§ 4. THE Songs which are prepared for us by the Holy SPIRIT of GOD, in the Inspired Writings, that shine in this Dark Place, ought certainly to be preferred with us, before any mere Human Composures, in the Public Worship of the Faithful. Those which for their Original are peculiarly the Songs of Zion, are the most proper to be used in its Assemblies. 'Tis ⟨p. 6⟩true, Devout Hymns Composed by the Good Men of our own Time, affected with the Truths of GOD, and able to Handle the Pen of the Writer, for soaring Poetry, may be used, and found good for the Use of Edifying. From Tertullian we Learn, that in his early Days, the Christians used even such Hymns as were conceived by themselves, de proprio Ingenio. Socrates mentions the Psalms written by Chrysostom, and Eusebius mentions the Psalms written by Nepos. The Arians made many Hymns to be Sung, for the Propagation of their Heresies: And the Orthodox willing to be made wise from their Enemies, made Hymns for the Preservation of the Faith once delivered to the Saints. Yea, Great was the Army of them, who followed Ambrose in the Publishing of Hymns for the use of the Latin Church. The Te Deum ascribed unto Ambrose, makes to this Day a mighty Noise in the World. The German Psalter has in it Hymns of Luther's Composing. And in the Bohemian Churches of the later Days, they had a Cantional in which there were seven hundred and forty Sacred Songs besides the Davidical Psalms. But certainly, the Hymns of Uninspired Men, cannot be so Profitable for all Instruction in Righteousness, and may not have so much Respect paid unto them, as those that are given by Inspiration of GOD. Austin did well to blame the Donatists, for leaving the Psalms of David, and Singing Hymns of their own Invention. Yea, if the Limitations ordered by a Synod at Bracara, were perhaps a little too strict, Extra Psalmos veteris Testamenti, nihil Poetice Compositum, in Ecclesia Psallatur, yet it was a Wise order passed in a Synod at Laodicea, that forbade [Greek or Hebrew], Private Psalms to be used in the Church. The French Churches, have wisely confined themselves unto the Scriptural Songs; and the Dutch have Harmonized with them, in passing that Order, In Ecclesiis cantabuntur Psalmi Davidis, Omissiscanticis quae in S. Scriptura nou reperiuntur. Can any thing be so Rich, so Full, so sublime, as what the Holy SPIRIT of GOD ⟨p. 7⟩has declared?
§ 4. THE Songs which are prepared for us by the Holy SPIRIT of GOD, in the Inspired Writings, that shine in this Dark Place, ought certainly to be preferred with us, before any meer Human Composures, in the Public Worship of the Faithful. Those which for their Original are peculiarly the Songs of Zion, are the most proper to be used in its Assemblies. 'Tis ⟨p. 6⟩true, Devout Hymns Composed by the Good Men of our own Time, affected with the Truths of GOD, and able to Handle the Pen of the Writer, for soaring Poetry, may be used, and found good for the Use of Edifying. From Tertullian we Learn, that in his early Days, the Christians used even such Hymns as were conceived by themselves, de proprio Ingenio. Socrates mentions the Psalms written by Chrysostom, and Eusebius mentions the Psalms written by Nepos. The Arians made many Hymns to be Sung, for the Propagation of their Heresies: And the Orthodox willing to be made wise from their Enemies, made Hymns for the Preservation of the Faith once delivered to the Saints. Yea, Great was the Army of them, who followed Ambrose in the Publishing of Hymns for the use of the Latin Church. The Te Deum ascribed unto Ambrose, makes to this Day a mighty Noise in the World. The German Psalter has in it Hymns of Luthers Composing. And in the Bohemian Churches of the later Days, they had a Cantional in which there were seven hundred and forty Sacred Songs besides the Davidical Psalms. But certainly, the Hymns of Uninspired Men, cannot be so Profitable for all Instruction in Righteousness, and may not have so much Respect paid unto them, as those that are given by Inspiration of GOD. Austin did well to blame the Donatists, for leaving the Psalms of David, and Singing Hymns of their own Invention. Yea, if the Limitations ordered by a Synod at Bracara, were perhaps a little too strict, Extra Psalmos veteris Testamenti, nihil Poetice Compositum, in Ecclesia Psallatur, yet it was a Wise order passed in a Synod at Laodicea, that forbad 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Private Psalms to be used in the Church. The French Churches, have wisely confined themselves unto the Scriptural Songs; and the Dutch have Harmonized with them, in passing that Order, In Ecclesiis cantabuntur Psalmi Davidis, Omissiscanticis quae in S. Scriptura nou reperiuntur. Can any thing be so Rich, so Full, so sublime, as what the Holy SPIRIT of GOD ⟨p. 7⟩has declared?
