N02341:170
Ratio disciplinae fratrum Nov-Anglorum. A faithful account of the discipline professed and practised; in…
Ratio disciplinae fratrum Nov-Anglorum. A faithful account of the discipline professed and practised; in the churches of New-England. : With interspersed and instructive reflections on the discipline of the primitive churches. : [Seven lines from Ezekiel]
Boston: printed for S. Gerrish, 1726
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.
The first Planters of New-England, were not long without a Version of the Davidical Psalms, and of several other Songs in both Testaments, made by the united Endeavours of several Persons. In this Version, the Poetry may indeed want refining; yet the nearness & closeness of the Translation unto the Original, may make some amends for other Defects. These holy Psalms by some Congregations are sung over in Order as they lie; (at least in the Psalmody for one part of the Day;) And in others, are sung, as the Minister singles them out, for to accommodate the Subjects and the Designs before him. How many may make Austin's Reflection; Quantum flevimus in Hymnis suavisonantis Ecclesiae!
The first Planters of New-England, were not long without a Version of the Davidical Psalms, and of several other Songs in both Testaments, made by the united Endeavours of several Persons. In this Version, the Poetry may indeed want refining; yet the nearness & closeness of the Translation unto the Original, may make some amends for other Defects. These holy Psalms by some Congregations are sung over in Order as they ly; (at least in the Psalmody for one part of the Day;) And in others, are sung, as the Minister singles them out, for to accommodate the Subjects and the Designs before him. How many may make Austin's Reflection; Quantum flevimus in Hymnis suavisonantis Ecclesiae!
Their Way of Singing is not with such BOAI ATAKTOI, disorderly Clamours, as were condemned by the old Council of Trullo: But in such Grave Tunes, as are most used in our Nation; and it may be hoped, not without some Sense of that which Zonaras gives as the Reason of the Trullan Condemnation, The Singing of Psalms is a Supplicating of GOD himself, wherein by humble Prayer we beg the Pardon of our Sins. Their Psalmody is neither set off with the Delicacies, which Austin complained of, nor is it rendered unseemly by the Exorbitances we find rebuked by Chrysostom. It has been commended by Strangers a• generally not worse than what is in many other parts of the World; but rather as being usually according ⟨p. 55⟩