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A
SHORT
ESSAY
TOWARD
THE
IMPROVEME
tT
OF PSALMODY:
OR,
do
Enquiry
how
the Psalms
of
David
ought
to
be
Translated
into Christian
Songs,
and
how
lawful and
necessazy
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
breathe
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
am
persuaded that the
poor performance
of
it
in
the
best socie-
ties, with the mistaken rules
to
which
it
is
confined,
is
one
great
reason of
their
entire 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
;"
i
Cor. xiv.
24,
25.
In
order
to
trace out the matter or subject of religious
sing-
ing, let
us collect into one view
the chief texts
of the New
Tes-
tament where this worship
is
mentioned, and afterwards
see
what
arguments may
be
deduced from thence, to prove,
that
it
is
proper to use spiritual songs of human composure,
as
well as
the psalms
of David,
or
the
words
of other
songs recorded in
scripture.
The
most
considerable
texts are
these
;
Matt. xxvi.
30. and
Mark
xiv. 26.
relate,
That
our
blessed
Lord
and his disciples
sung
an
hymn. Acts xvi. 25.
"
Paul
and
Silas prayed
and sung praises unto
God."
1
Cor. xiv.
15.
"I
will sing
with
the
Spirit,
and
I
will
sing
with
the understanding
also."
rer.
26.
"
Every
one of you bath a
psalm." Eph.
v.
19,
20.
"
Speaking
to yourselves
in
psalms and hymns, and spi-
A
2