alone or one familie alone may pray privatly and ordinarly Gods word warrandeth both and if any come into the familie occasionally he may pray and use familie exercise with them the Christian calling warrandeth it But persons of sundrie families may not meet ordinarly for that end It is usurpation because the publict Preacher or Reader only should convocat persons of diverse families for divine service or in their absence they should depute another seeing the charge is theirs nothing should be done of that kinde without their concurrance When there is no publict Ministers by reason of apostasie and persecution the people then without usurpation may provide for themselves and likewise when people dwell far distant from Churches If a Pastour want a Reader he himself should do the office or cause one do it with advise of his people CHAP. II. Some forbide fathers of families to interpret any passages of GODS word to their domesticks Quest SHould the fathers of families interpret any Scriptures to their domesticks Shall not their ignorance breed error and heresies making a false glosse on Gods word Ans They should teach them making a true glosse to that effect they should frequently hear preachings read and confer with others and enquire of their Pastors the meaning of doubtsome Scriptures but some idle pastors labour not to understand the Scripture and would discharge this exercise because they can not resolve such doubts 2. Their sympathie with the papists bringeth the same arguments for hiding the light of Gods truth for the papists say that laiks should not read the Scriptures least their ignorance Breed error and heresies 3. Heresies were never bred but by the ignorance of publict preachers The opinions of private men were never so much regarded that men would follow them to strengthen their heresies 4. Paul speaketh of a Church in the house of Nymphas Col. 4.15 and in the house of Aquila and priscilla Rom. 16.5 Could these be kirks without interpretation of the word 5. Many by frequent catechising and teaching their domesticks became learned publict teachers Qui docet indoctos c. 6. The neglect of such holy exercises rather breedeth hereticall opinions both in private and publict persons 7. Iudge not before the time publict Preachers are not censurand condemned untill their herefies be known so should private men be used and though some were guiltie yet the exercise it self is lawfull and profitable to such as use it well Should planting of vines and publict preaching be discharged because Noab and Lot were drunk with wine and Arrius turned an heretick 8. Hirelings like papists would have people ignorant least too much knowledge make them take notise of the ignorance errors and lewdnesse of their teachers they are not like Paul who wished that Agrippa and all that heard him were like him in all things except his bonds Act. 26. and Moses Numb 11. wished that all the people were prophets 9. By these exercises publict preachings are better understood which faithfull Pastours should desire 10. He that careth not for his familie in temporall things is worse then an in fidell if hee neglect spirituall things he is no better Quest Who calleth private men thus to teach their families Answ GOD in his word as Deut. 4.9 10. and Deut. 11 18 19. they are commanded to teach them sitting in the house walking in the way lying down and rising up The Psal 78. from 1. to 8. biddeth men teach their children in all ages the testimonies and works of GOD. Where are they written if not in his word How can they teach them if they show not their meaning This command is not ceremoniall but morall The fift command willeth both parents and children to do their dueties Naturall parents should also be spirituall parents in bringing up their children in nurture and in the fear of the LORD How can children fear GOD without the knowledge of his word see Ephes 6.4 2. When Paul desired aged women to teach younger women Christian dueties hee made not humane philosophie the ground of their instructions but GODS word saying That Gods word bee not blasphemed Tit. 2.5 Of the dueties of familie exercise see the preceeding chapter in the answers to the fourth question CHAP. III. They forbid all set formes of prayer Q. WHat is a conceived form and what is a set form of prayer Answ All set formes are first conceived being formed according to his conception that prayeth then if any ordein them to be used again how often so ever 1 2.3 dayly c. so far are they set formes because they are set appointed for a more frequēt use 2. When Christ in garden prayed thrise using the same words Matth. 