Fitted unto the TUNES commonly used in our CHURCHES. Which Pure Offering is accompanied with ILLUSTRATIONS, digging for Hidden Treasures in it; And RULES to Employ it upon the Glorious and Various Intentions of it. Whereto are added, Some other Portions of the SACRED SCRIPTURE, to Enrich the CANTIONAL.
(1718)
This edition of the Psalms was produced in 1718 by the great Puritan Cotton Mather. Mather served as minister of Boston's Old North Meeting House.
Mather observed the faith of his family; his father Increase was minister of the same church, his grandfather John Cotton gave a name to congregationalism and wrote on The Singing of Psalms a Gospel-Ordinance. His other grandfather Richard Mather helped to produce the original Bay Psalm Book of 1640. Both John Cotton and Richard Mather were the key figures behind the Cambridge Platform - the standard statement of congregational faith and polity.
This psalter, however, takes a step away from the Bay Psalm Book in a few key areas.
Mather objected to the Fetters of Rhime (rhyme) which serve to limit the words a translator may use, thus detracting from the original inspired sense of scripture.
The use of meter is retained, but the worshiper is sometimes given a choice of common, long or short meter. [Bracketed] syllables (originally in black letter) may be included or left out as desired.
Common meter (8.6.8.6.) plus bracketed syllables makes long meter (8.8.8.8)
Short meter (6.6.8.6) plus bracketed syllables makes common meter (8.6.8.6)
A director would simply say, "Sing with the Black Letter", or, "Sing without the Black Letter". In either case, Mather made sure there would be "no damage to the truth of translation."
THERE have appeared in the World some Humane Composures, which have been so favoured, and perhaps flattered by Mankind, as to have it asserted concern∣ing them, That no Mans Reproach could lessen, and no Mans Applause could heighten, the Reputation which belong'd unto them. The Assertion may be made without Controversy concern∣ing the Divinely Inspired Book of PSALMS; than which the Church of GOD is enriched with nothing more Glorious, among all its Incomparable Writings.
-Introduction, Psalterium Americanum
Consider reading the full introduction below to find Mather's justification for these stylistic decisions against his critics, and his Admonition concerning the tunes. "Illustrations" concerning each psalm are found throughout the book, not reproduced here.
§. 1.THERE have appeared in the World some Humane Composures, which have been so favoured, and perhaps flattered by Mankind, as to have it asserted concerning them, That no Mans Reproach could lessen, and no Mans Applause could heighten, the Reputation which belong'd unto them. The Assertion may be made without Controversy concerning the Divinely Inspired Book of PSALMS; than which the Church of GOD is enriched with nothing more Glorious, among all its Incomparable Writings.
THE Commendations which the Ancients gave of this Unparallel'd Book, are as high, as the Tongue of Men can carry them; And the Commendations would not be too high, if the Tongue of Angels, who possessed the Writers of this Book, were employ'd for the giving of them. Let Chrysostom and Basil alone be called in, to declare unto us the sense of all the rest! Chrysostom, who calls this wonderful Book, The Christian Panoply; And Basil, who Styles it, The Common Treasure of all Good Precepts, and, A Compleat Body of Divinity.
THE PSALMS are in the Hebrew, divided into Five Books, like those of Moses; and so they may be called, A Second Pentateuch. Yea, They are a surprizing Epitome of all the Bible; For which cause, if we call the Psalter, A Little Bible, we shall do no other than what Luther did before us. And such are the Excellent Vertues, in the Leaves of this Tree of Life which our God has granted for the Healing of the Nations, that, as Proclus of Constantinople expresses the matter, To cure Heaviness, to lay aside trouble some Thoughts and Passions, to ease us of our Cares, and recreate those who are oppressed with any, sorts of Pains, as well as to move Compunction for Sin, and to stimulate unto Piety, no Book in the World, is to be compared with it, for such important purposes.
MELANCTHON says very truly, concerning the Book of PSALMS, That it is the most elegant work extant in the World. It has indeed performed what Plato wish'd for, but what he thought meer Man could never come to: Plato, who saw there was no way of Instruction so efficacious, as that by Odes and Songs; but after all concludes, This must be the work of GOD, or of a Man that shall be full of GOD.
THERE have been profane, foolish, empty Pretenders to Literature, who have had no great Relish for the PSALMS of David. But with Men who have had a just sense, a true gust of Things, no Writings in the World have been so Relished, as these matchless Gifts of Heaven unto the Children of Men. So Mattheus Vegius coming to himself, made a Declaration, which none who are not besides themselves will wonder at. Nunc pro Virgilio, quem alterum in Terris Deum esse arbitrabar, Nunc Davidem fideliorem vatem, colam, suscipiam, amplectarque; et ejus mibi carmina, quae tanquam anilia deliramenta sordebant, nunc mira aspergunt animum su•vit•••.
