Beza's Psalms to cherish and encourage one another in their Rebellious attacks and Sacrilegious spoils The Dutch and Germans have employed theirs to a like good purpose but what their Poets name was I have not hitherto been informed Our Puritans have done the like in our late Civil Wars with Sternhold and Hopkins when they have gone about to charge their more Loyal Countrey-men then in Arms for the King as may be made good from their forces in Lincolnshire and other Countries Nay I fear we have outdone the Foreigners in one very profane practice I have observed that I mean is libelling parties yea and single persons in the choice of a Psalm the sense whereof shall be forced to reproach a Sentence judicially pronounced at the end of some suit at Law and sometimes to ridicule conformity to the order of our Church That our Rebels guilt made them jealous of the like project in those whom they suspected for more Legal principles than their own is not amiss noted from that act of folly if not more criminal I have read perpetrated by Isaac Penington London's Lord Chief Justice in his time who sent a fellow to Newgate perhaps a Clerk of some Church there only for setting a Malignant Psalm as he did another for Reading a Malignant Chapter possibly the 13th to the Romans such a one as he would have had encerped among many others toward constituting a new Apocrypha to secure a Scriptural Canon if he and other such misereants could have compiled it to countenance their Rebellion as they did in misapplied Texts too often by Holy Writ Some other improper uses they made of 'em as at their City Feasts in the place of more artificial Musick that commonly attend such entertainments And as an hypocritical property to gain the reputation of Piety in the strict observance of family-duties as they call them whereof some of their own Children have taken notice as did that Boy who being reproached by his Play-fellow That they Sung no Psalms upon Sabbath days in the Evening as his Father and the rest did at their House received this in answer with too much truth as the young Gamester ingenuously meant it That the reason why at his Fathers house no Psalms were wont to be Sung was because they had no Window toward the street Many odd passages in reference to those Psalms have affected the minds of most judicious persons whose ears they have arrived but none upon that account have in their merriment made more reflections in contempt and scorn of our Religion which they will needs suppose either allows or tolerates 'em than some in the Roman Communion who to my knowledge mimically sing their Tunes and act such Farces with ridiculous circumstances as have been credibly reported to 'em observing also the rusticity of their language and inconsonancy of their Rhime as no man in his right mind can better temper an excuse of what he must not disown than by a smile and silence To what end they were first ordained may be shrewdly guessed by the critical season of their composition which we read was about the same time when by the formality of a Commission accompanied with the irregularity of Riotous and Sacrilegious people not only the Plate and rich Ornaments of the Altars were seized on in the Kings name E. 6. for their own commodity but most furniture of all sorts belonging to the several Quires throughout the Realm were rifled and the very structures in a great part demolished or defaced that in St. Paul's Cathedral it self not escaping as if so well the daily Sacrifice of praising God in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs whatsoever the new Liturgy order'd otherwise were thence to be exterminated as that of the Mass. They that had such apprehension or other conceit in fancy for innovation might easily be induced to entertain this new device at least in their private Houses and as formerly they had been gratified with the priviledge of reading the Scripture in our vulgar language so now be yet more pleased with the liberty they might enjoy at will of singing their Psalter thus Poetically improved in the same Howsoever this may be not invidiously nor partially observed from the first publication of 'em that they were by none more regarded nor more eagerly contended for than by those that were most seditiously inclined and disaffected to the established order of the Church which in this particular among others was carefully provided for especially after the coming of the precise Brethren from Geneva where they had not only learned from their great Master Calvin a new Institution or System of Religion but acquainted themselves well with his subtile methods of Sacriledge or Sequestation of any Church Revenue which they could pretend to have been superstitiously employed that is in more truth applied to the external decency or solemnity of Divine Service and Religious Worship of God in his Holy Temple for little less than a suspicion of Rapine in some such sort seemeth to be implied in the 49 Injunction of Queen Elizabeth