Before
the Westminster Assembly of Divines undertook the office of preparing
a Directory of Worship, the Parliament had authoritatively adopted
measures looking to the removal of organs, along with other remains
of Popery, from the churches of England. On the 20th of May, 1644,
the commissioners from Scotland wrote to the General Assembly of
their church and made the following statement among others: "We
cannot but admire the good hand of God in the great things done here
already, particularly that the covenant, the foundation of the whole
work, is taken, Prelacy and the whole train thereof extirpated, the
service-book in many places forsaken, plain and powerful preaching
set up, many colleges in Cambridge provided with such ministers as
are most zealous of the best reformation, altars removed, the
communion in some places given at the table with sitting, THE
GREAT ORGANS AT PAUL'S AND PETER'S IN WESTMINSTER TAKEN DOWN
(emphasis added), images and many other monuments of idolatry
defaced and abolished, the Chapel Royal at Whitehall purged and
reformed; and all by authority, in a quiet manner, at noon-day,
without tumult."1 So thorough was the work of removing organs
that the "Encyclopaedia Britannica" says that "at the
Revolution most of the organs in England had been destroyed."2
When, therefore, the Assembly addressed itself to the task of
framing a Directory for Worship, it found itself confronted by a
condition of the churches of Great Britain in which the singing of
psalms without instrumental accompaniment almost universally
prevailed. In prescribing, consequently, the singing of psalms
without making any allusion to the restoration of instrumental music,
it must, in all fairness, be construed to specify the simple singing
of praise as a part of public worship. The question, moreover, is
settled by the consideration that had any debate occurred as to the
propriety of allowing the use of instrumental music, the Scottish
commissioners would have vehemently and uncompromisingly opposed that
measure. But Lightfoot, who was a member of the Assembly, in his
"Journal of its Proceedings"3 tells us: "This morning
we fell upon the Directory for singing of psalms; and, in a short
time, we finished it." He says that the only point upon which
the Scottish commissioners had some discussion was the reading of the
Psalms line by line.
ENDNOTES:
1. Girardeau cites this
quotation from the Acts of Assembly of the Church of Scotland,
1644.
2. Girardeau cites Art., Organ.
3. Girardeau cites Works,
Vol. xiii., pp. 343, 344; London, 1825.
(All titles below available from Still Waters Revival Books at: http://www.swrb.com/pcopy/photoc.htm).
Instrumental
Music in the Public Worship of the Church
"To sing the
praises of God upon the harp and psaltery," says 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."Calvin
continues: "With respect to the tabret, harp, and psaltery, we
have formerly observed, and will find it necessary afterwards to
repeat the same remark, that the Levites, under the law, were
justified in making use of instrumental music in the worship of God;
it having been his will to train his people, while they were yet
tender and like children, by such rudiments until the coming of
Christ. But now, when the clear light of the gospel has dissipated
the shadows of the law and taught us that God is to be served in a
simpler form, it would be to act a foolish and mistaken part to
imitate that which the prophet enjoined only upon those of his own
time." He further observes: "We are to remember that the
worship of God was never understood to consist in such outward
services, which were only necessary to help forward a people as yet
weak and rude in knowledge in the spiritual worship of God. A
difference is to be observed in this respect between his people under
the Old and under the New Testament; for now that Christ has
appeared, and the church has reached full age, it were only to bury
the light of the gospel should we introduce the shadows of a departed
dispensation. From this it appears that the Papists, as I shall have
occasion to show elsewhere, in employing instrumental music cannot be
said so much to imitate the practice of God's ancient people as to
ape it in a senseless and absurd manner, exhibiting a silly delight
in that worship of the Old Testament which was figurative and
terminated with the gospel." 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 ordained the musical worship of the New Dispensation without
any sort of musical instrument, enjoining only the singing of psalms,
hymns, and spiritual songs. Hence such instruments are excluded from
Christian worship. Such has been the creed of all churches, and in
all ages, except for the Popish communion after it had reached the
nadir of its corruption at the end of the thirteenth century, and of
its prelatic imitators." Arguments from Scripture, history and
creedal standards are all considered, while objections are noted and
countered. Given the present rejection of the regulative principle of
worship in most Protestant quarters, this book is even more valuable
today than when it was first written. It contains the best discussion
of Biblical and Godly guidelines regarding worship in general, and
the instrumental music question in particular, that has come to us
out of the 19th century. Defending the Apostolic [and later Puritan
and Reformed] position, against Popish innovations, Girardeau clearly
lays down what God requires in the area of public worship. Public
worship is a most important area of duty and privilege and
Girardeau's is the best book on the instrument question.
