Exclusive Psalmody, Covenanter / Reformation Worship (RPW)
and a FREE Copy the Scottish Metrical Psalter (1650) Scroll down for free resources.
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FREE COVENANTER and REFORMATION RESOURCES (Books, MP3s, CDs
and Articles)
Exclusive
Psalmody, Covenanter / Reformation Worship (RPW), a FREE Copy the Scottish Metrical Psalter (1650) and FREE Spanish Metrical Psalms!
FREE The Psalms of David in Metre (being the Scottish Metrical Psalter, first
authorized by the Westminster Divines and then also by the General Assembly of
the Church of Scotland [in 1650], with notes by John Brown of Haddington.)
Psalm Singing in
Scripture & History by Reg Barrow
Worship: The
Regulative Principle of Worship in History by Reg Barrow (Discusses the very foundation of all faithful
public worship. Dovetails splendidly with John Calvin's Necessity
of Reforming the Church. Cites numerous examples from Reformation
history (Calvin, Knox, Owen, the
Westminster Divines, etc.) exhibiting the Reformation consensus regarding
the basis of biblical faithfulness in this area. A good short, easy-reading
introduction to this topic.)
Biblical Worship by
Kevin Reed
FREE Spanish
Metrical Psalms ("The Genevan ones are
LeQuesne's translation [metrification] for singing.")
FREE Spanish Psalms (Non-metrified Psalms as translated by Valdes)
Foundation
For Reformation: The Regulative Principle Of Worship - Greg L. Price
Free at: http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/REFORMATION-RPW-GP.htm
Regulative
Principle of Worship in the New Testament by Greg Price (Puritan Worship series)
- FREE MP3 at: http://tinyurl.com/346pb or at http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonssource&sermonID=380119184
Regulative
Principle of Worship in the Old Testament by Greg Price (Puritan Worship series)
- FREE MP3 at: http://tinyurl.com/2moyh or at http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonssource&sermonID=380103046
FREE
PURITAN WORSHIP SERIES (33 free MP3s!) by Greg Price, Greg Barrow and R. J.
George at: http://tinyurl.com/26fgn
or at http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?speakerWithinSource=&keyword=swrb&keyworddesc=Still+Waters+Revival+Books&currsection=sermonssource&AudioOnly=false&SourceOnly=true&keywordwithin=puritan+worship
(includes the seven sermons on exclusive
Psalmody noted below).
Seven free MP3 sermons on EXCLUSIVE
PSALMODY by GREG PRICE
1. Exclusive
Psalmody 1/7 (Inspired Song vs. Uninspired Song) by Greg Price
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonssource&sermonID=4300122819
2. Exclusive
Psalmody 2/7 (God's Covenant Songs in Worship) by Greg Price
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonssource&sermonID=530119268
3. Exclusive
Psalmody 3/7 (Sufficiency of the Psalter) by Greg Price
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonssource&sermonID=52101194038
4. Exclusive
Psalmody 4/7 (Exclusive Psalmody & the Regulative Principle) by Greg Price
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonssource&sermonID=52501212814
5. Exclusive
Psalmody 5/7 (Exclusive Psalmody in Church History) by Greg Price
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonssource&sermonID=6180103919
6. Exclusive
Psalmody 6/7 (& the Westminster Standards) by Greg Price
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonssource&sermonID=6180151425
7. Exclusive
Psalmody 7/7 (Objections to Exclusive Psalmody Answered) by Greg Price
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonssource&sermonID=62501134616
The Geneva Bible, Psalmody and More Credenda/Agenda Inaccuracies Answered by Larry Birger
Much more free
material (books, MP3s, articles, etc.) on Reformation, Puritan and Covenanter
worship (i.e., the regulative principle of worship, exclusive Psalmody, etc.) are
at:
http://www.swrb.com/newslett/FREEBOOK/RefWorsh.htm
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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." Basically a blast against
"all the refined idolatries of the churches" of the author's time. It
also lays out the numerous advantages of lining out the Psalms and shows how
"things in themselves indifferent, or even commendable, become unlawful
when they have been made instruments of dishonour to God or peculiar
temptations to men."
