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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30409 ***
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+   This essay was included at the end of the first printing of
+   Isaac Watts (1707) "Hymns and Spiritual Songs" but was omitted
+   from the 1818 reprint from which the Project Gutenberg edition
+   of that work (e-book #13341, http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/13341)
+   was transcribed.
+
+   The original 1707 page numbers are retained within curly brackets.
+
+   The spelling and punctuation of the 1707 printing are also
+   retained; so are any inconsistencies and errors (e.g. "Excercise"
+   on p. 265) except that a mistake at the bottom of page 246, as
+   noted in the publisher's concluding "Errata," has been corrected.
+
+   The long 's' has been replaced by its modern equivalent.
+
+   Words broken off and hyphenated at the ends of lines have been
+   joined up and the hyphens deleted.
+
+   Italics in the original are indicated by underscores around the
+   text. Watts uses italics for proper nouns and quotations; when
+   proper nouns occur within quotations their italics are removed.
+
+   Greek letters have been transliterated (e.g. _Psalmos_).
+
+
+
+
+
+A Short Essay Toward the Improvement of Psalmody:
+
+Or, An Enquiry how the Psalms of _David_ ought to be translated into
+Christian Songs, and how lawful and necessary it is to compose other
+Hymns according to the clearer Revelations of the Gospel, for the Use of
+the Christian Church.
+
+by
+
+Isaac Watts
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+{233} A Short Essay Toward the Improvement of Psalmody: Or, An Enquiry
+how the Psalms of _David_ ought to be translated into Christian Songs,
+and how lawful and necessary it is to compose other Hymns according to
+the clearer Revelations of the Gospel, for the Use of the Christian
+Church.
+
+To speak the Glories of God in a religious Song, or to breath out the
+Joys of our own Spirits to God with the Melody of our Voice is an
+exalted Part of Divine Worship. But so many are the Imperfections in
+the Practice of this Duty, that the greatest Part of Christians find
+but little Edification or Comfort in it. There are some Churches that
+utterly disallow Singing; and I'm perswaded, that the poor Performance
+of it in the best Societies, {234} with the mistaken Rules to which it
+is confined is one great Reason of their intire Neglect; for we are
+left at a loss (say they) what is the Matter and Manner of this Duty;
+and therefore they utterly refuse: Whereas if this glorious Piece of
+Worship were but seen in its Original Beauty, and one that _believes_
+not this Ordinance, or is _unlearned_ in this Part of Christianity
+should _come into_ such _an Assembly, he would be convinced of all; he
+would be judged of all, he would fall down on his Face, and report that
+God was in the Midst of it of a Truth_; 1 Cor. 14. 24, 25.
+
+In order to trace out the Matter or Subject of religious Singing, let
+us collect into one View the chief Texts of the New Testament where
+this Worship is mention'd, and afterwards see what Arguments may be
+deduced from thence, to prove, that 'tis proper to use Spiritual Songs
+of humane Composure, as well as the Psalms of _David_ or the Words of
+other Songs recorded in Scripture.
+
+The most considerable Texts are these; _Mat._ 26. 30. & _Mark_ 14. 26.
+relate, that our blessed Lord and his Disciples _sung an Hymn_. Acts
+16. 25. _Paul and Silas prayed and sung Praises unto God._ 1 Cor. 14.
+15. _I will sing with the Spirit, and I will sing with the
+Understanding also._ Ver. 26. _Every one of you hath a Psalm._ Eph._ 5.
+19, 20. _Speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns, and Spiritual
+Songs; singing and making Melody in your Hearts to the Lord, giving
+Thanks always for all things to God and the Father, in the Name of
+{235} our Lord Jesus Christ_.  Col 3. 16, 17.  _Let the Word of Christ
+dwell in you richly, in all Wisdom teaching and admonishing one another
+in Psalms and Hymns, and Spiritual Songs; singing with Grace in your
+Hearts to the Lord: And whatsoever ye do in Word or in Deed, do all in
+the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving Thanks to God and the Father by
+him._ Jam. 5.  13. _Is any among you afflicted, let him pray: Is any
+merry, let him sing Psalms_. Rev. 5. 9. _And they sing a new Song,
+saying, Thou art worthy to take the Book and to open the Seals thereof,
+for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood_. Rev. 14.
+3. _And they sung as it were a new Song before the Throne_. Rev. 15. 3.
+_And they sing the Song of Moses, the Servant of God, and the Song of
+the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy Works_, &c. To all these
+I might add Acts 4. 24, &c. Where it is suppos'd the Disciples met
+together and sung; for _they lift up their Voice to God with one
+accord, and said, Lord! thou art our God, which hast made Heaven and
+Earth, and the Sea, and all that in them is: Who by the Mouth of thy
+Servant David hast said, Why did the Heathen rage, and the People
+imagine a vain thing. The Kings of the Earth stood up, and the Rulers
+were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of
+a Truth, against thy holy Child Jesus whom thou hast anointed, both
+Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the People of Israel,
+were gathered together for to do whatsoever thy Hand and thy Counsel
+determined before to be done, &c.
+
+{236} If we turn over the New Testament, and search out all the Songs
+that are there written, we shall find the Matter or Subject of them as
+various as the Occasions upon which they were sung or spoken: Such
+are the Song of the Virgin _Mary_, Luke 1. 46, &C. They Song of
+_Zecharias_, ver. 67. The Song of the Angels, _Luke_ 2. 13. And of
+_Simeon_, ver. 29. Besides many others in the Book of the _Revelations.
+The three chief Words used to express the Matter of Singing, are
+_Psalmoi, _Humnoi kai Odai_: _Psalms, Hymns and Songs_, as the three
+Verbs from which these are derived are generally used to express the
+Act of Singing, _psallo, humneo, i ado_. Now if it were lawful after so
+many learned Contentions about these Words, I would give my Sense of
+them thus:
+
+1. I think no Man hath better explain'd the original Meaning of these
+Words than _Zanchy_. A Psalm, _Psalmos_, is such a Song as usually is
+sung with other Instruments besides the Tongue. Hymns, _Humnoi_, such
+as are made only to express the Praises, and set out the Excellencies
+of God. Songs, _Odai_, such as contain not only Praises, but
+Exhortations, Prophesies, Thanksgivings; and these only sung with the
+Voice.
+
+2. The Scripture doth not always confine it self to the original
+Meaning of all these Words; for _Psalmos_ a Psalm, and the Word
+_psallo_, are used, 1 Cor. 14. and in other Places of the New
+Testament, where we can never suppose the primitive Church in those
+Days {237} had Instruments of Music. And the Word _Ode_ a Song, is used
+several times in the Book of _Revelations_, where Harps are join'd with
+Voices in the Emblematical Prophesy.
+
+3. The Sense therefore of these Words in the New Testament seems to be
+thus distinguish'd. A Psalm is a general Name for any thing that is
+sung in Divine Worship, whatsoever be the particular Theme or Matter;
+and the Verb _psallo_ is design'd to express the Melody it self rather
+than to distinguish the Matter of the Song, or Manner whereby the
+Melody or Music is performed; and therefore in Eph. 5. 19. our
+Translators have well rendred _adontes kai psallontes_, _Singing and
+making Melody_; and it should be thus rendred, Jam. 5. 13.  _Is any
+merry, let him make Melody_. I confess in the New Testament the Noun
+_Psalmos_ refers generally to the Book of Psalms, and without Doubt
+there are many of the Palms of _David_ and _Asaph_, and other Songs
+among the Books of the Old Testament which may be prudently chosen and
+sung by Christians, and may be well accomodated to the Lips and Hearts
+of the Church under the Gospel. Yet this Word is once used in another
+Sense, as I shall show afterwards.
+
+An Hymn, whether imply'd in the Verb _humneo_, or exprest in the Noun
+_Humnos_, doth always retain its original Signification, and intend a
+Song whose Matter or Design is Praise: Nor is there any thing in the
+Nature or Use of the Word either in Scripture or other {238} Authors,
+that determines it to signify an immediate Inspiration, or humane
+Composure.
+
+A Song, _Ode_, denotes any Theme or Subject compos'd into a Form fit
+for Singing, and seems to intend somewhat suited to the Gospel-State,
+rather than any Jewish Psalms or Songs in all the five Verses in the
+New Testament where it is used.
