c. They act his materiall praise also in that themselves are the excellent works of God a matter of great praise and therefore they should take notise of themselves to be stirred up to praise God formally as they are alwayes his praise materially 2. All other creatures act only his materiall praises that is They are a matter of his praise in that they show forth in themselves admirable effects of his power wisdome love bountifulnesse justice and holinesse c. which things prove procure most great praise and glory And therefore in the psalme 148. all creatures are exhorted to praise God that is They should show forth the excellent things that God placed in them that the great creator of all may be taken notise of thereby and praised The psalmest speaketh to dumb creaturs who can not make answer but in that God inableth them to hold out show to the world his excellent gifts it is in stead of an answer for it is a materiall praising of God And also his speach to creatures void of understanding provoketh men to take notise of Gods gifts in the creatures to be stirred up to praise God formallie lest they prove worse then the creatures Quest Our Psalms in meeter are they a translation or a paraphrase of the Hebrew text You call them paraphrases as the set forms of prayer are of the Lords prayer Answ The miter showeth them to be paraphrases for it hath the meaning of the text in mo words then a translation requireth 2. When translators adde mo words then the just interpretation requireth it is because the meaning of the text can not otherwise be understood and yet the text that hath these words added if with these words all be considered as parts of one sentence they are a short paraphrase because more then the text is added to explicat the text But when all the words or sentences of the book are explicat and illustrat by other words there the whole work is a paraphrase 3. The most learned Latine Poets call their psalms turned mirer a paraphrase Buchanan calleth his psalms Paraphrasis Poetica because sometimes sentences figurative speaches and other illustrations and words are added to the text sometimes the words of the text are turned into other words and sentences of the same sense these things are done in the whole work that the Poet may have choose of words to make the miter agree with the text so is it with our psalms in miter for no Scriptures can bee turned into miter by a naked translation Qu. If our psalms in miter be a paraphrase then we may make paraphrases of all the Scripturs and so read them publictly A. That is not needful for many scripturs are understood at the reading without a paraphrase 2. If our psalms in meeter were only the translated text then Preachers should make sermons on them and readers should read them publictly as they do other scripturs the verses in miter cited to prove matters of divine verity 3. It were not hurtfull but profitable for the hearers sometimes to read paraphrases of all scriptures but this is supplied by preaching catechising by the plainnes of many scripturs at the reading then these paraphrases are not so needfull Quest Seeing the translators of other Scripturs adde some vvords to the text vvhy may not the translations be called paraphrases Ans If the whole scripturs had illustrations other helps forsaid in every sētence as the book of the psalms hath then might it be so called but such helps are few seldom foūd in other scripturs Adde these following to the chap. 6. viz. GIve some example in the book of the Psalms where the vvhole sentence Gloris to the Father and to the Son c. is said in substance Answ In Psal 110.1 The Lord said to my Lord c. that is The Father said to the Son sit thou at my right hand c. and vers 2. the holy Ghost is called The rod of thy strength He is a golden scepter holden out to comfort the godly but an yron rod to bruise the wicked thus glory is given to all the three persons the Father is glorified in subduing the enemies of Christ the Son is glorified in sitting at the right hand of God and that his enemies shall be his footstool the holy Ghost is glorified in that he is the effectuall rod of Gods power ruling in the mids of Christs enemies and subduing them and in verse 4. the Eternitie of the three persons is expressed in that the Lord made Christ a Priest for ever without beginning and without ending because He is after the order of Melchisedeck Heb. 7. He can not be a priest for ever except God his Father continue for ever for none can be a priest without a God unto whom he must offer sacrifice and with whom he must interceed for people the holy Ghost must also continue for ever for if the anoynting whereby Christ is effectuall shall cease at any time then Christ could no longer remain a priest nor doe that office So in this psalm God is glorified according to the full sentence wherewith we conclude our psalmes Quest Pope Damasus caused first that sentence be sung in Gods Kirk should we not reiect it because papists first practised it Answ Shall no man make use of cities tents harps and musicall instruments because cursed Cain builded the first city and his children invented the rest Balaam the false prophet fist said Let me die the death of the righteous Palladius sent from pope Celestine brought the gospel first into Scotland and one Augustine sent from pope Gregorie brought it into England