I have a historical question about Iain Murray's little booklet "The Psalter--The Only Hymnal?"

Through a variety of quotes he made a case for the thesis that
Calvin and the Puritans didn't base their nearly-exclusive psalmody on
the RPW, seen by the fact that they allowed and even encouraged hymns to be sung. If this is true, why is it that they worshiped by-and-large exclusively with the Psalms?

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Christopher
Escondido OPC (Escondido, CA)
M.Div. Student at Westminster Seminary California

Several writers will dispute that this is true. See Rev. Brian Schwertley's review of Murray's book in the latest issue of the Westminster Guardian pages 11-13 as well as Michael Bushell's excellent historical survey in his Songs of Zion.

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Rev. Adam King
Minister in the RPCNA
Pastor,Trinity Reformed Church
Wichita, KS

Also, Brian Schwertley has 2 sermons at http://sermonaudio.com specifically dealing with Murray's aforementioned track. Our very own Rev. Winzer has written concerning Murray's work as well. If he gives permission, I can email copies.

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Josh Hicks, Chloë's Dad
Christ Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church, RPCGA
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It is God that multiplies our sorrows.... God, as a righteous Judge, does it, which ought to silence us under all our sorrows; as many as they are, we have deserved them all, and more: nay, God, as a tender Father, does it for our necessary correction, that we may be humbled for sin, and weaned from the world by all our sorrows; and the good we get by them, with the comfort we have under them, will abundantly balance our sorrows, how greatly soever they are multiplied. - Matthew Henry

Other rebuttals to Murray's work have come from Roy Mohon and John Keddie (if that last link doesn't work, try this cached version).

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Andrew

Matthew Winzer had a 22 page review in the old CredoQuarterly:
Winzer, Matthew. “Singing The Lord’s Song In A Strange Land. A Review of Iain Murray’s The Psalter, The Only Hymnal?” Credo Quarterly (March 2002).
Credo is no longer online; perhaps Matthew could make it available on PB in the PB theological journal forum?

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Chris Coldwell, Lakewood Presbyterian Church (PCA), Dallas, Texas.
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That would be great. Would love to read it.

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Lakeside Church -Wales, WI (PCA)
Married to John
One wonderful daughter, Chaela Joelle


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Thanks for the tip about Brian Schwertley's sermons. It was a fascinating perspective on the debate listening to them. However, I must confess I was a bit put off by his manner of disagreement.

It's critical to listen sympathetically to the other side, and use gracious language. Moreover, one must be very careful to attribute negative motives to the other side.

I'm trying to understand the EP perspective, as yet I remained unconvinced. But I'm enjoying learning what the other side has to say.

God bless.

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Marty
Ordained Presbyter; Currently Lecturer in Theology
Anglican Church of Australia
(Now finally back! in) Perth, Australia.
"There is nothing so necessary to draw us to repentance as good thoughts of God." (Thomas Manton)

Hi, Marty. Yes, Schwertley can be a bit over-the-top. I believe his emphatic zeal is the knee-jerk reaction to the "legalist" and "pharisee" epithets thrown (not that such a thing, in any way, justifies it). If you look in his sermons, he also has an earlier series on EP, not specifically responding to Murray's booklet. So though I'm not fond of Schwertley' perceived insensitivity, I find him to be informative.

There's a double review -- of Iain Murray's booklet "The Psalter--The Only Hymnal?" and of Rev. Malcolm Watts' booklet "God's Hymnbook for the Christian Church" -- at http://www.britishreformedfellowship...20psalmody.pdf. The review is favorable to (and in agreement with) Rev. Watts' booklet -- apparently a 64-page rebuttal of Iain Murray's. A summary of Rev. Watts' position can be read in his "Psalm Singing" article at his church's Website (http://www.salisburyemmanuel.org.uk/...lm_singing.htm), or heard in his "Singing Psalms" message available at SermonAudio.

If the name Malcolm Watts sounds familiar, it may be because he (a reformed Baptist pastor) is the Chairman of the General Committe of the Trinitarian Bible Society.

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Russell Johnson
reformed credobaptist
attend Faith Family Church in Smyrna, DE
Clayton, DE, USA

Have you read Needhams essay on this subject? He is the leading (IMO) historian writing today on Presbyterian history. He develops this theme very well.

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Kevin Rogers
Sovereign Community Church, PCA
Moncton NB

From somebody who knows Mr. Schwertley personally...it's part of his personality, really. I would attribute the offending remarks he is prone to make less to insensitivity than a sort of feistiness let run too far. Also, he's calmed down quite a bit since his younger days. All in all, if you have a thin skin, better to read Schwertley than listen to Schwertley.

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[b]Timotheus, servant of the Lord[/b]
[(Timothy Merkel - Ellicott City, MD - Trinity Reformed Presbyterian Church)]
[i]Ye who are the warriors of God
And of the law of God
Hope in God, believe in God,
And in God you shall ever triumph[/i]

Cool, and thanks. It's not so much a thin skin (I'm an aussie, our sense of humour is to insult each other). It's rather the awesome responsibility we preachers have:

In your teaching [Titus] show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us (Titus 2:7-8).

Words are powerful stuff and must be used in the pulpit with great self-control.

God bless.

The booklet itself is available for purchase from Reformation Heritage. It's definitely worth it.

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Sean P.M. McDonald
Communicant Member of Lisbon Reformed Presbyterian Church, Lisbon, NY
Infantryman (SGT), 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY
Husband to Laura, father to Olivia
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"Lex praescribit, evangelium inscribit." (The law prescribes, the gospel inscribes.)

Coming from the other side of the pulpit -- Something which I have noticed about myself is the applicability of Proverbs 22:23-25

For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

in regard to who I listen to and read.

My attititude towards those I disagree with is already too often not as loving as it should be.

And I have observed that when I listen to or read too much of an "angry" or "furious" man, I too often find myself "learning his ways".

An important thing to learn early in the Christian life IMHO; I usually do not direct newbies to Schwertley for this reason.