FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D. BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY •J/ J Mr. Lemuel Hedged SERMON O N SINGING The Duty and Manner of Singing in Chriflfan Churches , conjidered and illujirated ; IN A SERMON PREACHED AT A SINGING LECTURE IN W A R IT I C K, January 2$th y 1772. ■>i * ■ 1 ■ 1 — '■ ■ ■ m il ■■■ 1 ii By Lemuel Hedge, A.M. Paftor cf the Church there. Publifhed at the Requeft of the Singers. Is any merry? let him fing Pfalms, James 5. 13. I will fing with the Spirit, and I will fing with the Under- ftanding alfo. 1. Cor. 14. 15, B O S T O Ni PfUWTlft w RICHARD DRAPER* MDCCLXXIf, < $ x ® * ©• & • Sc & St ♦ X • x # > .teoo3»7eo««>oo9ac«oo{ The Duty and Manner of Singing in Chrillian Churches, coniidered and illuflrated. JOB 38th Chap. 7th Verfe. When theMornbig Stars fang together, and ail tie Sons of GOD Jhouted for Joy. HOLY Job, tho' he is faid to be pef- feft and upright, one that feared God, and avoided that which is evil ; tho' he was a pattern of patience, and manifefted great refignation to the divine will, under the molt grievous and uncom- mon trials ; yet the hand of God did fome- times fo forely prefs him, and he was fo fcorched with the vehement heat of the furnace of affii&ion into which he was caflr, that like Mofes, he fpoke unadvifedly with his lips. He murmurs at the difpenf^tions of divine Providence towards him, and is ready to charge God with feverity in his A 3 dealings ( 6 ) dealings with him. For this, his friends had (harply reproved him, and Elihu in an efpecial manner had fpoken very clofely and pertinently to him, in order to Convince him of the juftice and equity of the divine condud}:, and to filence his murmurings, and bring him to acquiefcc in God's providential dealings with him : But all to little purpofe ; dill Job is uneafy and unfatisfied ; till at laft God himfelf fpeaks to him out of the whirlwind, and clofely prefled him with many ferious and weighty qjeftions in this, and the follow* jug chapter. The firft queftion that God put to him, to humble him and fhew him his ignorance, was concerning the creation of the world, and who it was that gave it its regular form and ftru&ure, v. 4 — 7 " Where waft thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou haft vinderftanding. Who hath laid the meafures thereof, if thou knoweft ? or who hath ftrctched the line upon it ? Whereupon are the foundations thereof faftned ? or who laid the corner flone thereof ?" At the laying of which corner-ftons, " the morning ftars fang to- gether, and all the fons of God fhouted for joy/' It is the eternaljehovah that is here pofiug a mortal worm with thefe queftions ; and ,( 7 ) and (as we might juftly expert) the lan- guage is fublime, the expreflions lofry, and • the fentimeius well adapted to Jirike con- viction into a repining fufferer, murmuring at the all-wife conduct of his Ivl^ker : q. d. 5 O Job, you pretend to have a mighty in- * fight into the counfels ol God : you have 4 made a great figure among the chi-'dren ' of the Eaft ; thou fetteit up lor an oracle * and doft pretend to cenfuro the ju(hce * and^ equity of the divine proceedings— * now only tell me where thou wait when 1 the foundations of the earth were laid, * declare how it came to be fo finely {ram- 1 ed, fo firmly fixed, \o exatfly proporti- 4 oned, and Co advantageouily (ituated ; * If you are fo wife and understanding in 4 the government of the world as you pre- * tend to be, you doubtlefs know fomc- ' thing about the formation of this noble * fabric : and I demand of you to tell me * where you was, when at the firft appea- * ranee of this glorious ftruflure, the " morning ftars" (truck their harmonious € notes, and with perfect concord chanted ' the mod melodious longs, in praife to its * great Creator. Was you then prefentj. ' to hear the fhouts of joy among ihe Jqki 1 of God, and in what a rapturous manner * they applauded the work, and adored die A 4 * Workman \ ( 8 ) f Workman ? Was your ear charmed tvith 8 th$ heavenly mufick ? and did you join * your feeble voice, with the (homing c miriads that extolled my name upon that • occaflon t* Thus does God query with Job, on purpofe to bring him to a fenfe of his folly, in finding fault with His providence in governing the world, feeing he was not prefcnt at the formation of it. " And fincc " God did not confult with him nrmaking u the world, and yet it is well made ; he " need not exped that God (hould confult " with him about the government of the *' world, and yet it (hall be well governed t 9 And therefore it became him and all others, chearfully to acquiefce in the wifdom of divine providence, and not to murmur at any of its proceedings. Thus you fee the connexion of the text •with the context, and what was the defign of God therein. — -You fee, the morning flars^ (by which we are undoubtedly to under- stand the angels) are bro't in finging praife to God at the laying of the foundations of the earth ; which fuppofes that they had an exigence, before the earth was regularly formed and fafhioned, or otherwife they could not fing together upon that occafion. JVlofes has told us * that " la the beginning Gocj f Qen. i. *. ( 9 ) God created the heaven and the earth,"— the angels doubtlefs are included in the creation of the former ; and being formed to fing their Maker's praife, they early began that bleffed work, for which they are here called morning ftars 2 and carefully obferving the hand of God forming and fafhioning this terraqueous globe, and mak- ing it a fuitable habitation for man, and knowing, perhaps, that their and our Creator would " rejoice in the habitable parts of the earth, and his delight would be with the fons of men ;" as they