§. 2. THEODORET informs us, The People in his time, were so well acquainted with our PSALMS, that both in City and Country it was the usual Employment of all Christians, To Sing them: And even they who had little Acquantance, with any other Book of the Sacred Scriptures, yet so had the PSALMS by heart, as to recreate themselves with Singing them in the Streets, and in the Fields, as well as in their Houses. And Verily, These marvellous Poems, have not by their Age lost any thing of their Spirit, or their Goodness. The Christians in our days, may as well feed and live upon them, and Eat the Bread of Angels.
THE Truth is, It was no ill Advice of Jerom unto his Friend, That he would make the Psalter his Vade mecum, his constant Companion and Counsellor on all occasions. Christian, Thou wilt find it so marvellously to answer all the occasions of Christianity, that thou wilt commend the prudence of the Ancient Constantinopolitan, who being driven out of the City, took no part of his Treasures but This, which unto him was, Pro et prae Divitjis, preferrible to all perishable Riches.
BEHOLD, A Prayer-Book which never had a Parallel. And tho' the very Words of this Book, may often supply us with the best Forms in the World for our Prayers, whe• we may have need of such; (which made Luther say, He that Prays a PSALM, shall be made thoroughly warm:) yet the principal use hereof would be, from hence to learn, for what Things, and with what Frames, we are to make our Prayers, and with a Fuel from hence, to keep that Holy Fire in its operation, The Spirit of Grace and of Supplications.
WHEN the Pardon of Sin is to be implored, the PSALMS will furnish us, with the most Pathetical Expressions imaginable for that Grand Concern.
WHEN the Graces of the New Creature, and the Dispositions of Piety are to be asked for, the PSALMS will not only furnish us with Petitions for these Best of Blessings, but insensibly draw us in to the Possession and Exercise of them.
WHATEVER Maladies we find our Minds distempered withal, we may repair to the PSALMS as to a Dispensatory fill'd with the noblest Remedies.
Do our Invisi•le Enemies infest us with grievous Temptations? The Weapons and the Outcries we find in the PSALMS, against the vexatious Adversaries, may be as efficaciously as elegantly turned upon them. Davids Harp wisely introduced, will cause our Enemies to turn back, the Evil-Spirits to retire before it.
WHEN we have our heavy Afflictions of many sorts lying upon us, what can we do better, than repair to the Songs, which GOD our Maker has given for the Night, in the PSALMS which we now have in our hands? We shall not perish in our Afflictions, if we take the Delights here provided for us.
FINALLY, If we would be well instructed in the Mysteries of the Great Salvation, or be well acquainted with the Prophecies of what is to be done in the Latter Days: Let the PSALMS be well studied. The truest and the highest Wisdom is here to be met withal.
AND if in the Prosecution of these Designs, we add the method of Singing, which is the way to be filled with the Spirit, from whence the PSALMS are dictated, Behold, the Spiritual Songs now put into a Cond•tion for it, that we may in our Heart make Melody unto the Lord.
IT is a Thing to be observed, That all Nations make Singing, to be one part of the Worship which they pay unto their GOD. Thus All People walk even every one in the Name of his God; and thus we CHRISTIANS will walk in the Name of CHRIST who is the Lord our GOD, and who had directed us thus to do for ever and ever.
§. 3. OUR Poetry has attempted many Versions of the PSALMS, in such Numbers and Measures, as might render them capable of being Sung, in those grave Tunes, which have been prepared and received for our Christian Psalmody. But of all the more than twice Seven Versions which I have seen, it must be affirmed, That they leave out a vast heap of those rich things, which the Holy SPIRIT of GOD speaks in the Original Hebrew; and that they put in as large an Heap of poor Things, which are intirely their own. All this has been meerly for the sake of preserving the Clink of the Rhime: Which after all, is of small consequence unto a Generous Poem; and of none at all unto the Melody of Singing; But of how little then, in Singing unto the LORD! Some famous pieces of Poetry, which this Refining Age has been treated withal, have been offered us in Blank Verse. And in Blank Verse we now have the Glorious Book of PSALMS presented unto us: The PSALMS fitted unto the Tunes commonly used in the Assembles of our Zion: But so fitted, that the Christian Singer has hi•• Devotions now supplied, with ALL that the Holy SPIRIT of GOD has dictated, in this Illustrious and Calestial Bestowment upon His Church in the World: and there is NOTHING BESIDES the pure Dictates of that Holy SPIRIT imposed on him. Now, True PIETY, Thou shalt be Judge, whether such a Divine matter for thy Songs thus disencumbred from every thing that may give them any Humane Debasements, be not really to be preferred before any Compositions thou hast ever yet been entertain'd withal. Doubtless, the more that any are desirous to offer unto the Glorious GOD what is purely His Own, and the more concerned that any are to have their Worship entirely Regulated and Animated, by the SPIRIT of GOD, the more agreeable to them, will be such an Instrument of Devotion, as is here prepared. Tho' the Hymns have not the Triflle of Rhime, as a Lace to set them off, yet they are all Glorio•• within, which is the thing that Manly Christianity has its eye most upon; and in the Spiritual Songs thus enjoyed and improved, thou mayst most hope to have the Holy SPIRIT of GOD, who indited them speaking unto thee, even such Things as cannot be uttered.
