A Modest and Clear Answer to Mr Balls Set Forms of Prayer, Tract · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Anſwering to the third Reaſon.
Diſc. IF it be lawfull to ſing Pſalmes in a form of words deviſed by men, then likewiſe to pray unto God in a ſtinted forme; If the one of theſe be an invention of men a ſtrange prayer; a ſimilitude of a prayer: ſo is the other a ſimilitude of a Pſalm.
Anſw. Firſt, the ſinging of Pſalms (whereof you ſpeak) in a form of words deviſed by men, may have a double meaning: for either you mean ſuch Pſalms as are compiled by ordinary men, or elſe Pſalms penned by the Prophets; but tranſlated by ordinary men into Engliſh verſe, to be ſung in the Churches; If you ſpeak of the former, then this is our firſt anſwer:
1. We ſee as little warrant for ſinging Apocrypha Pſalms in the Church, as for praying preſcript Lyturgies of men in the Church: and for both together, as little warrant as for reading Apocrypha Scriptures in the Church; but if you ſpeak of the latter, then our ſecond anſwer is this.
2. There is an obſervable difference between ſinging of Pſalms and Prayer; as alſo, between the Pſalms penned by the Prophets, and by other ordinary men; for in the peoples joyning in prayer, there is no more required but their going along in ſilence, with conſent of the heart, and in the end of the prayer, expreſſing their conſent in voyce, by ſaying, Amen, 1 Corinth. 14.16. But in ſinging of Pſalms, all the people of God (as ſpiritual Prieſts) do ſing with voyce together, according to Iſa. 52.8. which putteth a neceſſity upon a ſet form of Pſalms, elſe one ſhould ſing one thing, and another another thing, which would inſtead of harmony, breed confuſion; but there is no neceſſity of a ſet form of Prayer; for if the words of the Miniſters prayers be underſtood of the people, they go along & joyn with him in ſilent conſent, as well in a form conceived for the preſent occaſion; as in a ſet form of words, whereunto they have been accuſtomed: beſides the Pſalms penned by the Prophets (as by David and the reſt) being of divine inſpiration, and part of the holy word of God (which we are commanded ſhould dwell in us plenteouſly, and wherewith we are to teach and admoniſh our ſelves and one another, by the ſinging of them unto the Lord) we have therefore a lawfull warrant, to ſing ſuch Pſalms; even in ſuch a form of words, as they are tranſlated into by men; when yet we have not the like warrant to pray the forms of Prayer deviſed by ordinary men, which are not of divine inſpiration, but of humane invention and injunction. Pſalms and Scripture tranſlated are ſtill as truly the Word of God in the tranſlation, as in the originall language.
Diſc. But (ſay you) If a man be diſpoſed to reaſon againſt the ſinging of Pſalms, he may a great deal more plauſibly argue that the infancy of the Church when God ſaw a ſet form to be neceſſary; he inſpired holy men to pen ſuch as might be of uſe for that time, when ſuch worſhip was approved; and therefore ſeeing at this day, no ſuch forms are given us of God, they are not to be allowed.
Anſw. Such an argument though you think it were plauſible, yet indeed it is leſſe defenceable; for the truth is, ſet forms of Pſalms are as neceſſary now, as they were then; for ſeeing it is neceſſary that all the people ſhould joyn in voyce as well as in heart, in the ſinging of Pſalms. It is therefore neceſſary they ſhould know before-hand the ſame ſet form of words in which they ſhould all joyn; and ſeeing a ſet form of words in Pſalms is neceſſary, it pleaſed the Lord to deviſe himſelf to our hands a ſet form of them by his holy Prophets; who being carried by the Holy Ghoſt, farre above humane infirmity and poſſibility of erring; they have ſet down ſuch forms as were fit not only for the infancy of the Church, but for the publique uſe of all Churches in all ages, and for all occaſions, which cannot be ſaid of any compilements de viſed by ordinary men.
Diſc. But (ſay you) a ſet form of words is as neceſſary in preaching, and publique prayers, as in ſinging; this or that form is neceſſary in neither; a ſet form is neceſſary in both; the people cannot ſing with the Miniſter, unleſſe what is ſung be repreſented to them in a ſet form of words; nor can they joyn in prayer, or attend to the word preached, unleſſe the matter of praying or preaching be conveyed to them in a ſet form of words.
Anſw. You confound a form of words underſtood and a ſet form: it is true, no man can joyn in prayer, or attend unto the Word preached, unleſſe the matter of prayer or preaching be conveyed in a form of words underſtood: but yet without a ſet form of words they may, the words being delivered in a known tongue; By ſet forms we underſtand ſtanding forms, ſuch as come to be uſed again and again, day by day in the ſame words; common ſence maketh it evident, men may joyn in prayer, and attend to the Word preached, as well in a new form of words, according to the preſent occaſion, which he never heard before, as in a ſet form which he heareth every day.
