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REFORMATION WORSHIP SALE @
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Summaries by Reg Barrow and others.
FREE! (Contra
Schlissel's Denial of Reformed Worship)
An irenic letter written to a PCA
elder, regarding Steve Schlissel's recent attacks on historic Reformed
(biblical) worship, which is a nice introduction to the Brief Critique listed
directly below, is FREE at:
http://www.cashflows.org/rpw.htm
Resource 1. A
Brief Critique of Steven M. Schlissel's Articles Against the Regulative
Principle of Worship
by Brian M. Schwertley
Brian Schwertley has challenged
both Steve Schlissel and Andrew Sandlin (Chalcedon Report) to a public
debate on the worship issues that are dealt with in this paper. Mr.
Schwertley has also stated that he is willing to have the complete debate taped
and made available to the public. Thus far, both Mr. Schlissel
and Mr. Sandlin have refused to accept this challenge.
We pray that our publicizing of Brian Schwertley's FREE article will be used
of the Lord to help others from falling into the same type of Romish/Episcopal
errors that Mr. Schlissel now publicly espouses against the biblical and
historic Reformed Faith (regarding worship). It would also
be a blessing (for which we pray) to see Mr. Schlissel granted repentance in
this matter and to see him preaching the Apostolic faith, "the faith which
was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3), which was so magnificently
recovered (through the grace of God) by the best early Reformers and the
Puritans and (especially) the Covenanters which followed in their train.
Describing this paper Brian Schwertley writes,
"Recently, a series of articles was written by Pastor Steven M. Schlissel
against the regulative principle of worship, entitled "All I Really Need
to Know About Worship... I Don't Learn from the Regulative Principle."
These articles were published in Schlissel's newsletter, Messiah's Mandate, and were reprinted in
an edited-abridged form in Chalcedon Report. They received a rather
wide audience in Reformed circles and are being referred to by opponents of
Reformed worship. The purpose of this essay is to examine Schlissel's main
arguments and expose them as false, unscriptural, and based upon poor exegesis
and faulty reasoning.
After reading Schlissel's articles we want to commend him for his openness and
honesty regarding his position on the regulative principle. Many people in
Reformed churches give lip service to the regulative principle while doing
everything they possibly can to get around it. They confess it with their lips,
but dread it with their hearts. They formally adhere to what they in practice
continually deny. At least Schlissel, in his quest for human autonomy in
worship, is consistent. He jettisons the foundation of Reformed worship
altogether and in its place advocates what he calls the "informed
principle of worship," which we will see is, in principle and in reality,
no different than the Lutheran or Episcopal conception of worship... The arguments offered by Schlissel (and others such as
Doug Wilson) regarding the regulative principle are not new but are (in general
matters) restatements of old prelatical arguments long ago rejected by the
Reformed churches... In essence, it is no different than the typical
conservative evangelical understanding of worship. Evangelicals reject the
regulative principle and in its place say that we must not do what is forbidden
and we must make sure our worship is biblical. This is the old
Lutheran-Episcopalian conception of worship. He says that our biblical theology must
guide our worship, and that a biblical theology would produce biblical
worship... Most conservative Lutherans, low-church Episcopalians or
conservative evangelicals would agree. Why? Because Schlissel
has abandoned the Reformed understanding of worship for a
conservative Lutheran conception. He openly admits that he believes that
human tradition in worship is acceptable...
Schlissel wants us to abandon the regulative
principle and adopt his view because he believes his position can better
withstand "exegetical attack" and thus will better preserve biblical
worship. How will allowing human tradition in worship preserve biblical
worship? How can allowing what Jesus and Paul explicitly forbid withstand
exegetical attack? We live in a time in which many human innovations are coming
into the churches--even "Reformed" ones. The pastors and elders in
"Reformed" churches which have puppet shows, sermonettes for
children, drama groups, musical groups, dance troupes, liturgical calendars,
and unauthorized holy days love these articles by Schlissel. Why? Because his articles justify human autonomy, i.e., human
tradition in worship. If one were to talk with a CRC or PCA pastor
who practiced such things, one would find essential agreement with Schlissel's
arguments. People despise the regulative principle of worship not because it
is itself an innovation but because they know it condemns their best-loved
human worship inventions. It condemns all will-worship. Schlissel may object
to the so-called "celebrative" worship described above. But,
according to his own principles, there is really nothing he can do to stop it.
