2. In all Ages. This service of Singing to God was soon started in the World; Moses the first Penman of Scripture, he both Sung a Song, and Penned a Psalm, as we hinted before. In the Judges time, Deborah and Barak Sang a Triumphant Song, Judg. 5.1, 2, &c. During the time of the Kings of Judah, the Levites sang the praises of God in the Sanctuary. A little before the Captivity we find the Church praising God in Singing, Isa. 35.2. In the time of the Captivity, Israel did not forget the Songs of Zion, though they were in Babylon, Psal. 126.2. After their return from Captivity, we soon find them return to this joyous Service, Neh. 7.1. their long Exile had not banished this Duty. Towards the close of their Prophets prophesying, the Church is again engaged in this part of God's Worship, Zeph. 3.15, 17. In the beginning of the Christian Era, when the Gospel first made the World happy with its glorious shine, we find the primitive Christians much taken up in this Duty; Cyprian in his Epistle to Donatus, 1adviseth, That there may not be an hour of feasting without some Heavenly grace, and let every sober feast be accompanied with Singing of Psalms. And Chrysostom in his Commentary on the 41th Psalm admonishes all persons, Country-men, Marines, Weavers, &c. to sing Psalms and spiritual Songs. Estius cries out, Take notice of the custom of the Primitive Christians, who did not only sing Psalms and Hymns in their public Assemblies, but in their private Families. Eusebius relates, That Plinius Secundus in an Epistle he wrote to Trajan the Emperor makes mention, that the Christians of those times being gathered together before day, Sang Hymns and Praises to Christ, as to a God. This was about the year 98 after the birth of our Saviour: Those early and more pure times rejoiced in this Duty. Nicephorus tells us, that Chrysostom caused Psalms to be Sung for the suppression of the Arian Heresy. And Ruffin witnesseth, That Basil commanded the people to meet for the pouring out of their prayers to God, and for singing of Psalms to the Most High. The worthy Junius informs us, That the Eastern Church from the time the Sun of Righteousness arose in the East did propagate the practice of Singing of Psalms to successive Generations. And Paulinus testifies,2 That this practice overspread every Province of the Western Church.
2. In all Ages. This service of Singing to God was soon started in the World; Moses the first Penman of Scripture, he both Sung a Song, and Penned a Psalm, as we hinted before. In the Judges time, Deborah and Barak Sang a Triumphant Song, Judg. 5.1, 2, &c. During the time of the Kings of Judah, the Levites sang the praises of God in the Sanctuary. A little before the Captivity we find the Church praising God in Singing, Isa. 35.2. In the time of the Captivity, Israel did not forget the Songs of Zion, though they were in Babylon, Psal. 126.2. After their return from Captivity, we soon find them return to this joyous Service, Neh. 7.1. their long Exile had not banished this Duty. Towards the close of their Prophets prophesying, the Church is again engaged in this part of God's Worship, Zeph. 3.15, 17. In the beginning of the Christian Aera, when the Gospel first made the World happy with its glorious shine, we find the primitive Christians much taken up in this Duty; Cyprian in his Epistle to Donatus, 1adviseth, That there may not be an hour of feasting without some Heavenly grace, and let every sober feast be accompanied with Singing of Psalms. And Chrysostome in his Commentary on the 41th Psalm admonishes all persons, Countrey-men, Marrines, Weavers, &c. to sing Psalms and spiritual Songs. Estius cries out, Take notice of the custome of the Primitive Christians, who did not only sing Psalms and Hymns in their publique Assemblies, but in their private Families. Eusebius relates, That Plinius Secundus in an Epistle he wrote to Trajan the Emperour makes mention, that the Christians of those times being gathered together before day, Sang Hymns and Praises to Christ, as to a God. This was about the year 98 after the birth of our Saviour: Those early and more pure times rejoyced in this Duty. Nicephorus tells us, that Chrysostome caused Psalms to be Sung for the suppression of the Arrian Heresie. And Ruffin witnesseth, That Basil commanded the people to meet for the pouring out of their prayers to God, and for singing of Psalms to the Most High. The worthy Junius informs us, That the Eastern Church from the time the Sun of Righteousness arose in the East did propagate the practice of Singing of Psalms to successive Generations. And Paulinus testifies,2 That this practice overspread every Province of the Western Church.
- 1Nec est hora Convivii Caelestis gratiae immunis, Sonet Psalmis convivium Sobrium. Cypr.
- 2Per omnes penè Occidentis provincias manasse refert. Paulin.