whereunto it occurs thus Because in divers Collegiate and also some Parish Churches heretofore there have been livings appointed for the maintenance of Men and Children to use singing in the Church by means whereof the laudable service of Musick hath been had in estimation and preserved in knowledge the Queens Majesty neither meaning in any wise the decay of any thing that might conveniently tend to the use and continuance of the said Science neither to have the same in any part so abused in the Church that thereby the Common Prayer should be the worse understanded of the hearers willeth and commandeth that first no alterations be made of such assignments of living as heretofore hath been appointed to the use of Singing or Musick in the Church but that the same so remain And that there be a modest and distinct Song so used in all parts of the Common Prayers in the Church that the same may be as plainly understanded as if it were read without singing and yet nevertheless for the comforting of such that delight in Musick it may be permitted that in the beginning or in the end of Common Prayers either at Morning or Evening there may be sung an Hymn or such like Song to the praise of Almighty God in the best sort of Melody and Musick that may be conveniently devised having respect that the Sentence of the Hymn may be understanded and perceived My Remarks upon which Injunction are these 1. That not only in Cathedrals but in some Parochial Churches also means had been setled upon Singing-men and younger Choristers to begin and carry on the Solemn Tunes of the Psalms in Prose as they are Verse after Verse prickt out by a middle distinction to that purpose 2. That the said settlement advanced the estimation of Musick accounted a laudable Service when diligently attended and performed according to the true intent and first institution thereof 3. That
be thought the portions allotted to each are these viz. To T. S. Psal. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. and 23. as posted after W. W. who has the preference of the two Paraphrasts 25. 26. 28. 29. 32. 33. 34. 41. 43. 44. 53. 63. 66. 68 73. 103. 120. 123. 128. To J. H. Psal. 24. 27. 30. 31. 35. 36. 38. 39. 40. 42. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. Set after one entitled to W. W. as in like manner is Psal. 51. 52. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 64. 65. 67. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100. with another on the same to shew the variety of his fancy 108. 146. 148. To T. N. are attributed Psal. 101. 102. 105. 106. 109. 110. 111. 115. 116. 117. 118. 129. 135. 136. 138. 139. 140. 141. 142. 143 144. 145. 147. 149. 150. To W. W. Psal. 23. 27. 50. 51. 114. 119. 121. 124. 126. 127. 130. 133. 134. 137. To W. K. Psal. 104. 107. 112. 113. 122. 125. To M. Psal. 131. 132. To R. W. Psal. 125. as a second to W. K. To T. C. Psal. 136. as a second to N. Before their Book of Psalms are placed other pieces of their Poetry or paraphrastical excellency viz. 1. Veni Creator beginning in English thus Come holy Ghost eternal God 2. The humble suit of a Sinner begin O Lord of whom I do depend 3. Venite exultemus Psal. 95. begin O come and let us now rejoyce 4. The Song of S. Ambrose called Te Deum begin We praise thee God we knowledge thee 5. The Song of the three Children begin O all the works of God the Lord. 6. The Song of Zecharias called Benedictus begin The only Lord of Israel 7. The Song of the Blessed Mary called Magnificat begin My Soul doth magnifie the Lord. 8. The Song of Simeon called Nunc Dimittis begin O Lord because my hearts desire 9. The Symbole or Creed of Athanasius begin What man soever he be 10. The Lamentation of a Sinner begin O Lord turn not away thy face The Lords Prayer or Pater-Noster begin Our Father which in Heaven art 12. The ten Commandments Audi Israel Exod 20. begin Heark Israel and what I say 13. The Complaint of a Sinner begin Where righteousness doth say None of these have any Authors name or Capital Letters for it prefixed except the second alone which has M. the same person in likelihood that translated two of the Psalms After their Book of Psalms Sir we find another Set of their Apocryphal Poetry which hath 1. A Song to be Sung before Morning Prayer T. B. beginning Praise ye the Lord ye Gentiles all 2. A Song to be Sung before Evening Prayer begin Behold now give heed such as be 3. The ten Commandments of God Exod. 20. begin Attend my people and give ear by W. W. 4. The Lords Prayer D. Cox begin Our Father which in Heaven art 5. The twelve Articles of the Christian Faith begin All my belief and confidence 6. A Prayer to the Holy Ghost to be sung before the Sermon begin Come holy Spirit the God of might 7. Da pacem Domine begin Give peace in these our days O Lord. 8. The Lamentation begin O Lord in thee is all my trust 9. A Thanksgiving after the receiving of the Lords Supper begin The Lord be thanked for his gifts 10. A Conclusive Song entitled to R. W. begin Preserve