faw mat- ter, fo they wanted not a difpofition for praifing God, and giving to him the glory due to his great name therefor. The latter part of the verfe, in which it is faid, all the fons of God fhouted for joy, I fuppofe to be only exegetical of the former: And what is defigned by the whole verfe is, to (hew, that the angelic tribes were fo {truck with a fenfe of the infinite majefty and power of God in rearing the {lately ftrufture of the worl J, that they all with one accord expreiTed their joy, and glorifi- ed God by ofFerng to Him their melodious fongs of praife and thankfgiving. To fing praifes to God, is the delightful employment of Heaven ; and not only an- gels, ( & ) .gels, but mm are capable of bearing a pint in it : And therefore it becomes them, in imitation of the bleffed fpirits above, to learn to tune their voices in a manner fait- able to offer praifes to their maker-— and while they are in this jvorld, to begin that blefled work, which we .hope to be forever employed in, when we come to Heaven, Under the direction of this text, I fiialj attempt the following things— viz. I. To fliew that fingtng praifes to God, is a duty which He requires of all his ratio- nal creatures, of men as well as of angels. II. Say fomething as to the manner of performing this duty :— and then conclude Tvith addreffes fuited to the occafion. I. I am to fliew that Tinging praifes te God, is a duty which He requires of all his rational creatures, of men as well as of angels. — Every rational creature that has underftanding enough to confider and con- template the works of God, and obferve His perfedions and attributes difplayed ia all the divine operations, are under moral obligations to praife and glorify Him there- for. Indeed the very defign of God in forming ( II ) forming reafonable creatures, and difcover- ing his perfections to them, was not only that He might communicate happinefs to them, but alio that they might glorify Him ; i. e. adore and praife Him for his perfec- tions : For ivho/o offer eth .pralfe, glorifieth me, faith God, Pf. 50. 23, There is fome- thing of the divine attributes discovered ia all the works of God, whether of creation, providence, or grace : And according as God difcovers himfelf to his creatures, (o fliould their acknowledgments of Him, be. And Hot to acknowledge God according to the difcoveries he makes of his perfections unto ps, is a degree of atheifm irfelf : It is in a jTenfe to deny that He is poflcfTed of thofe perfections, or worthy to bef praifed for them. Every being ought to be acknow- ledged by others, according to the dif- coveries that are made of// to others; otherwife It is denied by them : This is rea- fonable and fit in the very nature of things. And fince the fupreme Being in his works has difcovered, unlimited power, unfearch- able wifdom, boundlefs goodnefs, fpotlefs holinefs, and inflexible juftice, every rea- fonable creature is in duty bound to praife Him for thefe his perfections, according to the difcoveries he has, or might have had ■pf them. The { ™ ) The Pfalmifl: fays, * AH thy works pall fraife thee, O Lord, i. e. they all even the in- animate parts of the creation furnifh rational intelligences with matter for praifihg Him* In this fenfe "the heavens declare his glory, and the firmament fheweth forth his handy work." And the "fun and moon, and all the ftars of light," praife Him : They do it, by exciting angels and men to that blefTed work ; and furnifhing them with abundant matter for it. And when inanimate things, fuch as the fun 2.nd moon and fears, are faid to praife God; it intimates that there is much excellency in the works of God, that if they could fpeak, they would declare and fhew forth his praife ; even as when the difciples ofChrift rejoiced and praifed God with a loud voice, for all the mighty works which they had feen, faying, f Bleffed be the King tlmt cometh in the name of the Lord : Teace in heaven and glory in the higheji ; the envi- ous Pharifees did not like fuch mufick, and faid to Chrift, " rebuke thy difciples :" But Chrift anfwered, "I tell you that if thefe fhould hold their peace, the Jlones would immediately cry out." So here, if angels and men will not fing praife to God, For • the works of creation, providence and grace ; rather than God fhould not have the glory thereof, the fun and moon and ft^rs, * Pfalra **Iv. jb. f Luke xix. 35. ( w 5 (far*, would all break out iiito joyful fangs of praifes to him. You fee, at ihe creation of the work!, the bleffed angels were " hymning the eternal Father," adoring his power, wifdom and goodnefs, which were therein difplay'd: fo at the firft appearance of the new creation, when Chriftjefus, the corner-ftone thereof was" laid, then did thefe " morning ilars T ' again fing together, " and all the fans of God fhouted for joy." No fooner was it known in heaven, that the eternally be* gotten of the Father, appeared in a mortal- form, but an angel is ordered with fwifteft wing to convey the news thereof to the humble (hepherds, who were with earned expectation * waiting for the confolation oflfrael." Thefe glad tidings offalvation were ufher'd in, by an anthem of praife from the heavenly hoft ; for fuddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hojl, praijing God and faying. Glory to God I in the bigbeft, and on earth peace > good will towards men. * Thus we fee that as at the birth of the old, fo alfo of the new creation, the bleffed angels tuned their harps to praife their Creator. And it is well worthy to be remarked here, that altho* neither the firft. creation of our world, nor the redemption * LuJcs in 13, 14.. C «4 ) of it by Jefus Chrift, was defigned parti- cularly for the benefit of the angels, but for men