+
+Eph. 5. 19. & Col. 3. 16. 'Tis join'd with the word _Spiritual_; and
+that seems to be used by the Apostle in all his Epistles, as a very
+distinguishing Word between the Law and Gospel, the Jewish and the
+Christian Worship. The Jews had _carnal Ordinances_, and _carnal
+Commandments_, and their State and Dispensation is often called
+_Flesh_, but the Church under the Gospel is a _spiritual House, blessed
+with spiritual Blessings_, endow'd _with spiritual Gifts_, to _worship
+God in Spirit and in Truth_, to _offer spiritual Sacrifices_, and to
+_sing spiritual Songs_.
+
+Col. 3. 16. Confirms this Sense, for _the Word of Christ_ must _dwell
+richly in us in Psalms and Hymns, and spiritual Songs_. Now tho the
+Books of the Old Testament may in some Sense be called the _Word of
+Christ_, because the same Spirit which was afterwards given to _Christ_
+the Mediator did inspire them; yet this seems to have a peculiar
+reference to the Doctrine and Discoveries of _Christ_ under the Gospel,
+which might be compos'd into spiritual Songs for the greater Ease of
+Memory in learning, teaching and admonishing one another.
+
+{239} Rev. 5. 9. & 14. 3.  There is mention of a _New Song_, and that
+is pure Evangelical Language, suited to the _New Testament_, the _New
+Covenant_, the _new and living Way_-.of Access to God, and to the _new
+Commandment_ of him who sits _upon the Throne_, and _behold_, he _makes
+all things new_. The words of this Song are, _Worthy is the Lamb, for
+thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood, &c. and none
+could learn it but those who follow the Lamb, who were redeemed from
+among Men, &c._ And it must be noted here, that this Book of the
+_Revelations_ describes the Worship of the Gospel-Church on Earth, as
+is agreed by all Interpreters, tho it borrows some of its Emblems from
+the Things of Heaven, and some from the Jewish State. I might here
+remark also, that when a _new Song_ is mention'd in the Old Testament,
+it refers to the Times of the _Messiah_, and is prophetical of the
+Kingdom of _Christ_, or at least it is a Song indited upon a new
+Occasion publick or personal, and the Words of it are accomodated to
+some new Tokens of Divine Mercy.
+
+Rev. 15. 3. _They sing the Song of Moses, the Servant of God, and the
+Song of the Lamb_; that is, a Song for temporal and for spiritual
+Deliverances; or, a Song for all antient or all later Salvations of the
+Church. As Moses was a Redeemer from the House of Bondage, and a
+Teacher of Divine Worship with Harps and Ceremonies; so the Lamb is a
+Redeemer from _Babylon_ and spiritual Slavery, and he {240} is the
+great Prophet to teach his Church the spiritual Worship of the Gospel.
+The Church now, under the Salvations and Instructions of the Lamb,
+sings with the Voice to the Glory of the Vengeance and the Grace of
+God, as _Israel_  under the Conduct of _Moses_ sung with Harps; for we
+must observe, that these Visions of the Apostle _John_ often represent
+Divine Things in a Gospel-Church, in Imitation of the Ranks and Orders
+of the _Jewish_ Camp and Tribes, and by the Rites and Figures used in
+the time of _Moses_; and it would be as unreasonable to prove from this
+Text, that we must sing the very words of the _15th of Exodus_ in a
+Christian Church, as to prove from this Book of the _Revelations_ that
+we must use Harps and Altars, Censers, Fire and Incense. But 'tis plain
+that the _15th of Exodus_ cannot be here intended, because the Words of
+the Song are mention'd just after, (viz.) _Great, and marvellous are
+thy Works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy Ways, thou King of
+Saints_. Yet after all, if it could be proved, that the very Song which
+_Moses_ sung is here design'd, still it must be confest that the Song
+of the Lamb is also to be sung; and if the following Words in this Text
+are not to be esteem'd the Song of _Moses_, then neither are they to be
+esteem'd the Song of the Lamb; because there is not any express mention
+of the Lamb, or his Death, or Resurrection, or Redemption; nor is there
+any other Song in Scripture that bears that title and consequently
+it must signifie a Song compos'd {241} to the praise of God for
+our deliverance by the Lamb, in imitation of the Joy composed for
+deliverance by the Hand of _Moses_: And thus at least we are to suit
+part of our Psalmody to the Gospel-State as well as borrow part from
+the Old Testament, which is the chief point I designed to prove.
+
+The next Enquiry then proceeds thus: How must the Psalms of _David_ and
+other Songs borrowed from Scripture, be translated in order to be sung
+in Christian Worship? Surely, it will be granted, that to prepare them
+for Psalmody under the Gospel, requires another sort of Management in
+the Translation, than to prepare them merely for Reading as the _Word
+of God_ in our Language, and that upon these two accounts:
+
+_First_, If it be the duty of the Churches to sing Psalms, they must
+necessarily be turned into such a sort of Verse and Metre as will best
+fit them for the whole Church to join in the Worship: Now this will be
+very different from a Translation of the original Language word for
+word; for the Lines must be confined to a certain number of Syllables,
+and the Stanza or Verse to a certain number of Lines, that so the Tune
+being short the people may be acquainted with it, and be ready to sing
+without much difficulty; whereas if the Words were merely translated
+out of the _Hebrew_ as they are for reading, every Psalm must be set
+through to music, and every Syllable in it must have a particular
+musical Note belonging to itself, as in Anthems {242} that are sung in
+Cathedrals: But this would be so exceeding difficult to practise, that
+it would utterly exclude the greatest part of every Congregation from a
+Capacity of obeying God's Command to sing. Now, in reducing a _Hebrew_
+or a _Greek_ Song to a Form tolerably fit to be sung by an _English_
+Congregation, here and there a Word of the Original must be omitted,
+now and then a Word or two superadded, and frequently a Sentence or an
+Expression a little alter'd and chang'd into another that is something
+a-kin to it: And yet greater Alterations must the Psalm suffer if we
+will have any thing to do with Rhime; those that have labour'd with
+utmost Toil to keep very close to the Hebrew have found it impossible;
+and when they have attain'd it most, have made but very poor Music for
+a Christian Church. For it will often happen, that one of the most
+affectionate and most Spiritual Words in the Prose will not submit to
+its due Place in the Metre, or does not end with a proper Sound, and
+then it must be secluded, and another of less proper Sense be put in
+the Room of it: Hereby some of the chief Beauties and Excellencies of
+_David_'s Poetry will be omitted and lost, which if not reviv'd again,
+or recompenc'd by some lively or pathetic Expression in the _English_,
+will necessarily debase the Divine Song into Dullness and Contempt: And
+hereby also it becomes so far different from the inspired Words in the
+Original Languages, that it is very hard for any Man to say, {243} that
+the Version of _Hopkins_ and _Sternhold_, the _New-England_ or the
+_Scots_ Psalms, are in a strict Sense the Word of God. Those Persons
+therefore that will allow nothing to be sung but the words of
+inspiration or Scripture ought to learn the Hebrew Music, and sing in
+the Jewish Language; or at least I can find no Congregation with which
+they can heartily join according to their own Principles, but the
+Congregation of _Choristers_ in Cathedral Churches, who are the only
+_Levites_ that _sing Praise unto the Lord with the Words of_ David
+_and_ Asaph _the Seer_, 2 Chron. 29. 30.
+
+_Secondly_, Another Reason why the Psalms ought not to be translated
+for Singing just in the same manner as they are for Reading, is this,
+that the Design of these two Duties is very different: By Reading we
+learn what God speaks to us in his Word; but when we sing, especially
+unto God, our chief Design is, or should be, to speak our own Hearts
+and our Words to God. By Reading we are instructed what have been the
+Dealings of God with Men in all Ages, and how their Hearts have been
+exercis'd in their Wandrings from God, and Temptations, or in their
+Returns and Breathings towards God again; but Songs are generally
+Expressions of our own Experiences, or of his Glories; we acquaint him
+what Sense we have of his Greatness and Goodness, and that chiefly in
+those Instances which have some Relation to us: We breath out our Souls
+towards him, and make {244} Addresses of Praise and Acknowledgment to
+him. Tho I will not assert it unlawful to sing to God the Words of
+other Men which we have no Concern in, and which, are very contrary to
+our Circumstances and the Frame of our Spirits; yet it must be confest
+abundantly more proper, when we address God in a Song, to use such
+Words as we can for the most part assume as our own: I own that 'tis
+not always necessary our Songs should be direct Addresses to God; some
+of them may be mere Meditations of the History of Divine Providences,
+or the Experiences of former Saints; but even then, if those
+Providences or Experiences cannot be assum'd by us as parallel to our
+own, nor spoken in our own Names; yet still there ought to be some
+Turns of Expression that may make it look at least like our own present
+Meditation, and that may represent it as a History which we our selves
+are at that time recollecting. I know not one Instance in Scripture, of
+any later Saint singing any part of a Composure of former Ages, that is
+not proper for his own Time, without force Expressions that tend to
+accommodate or apply it. But there are a multitude of Examples amongst
+all the Scriptural Songs, that introduce the Affairs of preceding Ages
+in the Method I have described. Psal. 44. 1, &c. When _David_ is
+recounting the Wonders of God in planting the Children of _Israel_ in
+the Land of _Canaan_, he begins his Song thus, _We have heard with our
+Ears O God, our Fathers have told us {245} what Works thou didst in
+their Days, in times of old, how thou didst drive Out the Heathen with
+thy Hand, and plantedst them, how thou didst afflict The People, and
+cast them out._ Psal. 78. 2, &c. _I will open my Mouth in a Parable, I
+will utter dark Sayings of old which we have heard and known, and our
+Fathers have told us, we will not hide them from their Children,
+shewing to the Generation to come the Praises of the_ Lord. So he
+relates the Converse and Covenant of God with _Abraham_, _Isaac_ and
+_Israel_, as a Narration of former Providences and Experiences, Psal.
