A Gospel Ordinance Concerning The Singing Of Scripture Psalms Hymns And Spiritual Songs

This work on psalm singing is one of the few complete puritan treatments of the subject. Since singing psalms is a Gospel command, Cuthbert teaches this topic very seriously, and covers important objections that are often raised against psalmody - something the Westminster Puritans taught without exception. In seven chapters Cuthbert explains both Ephesians and Colossians concerning "psalms, hymns and spiritual songs," as well as topics such as the lawfulness of Psalm Singing as an ordinance, the translation of the Psalms to be sung, the abuses of the Roman and Episcopal Church on psalm singing, how we teach and admonish one another with psalms, and important notes about how we are to sing with a mixed multitude in corporate worship. This is a valuable treatment of the subject and is well worth time and consideration on a doctrine almost completely forgotten in our day. This work is not a scan or facsimile and has been made easy to read with an active table of contents for electronic versions.

This work is one of the foundational reformed documents on singing psalms, both from a biblical perspective and an exegetical one. It follows the same biblical and theological ideas that the Westminster Assembly determined that all Reformed churches in the world have a duty “to praise God publicly, by singing of psalms together in the congregation, and also privately in the family.” Cotton is quoted many times in the works of the Puritans for this masterful treatise on the subject. He covers how to sing with a lively voice (clearing all objections that might be against this), who ought to sing psalms (individuals or the whole congregation), whether women may sing as well as men, whether carnal men may sing, as well as godly Christians, the manner of singing, and objections against the practice. This is a classic work that ought not to be missed by all Christians willing to study what God says in determining the manner in which sinners are to approach him in worship. This is not a scan or facsimile, has been updated in modern English for easy reading and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.

It cannot be denied by any student of historical theology, church history or of the Westminster Standards, that the Puritans taught Exclusive Psalmody. In the following compiled works the student of Reformed Theology will find able directives for Exclusive Psalmody, as well as a number of arguments they might not have thought about before. These works are a treasure trove of bible doctrine and able exegesis (by Thomas Ford, Cuthbert Sydenham, Nathaniel Holmes and John Cotton). The student would do well to take their time and digest the lucid thoughts and arguments that these men penned for the good of the church. They did not, in their age, teach anything that was not widely accepted. They are formulating no new doctrine. They are simply defending the truth of psalm singing from those who erroneously began to creep into the church to overthrow what God had originally commanded in the word. This is the first time in the history of the church that these four works are now available to be read (much less read together). May this book be a breath of fresh air for the serious student of God’s worship. Such truths direct those who are hungry for the truth of the word to Jesus Christ, who requires our obedience in the supreme human act of His sacred worship. This is not a scan or facsimile, has been updated in modern English for easy reading and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.

This volume is an important consolidation of John Owen’s most choice sections on glorifying Jesus Christ in Evangelical worship found in his writings. It is the only volume of its kind outside of his extensively written corpus. Worship is the life of the Christian, and must be understood according to the principles God has prescribed for us in his word. Is there any topic that cries out with more significance in our contemporary culture than understanding the foundations of biblical worship? This book begins with Owen’s exegesis of Ephesians 2:18, “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” There are five main sections to this work covering: true spiritual worship before the giving of the Law, the nature of Evangelical worship, the beauty of Evangelical worship, the importance of exercising true faith during Evangelical worship, and that Evangelical worship is solely prescribed by God’s divine appointment. The work is introduced by a chapter written by Dr. McMahon on Owen’s view of exclusive psalmody; a summary complied throughout all his writings. Also annexed to this volume is the rare puritan work by Edward Hutchins called, “Scripture Proof for Singing Hymns and Spiritual Songs.” Hutchins was a minister at the end of the 17th century, who gave an astounding demonstration of Scriptural prowess outlining and explaining the prophetic nature of the Psalms, and the New Testament ordinance of exclusive psalm singing. This work has never been published before since Hutchins’ day, and is one of the most impressive and concise works of this kind ever written with such biblical skill and insight; a Scriptural tour de force not to be missed. This work is not a scan or facsimile, has been carefully transcribed by hand being made easy to read in modern English, and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.

John Cotton (1585-1662) was an English Reformed minister and colonist. This work a foundational reformed document on singing psalms, both from a biblical and exegetical perspective. It follows the same biblical and theological ideas that the Westminster Assembly determined that all Reformed churches in the world have a duty "to praise God publicly, by singing of psalms together in the congregation, and also privately in the family." He covers how to sing with a lively voice (clearing all objections that might be against this), who ought to sing psalms (individuals or the whole congregation), whether women may sing as well as men, whether carnal men may sing, as well as godly Christians, the manner of singing, and objections against the practice. This work ought not to be missed to study what God says in determining the manner in which sinners are to approach him in worship. This work is not a scan or facsimile and has been made easy to read with an active table of contents for electronic versions.

List of publications, v. 1-132, in v. 132.