only, yet thefe difinterefted and benevolent fpirits rejoiced in it, and praifed God for it. This is worthy of our imita- tion : and let us learn from them, to bids and praife God for his goodnefs to others, as well as to ourfelves. The exercife of fuch benevolence and good-will in us, will be doing God's will on earth, as it is done heaven : and as in fuch a temper we ap- proach near the inhabitants of the heavenly world ; fo we fhall be fharers with them in their happinefs, and partakers with them in their joys. Singing praiies to God, was not defigned to be the employment of angels only, but is a duty alfo incumbent upon man. God has given him a voice, and the faculty of fpeech, which he is bound to employ in praifing and glorifying his Maker : Hence it is, that God 'has made Jtnging a part of his worfhip ; and he experts and requires of every one, that they worfhip him in that Way, according to their ability and the capacity God has given them. We mud " enter into his gates with thanklgiving, and into his courts with praife " And we are commanded to Jing unto the Lord with the voice of z TJalm f ; and often, to praife hiax r*5 y him' with' dur voices, and to /%• praifes Onto -Him. Altho' finging be a token of joy, it is neverthelefs a dutyineumbenton us at all times ; for we are commanded to *' rejoice eV-effp$f$/' an< ^ to " rejoice m the Lord at all times" ; nor can our cir- cumllances be fo aifiiftive, but that we have occafion of finging praife to God : For how dilf relli-iig foever our effate may be, yet there are many favors and mercies (hewn to us which demand our praifes. And the pious Pfalmift refolves, * I will fing of mer- cy and of judgment, unto thee O Lord will I fing. Singing praifes to God was a very fublime and folemn part of pubhek worfhip, under the Old-Teitarnent difpenfation : And our Savior has recommended it to all cbriftians by his own example, who, we find " (ling: an hymn," after he had inftituted the facra^ invent of the Lord's fupper. And God has been pleafed to teftify his acceptance and approbation of this part of his worfhip un- der the Ncw-Teitament difpenfation, by- miraculous operations in favor of thofe that were ennaged in this duty. When Paul and Silas were caft- into prifon — " at mid- night they prayed and fang praifes unto- God i and he teitified his acceptance of ;heir- w-orfliip, by caufing a great earthquake which ft Pialw ci. x. C i* ) which (hook the foundations of the prifdn, opened the doors, and loofed the bands of the prifoners f. And this very inftance f one would think fhould be enough to filencc all objedors, and convince every one that finging is an acceptable duty to God ; other wife He would never have given fuch an evidence of his being well-pleafed with it. Moreover, the apoftles of our Lord frequently enjoin it upon chriltians as an incumbent duty, to " teach and admonifh one another, in pfalms> hymns and fpiritual /ongs y finging with grace in their hearts to the Lord. " Thus you fee that this duty is in itfelf reafonable and fit : Tt is highly proper that God fhould be praifed by all his reafonable creatures ; and when they have a voice and capacity for it, they are under moral obligations to perform it. And we cannot fuppofe, but that the negleft of it in fuch as might perform it gracefully and acceptably (if they took due pains) is a criminal omifli- on. Ir is a duty recommended to us by the greateft examples, and enjoined by the greateft Authority. We have the example of the holy angels, who were early engaged in this heavenly work — -we have the exam- ple of the Old-Teftament Church— of Chrift and his apoitles— as well as many exprefe precepts t Afls 16. ( 17 ) precepts to enforce it upon us. Nay, There is fcarce a book in all the fcriptufes, but what recommends this as a duty incumbent on us : And good men in all ages of the Church, have taken pains to promote it- It may be added, " from the experience " of many good Authors, that where pfal- 11 mody is maft ufcd* thofe churches are " generally the moft filled :— It has a greac " influence upon the minds of moft people, " efpecially youth, &nd keeps them from " many vices on the Lord's-day, and at " other times, which were it not for the " charms of mufick, they would readily " run into." God is daily communicating his mercy j benefits, and grace unto us ; and we are bound to bring unto Him our tribute of praife and thankfgiving : And M to fing praifes, is by Him accepted, as " the higheft part of divine wor(hip,.and in it " we approach the neareft to the worfhip " of the heavenly hofts." Prayer, indeed, is a great duty, and fitted to a flate of trial and probation : But when that ftate is over, prayer will ceafe ; but finging of God's praifes never will. It will be the main Employment of men, as well as of [angels, as foon as we get to heaven. Therefore, as the Apoftle f prefers Charity, before all other chriftain graces, becaufe it never B faileth i + x Cor. xiii. ( i8 ) faileth ; fo may we prefer Jinging before alt other chriftian duties, becaufe ic will never be laid afide — a whole eternity will be em- ployed in finging anthems of praife to God and to the Lamb, Thus much with regard to the Duty of finging. I proceed, II. To fay fomething of the manner, m which it ought to be performed. — And here the example of the Angels is for our imitation — the morning ftars fang together. This implies, I. Their union and agreement among them- felves, to offer up their praifes to God. They did not fing as fcattered individuals, here one, and there another ; but combined together, anti fang in concert. It adds much to rhe beauty of mufick, and makes it moll melodious, to have the united voices of a multitude, harmonizing together in the