The PuritanBoard - View Single Post - Rules to be Observed in Singing of Psalms

VirginiaHuguenot · #3 (**permalink**) 05-22-2006, 03:27 PM

From John Gill's A Body of Practical Divinity:

Quote:

4. The manner in which psalms, &c. are to be sung may be next considered.

4a. Socially, and with united voices; so Moses and the children of Israel sung at the Red Sea; so Christ and his disciples sung after the Lord´s Supper; so the watchmen will sing in the latter day, even with their voice together; so did Paul and Silas in prison; and thus the churches are directed in Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16.

4b. With the heart along with the mouth, as heartily as well as vocally, which is making "melody in the heart," (Eph. 5:19) or performing the duty in sincerity and truth; and not as the Israelites, who flattered God with their lips, sung the praises of God, but soon forgot his works.

4c. "With grace in the heart," (Col. 3:16) with the several graces; not one note, but a mixture of notes, makes melody; many voices, yet one sound, make a chorus[21]: so singing must be with various graces; with faith in God, without which it is impossible to please him; and with strong love and affection for him; and also "with reverence and godly fear;" for God is "fearful in praises" arwn reverend in them, to be praised with great fear and reverence of his Majesty.

4d. "With the Spirit," as the apostle Paul determined to do (1 Cor. 14:15), with the Spirit of God, whose assistance is necessary in this as in prayer; and with our spirits, sincerely, fervently, and affectionately, and in a spiritual manner, suitable to the nature of God, who is a Spirit.

4e. "With the understanding also;" with the understanding of what is sung; and in such a manner, and in such language, as may be understood by others; for one end of the duty is, not only to speak to ourselves in it, but to "teach" and "admonish" others; and perhaps the apostle may have some regard to one of the titles of David´s psalms lykvm "Maschil," which signifies, a psalm giving instruction, and causing to understand. In a word, besides our mutual edification.

4f. We should have in view the glory of God; for we are to "sing unto the Lord;" not to ourselves, merely to raise our natural affections, to gain applause from others, by the fineness of our voice, and by observing an exact conformity to the tune; but to the glory of Father, Son, and Spirit, the one God, who condescends to inhabit the praises of Israel.