us Lord by thy dear word Perhaps some of the foresaid Letters beside R. S. and J. H. might be deciphered into names if an exact List were made of those Divines c. that upon the change of Religion after K. Edward's death either went directly hence or in the troubles at Strasburgh and Frankfort departed thence for Geneva I intend not to search so narrowly into the reports we have from either place nor will engage my self in a bare conjecture at what the Reverend Dr. Heylyn and other alike sagacious Writers have either not discovered or thought not worth communicating but my opinion in general I declare is this That the whole Bundle or Body of these their Psalms Songs c. by whomsoever composed or paraphrased had the approbation of the whole Classis of our English there assembled in conjunction with some Scotch and French whom they called in or consulted and for ought we can be assured of by no other than the same Classis or Colloquy were they allowed to the publick purposes pretended by the Printer in his Title-page which being no less authentick than that which had their Translation of the Bible or the Genevian Notes upon it passes currantly enough with the hereditary Tribe of our Sectaries That Translation which King James judged to be the worst that he had ever seen in the English Tongue Those Notes upon the same which his Majesty told us in the Conference at Hampton-Court are partial untrue seditious and savouring too much of dangerous and trayterous conceits Those notes which yet I heard boldly pleaded for at the Tryal of the Most Reverend Archbishop Laud who so well as I remember guarded himself by the Sentence of that Learned King though no Deference at all was made or owned due unto it by their Lawyers but that I have nothing to do with here otherwise than as the authority of those Notes and these Psalms whether by allowance or connivance seems to be much alike and either thereby justified so much as comes to nothing but both alike to be condemned for the abuse The acephalike Songs that have not any single Letter at all to entitle them being taken in with those that have as supplemental to 'em and brought over with 'em from Geneva For I cannot suppose any one individual person would be so bold without countenance of a packt Society or Assembly to impose upon a National Church what Metrical Psalms shall be Sung and when to the discharging those Sacred and Canonical Hymns in Prose before appointed by express publick order to be Said or Sung being set to more solemn Tunes as practis'd in our Cathedrals such as will carry up any truly devout Soul in holy raptures or fix it in holy ecstasies much sooner than the esseminate notes as Strada calls 'em of Marot or the flatter Symphony made of Sternhold Hopkins and the rest by our Fanatick people To which purpose I mean to infringing the rule of our Church set in her Rubricks was not only our Introit or 95 Psalm slightly Paraphrased but as before-mentioned the Song of S. Ambrose called Te Deum which in Prose should be Said or Sung after the first Lesson at Morning Prayer or at choice then the Song of the three Children The Song of Zacharias called Benedictus after the Morning-Second Lesson The Song of Blessed Mary called Magnificat after the First and the Song
of Simeon called Nunc dimittis after the Second at Evening Prayer The other two then alike permitted to choice Cantate Domino and Deus misereatur being the 98 and 67 Psalms they had translated among the rest A Prayer to the Holy Ghost to be sung they tell us before the Sermon beginning Come holy Spirit the God of might what intimates it less than that the descent of the H. Ghost may be no less confidently expected or asked upon the Minister at the delivery of his whether premeditated or extemporary Sermon than as by the Bishop Said or Sung the whole Assembly kneeling by far the more humble posture at his Ordination Their Song to be Sung before Morning and another before Evening Prayer supposeth the Congregation fully or but in part assembled If fully then it seems the Church Service must be arrested until the people have solaced themselves with a Song If not fully then most likely it is intended to find them some imployment rather than they should sit idle as if a silent and serious meditation were of no use or as if the people knowing what they are to do first after their Ministers Exhortation declared to 'em viz. to say a general Confession after him might not better be employed in a particular recollection or mental recapitulation each one of his personal transgressions omissions c. and to prepare himself to bear a sad but salutaries part in that general Confession of the whole Congregation That the Creeds the Decalogue and Pater-noster are likewise versified and left at large to be sung at pleasure does still but aggravate or aggrandize the mischief of their intention for though neither of the two latter can well be too far extended or branched into more particulars than God prescribeth us duties