when popish superstition was greater then in the dayes of Damasus who lived in the 400 year Palladius in the 500. and this Augustine in the 600 year of Christ The builders of Babel first spake all languages shall wee therefore absteene from all these things 2. Therefore let us embrace the good things agreeable to Gods word which they made use of but cast away the infidelitie of Balaam the vain confidence of the builders of Babel the superstition of papists who used this sentence at the masse and at the end of every psalm read or sung 3. Pope Damasus said not first the substance of that sentence neither used he it first in musicall praise the substance of it was said in Revel 4.8 and it was sung when the psalm 100. was first sung and other passages of the psames have the sentence included in them as the psalm 45. vers 7. psalm 2. and salm 136. Quest Is it comely at one exercise of divine praise to sing parts of diverse psalmes together as if they were parts of one psalm or song and that in publict meetings Answ Gods Spirit approveth it by the like practise in 1 Chron. 16 7. When David gave a psalm to thank the Dord into the hands of Asaph and his brethren this song or psalm was made up thus to wit from the verse eight of the chapter unto the end of the verse 23. are written fifteene verses of the psalme 105. and from the 23 verse unto the end of the verse 33. are written the words of the whole psalme 96. and in the verse 34. is the first verse of the psalm 107. all is one song Item the first five verses of the psal 108. are the last five verses of the psal 57. and the rest of the psal 108. are the last eight vers of the psal 60. Quest. Is it not good to practise some of these erroneous novations for eschewing of shisme and for keeping of union and conformitie with some religious persons who in great Zeal defend them Zeal in defending error is not a godly but a blind zeal it is thus known in that they defend these errors as carefully as they do the clearest principals of divine veritie and they persecute such as embrace them not as if they were hereticks 2. Would thou keep union with them in their errours rather than with Christ and his apostles who were immediatly taught by Gods Spirit in divine veritie which admitteth not such novations By so doing you eschew not but you entertaine a most dangerous schisme dividing your selves from the puritie of the most loyal and infallible preachers of the truth 3. If for to make you strong with humane friendship you so despise Gods truth that you make errors equall unto it professing both together as if they were both but one truth then it will be a just reward if God suffer you to fall by degrees into palpable antichristian darknesse and if God kindle unquenchable hatred and discord between you and your affected societie wo shall be to him that maketh flesh his arme Jerem. 17.5 FINIS
effectuall with his members reading old conceptions in any Divine Service 2. The censuring of read prayers is an indirect disallowing of reading the Scriptures except the Lords Prayer which expresseth all our wants and that for the same reasons which they use against read prayers viz. They are read They expresse not all our wants Men know them before they read them They are often repeated They are not their conceptions who read them 3. Thus thou disallowest that aged men sing psalms which is more barnelie then reading of prayers for children delight more in musick But except we be humble like bairnes in submitting our selves to the simplicitie of Gods word we shall not enter into the kingdome of Heaven 4. Reading and conceiving prayers without feeling is both bairnly and manly for it is naturall to young and old to pagans and Pharisaicall professours but if there be a sense and feeling Gods Spirit worketh it above nature 5. If few conceptions maâ—â— prayers bairnly then our set forms are more manly then almost all the prayers in Scripture of any form for we expresse mo conceptions in them Thus our Novators will seem to have more of the working and presence of Gods Spirit then all Gods Saints in Scripture and out of Scripture who follow not their errours because they have longer prayers God grant that they devour not widows houses under pretence of long prayers and that they think not to be heard by much speaking as Christ speaketh of the Heathen Matth. 6. Shall Christ and his Saints in Scripture be esteemed lesse zealous lesse religious and of lesse perfection because their prayers were shorter and because many of their prayers did not expresse all their wants Quest Why hath Gods Spirit mixed prayers with the praising of God in the Psalmes Answ That in our mirth and singing we should not be exalted out of measure but in the midst of our mirth we should remember our miserie in seeking iuccour and relief 2. Because the prayers include in themselfs a confession of his praise for when we seek good things it is an acknowledging that God is able and willing to give them this is a great praise 3. Christ in the Lords prayer did joine praise with prayer to stir up our courage in the assurance that God will hear us when we say For thine is the kingdome power and glory c. And in the psalms prayer is joyned with praise for the same end also thus we pray in a cheerfull manner and praise God in a modest gravitie Adde these following to the Chap. 5. Of formall and