The True Psalmody
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THE TRUE PSALMODY; THE BIBLE PSALMS THE CHURCH'S ONLY MANUAL OF PRAISK SECOND EDITION. PHILADELPHIA: WILLIAM S. YOUNG, 1028 RACE STREET. 1859. ADVERTISEMENT. The ministers and elders of the Reformed and United Presbyterian Churches of Philadelphia, be- lieving that the times demand a full presentation of the subject herein discussed, held a meeting in the Cherry Street Church, Aug. 16th, 1858, at which. Revs. J. M. Willson, J. T. Cooper, and Ro- bert J. Black, were appointed a Committee to pre- pare, from existing treatises, a work in favour of the exclusive use of the Scripture Psalmody as the matter of the Church's praise. Rev. William Ster- ret was subsequently added to the Committee. At an adjourned meeting, having presented an out- line of the work, the Committee were unanimously authorized to proceed with its publication. The names of the ministers present, are as follows; Revs. J. M. Willson, S. 0. Wylie, David ISl'Kee, William Sterret, Robert J. Black, S. P. Herron, A. G. M'Auley, Francis Church, J. B. Dales, D. D., J. T. Cooper, D. D., G. C. Arnold, Robert Arm- strong and T. H. Beveridge. Elders:—Robert Orr, John Evans, R. Skilton, Wm. Blakely, Dr. A. S. M'Murray, Henry Floyd, William Crawford, Wm. Brown and others. Francis Church, Chairman. G. C. Arnold, Secretary. PEin- ,fttC. MAKlBb2 THSOLOGlC&Lj' <mr-'<!i:V.K:i!Um CONTENTS, iNTRODrrcTio:<r, PAGE Vll CHAPTER I. THE BOOK OF JSALMS—COMPLETE MANUAL OF PRAISE. 1. Presents the most comprehensive delineation of the perfections of God, and of the cha- racter of His government, . .13 2. In Three Persons, . 15 3. Furnishes a full and accurate exhibition of man's real state and character before God, 19 4. The Psalms are full of Christ, . 24 5. Contain the richest fund of Christian ex- perience, . .34 6. The most eminent Christians and Christian teachers have ever so testified, . 35 CHAPTER II. THE BOOK OF PSALMS HAS THE SEAL OF DIVINE APPOINT- MENT, WHICH NO OTHER HAS. 1 Divinely appointed, . .46 ill lY CONTENTS. 2. No other Psalms have such appointment, • 60 3. The Church of Christ, one under both Testa- ments, . .69 CHAPTER III. NO "WAREANT FOR MAKING OR USIXG ANT OTHER HYMX3 IN THE WORSHIP OF GOD. I. Arguments used in behalf of such loarrant. 1. That Scripture sanctions it, . 72 2. That hymns have the sanction of long and ex- tensive use in the Church, . .97 3. The argument from analogy—from the use of our own words in prayer, . .125 4. A part of our Christian liberty, . 132 5. Used by godly men, .... 140 6. Hymns may be read, &c., with edification, . 141 //. Arguments against tlie use of Hymns. 1. None but inspired Psalms used during the Old Testament economy, . 144 2. There is no authority by which we can be called upon to sing hymns, . 145 3. The use of hymns sets aside the Psalms, . 147 4. Hymns are sectarian, . 149 5. It has been found impracticable to frame an acceptable and permanent book of hymns, 151 6. The advocacy of hymns has led to great errors, 159 7. The use of hymns has led to the abandonment very largely of congregational and family singing in praise of God, . 168 CONTENTS. T CHAPTER IV. OBJECTIONS TO THE USE OF THE PSALMS CONSIDERED. 1. That they speak of a Saviour to come, 184 2. That they are encumbered with Old Testa ment allusions, &c., 188 3. That they are not adapted to a revival of reli gion, .... 196 4. That they are hard to understand, 199 5. That they are unsuitable for children, 202 6. That the Psaln:is are not adapted to the con dition of every worshipper, , 203 7. That Churches which use hymns are more prosperous than such as do not, 204 8. That the spirit of some of the Psalms is un christian, .... 206 9. If we use the Psalms, why not sing the titles &c.? .... 216 CHAPTER V. REMARKS TTPOX THE "SCOTTISH VERSION " OF THE PSALMS. 1. It has been subjected to the most careful ex- amination as to its fidelity, . .218 2. It may claim to be a faithful rendering, . 222 3. "Imitations" of the Psalms are to be compared with it in this respect, . 