BUT that our Cantional may be furnished with a superabundance, and the Faithful be plentifully feasted with Angels Food, Behold, an Addition of Passages Collected in Metre, (but still as exactly translated) from some other parts of the Sacred Scriptures, to answer the various occasions of Christianity.
§. 4. FOR the New Translation of the PSALMS, which is here endeavoured, an Appeal may be with much Assurance made, unto all that are Masters of the Hebrew Tongue, whether it be not much more agreeable to the Original, than the Old one, or than any that has yet been offered unto the World. Perhaps there is more Liberty taken here in Translating the First Verse of the Psalter, than almost any Verse in the whole Book beside. It keeps close to the Original; and even when a word of supply is introduced, it is usually a needless Complement unto the care of exactness, to distinguish it at all, as we have done, with an Italica-Character; for it is really in the Intention and Emphasis of the Original. Yea, the just Laws of Translation had not been at all violated, if a much greater Liberty had been taken, for the beating out of the Golden and Massy Hebrew into a more Extended English, For, it may be observed, if you Translate a French Book, suppose, into English, you turn it into English Phrase, and make not a French English of it; For, If fait froid, for instance, you do not say, It makes Cold, but, It is Cold, We have tied our selves to Hebraism•, more scrupulously, than there is real occasion for.
BUT Particularly; The Reader will allow, JEHOVAH, to be Translated, The ETERNAL GOD. It is the truest English of that Incommunicable Name: A Name, tho' not Unutterable, (according to the Jewish Superstition,) yet what should not be too commonly uttered. And the French Translation will here speak a Good Word for ours. And where's the wrong done, if Elohim should be Translated, GOD the Judge? or, Adonai, be Translated, The GOD on whom I lean, or, The GOD from whom is my support? It is in the Hebrew Term. What if, Col Haijom, should be Translated, All Day, and Every Day? What if Gnani, should be so Translated, as to carry both Suff•ring and Meekness in it? What if G•alam should be Translated, Who can tell the Term? 'Tis no more than what is in the Hebrew. When Two English Words are employ'd for One Hebrew Word, we have signifyed it sometimes with an * Asterisk. But, Reader, Know, that the He•rew signifyed Both: and since it is not easy to determine, which to take, exclusive of the other, it will not be disagreeable unto the Glorious Inditer, that Both be considered.
BRIEFLY, Upon any Difference in this, from the former and common Translation, if the more Learned Reader will please to Examine the Original, there will be no Fear of its being Justified. But then, this Translation may deserve some Thanks from the Religious part of Mankind, for having tendred a plain, clear, fair sense of many Passages, which have hitherto been so Translated, that People could scarce tell how well to understand them: In which regard, this very Translation alone, without any of the Notes that wait upon it, may be esteemed a Commentary.
§. 5. MOST certainly, our Translation of the PSALMS, without the Fetters of Rhime upon it, can be justly esteemed no prejudice to the Character of Poetry in the performance. For indeed, however it is now appropriated, according to the true sense of the Term, to Rhythme it self a Similis Desinentia, or, a likeness of sound in the last Syllables of the Verse, is not essential. Old Bede will give you such a Definition of Rhythme, and bring other Authorities besides Austins for it, that Scaliger thereupon holds, all Verses wherein Regard is had unto the Number of Syllables, to have a claim unto it. Be that as the Criticks on the Term shall please, our Translation is all in Metre; and really more tied unto Measure, than the Original appears to have been, by all the Examinations that have as yet been employ'd upon it. For, however it might be with the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy, and with the Book of Job, and of the Proverbs; My incomparable Master Alsted allows me to say, That in the PSALMS, Nullum canticum sit metricis legibus astrictum, sed mera soluta sit cratio, charactere Poetico animuta.
INDEED, that Question, To what Rules the Poesy of the Davidic PSALMS is to be adjusted? has been as vexed a Problem to our Modern Criticks, as most that they have meddled with. It were endless to reckon up the several Methods wherein Learned Men have attempted an Account of the Hebrew Poesy. Pfeiffer in his Dubia Vexota, has given us a Collection; Among which, that which Gomarus, has lit upon, looks as probable as any: And yet, the Rules invented by that Author, are so very lax, that you may according thereunto imagine, a Verso, in every Line of almost any Author in the World. I am therefore strongly of the Opinion, That the Poesie of the Ancient Hebrews, knew no Measure, but that of the unknown Music, wherein it was to be accommodated. Our PSALMS in the Hebrew, are not so much Metrical as Musical; And hence, the very Inscriptions of them sometimes intimate, that there was a sort of Melody, unto which they were adapted. It is true, the Oriental Nations at this day, have their Metred Poetry; But it is of a late Original. However, 'tis very certain, that all the skill in the World, will hardly find the Rules of that Metred Poetry observed with any exactness in the Songs of the Sacred Scriptures. There is little value to be set on the Authority, of either Philo, or Josephus, and and after them, of Jerom, who quotes Origen and Eusebius for it, when they go to resolve the Hebrew P•esie, into I know not what, Lyricks and Hexameters. And therefore it may be hoped, that our Version may be released from the Chime of a, Similis Desinentia, without being censured for Unpoetical. The Sublime Thought, and the Divine Flame, alone is enough, to challenge the Character of Poetry for these Holy Composures. And if any Beauties be wanting, 'tis owing to the lowness of the Language, whereinto a strict and close Translation, is what we are here tied unto.
