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M. aSfORMH) PlU58BTTiaU15 ■INISTBB, C0RNWJLIU9, H. 8. ■•»• SAINT JOHN, N. B. PBIMTXD BY BARNES * COMPANY, rtmcB wnxuM snnr. 1856. ;^>>*^^:*>:i^ ^ V "•►' \ rilEFACK. The following pages are mcreh' a repiiiil, with n parliHl change of arrangement, and the addition of a few Noto^ of k pamphlet published in the year 1884. The original publiention had special reference to tlie practice of the Presbyterians of King'a Count}', in the Province of Nova Scotia, among vhoiii the author came to reside the previous year, and who formerly used Watts' Imitation of the Psalms of David, in conjunction with the Paraphrases appended to the Songs of Zion also, under the auspices of the Established Kirk of Scotland. The writer considers it one of the happiest circumstances of his life, that he was honoured by the Head of the Church to be instrumental in leading I'resbyterians, within the sphere of his labours, to exclude the Songs of Watts and introduce those of the Sweet Singer of Israel, and that the fruit of his labour shall abide, whatever change may pass upon his position or his prospects. The title of the original work, — "The Psalms of David, designed for standing use in the Church," — did not express all that was intended by it ; being quite consistent with the use of \ininspired Songs together with the Psalms. The object of the writer was, and is, to shew that the Psalms of David are not only to be used in the celebration of the praises of God in the Church, but that they are to be used to the exclusion of all other songs ; even such as are found in the Divine Word. To iv rUKIACE. many tl»Is position mny npponr so utlcrly extrnvngniit tlint it dcxH not «leHt'i've to be seriously cntertaiiiei]. Tliere are men \vlio seein to claim for themselves an intuitive perception of Nvlial is nccuratc in principle and correct in practice, whilst otliors roi.'ognisp, before they form a decided judgment, tlie iiec^'ssity of instituting a careful, or even a laborious investiga* tion : and those, of course, cannot condescend to take any step wliit.li implies a doubt, I do not say of the infallibility of their own judt/tnfnt, but of the justness of their own opinion. An attempt to procure the introduction, into the Presbyterian Cijurch of Mova Scotia, of allymn Book, published under tho 5«arKM«ion of the united Presbyterian Church of Scotland, led to the consideration of the propriety; of bringing again into public notice ti>e claims of Zion's Songs. There are ministers in that holy, of clear heads and sound hearts, by whom the propose*! inriovatiou will be firmly opposed, not merely as an innovation, (of which no man ought to be afraid), but as an invasion of the purity of a Divine ordinance. Still, in a state of society where tho general practice of the Church has remained long unques- tioned, many grow up very little, if at all, acquainted with the principles by which the practice is sustained; and such are scarcely prepared to meet a challenge of its Scriptural charac- ter. ^Novelty always has charms, especially captivating to the yciinii, and in the absence of accurate and adequate knowledge of its origination, the prejudice in favour of a custom easily' yields to the gratification of the desire after what is new. The adversary elaborates his schemes in seasons of quiet security, ard promulgates them, but not till the public mind has been lea- vened, and those ttrho have fought a good fight have left their places to others, strangers at once to their trials and success. Joshua, and the Elders who outlived Joshua, must have entered into their rest, before the meretricious adornments of an idol rKKKAcr Is. id )1 ;^ tj oai. \ji' Buoco?9fuily presented before the eyes of liio |tooj)Io uf Israel. We have rcnsoii to fear, from the al/^oticc of nil jiuUlii? ft|;itatioii of the suhject of Psalmody, that there may bo fumul among younger ministers, older ones who fe«'l llieui- selves already comproniitteO, and that amongst the youth oi' the (Miurch generally, aomo disposed to entertain fuvonrably llio propojiil to introduce, at least as a compaidon of David's Psalini<. a livMin liook, which, if introduced at all, shall evontunlly be tuuud claiming and taking possession of the whole house The writer does not apprehend a serious charge of uuwar- rnntnble interference in the matters of other churches, in con- beqticnce of putting forth his reasons, at this crisis, for adhering to the exclusive use of David's Psalms in the Church. It is a Hubjoct of deep regret, that the severance of Cliristian from rhristinn, ari^ing out of a divided judgment upoti a few points, more or le.