long. God has made men, as well as angels, friable creatures, and he expedh and requires that they unite together in of- fering up their praifes to Him : And as it is good for them to dwell* fo to fing together in unity. And we fhould all be united in our ( 19 ) bur hearts, in this pare of his wbrfhip ; and &s many of us as can, fhould unite our voices, that with one heart and with one voice, tve may glorify God. Indeed, it is not every one, let him take never fo much pains with himfelf, that can modulate his toice fo as to be able to fing iri concert with others. Every one has his proper gift of God i Aridjome have a talent this way, ethers have net. But it is to be feared that many that have a talent for fing- ing, improve it not ; but let it lie by wholly negledled. Such, will haV6 but a poor ac- count to give of themfelves when an en* cjuiry is made; how they have improved the talents committed to them, for their Lord's glory. But where there is the want Of a talent, there fhould be no want of a difpofition arid good-will that God fliould be worfhipped in this manner. They fhould hot look upon it* as an indifferent and needlefs thing for men to learn to fing God's tiraifes harmonidufly ; but fliould help it forward arid do all they can to encourage others, iri that^ which they have not an ability for themfelves ; and in this way, fhev/ their good- will to the praifes of God ; and then they would have this to comfort them, that " where there is a willing mind it is accepted according to what a man hath, B 2 aiid ( *? ) .and not according to what he hath not."— Bur the conduct oifome in the world, with regard to this affair, has been fuch as gives too much reafon to fufpect, whether they have any defire that God's praifes fhould be fung in chriftian affemblies, or not — or at leafl:, they are no fiiends to regu- lar, and harmonious fmging, and care not in how barbarous a manner this part of worfhip is performed : Hence it is that they oppofe all endeavors to retrieve the credit of our church-mufick, and refcue it from that degeneracy and decay into which it was unhappily fallen. If we are to wor- ship God at all in this way, (as I hope no one ■will fcruple) why ihould we not woifhip him as well as we are able ? And why fhould we not follow on towards perfection in this divine c/7, as well as in any other? If we fing his praifes in the befl: manner we are able, after our greateft improve- ment, we do not do it too well, nor even then, in a manner adequate to what his perfections demand — we come infinitely fhort of what is his juft due. But it may be fome alleviation of our forrow that we can praife Him no better, to confider, that He is, in a more perfect manner praifed by the angels in heaven. It certainly concerns us to wifh well to his praifes, and do all we can ( ax ) can to encourage the Tinging of them.— Let us all be united^ in a thing fo laudable-— a matter fo interefting to Religion — to the glory of God, and the credit of his wor- fhip. The more united we are, the better melody fhall we make,both in our hearts and with our voices- — the nearer fhall we ap- proach to the worfhip of angels, and the more acceptable to God will our praifes be. But 2. That we may be able to fing together, it is necelTary for us to get a good acquain- tance with the Rules of finging; and be able to diilinguiih between thofe founds which are concordant and harmonious, and thofe which are difcordant and grating to the ear. In the doctrine of founds (upon which all mufick depends) there is fomething very myfterious and unaccountable. Sounds, at certain intervals or diftances from each other, mixing together, ftrike the ear with an agreablefenfation, and are called concords ; at certain other diltances, they are harfh and grating to the ear, and are called difcords. Now why there fhould be fuch a coalefcence of founds at juft fuch diltances, foas to make \t grateful to the ear, and at other intervals or diftances either lefTer or greater than the former, there fhould be no fuch agreement, 6 3 ana ( aa ) a cc nhd the founds when made, fhould be fo jarring and grating ; is one of the fecrets of nature not i.nyeftigated by man. That it is fo, is faft : but why it is fo, " m.uft be " refolved into the will, power and good? " nefs of the great Creator, who doubtlefs " defigned the pleafing harmony and me- lody of founds, to fvveeten and heighten the pleafures of human life, and to alle- " viate and difpel its cares." # But this fhews the neceffity of certain Rules to find out the dittances of founds, and adjuft them in fuch a manner as tq> produce melody. Were all founds, at whatever diftances from each other, equally concordant and harmo- nious ; I fee riot, that there would be any occafion for the intervention of any' fixed rules : But fince it is not fo, it is absolutely jiecefTary that there fhould be rules for the regulating our voices, djftinguifhing founds, and raeafuring notes. Now, is it poflible for us to fing together harmonioufly, unlefs we are regulated by fuch rules ? It is cafy to fee what diforder and confufion it would make for every one, without regard to any rule, to fing loud or low, ftrong or weak, quick or flow, jufl: as hepleafed. Singing in that manner, in an aiTcmbly, would be rather like the yellings of Bedlam, than the ^worfiiip of rational men. God. 9 Martin's Philofonh, Gram. ( n ) God, is a Godofcrder, and not of * eonfttji- on : and He requires rule and order a&ong all his worfhippers, and in every part of his worfhip. And as finging is a part of his worfhip, it ought to be performed in an orderly ruleable manner, lb that different voices may go together, unite, and produce harmony ; which never can be in finging, if only the mere dictates