For these things are not expressly forbidden by Scripture. (Where is the list
of forbidden worship practices in the New Testament?) All that Schlissel can do
is argue that such worship is not "majestic" enough, or that is not
done decently and in order. The proponents of such worship would of course
disagree. They would argue that it is session-controlled, very orderly, and
wonderfully "majestic."
The regulative principle of worship
(i.e., truly Reformed worship) is the only principle that can withstand all
exegetical attacks and stem today's sweeping tide of human worship innovations. It can withstand all
exegetical attacks because it is founded upon the sacred Scripture and nothing
else. It can stem the tide of human innovation in worship because it cuts off,
at the root, all innovation, all human tradition and will-worship. The seeds of
will-worship are killed before they can sprout. Humanly originated worship
traditions are forbidden at the outset, and are thus not given the opportunity
of taking root and displacing that worship which God has instituted. Everything
in worship must have a divine warrant; i.e., it must be proved from the word of
God. Thornwell writes: "As under the Old Dispensation nothing connected
with the worship or discipline of the Church of God was left to the wisdom or
discretion of man, but everything was accurately prescribed by the authority of
God, so, under the New, no voice is to be heard in the household of faith but
the voice of the Son of God. The power of the church is purely ministerial and
declarative. She is only to hold forth the doctrine, enforce the laws, and
execute the government which Christ has given her. She is to add nothing of her
own to, and to subtract nothing from, what her Lord has established.
Discretionary power she does not possess." ...Paul says that any
addition to what God has commanded or authorized is self-imposed religion, or
as the King James Version says, "will worship." The Greek word used
by Paul (ethelothreskeia) signifies worship that originates from man's own
will. 'This is worship not enjoined by God, but springing out of man's own
ingenuity--unauthorized devotion.... The worship referred to is unsolicited and
unaccepted. It is superstition..." "The gist is
that these ordinances are forms of worship or religious service chosen by man
according to the will of man, not means chosen by God. This is the essence of
corrupt worship, when men seek to establish their own forms of religious
service. We might call it free-will worship, since the advocates of man-made
worship are claiming that men possess the right (or freedom) to institute
acceptable means to worship God." ...Anyone
who advocated Schlissel's views would have been defrocked in any of the
Reformed denominations of the past, whether English, Dutch, Scottish, German,
French or American.
FREE at:
http://reformedonline.com/view/reformedonline/schlissel.htm
********
Resource 2. EIRE,
CARLOS M.N.
War Against the Idols: The
Reformation of Worship from Erasmus to Calvin
Eire shows that
as the Reformation progressed the primary focus of the Reformers became
upholding God's sovereign prerogative in worship -- what today is called the
regulative principle of worship. Eire's War Against the Idols demonstrates the extent
of the Reformers clear condemnation of Arminianism
in worship (i.e. will-worship [Col. 2:23]) in rejecting all elements of worship
that did not have Scriptural warrant. In fact, Calvin was so intent
on highlighting this point, concerning the centrality of worship (and the application
of Sola Scriptura as exhibited in the regulative
principle of worship),
that he placed worship ahead of salvation in his list of the two most important
elements of Biblical Christianity.
Regarding
Calvin's On the Necessity of Reforming the Church Eire notes,
Calvin
speaks about the nature of worship and about the seriousness of the sin of
idolatry in his 1543 treatise, On the Necessity of Reforming the Church, where he concentrates
on the significance of worship for the Christian religion. Calvin's argument,
as indicated by the title of the treatise, is that the Church had reached such
a corrupt state that its reform could wait no longer. The most significant
aspect of corruption singled out by Calvin is the perversion of worship, and it
is in explaining this issue that he set forth the basis for his attack on
idolatry.
