalm too, to excite and ſtir us up in this feraphical Service.
2. Godly Princes have glorified God in this duty, 2 Chro. 29. 30. David compoſes Pſalmes; and Hezekiah commands them to be ſung; The chief Magiſtrate joynes with the chief Muſician: And he that takes the Scepter in his hand to govern the people, he likewiſe takes the Harp in his hand to ſing the praiſes of the Lord, Pſalm 98. 5. David, and Aſaph, Hezekiah and the Levites, all joyn to ſing forth the praiſes of God. There was among the Jews a Prefect of ſongs, as well as a Governour of the People.
3. The Holy Apoſtles, thoſe bright luminaries of the Church, they have made this muſick in their Sphears, Acts 16. 25. Paul and Silas ſang praiſes to God in their Exod. 15. 1.darkeſt Dungeon; though their feet were, their tongues were not in the ſtocks.
4. Eminent Fathers: Some have been cited already to give foreign. Juſt. Mart. Queſt. 117. ad Orthodoxos.in their teſtimony to the praiſe and practice of this duty; I will onelyonly ſuperadd one more, One moſt worthy among the worthieſt, famous Baſil, who thus diſcants upon ſinging of Pſalmes; Look whatever is profitably diſperſed throughout the whole Scriptures, the ſame is gathered together Eſt Pſalmus animarum tranquillitas, Pacis Arbiter, optimarum diſciplinarum promptuarium; Pſalmus turbas et fluctus cogitationum compeſcit, iracundiam mollit, eſt elementum incipientibus, incrementum proficientibus, &c. Baſil.in the Book of the Pſalmes, and therefore this Book of Pſalmes was preſerved, that thoſe who are Children in years, or altogether young in manners, might in ſhew ſing in meeter, but in truth might inſtruct their own ſouls; the inſtructions of the Pſalmes being ſung both at home and abroad. A Pſalm brings quietneſs to the mind, is a peace-maker, repreſſing the perturbations and paſſions of the mind; it doth mollifie anger, and procure love and friendſhip among men, ſuggeſting unto the mind a certain concord, and a common bond to unite men together, and compelling men to the harmony of one Quire. A Pſalm is inſtruction to the ignorant, an increaſe to them that profit, and one voice of the whole Church: This doth beautifie ſolemnities, and cauſes Godly ſorrow, for Pſalms do pull tears out of the moſt ſtony hearts. Thus far the Renowned Father launches forth in the praiſe of Pſalmes, Ho… inſtitutum in hodierum diem retentum. Aug. Confeſ.that ſpiritual incenſe, as he is pleaſed to call them. And from the Primitive Church, this heavenly ſervice hath been propagated down to our very times. This duty, like the Sun which runs through the ſeveral ſigns of the Zodiack, hath paſſed the tempers and diſpoſitions of every Age.
Singing of Pſalms hath not onelyonly excellent preſidents, but enforcing reaſons. The Pſalmiſt ſaith, It is a good thing to ſing unto our God, Pſal. 47. 1. This duty being like a fruitfull Cloud in the Summer ſeaſon, which is not onelyonly our ſcreen againſt the heat, but melts into a ſhowre for the earths refreſhing. It doth not onelyonly make a Canopy for us, to keep of the ſcorching Sun, but makes a draught for the ground to ſatisfie its parching thirſt: So we do not onelyonly magnifie God in ſinging of Pſalms, but we ſolace our ſelves, and put our Joſh. 6. 20.own hearts into a ſpiritual delight. This duty is much to Edification. Our ſouls are built up as the walls of Jericho were pulled down, by loud ſounding forth the praiſes of the Lord; while we praiſe God, we engage him, and as holy muſicians, after we have drawn our tongues and hearts into the Quire, we ſhall have our reward. The Apoſtle adviſes Cum hilaritati inſervimus, aedificationis et utilitatis mutuae memores eſſe debemus. Daven.the Epheſians to ſpeak to one another in Pſalms, Eph. 5. 19. The Chriſtian at the ſame time carrying on a three-fold deſign.
