Singing of Psalms a Gospel-ordinance, or, A TreatiseSinging of Psalmes a Gospel-ordinance, or, A Treatise

CHAP. XI. Of Reading the Psalms in order to Singing.

CHAP. XI. Of Reading the Psalmes in order to Singing.

The last scruple remaining in the manner of singing, Concerneth the order of singing after the Reading of the Psalms. For it is doubted by some, and concluded by others that reading of the Psalms is not to be allowed in order to singing. We for our parts easily grant, that where all have books and can read, or else can say the Psalm by heart, it were needless there to read each line of the Psalm before hand in order to singing. But if it be granted, which is already proved, that the Psalms to be ordinarily sung in Public, are Scripture-Psalms, and those to be sung by the body of the Congregation. Then to this end it will be a necessary help, that the words of the Psalm be openly read before hand, line after line, or two lines together, that so they who want either books or skill to read, may know what is to be sung, and join with the rest in the duty of singing; It is no unwarrantable invention of man, brought into the worship of God, to make use of such means, which the light of Nature teacheth us▪ to be either necessary or convenient helps, either to the hearing or understanding of what it said in the worship of God. Scaffolds erected in Meeting houses are inventions of men; no express precept, nor example in Scripture calleth for them; and yet the light of Nature easily suggesteth it, that they help to hearing, and so to edification, in as much as they draw multitudes of people to sit within the Ministers voice; That which helpeth the very outward sense of hearing, helpeth also knowledge and understanding, and so edification. And therefore no man taketh exceptions at Scaffolds as inventions of men▪ though they be used to help forward Gods worship, and spiritual edification; because they are not brought in, nor used for spiritual means immediately▪ but remotely, so far as they are fit to help the outward sense of hearing and so understanding. Of like use is reading in order to