Calvin begins by studying the place that worship holds in the
Christian faith, and he concludes that it is one of the two elements that
define Christianity:
"If
it be asked, then, by what things chiefly the Christian religion has a standing
amongst us, and maintains its truth, it will be found that the following two
not only occupy the principal place, but comprehend under them all the other
parts, and consequently the whole substance of Christianity, viz., a
knowledge first, of the right way to worship God; and secondly of the source
from which salvation is to be sought. When these are kept out of view, though
we may glory in the name of Christians, our profession is empty and vain." (War Against
the Idols,
p. 198, citing from Calvin's On the Necessity of Reforming the Church [FREE at: http://idontkno.connect.ab.ca/books/newslett/actualnls/NRC_ch00.htm ], emphases added).
The scholarly translational work found in Eire's book
also gives insights into the worship question not
found in any other English history books (concerning Calvin, Knox, and a
host of others) -- for it contains much from previously untranslated (into
English, that is) Reformation documents.
A large portion
of this book centers on Calvin, but its major thrust is to reveal the single most burning issue confronting the Reformers:
purity of worship! Furthermore, this book's teaching regarding the
Reformers (and their view of the Scriptural law of worship) is as applicable
today as it was in the days of the first Reformation -- for it brings to
light the time-tested Biblical principles which
guard against the errors, excesses, and idolatries of the Roman harlot, Eastern
Orthodoxy and all liturgical innovators on one hand and the modern
"evangelicals," Anabaptists and Charismatics on the other. This is, without a
doubt, one of the best Reformation history books available -- stirring,
scholarly, relevant and edifying!
As far as we
know this book may be out of print in the near future, so those interested
would be advised to obtain a copy as soon as possible.
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NEW 30 CD set: Reformation Bookshelf CD Series Super
Sale
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Resource 3.
REFORMATION BOOKSHELF CD (Volume Nineteen)
The Reformation Against
Arminianism (in Worship and Salvation)
Against Arminian Views of
Worship (Calvinistic Worship and the Regulative Principle of Worship), for the
Psalms and Exclusive Psalmody, Against Instrumental Music in Public Worship (A
Popish Innovation!), Against Arminian Views of the Lord's Supper (Calvinistic
Close Communion Versus Arminian Open Communion), Against Arminian Views of
Salvation (Calvinistic Soteriology),
Augustine, John Calvin, John
Knox, Jonathan Edwards, John Owen, C.H. Spurgeon, Robert Traill, the Covenanted
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, David Hay Fleming, Jerom Zanchius,
William Ames, David Steele, R.L. Dabney, James M. Willson, Robert Baillie,
Ralph Erskine, Christopher Ness, Elisha Coles, Augustus Toplady, John Gill,
John Brown (of Haddington), John Anderson, William Binnie, Robert Nevin, James
Chrystie, the Reformed Presbytery (RPNA), J.A. Wylie, James Douglas, Michael
Wagner, the Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton (Session), Greg
Price, Lyndon Dohms and Family, Greg Barrow, Reg Barrow, the Westminster
Divines, the famous Synod of Dort (1618-1619), Thomas
Manton, George Gillespie, Samuel Rutherford, Matthew Henry, John Brown (of
Wamphray), Francis Turretin, James Durham, John Howie, William Hetherington,
Samuel Miller, John Girardeau, Edward Fisher, Robert Shaw, A.W. Pink, Loraine
Boettner, Augustus Toplady, Andrew Symington, Patrick Fairbairn, William
Roberts, Richard Baxter, William Cunningham, John Anderson, Andrew Clarkson,
David Scott, John Cunningham, George Smeaton, Larry
Birger, Francis Rouse, Dr. F. Nigel Lee, Bill Mencarow, et al.
This
CD contains:
AGAINST
ARMINIAN VIEWS OF WORSHIP
(Calvinistic
Worship/Regulative Principle of Worship)
AMES,
WILLIAM
A
Fresh Suit Against Human Ceremonies in God's Worship (1633)
A rare facsimile from this
Calvinist divine who was one of the most acute controversialists of his age. This
highly influential Puritan theologian was assistant to the president of the
Synod of Dort and
Professor of Divinity at Franecker. He died in 1633. In this massive work,
Ames aims at vindicating the Lord's sovereign Kingship in matters of worship. The summary and general thrust of the
detailed and precise argumentation found in this book is beautifully
encapsulated by the words inscribed on its title page, "I hate vayn
inventions: but thy law doe I love" (Ps. 119:113). Almost 700 pages.
