A34693:278
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
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.
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.
Answ. Though Constantine appointed a forme of Prayer to his Souldiers, (Euseb. lib. 4. de vit. Constantin. cap. 20.) yet wee doe not reade that hee limited them to the use of it; much lesse that formes of divine Service and Letanies were brought into the Church in his time, nor scarce of an hundred yeares after. Neither were Regular and Canonicall Singers brought into the Church in his time. The Councell of Laodicea which allowed them, and interdicted Psalmes composed by divers Christians, was neare about sixty yeares after him.
2. Their forbidding any to sing, but such as were appointed to sing, (Concil. Laodic. Can. 15.) though they did it to abuse the Peoples abuse of the Psalms by singing out of Tune; yet their care might better have been bestowed in learning the people to know and keep the Tune, and in advising such as had loud and strong voices, and were skilful of Song, to have led and kept the people in a decent melody. But otherwise for their prohibiting of singing of Psalms composed by private men, and the reading of any books in the Church, but the writings of the Prophets and Apostles, as they do in Canon 59. that so they might establish the reading of Scripture-books, and the singing of Scripture-Psalms. It is so far from superstition, that it tendeth rather to prefer divine Institutions, above humane Inventions. When they interdicted the Psalms composed by private Christians, whom they called Idiots, or as we call them in our language, simple fools. You are not ignorant that an Idol in their language signifieth no more but a private man; and in the same sense the Apostle himself useth it,