2 . ON THE IMPROVEMENT Or PSALMODY. 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 con- venience, order, or decency, as the reverend Mr. Boyle has well proved. Ans. 2. Those that refuse to sing forms of human compo- sure, though 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 rhymes on to the end of every line ofit, 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, though lie loved the words of the law as well as we pretend to valise 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 discoveries of the New Testament, and compose serinons and songs out of them : But if we take chapters and verses promis- cuously out of the New Testament, and make them jingle and rhyme, and so sing them, we are guilty of singing what God never cornmanded'to be 'sung, as much as if we composed spiri- tual songs by human art agreeable to the sense of scripture and the christian faith. If the addition of human 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 composed 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 Trojan the emperor in the beginning of the second century. Tertulliai, who flourished about the beginning of the third century, relating the manner of administration of the Lord's supper, asserts, " That after they had eat and drink what was sufficient for those that must worship God by night, &c. every one was urged to sing unto God publicly either out of the holy scriptures, or according to their own genius and ability ;" Apol.
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