of uncultivated nature be followed. The rules of mufick, we muft acquaint ourfelves with, if we would fing together, fo as to make melody to the Lord, or pleafe ourfelves. We muft know the air of the tune- — the pitch of our voices, — and the length of our notes ; or we cannot fing harmonious and concordant. The Rules of mufick, are not mere arbitrary things, depending only upon the will of him that invents them ; but are founded in reafon, nature, and the order of things ; infomuch that they cannot be otherwife than they are, and produce fuch. an agreement in founds, as to be melodi- ous. And therefore that finging which i$ moft by rule, is raoft agreeable and fit, in the nature of things, to be offered to God, and for that reafon, moft acceptable unto him. It is eafy to infer from hence that any cujlom or manner of finging, practiced it* B 4 the ( 2 4 ) die Churches, that is contrary to the rul t es of mufick, fuch pratlice (unlefs fome grearer advantages accrue fome other way by it) muft be difagreeable to the mind and will of God. If God is a God of order, and a lover of harmony— and if finging by rule is the mod regular and harmonious finging— • then it is the raoft fit and proper, thajt fuch Ringing fhould be offered to njm ; apd we cannot fuppofe but that He would be beft pleafed with it. And no cuftom of finging that infringes upon the rules, or embarrafTes the fong, ought to be tolerated in the Church, unlefs fome greater advantages a- rife by fuch a cuftom fome other way, than •would do, t>y attending clofely to the rules of mufick. The cuftom of reading the Pfalm, line by line, as it is fung, is objected againft, by the greateft mailers of fong, as a violation of the rules of finging. But fo great are the advantages that are Vuppofed to accrue by that practice another way, that many are loth to give it up : and this in many places caufes great heat and contention. I fhall not think it amifs at this time, briefly to confider this matter, and fhall endeavour to give the arguments on both fides, their due weight, that we ma3 r better come to the knowledge ofourowndutvin this affair, As ( 25 ) As to matters of God's worfhip, we have nothing to direft us therein but his Word,— or the praflice of the primitive Churches,— or the expediency and fitnefs of things. — The Word of God is the only rule of conference; and no man can fay tfyat he can't in con- science, comply with any propofed pra&ice, unlefs he can fee fomething in the fcriptures .that forbids it : He may plead that his humour forbids it, but he can't plead conscience, un- lefs he finds fomething in the Bible, that directs him in the cafe. Now the Bible no where tells us, that the pfalrn (hall be read, line byline when wefing; nor is any thing there faid, that implies any fuch thing. It is well known to all that have looked into antiquity, and what was the cuflom of the Jewifh Church, that they never pra&ifed reading with forging : Indeed their tunes were fo contrived, that they would not ad- mit of fuch a pradice : They were fome- thing like our Anthems, f muflcal nctes were fet over the words in their pfalm-books, which directed their voices as they pronoun- ced the words in finging. Chiift and his Apoftleswere trained up in this manner of finging, and were able to fing together, as we find they did, at the inftitutiqn of the Lord's Supper. They did not form a new pale of mufick, but kept to that which was pracftifed upon in the Jewifh Church, As -j- See Dr,WATTs*s larger Pref. to his Verf, of the Pfalms, P. 17. ( 26 ) As to the primitive chriftians, we find not the leaft tittle to incline us to think that read- ing with Tinging, was ever practifed in a fingle inftance by them ; nor the leaft men- tion of any fuch officer as a Reader of the pfalm for the congregation, when finging ; and certainly it belonged not to the Deacons office, any more than to the office of any one elfe, — and yet fome of the writers of thofe times, profefledly give an account of the cufloms and frattices of chriftians in their publick worfhip ; fo that, if it had been the cuftom to read with finging, it is very unac- countable that they ihould fay nothing at all about it. And I believe I may fafely challenge any man to produce a fingle in- ftance, of thus reading with finging for about fifteen hundred years after Chrift.— I confefs I am unable to give a particular account how the practice firft came to take place in the chriftian churches : But the nioft probable conjecture is this.— When a reformation from popery took place, the pfalmody in the church of Rome was fo cor- rupted with popifh doctrines and fuperftitl- ons, that when the Reformers broke offfrorp her communion, they left their pfalm-books behind them : and whenever a verfion was publifhed according to the Trot 'eft ant fcheme, fpecial care was taken by the Tcj>e f to fup- pref* < W ) prefs all fkch tranflations : and in thofe countries where his influence moft.extended, Very few fuch pfalm-booits could be procur- ed : And as ignorance with them vjas the mother of devotion^ very few were taught to read, and fo unable to make ufe of pfalm- booksifthey had them. So that the chur- ches \yere obliged either to alter the manner of their finging/ or many of them lofe the patter of the fbng • For which reafon it is probable they firft allowed of reading with finging. But it appears that this practice never took place m moft of the reformed Churches. The pious Dr. Watts, who for his many fweet and heavenly fongs, and fupe- rior flail in finging, may fitly be called the Britifi David ; in his larger preface to his verfion of the Pfalms, fpeaking of other verfions of the Pfalms not being adapted to the ftate of the chriftian Church, fays thus upon it, f