+105. 8, 9, 10, &c. So in the Virgin _Mary_'s Song, and the Song of
+_Zecharia_. And I know not any thing can be objected here, but that a
+Prophet perhaps in some instances may assume the Words of _Christ_ or
+the Saints in following Ages; but it should be observed that this is
+almost always in such Respects wherein Persons or Circumstances present
+were typical of what is future, and so their Cases become parallel.
+
+By these Considerations we are easily led into the true Method of
+translating ancient Songs into Christian Worship. Psalms that are
+purely Doctrinal, or meerly Historical, are Subjects for our
+Meditation, and may be translated for our present Use with no
+Variation, if it were possible; and in general, all those Songs of
+Scripture which the Saints of following Ages may assume for their own:
+Such are the 1st, the 8th, the 19th, and many others. Some Psalms may
+be apply'd to our Use by the Alteration of a Pronoun, putting {246}
+_They_ in the place of We, and changing some Expressions which are not
+suited to our Case into a Narration or Rehearsal of God's Dealings with
+others: There are other Divine Songs which cannot properly be
+accommodated to our Use, and much less be assum'd as our own without
+very great Alterations, (_viz_.) such as are filled with some very
+particular Troubles or Enemies of a Person, some Places of Journeying
+or Residence, some uncommon Circumstances of a Society, to which there
+is scarce any thing parallel in our Day or Case: Such are many of the
+Songs of _David_, whose Persecutions and Deliverances were very
+extraordinary: Again, such as express the Worship paid unto God by
+carnal Ordinances and Utensils of the Tabernacle and Temple. Now if
+these be converted into Christian Songs in our Nation, I think the
+Names of _Ammon_ and _Moab_ may be as properly chang'd into the Names
+of the chief Enemies of the Gospel, so far as may be without publick
+Offence: _Judah_ and _Israel_ may be called _England_ and _Scotland_,
+and the Land of _Canaan_ may be translated into _Great Britain_; The
+cloudy and typical Expressions of the legal Dispensation should be
+turned into Evangelical Language, according to the Explications of the
+New Testament: And when a Christian Psalmist, among the Characters of a
+Saint, Psal. 15. 5. meets with the Man that _puts not out his Money to
+Usury_, he ought to exchange _one that is no Oppressor_ for an
+Oppressor or Extortioner, since Usury {247} is not utterly forbidden to
+Christians, as it was by the Jewish Law; and wheresoever he finds the
+Person or Offices of our Lord _Jesus Christ_ in Prophecy, they ought
+rather to be translated in a way of History, and those Evangelical
+Truths should be stript of their Vail of Darkness, and drest in such
+Expressions that Christ may appear in 'em to all that sing. When he
+comes to Psal. 40. 6. and reads there Words, _Mine Ears hast thou
+opened_, he should learn from the Apostle to say, _A Body hast thou
+prepared for me_, Heb. 10. 5. Instead of _binding the Sacrifice with
+Cords to the Horns of the Altar_, Psal. 118. 27. we should _offer up
+Spiritual Sacrifices_ (that is the Prayer and Praise of the Heart and
+Tongue) _acceptable to God by Jesus Christ_, 1 Pet. 2. 5. Where there
+are any dark Expressions, and difficult to be understood in the Hebrew
+Songs, these should be left out in our Psalmody, or at least made very
+plain by a Paraphrase. Where there are Sentences, or whole Psalms, that
+can very difficultly be accommodated to our Times, they may be utterly
+omitted. Such is Psal. 150. part of the 38, 45, 60, 68, 81, 108. and
+some others, as well as a great part of the Song of _Solomon_.
+
+Perhaps 'twill be objected here, that the Book of Psalms would hereby
+be rendred very imperfect, and some weak Persons might imagine this
+Attempt to fall under the Censure of Rev. 22. 18, 19. that is, of
+_taking away from, or adding to the Words of the Book {248} of God_.
+But 'tis not difficult to reply that though the whole Book: of Psalms
+was given to be read by us as God's Word for our Use and Instruction,
+yet it will never follow from thence that the whole was written as a
+Psalter for the Christian Church to use in Singing. For if this were
+the Design of it, then every Psalm, and every Line of it might be at
+one time or another proper to be sung by Christians: But there are many
+hundred Verses in that Book which a Christian cannot properly assume in
+singing without a considerable Alteration of the Words, or at least
+without putting a very different Meaning upon them, from what _David_
+had when he wrote them; and therefore there is no necessity of
+translating always intire Psalms, nor of preparing the whole Book for
+_English_ Psalmody. I might here add also Dr. _Patrick_'s Apology in
+his Century of Psalms first publish'd, that he took but the same
+Liberty which is allow'd to every Parish-Clerk, to chuse what Psalm and
+what Verses of it he would propose to the People to sing.
+
+Give me leave here to mention several Passages which were hardly made
+for Christian Lips to assume without some Alteration: Psal. 68. 13, 14,
+15, 16. _Tho ye have lain among the Pots, yet shall ye be as the Wings
+of a Dove cover'd with Silver, and her Feathers with yellow Gold: When
+the Almighty scatter'd Kings in it, it was white as Snow in_ Salmon.
+_The Hill of God is as the Hill of Bashan, &c. Why leap ye, ye Hills,
+&c; ver. 25. {249} The Singers went before, the Players on Instruments
+followed after, amongst them were the Damsels playing with Timbrels:
+Bless ye God in the Congregation, even the Lord from the Fountain of_
+Israel: _There is little_ Benjamin _with their Ruler, the Princes of_
+Judah _and their Council, the Princes of_ Zebulun, _and the Princes of_
+Naphtali. _Because of thy Temple at_ Jerusalem _Kings shall bring
+Presents unto thee. Rebuke the Company of Spearmen, the Multitude of
+Bulls, with the Calves of the People, till every one submit himself
+with Pieces of Silver._ Psal. 71. 2, 3, &c. _Take a Psalm, and bring
+hither the Timbrel, the pleasant Harp with the Psaltery, blow up the
+Trumpet in the New Moon, in the Time appointed on our solemn Feast-Day,
+&c._ Psal. 84. 3, 6. _The Sparrow hath found an House, and the Swallow
+a Nest for her self, where she may lay her Young, even thine Altars, O
+Lord of Hosts, &c. Blessed is the Man whose Strength is in thee, in
+whose Heart are the Ways of them, who passing thro the Valley of_ Bacha
+_make it a Well, the Rain also filleth the Pools._ Psal: 108. 2, 7, 8,
+9. _Awake Psaltery and Harp, I my self will awake early. God hath
+spoken in his Holiness; I will rejoyce, I will divide_ Shechem_, and
+mete out the Vally of_ Succoth; Gilead _is mine,_ Manasseh _is mine,_
+Ephraim _also is the Strength of mine Head,_ Judah _is my Lawgiver,_
+Moab _is my Washpot, over_ Edom _will I cast out my Shoe, over_
+Philistia _will I triumph; Who will bring me into the strong City, who
+will lead me into_ Edom _Psal. 69, 8 & 109._ are so full of Cursings
+{250} that they hardly become the Tongue of a Follower of the blessed
+_Jesus_, who dying pray'd for his own Enemies; _Father forgive them,
+for they know not what they do._ Psal. 134. is suited to the Temple or
+Tabernacle-Worship; the Title is, _A Song of Degrees_, that is, as
+Interpreters believe, to be sung as the Kings of _Israel_ went up by
+Steps or Degrees to the House of God; In the _two first Verses_ the
+King calls upon the Levites, _which by Night stand in the House of the
+Lord, to lift up their Hands in the Sanctuary, and to bless the Lord_;
+the _3d Verse_ is an Antiphona or Reply of the Levites to the King;
+_the Lord that made Heaven and Earth bless thee out of_ Zion. 'Twould
+be endless to give an Account of all the Paragraphs of ancient Songs,
+which can scarce ever be accommodated to Gospel-Worship.