§ 6. IT is a true Observation, which is made by Folengius, in his Commentaries on the PSALMS; Totius Voluminis PSALMORUM Argumentum CHRISTƲS: A Glorious CHRIST is the principal Thing appearing in them. It is very certain, That in the PSALMS, the Person, the Natures, the Vertues, the Humiliation, the Exaltation, the Extensive Kingdom, and the admirable Gloriesof the MESSIAH, are every where scattered and glittering, after such a manner, as calls for our Wonderment. The Gospel according to DAVID, compared with, The Gospel according to MATTHEW, affords a wonderful Entertainment. If a Jew would but believe the Songs of Zion, which once were sung in his own Land, he would soon turn a Christian, and would his Nation do so, it would not be long, that they should be put upon Singing them in a Strange Land. Christian, Dig in these Mines, and thou wilt soon be sensible of what thy SAVIOUR has told thee, Search the Scriptures, for they testify of me. Yea, Good Old Hilary has a Note, That the Book of PSALMS is a Bundle of Keys, which will open the Locks of all the other Scriptures. The Word, Mictam, is found in the Titles of several PSALMS; and Monsieur Goussets Discourse upon it, has very much to demand a Reception for it. The Word signifies, A Thing that is covered with Gold. But another Word of the same Letters, does also signify, A Sanctified Thing. Our Great SAVIOUR, and His Works, are variously Exhibited, in the Types, and so in the Songs, of the Old Testament. The sense which concerns the Types, is a piece of Canvas, on which the Holy Spirit has inlaid the Mystical sense, which concerns our SAVIOUR, as a Golden Embroidery. If David be the Canvas, in any of the Mictams, the Holy Spirit has inwrought a Golden Idea of our SAVIOUR into it, and curiously Embroidered it, with some of His Incomparable Glories. Verily, There are more Mictam's in our Psalter, than those which have this Term in the Titles of them. They are not the only ones, that have His Unutterable Glories Exquisitely Embroidered in them. The German Divine, who wrote a Treatise, to prove, That there is not a Chapter in the Bible, wherein there is not a mention or a notice of our SAVIOUR, might find the Psalter to be the easiest part of the Bible for him to work upon. And now, when we discover our SAVIOUR in the PSALMS, we then have indeed the Quickening Spirit of them. In that Light of GOD, we see the Light wherein the true sense of the PSALMS is made manifest unto us. We see every thing in a new Light. And how sweet the Light? What a pleasant thing, to behold the Sun of Righteousness darting His Benign Beams upon us, thro' the clear and pure Glasses, wherewith His Holy SPIRIT here has furnished us!
BUT, O Eagle-Eye'd Believer, when thou art Singing the Graces, the Actions, the Sufferings, and the Grandeurs of the REDEEMER, and perhaps coming into Thoughtsand Frames, that have some little Resemblance to those, which the Prophetic Spirit here assigns to thy REDEEMER, in the Time of His Working out thy Salvation for thee, what an Angelical Dignity art thou advanc'd unto! What a Token for Good hast thou, that thy REDEEMER will one day bring thee to a Confort with Him, in the Songs and Joys of the Heavenly World!
THE Word, SELAH, Ever now and then occurs in the PSALMS. And now allow me to propose, every SELAH, as an Invitation for thee to make a pause, upon the Magnificence of thy SAVIOUR. I will not here make a long Recital, of the various, and very many Interpretations, which the Criticks have left that Word in the dark withal. It shall be enough to say, That in the large, Thesaurus Philologico-Theologicus lately Published, there is a Dissertation upon that Word, which would perswade us, That SELAH is a proper Name of the Blessed GOD our SAVIOUR, and that it signifies, The Magnificent One, or, One that is exalted on high. The Word must not be too much separated from the rest of the Discourse, but it is to be look'd upon as a part of it. It belongs to the Period, and is to be rendred, sometimes in the Nominative, sometimes in the Genitive Case, and sometimes in other Cases; but most commonly in the Vocative, Christian, In the PSALMS every where think on thy SAVIOUR. And if a SELAN stop thee, think, before thou go on, O my SAVIOUR, How Magnificent art thou! — Indeed, such is the Fellowship ever between our SAVIOUR and His People, that the condition of the One in the PSALMS will not forbid, but invite us to confider the condition of the Other. And therefore, what is now propounded, about a Contemplation of our SAVIOUR, to be a principal stroke of our Devotions in Singing of the PSALMS, will not supersede the Entertainments which are to be joined with it.
