a Cathedral should acquaint his Quire that such a New Anthem he thought might very properly be Sung and they notwithstanding should Tune their Voices to an old One and tell him that they thought themselves more capable of judging what was fit to be Sung than he Nor can I think that the Patrons of this Work are any more culpable for encourageing it than a Dean would be for Designing a New Anthem nor the Promoters of it any more to blame than the Quire would be had they chearfully obey'd him For these Reasons it was that a person of Honour in this Nation living in a Parish where the Bishops Recommendation came to the Minister and finding it neglected spoke to his Pastor to this effect Sir How can you expect that your Parishioners should pay a due respect to you when you pay so little to your King and your Diocesan Or readily comply with that Advice that you give when you hearken so little to that which is sent you by your Superiors And for this Reason it is that so many Reverend and Devout Persons are heartily dispos'd towards the promoting this Design because they are loath to expose the Authority of their Superiors to contempt which they judge they must incur by a careless or violent Opposition to it And which they sancy would amount to little less than this viz. When their Lordships tell them they cannot do no less than wish a good Success to this Royal Indulgence should they contemn it it would be in effect to tell their Lordships nor we do less than wish it no Success at all When their Lordships say they sind it a Work done with so much Judgment and Ingenuity Should these decry and run it down it would look as if they should answer we could never find out where either the Judgment or Ingenuity lay And when the Bishops affirm that they are persuaded it may take off that unhappy Objection which has hitherto lain against the Singing Psalms Should these Men after this make use of the Old Ones would it not be to tell the World that they think the Objection is very frivolous and the Old Psalms are a laudable part of our Devotion Thus they argue for their just compliance and should they be of a contrary Opinion this would be to magnifie their own Judgment in Opposition to that of their Superiors Whereas the tender Regard and Veneration they have for the Reputation and Advice of their Ecclesiastical Governours and the fear of exposing their Counsels to contempt especially in an Age so licentious and wild as this binds them within the Rules of a filial Obedience and ingages them not to be too remiss in paying Honour to whom such Honour is due This therefore shall serve for the first Argument I have chosen for the Use of these Psalms being drawn from Reason which is always willing to support Government to pay a due respect to Superiors and a chearful complyance to their good Advice The Second Argument I propos'd to insist upon for Vindicating the Design of the Patrons and Promoters of this Work of introducing it into the Churches was deriv'd from the Conformity of it to the Constitutions of our Church and the Authorit of Convocations And so it plainly appears as much as it is allow'd of by the King and recommeded by the Bishops For in the Rubrick before the Sentence at the Offertory are these Words And nothing shall be proclaim'd or publish'd in the Church during the time of Divine Service but by the Minister nor by him any thing but what is prescrib'd in the Rules of this Book or enjoyn'd by the King or the Ordinary of the place Where by the way thus much we may observe that no Clark of a Parish can Sing in the Church but as he is directed by his Minister and as he Acts as his Deputy But against the strength of this Rubrick I fore-see you may thus argue That this New Version is neither enjoyn'd by the King nor the Ordinary of the Place as the Rubrick specifies and therefore it can receive no Countenance or Authority from thence And so far I confess the Objection seems to be valid but yet tho' neither the King nor the Ordinary literally enjoyn yet they allow and recommend these Psalms and that Rubrick which impowers them to enjoyn does much more impower them to allow and recommend for Omne majus in this case includit minus And tho' 't is true I confess that by this Authority these Psalms are not enjoyn'd to be Sung Yet by the Authority of this Rubrick none else can be Sung because none else are expresly allow'd of and recommended by the King and the Ordinary Now we must remember that the Rubrick contains in it the Power and Force both of a Convocation and an Act of Parliament because it is Establish'd by both their Authorities And tho' in its Original it was only a Canon yet was it confirm'd as a Law And therefore this Version coming abroad recommended by the Anthority of this Rubrick which impowers both the King and the Ordinary not only to enjoyn but much more to allow and recommend comes abroad stampt with the Approbation both of Convocation and Act of Parliament And he seems to vacat both their Authorities who opposes that Encouragement which it has already receiv'd from