+
+The Patrons of another Opinion will say we must sing the Words of
+_David_, and apply them in our Meditation to the things of the New
+Testament: But can we believe this to be the best Method of worshiping
+God, to sing one thing and mean another? besides that the very literal
+Sense of many of many of these Expressions is exceeding deep and
+difficult, and not one in twenty of a religious Assembly can possibly
+understand them at this Distance from the Jewish Days; therefore to
+keep close to the Language of _David_, we must break the Commands
+of God by _David_, who requires that we _sing his Praises with
+Understanding_, Psal. 47.7. And I am {251} perswaded, that St. _Paul_
+if he lived in our Age and Nation, would no more advise us to sing
+unintelligible Sentences in _London_, than himself would sing in an
+unknown Tongue at _Corinth_, 1 Cor. 14. 15, 19. After all, if the
+literal Sense were known, yet the Application of many Verses of _David_
+to our State and Circumstances was never design'd, and is utterly
+impossible; and even where it is possible, yet 'tis so exceeding
+difficult that very few Persons in an Assembly are capable of it; and
+when they attempt it, if their Thoughts should be enquir'd one by one,
+you would find very various, wretched, and contradictory Meanings
+put upon the Words of the Hebrew Psalmist, and all for want of an
+Evangelical Translation of him. 'Tis very obvious and common to observe
+that Persons of Seriousness and Judgment that consider what they sing,
+are often forced to break off in the midst, to omit whole Lines and
+Verses, even where the best of our present Translations at used; and
+thus the Tune, and the Sense, and their Devotion is interrupted at
+once, because they dare not sing without understanding, and almost
+against their Consciences. Whereas the more unthinking Multitude go on
+singing in chearful Ignorance wheresoever the _Clerk_ guides them,
+a-cross the River _Jordan_, thro' the Land of _Gebal, Ammon_ and
+_Amalek; He leads 'em into the strong City, he brings them into_ Edom;
+Anon they follow him _thro' the Valley of_ Bacha, till they come
+up to _Jerusalem_; they wait upon him into {252} the Court of
+Burnt-Offerings, and _bind their Sacrifice with Cords to the Horns of
+the Altar_; they enter so far into the Temple, till they join their
+Song in Consort with the _high sounding Cymbals_, their Thoughts are
+be-darkened with the Smoke of Incense, and cover'd with _Jewish_ Veils.
+Such Expressions as these are the beauties and Perfections of a
+_Hebrew_ Song, they paint every thing to the Life: Such Language was
+suited by Infinite Wisdom to raise the Affections of the Saints of that
+Day: But I fear they do but sink our Devotion, and hurt our Worship.
+
+ I esteem the Book of _Psalms_ the most valuable Part of the Old
+Testament upon many Accounts: I advise the Reading and Meditation of it
+more frequently than any single Book of Scripture; and what I advise I
+practise. Nothing is more proper to furnish our Souls with devout
+Thoughts, and lead us into a World of Spiritual Experiences: The
+Expressions of it that are not _Jewish_ or peculiar, give us constant
+Assistance in Prayer and in Praise: But yet if we would prepare
+_David_'s Psalms to be sung by Christian Lips, we should, observe these
+two plain Rules.
+
+_First_, They ought to be translated its such a Manner as we have
+reason to believe _David_ would have compos'd 'em if he had lived in
+our Day: And therefore his Poems are given as a Pattern to be imitated
+in our Composures, rather than as the precise and invariable Matter of
+our Psalmody. 'Tis one of the Excellencies of Scripture-Songs, that
+they {253} are exactly suited to the very Purpose and Design for which
+they were written, and that both in the Matter, in the Stile, and in
+all their Ornaments: This gives Life and Strength to the Expression, it
+presents Objects to the Ears and to the Eyes, and touches the Heart in
+the most affecting Manner. _David_'s Language is adapted to his own
+Devotion, and to the Worship of the _Jewish_ Church; he mentions the
+very Places of his Journies, or Retirements, of his Sorrows, or his
+Successes; He names the Nations that were Enemies of the Church, or
+that shall be its Friends and tho for the most part he leaves the
+single Persons of his Time nameless in the Body of his Psalm, yet he
+describes them there with great Particularity, and often names them in
+the Title. This gives us abundant Ground to infer, that should the
+_Sweet-Singer of Israel_ return from the Dead into our Age, he would
+not sing the Words of his own Psalms without considerable Alteration;
+and were he now to transcribe them, he would make them speak the
+present Circumstances of the Church, and that in the Language of the
+New Testament: He would see frequent Occasion to insert the Cross of
+Christ in his Song, and often interline the Confessions of his Sins
+with the Blood of the Lamb; often would he describe the Glories and the
+Triumphs of our blessed Lord in long and flowing Verse, even as St.
+_Paul_, when he mentions the Name and Honours of Christ can hardly part
+his Lips from 'em again: {254} His Expressions would run ever bright
+and clear; such as here and there we find in a single Verse of his old
+Composures, when he is transported beyond himself, and carried far away
+from _Jewish_ Shadows by the Spirit of Prophecy and the Gospel. We have
+the more abundant Reason to believe this, if we observe, that all along
+the sacred History as the Revelations of God and his Grace were made
+plainer, so the Songs of the Saints express'd that Grace and those
+Revelations according to the Measure of their Clearness and Increase.
+Let us begin at the Song of _Moses_, Exod. 15. and proceed to _David_
+and _Solomon_, to the Song of the _Virgin Mary_, of _Zecharias_,
+_Simeon_, and the _Angels_, the _Hosanna_ of the young Children, the
+Praises paid to God by the Disciples in the _Acts_, the Doxologies of
+_Paul_, and the Songs of the Christian Church in the Book of the
+_Revelations_: Every Beam of new Light that broke into the World gave
+occasion of fresh joy to the Saints, and they were taught to sing of
+Salvation in all the Degrees of its advancing Glory.
+
+_Secondly_, In the Translation of _Jewish_ Songs for Gospel-Worship, if
+Scripture affords us any Example, we should be ready to follow it,
+and the Management thereof should be a Pattern for us. Now tho the
+Disciples and primitive Christians had so many and so vast Occasions
+for Praise, yet I know but two Pieces of Songs they borrow'd from the
+Book of Psalms. One is mention'd in _Luke_ 19.38.
+
+{255} Where the Disciples assume a Part of a Verse from the 118th
+Psalm, but sing it with Alterations and Additions to the Words of
+_David_.
+
+The other is the Beginning of the second Palm, sung by _Peter_ and
+_John_ and their Company, _Acts_ 4. 23, 24, &c. You find there an
+Addition of Praise in the Beginning, _Lord thou art God which hast made
+Heaven and Earth, and the Sea, and all that in them is_. Then there is
+a Narration of what _David_ spoke, _who by the Mouth of thy servant_
+David _hast said_, &c. Next follow the two first Verses of that Psalm,
+but not in the very Words of the Psalmist: Afterwards an Explication of
+the _Heathen_ and the _People_, (viz.) the _Gentiles_ and _Israel_: The
+_Kings_ and the _Rulers_, (viz.) _Herod_ and _Pontius Pilate_, and the
+_Holy Child Jesus_, is God's _anointed_. Then there is an Enlargement
+of the Matter of Fact by a Consideration of the Hand of God in it, and
+the Song concludes with the breathing of their Desires towards God for
+Mercies most precisely suited to their Day and Duty; and you find when
+they had sung, they went to Prayer in the Assembly, and then they
+preached the Word of God by the holy Ghost, and with amazing Success. O
+may I live to see Psalmody perform'd in these evangelick Beauties of
+Holiness! May these Ears of mine be entertain'd with such Devotion in
+Publick, such Prayer, such Preaching, and such Praise! May these Eyes
+behold such returning Glory in the Churches! Then my Soul shall be all
+Admiration, my Tongue {256} shall humbly attempt to mingle in the
+Worship, and assist the Harmony and the Joy.
+
+After we have found the true Method of translating _Jewish_ Songs for
+the Use of the _Christian_ Church, let us enquire also how lawful and
+necessary 'tis to compose Spiritual Songs of a more evangelic Frame for
+the Use of Divine Worship under the Gospel.