§ 7. THERE is a way of Reading the Scripture, which is now particularly and pathetically to be demanded for the Reading of the Psalter. And that is, The Parismain• way; Or, To Read with an Holy cate, to observe and educe, the Doctrines of Godliness, which this Rich Store-house of Truth will yield unto them that are seeking after it. Reader, Make a Pause upon every Verse, and see what Lessons of Piety are to be learnt from every Clause. Turn the Lessons into Prayers; and send the Prayers up unto the Heavens: As Arrows from the hand of a mighty Man, send them with lively Ejuculations up unto the Heavens. The Singer gives himself Time, to do the part of such a Reader; And, Oh, what a Melody does he make unto the Lord! They who have tried this way of Reading, with a Note and a Wish devoutly formed upon every Verse, have seen cause to Bless a Glorious GOD, for instructing them in this Method of Communion with Him, and Rejoyce in this way of conversing with His Testimonies, more than if all Riches had been bestowed upon them. Soul bound for Heaven, Thy Psalter taken into thy hand on such an Intention, and with such a Management, would be the most serviceable, and the most comfortable, Instrument of Devotion, that any thing upon the face of the Earth could afford unto thee.
WHEN Zerdusht (or Zoroaster) more than Two and Twenty Hundred Years ago, composed that famous Book, which is to this Day the Bible of the Magians under the Mahometan oppressions in the Orient, and which has a great part of the Davidic Psalms inserted in it, he put upon it the Title of Zendavesta, or, The Fire-kindler, as pretending to kindle the Fire of Love to God and Religion, in the Hearts of the Readers. But with how much more Justice and Glory, may the BOOK, thou now hast in thy Hands, claim such a Title! Nothing upon Earth will more bring down the inextinguishable Fire of GOD from Heaven into thy Soul, than this BOOK employed as it ought to be; and as now, if it be not thy own Fault, it is like to be.
To assist the Reader in coming at the vast Profit and Pleasure, which is to be found in this rare part of the Christian Asceticks, every PSALM is here Satellited with Illustrations, which are not fetched from the Vulgar Annotations, (whereof still, Reader, continue thy esteem and thy improvement:) But are the more Fine, Deep, and Uncommon Thoughts, which in a course of long Reading & Thinking, have been brought in the way of the Collector. They are Golden Keys, to the Immense Treafures of Truth, which have not been commonly used: But which will enable the considerate Reader, not only to see set in a Bright Light, the Passages to which they are annexed, but having them in his mind, he will be able to Read very many other Passages, of the Holy Book, with a greater satisfaction of mind, than ever he had before.
THERE had been a vast Addition to this Collection of Illustrations, if the dread of imposing a Great Book upon the Reader, had not so stinted and stopped the Growth of the Volumn.
THERE had been also prepared and prefixed unto every PSALM, a Short Account of the Scope which it is aimed at; and such an Argument as Dr. Roberts in his Key of the Bible, has given us. But upon a further consideration, this has been lasd aside; For it was considered, That there are so various and so glorious Things contained in every PSALM, as render it impossible to give any thing like a Full Account of what is intended in it, without requiring much more of Room for it, than the PSALM it self does occupy. Nor has any Essay that was ever yet made this way, done a Justice (it may have done a Damage) to a BOOK in every Paragraph whereof, there are all manner of pleasant Fruits, new and old, laid up for the Beloved. Certainly, To cramp and stint the Thoughts of him that Reads, with confining him to some Few Things as the Intention of a PSALM, when an Attentive Reader will find that the Argument which the Short-sighted Analysis has offered contains not a Temb part of the Illustrious Things, in which the Holy SPIRIT has designed our instruction there: it appears in effect such a wrong to the Divine Composure, as our PSALTERIUM did not care to be guilty of. Why should a Bill of Fare be brought in, which does not mention one Temb part of the Delicacies, which an ordinary Attention will find on a Table that always yields, A Feast of Fat Things full of Marrow, of Wines on the Lees well refined: A Table more glorious by far then that of Ptolomies in the Temple?
§. 8. AND yet I shew unto you a more Excellent way. Go on, O People of GOD, in His Way, and in the Path of the Just which is now becoming plain before you; And proceed unto the Reading of the Psalter, and of the Bible, in that which we will call, The Affectuous way, according to a PROPOSAL which is now to be seriously thought upon.
