lected, that when Dr. Watts wrote the preface to his hymns, the Book of Psalms was used in the churches. Upon the sentiments quoted in the margin, I shall make but little comment. Did they not live in the writings of the authors, and, alas! constitute the animating principle of that ished the imitation of the psalms, by which he proposed to convert David into a christian, the Dr, says, "If an author's opinion may be taken, he esteems it the greatest work that ever he has published, or ever hopes to do, for the use of the churches."* "There are many hundred verses in that book, (of psalms) which a christian cannot properly assume in singing-as Psal. 68-13-16 and 84 3.6."—Psal. 69. 8. and Psal. 109. are so so full of cursings, that they hardly become the tongue of a follower of the blessed Jesus "t "By that time they are fitted for christian psalmody-the composure can hardly be called inspired or divine ‡-1 could never persuade myself that the best way to raise a devout frame in plain christians, was to bring a king or captain, into our churches, and let him lead, and dictate the worship in his own style of royalty, or in the language of a field of battle: "|| "I have collected and disposed the most useful verses of this Psalm, (119. See the note before it in the imitation)—But the verses are much transposed, to attain some degree of connexion."Such were the sentimerts, and such is the language of Dr. Watts, concerning the Book of Psalms. Hear another advocate of human inventions. "If we were to adhere strictly to the Old Testament Psal. mody, we cannot be said to do any thing in the name of the Lord Jesus, much less to give thanks unto God and the Father, by him. No mention is therein made of the Father as a distinct and special object of our devotion, nor of the Son, as be ing the appointed the way of our access to him§ -Whether these Psalms (mentioned, 1.Cor. 14. 26.) were the effect of previous study and inspiration untied, or of immediate suggestion, † Essay on Psalmody, Works, Vol. 7. p. 7. 8. Preface to the Imitation, Works, Valr 7. 24 Ibid. § Larta, p. 29. rage, for the meretricious ornaments" of a shallow poetry, which has nearly banished an inspired Psalm Book from the Church of God, I would not have permitted them a place in my pages. You, brethren, friends of the Bible, and advocates of its reputation, would not they were certainly not designed to inspire them-(the converts to the gospel) with veneration" and respect for the Psalms of David." Any person-will quickly perceive how remote psalms and hymns, formed upon it (the orthodox Nicene creed) would be from the-doctrine of the old Testament" "Nor do I think it (the introduction of the psalms of David into the chrstian church) was very honorable to the cause of Chiist-— It deprived him of-divine honor-It deprived the asserters of his deity of all opportunity of bearing testimony to it in that part of their worship-It decided clearly in favor of that tenet of Arianism, that divine worship was to be paid only to the Father, and so had a direct tendency-to make beresy triumphant !!!" This usage spread—and it is no wonder that it spread speedily and extensively in the 4. century, an age devoted to Arianism." The pages of this writer are crowded with much more to the same purpose: Listen to another— "About this time (4th Cent.) the psalms of David were first introduced. They were brought in by Arians, and not by orthodox ebristians-spread extensively-The principal reason was, because this century became devoted to Arianism.”** And, repeats another, whose pages are far below criticism, and who would not have been noticed here, were it not for the company in which he is found-" By recommending the Psalms of Da. vid-their minds might be gradually led, from the doctrine of a divine Savior-The Psalms of David were properly suited to such a perversion of truth."+f-Such is the style in which all the public advocates of modern hymns have spoken of the Book of inspired Psalms, from Dr. Watts, in the beginning of the 18th Cent. down to the authors at Newark, Ohio, in 1816. • "What books are those," said the persecutor, Saterninus," which you read and revere? Speratus replied,-All the cripture that is inspired of God." They martyrs then revered the Psalms of David. Ibid. p. 51. t 1Ibid. p. 77. HMilner Latta, p. 42 patiently listen to those slanders, by which it is misrepresented. Yet, indelicate, and-can you find a softer epithet than impious?—if you can, use it, and I return, and repeat-indelicate as are these thapsodies, they enter into the special pleadings, by which Dr. Watts introduced to notice his productions, and, by which, the friends of his scheme have supported it. Yes, Dr. Watts, with all the imposing forms of his sanctity, spoke as we have heard of his own and of inspired compositions. With his piety I have nothing to do. I hope it will be found, that he was really devout, and, that like others of the redeemed, he, through the blood of the cross, was pardoned and accepted, by that God, of whose word he so lightly spoke. Most willingly would I seek an apology for his modesty, and his reverence of God. But where is it to be found? Shall we have recourse to bodily infirmities, or, to that mental derangement, from which so few partakers of frail humanity are exempt? In that state of intellect, in which a man can persuade himself, that he is metamorphosed into a tea pot, he may, perhaps, innocently imagine, that' the compositions of his pen are more divinely excellent, than those of inspired prophets. But while this admission of charity shields his motives, it condemns the madness of his project. I cannot, however, be persuaded to extend the admission so far as to allow, that those multitudes who have entered into the views of the good doctor, were equally under the influence of hypochondraical affections. And, if they were, would it not be accommodating their caprice too far, to indulge them, without animad version, to banish from her solemn praise, the inspired hymns of Zion? 豐 Are you prepared to admit, that, if we adhere to the Book of Psalms, we cannot be said to do any thing in the name of the Redeemer" ? Did, then, a strict adherence to the doctrines of this book, which so abundantly testifies of Christ, lead the worshipper to an absolute God-a consuming fire? Was not Messiah, since the fall of man, the only way to the Father? Call now if there be any that will answer thee, and to which of the saints wilt thou turn ?* Who of them was ever, in person, or in worship, accepted through any name, but that * Job, 5. 1," Christ? Did they not, under every economy, contemplate him as wounded for their transgressions? In their sacrificed victims, devout worshippers, by faith, beheld Messiah, the Christ, cut off, but not for himself.† It is remarkable, with what front these writers could, in various forms, repeat, that "there is no distinct mention of the Father, in the Book of Psalms, as a distinct and special object of devotion." Had an aversion to this Book prevented them from reading the sec ond Psalm? Who is it that says, Thou art my Son? And to whom is the address made? Yes, yes; the doctrine of the Trinity was well known, to the approved worshippers of God from the first, and is very distinctly exhibited in many a psalm. And, was, as these advocates say, "the Son as the way to the Father, unknown to the ancient saints"? We hope the time is rapidly passing away, when such things shall be believed. Enoch, a cotemporary with Adam, prophesied of the Savior-Abraham saw his day, and was glad¶ -Job spoke of his Redeemer, whom he knew, Act. 4. 12. Isa. 53. 5. Dan. 9.26. Ps. 40. 6. 7. |