materiall praise in the psalms Quest WHat is divine praise formally Answ It is a serious and loving commemoration of any good thing that is in God or from God which is done to the setting foorth of his excellencie and worthinesse Thus if the words expresse directly his properties and noble acts to be in him or from him whether in a proper or figurative speach it is a formall divine praise It is acted two wayes first without melodie and in prose as when Job said The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken blessed be the Name of the Lord Job 1. and David said Let us fall into the hands of the LORD for his mercies are great 2 Sam. 24. Secondly or with melodie vocall or instrumentall If it was vocall only the Hebrews called it Shir a song if instruments were added to it then it was called Mizmor a psalme Quest What is divine praise materially when this formalitie is not expressed Answ When the good things which procure praise unto God or prove Him to be praise-worthie are mentioned not expressing any confession that they belong unto God as the first five verses of the first psalm prove by way of consequent that God is good and bountifull in that they are blessed who sit not with scorners but meditate continually on Gods lavv c. If God were not good and bountifull they could not be blessed nor prosper for as wicked tyrants afflict the godly rather than others so would God do if he were unmercifull and cruell 2. When the wicked deeds of Doeg and Achitophell and others are mentioned it commendeth the long suffering patience of God in that they lived on the earth a moment his justice is more manifested in punishing them 3. In the psalmes 6.51 and 143. in their prayers by way of consequent God is acknowledged to bee Almighty and mercifull otherwise men would not seek such things from him 4. All formall praise consisteth in an expressed confession and acknowledgement that the good things are in God or from God The materiall praise hath not this confession and acknowledgement expressed but understood and included in the words and may be proven to be procured and merited by the things mentioned in the words 5. The materiall praise is as true and reall as the formall as true praise is included in this prayer Leave not my soul in hell as when we say Thou hast not left or dost not or shall not leave my soul in hell by way of confession but the praise included in the prayer is not so conspicuous Quest Why is the book of divine praise called the book of the psalmes seeing many prayers are also in it Answ Because these prayers are also divine praises materiallie though not formallie for divine praise is included in them 2. Many works are named from the things in them which are of greatest moment or manyest in number a book of Jeremy is called the Lamentations for it is full of mourning speeches yet divine praises and prayers are also in it the books of the Kings have also histories of some priests and prophets the Lords prayer hath also some formall praise in it viz. For thine is kingdome power and glory c. but mo formald petitions and prayers are in it praise is included in them in the first three for things that concern Gods glory in the last three for things that concerns mans necessitie Quest Can we in one sentence and in the same words both praise God and pray unto him at once Answ Many sentences have formall praise which include no prayer in them as when we say God is Almighty and Eternall God dwelleth in heaven Christ is the only begotten Son of God he is God and Man in one person but no sincere prayer wanteth divine praise included in it the formall prayers of the psalmes have materiall praises included in them and so he that singeth the prayer doth also praise 2. Two contraries in extreme degrees can not be in one subject as they may be in their remitted degrees prayer and praise are diverse things but not contrary then as the Sun in one beame of light may send down both heat and illumination at once so we may send up unto God prayer and praise in one sentence whether the prayer be formall and the praise materiall as O Lord rebuke me not in thine anger for it redoundeth to Gods praise
that his reproof should be feared or the praise formall and the prayer included in it materiall as a leper said unto Christ If thou wilt thou canst make me clean Item A broken and contrite bea rt O GOD thou wilt not despise Psal 51. Or whether a formall prayer and a formall praise be together in one sentence as Give ear O sheepbeard of Israel thou that leadest Joseph like a flock Psal 80. 3. Ioy and sadnesse are contrarie Christians may have them together in their remitted degrees in this life but in the next world the Elect shall have joy and the reprobat sadnesse in their extreme degrees In this life if the joy of Christians be greater then their sadnesse they should sing formall or materiall praises or prayers if their sadnesse be greater they should not sing at all as James sayeth but rather pray without singing though praise be included in the prayer they should expresse lesse mirth when their sadnesse exceedeth their joy Quest When we sing a psalme which hath prayers in it we sing to the praise of God is this singing a formall or materiall praise Answ Both materiall and formall praise may be sung to the praise of God 2. In respect of the musick our praise should be formal keeping