26. at the first expression it was a conceived prayer but afterwards a set form which he set and ordeined to be said againe at two diverse times 3. If people concur using the words of him that conceiveth it is a set forme to them for they conceive it not their concurrance is a second expression of the prayer it is first expressed by the conceiver Quest Do none pray nor wrestle with God by the Spirit but in a conceived forme Answ GOD commanded the high priests to blesse the people in a set form Numb 6.24 Is not GODS Spirit the inditer of all GODS word 2. When the Israelites in the wildernesse began any journey at the taking up of the ark Moses said Arise O Lord and let thine enemies bec scattered and when the ark rested hee said Return O LORD to the thousands of Israel Numb 10. Our LORD in the garden said thrise a set form and albeit the Euangelists differ in repeating the words of his prayer because they only pointed at the matter thereof yet Mark at his second and Matthew at his third prayer affirm that he said the same words and on the Crosse His complaint was words of the psalme 22.1 My God my God why bast thou forsaken me and His last prayer on the Crosse was words of the psalme 31.5 Into thy hands I commit my Spirit Hee had never a greater presence of the Spirit nor a greater wrestling with GOD against the sense of his wrath against Satan death hell and all the power of darknesse which he overcame by the same Spirit who never left him in his greatest agonie 4. Paul in the beginning of ten Epistles said Grace be unto you and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ they say he might well do it writing to sundrie people Thus they yeeld that some way he might have the Spirit using a set form but he wrot two epistles to the Corinths and two to the Thessalonians using this salutation and two to Timothie using another salutation 5. In psal 57.1 are the words Be mercifull to me twise repeated In psal 68.1 the foresaid words of Moses are repeated In psal 80. is a set forme thrise repeated viz Turn us again O Lord and cause thy face to shine and we
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
what they speak of God as in psal 8.1 O God our Lord how wonderfull One that hath not the psalm in their memory knoweth not if the works or mercies or fearfull judgements of God or the great power and cruelty of the enemies be called wonderfull untill that the line be sung out and the next line read In psal 84.1 O Lord since vengeance doth to thee c. three lines are sung out and the fourth read before they know the sentence and weak memories forget what they sing before the second or third line be read some can not repeat the first line after the reading They abuse Gods name also when the last line is read albeit they understand it for it is a none sense to sing only apart viz. the last line not the whole sentence with understanding and many understand not the sentence even at the hearing of the last line because they forget the former lines before the last be read so God is rather mocked than praised by this blind implicit faith modest silence hath more true devotion 2. They say that learned men themselves understand not many words which they both read and sing Ignorance is tolerable when God revealeth not the mater but not when men procure it by a rash practise nor yet when they will seem wise in the thing they understand not Will not a king be offended if his servants speak to him as drunken men not knowing what they say but more justly may God be offended at such contempt 3. The proclaimer of lines of times forgetteth the words of his book and he speaketh other words for them 4. Sometimes his book is wrong printed and he bableth as he findeth it 5. Sometimes people distant from him hear not his voice because he heareth his own voice he believeth that all the rest hear it 6. It is a great contempt of Gods worship at every line to interrupt and mar it giving place to a reader Will any interrupt the shearing of corn by tilling so much ground as is shorn at the shearing of every sheaf this interruption is more uncomely 7. Musick orderly used stirreth up mens hearts to praise God cheerfully this interruption diminitheth cheerfulnesse and hindereth attention unto the matter Quest It is comely in the church that one part of the people shall sing and nes all the rest Ans It is as comely as when some read the word with the Reader and the text with the Preacher and as when some use ejaculations at preaching and not all the rest 2. It is more comely than that all the people shall so often interrupt Gods worship giving place unto a Reader 3. Gods Spirit thought it comely that twelve men only should sing at once in the temple not all the rest Chron. 