THE

TRUE PSALMODY;

OR,

THE BIBLE PSALMS THE CHURCH'S

ONLY MANUAL OF PRAISE.

With Prefaces

BY THE

REV. HENRY COOKE, D.D., LL.D.;
REV. JOHN EDGAR, D.D., LL.D.;

AND

REV. THOMAS HOUSTON, D.D.

AND

Recommendations by

EMINENT PRESBYTERIAN DIVINES.

New Edition.

EDINBURGH:

JAMES GEMMELL, GEORGE IV. BRIDGE.

10131.e

CONTENTS.

PREFACE BY THE REV. HENRY COOKE, D.D., LL.D.,
PREFACE BY THE REV. JOHN EDGAR, D.D., LL.D.,
PREFACE BY THE REV. THOMAS HOUSTON, D.D.,
INTRODUCTION TO FIRST EDITION,

NOTE,

RECOMMENDATION,

PAGR

15

CHAPTER I.

THE BOOK OF PSALMS COMPLETE MANUAL OF

PRAISE.

Presents the most comprehensive delineations of the per-
fections of God, and of the character of His government
-In Three Persons-Furnishes a full and accurate exhibi-
tion of man's real state and character before God-The
Psalms are full of Christ-Contain the richest fund of
Christian experience-The most eminent Christians and
Christian teachers have ever so testified,

33

CHAPTER II.

THE BOOK OF PSALMS HAS THE SEAL OF DIVINE
APPOINTMENT, WHICH NO OTHER HAS.

Divinely appointed-No other Psalms have such appoint-
ment-The Church of Christ, one under both Testa-

ments,

59

CHAPTER III.

NO WARRANT FOR MAKING OR USING ANY OTHER HYMNS
IN THE WORSHIP OF GOD.

1. Arguments used in behalf of such warrant-That Scrip-
ture sanctions it-That hymns have the sanction of long
and extensive use in the church—The argument from
analogy, from the use of our own words in prayer-A part
of our Christian liberty-Used by godly men Hymns
may be read, etc., with edification. II. Arguments
against the use of Hymns-None but inspired Psalms
used during the Old Testament economy-There is no
authority by which we can be called upon to sing hymns
-The use of hymns sets aside the Psalms-Hymns are
sectarian-It has been found impracticable to frame an
acceptable and permanent book of hymns-The advocacy
of hymns has led to great errors-The use of hymns has
led to the abandonment very largely of congregational
and family singing in praise of God,

PAGE

80

CHAPTER IV.

OBJECTIONS TO THE USE OF THE PSALMS CONSIDERED.

That they speak of a Saviour to come-That they are
encumbered with Old Testament allusions, etc.-That
they are not adapted to a revival of religion-That they
are hard to understand-That they are unsuitable for
children-That the Psalms are not adapted to the condition
of every worshipper-That Churches which use hymns
are more prosperous than such as do not―That the spirit
of some of the Psalms is unchristian-If we use the Psalms,
why not sing the titles, etc.?

167

CHAPTER V.

REMARKS UPON THE "SCOTTISH VERSION" OF THE PSALMS.

It has been subjected to the most careful examination as to
its fidelity-It may claim to be a faithful rendering-
"Imitations" of the Psalms are to be compared with it in
this respect-It has been largely approved by men of
acknowledged taste, though, of course, susceptible of
improvement, as is our English Bible,

APPENDIX,

PAGE

193

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