in A. D. 1696. The Puritans of England, in A. D. 1562 contended, among other things, for reform in the psalmody of the Church. They proposed "That the psalms should be sung distinctly by the whole congregation." Some of the reformers in that kingdom, amidst the commotions of the times, it seems, for a little, hesitated, as to the propriety of psalmody in the Church; this appears from one of Latimer's orders, in A. D. 1537, when bishop of Worcester. The same thing is intimated in a protestation of some of the clergy, in the pre. vicus year, within the province of Canterbury. But none who admitted the propriety of singing, ever doubted the evangelical charac ter of inspired songs, or, refused to employ them in sacred praise. This is a refinement of modern evangelizers. In the Scottish Church, the reformers, from the first, practised psalmody. It is said they sung the book of psalms in prose; the form, perhaps, in which it should still be used. Before A. D. 1546, there is no authentic account, of any use of metred psalms in that church; but both before, and after that period, in one † Prim. Psal. form or another, the book of Psalms was uniformly employed in their congregations.* In 1649, the general assembly at Edinburgh, adopted the version which she still uses. The ground work of this was laid by Sir Thomas Rouse, who is represented as a man of piety. It was recommended to the attention of the assembly of Divines at Westminster. Under their correcting hand, in the course of several years, it was improved. It was then forwarded to the north, and was, by the supreme judi. catory of the Scottish Church, committed to committees for revision. Years were by them employed in comparing it with the original Hebrew, and in attempting to carry as much as possible of the spirit of the primitive composition, into the translation. And, the man of literature and taste, who shall carefully examine the subject, it is believed, will admit, that they admirably succeeded. Like the version of the bible, this of the psalms, * In A. D. 1556, versified psalms were commonly sung in their assemblies. The whole book of psalms, however, was not put into measure before 1559||; from which period, a version, first published at Geneva, was authorized, till superseded by that still used in the church of Scotland. Mc Crie's life of Knox, p 415.} Acts of Assembly, p, 353. 428. 479. is not remarkable for elegance of diction; but it is remarkably literal. To present the book of Psalms in its native simplicity, beauties, and force, was the aim of the Westminster divines, as well as of the Assembly at Edinburgh. To the man of God, to the child of grace, and man of and man of legitimate taste, these characteristics must be a recommendation.* In the American Churches, this version was extensively used; and, in all the Presbyterian Churches of the southern and middle states, till a recent period, none other was admitted. * The testimony of Dr. Ridgely, in his system of divinity, is not only decidedly in favor of the book of Psalms being suitable, for the praise of the New Testament church; but also for the use of the Scottish version. He gives it the preference above every other. Boswell, too, the friend of Johnson, who gave stability to our language, was a man of talent, and of taste. He gives his testimony in favor of this version, as the best ex tant. Take his own words: "The phrase, "vexing thoughts," is, I think very expressive. It has been familiar to me from my childhood; it is to be found in the "Psalms in metre," used in the churches of Scotland, Psal. 43-5. Why art thou then cast down my soul ? And why with vexinging choughts art thou Some allowance must no doubt be made for early prepossessions. But at a maturer period of life, after looking at various metrical versions of the Psalms, I am well satisfied that the ver⚫ sion used in Scotland, is, upon the whole, the best, and that it is vain to think of having a better. It has in general a simplicity, and unction of sacred poesy; aud in many parts its trans fusion is admirable." Life of Dr. Johnson, vot. 2. p. 282. The justly celebrated Rev William Romaine, likewise, gives his testimony to the excellence of this version. I shall gratify Early in the last century, Dr. Watts, in England, published his Imitation of some of David's Psalms, accompanied with other hymns. These he introduced to public notice, by prefaces, containing a bitter libel against the original songs of Zion. The days of Puritanic zeal had then passed away. The licentious and unprincipled reigns, of the second Charles and James, had given a shock to the morals, and to the piety of the nation, under the influence of which they languished, and were ready to expire. The principles of infidelity had extended to every department of the social body, and were, in both church and state, more extensively embraced, than is generally admitted. Comparatively few of Zion's most conspicuous sons, escaped the contagion of a maddening philosophy, which, in its phrenzy, more my reader with a few extracts from his Essay on Psalmody, a work which very lately came to my hand. "Sternhold and Hopkins" he observes, "had a scrupulous regard for the very words of scripture-the versification is not always smoothBut what is a thousand times more valuable, it is generally the sentiment of the Holy Spirit-This should silence every objection-it is the word of God. This version comes nearer the original than any I have seen, except the Scotch, which I have made use of when it appeared to me better expressed than the English - Here is every thing great, and noble, and divine, although not in Dr. Watts' way or style. It is notas good old Mr. Hall used to call it, Watts' jingle" Romaine's Works. vol. 8. p. 339. openly, at a succeeding period, expressed the idle hope, of universally desolating the heritage of God. At such a time, it is not strange, that an indulgent ear should be given to unhallowed suggestions, against any portion of the word of God; and, especially, when recommended by the imposing pretensions to superior liberality. In the days of martyrdom, for reading the word of God, it was not deemed unsuitable, in songs of praise, to employ the language of the Holy Ghost. But other times succeeded, when religious sentiment of another cast, and piety of another tone, were countenanced.* It was found that the use of scripture songs, "flattened devotion, awakened regret, and touched all the springs of uneasiness in the worshipper's breast." Such were the sentiments, and such was the language of Dr. Watts. The Imitation of the psalms by Dr. Watts, and his hymns, recommended by the senti "Human compositions are preferred to divine. Man's poetry is exalted above the poetry of the Holy Ghost.-The word of man has got a preference in the church above the word of God-It is not difficult to account for this strange practice.Our people had lost sight of the meaning of the Psalms.They did not see their relation to Jesus Christ. This happened when vital religion began to decay among us more than a cen tury ago."-Romaine's Works, vol. 8. p. 321. + Dr. Watts, |