1. He praiſes God.
2. He works divine truth upon his own heart.
3. He inſtructs thoſe who joyn with him. And the tune ſweetens, it doth not loſe the Scripture Counſel we ſing to God.
Singing of Pſalmes doth very much advantage us; it can ſweeten a Priſon, Acts 16. 25. Paul and Silas by ſinging chaſe Ne ſit horagratiae coeleſtis immunis gaudio; conventus ſobrius ſonet Pſalmos. Cyp.away the terrour of the night, lighten the heavineſs of the chain, enlighten the darkneſs of the dungeon. This divine Service can turn a Priſon into a Paradiſe, a place of reſtraint into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God. Cyprian well advices us; Let not, ſaith he, an hour of grace want its joy; let ſerious conventions of Gods people ſound forth Pſalms before the Lord.
This holy ſervice prepares us for ſufferings. When Chriſt was ready to be offered up, then he ſings an Hymne with his Diſciples; Chriſt ſups and ſings, and then he ſets forward Mat. 26. 30.towards the Croſs. Joy in the Lord, whereof ſinging is Hoc genus delectationis eſt animae noſtrae valdè cognatum; Deus Pſalmos conſtituit ut ex iis ſimul caperetur utilitas et voluptas. Chryſ.onelyonly the rebound, armes us againſt the dint of ſuffering: He will ſcarce be ſenſible of approaching ſtroaks, whoſe heart is taken up with God and Chriſt, and is in the midſt of his Hallelujahs; no more then the three Childrens feet were parched when they trod upon flames. Chryſoſtome informs us, That God appointed Pſalms both for our gain and recreation: Thus being wrapt we ſhall ſcarce feel the thorne in the fleſh.
This ſoul reviving duty chaſes away fears. When the Church of Chriſt was much threatened by Tyrants, and thoſe Wolves of the Evenings, whoſe Den was at Rome; Among Pſalmus 4… Lutheri Pſalmus dicitur.others, Luther was the white, thoſe Archers ſhot at; but in the midſt of the greateſt fears, Luther would call to ſing the 46th Pſalm, which ſince is called Luthers Pſalm; Thus did that incomparable man, as if ſinging of Pſalms was the holy ſpell, to charm away all griefs and fears, the threats of perſecutors might raiſe and procure. As perfect love, ſo inward joy caſts out fear; the triumphing and the trembling of the heart at the ſame time, being inconſiſtent. Whilſt we are beginning heaven in this work of Angels, as Baſil calls Baſil de laudibu…, et virt. Pſal.ſinging of Pſalms, we are got above the frowns and fears of the world.
This heart rejoycing duty can make travels ſweet and pleaſant; it can ſhorten miles, and haſten ſtages, Num. 21. 17. Sive in templum convenimus ad orandum, ſive ad Agapen, ſive in domum, ad menſam, aut cibum nobis metipſis in Pſalm… loquamur. Num. 21. 17.A learned man obſerves, That ſinging holy ſongs; it is the muſick of the Temple, the pleaſure of the feaſt, the delight of the Table; and it may be added, it is the recreation of the journey. The Children of Iſrael had a wilderneſs to travel through, but they had a God to converſe with, and ſweet ordinances to refreſh themſelves by, they made their journies pleaſurous; and the change of their ſtages, was onelyonly the variety of their delight; ſinging to the Lord ſtrewed their way with roſes.
This ſoul-raiſing duty hath facilitated victories, 2 Chron. 20. 22. When the people of Iſrael began to ſing, and to praiſe God, the Lord ſet ambuſhments againſt the Children of Ammon, 2 Chr. 20. 22.&c. Thus ſinging of Gods praiſes hath not onelyonly a melody in the Church, but a force and a power in the Camp. Swords ſometimes are no ſence againſt ſongs, when God and Chriſt are the matter of them.