Necessity
of Reforming the Church (1544)
C.H. Spurgeon once said, "[t]he
longer I live the clearer does it appear that John Calvin's system is
the nearest to perfection." (cited in Christian History
magazine, Vol. 5, No. 4). Credenda Agenda reviewed this book stating,
"the relevance of Calvin's book today is exceptional. Apart from
the grace of God, the human heart never changes. Men have always
loved external religion, and unless God saves them, they always will.
But God demands heart religion... His writing is relevant because the
church today is in dire need of a similar reformation and revival.
Like Calvin, some few believers today see 'the present condition of
the Church... to be very miserable, and almost desperate.' Our
context is different in one key respect however. The church needing
reformation in Calvin's day was the tradition-encrusted church of
Rome. Shortly after the Reformation, for those leaving Rome behind,
two streams became apparent. One was the stream of classical
Protestant orthodoxy, represented today by a handful of Gideons in
their desktop publishing winevats. The other was the left wing of the
Reformation - the anabaptist movement. In the early years, the
anabaptists were suffering outsiders. But today the anabaptist church
is the Establishment - an establishment governed by a chaos of
traditions instead of biblical worship. Everywhere we look we see
Christians approaching God with observances in worship which Calvin
calls 'the random offspring of their own brain.'" Though this
work is not an elaborate systematic presentation of the foundations
of Christianity, such as Calvin's Institutes, it has still been
correctly acknowledged as one of the most important documents of the
Reformation. Calvin here pleads the cause dearest to his heart before
an assembly perhaps the most august that Europe could have furnished
in that day. It has been said that the animated style used by Calvin
in this work would not lose by comparison with any thing in the
celebrated "Dedication" prefixed to his Institutes. To this
day, The Necessity of Reforming the Church remains a powerful weapon,
both defensive and offensive, to fight the contemporary battle for
Protestantism - the everlasting gospel of truth. Here, in our modern
setting, we find the answers to many of the vexing questions which
continue to agitate the Church.
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 )
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 demonstrates 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.
Heart
and Voice: Instruments in Christian Worship Not Authorized
(1873)
"The Early church did not use instrumental music
in its worship.... They considered the practice as pagan or Jewish
rather than Christian. Dr. Hughes Oliphant Old, in his work The
Patristic Roots of Reformed Worship says: ëAs is well known, the
ancient church did not admit the use of instrumental music in
worship. It was looked upon as a form of worship which like the
sacrifices of the Jerusalem temple prefigured the worship in spirit
and truth....'" (Needham, The Presbyterian, #32, p. 35). This
book contains advanced exegetical study of the second commandment
(from the Hebrew) and upholds the regulative principle of worship.
It's a vindication of the Westminster Confession against all
ritualistic practices that give the Church the power to decree rites
and ceremonies ó a power that denies the sovereignty of God. Glasgow
proclaims that he has "sought to vindicate the words of the
Westminster Confession," and has made his "appeal ëto the
law and to the testimony." He also demonstrates why it was that
many of the Reformers regarded the use of instrumental music in
public worship as the "badge of Popery."
Discretionary
Power of the Church (1875)
Must reading for all regarding
worship. Proclaims the only antidote to spiritual tyranny in the
Church, while showing the only sure way to know that you are pleasing
God in worship. Girardeau, a Southern Presbyterian, is often referred
to as the "Spurgeon of the South."