25. the rest may praise God in a vocall manner saying with Iob Blessed be the name of the Lord Or For thine is the kingdome power and glory for Christ in the Lords prayer did conjoin praise with prayer 4. The Lord in Math. 11.25 said I thank thee O heavenly Father Lord of Heaven and Earth c. this was as true praise as when after his last supper he sung a psalme 5. At the Lords birth the sheepheards heard the Angels praised God without reading of lines for concurrance of the sheepheards this angelicall praise may suffice all the world if the musicall praise be not rightly used 6. If men have in their hearts the substantiall praise of the love reverence and of an high estimation of God the matter is little though all their lifetime they want the shaddow of musicall praise 7. The ignorant may be taught a more comely musicall praise without abusing of Gods Name Quest How shall it bee done Answ Teach them to get in their memories short and materiall psalmes for they are capable of badrie songs that once or twise every Sabboth they may sing some of them with the people they may also sing them in their houses and they may sing the conclusion Glory to the Father c. It were better in the Sabboths after publict service to cause them learn to read then interrupt Gods worship with reading Quest Why do sundrie godlie men cause proclame the lines Answ The blind zeal of some thinketh it the best custome 2 Others do it only till they find a fitter occasion to draw unruly people to a better custome as the apostles did permit some I gall rites Act. 15. which in themselves were become dead untill the estate of the church were better satled Quest May we not thus sing to gain such as cannot read as Paul gained the weak ones 1 Cor. 9. Answ Blind zeal neglecteth that which is more needfull viz. by repeating prayers to gain such as can not pray when as men may be good Christians without musicall praise all their lifetime 2. Paul might not be an idolater a drunkard nor a blasphemer to gain others from these vices but he might use or not use the legall rites which in his dayes should end and be buried honestly without sudden violence he gained people from superstition you teach them to be superstitious making them so esteem of musicall praise as if God could not be praised and themselves could not be Christians without it you teach them to abuse Gods name and to be hypocrites in singing words that they understand not so their words mind agree not together Qu. We thus keep them from idle thoughts vvhen others are in a holy exercise Ans You draw them rather both upon idle thoughts idle words when they sing that which they know not 2. Good Christians do confesse that oftimes in their best exercises of prayer and divine praise when they understand the mater they are assaulted with evill thoughts Satan so hateth Gods worship what then can be expected of such as know not what they speak 3 When twelve persons only did sing at once 1 Chron. 29. the Lord knew that their musicall praise did stir up holy reverend thoughts of God in the hearers rather then if the hearers had sung without understanding So Elisha prophesied not being cheared up by his own musick but by a ministrel 2 King 3. when David danced and leaped before the ark rejoising that God was present with his people his joy was stirred up by the musick of others as well as if it were his own musick 1 Chron. 15.28 29. Qu. Do not these Words pertain to all Christians to vvit that they should speak to them selve in psalmes and hymnes and make melodie in their hearts to the Lord Eph. 5.22 Ans None can rejoice to the Lord not knowing a reason of their joy as they do who sing without understāding if the sound of singers stir up their mirth and cheerfulnesse they not knowing the mater it is a melodie in their hearts but not to the Lord except some holy meditations of their own minde concur with the sound 2. If they rejoice in the assurance of
a sinner in repeating his owne words againe in the garden and the words of the psalme 22.1 and psal 31.5 if he might conceive or he is blasphemed if they say he used set forms because he could not conceive 3. Men walk uprightly both unto GOD and with GOD by true faith in whatsoever form they pray though blind zeale knoweth no walking but by varietie of conceptions and eloquence 4. Whether we read words or say them from the memorie expressing the same wants the words belong to him that prayeth as much as to the first conceivers As the light of the Sun is no more proper to them that first used it then to such as used it afterwards so is it with words and languages which are the gifts of the holy GHOST whether men acquire them immediatly as the apostles did on the Pentecost or by studies and education as all others doe Quest Is it not sufficient that set forms be committed to Readers for publict reading Answ When prelats did commit baptisme and the LORDS Supper to the inferiour Clergie and themselves did minister confirmation it made the people despise the LORDS ordinances and magnifie humane confirmation So when Preachers commit the reading of prayers only to Readers the people despise them because the Preachers despise them Quest I acknowledge the set forms in Scripture for Gods Spirit did indite them but the set formes out of Scripture have not such authoritie Answ Neither have the conceived forms out of Scripture such authoritie 2. But GOD to whom we speak hath as great authoritie when wee read our own set formes as when we read GODS word it self then our reverence to GOD should be no lesse 3. Seeing GODS Spirit was effectuall with both the formes in Scripture