Singing of Pſalms hath heavenly ends.
By it we glorifie God. Singing, it blazons Gods Righteouſneſs, Pſal. 145. 7. By it we bleſs Gods Name, Pſal. 92. Pſal. 66. 2.1. By it we evidence Gods love, Pſal. 47. 6. By it we declare Gods Majeſty, Iſa. 24. 14. By it we teſtifie Gods mercy, Iſa. 12. 2.Pſal. 89. 1. By it we publiſh Gods Judgements, Pſal. 101. 1. By it we proclaim Gods power, Pſal. 59. 16. Pſal. 47. 6.This ſacred duty David urgeth with more then ordinary fervency. And in this ſervice we joyn confort with the whole Pſal. 95. 1.Creation: The brute and inanimate Creatures praiſe the Creatour by ſinging to him. The Mountains cannot pray, Pſal. 98. 4.but they can ſing, Iſa. 44. 23. The Valleys do not meditate, but they ſing, Pſal. 65. 13. Singing is the harmony of the Forreſt, 1 Chron. 16. 33. Singing is the muſick of the Grove, Pſal. 104. 12. Nay, the Heavens ſing, Iſa. 49. 13. And the Earth ſings, Pſal. 96. 1. Thus the Quire of all the Creatures bear a part in ſinging the praiſes of the Almighty.
Singing of Pſalms is an excellent means to draw out our Graces; and they indeed are the muſick which make the Cant. 4. 16.harmony, they are the ſpices which flow out with a pleaſant, and an aromatical ſent.
1. Singing draws out, and exerciſes our joy, Iſa. 12. 2. The joy of the heart is onelyonly midwiv'd into the World by the ſongs of the lips.
2. Singing draws out our faith. The Heathens ſing to the Pſal. 47. 7.vain Idols, and we to our Jehovah. Sing praiſe, ſaith the Pſalmiſt, to our God. Our ſpiritual ſongs keep time by the hand of faith. And ſo Tertullian obſerved; (as was ſuggeſted before) The Primitive Chriſtians met before day to ſing Hymns to Jeſus Chriſt, their dear Redeemer.
3. Singing draws out our love, Iſa. 5. 1. We ſing moſt Mat. 26. 30.ſweetly in the armes of our beloved. Chriſt ſang with his Apoſtles, the Diſciples of his boſome. Moſes ſings with the Pſal. 33. 1.Children of Iſrael, the Brethren of his love. When we ſing to Chriſt, we ſing to him, who lies as a bundle of Myrrh between our breaſts, Cant. 1. 13. It is love dilates the heart, it is love ſweetens the voice, it is love makes the tongue an Semper Mobile. Ariſt,inſtrument of perpetual motion.
4. Singing draws out our thanksgiving, Iſa. 38. 20. Singing is onelyonly gratitude put in meeter, and ſet in tune. The gratefull perſon comes with his harp in his hand, as Jephtah's Daughter did, to congratulate her returning and victorious Prov. 29. 6.Father, Judges 11. 34. Singing Pſalms only becomes the righteous, who ſhall eternally praiſe God for the Pſal. 30. 4.bleſſings of their ſalvation by Chriſt. We may ſing muſically, but not joyfully, not heartily, with unpardoned guilt upon our ſouls. A wicked man is a Parot in this duty, he is Prov. 13. 14.onelyonly Satans Nightingale. The Prophet ſaith, Iſa. 65. 14. The Servants of God ſhall ſing for joy of heart. Wicked men can have no peace, Iſa. 57. 21. and therefore no joy. A grave Divine well obſerves, That praiſe and pſalms well become the Saints, who ſing with affection, reverence and underſtanding; otherwiſe this duty is as a coſtly garment, which is rich and beautiful in it ſelf, but it fits not the perſon who is to wear it.