or is gracious to admit as Petitions put up to him which may allow some latitude to their invention we see it taken in large Paraphrases on the Lords Prayer and yet larger Expositions on the Ten Commandments The object of Faith is under as much restraint so as a little slip in comprehension of the Sense or in Poetick Licence creates somewhat as it were of a new Creed and when accurately examined either affixeth a fundamental errour or gives the lie to him that utters matter of his own invention instead of divine infusion not understanding or not believing what he in prick-song affirms he does I enter not into strict Scrutiny of what therein they have done but desire any intelligent and indifferent person to take into due consideration the Prose and Metre of St. Athanasius's Symbol if theirs in Verse we may call his and then seriously resolve me Whether he can with half that vigour and assurance declare his assent to the one as to the other so much abatement being by the inartificial Version in the grandeur of style so much distance in the elevation of affections from the language of the Saint himself though translated and that of the Poet though slickt in Rhime enough to vilifie a mans Faith in his own conceit and damp his confidence to sing or say what is the conclusion of it for considerate men will not easily advance so far as to exclude altogether from Salvation all such as have not faith enough in the fancy of a pitiful and pievish Poet we know what scruple or difficulty has been made by many sober persons at the conclusive Sentence of that Creed in Prose who doing it in no contentious but a conscientious motive a dread to denounce Damnation against such as otherwise they esteemed their good Christian Brethren I shall only blame their diffidence in the tradition of the Church which ever held it as a most Orthodox and Pious Paraphrase of the Apostles Creed And I remember very well with circumstance of time and place when a learned person consulted this Reverend Dean Whether a man might not safely remit somewhat of that rigour and yet not deviate culpably from the common path others trod in or at least omit joining with the Minister in that so determinate conclusive Sentence His Reverence's Answer in good earnest was to this purpose He could be no good Christian nor true Son of the Church of England that did not animitus and entirely assent unto that Creed say it or say it not You see Sir how many essential parts of our Church-Service they have thus entrench'd upon whereof if they would have made a continued sequence and but inserted as they use to do while they take breath a Chapter or two of their own chusing to be read by a Lay-Elder as in the Calvinian Churches their Minister would have found little or nothing for him to do but to usher in his Sermon with a long-winded Prayer and so our Liturgy as they would have it had been defeated by a meer Chant as in foreign parts they have said our Religion become nothing else but a bare Preach If hereunto I should add any Observations or Animadversions on the matter of those Geneva-ditties yea and the Psalms as they have order'd it a great deal of ignorance and folly and somewhat worse would be discovered In vain therefore do they pretend them in the Title-page that they the Psalms I mean have been conserred with the Hebrew which accord no better with those in our Psalter nor with the other in the Bishops Bible and most impudently do they obtrude upon us a publick allowance of them by the Queen or Government as must needs be meant when no such thing could be found though an argument was held about it in the High Commission Now Sir if you please we will parallel their designs which look so like one another that of the Huguenots in France together with the Calvinists in other Countreys and that of our Separatists or Puritans here in England which will appear alike the Setting up of a new Religion and in the issue a new modelling of the State too Theirs was to confound the Mass and ours the Mattins with the Vespers daily sung on both sides the water Theirs to make their Populacy no less than their Clergy concerned in Divine Offices ours to extrude or out the conforming Ministry from practising their Canon and Rubrick comfortably when they observed most of what they were appointed to do anticipated by their Psalms and Songs in Metre and so little or nothing left them of their Liturgy duty and wheresoe're they might have a Nonconforming Ministry of their own having a better esteem of the open Fields and Barns to meet in both for Singing and Preaching too than of our Churches or Steeple-houses as they rather call 'em experience hereof we have had all along among Scotch and English nor would the Dutch have done otherwise if they fought not out better conditions for themselves than could the French and so chang'd the publick face of Religion and therewith the ancient Government of their Countrey The Foreign Protestants as I have shewed you made use of Marot's and