Diſc. But you demand, Is a Miniſter able to expreſſe the neceſſities of the people, or the doctrine of ſalvation in a form of words deviſed and ſtudied by himſelfe? and is he not able by meditation and ſtudy, to dictate, and compoſe a Pſalm to be ſung by the people, as occaſion requireth? and if ſo, is not a ſtinted form of ſinging deviſed by men, an arbitrary help to him, and ſo forbidden.
Anſw. 2. Many a good Miniſter that is able to expreſſe the neceſſities of the people, or the doctrine of ſalvation, in a form of words deviſed and ſtudied by himſelf: is not able ſo to dictate and compoſe a Pſalm to be ſung by the people each ſeveral occaſion, no, though he ſhould meditate and ſtudy hard for it: Poetry is not every good Scholars faculty; nor the penning of holy Pſalms the skill of every good Miniſter: nor is it required that it ſhould. For ſeeing the Holy Ghoſt hath already dictated and compoſed to our hands divers forms of Pſalms for all occaſions, it would be ſuperfluous for Miniſters to take up their meditations and ſtudies, about the inventing other forms, though they had gifts fit for it: and therefore if ſuch as have the skill to pen Pſalms, do nevertheleſs ſing the forms of Pſalms ſet and compoſed by David, and other Prophets: as they cannot be ſaid, therein to make uſe of the inventions of men, but of Gods inſtitutions; ſo neither can they be ſaid to ſin upon the other reſpect, which you mention, becauſe they uſe an help to them not neceſſary; whereas others that want their skill, do lawfully uſe Davids Pſalms, becauſe ſuch an help to them, is not arbitrary, but neceſſary: no, no, we do not approve of that diſtinction between arbitrary and neceſſary, in that ſenſe, to that purpoſe; in that ſenſe I ſay, for I here ſee you work upon an equivocation in this word neceſſary; For there is a double neceſſity ſpoken of in this caſe: a ſet form of worſhip may be ſaid to be neceſſary, either through ſinfull defects in men, who ſhould be able, but are not, to conceive a form of worſhip of themſelves, or elſe through the nature and condition of the worſhip it ſelfe, which cannot be performed, but in a ſet form, whatſoever the gifts of men be; in this latter ſenſe, not in the former, is the ſinging of Pſalms in a ſet form neceſſary; for unleſſe a Pſalm be expreſſed in a ſet form of words, and ſo ſet before the people, all the people cannot joyn in voyce (as well as heart) ſinging and praiſing God together in the ſame words; we admit of no neceſſity of any ſet forms of prayer (or other worſhip) in the former ſenſe: as concerning ſuch men unfit to be Miniſters of the Goſpel as want gifts to conceive a prayer according to the preſent occaſion; but a ſet form of Pſalms we allow as neceſſary in the latter ſenſe, as neceſſary (by conſequence) from divine inſtitution; for if ſinging of Pſalms be as it is of divine inſtitution: and if Pſalms be a kind of ſpiritual Poetry, and therefore to be put into verſe; If it be alſo of divine inſtitution; that all the people ſhould joyn as well in voyce, as in heart, in ſinging of Pſalms; and that in a language known, and underſtood by themſelves; then it will be requiſite and neceſſary by divine inſtitutions (for he that inſtituteth the end, inſtituteth the neceſſary means that leadeth to the end) that in our Engliſh Churches the Pſalms be tranſlated into Engliſh verſe, or metre; and received of the Churches in a ſet form; that ſo all the people may joyn with one voyce and heart to praiſe the Lord together in the ſame words, but there is not the like neceſſity of a ſet form of words in prayer: For in prayer (as hath been ſaid) there is no more required of the people then when they hear the words of the Miniſter, to go along with him in heart; and in the end of the prayer to anſwer with one accord in voyce, Amen. And ſo whatſoever is required of the people by divine inſtitution for joyning in prayer is fully attained, without a ſet form of words in prayer, which cannot be attained in ſinging without a ſet form of words in Pſalms.
Diſc. It is ſaid of prayer, Chriſt hath given gifts to his Miniſters for preaching and praying, hath he not for the ſinging of Pſalms alſo? If it be a diſhonour to Chriſt (as ſome affirme) that they ſhould uſe a form of prayer deviſed by others; Is it not a diſhonour likewiſe, if they ſhall uſe a form of ſinging deviſed by others?
Anſw. It hath been anſwered above, that though God hath given gifts to his Miniſters for preaching and praying; yet he hath not given to many the gift of inditing Pſalms alſo; and yet neither is it any diſhonour to Chriſt, nor ſinfull defect in his Miniſters that he hath not ſo furniſhed them, ſeeing he himſelf hath ſufficiently furniſhed them with all ſet forms of Pſalms by the Miniſtry of his Prophets, divinely inſpired for the ſervice of the Church: and it is no diſhonour to Chriſt or his Miniſters that they ſhould take up forms of words deviſed by him for his own worſhip.
Diſc. If there be any ſuch neceſſity (of a ſet form of Pſalmes) as is pretended, becauſe ſome Miniſters are not enabled of themſelves to furniſh the neceſſities of the Church: It ſhould rather exempt them from the practiſe of ſinging Pſalms, then give liberty to a deviſed form; for it is a rule in divinity, that againſt a general negative precept no particular affirmative can be lawfull, unleſſe that particular be warranted in Scripture, &c. But againſt this ſuppoſed generall negative precept, forbidding all deviſed helps, and furtherances in Gods worſhip, there is no particular warrant alowing it in ſinging of Pſalmes.
