Preface by the Rev. Thomas Houston, D.D.
James Dodson
BRETHREN in America of different religious denominations—the excellent men who agreed to emit this able defence of Scriptural Psalmody, have performed a valuable service to the cause of true religion by its publication. In their own country, they have had a full opportunity of testing by its fruits the practice of departing from an inspired psalmody, and of introducing at will into the worship of the church hymns of human composition. In no part of reformed Christendom has there been a wider license taken in the use of hymns of all kinds—some evangelical, others abounding in doctrinal error, and many inflated and extravagant—in public psalmody; and this not only among the newly arisen sects, but likewise in those that profess adherence to ancient standards, such as the Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches. The consequences have been, amidst much that is praiseworthy and commendable in the American Churches, divisions have been multiplied, errors in new forms have been brought in—and in many, fanatical and dangerous excitement has been encouraged—while doctrinal truth and Scriptural order have been disregarded. It is significant and striking too, that what are termed the “Psalm-singing Churches” in America have been generally preserved united in evangelical sentiment, and kept
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from the disorders and confusions into which others have fallen; while, it is believed, they will compare advantageously with others, in relation to the strict observance of moral and religious duties—to efforts for the extension of the Redeemer’s kingdom—and in all the visible fruits of genuine piety.
The Committee of Presbyterian Ministers and Elders that compiled “THE TRUE PSALMODY”—all of them distinguished men in the several Bodies with which they are connected—aware of such facts, set themselves to provide a remedy for existing and wide-spread evils, and to lift up a faithful testimony in behalf of precious truth. Ably have they accomplished the task which they undertook; and the church, not only in America, but also in other countries, owes them a debt of gratitude, for the full, Scriptural, and candid vindication which they have presented of the purity of one of her most important institutions. Overlooking a few references to practices that are American and local, and without considering ourselves called to adopt every exposition or argument that is offered by such a multitude of authors as are quoted, we regard this work as admirably fitted for general circulation, and the matter contained in it, as of more than ordinary interest to all who love the truth, desire to promote the unity and peace of the church, and to advance the cause of vital godliness.
To “contend earnestly” for purity of worship, is an important duty, at all times, solemnly and frequently enjoined in the Divine word; and, in the present day of religious inquiry—of sudden and unexpected changes—and of the revival and spread of fundamental errors, it is
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especially incumbent. The rejection of human inventions in the worship of God, was a main plea of the noble Puritans; and in maintaining it, our Presbyterian and Covenanting forefathers willingly suffered imprisonment, exile, and death. Their grand principle was, that nothing but what is of express Scriptural warrant should be admitted in the order and devotions of the sanctuary. In this they were clearly right. All true revival and reform in past ages have proceeded more or less on the same principle; and, in the promised future period of the church’s enlargement and prosperity, we are assured, that all will-worship, as well as superstition and error, shall be purged out; and that Mount Zion shall appear, in renovated light and purity, the joy of all the earth—the “habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.”
Uninspired hymns and paraphrases to supplement or supplant the Bible Psalms, were first introduced amid declension from the truth, and have been often resorted to for the purpose of ministering to extravagant excitement. Though many good men have been misled by a prevailing practice, their employment in the church psalmody has ever been fraught with serious evils. God’s word has been dishonoured—the songs of inspiration have been displaced from the use for which they were given—low and unworthy views of inspiration have been countenanced—and men have presumptuously set up their own wisdom above God’s. Addictedness to hymn-singing ministers to false excitement, causes or perpetuates divisions in the church, and completely mars the prospect of a happy union in truth and love—one of the grand promises to the church in the last times.
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The open and candid discussion of the question of inspired Psalmody has, in various places, and at different times, been productive of no little good. Of this there is a striking instance in the history of one of the works which is frequently quoted in “THE TRUE PSALMODY.” When the Rev. William Sommerville, some thirty years ago, landed as a missionary from this country in Nova Scotia, he found the inspired psalms almost wholly excluded from the worship of all sections of the Protestant Church in that country; and hymns of all sorts, many of them erroneous, trashy, and insipid, in general use among Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Universalists, &c. His frequent and able advocacy of the Bible Psalms, and especially the publication of his work on “THE EXCLUSIVE CLAIMS OF DAVID’S PSALMS,” produced a marked change of sentiment on the subject throughout the religious community; and now, among Presbyterians of every name in Nova Scotia, the use of the inspired psalms in the worship of God, public and domestic, is as general as was that of mere human compositions before. The issuing of an edition of “THE TRUE PSALMODY” in this country, and its extensive circulation, will, there is reason to hope, be productive of like beneficial effects. Under the Divine blessing, I anticipate no little advantage from its perusal, in leading many throughout the churches to views on the subject, of which they have hitherto been profoundly ignorant, in exciting to farther inquiry, and the rejection of other corruptions from the church; and thus, in preparing for the desired and blissful era, when “the watchmen shall see eye to eye, and with the voice together they shall sing,” as “the Lord shall bring again Zion.”
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The testimony of the excellent commentator, Thomas Scott, respecting the Bible Psalms, at once judicious and weighty, finds a response in the heart of every faithful and devoted Christian who is familiar with these songs of Zion—“There is nothing in true religion—doctrinal, experimental, and practical—but will present itself to our attention whilst we meditate upon the Psalms. The Christian’s use of them in the closet, and the minister’s in the pulpit, will generally increase with the growing experience of the power of true religion in their own hearts.”
KNOCKBRACKEN, May, 1861,