(Rare Bound Photocopy)
$9.95-70%=$2.99 (US funds)
MUSIC
All prices below are listed in US funds.
PSALM SINGING ON CASSETTE & CD
(INCLUDING PSALTERS THAT MATCH THE RECORDED MUSIC).
THE PSALMS OF DAVID IN METRE with Notes,
Exhibiting the Connection, Explaining the Sense, and for Directing and
Animating the Devotion
John Brown of Haddington (annotations).
Psalter by Francis Rouse, the Westminster Divines, and the Scottish General
Assembly (from 1646-1650)
This is the Psalter 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. Concerning the care and
preparation that went into this unsurpassed Metrical Psalter, the January 15/93
issue of The Original Covenanter and Contenting Witness , magazine cites an earlier article which notes,
"Rouse bestowed upon it his greatest pains. This was not enough. For six
Years it endured the scrutiny of, and was revised by, two of the most learned
Assemblies that ever sat in the British Isles; at a time, too, when these men
were zealous for truth and suspicious of error. Every word was weighed, and
every expression made exact, before admitted into any statement of Biblical
truth. They wrote not so that they might be understood, but so that they could
not be misunderstood. This exactness and conscientiousness they carried with
them in their translation of the Psalms. In versifying them, they labored not
to clothe the mind of the Spirit in poetic finery, but to cause the muse to bow
to the exact expression of the Holy Ghost. The rhyme and rhythm are often
defective; but what of that? it is the very word of God. That it is, is the
testimony of many eminent Christian scholars. And so far from the poetry and
style being deserving of contempt or ridicule, men of great literary taste have
seen much in it to admire. Walter Scott says: 'The expression of the old
metrical translation, though homely, is plain, forcible, and intelligible, and
very often possesses a rude sort of majesty which, perhaps, would be ill
exchanged for mere elegance.' For more than two centuries they have stood the
test, and every attempt to render them more elegant has resulted in a departure
from the exact expression of the Spirit. Let us hold fast to this good old
version until another proves itself worthy of its place. History makes this
sacred to us, These very words our forefathers sung'mid the rocks and glens
o'bonnie Scotland. Our fathers sang them in the mountain wilds of Pennsylvania
and the forests of the western wilderness. With these words they lightened
their labours, mitigated their sorrows, assuaged their griefs, comforted their
hearts, and lifted their souls to heaven." The notes added by Brown are
suitable for explaining the Psalm before singing and are a great aid to daily
family worship. Every father should have a copy of the version with Brown's
notes. If money is a factor, the smaller, inexpensive hardcover, containing
just the Psalms (see below) should suffice for other members of the family. All
the Psalms, excepting one, are rendered into common metre (with occasional
alternate version added) and thus can be sung by even those with almost no
knowledge of music. For example, the tune to "Amazing Grace" is one
of the many tunes that work with all common metre renderings. And even Psalm
136, the one Psalm not in common metre, can be sung to any common metre tune,
as it adds only one extra syllable to the end of ever second line. Maybe not a
delight of the accomplished musician, but certainly calculated to make the
Psalms most accessible to young and old alike. This is sure to please God and
be most conducive to national reformation. The Scottish Metrical Psalter is a
faithful translation and without a doubt the best Psalter (when covenanted
reformation is in mind) in existence today.
(Hardcover) OUT OF PRINT, but free
as etext as noted above.
For the hardcover without
Brown's notes see just below.
A smaller hardcover version of the Scottish
Metrical Psalter containing only
the words of the Psalms is also available from SWRB for $14.99 (US funds)
SCOTTISH METRICAL PSALMS ON CASSETTE
These cassettes contain
Psalms sung (unaccompanied, i.e. without musical instruments) from the Scottish
Metrical Psalter (1650, available above) by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of
Ireland Northern Presbytery Choir.
