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

Object. 4. Besides it is to be noted, that Forms of divine Service and Litanies begun to be used at the same time, in many places. In the French Churches, and in Constantine's Cour• and Camp, both himself and his Soldiers using a Form of Prayer, the Churches (as is wont under Christian Magistrates) growing proud and lazy. At which time they had also their Regular and Canonical Singers appointed hereunto by Office: The Psalms composed by private Christians (whom they call Idiots) being interdicted in one and the same Council of Laodicea, till at length all was turned into a Pageant in the year 666. the fatal figure of Antichrist: it being impossible (as it seemeth) that the lively gifts of Gods Spirit in his people, should breath any longer when Forms are once set up in the Church, &c.

Object. 4. Besides it is to be noted, that Formes of divine Service and Letanies begun to be used at the same time, in many places. In the French Churches, and in Constantines Cour• and Campe, both himselfe and his Souldiers using a Forme of Prayer, the Churches (as is wont under Christian Magistrates) growing proud and lazie. At which time they had also their Regular and Canonicall Singers appointed hereunto by Office: The Psalmes composed by private Christians (whom they call Idiots) being interdicted in one and the same Counsell of Laodicea, till at length all was turned into a Pageant in the yeare 666. the fatall figure of Antichrist: it being impossible (as it seemeth) that the lively gifts of Gods Spirit in his people, should breath any longer when Formes are once set up in the Church, &c.

Answ. Though Constantine appointed a form of Prayer to his Soldiers, (Euseb. lib. 4. de vit. Constantin. cap. 20.) yet we do not read that he limited them to the use of it; much less that forms of divine Service and Litanies were brought into the Church in his time, nor scarce of an hundred years after. Neither were Regular and Canonical Singers brought into the Church in his time. The Council of Laodicea which allowed them, and interdicted Psalms composed by divers Christians, was near about sixty years after him.