+
+The _First_ Argument I shall borrow from all the foregoing Discourse
+concerning the Translation of the Psalms of _David_: For by that
+time they are fitted for Christian Psalmody, and have all the
+Particularities of Circumstance that related to _David_'s Person, and
+Times alter'd and suited to our present Case; and the Language of
+_Judaism_ is chang'd into the Stile of the Gospel; the Form and
+Composure of the Psalm can hardly be called inspired or Divine: only
+the Materials or the Sense contain'd therein may in a large Sense be
+called the Word of God, as it is borrowed from that Word. Why then may
+it not be esteemed as lawful to take some Divine Sense and Materials
+agreeable to the Word of God, and suited to the present Case and
+Experience of Christians, and compose them into a Spiritual Song?
+Especially when we cannot find one ready pen'd in the Bible, whose
+Subject is near a-kin to our present Condition, or whose Form is
+adapted to our present Purpose.
+
+The _Second_ Argument shall be drawn from the several Ends and Designs
+of Singing, which can never be sufficiently attain'd by {257} confining
+ourselves to _David_'s Psalms, or the Words of any Songs in Scripture.
+The first and chief intent of this part of Worship, is to express unto
+God what Sense and Apprehensions we have of his Essential Glories; and
+what notice we take of his Works of Wisdom and Power, Vengeance and
+Mercy; 'tis to vent the inward Devotion of our Spirits in Words of
+Melody, to speak our own Experience of divine Things, especially our
+religious Joy; 'twould be tiresom to recount the endless Instances out
+of the Book of Psalms and other divine Songs, where this is made the
+chief Business of them. In the Texts of the New Testament where Singing
+is requir'd, the same Designs are propos'd; when the _Ephesians are
+filled with the Spirit_, the Enlightner and Comforter, they are charged
+to indulge those Divine Sensations, and let them break out into a
+_Spiritual Song_, Eph. 5.19. When _any is merry_ or chearful, the
+Apostle _James_ bids him express it by _Singing_. _Giving Thanks unto
+God_, is the Command of St. _Paul_ to the Saints while he injoins
+Psalmody on them; And speaking the Wonders of his Power, Justice and
+Grace, is the Practice of the Church constantly in the Visions of St.
+_John_. To _teach and admonish one another_, is mention'd by St. _Paul_
+as another Design of Singing; the Improvement of our Meditations, and
+the kindling Divine Affections Within our selves, is one of the
+Purposes also of religious Melody, if Eph. 5. 19. be rightly
+translated. Now, {258} how is it possible all these Ends should be
+attain'd by a Christian, if he confines his Meditations, his Joys, and
+his Praises, to the _Hebrew_ Book of Psalms? Have we nothing more of
+the Nature of God revealed to us than _David_ had? Is not the Mystery
+of the ever-blessed Trinity brought out of Darkness into open Light?
+Where can you find a Psalm that speaks the Miracles of Wisdom and Power
+as they are discover'd in a crucify'd _Christ_? And how do we rob God
+the Son of the Glory of his dying Love, if we speak of it only in the
+gloomy Language of _Smoke and Sacrifices, Bullocks and Goats, and
+the Fat of Lambs_? Is not the Ascent of _Christ_ into Heaven, and
+his Triumph over Principalities and Powers of Darkness a nobler
+Entertainment for our tuneful Meditations than the removing of the Ark
+up to the City of David, to the Hill of God, which is high as the Hill
+of Bashan? Is not our Heart often warm'd with holy Delight in the
+Contemplation of the Son of God our dear Redeemer whose Love was
+stronger than Death? Are not our Souls possess'd with a Variety of
+Divine Affections, when we behold him who is our chief Beloved hanging
+on the cursed Tree, with the Load of all our Sins upon him, and giving
+up his Soul to the Sword of Divine Justice in the stead of Rebels and
+Enemies? And must these Affections be confin'd only to our own Bosoms,
+or never break forth but in _Jewish_ Language, and Words which were not
+made to express the {259} Devotion of the Gospel? The Heaven and the
+Hell that we are acquainted with by the Discovery of God our Saviour,
+give us amore distinct Knowledge of the future and eternal State, than
+all the former Revelations of God to Men: Life and Immortality is
+brought to light by the Gospel; we are taught to look far into the
+invisible World, and take a Prospect of the last awful Scene of Things:
+We see the Graves opening, and the Dead arising at the Voice of the
+Archangel, and the Sounding of the Trump of God; We behold the judge on
+his Tribunal, and we hear the dreadful and the delightful Sentences of
+Decision that shall pass on all the Sons and Daughters of _Adam_; we
+are assur'd, that the Saints shall _arise to meet the Lord in the Air,
+and so shall we be for ever with the Lord_: The Apostle bids us,
+_Exhort or comfort one another with these Words_, 1 Thess. 4. 17, 18.
+Now when the same Apostle requires that the _Word of Christ must dwell
+richly in us in all Wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in
+Psalms and spiritual Songs_; can we think he restrains us only to the
+Psalms of _David_, which speak very little of all these Glories or
+Terrors, and that in very obscure Terms and dark Hints of Prophecy? Or
+shall it be suppos'd, that we must admonish one another of the old
+_Jewish_ Affairs and Ceremonies in Verse, and make Melody with those
+_weak and beggarly Elements, and the Yoke of Bondage_, and yet never
+dare to speak of the Wonders of new Discovery except in the plain and
+simple Language of Prose?
+
+{260} Perhaps 'twill be replied here, that there are some Scriptural
+Hymns in the Book of _Revelations_ that describe the Affairs of the New
+Testament, the Death and Kingdom of our _Lord Jesus_, and these are
+lawful to be sung in a Christian Church; I am glad that our Friends of
+a different Opinion will submit to sing any thing that belongs to the
+Gospel; I rejoice that the Bible hath any such Pieces of Christian
+Psalmody in it; lest everything that is Evangelical should utterly be
+excluded from this Worship, by those who will sing nothing but what
+is inspired; but how seldom are these Gospel-Songs used among our
+Churches? how little respect is paid to 'em in comparison of the Jewish
+Psalms? how little mention would ever be made of them, if it were not
+to defend the Patrons of Jewish Psalmody from the gross Absurdity of an
+entire Return to Judaism in this Part of Worship? But give me leave
+also to add, that these Christian Hymns are but very short, and very
+few; nor do they contain a hundredth Part of those glorious Revelations
+that are made to us by _Christ Jesus_ and his Apostles; nor can we
+suppose God excludes all other Parts of the Gospel from Verse and
+Singing.
+
+Most express words of Scripture furnish me with a _Third_ Argument,
+_Eph_. 5. 19, 20. & _Col_. 3. 16, 17. Which are the two chief Commands
+of the New Testament for Singing; both bid us _make Melody, and give
+Thanks to God the Father, in the Name of our {261} Lord Jesus Christ_.
+This is one of the Glories of Gospel-Worship, that all must be offer'd
+to the Father in his Name. So very particular is our _Lord Jesus_ in
+this Command, that his last Sermon to his Disciples mentions it four
+times, _John_ 14. 13, 14. & 16. 23, 24. Nov why should we make
+Conscience of praying in the Name of _Christ_ always, and offer up our
+Praises in his Name when we speak in Prose? And yet when we give Thanks
+in Verse, we almost bind our selves to take no more notice of the Name
+of _Christ_ than _David_ or _Moses_ did. Why should every part of
+Divine Worship under the Gospel be express'd in Language suited to that
+Gospel (_viz_.) Praying, Preaching, Baptism and the Lord's Supper; and
+yet when we perform that part of Worship which brings us nearest to the
+heavenly State, we must run back again to the Law to borrow Materials
+for this Service? And when we are employ'd in the Work of Angels, we
+talk the Language of the Infant-Church, and speak in Types and Shadows?
+While we bind our selves to the Words of _David_ when he inclines his
+Ear to a Parable, and opens his dark saying upon the Harp, Psal. 49. 4.
+we have given too great Countenance to those who still continue the use
+of the Harp while they open the dark saying.