Singing of Pſalms doth admirably chear and exhilerate the ſoul. The Apoſtle ſpeaks, Eph. 5. 19. Of ſinging Pſalms and Hymns, and making melody in our hearts: this duty is the Hortatur Chriſtianos Apoſtolus ad laetitiam, et exultationem ſpiritualem, ut laeti et exultantes in Chriſtianiſmo jubilent. Alap.ſweet ſhout of the ſoul, the jubilie of the inward man, a ſpiritual exultation, the triumphal gladneſs of a gracious heart, a ſofter rapture. We may ſay of this Service, as Tremelius doth of Davids harp; That by the muſick of it, the ſtorms of Sauls ſpirit were laid, and he was compoſed and ſerene. This Service can calm a perturbed and diſcompoſed ſpirit. Auguſtine confeſſeth, That oftentimes for joy he wept in the Aug. lib. 3. Confeſ cap. 6.Church to hear the melody of the peoples ſinging. And Beza acknowledges, That at his firſt enterance into the Congregation, Bez. Paraph. in Pſal. 91.hearing them ſing the 91ſt Pſalm, by the ſinging thereof he felt himſelf exceedingly comforted, and he did ever ſince bear the ſence of it dearly engraven on his heart. Dr. Bound obſerves, Pſalms are moſt convenient for the Sabbath, for that is a time of joy, and there is no joy comparable to that we have in Chriſt Jeſus, who fills our hearts with joy unſpeakable and 1 Pet. 1. 8.full of glory. Indeed ſinging of Pſalms it reveals and confines our joy, it is the ſmile, and the gracious ſmile of the ſoul. The Apoſtle James adviſeth us to turn our mirth into the right channel, If we be merry let us ſing Pſalms, Jam. Pſalmis nos oblectemus, et ex hiſce hilaritatem noſtram promanare annitendum eſt. Daven.5. 13. Our mirth ſhould be as the muſick of the Sphears, pure and coeleſtial; As the waters of a ſpring, and not as the waters of a pond, which eaſily putrifieth. Our joy then flowes, and breaks out in this bleſſed duty of ſinging Pſalms, which is the only vent of inward complacency, the heart being the chief muſick-room of a Saint.
In the ſinging of Pſalms we begin the ſervice of heaven, ſinging is the triumph of glory. In heaven we read of the ſong of the Lamb, the ſong of Moſes, Rev. 15. 3. All varieties in the Pallace of the great King ſing ſongs to the Lord, and to the Lamb who ſits on the throne, Rev. 5. 9, 12, 13. The twenty four Elders ſing a new ſong, as if they would out-vy and double the tribes of Iſrael, as in their Pſalmi ſunt foreign quaecun que cantiones vari…s argumentis ſcriptae; Hymni ſunt foreign quae ſolummodò dei laudes continent. Cantica, ſeu Odae ſunt foreign peculiares, & magis artificioſae, anguſtiore quadam formâ. Daven.number, ſo in their praiſes to the God of Iſrael, Rev. 5. 9. The Angels lift up their voice to ſing the Pſalms of heaven, Rev. 5. 11. Thoſe glorious ſpirits though they have no tongues, yet they have voices to celebrate the praiſes of the Divine Majeſty. The Harpers likewiſe have a new ſong, Rev. 14. 3. and joyn iſſue in the ſame harmony, to evidence that heaven is a place of joy and triumph. Now as no Ordinance better reſembles the company of heaven, then that of the Lords Supper, where the Saints meet to feaſt with, and on Chriſt: So no Ordinance better reſembles the harmony of heaven, then the ſinging of Pſalms, when the Saints joyn in the praiſe of their Redeemer. It is not without a Selah, a note of obſervation, that the Apoſtle is ſo copious in ſetting down, the ſeveral wayes of the Saints praiſing God, viz. In Pſalms, and Hymns, and ſpirituall Songs, Col. 3. 16. Is it not to prefigure that plenty and joy which is reſerved for them, when they ſhall always joyn in conſort with the muſick of the Bride-chamber? David ſinging with his harp Pſal. 71. 22.here looks not ſo like the King of the Old, as a Citizen of the New Jeruſalem.Rev. 14. 2.
