A34693:101
Singing of Psalms a Gospel-ordinance, or, A TreatiseSinging of Psalmes a Gospel-ordinance, or, A Treatise
Singing of Psalms a Gospel-ordinance, or, A Treatise wherein are handled these particulars 1. Touching the duty itself, 2. Touching the matter to be sung, 3. Touching the singers, 4. Touching the manner of singing / by John Cotton ...Singing of Psalmes a Gospel-ordinance, or, A Treatise wherein are handled these particulars 1. Touching the duty itselfe, 2. Touching the matter to be sung, 3. Touching the singers, 4. Touching the manner of singing / by John Cotton ...
London: printed for J.R., 1650
OF THE SINGING OF PSALMS. › Chapter 5OF THE SINGING OF PSALMES. › Chapter 5
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.
2. It is not credible, that Christ never used the Psalms of David and Asaph for spiritual Songs. For the use of those Psalms for Songs, was doubtless a part of Gods worship whilst the Temple stood. And if Christ had neglected any part of that worship▪ which was then in force, how then did himself say, That it became him to fulfil all righteousness? Mat. 3.15.
2. It is not credible, that Christ never used the Psalmes of David and Asaph for spirituall Songs. For the use of those Psalmes for Songs, was doubtlesse a part of Gods worship whilest the Temple stood. And if Christ had neglected any part of that worship▪ which was then in force, how then did himselfe say, That it became him to fulfill all righteousnesse? Mat. 3.15.
Besides, many things Jesus did and said (and so did the Apostles) which are not written in the Gospel nor Acts nor Epistles, Joh. 21.25. And yet this is said, that he with his Disciples sung ⟨p. 25⟩an Hymn, Mat. 26.30. And Hymns is the general title for the whole Book of Psalms; For though it be translated, The Book of Psalms, yet every one that knoweth that language, knoweth the word is, The Book of Hymns: So that look, as when in ordinary speech we say, They sung a Psalm, we mean one of the Psalms of David or Asaph, (unless some other be named) because such are wont to be sung in ordinary use; So when the Evangelists say, Christ and his Disciples sung an Hymn, the people of God would not easily understand any other but one or more of Davids Hymns, because such were wont to be the ordinary songs used in the worship of God. And surely if Christ and his Disciples had sung any other Hymn, then one of these Psalms of David and Asaph, which were wont to be sung in their Temples and Synagogues, the Evangelists who are wont to record far less matters in things which pertain to Gods worship, they would not have omitted the substituting of an Hymn indited for this special occasion, in stead of the Hymns wont to be sung in the end of the Passover.