WE are to consider, That the Holy Men of GOD, who wrote the SCRIPTURE, were moved by His Holy Spirit, in and for the Writing of it; and the Spirit of Holiness at the Time of the Inspiration made suitable Impressions on the Affections of His Faithful Servants, The Good Men had their Hearts Holily, Graciously, Divinely, and suitably Affected with the Matter, which the Spirit of GOD employ'd their Pens to leave upon, their Parchments. It might not meerly be said of them, as it was of a Baloom, That the Lord put a Word into his MOUTH. No, A David who has an Heart after the Heart of GOD, most certainly had his HEART also Holily affected, with the Word of GOD, that came unto him. In the Written Passages here under our Contemplation, there will be found Evident Indications of such AFFECTIONS working in the minds of the Inspired Writers; as, A Flaming LOVE towards GOD; and then towards Men, for the sake of GOD: LOVE, the Root of all Spiritual Affections.
A Lively FAITH, relying on the Existence and Perfections, and Promises, or Threatnings of GOD; and on the Mediation of our SAVIOUR.
A Longing DESIRE, after such Blessings as are in the view of a Soul that would Live unto GOD; Joined with an HOPE of obtaining them.
A Fervent ZEAL for GOD, and for the cause of His Kingdom, and the Enjoyments of His House among the Children of Men.
A Mighty HATRED of Sin; accompanied with, a•Abh•rrence of, and yet a Compassion for, those who abandon themselves unto it.
A bitter SORROW for Sin, and for the Mischiefs and Miseries, which are brought by it, upon them that are guilty of it.
A Noble COURAGE, Resolving upon an Adherence unto GOD in the ways of Godliness, notwithstanding all Discouragements.
A Total DESPAIR to find that Help in Creatures, which is no where to be found but in their Great Creator.
A distressing FEAR of the Judgments, whereto all Wickedness does expose those who are drawn into it.
A Triumphant JOY in GOD, and in His CHRIST, and in the Favours, which He bestows upon His People.
A Rapturous ADMIRATION of Him, who is the Glorious Maker and Ruler of the World, and of His Glories; with a Magnifying of His Work which Men behold.
ALL True PIETY is begun by the Enkindling of these Affections in the Soul. It proceeds, it prospers, it improves, as these Affections gain strength and vigour there. O Lord, Ey these things Men live, and in all these things is the Life of my Spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live!
Now, Christian, Discover which of these Affections may be most obvious and evident, in the Sentence, which may be now under thy consideration: And make a Pause!— But Restless until thou find the same Affections beginning to stir in thy own Soul, and marvellously to Harmonize & Symphonize, with what the Holy SPIRIT of GOD raised in His Amanuensis, at the moment of His Writing it. Be not at Rest until thou feel thy Heart-strings quaver, at the Touch upon the Heart of the Sacred Writer, as being brought into an Unison with it, and the Two Souls go up in a Flame together.
THE Hints which our Excellent Matthew Henry gives in his Exposition on the PSALMS, at the close of every Paragraph, what Affections the Verses of that Paragraph are to be Sung withal, are a noble Commentary; And every Holy Heart who by reason of use may have senses in Exercise to discern such things, may add unto it, EASILY do I concur with my Excellent Franckius, in allowing, That an Unregenerat• Mind is poorly qualified for such an Exerc•se as this. But then I will say, That I Soul pressing after a true Regeneration, cannot readily take a more likely way to arrive unto a Blessed Experience of it, that by waiting upon the Holy SPIRIT of GOD, with proper Trials, whether He will not quicken such Affections in it, as are to be found no where, but in a Soul Regenerated, and Animated and Actuated from Above. Try, O Soul wishing for Quickenings from Heaven, Try, whether upon observing the Heavenly Affections, which are very observable in the Writers of the Word by which we are Born again, and upon Attempting with an Eye on Help from Sovereign Grace, to express the like Affections, in the Salley of Devotion towards the Glorious GOD, thou dost not find some Vital Operations in thee, that shall be the Inchoations of a Life that shall never be extinguished. Most certainly; If thou dost become Affected, as those Favourites of Heaven, whom GOD chose for the Vehicles, and Enkindlers, and Preservers of PIETY in His Church thro' all succeeding Ages, it will be an Infallible Mark of GOD upon thee, assuring thee of an Everlasting Mansion with them in His Holy City. Nor is it possible to propound an Exercise, that will more Prepare and Ripen Men to be Partakers in the Inheritance of those Distinguished and Exemplary Saints; or Assure them, that they shall be Associated with these Angelical Men in the Future Blessedness.
BUT, O you who are indeed Born again, Be prevailed withal, to make this Exercise of PIETY more usual with you. When you would bring your selves into the Best Frames that can be wished for, take a short Paragraph of the Word by which Men live, and with humble Addresses to Heaven pertinent unto the occasion, Consider, What Affections of Piety are plainly discernable in the Word now before you: And then, with a Soul Turning to the Lord, assay to utter the Language of the like Affections. Perhaps the CXIX Psalm, is as likely a Portion for this Purpose as any under Heaven, that the Experiment may be made upon. Friend, Ere thou art aware, thou wilt be caught up into Paradise, in such and Exercise. Thou will mount up as with the Wings of Eagles.