A
Brotherly Testimony Against the Use of Instrumental Accompaniment In
Public Worship
Birger notes, "This letter was written to
my friend's former pastor. It was subsequently forwarded to the
elders of his former church, a small congregation in the Orthodox
Presbyterian Church. This friend had initially absented himself from
corporate worship due to their use of instrumental accompaniment, and
(like me: see Why the PCA is Not a Duly Constituted Church and Why
Faithful Christians Should Separate From This Corrupt "Communion")
upon further study of the matter of the lawful constitution requisite
for a church to claim lawful authority from Christ (see Calvin's
Institutes, Book IV, Chapter 2, Section 12, and my piece against the
PCA), determined that no such lawful authority exists in the Orthodox
Presbyterian Church. The use of instrumental accompaniment in the
corporate worship of God's people was recognized unanimously by
historic reformed writers as a return to the Judaizing ceremonies of
the Roman Catholic and Episcopal (i.e. Prelatic) Churches. This was
also the opinion of the ancient church, and even Aquinas is cited as
excluding their use for this reason. Thus, Dabney comments [in his
review of John Girardeau's book on the subject], "Christ and His
apostles ordained the musical worship of the New Dispensation without
any sort of musical instrument, enjoining only the singing with the
voice of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Hence such instruments
are excluded from Christian worship. *Such has been the creed of all
churches, and in all ages*, except for the Popish communion after it
had reached the nadir of its corruption at the end of the thirteenth
century, and of its prelatic imitators (my emphases)." It is a
sad commentary on the disposition of the church and its leaders when
those who glory in the name, 'reformed', wish to argue us back into
the principles and practices of the Romish whore, and of her
illegitimate offspring (Rev. 17 & 18). May God bless this little
work to encourage the faithful to the recovering of our
ecclesiastical heritage, to a return to the old paths wherein is rest
for our souls (Jer. 6:16)."
How
Best to Secure a Return to the Use of the Psalms in the Ordinance of
Praise
Superb, strongly worded, Biblical teaching on the
proper method of lovingly bringing peace and purity to the body of
Christ. The author contends that "hymn-singing in the service of
praise is in its ultimate analysis a species of idolatry," and
thus must be strenuously opposed. Numerous practical methods (and the
rationale) to promote Psalmody and oppose the use of man-made "hymns"
in the public worship service are given. These arguments apply
equally well concerning the eradication of the idolatry practiced
when musical instruments are used in public worship. From McNaugher's
The Psalms in Worship.
A
Dispute Against the English Popish Ceremonies Obtruded on the Church
of Scotland (1637, reprinted from the 1660 edition)
George
Gillespie was one of the Scottish commissioners to the Westminster
Assembly, the youngest member there, and undoubtedly one of the most
influential. Concerning this book Coldwell writes, "It is an
exhaustive defense of that Reformation principle that it is God's
right to order the institutions of worship in His church.... The book
first appeared on the eve of the second Reformation, sparked by an
attempt by Charles I to impose Anglo-Catholic worship forms on
Presbyterian Scotland. It fell like a thunderclap, silencing any
argument, except that of force, against which the Scots rose up in a
defensive war. The book was never answered. Although removed from us
by more than 350 years, this book is still a powerful argument
against modern liturgical renewal movements. It also has application
to that baser error of the Church Growth Movement, which has
reproduced the expressions of modern entertainment and showmanship in
God's worship, and subjected His institutions and ordinances to the
rules of expediency, marketing and caprice, loosing the church from
that biblical mooring, Sola Scriptura" (back cover of Naphtali
Press, hardcover, reprinted 1993. Naphtali's hardcover edition has
been edited to reflect contemporary spelling, punctuation, and usage.
