A27939:16
Mr. Richard Baxter's paraphrase on the Psalms of David in metre with other hymns…
Mr. Richard Baxter's paraphrase on the Psalms of David in metre with other hymns / left fitted for the press by his own hand.
London: printed for Thomas Parkhurst, 1692
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.
And Godly Families have still been differenced from the ungodly by open singing the Praises of God, when the other sing wanton and idle Songs. Good Christians will not (among Christians at least) be ashamed, that such Psalms of Praise be heard by their Neighbours into the Streets, when Players, or Ballad-singers are not ashamed▪ more openly ⟨image 5⟩to sing amorous, foolish, ungodly, or abusive Songs. Our Psalms in Metre were set forth by Authority, to be used both in Church and House, laying apart all ungodly Songs and Ballads, &c.
§ 3. Some stumble at the singing of David's Psalms, because there are many words not suited to their case. But, 1. May they not as well scruple reading or saying them in Prose? Singing them in Metre, is no more an owning of all we say, as our case, than saying or reading them is. And by that reason they must not say, the Songs of Moses, the Book of Job, Canticles, Lamentations, or the Gospel-Hymns, or Scripture-Prayers. 2. That may be recited as the common case of the Church, yea, or as a Narration of his case that wrote them, which is not spoken as of our selves. 3. And if this satisfy not, such may choose at home Psalms suitable to them, and in the Church be silent at the words which they dare not speak.
§ 3. Some stumble at the singing of David's Psalms, because there are many words not suited to their case. But, 1. May they not as well scruple reading or saying them in Prose? Singing them in Metre, is no more an owning of all we say, as our case, than saying or reading them is. And by that reason they must not say, the Songs of Moses, the Book of Job, Canticles, Lamentations, or the Gospel-Hymns, or Scripture-Prayers. 2. That may be recited as the common case of the Church, yea, or as a Narration of his case that wrote them, which is not spoken as of our selves. 3. And if this satisfie not, such may choose at home Psalms suitable to them, and in the Church be silent at the words which they dare not speak.