Scottish Metrical
Psalms (cassette) 1/5
(Music cassette)
$23.95-30%=$16.77 (US funds)
Scottish Metrical
Psalms (cassette) 2/5
(Music cassette)
$23.95-30%=$16.77 (US funds)
Scottish Metrical
Psalms (cassette) 3/5
(Music cassette)
$23.95-30%=$16.77 (US funds)
Scottish Metrical
Psalms (cassette) 4/5
(Music cassette)
$23.95-30%=$16.77 (US funds)
Scottish Metrical
Psalms (cassette) 5/5
(Music cassette)
$23.95-30%=$16.77 (US funds)
Scottish Metrical
Psalms
(All FIVE music
cassettes above) $119.75-33%=$80.23 (US funds)
DOHMS FAMILY
50 Suggested Tunes for Use With the
Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650 (1998)
Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make
known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his
holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD and
his strength, seek his face continually. Remember his marvellous works that he
hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; O ye seed of Israel his
servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the LORD our God; his
judgments are in all the earth. Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word
which he commanded to a thousand generations; Even of the covenant which he
made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac; And hath confirmed the same to
Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant (1 Chr. 16:8-17,
emphases added).
This tape was produced by Elder Lyndon
Dohms and his family to help those using or making the transition to the
Psalter of the Covenanted Reformation
(i.e. the Scottish Metrical Psalter
of 1650). This Psalter passed through the intense scrutiny of -- and was
authorized for public use by -- both the Westminster Assembly and the General
Assembly of the Church of Scotland (at the height of her purity) in the mid
seventeenth century. Concerning the care and preparation that went into this
unsurpassed Metrical Psalter, the January 15 (1993) issue of The Original
Covenanter and Contenting Witness
magazine cites an earlier article which notes,
Rouse bestowed upon it his greatest pains. This was
not enough. For six Years it endured the scrutiny of, and was revised by, two
of the most learned Assemblies that ever sat in the British Isles; at a time,
too, when these men were zealous for truth and suspicious of error. Every word
was weighed, and every expression made exact, before admitted into any
statement of Biblical truth. They wrote not so that they might be understood,
but so that they could not be misunderstood. This exactness and
conscientiousness they carried with them in their translation of the Psalms. In
versifying them, they labored not to clothe the mind of the Spirit in poetic
finery, but to cause the muse to bow to the exact expression of the Holy
Ghost.... For more than two centuries (almost three and a half centuries
now--RB) they have stood the test, and every attempt to render them more elegant
has resulted in a departure from the exact expression of the Spirit (as in the
case of the present RPCNA Psalter, The Book of PSalms for Singing--RB). Let us hold fast to this good old version
until another proves itself worthy of its place.
Moreover, this Psalter was produced to
further national and international covenanted Reformation -- and to fulfill the
intent of the Solemn League and Covenant for biblically regulated worship and
biblical uniformity. It was crafted with faithfulness to the Word of God utmost
in the mind of its translators and fashioned in the manner most fitting for
ease of use among the general population -- making it a most conducive engine
for discipling the nations. To
accomplish this last goal the Scottish Metrical Psalter provides a version of every Psalm in common metre
(except Psalm 136 -- and even this Psalm, with a little ingenuity, can be made
to fit the various common metre tunes). With all this in mind it is easy to
recognize how (and why) this "tune tape" has been created to help the
contemporary Covenanter and Psalm singer make good use of this godly and
judicious offering -- a landmark Psalter -- which we have received from the
hands of our faithful forefathers.
