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The whole Book of Psalms faithfully translated into English metreThe vvhole Booke of Psalmes faithfully translated into English metre
The whole Book of Psalms faithfully translated into English metre. ; Whereunto is prefixed a discourse declaring not only the lawfulness, but also the necessity of the heavenly ordinance of singing Scripture psalms in the churches of God. ; [Seven lines of Scripture texts]The vvhole Booke of Psalmes faithfully translated into English metre. ; Whereunto is prefixed a discourse declaring not only the lawfullness, but also the necessity of the heavenly ordinance of singing Scripture psalmes in the churches of God. ; [Seven lines of Scripture texts]
Cambridge, Mass. : Stephen Day, Imprinted 1640
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
obj. 2. Ministers are allowed to pray conceived prayers, and why not to sing conceived psalms? must we not sing in the spirit as well as pray in the spirit?
obj. 2. Ministers are allowed to pray conceived •rayers, and why not to sing conceived psalmes? must wee not sing in the spirit as well as pray in the spirit?
Ans. First because every good minister hath not a gift of spiritual poetry to compose extemporary psalms as he hath of prayer. Secondly. Suppose he had, yet seeing psalms are to be sung by a •oynt consent and harmony of all the Church in heart and voice (as w•e shall prove) this cannot be done except he that composeth a psalm, bringeth into the Church set forms of psalms of his o•ne invention; for which we find no warrant or president in any ordinary officers of the Church throughout the Scriptures. Thirdly. Because the book• of psalms is so complete a System of ⟨image ?⟩psalms, which the Holy-Ghost himself in […] wisdom hath made to suit all the conditions, necessities, temptations, affections, &c. of men in all ages; (as most of all our interpreters on the psalms have fully and particularly clear where fore by this the Lord seemeth to stoppeth mens mouths and minds ordinarily to compile or sing any other psalms (under colour that the occasions and conditions of the Church are new) &c. for the public use of the Church, seeing, let our condition be what it will, the Lord himself hath supplied us with far better; and therefore in Hezekiahs time, though doubtless there were among them those which had extraordinary gifts to compile new songs on those new occasions, as Isaiah and Micah &c. yet we read that they are commanded to sing in the words of David and Asaph, which were ordinarily to be used in the public worship of God: and we doubt not but those that are wise will easily see; that those set forms of psalms of Gods own appointment not of mans conceived gift or humane imposition were sung in the Spirit by those holy Levites, as well as their prayers were in the spirit which themselves conceived, the Lord not then binding them therein to any set forms; and shall set forms of psalms appointed of God not be sung in the spirit no, which others did then?