Singing of Pſalms muſt be managed with prudential cautions.
In this heavenly duty the heart muſt be preſident of the Quire. He playes the hypocrite who bids his harp awake when his heart is aſleep. Affection muſt be loudeſt Non vox ſed votum, non muſica chordul…, ſed cor; non clamans, ſed amans caniat in aure dei. Aug.in every Pſalm. The Apoſtle ſaith, That he will ſing with the ſpirit, 1 Cor. 14. 15. David tells us, His heart was ready, his heart was ready to ſing and give praiſe, Pſal. 57. 7, 8. Pſal. 108. 1. The Virgin Mary ſings her magnificat with her heart, Luke 1. 46, 47. Bernard in a Tract of his tells us, When we ſing Pſalms, let us take heed that we have the ſame De modo benè vivendi Bern.thing in our mind which we warble forth with our tongue; and that our ſong and our tongue run not ſeverall wayes. Audiant illi quibus pſallendi in eccleſiâ officium eſt, deo non voce tantùm, ſed corde cantandum, non in Tragaedorum modum. Hieron.Spiritual ſongs muſt not be as ic…les which drop from the eves of our mouths, but as ſparks which fly from the hearths of our ſouls. If there be only the calves of our lips, it ſo much reſembles a carnall and Jewiſh ſacrifice. Hierome tells us, We muſt not act as players, who ſtretch their throats and accomodate their tongues to the matter in hand; but when we ſing Pſalms, we muſt act as Saints, praiſing God, not only with our voice, but with our hearts. A ſweet voice pleaſeth men moſt, but a melting heart pleaſeth God moſt. Non franges vocem, ſed frange voluntatem, non ſervas tantùm, conſonanti…m vocum, ſed concordiam morum. Bern.Thou ſtudieſt cadencies and to run diviſions, ſaith Bernard, Study to break thy will, and to keep under thy corrupt affections, and do not ſo much affect a conſonancy of voice, as conformity of manners. It is not a quavering voice, but a trembling ſpirit, Iſa. 66. 2. Auguſtine complains ſadly of ſome in his time, who minded more the tune, then the truth which was ſung, more the manner how, then the matter Aug.what, and this was a great offence to him.
We muſt ſing with grace in our hearts, Col. 3. 16. Viz. Either as ſome expound it with gratitude and thankfulneſs, N…n incommodè cum cantionibus conjungitur gratitudo. Daven. Laetis & proſperis rebus ad canendum monemur quo in ſtatu affectus gratitudinis debitus eſt, & planè neceſſarius. Dav.for the word foreign grace, is ſometimes ſo taken, 1 Cor. 15. 57. And indeed thankfulneſs is the Selah of this duty, that which puts an accent upon the muſick and ſweetneſs of the voice; we ſing the thanksgivings of the Lord. In times of proſperity, when God crowns us with his loving kindneſſes, Pſal. 103. 4. We are then ſtirred up to ſing forth the praiſes of God, and every part of man makes up the Conſort; the eye looks up with joy, the tongue ſets the tune, the hand claps with triumph, Pſal. 47. 1. The heart is the Organiſt which ſets all the reſt on going; that boſom inſtrument begins the ſongs of praiſe.
Secondly, Biſhop Davenant expounds with grace, viz. with gracefulneſs, with a gracefull dexterity, which brings Et prodeſſe volunt, & delectare.both profit and pleaſure to the hearers. When we ſing Pſalms, we muſt ſing ſeriouſly and ſolemnly, not lightly or ſenſually to gratifie a curious ear, or a wanton ſpirit. Pſalms they are not the Comedies of Venus, or the jocular celebrations of a wanton Adonis, but they are the ſpirituall ebullitions and breakings forth of a compoſed ſoul to the holy and incomprehenſible Jehovah. Therefore David Pſal. 96. 1.will ſing a new ſong to the Lord, Pſal. 96. 1. (i. e.) in the Hebrew dialect, a moſt excellent ſong, a ſong tuned with ſuavity, compoſed with piety, and warbled forth Pſal. 137. 4.with real ſincerity.
