Psalmody
James Dodson
Title page of the Bay Psalm Book, the first book published in New England.
EXCLUSIVE PSALMODY HOMEPAGE.
“We declare, that it is the will of God that the songs contained in the Book of Psalms be sung in His worship, both public and private, to the end of the world; and in singing God’s praise, these songs should be employed to the exclusion of the devotional compositions of uninspired men.”—Article XVIII, Of Psalmody, The Testimony of the United Presbyterian Church of North America.(1858)
WORKS ON PSALMODY:
Preface to the Bay Psalm Book.-1640-Richard Mather (1596-1669).-An essay affixed as a preface to the Bay Psalm Book (1640), almost certainly the work of Richard Mather (one of the translators), explaining the philosophy of translation employed together with reason why literalism is to be preferred over smoothness in metrical psalmody.
Singing of Psalms a Gospel-Ordinance.-1650-John Cotton (1584-1652).-An excellent treatise on Psalm singing by an eminent New England Puritan. Cotton gives a good overview for the arguments for only singing Psalms together with a spirited defense of the use of metrical psalmody.
A Discourse on Women Prophesying and Headcoverings.-1665-Joseph Mede (1586-1639).-An interesting discourse on 1 Cor. 11:5 explaining what Paul meant when he spoke of women prophesying. In the course of the discussion, he throws some light on the function of precentors and the antiphony between the preceptor and the congregation (much like lining of the Psalms). Pointedly, he also discusses what Paul meant to teach respecting headcoverings or veils for women in the worship of the church.
Plain reasons why neither Dr. Watts’ Imitations of the Psalms, nor his other poems, nor any other human compositions, ought to be used in the praises of the great God our Saviour—But that a metre version of the Book of Psalms, examined, with wise and critical care, by pious and learned divines, and found by them to be as near the Hebrew metre psalms, as the idiom of the English language would admit, ought to be used.-1783-Thomas Clarke (1720-1792).-In this letter, Dr. Clarke, a Burgher Seceder minister, sets forth the case for the exclusive use of the Psalms of David in the worship of God. Clarke also discusses why Watts’ Imitations ought not to be used in the worship of God as well as why the 1650 Scottish metrical Psalter ought to be retained.
A Letter on Psalmody. Shewing, that Human Composures Ought Not to be Used in Christian-Worship, in Singing the Praises of God.-1790-Robert Jack.-This 1790 Philadelphia pamphlet by Robert Jack comprises three distinct theological treatises: a polemical “Letter on Psalmody” defending the exclusive use of the biblical Psalms in public worship against human compositions (particularly the paraphrases of Isaac Watts); a substantial lecture exposition on Jesus as “the Mediator of the new Covenant” (Hebrews 12:24), delineating the Covenant of Works, the Sinaitic Covenant, and the Covenant of Grace; and a brief practical discourse describing the Christian grace of hope as a theological virtue accompanying salvation.
The Divine Institution of David’s Psalms: and the Unlawfulness of Using Uninspired Hymns in Divine Worship with Occasional Hints on Church Music.-1806-Anonymous.-An excellent and very strict inquiry into the Divine institution of David’s Psalms as the church’s only hymn book. The author soundly sets forth the biblical, historical and confessional claims of Psalm singing while rejecting any attempts to justify human compositions in the worship of God.
An Address to the Students of the Theological Seminary.-1836-John T. Pressly.-This address the a class of students was given by Pressly to call their attention to the matter of Psalmody and note the causes and decline of Psalmody amongst Presbyterians. He wants to form in them a defense of the faith.
Ancient Usage in Praising God.-1838-Anonymous.-An article from The Reformed Presbyterian Magazine defending the practice of lining of the Psalms when they are sung in congregational settings as the most ancient usage of the church.
The Psalms of Holy Scripture, the Only Songs of Zion, an Appeal to the Churches in Behalf of this Ordinance of God.-1840-Donald Campbell McLaren.-An excellent primer on the subject of Psalmody wherein the author painstakingly explains why only the inspired Book of Psalms should be used in the worship of God.
Review of Ralston’s Inquiry -1848-John T. Pressly.-This is Pressly’s spirited response to Ralston’s attack on those who only sing Psalms in the worship of God. Pressly examines his claims to a divine warrant for making and using hymns of human composure in worship.