His Majesty and the Bishops and endeavours to enervate all their Efficacy and Strength by rendring them useless and insignificant And since it has been thought fit that the Persons Constituting that Learned Body of the Convocation should have their Vote for approving at least what was sit to be us'd in the several Parts of the Publick Service and since this very Society have by their own voluntary Consent allow'd that the King or the Bishops may enjoyn or recommend what is fit or decent upon occasion whoever therefore it is that contradicts this Authority which they have freely consented should be vested in the King and the Bishops seems directly to oppose the Power of that Sacred Body and to be a direct Enemy to the Rights and Priviledges of a Convocation Besides By vertue of that Authority which is vested in our Kings K. James the I. Issued out his Royal Commission for that New Translation of the Bible which is now daily read in Churches Nor can I find that ever any Convocation since that time have thought that Commission an Infringement of their Rights and Liberties but rather an Allowance and a sign of the Ratification of them And certainly it is none of the least Honours and Felicities that our Convocations have reason to boast of when Kings are pleas'd thus to act by their Canons and to be directed by their Constitutions so making good the Prophetick Character given of them that they should be nursing Fathers of the Church Isa. 49. 23. If then the present Version of the Bible be thought sit to be used upon all occasions in our Churches Chappels and Congregatious by
which is this HIS Majesty having allow'd and permitted the Vse of a New Version of the Psalms of David by Mr. Brady and Mr. Tate in all Churches Chappels and Congregations I cannot do less than wish a Good Success to this Royal Indulgence For I find it a Work done with so much Judgment and Ingenuity that I am persuaded it may take off that unhappy Objection which has hitherto lain against the Singing Psalms and dispose that part of Divine Service to much more Devotion And I do heartily Recommend the Vse of This Version to all my Brethren within My Diocess Now in this Letter there are three Reasons given why their Lordships were induc'd to Recommend so cordially this Translation to their several Ministers The first is the Respect they bore to His Sacred Majesty as the Supreme Head and Governour of this Church who having the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fulness and Convenience of this Religious Performance and the necessity of introducing it into the Church represented to him by the Lords of his most Honourable Privy Council was pleas'd by the Authority with which he is Vested in these Matters to grant it forthwith His Royal Allowance Upon which the Bishops finding how much His Majesties Care for the well-fare of of the Church was interested in this Case thought that their Zeal and Concern ought to be no less and therefore they seconded his Indulgence with their own hearty Recommendation And because upon this some scandalous Libels were publish'd in the City in derogation of this Laudible Undertaking and contempt of that Authority which was pleas'd to appear in its Approbation Therefore his Grace the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with others of their Excellences the Lords Justices thinking not fit that a Work so beneficial to the Publick should be obstructed in its Progress or that the sawcy Reflections upon that Encouragement which it had from Authority should pass unpunish'd order'd a Messenger of the Press to search out the Authors and Prinsers of the Libels that they might be proceeded against according to Law The next Reason taken notice of by the Bishops in their Letter is the Judgment and Ingenuity of the Work which appearing not only to their Lordships but to others of the most refin'd Parts of the Age I suppose this Argument is unquestionable especially with Men of Candor and Judgment And for such whose capacities are too low to find out those Perfections they ought to acquiesce in the Sentiments of such as are qualified for it since nothing is so true a Judge of Sense as Sense The third and last Reason which is mention'd in this Letter is that the vse of this Version as they own they are persuaded may take off that unhappy Objection which has hitherto lain against the Singing Psalms and dispose that part of Divine Service to much more Devotion But of this I shall speak nothing at present but refer it to the last particular of this Discourse where it more porperly falls in because it is an Argument drawn from Piety and Devotion And now for the Reason of using this New Version which is so well approv'd of I think nothing more equitable and therefore more rational than that this Translation should be favourably receiv'd since it has been so publickly allow'd of and with good Authority recommended meerly upon the account of that civil Observance and Respect which is due to our Superiors both in Church and State For unless some deference be paid to their