| Citation |
NEWJ.740.002
29 Jan 1740:11,12 (667)
This extract of a letter occasioned by the late edition of
Dr. Watts's Hymns, . . .
At your request I send you my tho'ts concerning
Psalmody--- The design of Psalmody is to raise affections
and passions, in devout celebration of the dispensation of
God towards us.
Thus Moses and David and other ascetic persons composed
and sung psalms to the honour of their great benefactor,
exulting at the signal of some special favour of God, in
such manner and with such matter, as their more dark
dispensation furnished them----
And when life and immortality were brought to light by the
Gospel (in which we have not only the doctrine taught, but a
glorious specimen given in his resurrection, and a day
distinguish'd and devoted to a sacred commemoration and
improvement of it) the pious compose and sung such as were
more clear and Christian and better adapted to their own
state and scheme, as well as the sacred songs of holy David
(if ever they sang his) As the apostle saith, to the
Corinthians, Every one of you hath a Psalm, as well as a
doctrine &c. 1 Ep. & in 3 Col. & 5 Eph. If by psalms, be
meant the Psalms of David, what can be more probably
understood of hymns and spiritual songs, than some sorts of
sonnets having the superiour advantage of Gospel light; For
such were the spiritual songs of primitive Christians.
Agreeable to Pliny's account, about A.D. 103, the Christians
met on a certain day and sang hymns to Christ as God*. See
also Tertullian++. Eusebius says that men were invited to
sing, in their assemblies, as well their own compositions,
as those of the holy scriptures Ecc. Hist. 1.5 c. 38. &
Jerom on Ps. 64. About A.D. 265, the heretick Samosatenus
was depriv'd by the Council at Antioch; against whom it was
alledg'd, that he renounced the sacred songs, composed in
honour of Christ, as new found figments. Eusib. Ecc. Hist.
1.7. c 30.
Indeed I have found nothing contrary in the practice of
Christians, it is the proud and deprav'd Council of
[Laodices], who forbid the brethren the choice of their
pastor, and among many other weak and absurd things, denied
the use of any other psalmody save David's Psalter: See
Can. 17. Upon which Osiander mildly says, This canon has
something of superstition: its tho' it were not lawful to
collect and compose any sacred hymn, in all things
consentanious to sacred scripture: Of which by the singular
favour of God, the German churches have a good plenty, which
were composed by the singular dexterity of Mr. Luther, and
other pious and learned men; which are sung in the
evangelical churches with great fruit at this day. Epist.
Cen: 4
The same practice M. Claud assures us was continued in the
Eastern churches till his time, Cath[?] Doc. lib 3 ch.4.
The generous and good Mr. Robinson, charged our ancestors to
make progress in reformation--read Prince's Chron. p. 90.
For indeed, if we were blindly to follow our what
reformation could there ever have been in the church. We
act upon the most distinguishing principle of those great
and good men, when we cautiously or conscientiously go
farther than they did in things, which we thing to be for
the edification of the churches.
Why, should it be thought unlawful for some pious and
skilful and discreet men to compose hymns, agreeable to the
scope and tenor of the New Testament, and offer them to the
consosciation in the neighbourhood, and if approved of,
prudently to introduce the singing of them, with our psalms
in a congregation ? I say prudently, because a rash, hasty
and violent introducing such a change, we think unlawful and
of a very ill tendency.
If you can advance my reason, why we should always censure
ourselves in the express words of scripture in singing, any
more than in prayers or preaching, by offering them you will
oblige Yours &c.
[footnotes] * Lib 10 9[?] Ep. ++ Apol. Chs. 39.
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