what restraineth his operation from the one more than from the other out of Scripture Quest The books of Discipline show that our first Reformers purposed not that set forms should continue for ever in the church of Scotland but only untill that God send sufficient able men but who can blame giftlesse old and failed men to plead for a stoffe helping themselves to walk Answ This reproach redoundeth to our blessed Saviour and to his servants foresaid as if they wanted spirituall gifts when they used set formes 2. Few or no preachers since the first reformation were so unable but they also used conceived prayers 3. Therefore it should be insert in the books of Discipline that set forms must continue in the church for these causes 1. For people that can not conceive that by frequent hearing of them they may remember some words for their private use rather then to pray nothing at all 2. For preachers diseased in the head whereby their conception is troubled 3. For other preachers least afterwards they be diseased that then the suddain change of the form seeme not strange unto the people 4. Both to countenance their infirme brethren and to countenance the LORD his prophets and apostles who used set forms not through infirmitie but because the words were sanctified and directed by Gods Spirit and were as acceptable to God and as able to expresse their desires as new conceived words They who love Christ should countenance himself and his members and their religious exercises chiefly when they are in contempt as set forms are at this time this is a confession of Christ and of his word before men 5. For repressing the insolencie of such as are puft up with eloquence doting so upon it as if Gods Spirit were not effectuall without it Quest Should any pray for the space of dayes moneths and years untill that Gods Spirit come and assist them Answ They who want faith can not pray though they use the words of prayer yet no man should be hindered to pray for none knoweth what is in man but his own Spirit the Lord suffered babes to come to him though they understood not the word which worketh faith 2. They who have faith may pray at all times for Gods Spirit never leaveth his owne work though sometimes hee bee more or lesse effectuall in them Quest Should not these novations be received seeing their defenders are of a godly life and conversation Answ The danger is so much the greater for as a godly life helpeth to edifie when men preach Gods truth so the blamelesse life of the pharisies and of hereticks did procure great respect unto their heresies and errours which a profain life could never do 2. When Paul persecuted the truth he was blamelesse touching the righteousnesse of the law Phil. 3.6 3. If they be godly in life and of a sound judgement when they consider these things more deeply they will glorifie God in forsaking them It proceedeth not from Gods Spirit to despise the form of worship which Hee approved and commanded in his word such were the Lords prayer the blessing of the priests and the praying for the coming of Christ Revel 22. 4. None are more godly then Christ and his apostles who used both the forms Quest If people concur with any prayer before the sentence be ended take they not Gods name in vain not knowing what they pray for Answ So they do if they concur by assenting or saying Amen before they know the full sentence it is a mocking of God to seek the thing they know not 2. If the preacher pray for one that was sick and the people are informed that he is dead it is superstition if they concur So is it if hee pray that people may show their humilitie by kneeling to sacraments or idols or that they thankfully remember Christs doings and sufferings by keeping superstitious dayes but they may concur with set formes before the sentence bee ended if they have them in their memorie because they know the matter CHAP. V. Some interrupt Gods worship continually reading the lines of the psalme by intermissions in the time of singing Quest HOW is it that many despise set formes of prayer and yet they praise God is set formes of muter When did Gods Spirit choose the one and refuse the other both are paraphrases and not texts of Scripture to vvit of the Lords prayer and of the psalmes Some use a double set form to vvit the miter and the proclaiming of linese this vvas never practised nor commanded in Scripture as vvere the single set forms of prayer and praise A. Blind zeal proclameth the lines that such as can not read may sing but they neglect to repeat a set form which is more needfull that they may learn to pray privatly rather than to pray nothing at all 2 The miseries of this life and happines of the life to come do show that prayer is more requisit now and praising of God in the next life we have dayly motives of praise but much more of prayer Quest. What errours are committed in repeating the lines at singing Answ There is a continuall abusing of Gods name in it for men oftimes sing divine praise not knowing