Anſw. It is not a ſuppoſed, but a reall negative precept that generally forbiddeth all deviſed helps and furtherances in Gods worſhip, meaning helps and furtherances deviſed by men without warrant from the word: For this is indeed the proper true meaning of the ſecond Commandement, as hath been ſhewed above: but we deny that ſet forms of Pſalms recorded in Scripture as helps and furtherances deviſed by men, but given by the Holy Ghoſt; and though the tranſlation of the Pſalms both in Engliſh and in verſe, be by men, yet not without warrant from the Holy Ghoſt, who hath commanded that the Word of God ſhould dwell in us plenteouſly, teaching and admoniſhing one another in Pſalms and Hymnes, and ſpiritual Songs, Coloſſ. 3.16. who hath alſo commanded that we ſhould ſing with underſtanding, 1 Cor. 14.15. which the people could not do to their own underſtanding, or the underſtanding of their brethren, if the Pſalms were not tranſlated into their own mother tongue; and when the tranſlation doth fitly expreſſe the ſenſe of the originall Pſalms: we have warrant alſo to make uſe of the tranſlation, though compiled by ordinary men, as we ſee the Apoſtles did many times make uſe of the tranſlation of the Septuagints, provided the tranſlation be not impoſed upon us, as that was not upon and that liberty be ſtill left to correct or reform whatſoever ſhall be found in the tranſlation to ſwerve from the true meaning and juſt weight of the originall Scripture; beſides, it hath been ſhewed above, (in opening the meaning of the ſecond Commandement) that though the negative precept forbid all helps and means of Gods worſhip deviſed by men without warrant from the word: yet not the help of Tongues and Art, which not the wit and will of man, but the wiſdom of God hath provided as neceſſary helps for the furtherance of ſundry parts of Gods worſhip.
The Scriptures cannot be tranſlated into our Mother Tongue, without the help of Grammer, nor the Pſalms into verſe and metre without the help of Poetry, nor ſung without the help of Muſick (naturall Muſick at the leaſt) and therefore theſe kinds of helps we make uſe of, as not being means of worſhip deviſed, or ſuggeſted by the wit or will of man, but as they are indeed prepared and ordained (according to the light of nature) by God: And ſo not falling under the generall negative precept which forbiddeth all humane Inventions, and Injunctions in the worſhip of God.
Diſc. Now whether the pretended neceſſity of a ſet form, ſhould exempt from the generall negative precept, forbidding deviſed formes, or from the affirmative precept of ſinging Pſalmes let them judge who put the Exception.
Anſw. We doubt not to judge it ſafe to obey the affirmative precept of ſinging Pſalms, in a ſet form of words though tranſlated into Engliſh, and into verſe by men, becauſe ſet Pſalms are ordained of God, and their tranſlation into Engliſh verſe is neceſſarily implyed and warranted by God himſelf: And yet nevertheleſſe we do not pretend any neceſſity to exempt any ſuch ſet form from the generall negative precept which falleth under the prohibition of it; for theſe the negative precept did never intend to prohibit: You need not therefore to wonder (as you do in the following words) why ſuch a neceſſity (as hath been opened) of a ſet deviſed form of ſinging ſhould excuſe a ſet form of Pſalms, and yet not excuſe a ſet form of prayer, but rather excuſe the people from joyning in it.
Anſw. Becauſe there is no neceſſity at all of a deviſed ſet form of prayer unleſs it be through the ſinfull defect of the Miniſters gifts in Prayer, which is ſuch a neceſſity, as God abhorreth both it and the Miniſter for it; But the neceſſity of a set form of Pſalms is ſuch which God himſelf hath put, for the Celebration of that ſervice with one accord, both in heart and voyce, as hath been ſhewed, and therefore you might well have forborn that confident expreſſion.
Diſc. If Chriſtians ſhall not exempt themſelves from the ſtinted Prayers uſed in the Congregation, untill a materiall difference be ſhewed in theſe particulars, and that diſtinction of Arbitrary, and neceſſary, deviſed forms be approved by ſolid Reaſons, and holy Scriptures, the world ſhall end (I am confident) before they ſhall ſeparate.
For you ſee a materiall difference in theſe particulars, between the neceſſity of a ſet form of Pſalms, and the neceſſity of a ſet forme of Prayer. The neceſſity of the one is from Gods Ordinance, and therefore warrantable: The neceſſity of the other is from mans Ignorance, and ſuch ignorance as maketh him unfit for the Miniſteriall Office, and therefore ſinfull.
As for the diſtinction of Arbitrary and neceſſary deviſed forms in your ſence, we neither uſe it nor approve it: And therefore have no cauſe to bring either holy Scriptures or ſolid Reaſons for the proof of it: But in that ſence wherein we uſe it, the diſtinction is ſo manifeſt from what we have ſaid already, that we think your ſelf will require no further proof of it.