'Tis true, They that can Examine the Original Tongues, have peculiar Advantoges for their Discoveries, when this Design is to be prosecuted. But yet out Translation affords enough, to furnish the Illiterate Christian, for This and every Good Work And if I constantly affirm this, That all the Gommentators in the World, are poor Things to interpret the Bible, in comparison of a•Illiterate Christian, thus coming with 〈◊〉 sanctified Soul, to make his practical Commentary; I could quote a very Great Person who will not leave me alone, but will affirm, That a Commentary made without an Experimental Acquaintance, with such Tempers and Motions, as were in the Minds of the Holy Writers,—Commentarius sine hac Adminiculo, (pio sacrorum motuum scrut into) conscriptus, est vere Commentarius, et Nom•ne et Omine talis. i. e. Commentis cerebri refertus. Among all the Hermeneutic Instruments for the the opening of the Scripture we may say of this, There is none like in And certainly, a Preacher of the Gospel, cannot more effectually do the part of a Workman that needs not be ashamed, than by first of all making sure, that he have those Affections in his own Soul, which are in the Text that he is going to Preach upon. Very Notable is the Direction given by Spener; Premissis pjis procibus, Affectum Scriptorum sacrorum devota attentione observent, cumqus affectum assumere studeant. And very undoubted the Assertion made by Luther; Scio suturum, siquis exercitatus in hac re suerit, plura per se inventurum, quam omnes omnium Commentarii eribuere possiut.
Now, Christian, Go thy way; Repair to thy Psalter. Go this way to work upon it, and say, That thou hast in thy Hands, the most Glorious Book of Devotions, that ever was in the World!
AND here, Let one Admonition be given once for all, which the Devout Singer will often have occasion to think upon; and which comes in as a Retainer to that Exercise of Godliness which is now in prosecution. Christian, When thou art in the PSALMS that have Imprecations upon Adversaries in them, Let thy Arrows be shot at thy Interiour Advesaries. Thy Indwelling Sin, is an Antichrist in thy Soul; and of all Adversaries the most worthy to have all the curses in this Book, fulminated at it. That Old Man within thee, is too like the Violent Man, the Malicious and Injurious one, which is in the PSALMS complained of. Thy Lusts are the Enemies that Roar and Blaspheme, and Pursue, and indeed the worst of Enemies. And Satan too, with whom these are confederate; he is, the wicked one; the Den'd Lion, that lurks to catch the poor. His Evil Angels are the wicked ones, who wait with hopes to ruine thee, under their molestations, thy Soul is with Lions, and among a fiery Crew.
SING with such Thoughts, and so carry on the Wars of the Lord. Thy Successes will be, Wonderful! Wonderful!
§. 9. THERE is a wonderful Thing to be observed concerning our PSALMS, which has hitherto been too much overlooked by all the Uninspired Interpreters; But it is a Thing which our SAVIOUR, and His Apostles who have quoted the PSALMS near Fifty Times, have led us into the Apprehension of. This is, That they are full of Prophecies, and our Psalter is indeed the most Prophetical Book in the World.
IT is more particularly, but not without holy Astonishments—to be observed, That the Design of the PROPHETIC SPIRIT, in the PSALMS, all along has been to describe the Sufferings of the Jewish Nation, as well as of the Christian Surregate, under the Tyranny of Antichrist; and foretel the Characters and Confusions of that Wicked One, and of his Followers; and predict the Recovery of the Jewish Nation from their long Dispersion, and a long Felicity for them, and the Converted Gentiles associated with them, under the succeeding Reign of the MESSIAH; and that Happy state of the New Earth, in which, under the Influences of the New Heavens, there shall dwell Righteousness; and the Tabernacle of GOD shall be with Men, and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His People, and GOD Himself shall be with them, and be their GOD.
IT may be, The Word which we render, To the Chief Musician, but which may be rendred, (and was of Old so,) For the End, may be to intimate that the PSALMS are calculated eminently with an Eye to the Things which are to be done, at that which the Bible calls, The Time of the End. Indeed Jerom long ago found Antichrist in the PSALMS; And Austin affirm'd, That the PSALMS ought all to be understood, of CHRIST and His Church, and many of them refer to After Ages. But we now improve in our Discoveries.
ACCORDINGLY, Upon the PSALMS, as we go along, the Devout Reader will find this Key of David here communicated unto him. And when he becomes a Devout Singer too, then like the Beloved Disciple, he shall be carried away in the Spirit into the wilderness, and be shown the Judgment of the Great Whore thee sitteth upon many Waters. He shall also in these Visions of GOD, see the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from GOD out of Heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband. Very depraved must be that Soul, that has not a relish for such Contemplations, more than for any Earthly Entertainments; and that will not most heartily say, They're more desirable than Gold, yea, than much solid Gold; than Honey also sweeter much, or dropping Honey-comb.