Judgments and that Authority which they have over us even in those things wherein they do not interpose an Absolute Command we shall never shew so much Ingenuity as to conform to their Counsels and Advice freely but put them always upon the uneasiness of dragging us to our Duty and making use of their coercive Power over us because we will do nothing but by constraint And what thanks is due to my Obedience when I find I cannot help it if I resisted the Authority as long as I was able and would have baffl'd it if I could For Certainly were my love and respect to my Superiors as cordial as they ought to be Obedience to their Advice would be my true satisfaction and compliance with their Counsels my great Delight I should be so far from disputing or opposing their pious Admonitions that I should constantly hearken to them chearfully and obey them with a ready Mind Nay should think it my Duty to comport my self quietly and respectfully towards every one in that Order and Degree wherein they are plac'd and not lessen their Authority by obstructing their Directions or interrupting the Progress of their reasonable and pious Designs for he that practices the contrary and disputes each punctilio of Advice with his Superiors is rather a Disturbance than a Blessing to either Publick or Domestick Societies and by a perverse and litigious temper does as much as in him lies to weaken the reins of Government eclipse that Respect which is due to Power and turn that Civility which should be paid to the mature Advice of our Superiors out of the World And certainly would Men but make this Case their own and consider with what Patience and Equanimity they themselves would bear such usage as this from their Inferiors what a derogation it would be to their Authority to have it slighted and overlook'd by such as Nature of Providence had plac'd under them They would not be so easily induc'd to transgress in this particular nor openly infringe the natural Rights of Superiority which are Laws of common Justice betwixt Man and Man As for Instance Would any Master of a Family think it proper in a Servant to choose out his own Task and prescribe to himself his own Work when he had directed him to the contrary Would any Tutor be pleas'd with his Pupil for reading such Books as humour'd his own Fancy when he had advis'd him to such as were much more instructive and beneficial And would it not be extreamly indecent and apt to grieve and incense an Indulgent Parent to see his Child refractory to his Admonitions and advance his own Opinion in direct opposition to his wise and kind Advices 'T is certain that all Men in these circumstances do expect both Love and Obedience both Duty and Respect to be paid them by their Inferiors What Reason therefore is there that they should not shew as willing a Mind to give as receive this Observance and Veneration in all matters that are equitable and just And I am persuaded that there are few of those Persons who would evade a compliance with the Advice of their Superiors in this particular but would be apt to resent the like repulse from other Men were they advanc'd to so high a Station as would qualifie them for recommending it themselves They would I believe be apt to think that there was but little either of Modesty Justice or Ingenuity in such behaviour towards them as little indeed as if the Dean of
the Authority of the King which is backt by that of Act of Parliament and Convocation I can see no reason why the same Authority should not interpose and be allow'd of which has appear'd in the Approbation of this New Translation of the Psalms And as for that Version which has hitherto been used it never found that Encouragement from any persons legally vested with Authority in spirituals that this new one has been favour'd with no not from a Convocation it self and sor the rest of the late ones they cannot pretend to it And the silence of so many Convocations since the Reformation is so far from being an Argument for the Old One that on the contrary it is a presumptive Evidence that that Religious Assembly thought it their Prudence not to interpose their Influences in encouraging such a thing as in their Opinion did not deserve it Whoever therefore it is that opposes that Authority which the New Translation has obtain'd seems plainly to deprive the Convocation of those Signal Honours and Immunities appertaining to them which the Parliament has been pleas'd to confirm and the King and the Bishops are pleas'd to Act by who have the executive Power of those Laws and Constitutions which the other fram'd confer'd on them As appears in that Order which was given by King Charles II. for using the three Forms of Prayer which are annext to the Common prayer-Prayer-Book CHARLES R. Our Will and Pleasure is That these three Forms of Prayer and Service made for the 5th of November the 30th of January and the 29th of May be faithfully Printed and Publish'd and for the future annext to the Book of Common Prayer and Liturgy of the Church of England to be used yearly on the said Days