Selected quad for the lemma: book_n
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A43345
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Family-hymns gather'd (mostly) out of the best translations of David's psalms.
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Henry, Matthew, 1662-1714.
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1695
(1695)
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Wing H1475A; ESTC R31532
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28,341
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86
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Family-Hymns Gather'd mostly out of the best Translations of David's Psalms Psal. 118.15 The voice of rejoycing and of salvation is in the Tabernacles of the righteous Psalmis Hymnis cùm oratis Deum hoc versetur in corde quod profertur in voce Aug. Epist. 109. ad Monachas Licenced 15 January 1694 5. Edward Cooke LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns the lower End of Cheapside 1695. ERRATA IN the Preface p. 3. lin 13. r. cap. 9. p. 6. l. 21. r. pronuncianti Pag. 4. l. 11. for th' read the. p. 5. l. 27. add I. in the beginning of the line p. 9. l. 17. for Thou art then read Thus art thou p. 13. l. 21. for wo read who p. 17. l. 14. for fulness read fatness p. 19. l. 24. for on read in p. 22. l. 13. for will be perform'd read will we perform p. 23. l. 17. for adorn'd read advanc'd p. 29. l. 6. for Ages read Age. p. 45. l. 5. for ond read and. p. 49. l. 5. for Hill read Hills p. 53. l. 9. for was read wast p. 63. l. 18. add And in the beginning of the line TO THE READER MY Design in this Essay is to promote the singing of Psalms in Families as a part of their Daily Worship especially their Sabbath-Worship an Exercise which however it be now with other Instances of the warmest Devotion sadly disus'd yet was antiently practised by the generality of serious Christians who thus turn'd their Houses into Churches such Churches as Saint Paul speaks of Rom. 16.5 〈…〉 2. by praising God together and by teaching and admonishing one another in singing of Psalms If we ask for the good Old Way we shall fâ—nd this Path in it trodden by the Primitive Christians in the Church's early days among the particulars of whose Religion that Learned Pen which wrote the Primitive Christianity traceth remarkable Foot-steps of this Family-Exercise Part 1. Ch. 9. The sound of this Melody was not only heard in their Solemn Assemblies where it appears by many passages particularly that known Account which Pliny gives to Trajan of the Christians Epist. l. 10. to have been a considerable part of their Publick Worship but in their private Houses also where it seems to have been the common usage to sing Psalms with their Wives and Children especially at and after their Meals a practice commended by Clemens Alexandrinus Paedag. lib. 2. c. 4. by Chrysostom in Psal. 41. which made the Psalms so familiar to them that as Jerom tells us Epist. ad Marcel in the place where be liv'd you could not go into the Field but you should bear the Plow men and the Mowers and the Vine-dressers thus employ'd Sonet Psalmos convivium sobrium saith Cyprian Socrates Hist. Eccles. lib. 7. cap. 22. speaks of it as the practice of Theodosius the Emperor to rise early every morning to sing Psalms with his Sisters so that his Palace saith he was like a Monastery or Religious House 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And I have sometimes thought that the Service of the Monasteries in the degenerate Ages of the Church which is known to have consisted very much in Singing was but the remaining Form and Carcass of that Life and Power of Godliness and Religious Worship which had originally reign'd in most Christian Families That 's a good hint of Tertullian in his Book ad Uxorem written about the Year 205. lib. 2. cap. where cautioning Christian Women not to marry with Unbelievers he urgeth this against it that those who were so link'd could not have their Husbands to sing Psalms with them in their Houses whereas when those in that Relation draw together in the Yoke of Christ sonant inter duos Psalmi Hymni mutuo provocant quis melius Deo suo canet their only strife then is which shall be most affectionate and serious in singing Psalms And to come nearer our own day that is worthyour notice which Mr. Quick in the In roduction to his Synodicon tells us Vol. 1. p. 5. that the singing of Psalms in Families even those of the best Rank not only at their Morning and Evening Worship but at their Meals conduced very much to the strength and growth of the Reformed Religion in France in its first and best days And the Title page of our old English Translation of the Psalms into Metre set forth and allowed at the beginning of our Reformation in Edw. the 6th's Time recommends them to be sung in private houses for their godly solace and comfort And how the houses of the good old Protestants were perfum'd with this Incense daily especially on Lord's days we have heard with our Ears and our Fathers have told us Gladly therefore would I contribute something towards the revival of this duty in Christian Families which if they be as they should be Nurseries and Seminaries of Piety would certainly embrace this as an excellent means of instilling Religion betimes into the minds of their little Children who as they commonly attend most to this duty so they will sooner receive the good impressions of it than of any other and thus out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings will praise be perfected to the glory of God and strength ordained to the comfort of Families compare Mat. 21.16 with Psal. 8.2 Austin Prolog in Lib. Psalm suggests that Psalms were written and the singing of Psalms appointed very much for the sake of Youth Propterea Psalmorum saith he nobis per modulos aptata sunt Carmina ut vel aetate Puerili vel qui Adolescentes sunt moribus quasi cantilenâ quâdam psallentes delectari videantur What shall I say then to persuade Masters of Families who have hitherto neglected their duty to begin it now Better late than never The experience of many that make conscience of it will testifie both the sweetness and profit of it If Psalms were more sung in Families they would be better sung in Congregations Let none plead want of time as their excuse for how can time be spent better than in praising God And is there not a great deal of our precious hours thrown away every day upon other things that are less to the purpose of a Christian Nor will there be room for this pretence if care be taken not to defer Family Worship too late either morning or evening so as to crowd it into a corner as many do by a thousand impertinences as likewise so to proportion the other parts of the duty that they may not justle out this It is the wisdom of Masters of Families so to manage their Family Worship that they may make it as much as possible a pleasure and not a task to their Children and Servants Nor let want of skill be an excuse there may be much of acceptable Affection where there appears but little of Art Plain Song best befits plain Israelites A small degree of skill and that easily attain'd by any that give their minds to it will