that " it renders the performance F 1 of pfalmody — -extremely troublefome irr " thofe aflemblies where the Pfalm is fung " without reading line by line, which yet V is beyond all exception the true ft andbefl V method" And in another place * he fays, — u It were to be wifhed that all Congre- V gations and private Families would fing Ji as they do, in foreign proteftant coun- " tries ? t P 3 ge 6* * Page 27. ( 23 ) " tries, without reading line by line— many " inconveniencies will always attend this " unhappy manner of Tinging." Thus he. Thus thofe who are in favor of Tinging without reading plead — that they have the example of God's ancient Church — the practice of Chrift and his Apoftles, and of the chriftian Church for fifteen hundred years together— that reading, is a violation of the rules of finging — interrupts the fong —hurts the melody and difappoints them of the pleafure of the mufick— that in a country where pfalm-books, may be had at fo cheap and eafy a rate, as among us, it is entirely needlefs to have itfo — -and if people would provide themfelves with books (as they ought to do) they would better takp the fenfe, and fee the connexion of one line andverfe, with another, than they poffibly can do by hearing ijt read line by line — all might better underftand the matter of the fong, and no interruption given to the manner of it. But on the other fide it is plead — That many people are poor, and unable to pur- chafe pfalm-books— that others are old, and unable to fee to read if they had them — that there are many young people and others, that can't fo well read, and they would take the ( ** ) , the Ccnk much better to have it read line by line: They plead alfo — that it has always been the pra&ice of our Fore-fathers in this Land — and that this finging without reading, is a new-found invention of Man— that it dis- turbs the peace of Churches and Societies, — - and (thofe that know no better, will fay- that it) is a leading ftep toTopety ; and that if they once begin to let in new things they know not where they fhall flop, — .and that fince they have reafon to believe that God has heard the prayers, and accepted the praifes of his people in this land, when they have worfhipped Him in the manner they now do, — and fince alfo, they cannot fee thzireading does give fuch an interruption to regular finging as is pretended ; — they can't fee their way clear to encourage the practice of finging without itv — -It is what they never heard of till of late, and they don't love to be given to change. — Thefe are their main objections. — Let us con- fider them, and fee what can be faid in anfwer to them. As to peoples being poor, and unable to purchafe pfalm-books ; there are enough that will engage to give to fuch as are not able to buy for themlelves : So that this ob- jection, is quickly anfwered. As ( 3° ) . . As for thofe that cannot fee to r£ad, or cannot read if they could fee ; doubtfefs' reading line by line may be fome advantage to them : but I prefume the number of fuch; is very fmall,— and there may be others that are deaf, and cannot hear, if it is read; and yet becaufe it is not cuitomary to carry pfalm-books to publick worfhip, they neg- lect it, for fear oi being looked upon as An- gular, and making their infirmity to be taken notice of by the affembly : Whereas if it had been cuftomary to carry books j (as it would have been, if there had been ho reading) they would have done it, and fo would always have been able to have taken the fenfe of the pfalm as it was fang. But further — confidering the difadvantages that attend finging wirh reading* it may juftly be queftioned, whether for the fake of a very few old people and perfons that cstri- not read, congregations are in duty bound to tolerate that pradice : We know of no fuch provifion that was made for their in- firmities, either in God's ancient Church, or by Chrift and his Apoftles, or by any of the primitive Churches : And if they did it not, it wiil be hard to prove that we are in duty bound to do it. I would condefcend as far for the fake of fuch, as is any way reafonable or convenient, but to do it at the expence ( 31 ) expence of the regular performance of that part of worlhip, and to the difad vantage of fo many others, is what I cannot fee fufficient reafon for. Befides, when once thofe perfons become better acquainted with the method, they will by the help of hearing the Pfalm once read over by the minifter, and attending to the fingers as it is fung, (if they fpeak the words as diftin&ly and plainly as they can, which they fhould be careful to do) I fay fuch perfons, and indeed all the congregation may under- stand the moll that is fung. So that read- ing with finging will be but of very little, if any advantage upon this account. As to the plea that it has been the uni- verfal praftice of oux Fore -fathers in this land, and that to fing without reading, is a new- found invention of men ; this is wholly a mif- take. — Mr. Ma t h e r, in hisRatioDifciplint, a book published above fifty years ago, tells us " that fome congregations where they had pfalm-books,fung without reading" and it is well known by thofe that have made due enquiry, that it was never pra&ifed in fome of the oldefl Churches in this land ; and and it is fo far from being a new invention,, that it is as o/^asChriflianity itfelf, and was the method pra&ifed by our Savior and his Apoftles : So that when we plead for it, we ( 3* ) we aik for no more, than what was the good old way — and it is to be hoped that all that are lovers of that way, will readily join with us. As for its making dtflurbances in the Church — It is generally obferved that thofe that are moft difturbed, are commonly fuch as know the