«s important, should interf^rr with their co-operation upon common ground. The Author recognises the duty and the privilege of such co-opc»*ation without the feeblest desire to cross a dividing line, hoirij individual, who loves the Truth for the >iake of Ilim who is Tnif, and loves Zion for the sake of Zion's King, will be found helping, by every Scripturol means, any «>thcr in the maintenance of a faithful testimony for a single art'cle t>f revealed doctrine. His supreme respect i.» the Word of God must trend down the strongest sectarian predelictions. And he has a right to expect the support of the other in stri- ving for the fuith of the Gospel. The subject of Psalmody, or tilt* question, in particular, of the songs that may with pro- priety be sung in the social worship of God, is common : for there is no class of evangelical Christians, which does not jeoog- nise the song as a part of religious service ; the sou^, whether it is sung by the assembled worshippers, by the choir, who make us forget the spirituality of the service in the captivating channd PRKFACF. J * t I of the rnnsic, or by the subsflitutioniiry hireling <>i ii proni fonnnli!*tn. Th«? great body of l're?l)ytorians in Xovn Scoii.i, — iiitlrrd over nil CliriHlendom, — who use iXivid'.* INjihriS, iHf, in i'(ii)n<'<'ti<»rt with thctn, Pnrnphrnsea of select port ions of Seriplnrc, or Hymns eotnpostd on distinct Scriptural topic3. Now, uhi the lirm conviction issubnnitted, with all dcf'-rcrice, not to tlu* do^x- inati»ni but to the roasoninij'?, of lhos«? of ihecontrnry |i«rt, tluit the special claims of the Songs of Zion must either lnMibamloru-d, or their crcfimvc cdaims mnintftined, the hope !■» entertainetl, that 80 soon as men of intelligence nnd piety tind thcrnsclv.s shut up to the investigation of the topic, the}' shall be I<.*d t<> see tJje necessit}' of abandoning, or removing out of the wav, a beautiful montimcnt it may be, tipon the wall, bccaii.-'e it is found to interfere with the range of shot from gnnf, leveled fi>r the defence of the city. Stranger things have hap|><'ned, iImu that an attempt to supersede, or elboio oiif, the Sonus of Zion, HhouUI eventually procure for them a more unrestricted liberty of the house of worship. That Hymn Books, having no elaitu to inspiration, attempting a forcible or a fawning entrance among Presbyterians, in being ejecterases with them, is a " consummation devoutly to be wished." The introduction and general use of Watts' compositions never secured that general and interested attention to the momentoun change involved, which might have been expeeteil. What "Watts never intended, when he inscribed, "The Psalms of David Lnitatrd,'* upon his title page, his admirers and advocates have done; and by a most unwarrantable ruse, or equally unjusti- fiable inattention and ignorance, they claim for Watts a wel- come, simply as a more elegant versifier of an inspired collect ion of songs. In justification of the present appearance, it may not be out PRFFArK. vii •It" |)lftO<» liorc, to intro«luf it. Many • tf those who nre the warmest advocates of an uninspired l**a!- rnotly, are also the forward advocate.^ of union nuion^ I'rof''«- sors. It may ho presumed, they wish to tind men porfei^tly joined together in the same mind and in the same .juf the musical, as of all the other powers of man, hv which God is dishonoured, not praised, — by TNTROT>rrrORY. 11 wliicli he is o.Teiuled, not pleased. If we ascribe to God in our Song, that wliich lie does not claim ibr himself, if we exhibit a false view of the per- fections of his character, of the doctrines of his wc>rd, or of the duty of man, instead of giving glory to God and being exercised according to Godliness, we are bestowing honour upon the creature of our own imagination, and ministering to the interests of error and con*uption. The spirit and the lan- guage of the Song must harmonize with the object which is contemplated in singing it, otlierwise the object is forfeited, if not entirely, at least in tl)at degree, to which the poet has deviated from -the ])roposed design. If these remarks