BARROW,
REG
Reformation
Worship and Separation from Idolatry
These two articles,
"Worship, The Regulative Principle of Worship in History," and Psalm
Singing in Scripture and History," are also available in the "Free
Books" file in all the Reformation Bookshelf CDs.
BARROW,
REG
A
Warning Against the False and Dangerous Views of James Jordan Concerning
Worship: A Book Review of Kevin Reed's Canterbury Tales
This article is in the
"free book" files on every Reformation Bookshelf CD.
BARROW,
REG & DOUG WILSON
Saul
in the Cave of Adullam: A Testimony Against the Fashionable Sub-Calvinism of
Doug Wilson (Editor of Credenda/Agenda Magazine); and, for
Classical Protestantism and the Attainments of the Second Reformation
Demonstrates in an email
debate (of 170, 8.5 inch by 11 inch, pages) between Doug Wilson (editor of Credenda/Agenda magazine) and Reg Barrow (president
of Still Waters Revival Books) how violations of the regulative principle of
worship (i.e. the second commandment) are grounds for excommunication. Also gives specific examples of how
modern "Reformed" Christians (e.g. John Frame) and denominations are
in violation of the second commandment and are tolerating false and idolatrous
worship contrary to their own Confessional standards and vows. Contains many quotations from
major Reformation works and confessions in defense of the regulative principle
of worship representing the classical Reformation position on worship. This book is in the FREE BOOKS file on
this CD.
CALVIN,
JOHN
An
Exhortation to Suffer Persecution and to Flee Outward Idolatry (1553)
COVENANTED
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
Directions
of the General Assembly Concerning Secret and Private Worship, and Mutual
Edification, For Cherishing Piety, For Maintaining Unity, and Avoiding Schism
and Division: With An Act for observing these Directions, and for censuring
such as use to neglect Family Worship. And An Act against such as withdraw
themselves from the Public Worship in their own Congregations (1647)
ERSKINE,
RALPH
Faith
No Fancy: Or, A Treatise of Mental Images (1745)
The title continues:
"Discovering the vain Philosophy and vile Divinity of a late Pamphlet,
entitled, Mr. Robe's fourth Letter to Mr. Fisher, and Showing, that an
imaginary Idea of Christ as Man, (when supposed to belong to saving Faith,
whether in its Act or Object), imports nothing but Ignorance, Atheism,
Idolatry, great Falsehood, and gross Delusion." David Lachman calls this
"Erskine's most extensive publication," noting that it "was a
contribution to the controversy with the Church of Scotland ministers involved
in the Cambuslang revival"
(Cameron, ed., Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology, p. 302). We have added Erskine's sermon
"The True Christ, No New Christ" (1742) and Fisher's "Review of
What Has Been Called an Extraordinary Work at Cambuslang, Kelsyth, etc."
from the 1805 Philadelphia edition of this work. A very pertinent book given
all the idolatry connected with the senses, pictures of Christ, etc. in our
day. 523 pages.
HAY
FLEMING, DAVID
The
Hymnology of the Scottish Reformation (1884)
A courteous and detailed
historical defence of the exclusive Psalmody of the Scottish Reformers, Calvin
and others. These articles (excerpted from the Original Secession Magazine)
were written to counter the false claims of Horatius Bonar, that uninspired
hymns were used in the public worship of the church during the Scottish
Reformation. 42 pages.
KNOX,
JOHN
Against
Apostasy and Indifference
Formerly titled "An Epistle
to the Inhabitants of New Castle and Berwick, 1558," one subheading reads;
"John Knox to the Inhabitants of Newcastle and Berwick, and Unto All
Others, Who Sometime in the Realm of England Professed Christ Jesus, and Now Be
Returned to the Bondage of Idolatry, Wishes True and Earnest Repentance By the
Power and Operation of That Same Spirit Who Called From Death Jesus, the Only
Pastor of Our Souls." Written to stem the tide of backsliding and
compromise during the dark days of Mary's reign in England, Knox sends a
pastoral exhortation of repentance to those who had reverted to idolatrous
worship.