in all Cathedral and Collegiate Churches and Chappels in all Chappels Colleges and Halls within both our Vniversities and of our Colledges of Eaton and Winchester and in all Parish Churches and Chappels within our Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick upon Tweed Given at our Court at Whitehall the 2d day of May in the 14th Year of our Reign By His Majesty's Command Edw. Nicholas And what is more observable these very Forms were with such Alterations as were then necessary receiv'd and us'd in the Church by virtue of a like Order from the late Queen of ever blessed Memory For the Right that is attributed by our Laws to our Kings is lodged in the Constitution of our common Laws and is an Original Contract between the King and the Estates of this Realm and that upon a civil Incorporation of the Church and its Powers and Ordinances into the Civil State and Secular Authority Municip Eccles. p. 136. But still you 'l say that tho' by this Rubrick which I lately mention'd the Use of any Psalms but the New Ones is forbid because they only are approv'd of and by Authority recommended yet are we not enjoyn'd to Sing these publickly and there fore it is at our liberty to forbear in our Churches all Psalmody if we please But in Answer to this I only desire that that solemn Ingagement which was made to the Bishop at the Time of Ordination may be consider'd For then the Bishop asks the Person that is to be ordain'd Priest this Question Will you reverently obey your Ordinary and other chief Ministers unto whom is committed the Charge and Government over you following with a good Mind and Will their godly Admonitions and submitting your self to their godly Judgments Answ. I will do so God being my helper Where it is plain that the Priest obliges himself by a Solemn and formal Promise reverently to obey his Ordinary and submit himself to his godly Judgment therefore if any one reject this New Translation of the Psalms recommended to him by his Bishop I cannot see how he can avoid the Censure of casting a scandalous Reproach upon the godly Judgment of his Ordinary and palpably violating that religious obligation which he solemnly enter'd into at the time of his Ordination before the Bishop the Priests and all the Congregation But I fancy the Persons are but few who will be so hardy against their own Conscience and cancel all that Veneration which is due both to their Diocesan and themselves if they hope that God should be their Helper However it is apparent that the Use of this New Version is conformable to the Constitution of our Church which lays upon all her Sons a very strict Ingagement of acting suitably to her pious Intentions And therefore those that encourage and promote it tell us this in their own vindication that till a civil complyance with our Governors must pass for an instance of factious Obedience and the Observance of the Constitutions of the Church and the Authority of Convocations in a thing lawful and commendable is Vncanonical Till it be prov'd that the Governours in Church and State have countenanc'd a thing impious or unlawful or have recommended a thing for which they had no just Authority this New Translation cannot easily be rejected by them 2. And they justly think it cannot be inveterately oppos'd by any unless it be by some few persons who may envy the production because it is not their own or because it has met with such good Success or those that are prejudic'd against the Royal Allowance because William R. is on the Front of it or such as look upon the recommendatory Letter of a Diocesan as only a meer matter of Form or lastly those who are such zealous Admirers of Antiquity that they will object against any thing barely for its being New The third Argument for the reception of the New Psalms is That they are subservient to the advancement of Piety and Devotion And this arises from the genuine Excellence and Composure of this New Version which by many degrees surpasses the Old But if any will vindicate the Old and think them preferable to these their Judgment it seems runs quite counter to that of the Government which would never have thought fit to encourage this New Version had it not esteem'd it far Superiour And that the Wisdom of the Government was not herein if any one imagin it mistaken I appeal to the Sense of all Mankind who will please as the Patrons and Promoters of this Version have done impartially to peruse and compare them and I could easily make appear by several Instances taken from such Old Psalms as are esteem'd the most unexceptionable among them But I rather choose to cast a Veil upon their Infirmities and since they formerly liv'd in some Repute to let them die without exposing their weaknesses Whereas in the Translation which is recommended we commonly find such devout and shining Sense as makes them fit to be Sung in the Beauty of Holiness such heavenly Expressions as are apt to inflame and inspire the Soul and raise it to David's seraphick pitch and with such a mixture of Majestick Gravity as fully represents the