Valuable indices and introductions have also been added. If you don't
mind paying the extra money this hardcover edition is definitely
superior to our photocopy version, for the editor (Chris Coldwell)
has done a splendid job of making this book much more understandable
to the modern reader. The hardcover should be ordered directly from
Naphtali Press, [P.O. Box 141084, Dallas, TX, 75214]. It retails for
$49.95 US funds.). William Hetherington observes "The effect
produced by this singularly able work may be conjectured from the
fact that within a few months of its publication, a proclamation was
issued by the Privy Council, at the instigation of the Bishops,
commanding that all copies of the book that could be found be called
in and burned by the hangman. Such was the only answer that all the
learned Scottish Prelates could give to a treatise written by a youth
who was only in his twenty-fifth year when it appeared"
("Memoir," from the WORKS of Gillespie, p. xviii.). James
Bannerman notes, "This was Gillespie's first work, and it may be
truly said to have settled the controversy which called it forth, so
far as argument was concerned. No answer to it was ever attempted by
the Prelatic party; and no answer was possible. It displays singular
acuteness, learning, and force of reasoning; and the thoroughness of
the discussion is as remarkable as the power with which it is
conducted" (The Church of Christ, vol. 2., p. 435). Possibly the
best book ever written on biblical worship, an extensive and thorough
masterpiece that leaves no stone unturned. For advanced study only.
(Rare Bound Photocopy)
Strictures
on Occasional Hearing
An inquiry into Song 1:7, "Why
should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy
companions?" This book sets out to demonstrates the proposition
that one should not hear the public preaching of those he can not
take communion with (i.e. it proposes a ban on occasionally hearing
those with whom you can not maintain organic fellowship with). The
implications contained in this truth are immense; especially when one
has adopted the Biblical doctrine of close communion and is set upon
upholding the covenanted reformation. The duty to separation and to
true visible unity are all encompassed here. A review of this book,
written in 1818, notes that the "treatise may be viewed as a
complete repository of all that has yet been said on the subject."
It is filled with Scriptural, as well as historical testimony, and is
a welcome tonic to the weak and compromising books of our day that so
often sacrifice the truth of the altar of some other man made
expediency (such as unity for political or ecclesiastical advantage).
For as the introduction notes, "It is the revealed will of God,
and not saintship, which is the only rule of a visible profession."
That Christians exist in other denominations is not denied, but that
they are faithful to the covenanted reformation (already historically
obtained) is. The arguments set forth here are reminiscent of those
found in Rutherford's Due Right of Presbyteries. If you are
struggling with questions related to separation, the unity of the
visible church, close communion, etc. this book may be exactly what
you've been looking for. A massive appendix also lays out the
historical testimony concerning this matter.
Concerning
Close Communion
An strong little book that should be
considered by all those seeking the purity and peace of the church.
Holds to the strict old covenanted Presbyterian position. Justifies
the maintaining of the separate existence of a denomination that will
faithfully testify against sin, and the excluding from the Lord's
table those that do not so testify. Gives numerous examples of
backsliding in regard to specific truths of Scripture. Proclaims that
"the Word of God teaches unequivocally that the Commandments are
equally binding." This includes the first commandment as it
relates to Christ's Kingship over the nations (and dissent from
immoral civil governments which will not recognize and obey Christ as
King and law giver); and the second commandment concerning purity of
worship (as against "all devising, counselling, using, and any
wise approving, any religious worship not instituted by God Himself,"
such as the use of songs other than the Psalms and the Popish use of
musical instruments in public worship). Maintains that violation of
these commandments are grounds for barring a person from the Lord's
table. Shows how close communion is nothing more than the old
Presbyterian view, in keeping with the Westminster Confession of
Faith and John Calvin when he stated "We are only contending
about the true and lawful constitution of the church, required in the
communion not only of the sacraments (which are the signs of
profession) but also especially of doctrine" (John Calvin,
Institutes 2.12). Also includes an excellent discussion of essentials
and non-essentials, as they relate to the Lord's supper and
salvation. The best short book on the Lord's supper that we have
seen. Written by an RPCNA minister in large easy-to-read type.
An
Explanation and Defence of the Terms of Communion, Adopted by the
Community of Dissenters, etc.
