Chapter 2: The Second Proof for Singing Psalms with a Living Voice

The second Proof is taken from the examples of Christ himself, and of his Saints and Disciples in the New Testament. Christ himself with his Disciples sung a Psalm or a Hymn together in the end of the administration of the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:30). And Paul and Silas are said to have sung a Psalm in the Prison, so as the Prisoners heard them (Acts 16:25). Now if in singing they had only spiritually rejoiced, and not expressed their joy and their song in audible and lively voice, the Prisoners could not have heard them. The stranger does not know nor meddle with the spiritual joy of the heart (Proverbs 14:10).

Object. 1. The place in Matthew 26:30. may as well be translated "They praised God," as "they sung a Hymn."

Answer. Though the meaning be, they praised God, yet the word implies, they praised God with a Hymn; for it is improper in that language to translate the word to Praise (whether God or man) but either with a Song, or with a Poem. It is more probable, than any reason can waive, that Christ and his Disciples did shut up the Lord's Supper with singing one of their Hebrew Psalms, as the Jews were wont to shut up their celebration of the Passover (as their own Records tell us) with singing Psalm 111, with the five other Psalms next following together. But all that I now intend, is to show that Christ and his Disciples sang together, and therefore with the voice as well as the heart.

Object. 2. They might be said to sing together, if one alone sing and the rest said Amen, in the close: as men may be said to pray together, where one alone speaks, and the rest consent.

Answer. 1. True: but then one at least speaks with an audible and lively voice, though the rest do not. And that's enough to clear the point in hand, that singing in the New Testament, consists not only in making melody with grace in the heart, but also in singing to the Lord with lively voice.

Answer. 2. If the Disciples did not join in singing that Hymn, but only by silent consent, they might as well be said to have taken the bread, and blessed it, and broken it, and distributed it, (and so the wine;) for all this Christ did with their silent consent. But what Christ did alone is expressly recorded, as done by himself: when it comes to the singing of the Psalm, that is recorded as done by them in the plural number, "When they had sung a Hymn, they departed into the Mount of Olives": they that departed into the Mount of Olives, they sung the Psalm. Now it was not Christ alone, but the whole eleven Disciples with him that departed into the Mount of Olives. And therefore it was Christ with his Disciples that sung the Psalm together.

Object. 3. Against the proof from Acts 16:25. It is not said (say some) that Paul and Silas sung the Psalms of David or Asaph, much less with meter and tunes devised by men. Had they so done, the Prisoners that heard them might have sung for the outward dispensation such a song of praise to God, as well as they.

Answer. We do not allege this example of theirs (as has been often said in like case before) to prove they sang any Psalm of David, though it stands with good reason, that they joining together in singing, did rather sing a Psalm (or Hymn) known to them both, than any new Song devised by either of them; but what Psalms are to be sung is another question, which (by the help of Christ) we shall speak to in the sequel. Neither do we allege their example to prove, they sang in a devised meter or tune. For themselves being Hebrews, it is likely they sang the Hebrew Songs in the tunes of the Sanctuary, but that also is another question, of which we are to speak in his place, when we come to it. All that we gather from this place now, is no more than the words do plainly hold forth, that they sung a Hymn to God, not only with inward melody of grace in their hearts, but also with outward melody of the voice; for else the Prisoners could not have heard them.

Against this; it is of no force to object (as some do) that if they had sung any of the Psalms of David or Asaph with an audible voice, then the other Prisoners also might have joined with them, and have worshipped (externally at least) as well as they.

For the answer is plain and ready: First, the Prison was in Philippi, a city of Macedonia, consisting partly of a Colony of the Romans, partly of the Grecians: no Jews at all are mentioned to be inhabitants there, much less Prisoners at that time. And for Pagans to join in singing Hebrew Songs in Hebrew verses and tunes, it seems to be far beyond either their skill, or devotion.

Secondly, suppose the Prisoners had been Jews (of which there is no hint at all in the text) and suppose those Prisoners hearing the melody of Paul and Silas, and knowing the Song, had joined in the outward singing of it, and that without any grace in their hearts (none of all which things appear in the story) yet suppose all this; shall the unbelief of those Jews make the holy worship of these Apostles, and their faith to God, or the faith of God to them, of none effect? Paul renounces and abhors such carnal reasonings (Romans 3:3).