On this cassette the Dohms provide us with
fifty separate tunes (sung acappella), most of which are common metre -- but
samples of other tunes used in this Psalter also appear (and are noted by name
on the tape before each tune is sung). All the common metre tunes can be
interchanged and used with all of the Psalms in the Scottish Metrical
Psalter of 1650 (sometimes listed
as The Psalms of David in Metre
in this catalogue). However, because this cassette is primarily intended to
familiarize the listener with a diverse selection of tunes, only Psalms one and
23 are sung in their entirety. The remaining 48 Psalms (Psalms 2-22 and 24-50)
make use of two to four verses from each Psalm. This allows the listener to
sample a wider range of tunes on one cassette -- and keeps the price of this
tape down (as one is not forced to buy numerous tapes to cover the fifty tunes
offered here). This is also very useful when it is remembered, as noted above,
that all the common metre tunes can be interchanged throughout this Psalter, as
all the Psalms (excepting 136) in the Scottish Metrical Psalter are provided in a common metre version. For those
who are interested, Psalms 6, 25, 45, 50, 67, 70, 100, 102, 124, 136, 143, 145,
148 are also translated for use with an alternate tune in the Scottish
Metrical Psalter (and at least one
tune for each of these alternate versions is provided on this tape).
As an added bonus, at the end of this
tape, Psalm one is also "lined out" (as mandated in the Westminster
Assembly's Directory for Public Worship), with a short explanation provided by elder Dohms for the use of
this ancient practice. The "lining out" is included to assist those
seeking to utilize the venerable practice of the church as it was upheld during
Old Testament times, the days of Christ and the Apostles, and during both
Reformations.
In short, this cassette is provided as a
valuable tool for those who love to sing God's holy Word, as a useful aid for
song leaders (and singers) in preparing for public, family and secret worship,
and for the listening pleasure and edification of all those who love to hide
God's Word in their heart!
(Cassette) $4.99 (US funds)
RELATED
TITLE:
BUSHELL, MICHAEL
The Songs of Zion: A Contemporary Case
for Exclusive Psalmody (third edition, 1999)
Contains one of the best explanations of the Scriptural
law of worship (also known as the regulative principle of worship) in print
today. For this and a
number of other reasons this was one of the most significant books published in
the 20th century concerning worship! Furthermore, it demonstrates and defends (from Scripture, history and
the creeds) the Reformation practice of exclusive Psalmody. It dovetails
splendidly with Eire's celebrated War Against the Idols, setting forth foundational principles that lay at the very heart of
Reformation thought, theology and practice.
For as Bushell points out, "Purity of worship and uniformity of worship go
hand in hand because they are both founded upon the assumption that the
Scriptures contain clear, sufficient and authoritative directions as to the
proper way of worshiping God. The diversity of worship practice that we see in
our churches arises ultimately from a denial of this assumption, and it
constitutes, therefore, a denial of a central aspect of the doctrine of the
sufficiency of Scripture. There is much more at stake, then, in this whole
discussion than the mere observance or non-observance of a few external
rites" (2nd edition, 1993, p. 3). If you
are a Calvinist and have not read this book, you are missing a real treat!
SWRB SUPER SALE PRICE
(Softcover)
$24.95 (US funds) [$5 off!]
REGULAR PRICE
(Softcover) $29.95 (US
funds)
Still Waters Revival Books
swrb@swrb.com
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Phone: (780) 450-3730
(Monday to Saturday).
Home page at: http://www.swrb.com/
(Many free books are
also located on our web page)
Fax (for orders only):
(780) 468-1096
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Exclusive
Psalmody 1/7 (Inspired Song vs. Uninspired Song) by Greg Price
Exclusive
Psalmody 2/7 (God's Covenant Songs in Worship) by Greg Price
Exclusive
Psalmody 3/7 (Sufficiency of the Psalter) by Greg Price
Exclusive
Psalmody 4/7 (Exclusive Psalmody & the Regulative Principle) by Greg Price
Exclusive
Psalmody 5/7 (Exclusive Psalmody in Church History) by Greg Price
Exclusive
Psalmody 6/7 (& the Westminster Standards) by Greg Price
Exclusive
Psalmody 7/7 (Objections to Exclusive Psalmody Answered) by Greg Price
Seven free MP3 sermons on EXCLUSIVE
PSALMODY by GREG PRICE