Defends the inescapable
necessity of creeds and confessions, while promoting a fully creedal
church membership. Shows how the law of God obliges all Christians
"to think the same things, and to speak the same things; holding
fast the form of sound words, and keeping the ordinances as they have
been delivered to us" (Col. 3:13). After laying some basic
groundwork, this book proceeds to defend the six points of the "Terms
of Ministerial and Christian Communion Agreed Upon by the Reformed
Presbytery." These six points are the most conservative and
comprehensive short statements of consistent Presbyterianism you will
likely ever see. Besides the obvious acknowledgement of the alone
infallible Scriptures, the Westminster Standards, and the divine
right of Presbyterianism, these points also maintain the perpetual
obligation of our Covenants, National and Solemn League, the
Renovation of these covenants at Auchensaugh in 1712, and the
Judicial Act, Declaration and Testimony emitted by the Reformed
Presbytery. In short, this book sets forth adherence to the whole of
the covenanted reformation, in both church and state, as it has been
attained by our covenanting forefathers.
The
book, The Canterbury Tales: An Extended Review and Commentary Based
upon the Geneva Papers, can be purchased from Still Waters Revival
Books at the address listed below.
An electronic version is
also available free of charge on our web page at: The
Canterbury Tales: An Extended Review and Commentary Based upon the
Geneva Papers
Free at: http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/Canterbu.htm
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Doctrinal Integrity: The Utility and Importance of Creeds and Confessions and Adherence to Our Doctrinal Standards by Samuel Miller
More FREE books: http://www.reformedpresbytery.org/books/index.html
The Covenanted Reformation Defended Against Contemporary Schismatics: A Response and Antidote Primarily to the Neopresbyterian Malignancy and Misrepresentations, and the Manufactured "Steelite" Controversy, Found in Richard Bacon's A Defense Departed; With a Refutation of Bacon's Independency, Popery, Arminianism, Anabaptism and Various Other Heresies (Including an Exhibition of His Opposition to Scripture and the Covenanted Reformation, in General; and His Opposition to John Calvin, John Knox, the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland [Especially 1638-1649], Samuel Rutherford, George Gillespie, the Testimony of the Covenanter Martyrs, the Reformed Presbytery, the Puritan Reformed Church of Edmonton and a Host of Other Prominent Reformers from Past Generations, in Particular) -- With Copious Notes on Mr. Bacon's Backsliding and His Blackening of the Blue Banner; as Well as Various Replies to Other Modern Malignants by Greg Barrow (Greg Price, Reg Barrow, Larry Birger, et al.) (Though set in the context of a debate with one individual, this book addresses a number of specific problems which plague the Presbyterian and Reformed churches of our day in general. "It conclusively and irrefutably demonstrates that those churches which today call themselves Presbyterian [and even many which claim a more general Reformed heritage] have grievously departed from the Scriptural standards and principles of the previous Spirit led Reformations [of the 16th and 17th centuries]. This will become progressively [and painfully] clear as the reader witnesses evidence upon evidence of defection from biblically based Reformation attainments (Phil. 3:16) -- and the burying and/or removing of the ancient Reformation landmarks. Ultimately, when the testimony and evidence [presented in this book] is weighed in light of Scriptural verities, it is entirely safe to say that the original Reformers would not only have sought negative ecclesiastical sanctions against our modern pseudo-Reformers, but in many cases negative civil sanctions as well," writes Reg Barrow in the "Publisher's Preface." This book, of over 300 [8.5" X 11"] pages, is also offered as a cerlox bound photocopy [$14.98 Canadian funds] or a hardcover photocopy [$25.00 Canadian funds]. It is also free on most of the CDs in both the REFORMATION BOOKSHELF CD set [30 CDs, http://www.swrb.com/Puritan/reformation-bookshelf-CDs.htm ] and the PURITAN BOOKSHELF CD set [32 CDs, http://www.swrb.com/Puritan/puritan-bookshelf-CDs.htm ])
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