A02990:86
A friendly trial of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest…A friendly triall of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest…
A friendly trial of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest dispute touching the lawfulness of a stinted liturgy and set form of prayer, Communion in mixed assemblies, and the primitive subject and first receptacle of the power of the Keys: tending to satisfy the doubtful, recall the wandering, and to strengthen the weak: by John Ball.A friendly triall of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest dispute touching the lawfulnesse of a stinted liturgie and set form of prayer, Communion in mixed assemblies, and the primitive subject and first receptacle of the power of the Keyes: tending to satisfie the doubtfull, recall the wandering, and to strengthen the weak: by John Ball.
Cambridge: printed by Roger Daniel printer to the University of Cambridge for Edward Brewster, 1640Cambridge: printed by Roger Daniel printer to the Universitie of Cambridge for Edward Brewster, 1640
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
In the new Testament we have no precedent for the manner of singing recorded in scripture:1 and in the primitive churches following the Apostles times it was various,2 according to the custom of several nations; sometimes by one, the rest hearing; sometimes by course or quire-wise, as the women answered the men, Exod. 15. (See Jun. Exod. 15.) and sometimes by the whole multitude; and sometimes it was but like fair long reading, with modulation of the voice. The primitive Fathers therefore did not judge it necessary that the psalms should be sung by the whole multitude that were present. And if it be necessary, yet is not a prescribed form in that respect necessary. In preaching and prayer both, before that people can join with the minister, a stinted form of words is necessary; and this is all can be said of singing. This or that form prescribed is ⟨p. 61⟩necessary in neither; a stinted form is necessary in both. The people cannot sing with the minister, unless what is to be sung be represented unto them in a set form of words; nor can they join in prayer, or attend to the word preached, unless the matter of prayer or preaching be conveyed to their understanding in a set form of words. Is a minister able to express the necessities of the people or the doctrine of salvation in a form of words devised and studied by himself, and is he not able by meditation and study to dictate or compose a psalm to be sung by the people as occasion requireth? And if he be able to compose a psalm, in respect of the form of words and method, is not a stinted form of singing a devised help, an arbitrary help to him, and so forbidden, as it was said of prayer? Christ hath given gifts unto his ministers for preaching and prayer; hath he not for singing of psalms also? And if it be a dishonour to Christ (as some affirm) that they should use a form of prayer devised by others, is it not a dishonour likewise that they should use a form of singing devised by others, as not enabled with gifts of themselves to furnish the necessities of the church? When prescribed and set forms of psalms were necessary in the church of the Jews, did the Lord commit this office to the priests, Levites, or ordinary officers of the church, or to the prophets extraordinarily inspired and called of God to this purpose?