be admitted (and I am not aware of any exception to which they lie open), it follows that we can duly praise an infinitely perfect God, only in the use of Songs which are infallibly correct, and if infallibly cor- rect, such alone as have been given by the Spirit of the Highest. And when there are not songs supplied by the Holy Spirit, we must either bo silent, or expose ourselves to the probable displea- sure of the Lord, w^hile we offer perhaps the blind < »r the lame in sacrifice. Our present object is to strive to show that the Church is furnished with a collection of Songs by the spirit of inspiration, which is designed for her use in every age, and in every situation, and is no less adapted to every age and situation in which the Church may be found, than designed for her ust». It Is unnecessary to sav, that the collection to which 12 INTRODUCTORY. I have reference, is that which forms a constituent part of the Old Testament, and is entitled The Book of Psalms. Our appeal, for a decision of the important ques- tion, respecting the matter of the Praises of God in the Churches, is to the Scriptures, and to the Scrip- tures alone. The question is neither what has been, nor what is, but what ought to be, the practice of the Church. Little importance can be attached to the practice of the ancient Church, even if it could be definitely ascertained ; since the New Tes- tament furnishes so many melancholy evidences, that, when the Apostles wei'e yet alive, some of the churche#liad become corrupt both in doctrine and order; and the mysterj' of iniquity, which was des- tined to enslave the world and leave but an afflicted and poor remnant free, was already at work. Few have access to the means of minute information upon the subject of ancient and medieval customs ; and the statements of general historians are, u]X)n many points, hastily made, and to be received with much caution. Mosheim, for instance, informs us (1) that in the fourth century, "Among the public Hymns the Psalms of David were now received ;" when the fact seems to be that Psahnody^ as a part of the public service, was then first introduced into the western churches. Tlie statement of Calvin is this (2): "Yet, that it (singing) was not universal, is proved by Augustine, who relates that in the time of Ambrose, the Church at Milan first adopted (1) Inst. IT. chap. 4, §4. (2) First B. iii. chap. 80, §32. INTRODUCTORY. l:^ tlie practice of singing, wlien during the persecu- tion of the orthodox faith by Jiistina, the mother of Valentinian, the people were unusually assiduous in their vigils ; and that the other western churches followed. For he had just before mentioned that this custom had been derived from the East." It is true, that the argument about to be presented in this small production opposes, either wholly or j)artially, the very general practice of the Churches, i^erhaps the only Churches which, as such, use the J'salms of David exclusively, in public woi'sliip, are the Associate and the Associate Reformed in the United States, original Seceders in Britain, and the Reformed Presbyterians in both thef Eastern and Western Continents ; and what afe they among the multitudes who absolutely exclude those Psalms, or use them with additions from various sources.' If moral and Scriptural questions were to be decided by suffrage, the voice of the few who contend foi* the exclusive use of David's Psalms would not l)e heard amidst the loud acclamation of the over- whelming majority in favour of something else, or anything else, in the form of a devotional compo- sition adapted to music. Tlie argument derived from practice would just have been as good, as in the case before us, against the Apostles, against the Waldenses, against the Reformers. But Chris- tians cannot bow before the idols of the nations, because they are outnumbered by Pagans; and Protestants do not hold themselves bound to recog- nise the claims of the "man of sin," because his ill ■I u INTiiODL'CTOUV. adherents are more minieroiis than tlieuiselves. The voice of the multitude shall establish the right of Diana of the EphesiaiH to divine lionours, and )mpletely vindicate Pilate, in delivering Jesus to 1). th •thh crucified. As if to demonstrate ness of majorities, in the determination of a question of right, there never was a case, in which puhlic opinion was better undei-stood, or more