Chapter 6: Second and Third Arguments for Singing David's Psalms

Having thus (by the help of Christ) cleared the first argument, for the singing of David's Psalms, and such like Scripture-Psalms; let us now proceed to a second argument, taken from the end and use of the Psalms of David. The Psalms of David and Asaph, and the like, were written for a threefold end, as we see expressed by the Apostle (Colossians 3:16), to wit, 1. For instruction, or teaching. 2. For admonition. 3. For singing praise and thanksgiving to the Lord.

Now if the Psalms of David, and the like, were written (as doubtless they were) in the Old Testament for this three-fold end, and each of them of moral (that is, of general and perpetual use) and none of them abrogated in the New Testament, look then as it would be a sacrilegious sin, to take away from the Psalms either of the two former uses (the use of instruction, or admonition;) so it will be alike sacrilege to deprive them of the three-fold use, by forbidding them to be sung for praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. Whereto a third argument may be added, taken from the duty of singing of Psalms every Sabbath, and the defect of provision of other Psalms, if the Psalms of David, and other Scripture-Psalms be refused. It appears from Psalm 95:1, 2, 7, &c. that when we present ourselves before the Lord, to hear the voice of his word (as we do every Lord's day) we should come before his presence with singing of Psalms. If so, then some must have a gift, either to prepare set forms of Psalms aforehand for every Sabbath day; or at least a gift, upon the present occasion, suddenly to invent and utter a Psalm fit for the present Sabbath from week to week: neither of both which are easy to be believed. For if it were so, then doubtless Christ would have appointed some or other officer to attend to this duty of compiling Psalms, as he has appointed Elders to attend to the ministry of the Word, and Prayer (Acts 6:4). Or else he would inspire some or other member of the Church with such a gift and spirit of psalmistry, as might suit the occasions of the Church from Sabbath to Sabbath. But neither of both these do we find, either in the Scriptures of the New Testament, or in experience; we find neither ordinance appointing it, nor providence granting it. And yet evident it is, that the gracious providence of God, is not wanting in supplying well ordered churches, with all such gifts of preaching, and prayer, and rule, and the like, as God has required for the edification of the Church to the end of the world. Neither is it credible, that Christ would take us off from singing the Psalms of David and Asaph, which were of divine and infallible inspiration, and leave us to an uncertain and common gift of private brethren.

If it be said, the Church of Corinth wanted not such gifts of Psalms, nor such members as did compile (1 Corinthians 14:26).

It is true, neither did they want gifts of tongues, and of revelation in the same text. But these were extraordinary gifts, fit to glorify Christ in his first ascension into glory, and fit to commend and confirm the Gospel to Pagans, but nowhere promised to be continued to churches in after ages, nor anywhere commanded to be imitated: much less our common gifts, and the Psalms indited by the same to be substituted in their rooms, and David's Psalms to be silenced, that our Psalms might be attended.