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

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, 1 Cor. 14.16. though the Translators turn it unlearned.

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 Psalmes by singing out of Tune; yet their care might better have been bestowed in learning the people to know and keepe the Tune, and in advising such as had lowd and strong voyces, and were skilfull of Song, to have led and kept the people in a decent melody. But otherwise for their prohibiting of singing of Psalmes composed by private men, and the reading of any books in the Church, but the writings of the Prophets and Apostles, as they doe in Canon 59. that so they might establish the reading of Scripture-bookes, and the singing of Scripture-Psalmes. It is so farre from superstition, that it tendeth rather to preferre divine Institutions, above humane Inventions. When they interdicted the Psalmes composed by private Christians, whom they called Idiots, or as we call them in our language, simple fooles. You are not ignorant that an Idoll in their language signifieth no more but a private man; and in the same sence the Apostle himselfe useth it, 1 Cor. 14.16. though the Translators turne it unlearned.