+
+The _Fourth_ Argument may be thus drawn up. There is almost an infinite
+Number of different Occasions for Praise and Thanksgivings; as well as
+for Prayer, in the Life of a {262} Christian; and there is not a Set of
+Psalms already prepared that can answer all the Varieties of the
+Providence and the Grace of God. Now if God will be prais'd for all his
+Mercies, and Singing be one Method of Praise, we have some Reason to
+believe that God doth not utterly confine us even to the Forms of his
+own composing. This is thought a very sufficient Reason to resist the
+Imposition of any Book of Prayers; and I grant that no Number of
+Prayers of humane Composure cam express every new Difficulty or future
+Want of a Christian; scarce can we suppose a Divine Volume should do
+it, except it be equal to many _Folio's_. However I can see no thing in
+the inspired Book of Praises that should perswade me that the Spirit of
+God design'd it as a universal Psalm-book; nor that he intended these
+to include or provide for all the Occasions of Thanksgiving that ever
+Could befal _Jews_ or _Christians_ in a single or social Capacity. We
+find in the History of Scripture, that new Favours receiv'd from God
+were continually the Subject of new Songs, and the very minute
+Circumstances of the present Providence are describ'd in the Verse. The
+Destruction of _Pharoah_ in the _Red-Sea_; the Victory of _Barak_ over
+_Sisera_; the various Deliverances, Escapes and Successes of the Son of
+_Jesse_ are described in the Songs of _Moses_, _Deborah_ and _David_.
+The Jews in a Land of Captivity sat by the Rivers of _Babylon_, and
+remembred _Sion_; they could find none of the antient Songs {263} of
+_Sion_ fit to express their present Sorrow and Devotion, tho some of
+them are mournful enough; then was that admirable and artful Ode
+written, the _137th Psalm_, which even in the Judgment of the greatest
+humane Criticks, is not inferiour to the finest Heathen Poems. 'Tis a
+more dull, and obscure, and unaffecting Method of Worship to preach, or
+pray, or praise always in Generals: It doth not reach the Heart, nor
+touch the Passions; God did not think any of his own inspired Hymns
+clear and full and special enough to express the Praise that was his
+due of new Blessings of Grace and Providence; and therefore he put a
+new Song into the Mouths of _Mary_, _Zecharias_ and _Simeon_; and 'tis
+but according to his own Requirement, that the _British-Islands_ should
+make their present Mercies under the Gospel the Subject of fresh
+Praises; _Isa_. 42. 9, 10. _Behold the former things are come to pass,
+and new things do I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of
+them; Sing unto the Lord a new Song, and his Praise from the End of
+the Earth; Ye that go down to the Sea, and all that is therein; the
+Isles and the Inhabitants thereof_. As for the new Songs in the
+_Revelations_, the occasions of some of them are very particular, and
+relate to the Fall of _Anti-Christ_; It can never be imagin'd that
+there are a compleat Collection of Psalms to suit all the Cases of a
+Christian Church: They are rather given to us as small Originals, by
+Imitation whereof the Churches should be furnished with Matter {264}
+for Psalmody, by those who are capable of composing spiritual Songs
+according to the various or Special Occasions of Saints or Churches.
+Now, shall we suppose the Duty of Singing to be so constantly provided
+for when there was any fresh Occasion under the Old Testament, and just
+in the very Beginning of the New, and yet that there is no manner of
+Provision made ever since by ordinary or extraordinary Gifts for the
+Expression of our particular joys and Thanksgivings? This would be to
+sink the Gospel, which is a Dispensation of the Spirit, of Liberty, of
+Joy, and of Glory, beneath the Level of Judaism, when the Saints were
+kept in hard Bondage, and had not half so much Occasion for Praise.
+
+The Fifth Argument may be borrow'd from the extraordinary Gift of the
+Spirit to compose or sing spiritual Songs in the primitive Church,
+express'd in 1_Cor_. 14. 15, 26. The several Parts of Divine Worship,
+Praying, Preaching and Singing, were performed by immediate
+Inspirations of the holy Spirit in that Day, for there two Reasons.
+(1.) That there might be a Discovery of Divine Power in them, and the
+Seal of a Miracle set to the several Parts of Christian Worship, to
+convince the World, and to confirm the Church. (2.) Because there was
+not time to acquire a Capacity of Preaching, Praying, and composing
+Spiritual Songs by Diligence and Study, together with the ordinary
+Assistance of Grace and Blessing of {265} Providence, which would have
+taken up many Years before the Gospel could have been universally
+preached. But even in those Times of Inspiration, as _Timothy_ himself
+was _not to neglect the Gift that was in him given by Imposition of
+Hands_, so he was charg'd to _give Attendance to Reading, to
+Exhortation, to Doctrine, to meditate upon these things, to give
+himself wholly to them, that his profiting might appear unto all_, 1
+Tim. 4, 14, 15. And it is granted by all, that the Ministers of the
+Gospel in our Day are to acquire and improve the Gifts of Knowledge,
+Prayer and Preaching, by Reading, Meditation and frequent Exercise,
+together with earnest Requests to God for the ordinary Assistance of
+his Spirit, and, a Blessing on their Studies; Why then should it be
+esteem'd sinful, to acquire a Capacity of composing a spiritual Song?
+Or why is it unlawful to put this Gift in Excercise, for the Use of
+Singing in the Christian Church, since 'tis one of those three standing
+Parts of Worship which were at first practis'd and confirm'd by
+Inspiration and Miracle?
+
+Some may object here, that the words _psallo_ and _Psalmos_, which
+the Apostle useth in this Chapter, intend the Psalms of _David_, and
+not any new Song: But if we consult the whole Frame and Design of
+that Chapter, it appears that their worship was all performed by
+extraordinary Gifts: Now, 'twas no very, extraordinary thing to bring
+forth, one of _David_'s Psalms; nor would it have been proper to have
+hindered the inspsired Worship with such an Interposition of the
+ordinary Service of an antient _Jewish_ Song; 'tis very credible
+therefore that the Word _Psalm_ in this Place signifies a new spiritual
+Song, and 'tis so used frequently in the Writings of the Primitive
+Fathers, as appears in the Citations, _pag_. 274.
+
+To close this Rank of Arguments, I might mention the Divine Delight
+that many pious Souls have found in the Use of spiritual, Songs, suited
+to their {266} own Circumstances, and to, the Revelations of the New
+Testament. If the spiritual Joy and Consolation that particular Persons
+have tasted in the general Duty or Singing, be esteem'd a tolerable
+Argument to encourage the Duty and confirm the Institution, I am well
+assured that the Argument would grow strong apace, and seal this
+Ordinance beyond Contradiction, if we would but stand fast in the
+Liberty of the Gospel, and not tie our Consciences up to meer Forms of
+the Old Testament. The Faith, the Hope, the Love, and the heavenly
+Pleasure that many Christians have profess'd while they have been
+singing evangelical Hymns; would probably be multiply'd and diffus'd
+amongst the Churches, if they would but breath out their Devotion in
+the Songs of the Lamb as well as in the Song of _Moses_.
+
+Thus far have we proceeded in a way of Argument drawn from Scripture
+and the Reason of Things. Many Objections have been prevented, or
+sufficient Hints given for the Removal of them. Those that remain and
+seem to have any considerable Strength, shall be propos'd with an
+Attempt to answer them; for I would not have Christians venture upon
+the Practice of any thing in Divine Worship without due Knowledge and
+Conviction.
+
+_Object_. 1. The Directions given for Psalmody in some Parts of the Old
+Testament, lead us to the Use of those Songs which are inspired,
+_Deut_. 31. 16, 19, &c. _And the Lord said unto_ Moses, _write ye this
+Song for you, and teach it the Children of_ Israel, _put it in their
+Mouths, that this Song may be a Witness for me against the Children of_
+Israel; _for when I shall have brought them into the Land which I sware
+unto their Fathers, which floweth with Milk and Hony, &c. Then they
+will turn unto other Gods_. And in _Psal_. 81. 1, 2, 3, 4. Where we are
+required to worship God by Singing, we are not commanded to make a new
+Psalm, but to make one that is already made, for the words run {267}
+thus, _Sing aloud unto God our Strength, make a joyful Noise to the God
+of_ Jacob; _Take a Psalm and bring hither the Tymbrel, the pleasant
+Harp with the Psaltery, blow up the Trumpet in the New Moon, in the
+Time appointed, on our solemn Feast-Day, for this was a Statute for
+Israel, and a Law of the God of_ Jacob.
+
+_Ans_. 1. I have cited these Texts at large wherein the Objection lies,
+that an Answer might appear plain in the Text to every Reader. How
+peculiarly do these Commands refer to the _Israelites_? The very Words
+of the Precept confine it to the _Jews_, to the Men that dwelt in
+_Canaan_, to the Worship that is paid with Tymbrels and Trumpets, to
+the Days of the New Moon, and solemn Jewish Festivals; and if we will
+insist upon there Scriptures as precise Rules of our present Duty and
+Worship, the Men that use Musical Instruments in a _Christian_ Church
+will take the same Liberty of returning to _Jewish_ ordinances, and use
+then same Text to defend them.