Thirdly, This phraſe with grace may moſt properly ſignifie, the acting of grace in that heavenly duty. Not only our heart, but Gods ſpirit muſt breath in this ſervice, in it we Cum in conſpectu dei Cantus ſit, hoc conſidera in mente. Bern.muſt act our joy, our confidence, our delight in the Lord. Singing is the triumph of a gracious ſoul, his unconſtrained exultation, which is not penned up in the mind by meditation, nor confined to the ear in attention, nor yet chained to the tongue in prayer and ſupplication, but flyes abroad in a more ſolemn Ovation, praiſing him who cauſeth him to triumph in Chriſt, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 2 Cor. 2. 14. In ſinging 2 Cor. 2. 14.of Pſalms the gracious heart takes wing, and mounts up to God to joyn with the celeſtial Quire.
We muſt ſing with underſtanding: We muſt not be guided by the tune, but the words of the Pſalm; and muſt not ſo much mind the melody, as the matter: we muſt conſider what we ſing, as well as how we ſing. The tune may affect Pſal. 47. 7.the fancy, but it is the matter affects the heart. David in 1 Cor. 14. 15.the Old Teſtament, Pſal. 47. 7. And the Apoſtle in the Spiritum & intelligentiam opponit Apoſtolus, ut cauſam & effectum; docens pſallendum eſſe ſpiritu, ut non modò à pſallentibus ſed & ab audientibus intelligatur: Quia ſecus fructu illud totum carebit. Par. in Cor.New, 1 Cor. 14. 15. call for underſtanding in ſinging, otherwiſe we make a noiſe, but we do not ſing a ſpirituall ſong; and ſo this duty would be more the work of the Choriſter, then the Chriſtian; and we ſhould be more delighted with an Anthem of the Muſicians making, then with a Pſalm of the ſpirits enditing. We muſt therefore ſing wiſely, that not only our own hearts may be affected, but thoſe who hear us. Alapide obſerves, that the word underſtanding mentioned by the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 14. 15. it is foreign in the Hebrew, which ſignifies profound judgment, and foreign in the Septuagint, which ſignifies the acuteneſs of underſtanding, the ſharpneſs of it, the mind of the underſtanding, if there be any more ſpiritual, and freed from the body. And thus we muſt ſing our Pſalms and ſpiritual Pſallite diligentèr, ut nimirum vos intelligatis, & ſapiatis ea quae pſ…llitis, et alii qui vos audiunt, ea quae vos pſallitis intelligant. Alap. Pr…ces Pontificiorum linguâ ignotâ, non tam Oratio ſunt, quàm murmur.ſongs. A learned man obſerves, We muſt relliſh what we ſing. Now the underſtanding muſt lead the way to the taſte and the guſt. Let me ſuperadde one thing more. The Apoſtle in the forementioned place, 1 Cor. 14. 15. ſaith, He will pray with the ſpirit, and with underſtanding; he will ſing with the ſpirit, and with underſtanding: So then we muſt ſing, as we muſt pray. Now the moſt rude and ignorant Petitioners will underſtand what they pray, rather then they will Petition in the dark, they will confine themſelves to a form, or to the Lords prayer. None ſo ignorant as not to underſtand what they ask. Unknown prayers are the ſoloeciſm of Religion, they are only a vain muttering, a troubleſome noiſe; Children know what to ask of their Parents, and their minority doth not ſpeak ſo Luke 18. 13.much ignorance, as to wrap up their requeſts in a cloud, Luke 11. 13.that they cannot underſtand their meaning. It is well obſerved by a learned man, That the prayers of the Papiſts in an unknown tongue, are not ſo much a ſupplication as a murmur. Now ignorance in ſinging falls under the ſame condemnation with ignorance in praying, and is as great a ſoloeciſm; when we underſtand not what we ſing, it ſpeaks the harſhneſs of the voice, the hardneſs of the heart, and the impertinency of the ſervice.