OWEN,
JOHN
A
Discourse Concerning Liturgies and their Imposition
Bannerman (in his two volume set
The Church of Christ),
summarizes this book by Owen as "giving the Scriptural argument against
the imposition of liturgies as well as of other humanely devised elements in
Divine worship,
with great clearness and force"
(p. 435).
Furthermore, the Westminster
Theological Journal (55,
1993, p. 322, 3n) notes, "Owen discusses the true nature of NT worship,
especially focusing on the challenge made to it by the Church of England. His
discourse regarding the imposition of liturgies is one of the most thorough and
forceful arguments for the regulative principle of worship as the only
principle which safely guards the Christian conscience from the abuse of church
power."
RYLE,
J.C.
Idolatry
"To study the
Reformation debate over idolatry is to peer into the eye of the storm.
'Idolatry' is a fighting word. It presupposes a definition of what is true and
what is false in religion, for an idol cannot be universally recognized as
such; idolatry is not simply the worship of a physical object, but rather any
form of devotion that is judged to be incorrect''(Eire in War Against the Idols, p. 5 [$US39.95]). In this book Ryle
gives the definition, cause, and form of idolatry. He concludes by showing what
will end it.
WILLSON,
JAMES M.
Dr.
(Isaac) Watts, an Anti-Trinitarian: Demonstrated in A Review of Dr. Samuel
Miller's Letter to the editor of the Unitarian Miscellany (1821)
This book is a review of a
letter written by Prof. Samuel Miller. Prof. Miller had preached a sermon in which he had noted
that Unitarians are not Christians,
and in response a Unitarian periodical had published a heated attack on Miller.
Miller thus wrote a reply to the attack, but the Unitarian periodical would not
print it. Miller's reply was then published separately.
Willson reviews Miller's letter
and points out that he clearly refutes the Unitarian's published attack. There
was only one problem with Miller's argument; he claims that Isaac Watts was a
Trinitarian. Watts was not, in fact, a Trinitarian, and Willson considered
this point important enough to demonstrate from Watts' own work that he does
not hold to the orthodox view of the Trinity. After citing portions of Watts' writing, Willson states,
"In
these quotations Watts cannot be misunderstood. He most distinctly denies the
existence of three persons in the Trinity, and makes the Son and Holy Ghost to
be mere faculties, physical faculties, or attributes. The Son and Holy Ghost,
in his view, are no more persons, than the human understanding and will are
persons."
Thus, Isaac Watts, a favorite
hymn writer of evangelicals, actually held to what Willson, Miller, and
Turrettin all agree (in this book) is a "damnable heresy." For as Willson points out, Turrettin
maintains, that no anti-trinitarian can be saved, while continuing in the belief of
anti-trinitarianism. Contains 18 (8.5"X11") newly typeset pages.
YOUNG,
WILLIAM
The
Puritan Principle of Worship
(Psalms
and Exclusive Psalmody)
THE
PSALMS OF DAVID IN METRE (i.e. the Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650): Allowed By the
Authority of the Kirk of Scotland, and of Several Branches of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States. With Notes, Exhibiting the Connection, Explaining
the Sense, and for Directing and Animating the Devotion (1844 edition published
by Robert Carter [New York]) John Brown of Haddington (annotations).
Psalter as
translated by Francis Rouse, the Westminster Divines, and the Scottish General
Assembly (from 1646-1650)
This is the Psalter (less
Brown's notes, which were added later) mandated, approved and used (for public
and private worship) by the Westminster Assembly and all those who covenanted
to uphold the Biblical Reformation that these Divines proclaimed. The text of the Scottish Metrical
Psalms was authorized by
the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1650. The notes added by
Brown are suitable for explaining the Psalm before singing and are a great aid
to understanding and worship (whether public, family or private). This is a
primary source document of Reformation; not to be missed by those serious about
the Reformed faith -- and worshipping God in spirit and in truth. There are
few things in life as pleasing and enjoyable as communing with Christ through
the singing of His Psalms!