YEA, and who can tell, but the PSALMS put into the hands of the Jews, with so Entertaining a Commentary thereupon, may be a powerful and perswasive Engine in the Arm•• of the LORD, for the Enlightening and Overcoming of them, to Look on Him whom they have Pierced! Were One to single out 〈◊〉 present for a JEW, it should be a Psalter with such a Commentary! Which no doubt he will consider the more Attentively because he will find his own Rabbi's continually brought in as Vouchers for it. However It is an agreeable circumstance, to encourage our Hopes, that the Redemption of Israel and the Time to favour Zion, the set time, is coming on, in that the condition of the Jewish Nation as represented in the PSALMS, is now like to be more confidered by the Holy Singers of them, than in the former Ages. When the Holy Singers then begin to Sing and to Praise, who knows, what Ambushments our GOD may set against the Powers of ANTICHRIST, and of MAHOMET; causing them to destroy one another, and making way for, The Glorious Things which are spoken of thee, O Thou City of GOD!
§ 10. IT has been among the Glories of our PSALMS, that wherever the Kingdom of GOD has been upon making any New and Great Appearance, the Singing of THEM, has been very notably Subservient and Instrumental unto it. More particularly, It is well-known, That when the Reformation in France began, the PSALMS were turned into French Metre, and agreeable Tunes were set unto them. The Singing of THESE charm'd the Souls of Court and City, Town and Countrey. They were Sung in the Louvre itself, as well as in the Protestant Churches: Ladies, Nobles, Princes, the King himself Sang them. All Ranks of Men practised it; A Gentleman of the Reformed Religion would not Eat a Meal without it. This One Thing mightily contributed unto the Downfall of Popery; which the Popish Chergy railing at, they never gave over until the profane and obscene Odes of the Pagan Poets, had among many People of Quality thrust out the PSALMS of David. And Juel writing from England unto Peter Martyr beyond Sea, 1560, reported, That a Change now appeared visibly among the People, but nothing promoted it more, than the Inviting of People unto the Singing of PSALMS. This was begun at one Church in London, and quickly spread itself unto the Neighbouring Places; and sometimes at Pauls Cross, there would be no less than Sir Thousand People Singing together. Truly, a growing Regard unto the Book of PSALMS, allowing us to say, The Time of Singing is come, and the voice of the Turtle is heard in the Land, will be among the hopeful Signs of the Times, and give as cause to hope, that it won't be long before it be said, The Winter is past, and the Rain is over and gone.
DOUBTLESS, The Day approaches wherein the Kingdom of GOD will appear in brighter displays of it, than the World has ever yet been Enlightened withal. There are certain MAXIMS of PIETY, wherein all Good Men are United, whatever Different Perswasions they may have in other matters: MAXIMS wherein all that are cordially United, are Good Men, and the Children of GOD. Good Men will come to an Explicit Union upon these MAXIMS, and know no other Terms of Communion, than those Terms of Salvation, and the Priviledges, the Emoluments, and the Expressions of Brotherly Charity, which of Right belong to all Good Men, as well in the Church as in the State, will be granted unto all that embrace these Glorious MAXIMS. GOD will bring His People, to Receive one another upon these Generous MAXIMS, and keep lesser Points in a due Subordination to them, and manage their Controversies on these lesser Points, with another Spirit, than what has been too frequent among the Disputers of this World; And all Invasions upon the Throne of the Great GOD in the Conscience of Men, will be abominated. There shall be a Reign of Righteousness, and an admirable Peace and Joy will arise from the operations of the Holy Spirit accompanying of it; and Joels Prophecy will be accomplished. There will be Men Qualified like, and Influenced by, the ANGELS of GOD; and those Boanerges, and Sons of Commotion, shall Fly thro' the midst of Heaven, having the Everlasting Gospel of these Uniting MAXIMS, to Preach unto the Inhabitants of the Earth: And our Glorious LORD will shake all Nations, until this Gospel be complied withal. That Cry, Babylon is fallen, will ensue upon it; and wondrous Changes upon the World, will turn an horrid and howling Wilderness into a Paradise, and GOD will give wondrous Tokens of His Gracious Presence among the Children of Men.
BUT certainly, The Everlasting Gospel has a very Illustrious Exhibition in the Book of PSALMS; which now demands a Passage among the Inhabitants of the Earth, under some singular Advantages.
AND perhaps there are many Thousands, to whom such a Version as we have now before us, will be much more acceptable, than any Version, which only for the sake of a little Jingle at the end of the Line, has left out much of that which the Holy SPIRIT has provided for us, and put in much more that is none of His Provision. A Pure Offering is here prepared for them!
AND if it were needful to quote any Authors for such a Remark, we could easily bring more than one, whose Words may now be the Apples of the present Entertainment.
The Divine, Book of PSALMS, is an Excellent Collection of Devout Hymns and Forms, which being Inspired from Heaven in their Original, are sure to be Acceptable there in their Use. And from this Rich Treasury we may be furnished at all times, with proper Forms for our Devotions, suitable to the present state of the Church, and Every Ones particular Case in all Emergencies: We have here a plentiful Provision for the Matter of our Duty, and the Manner of performing it.