444 AN EXPOSITION. "WITH NOTES, [JaS. V. 13.
crcaseth tlicm. David spcakctli often of praising God with his tongue, and 'with his glory,' Ps. cviii. 1, by which lie meaneth liis tongue; as Ps. xvi. 9, ' My heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth ;' it is rendered, ' my tongue rejoiceth,' Acts ii. 1(5. Besides all this, the benefit we may convey to others Ijy loud singing ; one bird sets all the flock a- chirping. Austin spcaketh how much he was moved with the melody and singing of the church at Milan, Quantum flevimiis in hymnis et canticis suavisonantis ccclesice, iicc.
Others will have the psalmist only to sing, and the congregation say amai, which seemeth to be the fashion in the church of Corinth, 1 Cor. xiv. 14, 15. But mark, that singing spoken of there was the fruit of an extraordinary gift, by which they were able to dictate a- psalm in any tongue, which gift being for confirmation, could not be discerned if all should join. I contess this practice was, after the expiration of the age of miracles, kept up in the church, as appcareth by that passage of Tertullian cited before, and among us in our cathe- drals, where often one alone chanted, the rest being silent. But yet I should judge that the most simple performance of this duty is as it is now practised, the whole congregation joining; this is most suitable to the precedents of scripture, Avhere the duty is spoken of without any relation to that extraordinary gift; as Exod. xv. 1, 'Then sang Moses and all Israel this song unto God ; ' so it is said, 2 Chron. v. 13, they joined together, &c. ; so Christ and his apostles sang a hymn, and Paul and Silas joined, i^ec.
Others scruple the psalms because they are done in metre and rhyme; a vain cavil. Many learned men, as Gomarus and others, prove, that the psalms of l)avid were penned in measure, and with musical accents. Certainly, as we read them in our translation, a common ear may discern that they are of a different style and cadency from other scriptures. So Josephus saith the Song of ]\Ioses was penned in Hebrew hexameter verse. Now there is no reason but that verse may be done into verse, or such metre with which nations are most accustomed. If the scruple continueth, such may sing the read- ing psalms, as hath Ijeen used in cathedrals : and as Austin reporteth of Athanasius, that he was 2'>'>'onuncianti quam cancnti vicinior — that his singing was rather a more deliberate and extended pronunciation.
Some scruple singing as a set and usual ordinance, urging this scripture which we are now ui)on : ' Is any merry ? let Jiim sing psalms;' in which clause the apostle showcth the chiefest season, not the only time of performance ; as in the other duty, prayer, it is to be practised at other times besides in affliction, thougli then it be most needful. So also for singing ; it is not only useful when we are merry, that we may turn the course of our affections into a religious channel, but sometimes to beget spiritual mirth, and to divert our sadness. Paul and Silas sang in prison ; and the disciples sang a hymn after the supper of the Ijord, though our Lord was |)resently to suffer, and they were troubled at it, as ajipeareth John xiv. 1 ; in that sad liour they sang.
Some scruple singing of scriptural psalms as set by others, because the matter doth not suit witli their case, but belongeth to other men and other times. I answer — It is a folly to think that whatever we sing
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must expressly suit with our case ; you may as well say that whatever we read should so suit. We are to meditate upon the psalm which is sung, that we may receive comfort and lioi)e from it, as from other scriptures, Eom. xv. 4. I confess there must be always application. Some psalms have direful imprecations. We are not so to sort them to our case as to wish the like judgments on our j^rivate adversaries, but to think of the horrible judgments of God on unbelievers, &c. Other psalms contain sad narratives of the sufferings of the church or of Christ, which, though we sing them, cannot be conceived as remon- stances of our particular case and state to God, but we are to use them as an occasion to awaken meditations on the afflicted state of the church, or the agonies which Clnist endured for our sakes. But this scruple is of the less weight, because the psalms do most com- monly contain matter of such general and comprehensive concern- ment, that they readilv offer matter to us to present our own case to God.
Some scruple singing with company of whose gracious estate they can have no assurance, rather shrewd presumptions to the contrary. I confess ' praise is comely for the upright,' Ps. xxxiii. 1 ; but yet it is obligatory to all mankind. Wicked men are bound ; and you have no reason to discontinue your own acts of obedience because they are in some sort mindful of theirs. You may as well refuse to hear with them or pray with them ; singing being a part of such kind of worship as is not peculiar to a church as a church. Yea, upon this ground the saints may refuse to ' bless God/ because all the creatures join in consort with them, and 'all his w^orks praise him,' Ps. cxlv. 10.