ANDERSON,
JOHN
Vindiciae
Cantus Dominici: Or, A Vindication of the Doctrine Taught in a Discourse on the
Divine Ordinance of Singing Psalms (1793)
Because the author contends that
"the welfare of the church and her members is deeply concerned in the
preservation of the purity of God's worship," he here defends the old
paths of Protestant worship in opposition to the will-worship of Popery,
Socinianism and Arminianism. Herein he shows how the singing of songs other
than the Psalms (in public worship) violates the second commandment, dishonors
God and brings His wrath upon individuals, churches and nations. Anderson also
answers a number of objections against exclusive Psalmody which are still
common today; for example the objection, "with respect to the nature of
singing, as if there were no difference between it and prayer, except in the
manner of performance." This is a valuable contribution to the defense of
exclusive Psalmody. 184 pages.
ASSOCIATE
PRESBYTERIAN MAGAZINE
The
Ancient and Modern Mode of Singing the Psalms (Sept., 1863)
Historically demonstrates how
the Old Testament saints, the early New Testament Christians and almost all
Presbyterians (after adopting the Westminster Standards) sang the Psalms by
"lining them out" (e.g. see the Westminster Directory for Public
Worship). Musical instruments, a Papal innovation, were also unheard of among
faithful Reformers and "denominated the ensigns of Baal."
BINNIE,
WILLIAM
The
Imprecations: God's Forgotten Prayers of Power
BINNIE,
WILLIAM
The
Psalms: Their History, Teaching, & Use
A one-of-a-kind general
introduction to studying the psalms
[1886]. "A highly valuable work... great skill and intense devotion...
unlike any other...," said Spurgeon. Part one: "History and Poetical Structure of the
Psalms." Part two: "The Theology of the Psalms." Part three:
"Notices Regarding the Use of the Psalms in the Church." Indexed, 424
pages.
BLAIKE,
ALEXANDER
A
Catechism on Praise (1854)
"In brief space, and a
clear, calm, scriptural way, this little manual covers, we conceive, the entire
ground of the Psalmody question, and will meet a cordial reception from all the
friends of the inspired songs and a simple worship" (Christian Instructor
magazine).
DICK,
JAMES
Hymns
and Hymn Books (1883)
Greg Price calls this one of
the best short defences of exclusive Psalmody. It is excerpted from The Original
Covenanter magazine
(Dec, 1883, vol. 3, No. 12). Here is a taste of Dick's writing,
Hymns
of human composition are used so commonly now in public worship by Presbyterian
churches that it is difficult to believe that the practice is not a hundred
years old, and that in some of the churches it is of very recent date. On the
supposition that it is good and dutiful and wise to sing such hymns in worship,
it is equally difficult to account for the neglect of the churches at the time
of the Reformation, and for generations afterwards. What could have so
blinded the reformers as to make them reject hymns and sing the Psalms alone?
How could the Westminster Divines, in framing their Confession of Faith and
Directory for Worship, have been so unanimous in the blunder that the service
of praise is to consist of the 'singing of Psalms?' And apart from the aspect
of duty, how could the Presbyterian churches, for about a hundred and fifty or
two hundred years after the Westminster Assembly, have been so insensible to
the power of hymns as an attractive addition to their public services? We cannot by any means understand how
it was that, if it was dutiful to use hymns in worship, the reformers did not
discover the Scriptural warrant for the duty, especially as hymns had been used
for centuries by the Church of Rome. Nor can we understand how they rejected
the hymns and used the Psalms alone, unless on the supposition that they
believed the use of hymns to be part of the will-worship of Rome. If they were wrong on this point,
then Rome and our modern Presbyterian churches are right. In that case, the
Puritans and Covenanters were fanatics, and Romanists were truly enlightened!
And most of our Presbyterian churches of the present day were fanatical too,
and did not become truly enlightened and liberal till they got back to the
Romish practice!
GIBSON,
JAMES
The
Public Worship of God: Its Authority and Modes, Hymns and Hymn Books (1868)
Gibson was Professor of
Systematic Theology and Church History at Free Church College in Glasgow.
