A18078:914
A reply to an answer made of M. Doctor Whitgifte Against the admonition to…A replye to an ansvvere made of M. Doctor VVhitgifte Against the admonition to…
A reply to an answer made of M. Doctor Whitgifte Against the admonition to the Parliament. By T.C.A replye to an ansvvere made of M. Doctor VVhitgifte Against the admonition to the Parliament. By T.C.
printed by John Stroud?, 1573
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
TO pas by the profane proverb here used / which matcheth mad men & women / & children together / most unseemly for a D. of divinity / especially handling divine matters: for the singing of psalms by course / and side after side / although it be very ancient / yet it is not commendable / and so much the more to be suspected / for that the devil hath gone about to get it so great authority / partly 1by deriving it from Ignatius time / and partly in making the world believe / that this came from heaven / and that the angels were heard to sing after this sort / which as it is a mere fable / so is it confuted by historiographers / whereof some ascribe the beginning of this to Damasus / some other unto Flavianus & Diodorus. From whence so ever it came / it can not be good / considering that when it is granted y• all the people may praise God (as it is in singing of psalms) there this ought not to be restrained unto a few / & where it is lawful both with hart and voice to sing the whole psalm / there it is not mete that they should sing but the one half with their heart and voice / and the other with their heart only. For where they may both with heart and voice sing / there the heart is not enough. Therefore besides the incommodity which cometh this way / in that being tossed after this sort / men can not understand what is song / these other two inconveniences come of this form of singing / and therefore is banished in all reformed churches.
TO pas by the prophane prouerbe here vsed / which matcheth mad men & women / & children togither / most vnsemely for a D. of diuinity / especially handling diuine matters: for the singing of psalmes by course / and side after side / although it be very auncient / yet it is not commēdable / and so much the more to be suspected / for that the deuil hath gone about to get it so great authority / partly 1by deriuing it from Ignatius time / and partly in making the world beleue / that thys came from heauen / and that the angels were heard to sing after thys sorte / whych as it is a mere fable / so is it confuted by hystoriographers / whereof some ascribe the begynning of thys to Damasus / some other vnto Flauianus & Diodorus. Frō whēce so euer it came / it can not be good / considering that when it is graūted y• all the people may praise God (as it is in singing of psalmes) there this ought not to be restrained vnto a few / & wher it is lawful both wt hart and voyce to sing the whole psalme / there it is not mete yt they should sing but the one halfe wyth their heart and voice / and the other with their heart only. For where they may both wyth heart and voice sing / there the heart is not enough. Therfore besides the incommodity whych commeth thys way / in that being tossed after thys sort / men can not vnderstande what is song / these other two inconueniences come of thys forme of singing / and therfore is banyshed in all reformed churches.