A Catechism on Praise.-1849-Alexander Blaikie (1804-1885).-An Associate Reformed Presbyterian minister defends the practice of a cappella psalmody by way of catechetical exercises.
A Reply to Morton on Psalmody: To Which is Added A Condensed Argument for the Exclusive Use of an Inspired Psalmody.-1851-Robert J. Dodds (1824-1870).-This is the last salvo in a series of 19th century books on the war over exclusive psalmody amongst various groups of Presbyterians. Dodds takes up the cause of God and truth against hymn singer George Morton and examines the merits of his criticisms on John T. Pressly’s work on behalf of Psalmody.
An Apology for the Book of Psalms, in Five Letters.-1852-Gilbert McMaster.-A comprehensive view of the benefits of the use of the Psalms in the worship of God together with the importance of retaining them in order to bring genuine ecclesiastical union and communion.
Discourse on Scripture Psalmody in Praising God; and Against Instrumental Music in Public Worship.-1859-Hugh Brown.-Two discourse on purity of worship. The first examines and defends the exclusive use of the inspired Psalms in the praise of the church; the second explains why the use of instrumental music in the worship of God is not warranted under the New Testament.
Imprecations in the Psalms Warrantable.-1859-Anonymous.-An interesting article which discusses the propriety of translating the imprecatory (cursing) Psalms, as some have done, merely as predictive rather than preceptive. After explaining why these Psalms are preceptive, he explains their use and place in the prayers of Christians.
The True Psalmody.-1859-Anonymous.-“The True Psalmody” argues that the inspired Book of Psalms alone constitutes the church’s divinely appointed and sufficient manual of praise, to the absolute exclusion of uninspired human hymns. The work demonstrates that the Psalms possess the seal of divine appointment for New Testament worship, richly present Christ in His sufferings and glory, and perfectly adapt to every believer’s experience, while answering common objections regarding their supposedly obsolete or unchristian character. Conversely, it contends that the use of uninspired hymns lacks scriptural warrant, introduces doctrinal error and sectarian division into the church, and degrades congregational singing, ultimately asserting that faithfulness to God’s worship requires singing His own inspired words rather than the fallible compositions of men.
Ancient and Modern Mode of Singing the Psalms.-1862-Anonymous.-An article from The Associate Presbyterian, an North American Anti-burgher Seceder magazine, which canvasses the history of psalm singing in an effort to determine the mode in which the church has always sung Psalms.
The Hymns of David.-1869-Anonymous.-An excellent article that shows that the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek word “hymn,” appears throughout the Old Testament and that is refers to the Psalms of David.
The Public Worship of God: Its Authority and Modes, Hymns and Hymn Books.-1869-James Gibson.-This work is a vigorous 19th-century defense of exclusive psalmody and a polemic against the introduction of human-composed hymns and instrumental music into the public worship of God, written from a strict Scottish Presbyterian perspective. Grounded in the regulative principle of worship—that only what is “prescribed in Holy Scripture” is lawful in God’s worship—the author argues that the Book of Psalms alone is divinely authorized for Christian praise, while human hymns are sectarian, doctrinally unreliable, and inferior in poetic majesty. The text examines the Scriptural, historical, and constitutional arguments against innovations in worship, reviews contemporary hymnals of various churches finding them wanting in taste and theological soundness, and warns that admitting hymns or organs opens an unstoppable path toward ritualism and Romanism. Originally appearing as a series of papers during the worship controversies roiling the Free Church of Scotland and other Presbyterian bodies in the 1860s, it stands as a thorough expression of the conservative position that the church’s praise should remain solely the Spirit-inspired songs of Scripture.
God’s Songs and the Singer. Four Sermons.-1870-John W. Bain.-A United Presbyterian minister preaches four very easy to understand sermons setting forth the basic principles of exclusive Psalmody. A helpful introduction to the subject for ease of conceptualization.
“REVISED PSALMS,”-1873-David Steele.-In this brief article, Mr. Steele raises the question of revising the metrical Psalter. He identifies the craftiness of those who subvert the worship of the church and challenges their authority. This includes an interesting discussion on the need for historical succession to be comprised of both faith and practice.
NEW VERSION.-1873-David Steele.-In this article, the defects of the “new version” of the Psalms, produced by the United Presbyterian Church, is subjected to scrutiny in a couple of serious points. The theme is the difficulty of danger of undertaking any revision of the Psalter without proper theological and confessional moorings.