suffice to the management of this duty decently and in order and more there needs not for in private Families the quickest way of singing seems to be most agreeable such singing as the Great Athanasius appointed in the Church of Alexandria ut pronunciani vicinior esset quà m canenti more like reading than singing So Austin tells us Confess lib. 10. cap. 33. and approves of it as a good means to preserve that spiritual delight which should be in this Ordinance from degenerating into a sensitive pleasure which it is apt to do when Tunes and Notes are over-much study'd and affected and the Ear tickled with them Nor let any be afraid that their Neighbours should over-hear them We serve à Master that we have no reason to be asham'd of to whom we have engaged that whatever others do we and our houses will serve him and whose hold is so great of the Consciences even of bad men that those whose contempt and reproach you fear even of them perhaps you will be had in honour 2 Sam. 6.22 Nay your Light hereby may so shine before men that others may be brought to glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Mat. 5.16 If any make it an excuse that they are unready in finding out such Psalms or passages in the Psalms as are most proper for Family use such may perhaps receive some help from this small Collection It is taken out of David's Psalms and further we seldom need to go for Hymns and Spiritual Songs though other Scriptures may no doubt be us'd this way much to edification Nolite cantare nisi quod legit is esse cantandum is a good Rule which Austin gives Epist. 109. This Collection will be the more useful and it is what I chiefly aim at in it if every one in the Family have a Book so that the Psalm or Hymn for the distinction is but nominal may be sung without reading the Line betwixt which is the general practice of the Reformed Churches abroad and renders the duty more pleasant and profitable and takes up less time and is practicable enough in a Family if not in large Congregations The gathering of Verses out of several Psalms and putting them together may seem to be a violation of their own native coherence But I hope it will not give offence to any since it is no more so than the joyning of several passages of Scriptures remote from each other and putting them together in our Prayers and Sermons which is generally practis'd Besides that it is a liberty which is often taken by the Clarks that give out the Psalms in publick And I think those who dislike it not there will the rather allow it in private Families Nay I am in hâ—pes that the reference I have made all along to the Psalms and Verses will increase and lead to an acquaintance with the Book of Psalms in general which I would not that this Essay should at all lessen or supersede I have made use of the best approved Translations especially Mr. Patrick's and Mr. Barton's as likewise Bishop King's Mr. Smith's Dr. Ford's and Mr. Baxter's who have each of them labour'd well in this Province nor have I neglected the Old Translation which considering the Age in which it was done and that it broke the Ice is not such a contemptible piece us some love to represent it I have taken that out of each which I judg'd the best and most suitable to my purpose acting herein not as a Censor but as a Gleaner Books are known to have their Fate ad captum Lectoris and therefore I hope my pardon for making this use of the Labours of others will be easily granted and this general Acknowledgment will suffice to acquit me from the Charge of Plagiarism I have not varied at any time from my Authors meerly for variation sake yet throughout I have seen cause very often to alter and in many places to build a-new especially where I was willing to contract according to the best of my skill The performance indeed is but very small yet the Design is honest and it will be fruit abounding to a good account if it do but help forward the work of singing Psalms in which the will of God is done on Earth somewhat like as it is done in Heaven where singing Hallelujahs to him that sits upon the Throne and unto the Lamb is both the everlasting work and the everlasting felicity of those glorified Beings M. H. Jan. 14 1694 5 For Morning Worship Hymn 1. Psal. 57.7 8. MY heart is now prepar'd for praise 'T is fixed for the same And I will sing to thee O Lord And bless thy Holy Name Awake my Glory Lute and Harp Consorts of praise to make Now in the morning I my self Will to this work awake 19.1 2 3 4 5 6. The Heavens throughout their vast extent Declare their Maker's praise The glittering starry Firmament His handy-work displayes Day unto day doth celebrate and night to night proclaim Without the help of speech or tongue His universal Fame There doth the Sun with joy and strength His constant course compleat The Earth rejoyceth in his Light And in his quick'ning Heat 90.17 So Let the Lord shine on our Souls Lighten and warm us thus Prosper O God our handy-works And stablish them to us Hymn II. 118.15 3.5 THE voice of saving Health and Joy In Just 〈◊〉 dwellings is The Lord 's right-hand works powerfully That strong right hand of his I laid me down and sweetly slept And safely wak'd again Because it was the Lord that kept And did my Soul sustain 31.21 30.5 Blessed be God's most sacred Name Who hath such wonders shown Wonders of Love securing me As in a fenced Town His wrath is in a moment past Life from his favour springs Though weeping for a night may last The morning comfort brings 33.20 21 22. Therefore we wait for thee O Lord Who still art our defence In all Estates we trust in thee With chearful confidence Lord let thy Grace on us descend Like a refreshing showre For all our Hopes and Joys depend On thine Almighty Power Hymn III. Psal. 74.16 17. THE shining day and shady night Peculiarly are thine Thou hast O Lord prepar'd the Light And caus'd the Sun to shine The Earth with all its Ends and Coasts Thy mighty hand did â—ame Both Summer's heat and Winter's frost By thine appointment came 33.6 7. 119.91 By thy Great Word the Heav'ns were made And all their Hosts are thine The gathered Waters of the Sea Thou dost in bounds confine According to thine Ord'nance these Continue to this day For all are Servants unto thee And do thy Word obey Rev. 4.11 Psal. 124.8 Glory and Honour must O Lord To thee of right be paid For all these things are by thy power And for thy pleasure made And our continual Hope and Help In his Great Name doth stand Who did create both Heav'n and Earth By his Almighty hand Hymn IV. Psal. 121.1