leaft of the matter. There is no reformation that is ever fet on foot, even tho' it be from fuch grofs corruptions as Idolatry itfelf, but what will caufediftur- bances, and breed contention. The igno^ ranee of fome, the prejudice of others, and the wilfulnefs of more, will always raife oppofition : And what ! becaufe of this (hall we never attempt to reform ? we were unworthy the name of Chriftians if we did not. Indeed in matters of little or no con* fequence, it is not worth while to difturb the peace of focieties about them : And whether the thing now pleaded for, is worth contending about, I wiil not determine. —I hope none are for driving matters to extremity, or making fuch a point of it, as to difturb the peace of the fociety : — But then, one way, or the other may be moft agreable to the body of the people, and moft acceptable to God ; and it cannot be amils to confider what may be faid on both £des of the queftion i And l hope that every one ( 33 ) bhe will judge for hhnfelf^ and aft upon that fide where he fees the greateft light. As to its being a leading flep to pperj, and an inlet to innovations ; there is not the lead foundation, for fuch an aflertion : This is only the "Bug-bear of folly," and an out- try to difturb the minds of others. For what fort of connexion can any one fee, between finging without reading, and popery ? They may as well fay that the practice of primitive chriftianity led to popery. And if it is really a reformation in bur worfhip, to fing without reading, and a coming nearer to the practice of primitive chriftiansj we ought to rejoice in it, and be glad of fuch innovations every day. Doubtlefs God has heard the prayers, and accepted the praifeS of his people in this land, tho' they havd not fung in the manner that is now pleaded for. It is not every irregular practice in his vVorfhip that will caufe Him who is fo infinite in mercy, and feady to pardon to rejeft the prayers and praifes of his worfhippers. But altho' He has accepted the praifes of his people when performed in a lefs fuitable manner, it will not from thence follow, that they would not have been more acceptable, if they had been performed in a different manner : And therefore it can be no plea C for ( 34 ) for continuing that practice. Tho' the .pray- ers and praifes of a perfon not perfe&ly fandtified, may be acceptable to God \ yet it would be very wicked for the perfon to fay— that therefore, he will not prefs for- ward towards greater perfection ; for cer- tainly the nearer he gets to perfection, the better he performs his duty, and the more acceptably to God. Thefe are the main pleas that are made in favor of the prefent cuilomary way of finging' — you yourf elves, \ are to judge of the force of them, and of the anfwers given to them. Whether reading is a&ually an inter- ruption in finging — every one that has any tolerable acquaintance with the rules of finging, cannot but fee that it is. The like practice in any other part of divine wor- fhip, would be judged, I believe, as a great interruption. Should a line of Prayer be read, and then prayed over, and fo on — no one, I prefume would deny but that reading in that manner, was an interruption to praying : and I fee not, but it is as much Jo in finging — in both cafes the fong and the prayer, are equally interrupted by the reading. But fome may fay that they fhould notfo ftrongly obje&againft ihcpraftke of finging without ( $s ) without reading, if it was not for the con* tinning the Bafs and Treble between the Lilies, but this is fo much of found with- out fubftance, and founds fo odly and un- eouthly to them, that they cannot away with it : — But fuch fhould know and con- fider that this continuing has its advantages ; it keeps the mufick alive, fteadies the tune, and helps the better to ftrike into the fame pitch again — and therefore ought not to be found fault with. After all ; whatever the advantages are that accrue by the practice of reading the Pfalm, line by line as it is fung ; yet the difadvantages of it another way not yet mentioned, I think, are mere than a coun- ter-balance : This practice prevents many people from getting T/alm-bookr, which otherwife they would do : And for want of books in our Families,, neither the Heads of families nor children can acquaint them- felves fufficiently with our Tfalmody, nor have the benefit of it in their private devo- tions ; and this, among chriltians, is a cri- minal omiflion ; Our Pfalm-books are as neceffary in their place, as our Bibles; and it is what is enjoined upon chriflians by an infpired Apoftle f to teach and admonifh one another, in Pfalms, Hymns, and Spiri- C % ir^I f Col. iii. iO. ( H ) tual Songs. * Now how we can comply with this duty, and never have pfalms not hymns in our houfes, is hard to conceive. JBefides, children and young People,at their leifure hours would take delight in reading and committing many of them to memory, which would be of great fervice to them in future life : But for the want of them in our houfes, they are deprived of this pri- yiledge. Now fo far as the prefent practice, is an inducement to People to negle& pro- viding themfelves with books ; fo far it is hurtful to Religion* — and their not having books, infiead of being urged as an argu- ment for continuing the practice of read- ing ; it is (with me) one of the greateft arguments againft it, as thereby many are induced to neglc6t their duty in this affair,— But with regard to the manner of finging. I fhall ojjly add, T-g. That we fhould' carefully attend to tfot matter > as well as the manner of the fong. • Jfany are defirous of knowing the difference between Pfalnis, tlymns, and Spiritual Songs ; I (hall give it them, as I find them diftingui#ied