+
+_Ans_. 2 But if we should grant our selves under the Gospel still
+obliged by these Commands, yet they do not bind us up intirely to
+inspired Forms of Singing, since the same sort of Expression is used
+concerning Prayer; Hos. 14. 2. _Take with you Words, and say unto the
+Lord, take away all Iniquity, and receive us graciously_, &c. Now who
+is there that esteems himself confin'd to use no other Prayer but
+scriptural Forms? In other Places, where these Duties are injoin'd, we
+are bid to pray, or to praise, or to sing; and why should we not be as
+much at Liberty to suit the Words and the Sense to our present
+Circumstances in Singing as well as Praying, or in praising with Verse
+as well as praising in Pros?
+
+_Object_. 2. The examples of Scripture direct us to inspired Matter for
+Singing: _Deut_. 31. 21. Mosses _wrote this Song the same Day, and
+taught it the Children of Israel_. I _Chron_. 16. 7. David _delivered
+first this Song, to thank the Lord, into the Hand of_ Asaph _and {268}
+his Brethren_. Now in his dying Words, _the sweet Psalmist of Israel
+tells us, 2 Sam. 23. 1, 2. The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his
+Word was in my Tongue_. And in the Days of _Hezekiah_, which was some
+Ages after _David_: 2 Chron. 29. 27, 28, 29, 30. Hezekia _commanded to
+offer the Burnt-Offering upon the Altar; and when the Burnt-Offering
+began, the Song of the Lord began also with the Trumpets and with the
+Instruments ordained by_ David _King of_ Israel, &c.. _Moreover_
+Hezekiah _the King and the Princes commanded the Levites to sing Praise
+to the Lord, with the Words of_ David _and of_ Asaph _the Seer_.
+
+_Answ_. There are nothing but Examples of _Jewish_, and very
+ceremonious Worship; Nor do they effectually prove, that the _Jews_
+themselves were forbid upon all Occasions whatsoever to use more
+private Composures in their Synagogues, tho in the Temple 'tis probable
+that for the most part they sung inspired Psalms. But it must be
+remembred, that these Psalms are all suited to their Dispensation, and
+yet without doubt they chose such out of them from time to time as best
+fitted their present Case; and so will we Christians take as many of
+the Psalms of _David_ and other Scripture-Songs, as are suited to our
+Dispensation and our Circumstances; but there will be but very few in
+Comparison of what the antient Levites might use, especially if we must
+_sing the very words of_ David _and_ Asaph the Seer without Omission
+or Paraphrase.
+
+Object. 3. We cannot pretend to make better spiritual Songs than the
+Spirit of God himself has made, therefore if we should neglect these,
+and sing humane Composures, we should incur the Censure of the prophet
+_Malachy_, Chap. 1. v. 13, 14. _Ye brought that which was torn, and the
+Lame, and the Sick, thus ye brought an Offering, saith the Lord, should
+I accept this of your Hands_?
+
+Ans. 1. Can we pretend to make better Prayers {269} than the Spirit of
+God has made and scatter'd up and down thro' all the Old and New
+Testament? Can we compose better Sermons than _Moses_ or _Solomon_?
+Better than our Saviour and his Apostles preach'd, and the Spirit of
+God hath recorded? Why then should not we use Scripture Forms of
+praying and preaching, as well as of Singing? And tho we may hope for
+the ordinary Assistance of the Spirit in our Prayers and Sermons, yet
+how can we expect that these shall be as good as those which were
+compos'd by his extraordinary Inspiration?
+
+Ans. 2. Divine Wisdom accommodates its Inspirations, its Gifts, its
+Revelations, and its Writings, to the particular Cases and Seasons in
+which he finds a Saint or a Church. Now tho we cannot pretend to make a
+better Prayer than that of _Ezra_ or _Daniel_, or our Lord, for the Day
+and Design for which they were prepared; yet a Song, a Sermon, or a
+Prayer that expresses my Wants, my Duties or my Mercies, tho it be
+compos'd by a humane Gift, is much better for me than to tie myself to
+any inspired Words in any part of Worship which do not reach my Case;
+and consequently can never be proper to assist the Exercise of my
+Graces or raise my Devotion.
+
+Ans. 3. I believe that Phrases and Sentences used by inspired Writers
+are very proper to express our Thoughts in Prayer, Preaching or Praise;
+and God has frequently given Witness in the Hearts of Christians how
+much he approves the Language of Scripture; but 'tis always with a
+Proviso that those Phrases be clear, and expressive of our present
+Sense, and proper to our present Purpose: Yet we are not to dress up
+our Prayers, Sermons or Songs in the Language of _Judaism_ when we
+design to express the Doctrines of the Gospel: This would but _darken
+Divine Counsel by Words without Knowledge_; it would amuse and confound
+the more ignorant Worshipers, 'twould disgust the more Considerate, and
+give neither {270} the one nor the other Light or Comfort: And I think
+it may be as proper in our Churches to read a Sermon of _Moses_ or
+_Isaiah_ instead of preaching the Gospel, as to sing a Psalm of _David_
+whose Expressions chiefly refer to _David_ the Shepherd, the King, the
+Fugitive, the Captain, the Musician and the _Jew_. In short the
+Prayers, Sermons and Songs in Scripture are rather Patterns by which we
+should frame our Worship and adjust it to our present Case, than Forms
+of Worship to which we should precisely and unchangeably confine our
+selves. And as Sermons which are conformable to the Holy Scripture in a
+large Sense may be called the _Word of God and the Word of Christ_, and
+are usally and justly so called if they are agreeable to the Scripture
+and drawn from thence; so Hymns of Humane Composure according to the
+Spirit and Doctrines of the Gospel may be as well termed the _Word of
+Christ_, which is the proper Matter for Christian Psalmody. _Col_. 3.
+16. whereas in the strictest and most limited Sense of the Word nothing
+deserves that Title but the _Hebrew_ and _Greek_ Originals.
+
+Object. 4. In the New Testament there are Promises of Divine Assistance
+to Ministers and private Christians in preaching the Gospel and in
+Prayer; But we have no Promise of the Spirit of God to help us to
+compose Psalms or Hymns for our private Use or for the Use of the
+Churches; and how can we practise in the Worship of God what we have no
+Promise of the holy Spirit to encourage and assist us in?
+
+_Ans_. 1. There are many general Promises of the Presence of _Christ_
+with his Ministers, and the Supply of his Spirit in the Discharge of
+all their Duties for the Edification of the Church: Now there are
+several Performances which are necessary for the Churches Edification,
+to which there is no peculiar Promise made of the Assistance of the
+Spirit in express Words: Such are, Translating the Bible into {271}
+our Mother-Tongue, Composing our Sermons or at least the Substance and
+Scheme of them before preaching, Writing pious and useful Treatises
+upon divine Subjects, and Diligent Reading and study of Books so
+written; nor is there any more express Encouragement to expect the
+Presence of the Spirit in turning the Psalms of _David_ into Rhime and
+Metre, than in composing new Spiritual Songs: And yet Ministers that
+are fitted for such Performances may pray and hope for Divine
+Assistance in them all, and trust in the general Promises for Help in
+particular Services.
+
+_Ans_. 2. There is no need of these Gifts of Criticism or of Poesy for
+all Christians nor all Ministers, tho it seems necessary that some
+should be furnish'd with them. A few Persons in an Age or a Nation may
+translate the Scriptures into the National Language, and may compose a
+sufficient Number of Hymns to answer the chief Designs and Wants of the
+Church for that Day for publick Worship. Where there happen Occasions
+very particular, the Ministers of the Gospel are not or should not be
+so utterly destitute of common Ingenuity, as to be unable to compose or
+at least to collect a few tolerable Verses proper for such a Season.
+
+_Object_. 5. We find no Instances in Scripture of humane Composures
+sung by the People of God; and 'tis not good to practise such pieces of
+Worship without a Precedent.
+
+_Ans_. Whensoever there was just Occasion for an Hymn according to some
+new and special Providence, we almost every where find a new Song
+recorded in Scripture, and we call it inspired, nor do I know any just
+Reason to suspect or doubt of the Inspiration; but if there had been
+any one which was not the Effect of an extraordinary Gift but only
+compos'd by a good Man, we should be ready to take it for inspired
+because mention'd in Scripture; as we do too {272} many Expressions of
+the Saints in that divine History, and make every thing that a good Man
+saith Heavenly and Divine: However if there can be no Pretence made to
+such an Example in Scripture, yet so much Reason, Argument and
+Incouragement as hath been already drawn from Scripture sufficiently
+justifies this Practice, since we perform many Circumstantials of
+Worship under the Influence of a general Command without express and
+special Examples.