Written to promote the glory of God and the purity of His worship. The chapters
deal with Praise, Public Worship, Alleged Authority for Human Hymns, Historical
Argument for Human Hymns, How Hymn Books Were Introduced into Public Worship,
Instrumental Music, and a Review of Hymnbooks. An important book given the fact
that, "[t]he public worship of a church is a decisive measure of its true
spiritual condition" (Kevin Reed, John
Knox the Forgotten Reformer [ on the PHP CD, $98.98 at http://www.swrb.com/catalog/R.htm ], Presbyterian Heritage Publications,
p. 79).
MAGILL,
GEORGE (Chairman)
Psalm-Singers
Conference (1905)
While hardly any department of
the Psalmody question is entirely overlooked, several of its most important
aspects are more fully and satisfactorily dealt with than in any previous work
on the subject. 328 pages.
MANY
AUTHORS
The
True Psalmody; or, The Bible Psalms the Church's Only Manual of Praise (1878)
This book was originally
"issued at Philadelphia in 1859 by a committee of ministers from the
Reformed Presbyterian and United Presbyterian church of that city. A judicious
compilation of the finest argumentation from a number of 19th century writers,
the volume went through at least six American editions, the last in 1870. It
was also printed in Belfast, Ireland in 1867, and in 1878 at Edinbugh,
Scotland" (Isbell, Presbyterian Reformed magazine, vol. IX, No. 3, p. 111). In
our opinion, this is the best older American defense of the Reformed
practice of exclusive Psalmody,
as it covers some aspects of this debate not covered in any other publication.
212 pages.
M'MASTER,
GILBERT
An
Apology for the Book of Psalms in Five Letters (1852)
This book argues for exclusive
Psalmody. It includes a
detailed history (ancient [the Fathers, Augustine, Apostolic Constitutions,
etc.] and modern [Wickliffe, Luther, Calvin, etc., to the author's day]) of
Psalmody, gives reasons for retaining the book of Psalms and considers numerous
objections. It takes on both Watts (and his anti-Trinitarianism) and Wesley. 223 pages.
MCNAUGHER,
JOHN, ed.
The
Psalms in Worship
Dr. David Freeman (who was John
Murray's pastor in Philadelphia) said that the Psalms in Worship was the most comprehensive treatment
of this subject to be found anywhere.
This volume (of almost 600 pages) consists of material presented at two
conventions in 1905, promoting the claims of the Psalms in worship.
PRESSLY,
JOHN
Review
of Ralston's Inquiry into the Propriety of Using an Evangelical Psalmody in the
Worship of God (1848)
ROMAINE,
WILLIAM
Essay
on Psalmody (1880)
STEELE,
DAVID
Continuous
Singing
The title continues: "In
the Ordinary Public Worship of God, Considered in the Light of Scripture and
the Subordinate Standards of the Reformed Presbyterian Church; In Answer to
Some Letters of Inquiry Addressed to the Writer." Here Steele defends the
Apostolic practice of "lining out" the Psalms in public worship --
noting love for the brethren (i.e. young children, others that can not read,
etc.; but can join in the worship when the Psalms are lined) as the primary
motivation for this practice; in accord with God's command (1 Pet. 3:8).
(Instrumental
Music in Public Worship: A Popish Innovation!)
DABNEY,
R.L.
Dabney's
Review of Girardeau's Instrumental Music in Public Worship (1889)
GIRARDEAU,
JOHN
Instrumental
Music in the Public Worship of the Church (1888)
"To sing the praises of
God upon the harp and psaltery,"
says John Calvin, "unquestionably
formed a part of the training of the law and of the service of God under that
dispensation of shadows and figures; but they are not now to be used in public
thanksgiving."
Written in 1888, this book was
highly praised by R.L. Dabney
(in a review which we have bound together with this printing). Dabney notes,
Dr. Girardeau has defended the old usage of our church with a moral courage, loyalty to truth, clearness of reasoning and wealth of learning which should make every true Presbyterian proud of him, whether he adopts his conclusions or not. The framework of his argument is this: it begins with that vital truth which no Presbyterian can discard without a square desertion of our principles. The man who contests this first premise had better set out at once for Rome: God is to be worshipped only in the ways appointed in His Word. Every act of public cultus not positively enjoined by Him is thereby forbidden. Christ and His apostles orda