223 4. It has been largely approved by men of ac- knowledged taste, though, of course, suscep- tible of improvement, as is our English Bible, 225 Appendix, . .229 fiK... ., ^ INTRODUCTION. The celebration of God's praise in song, and with the " voice of melody/' is among the most delightful of religious exercises. It is the natural expression of holy confidence and joy in God : "Is any merry? let him sing Psalms;" '^They shall come with singing unto Zion, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads." It is in singing praises that the united voices of the worshippers of God are heard in Christian assemblies. While thus engaged, if ever, the heart is stirred and moved to penitential emotion, to adoring homage, to grateful thanks- giving, to lofty hopes and anticipations. "What- ever relates to such an exercise and ordinance, must be of no minor importance. Above all, the inquiry, What shall be the matter of our praise ? What sacred songs shall we sing? must be of the very highest moment. We may naturally, and with the deepest interest, ask, whether the Most High has himself provided us with a manual of praise? or, has he left us to make or gather songs, other than iii IV INTRODUCTION. He has furnislied, as we may have the ability^ or make our choice? Whatever the result of our examination of these inquiries—and, it is but too well known, all have not reached the same conclusions,—none can deny that they are worthy of our most devout and ear- nest attention. For: 1, We serve a ^'jealous God" who claims as His inalienable prerogative, the designation and appoint- ment of all that relates to religious worship. " In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." And, surely, those who draw nigh to God in acts of devotion, should be as deeply concerned now, as of old, lest they be found to offer '' strange fire before the Lord." In every part and act of worship, we should endea- vour to be well assured that we approach the throne of the Eternal with a service which He has prescribed, and which, presented in faith, He will accept. And thus ("For the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God," Ex. xxxiv. 14,) whether a prayer, a doctrine, or a Psalm, it is a solemn inquiry, Is it according to the will of God? It is not enough that our offering, or the man- ner in which we present it, seem to us well adapted to awaken pious emotion, or develop Christian affections. This is one of the most marked, and most baneful of the errors of that system of corrupt — INTRODUCTION. V Christianity which the entire Protestant world re- jects as anti-christian: and hence, its pictures, its images, its gorgeous and impressive ceremonial "having a show of wisdom/' but, after all, only ^'in will-worship,'' (Col. ii. 22,) unacceptable to God, unprofitable to the worshipper, and, at last, fatal to the interests of vital religion and personal piety. Adopt this principle, and where shall we fix its limits? If human ingenuity once begin to meddle with the devotions of the people of God, where shall it be arrested? where can it be arrested? Hence, with wise and beneficent forethought, as well as with a jealous regard to His own glory, as the Church's only King and Head, our God and Saviour has excluded from His Church every in- vention of man; has stamped upon every institu- tion and ordinance the impress of His own sove- reign and most gracious authority. He has left us but the office and the privilege of studying His Word, that we may ascertain His will, and then, follow it with a jealousy and vigilance like His own. 2. The Psalmody of the Church has no feeble influence upon her doctrines, and upon the tone and spirit of her piety. An eminent statesman of the old world, once remarked, "Let me make the ballads of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws." A nation's songs do certainly mould, if 1* VI INTRODUCTION. not to so great an extent as this apophthegm would imply, yet, very largely indeed, the sentiments, the feelings, and even the opinions of its citizens. The songs of the church, sung from day to day, from sabbath to sabbath, cannot but influence, at least as widely and profoundly, her tone of feeling, and her religious views. Expressing, as they will neces- sarily do, in the first instance, something of the prin- ciples, the spirit, the prominent desires and aims of those who adopt them as the matter of their praise, they must react with no little energy and efficacy upon the hearts of the worshippers as they thus use them. They impress their image deeply by con- stant use and consequent familiarity. Hence, it occurs, by no means unfrequently, that songs com- posed by uninspired poets, acquire in ihe estimation of those who have long employed them in their de- votions, a character, little, if any, less sacred than that which attaches to the word of God itself. How infinitely important then, to have every assurance that our 'Psalmody' be not only sound in doctrine, but Christ-like in tone, spirit and sentiment ! How high the responsibility resting upon those who take upon themselves to frame and establish a Church's songs of devotion ! 3.