Are Hymns Idols?-1874-Anonymous.-An article taken from the Reformation Advocate magazine which asks a much needed question about hymns and why they are so difficult for people to abandon in order to sing the inspired 150 Psalms collected in the Bible’s hymnal.
The Hymn Question. A Review of the Speeches of the Rev. J. MacNaughtan and the Rev. T. Y. Killen, at a Meeting of the Belfast Presbytery on the 19th April.-1875-Robert Nevin.-Irish Reformed Presbyterian Professor Nevin examines some then recent arguments of the subject of hymn singing versus Psalm singing. He writes to encourage the proponents of Psalm singing within the broader Presbyterian communions. He remarks are insightful and helpful for the cause of David’s Psalms as the hymnbook of the church.
Continuous Singing in the Ordinary Public Worship of God,-ca. 1885-David Steele.-A defense of the practice of lining in the singing of the Psalms. Mr. Steele explains how the principle of charity ought to work in the public worship of the church.
Exposition of the Psalms.-1887-Thomas Sproull.-An excellent lecture on the practice of giving an exposition to the Psalms that are sung in the congregation. In this exercise, the first Psalm to be sung in congregational worship was usually chosen for an extended exposition that sometimes lasted as long as the sermon (from 20 minutes to nearly an hour). In this way, people are encouraged to sing with the understanding as well as the Spirit.
Songs of the Ages.-1894-William Taggart Meloy (1838-1904).-This pamphlet, by United Presbyterian pastor W. T. Meloy argues for exclusive psalmody—the position that only the biblical Psalms should be sung in Christian worship, not human-composed hymns. Meloy contends that God has appointed the inspired Psalter as the church’s book of praise, that no scriptural warrant exists for uninspired songs in worship, and that the New Testament references to “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” refer to the Book of Psalms rather than human compositions. He addresses and refutes common objections—that the Psalms are Jewish, that they sing only of a Savior to come, and that the analogy with prayer justifies using our own words—while arguing that human hymnals are sectarian, corrupting, and inferior to the divinely appointed songs.
Ten Reasons Why the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Adheres to the Exclusive Use of the Inspired Psalter in the Worship of God.-1900-John T. Chalmers (1860-1902).-Mr. Chalmers explains the principles, merit and authority behind the exclusive use of the Psalms in the public worship of the people of God in easy to understand language and drawing clear conclusions.
An Authorized Psalmody.-1900-James G. Carson (1833-1908).-This tract defends the United Presbyterian Church’s position of exclusive psalmody—the belief that only the songs contained in the Book of Psalms should be sung in corporate worship, to the exclusion of uninspired hymns. Carson structures his argument around a syllogism: (1) Only what God has appointed should be used in formal worship; (2) God has appointed only the Psalms for praise; therefore (3) only the Psalms should be used. He supports the first premise by arguing that obedience to God’s will is the essence of acceptable worship, that God is jealous of his prerogative to prescribe worship (citing Nadab and Abihu’s punishment), and that divine appointment is necessary as the foundation for faith in worship. He supports the second premise by noting the Psalms’ lyrical form and titles indicating they were designed to be sung, their approved use in the Old Testament, Christ and the apostles’ continued use of them, and the absence of any new inspired songs or commission to compose them in the New Testament. Carson addresses the key objection—Paul’s reference to “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” in Ephesians and Colossians—by arguing these terms refer to existing compositions within the Book of Psalms, not a license to create new uninspired hymns.
Psalms versus Hymns. Report on Psalmody Adopted by the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church Philadelphia, PA., May 27, 1908.-1908-James C. McFeeters (1848-1928).-This report for Synod gives an interesting set of comparisons between the Psalms of David and the hymns written by uninspired men. McFeeters sheds clarity on several issues at stake in the debate over Psalmody.
The Excellence of the Book of Psalms as a Book of Praise.-ca. 1925-James G. Reed (1869-1959)-This tract gives a brief survey of the peculiar excellencies of the Book of Psalms as the manual for the church’s praise.
The Psalms God’s Authorized Manual of Praise.-ca. 1950-Armour J. McFarland (1899-1962).-A very well written and easy to understand introduction to exclusive Psalmody.