The accomplished singer. Instructions how the piety of singing with a true devotion, may…

IT would follow from hence, that such a Version of the PSALMS, as keeps most Close to the Original, were most of all to be wished for. Of about Three Times seven Translations of the Psalms, which we have seen fitted for the Tunes of our Sacred Songs there is not one, but what for the sake of a needless Rhyme, does Leave out very much of what the Holy SPIRIT has inserted in the Original, and put in as much of what is not there to be met withal. Of these Translations, there are some Nearer to the Original than others, and have more of That in it, with least of Diversion ⟨p. 8⟩from it, or Addition to it: And the Nearest are certainly the most worthy to have our Meditations employed upon them. After all, of what Consequence is (the Similis Definentia of) Rhyme, to our Psalmody, when even to Poetry it self, it is not Essential? The Psalms might easily be so turned into Blank Verse, that there should be ALL, and ONLY, what it has pleased the Holy One to give us in the Original. And no doubt there will a Time come, when Myriads of Christians will choose to Serve GOD with such a Pure Offering, and present unto Him what is purely His own, rather than have their Devotions in Danger of being palled, by the sense of Humane Debasements, upon what they Address unto Him. An Honourable Counsellor in the Low-Countries, Mynheer Bruin, published in Dutch, the PSALMS in such Blank Verse. But because his Translation differed, as it must, from what was in the Common Bible, another who was a Master of Music, fitted a variety of Tunes to the Psalter, without changing a word in the Common Bible. However the Tunes were so various, and the necessary Repetition of the same Word so frequent, that this did not much mend the matter. Some will think it a pity that the Design of the Excellent Bruin, should not proceed, as the Great Voetius expresses it, Absque aliqua Commotion ple•is Ecclesiasticae. Or, without some Discord among the People.

IT would follow from hence, that such a Version of the PSALMS, as keeps most Close to the Original, were most of all to be wished for. Of about Three Times seven Translations of the Psalms, which we have seen fitted for the Tunes of our Sacred Songs there is not one, but what for the sake of a needless Rhyme, does Leave out very much of what the Holy SPIRIT has inserted in the Original, and put in as much of what is not there to be met withal. Of these Translations, there are some Nearer to the Original than others, and have more of That in it, with least of Diversion