+
+_Object_. 6. We ought to sing nothing to God but what is given us for
+this very End that it may be sung, lest we indulge Will-worship and the
+Inventions of Men.
+
+_Ans._ 1. To convert the Verses of _David_ into English Lines, to
+confine them to an exact Number of Syllables, and to make Melody in
+particular Tunes, may as well be called the Inventions of Men and
+Will-Worship: But these Inventions are absolutely necessary for the
+Performance of Divine Commands, and for the Assistance of a whole
+Congregation to sing; with any tolerable Convenience, Order or Decency,
+as the Reverend Mr. _Boyse_ has well proved.
+
+Ans. 2. Those that refuse to sing Forms of humane Composure tho the
+Sense be never so divine, generally allow it lawful to take any Parts
+of Scripture and alter and transpose the Words into a Form fit for
+Singing; But to take a mere Parable or Story out of the Bible, and put
+Some Rhimes onto the End of every Line of it, without giving it a new
+and pathetic Turn, is but a dull way of making spiritual Songs, and
+without a precedent too. _David_ did not deal so with _Genesis_ and
+_Exodus_, tho he loved the Words of the Law as well as we pretend to
+value the Words of the Gospels and Epistles. The most part of the New
+Testament as it stands in our Bible was never given us for Psalms,
+Hymns and spiritual Songs; but for divine Instruction and Materials for
+this and other Duties, that so we might borrow the Doctrines and {273}
+Discoveries of the New Testament, and compose Sermons and Songs out of
+them: But if we take Chapters and Verses promiscuously out of the New
+Testament, and make them jingle and rhime, and so sing them, we are
+guilty of singing what God never commanded to be sung, as much as if we
+compos'd spiritual Songs by humane Art agreeable to the Sense of
+Scripture and the Christian Faith.
+
+If the Addition of humane Testimony concerning the Practice of Churches
+in former or later Ages might have any influence to establish the
+Consciences of those who are doubtful in this Matter, I might acquaint
+them that the Churches of _Germany_ and the _Eastland_ Churches, use
+many Divine Hymns which are compos'd on several Subjects of the
+Christian Religion, without any Pretence to extraordinary Gifts. The
+Church of _England_ approves this Practice, as appears in those
+Spiritual Songs at the End of the old Translation of the Psalm-Book,
+and some Churches among the Dissenters. The _Christians of the first
+Ages were wont to meet together on a Day appointed before it was Light,
+and to speak a Song to Christ as to God_. Thus _Pliny_ the _Roman_
+testifies in a Letter to _Trajan_ the Emperour in the Beginning of the
+second Century. _Tertullian_, who flourish'd about the Beginning of the
+Third Century, relating the Manner of Administration of the Lord's
+Supper, asserts _That after they had eat and drank what was sufficient
+for those that must worship God by Night, &c. Every one was urged to
+sing unto God publickly either out of the holy Scriptures, or according
+to their own Genius and Ability_, Apol. C. 39. _Origen_, who flourish'd
+in the Middle of the Third Century, speaks of _singing Hymns or Praise
+to the Father in or by Christ in good Rhime, Tune, Metre and Harmony.
+Origen de Orat. Sect. 6. _Eusebius_, B. 7. C. 19. quotes _Dionisius_
+writing against Nepos thus, _Altho I heartily love _Nepos_ for his
+Faith, his Study of Knowledge and the holy Scriptures, as well as {274}
+for various Psalms and Hymns composed by him, which are used to this
+Day by some Brethren, yet, &c. In the Acts of the Council of _Antioch_
+mention'd by _Eusebius_, B.7. C.30. It was one of the Accusations of
+_Paulus Samosatenus_ the Heretick Bishop of _Antioch_, that he
+_abolished those Psalms which were wont to be sung to the Honour of the
+Lord Jesus Christ as novel and compos'd by Modern Authors, and that he
+appointed Women on Easter Day in the Middle of the Church to sing
+Psalms in his Praise_. And in the Fragment of an anonymous Author
+extant in _Eusebius_ we find the Heresy of _Artemon_, who denied the
+Divinity of Christ, confuted not only by the Scriptures and the
+Writings of the precedent Fathers, but also by the _Psalms and Hymns of
+the Brethren which were formerly compos'd by them, wherein they sung
+Praises to the WORD of God, declaring Christ to be God_. Such a private
+composed Hymn was that which _Clemens Alexandrinus_ mentions as one
+commonly known among the Christians in his Days, beginning _Kaire
+Phos_, or _Hail Light_. _Spanheim_ in his sixth Chapter of the fourth
+Century of his Christian History speaks thus, _Besides Hymns and Songs,
+and private Psalms, of which there was a great Number in their solemn
+Assemblies, the Psalm Book of_ David _was brought into the Western
+Church in this Age in the Time of_ Damasus _and_ Ambrose; _but in the
+Eastern Church the singing of_ David _'s Psalter by Antiphona's or
+Responses was brought in by_ Flavianus Antiochenus. The Use of Psalms
+compos'd by private Persons seems not to be forbidden in the Church
+till the Council of _Laodicea_ in the fourth Century.
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+THUS have I drawn together my Thoughts upon this Subject at the Request
+of several Ministers and private Christians who practise Psalmody in
+this Method themselves, and sing the Songs of the {275} Lamb as well as
+the Psalms of _David_ in their publick and private Worship, and
+especially at the Celebration of the Lord's Supper. I had design'd and
+almost prepar'd a larger Discourse, wherein the Duty of Singing and the
+Manner of Performance would have been consider'd. But this Essay has
+already swell'd beyond the Bulk propos'd: There are many that would
+rejoice to see Evangelic Songs more universally encouraged to the
+Honour of their Lord _Jesus_, and to the Joy and Consolation of their
+Fellow-saints. If the Spirit of God shall make any of these Arguments I
+have used successful to attain this glorious End, I shall take pleasure
+in the Release of their Souls from that part of _Judaism_ which they
+have so long indulged. I hope the Difficulties that appear'd frightful
+and discouraging will be lost, and vanish by a diligent and fair
+Perusal of what is written; yet those that pay a sacred Reverence
+to the Inspired Writings, may still find it hard to yield to the
+Conviction; Scruples and Reliques of an old Opinion will perhaps hang
+about their Consciences still: A Fear and Jealousy of admitting any
+Forms humane Composure in the Worship of Singing will scarce permit
+their Lips to practise that to which their Understandings have given
+their Assent. I would intreat such to give this Discourse a thoughtful
+Review; and tho they may not judge every Argument conclusive, nor every
+Objection sufficiently remov'd, yet if there be but one unanswerable
+Reason it ought to be attended to; and the whole put together may give
+such Light and Satisfaction as may incourage the Practice of this Duty.
+'Tis very easy to make Cavils and Replies to the strongest Reasonings;
+but let us have a Care lest we rob our Souls and the Churches of those
+Divine Comforts of evangelic Psalmody, by a Fondness of our old and
+preconceived Opinions. _He that believeth may eat all Things_, and
+should not be forbidden: He may partake of _Flesh {276} and drink
+Wine_; he may tast of the various Pleasure of the Gospel, and sing the
+New Song: _Another who is weak eateth Herbs_, and satisfies himself
+with ancient Melody. _Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth
+not_, and _let not him which eateth not judge him which eateth, for God
+hath received him_, Rom. 14. 2.
+
+If the Hymns and spiritual Songs which are here presented to the World
+are so unhappy as to discourage the Design of this Essay, I will
+censure and reprove them my self: If they are condemned as being
+unsuitable to the Capacity or Experience of plain Christians, I will
+easily confess a Variety of Faults in them; 'twas hard to restrain my
+Verse always within the Bounds of my Design; 'Twas hard to sink every
+Line to the Level of a whole Congregation, and yet to keep it above
+Contempt. However among so great a Number of Songs I hope there will be
+some found that speak the very Language, and Desires and Sense of the
+meanest Souls, and will be an Assistance to their Joy and Worship. The
+Blemishes of the rest may serve to awaken some more pious and judicious
+Fancy to a more successful Attempt; and whoever shall have the Honour
+of such a Performance, I promise my self a large Share in the Pleasure.
+But we must despair of hearing the _New Song of the Lamb_ in its
+Perfection and Glory, till _Babylon the Great is fallen, and the
+Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and his
+Christ_, till _the New Heavens and the New Earth_ appear, till _all the
+former things are passed away, and all things are made New_.
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30409 ***