une((ui vo- cally expressed, than when Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and people of Israel, con- curred in dooming to an ignominious death, the man '* who did no sin,'' all whose words were those (»f truth, and whose acts, in all his course, were in exact conformity to a perfect law. It argues a singular mental obtuseness, or moral obli(piity, when professoi's of religion discover a disposition to tilt those who are opposed to them, by throwing majorities into the scale of evidence. They forget the Scripture doctrine that "the carnal mind is enmity against God, and not subject to his law," that conse([uently "great men are not always wise,'' whu attach special importance to talents, learning, or age and experience, indei)endent of the moral tpialitication tliat has its origin in the renovated nature, in the settlement of the claims of the Lord flesus, in his own house. As talented, as learned, aselo([uent,as influential men as the world has ever seen, have been arraved on the side of undisguised intidelity. The most destructive errors, and the juost nnscri]»tural institutes, can claim as supporters. INTIiuDUCToKV. 15 as originators, many wlio arc enrolled with the »>reat of the world, — of the Church. Piety, genuine, unatfected ^/^V^y, docs nut giN c to its jx^sscssor a right ta take posserssion of the throne of i ud ijmeiit. There are none, whose attainments in knowledge are so elevated, that they ressing . ix. 6. hl:i grief for the unbehef and approaching separa- tion of his Jewish brethren, by natural descent, Israelites : and to prevent any misconception res- pecting the promises of God made to Israel, and registered in the Scriptures, he states, in the con- chision of the verse, and proves in the subsequent vei'ses, that the appellation Israel, does not properly belong to all who are of tlie Israelitish nation, and that consequently the trutli of the Scripture jpromise^ or of the Word of God^ is not aiFected by the taking away of the Kingdom of God from some who might inherit, according to natural descent, the name Israel. When our Lord is called to answer for himself and his disciples, in neglecting the tradition of the elders, he replies, "Laying aside the Cmrv- mandinent of God^ ye hold the tradition of men." And again, " making the Word of God of none effect, through your tradition." (1) Wliat holy men of God spake, being moved by the Holy Ghost, is described as the Word of God, The Word of God, Samuel shewed to Saul. " The Word of tihe Lord came to Nathan." " The Ward of God came unto John in the Wilderness," and it was the " Word of God'^^ which Peter and John, being filled with the Holy Ghost, spake with those of their own company whom they joined, after their deliverance out of the hands of the chief Priests. Tliat God is, in the strictest sense of the word, the author of the Decalogue, will be readily admit- ted. Now the Scripture generally is ascribed to (1) Mack Til. 8-13. ' i'i' ■Mi I f' I:, ■; ; Jil 20 CHARACTERISTICS God, not only in terms eqnally stron*^, I)ut in the very same terms in which tlie ten commandments are a8cril)ed to him. Tlie fact that the matter and words are his, is the same, whether tlie writing be executed by God immediately, or whether men bo employed to perform the penmanship. Conceming the decalogue we read, ^^ God spake all these words." " And Moses turned, and went do^vn from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in liis hand ; the tables were written on both their sides ; on the one side and on the other were they written. And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables." (1) Let us now hear what terms are used with refer- ence to other portions of Scripture. "6^) How common the words, " Tluu saith the Lord," by which the prophets introduce their addresses to the people! How striking the reproof which is directed against pretendei*s to insi)iration who u«e their own tongues and say '* He saith." The pro- ] >hets possess no higher character than organs by which God was i)leased to address the i)eople. Divine communications are clothed in language divinely imparted. Mark the singular language of .John tlie Baptist, when the "Jews sent Priests and Levites to ask him, who art thou? And he con- fesseil and denied not ; but confessed, I am not tlie Christ. And they asked him what then ? Art thou Klias^ and he saith, I am not. Art thou that ])ropliet^ and he answered. No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an niiswer to them that sent us. What sayest tliou of tlivsLjlf ? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the i.(»rd." (4) The Apostles of the Lord occupied the same place with tlie i>rophets. Tliey were merely the instni- :iionts l)y whom (iod chose to communicate his will — to ,yK'(fJi his word. The commission which thev , n Arts iii. 21 . (2) Acta i. 10 ; xxviii. 25. (3) Ileb. ill. 7. (4) John 1. 19—23. I i;' •isi : ( i ii CHARACTERISTICS received from the Son of God implies this. "Teach- ing them to observe all things, whatsoeiwr f <^ni- vuituled youP Tliey must not, in tlio fulfilment of the important tnist committed to them, depart from Jerusalem, till the spirit descend upon them froin above, to teach them all things, and to bring all things to their remembrance, that they had hoard from the Saviour while he was yet with them. They are not permitted to trust to the accuracy of their own judgment, nor to the strength of their own memory. Tlie Apostles considered themselves so moved and directed that the words which they spake were of God, who put his Spirit within them. "When," says Paul to the Thessalonians, "yo received the wm'd of God which ye heard of uft, yo. received it not as the M'ord of men, but as it is in truth, the ward of God."' And to the Galatians : " I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached of me is n/)t after rmm. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by tJie revelation qfJesiis ChristP Again to the (Corin- thians : " Since ye seek a proof of Christ S2)eakin(f in t}uy Let us now hear Peter. " Tlie ^vord of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word, which by the Gospel is preached unto you." "This second epistle, I now write unto you ; that ye may be mindful of the words which Avere spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour." In the latter verse he identifies himself and fellow Apostles with the holy prophets, in point of inspiration. Are OF INSniUTION. 2?. tlic «lisc'i|)le8 to l>e miinltul of tlic words of tlic pro- phets ^ So are they to be mindful of the words of Ai>oHtleH. Does the word uttered by a prophet proceed from (rod { So does tiie word of an A]»ostl<'. More mi^ht be added, w( re itnecessarv, tu shew that tlie inspiration of the Old and New Testaments itiiplies, that their contents are just M'hat (l(»d was ]»leased to communicate to us for our instruction, that they are exhibited in that order which (i<»d was j>lea8ed to artivassive. Every part of his works, in (\artii and air and sea, is subject to his control, and may be employed to do his work. Still every thing acts according to the laws, to which, in its produc- tion and preservation, it has been subjected by the Creator. A guilty world is to be made desolate for tlm sins of them that dwell therein. Tlie Lord gives his commission to the clouds of heaven. They ij;{ithor like armies mustering for the battle, and ]>our dovm their streams upon terrified thousands. The fountains of the deep bui'st forth, and unite tlieir waters with those descending from above, to swell the deluge to the overwhelming of a degene- rate and impious generation. Tlie Kings who fought against the allies of Israel must experience a defeat, too signal to be accomplished by the forces led on by Joshua; and God sends the hailstones down upon the retreating armies. lie might have com- manded them to execute his will, as balls discharged fvoni the cannon's mouth, or stones projected from u. sling, but this would have been contraiy to the OF INSPIEATIO^^ 25 untaiy, )w Gofl lom he it of lliri that ho stances, 3 never t, inani- orks, in rol, and ry thini!: produc- [jtecl by for the rd ^ves . Tliey ;tle, and onsands. id unite >ove, to degene- fought a defeat, ! led on s down ,ve coni- charged ;ed from y to the natural law of their movement. Hailstones natn- i-ally descend. They derive their impetus from tlio ])Ower of gravitation, and no force, additional to that gathered in their descent, is required to destroy those on w^hom they fall. When iiery serpents art* sent in among the Israelites, they bite the guilty tribes. Tliere was needed no enchantment to alhire them. " There came forth two she-l)eai*8 from the wood and tare forty and two children of tliem" that mocked Elisha the prophet, and whom he lia