the right manner of the tune and herein they transgresse who interrupt musical praise giving place to a reader at the end of every line by reading the line following The pauses used between lines is a comely ornament unto singing and is as necessar to distinguish the lines or principall parts of the tunes as it is necessar that shorter pauses should divide every note from another without distinctions and pauses all the tune should be but one note Musick without number and division is not musick but musicall praise is deformed by a non musical interruption of reading and Gods ordinance ordeined to chear up men for divine praise is deformed and rent and so it abaiteth chearfulnesse they do evill that good may come of it choosing a deformed musicall praise when they may have a rightly formed praise They do it that ignorant people may sing with them But humane will-worship can not take a good effect for Gods Spirit never taught it Therefore in stead of praise they abuse Gods name because they sing oftimes many lines not knowing what they say of God even when the sentence is ended Their blind zeal do not read sentences of prayer that the ignorant may learn to pray which is more needfull in this life It were better to sing perquier but one verse of a psalme all our lifetime then to deforme Gods worship thus singing all the psalms Some use this deformitie because niggardnesse hindereth them to buy a number of psalme books and slugishnesse hindreth them to teach their domesticks to read 3. Where there are two or four or six or mo lines in a sentence before the last line be heard the ignorant know not what they have sung and so they play the hypocrit and abuse Gods name seeming to praise GOD when they know not what they say of God and when the last line is read many know not the sense because they have forgotten what was sung and so still they abuse Gods name And such as know the sense also abuse Gods name for they have but sung the last line only with understanding It is a none sense to sing a part and not the whole fentence with understanding And though some have the psalme in their memorie yet they deforme Gods worship interrupting it with reading When ignorant papists pray in Latine not knowing what they say it is as true Divine worship as when we sing words of praise in our own language not knowing what we say If any sing reading on a book not taking heed what he saith it is but his own fault and hee may amend it at other times but when a multitude is forced by a law or custom to do it this is more antichristian like the ignorant might praise God in their hearts with a hundreth fold more true devotiō with understanding if only the psalme were read to them in prose or in verse But the pride of the obstinat will not amend thogh they know their errours In respect of the transcendent condition of all the psalms the praise of every psalm may be called formall for every psalm hath some formall praise in it even the penitentiall psalms as Psal 6.8 9. Psal 51.16 17 4. Materiall praise in singing may be made formall by adding to it and concluding it with a sentence of formall praise as Glory to the Father and to the Son c importing that not only the glory of all things but particularly of the things mentioned in the words presently sung belongeth to the Father c. If the ignorant get these words with the last verse of the psalm 28. viz. Thy people and thine heritage c. they may sing them orderly albeit they sing no more with the rest at all occasions for these words of prayer and praise are as substantiall and plain as any words in the book of the the psalms 5. When men sing words which have no formall confession they may make the praise formall in their hearts if they consider and acknowledge what work God hath in the things mentioned by these words 6. When formall prayers and other speaches are equivolent to formall praises they may also bee called formall praises Quest How are they equivalent to formall praises Answ If a formall praise be added to a formall prayer in the same sentence as in the third petition of the Lords prayer Thy will be done in earth c. and Psal 51.1 Have mercy on me O God according to thy loving kindnesse c. 2. If in the prayer Gods name be expressed with epithites of praise as Give ear O sheepheard of Israel Psal 80 3. If the matter and purpose of the prayer concerne the manifesting of GODS glory in expresse words as in the first two petitions of the Lords prayer In Psal 115 Not unto us O Lord but unto thy name give the glory The third petition of the Lords prayer is a formall praise both in this respect and in the respect forsaid 4. Speaches that are not formall praises by expressed confession if they attribute unto God honourable and divine things by insinuation they are formall praises by insinuation as in Psal 2. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice in trembling for it is a direct formall praise that God should be served and feared Quest Who are actors of Gods praises Answ The elect men and angels act his formall praises when they consider his excellent works and the good things in them and the good things of God manifested in his word and works And they ascribe all the honour and glory thereof unto God by confessing him to be the Author Conserver and Ruler of all more Excellent then all void of all imperfections and wants that are in all