We muſt ſing to the Lord: In ſinging of Pſalms the direct intention of our minds muſt be to God. And we muſt be Deo laudes et hymnos in gratiarum actionem canamus. Anſel. Pſalmus eſt ſignifer pacis, ſpirituale thymiama, exercitium coeleſtium, luxum reprimit, ſobrietatem ſuggerit, et lacrymas movet. Aug.affected as the matter of the Pſalm is, and our preſent condition doth occaſion. Singing is part of divine worſhip, a piece of Goſpel ſervice. The Apoſtles counſel is, That in ſinging we ſhould make melody in our hearts to the Lord, Eph. 5. 19. And leaſt we ſhould omit this circumſtance, which is the ſubſtance of the whole duty, the Apoſtle repeats his counſel, Col. 3. 16. and adviſeth us to ſing with grace in our hearts to the Lord. A learned man obſerves, That the right ſinging of Pſalms is an evidence of the holy ſpirit inhabiting the heart, and a ſpirit of joy breathing in the Saints. And if the ſpirit of the Lord be in us, he will be aimed at by us in all our duties. The ſpirit will mount ſervice upwards, will Pſal. 7. 17.lift up the ſoul in prayer, Pſal. 25. 1. Iſa. 37. 4. will lift Pſal. 30. 4.up the hands in requeſt, Pſal. 28. 2. will lift up the head Cantare in corde domino, non vocem excludit, ſed cordis affectionem cum voce conjungendam monet. Dav.with joy, Pſal. 110. 7. And will lift up the voice to God in ſinging. David ſaith, Pſal. 111. 1. I will praiſe the Lord with my whole heart. Deborah and Barak ſing their triumphal ſong to the Lord, Judge 5. 3. And the Pſalmiſt calls the ſongs of Sion, the ſongs of the Lord, Pſal. 137. 3, 4. Singing of Pſalms properly is nothing elſe but the lifting up the voice, and the heart to God. One gravely tells us, Our In eo rectè ſentiebant, qui hunc ſpiritualem cultum divinae naturae tribuendum judicarunt.ſingings muſt not ſerve our pleaſure, our wantonneſs, our gain, but our Saviour, our Chriſt, our God. In this heavenly muſick we muſt ſtudy, not ſo much to keep time, that we do not ſpoil the Conſort, as to keep the heart cloſe to God, that we do not ſpoil the Duty. The heathens celebrate their falſe gods, Neptune, Mars, Jupiter, &c. with Songs and Hymns, and think that by this ſervice and worſhip they proclaim their greatneſs and Divinity: And ſhall Chriſtiani eſſent ſoliti ante lucem convenire, carmenque Chr…ſto quaſ… deo dicere.not we much more celebrate the praiſes of God and Chriſt, who hath loved us, and given himſelf for us, Gal. 2. 20. in Pſalms and Hymns and ſpiritual ſongs? ſhall not God have the ſweetneſs of our voice, the melody of our hearts, the ſongs of our lips, nay the muſick of our holy lives; that all that is within us and without us too, may praiſe his holy and glorious name?
And thus at laſt, there is laid before us a Scheme of Sabbath obſervation, and we are inſtructed how to keep the Lords day according to the Lords will; which doing, we Pſal. 4. 8. …ſhall lie down at night with ſafety and ſatisfaction. A well ſpent Sabbath will warm our bed at night, will ſtrew our bed with roſes, will ſent it with perfumes, nay ſtrew it with pearls, and we may joyfully expect a full crop of bleſſings the ſubſequent week; nay, our future life may be proſpered with the gifts of the right hand and the left, and drenched with the effuſions of the upper and the nether ſprings.