in Leigh's Sacra Critica. Pfalms, con- tain exhortation to manners, or holy life. tljtnns y contain praifes to God, in the commemoration of his Benefits. Spiritual Songs, contain Doflrine of the Chief Good or Man's eternal Felicity. A Pfalm is a Ditty to be play'd Upon an Instrument j an Hymn is a fong to be uttered with ths voice only j'an Ode or Song, is a Ditty fitted for either way* See Leigh in Vocibus. ' ( 37. ) ibng. The apoftolick dircdion is to Jiug with grace in your hearts to the Lord ; And how lkilfully foever we may , tune our voices^ and how melodious foever our iinging may be in the ears of others ; yet if the matcer that we flag is neglected, and there is no fuitable affe&ion working in our hearts towards God — we are but as " founding brafs, and a tinkling cymbal ;" and we are fo far from making melody in his ear, that our fong is gratipg, difoo.rdaiu. and unharmonious ; becaufe, tho' with our voices we praife Him, yet our hearts are not right with Him. This is a capital point, and ought to be well considered ; for it is the very Thing that renders our praifes ac- ceptable unto Him : And in vain is our finging if it be not acceptable. — But I muft haften to a word of adurefs. — Firft, To the lingers in this congregation in particular ; and ffffHj to the affembly in general — -and fo conclude, Firft, — To the Singers. We rejoice to fee that under the good Inltrudions which you have lately had, in fo fliort a time, you have made fo great proficiency —the afliduity and diligence with which you have applied yourfelves to this laudable find ufcful it udy, is much to your honor. We ( 38 ) We flatter ourfelves, that what we now fee of your talents and accornplilhments for church mufick, is but a faint fpecimen of what your further improvements will bea- ble to prod uce — you will not reft at thofe mea- furescf knowledge to which you have alrea- dy attainedjbut prefs forward towards greater perfe&ion ; you would do well to keep up your meetings for this purpofe — -but be careful, at the fame time that you do not Jet one duty infringe upon another ; nor purfue finging fo as to neglefl prayer, or the duties of your particular callings ; — remember, you are in a world of trouble and temptation, in a date of trial and pro- bation, where fomething elfe is to be done, as well as finging ; it is only in Heaven that this is to be our main employment- — • Obferve fuch a decorum in thefe things, as that your^ca^ may not be evilfpoken of. — - It is by^oa, that the mcft fublime part of publick worfhip is to be performed — God is honoring you, by calling of you to dlf- charge this duty : In a fenfe He is making of you, his fpiritual priefts, to offer up, in his Church the fpiritual Sacrifices of praife unto Him ! fee then, that your behavior at all times, correfponds with fo high and ho- norable a chara&er. — Beware of every fin- ful thing — avoid that which is evil, and purfue ( 3? ) purfue that which is goad ; defile not yourfelvcs with any finful impurities, left, God have no refpeit unto your offerings : God requires fpiritual facrifices ; and that thofe who wprfhip Him, do it in fpirit and if truth. — D^n't let it be altogether your concern to have your voices rightly tuned, but look at your hearts and fee that they are tuned for God's worfhip ; fee that you make melody there unto Him. If you do not take care to have your Hearts right with Him, all is but: a hypocritical oblati- on, which is an abomination unto Him. — . Confider, how dreadful your cafe will be in the other world, if after you have fung God's praifes, in fuch melodious drains with your voices here^ you fhould be for- ever rejeded of Him, and fent to howl the doleful notes of the damned in hell. The more you relifh the charms of mufick, ttfe more tormenting will it be to you, to be forever deprived of them — to be banifhed that company, who fhali be forever praifing God in the molt rapturous (trains of melo- dy.— See that you live in peace with each other — you are lovers of concord and har- mony ; and it is no lefs delightful in a mora\ than it is in a pfufical fenfe. — If you meet with no difcouragements from the Society, (as I pray God you may not) if that part of divine worfhip is not well per- formed ( 4* ) formed, the blame will lie at your door. Be very careful to give your attendance upon thepublick worlhip— « remember, you have a part of it to carry on yourfelves and there — " Rehearfe his Praife with Awe profound; " Let Knowledge lead the Song ; " Nor mock him with a folemn found " Upon a thoughtlcfs- Tongue. N The Lord be with yon, and blefs .you. Secondly — To the AiTembly in general.— I hope there is none of us, but what wifh well to God's praifes, and rejoice to fee the improvements that are made in our Church mufick — and tho* there are fome of us, that have-not a talent that way, yet I hope all our hearts are in it : If fo, it may be laid of us,, as of the " morning ftars," t\\cy r fang together. Jf God has given to any of us a capacity and talent for finging his praifes, together with others, and yet we do not improve it, but let it reft and lie by neg- lected ; we are undoubtedly much to be blamed. It concerns us all to examine our talents this way, and to improve them, as we find God has given us ability. We are not to imagine that finging regularly is a ufelefs and unnecefiary aceomplifhment ; God has given to men voices, and a capa- city fo.r it, and requires us to worfhip him, by ( 4i ) by joining in concert, and finging harmoni- oufty. Bat if we can't fing ourfelves, be- fure we mu(l not difcourage this work ; fuch as do it, whatever they think of it now, will at laft be found fighting agairift God, and oppofers of his worfhip : May we all be directed to a