Venator Veritatis
Puritan Board Freshman
"The special exhortation concerns one part of the Word, and that is the Psalmes. Which are here to be considered.
1. In respect of the matter, Psalmes, Hymnes, and Spiritual songs
2. In respect of the manner, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
The matter is here three ways to be considered: First, the ground, foundation or authority of the Psalmes we use, viz. they must be the word of Christ, that is contained in the Scriptures. Secondly, in the kind of Psalmes: there are many sorts of Psalmes in Scripture. The Psalmes of Moses, David, Salomon, and other Prophets: but all are here reffered to three heads; they are either Psalmes, specially so called, or Hymnes, or Songs, great adoe there is among interpreters, to find a difference in these ; some would have Psalmes to be songs of men, and Hymnes of Angels: some think they differ especially, in the manner of Musicke. Some are sung by voice, some plaid upon instruments; but the plausiblest opinion is not to distinguish them, but the persons that use them, or by the kind of musicke, but by the matter, and so they say Psalmes contain exhortation to manner or holy life. Hymnes contain praises to God in commemoration of his benifits. Songs contain doctrine of chiefe good, or man's eternall felicity. But I think there needs not any curious distinction: it may suffice us that there is variety of Psalmes in Scripture, and God allowes us the use of every kind. Thirdly, the property of the Psalmes, they are Spirituall, both because they are indited by the Spirit, and because they make us more spirituall in the due use of them.
From hence we may learn these things.
1. That singing Psalmes is God's ordinance, binding all sorts of men ; Eph. 6:19, Jam. 5:13, Ps. 66:1,2 92:1, 135:3, and a part of our goodnesse, and a most comely thing
2. That a Christian should chiefly recreate himself in singing Psalmes, Jam. 5:13. God does not allow us other recreations to shoulder out this, as the most doe.
3. That we should sing the Psalmes in our houses aswell as our churches both for daily exercise, Ps. 101:1,2. And when Christians meet together, 1 Cor. 14:26, Eph. 5:19"
Nicolas Byfield, An Exposition upon the Epistle to the Colossians.
1. In respect of the matter, Psalmes, Hymnes, and Spiritual songs
2. In respect of the manner, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
The matter is here three ways to be considered: First, the ground, foundation or authority of the Psalmes we use, viz. they must be the word of Christ, that is contained in the Scriptures. Secondly, in the kind of Psalmes: there are many sorts of Psalmes in Scripture. The Psalmes of Moses, David, Salomon, and other Prophets: but all are here reffered to three heads; they are either Psalmes, specially so called, or Hymnes, or Songs, great adoe there is among interpreters, to find a difference in these ; some would have Psalmes to be songs of men, and Hymnes of Angels: some think they differ especially, in the manner of Musicke. Some are sung by voice, some plaid upon instruments; but the plausiblest opinion is not to distinguish them, but the persons that use them, or by the kind of musicke, but by the matter, and so they say Psalmes contain exhortation to manner or holy life. Hymnes contain praises to God in commemoration of his benifits. Songs contain doctrine of chiefe good, or man's eternall felicity. But I think there needs not any curious distinction: it may suffice us that there is variety of Psalmes in Scripture, and God allowes us the use of every kind. Thirdly, the property of the Psalmes, they are Spirituall, both because they are indited by the Spirit, and because they make us more spirituall in the due use of them.
From hence we may learn these things.
1. That singing Psalmes is God's ordinance, binding all sorts of men ; Eph. 6:19, Jam. 5:13, Ps. 66:1,2 92:1, 135:3, and a part of our goodnesse, and a most comely thing
2. That a Christian should chiefly recreate himself in singing Psalmes, Jam. 5:13. God does not allow us other recreations to shoulder out this, as the most doe.
3. That we should sing the Psalmes in our houses aswell as our churches both for daily exercise, Ps. 101:1,2. And when Christians meet together, 1 Cor. 14:26, Eph. 5:19"
Nicolas Byfield, An Exposition upon the Epistle to the Colossians.
