than the insidious publication of Mr. Tindal. And, certainly, if there be, as is more than intimated by the Dr. and his friends, a contradic tion between the word of God in the Old Testament, and the word of God in the New Testament, both must fall. The force on the one side would then be equal to that on the other. Forces equal and contrary, effect their mutual destruction. At this rate, we have no divine revelation. So the deist has said, and, as often as he has said it, his assertion has been refuted. And tho' the imitator of the psalms, has furnished premises for a similar conclusion, we will not believe him; for we know his premises are false, and the conclusions, we trust, he did not himself believe.Nay; tho' he asserted the existence of a contradiction, it was not, we wish to believe, a settled article of his creed.

The imitator proposed to convert David, the sweet singer of Israel, into a christian.† The psalms, such of them, at least, as he thought worthy of imitation, must be made to

"Psal. 69. 26-28. is so CONTRARY to the new commandment of loving our enemies," &c. Watts' Pref. p. 5.

Watts' Pref. p. 10.

speak a language, which, according to the reformer of David, the Holy Ghost did not make them speak. Still, however, reformed as David was, he was unfit for the sanctuariesof America. The imitation, and hymns of Dr. Watts, were adapted to the British monarchy; America had, happily, become both independent and republican. The reformer must be reformed. Those compositions which superseded the hymns of inspiration, must, after our revolution, be "adapted to the christian worship in the United States," and Joel Barlow, Esq. performs the important work.

In these days of tumult and commotion there is nothing wonderful. Astonishing events pass in succession so close, that time is not given them to impress the mind. The commotion will, however, subside, and the tumult will be stilled. What is now permitted to pass by, without remark, will fill the men of a future age with surprise. When they shall have admitted, in its full bearing, the truth, that God is not affected by political changes, and, that the revolutions of empires do not authorize a change in the appointments of Christ; it may, perhaps, seem strange

1

to them, that many pious men deemed that the christian worship, on the other side of the Atlantic, might be something different from what it was in the United States; or, that our worship, when independent states, ought to be changed from what it was, when we were dependent colonies. They will readily perceive, that, on the principle which would justify the hypothesis, no two individuals could ever unite, in the use of the same psalm; because, it is not likely, that their circumstances would ever be precisely the same. If what many of our eastern friends have said of Mr. Barlow be correct, that he was an infidel, it may, too, perhaps, sound strange, that he was employed to furnish them with evangelical songs for their solemn praise.* But, in human life, there are moments of inexplicable infatuation. How else account for the strange course pursued, in reference to psalmody, by men of such elevated standing as the American churches can claim as their own? Such events, with a dis

* I would not be understood to assert, that Mr. Barlow was an infidel. He may have been so, but I have not evidence to justify me in saying it; many, however, who employ his revision of the imitation of the Psalms, have professed to believe that he was. at least, no friend to christianity.

G

tinct and solemn voice, urge the divine injunc tions-Be not high minded but fear-and lean not unto thine own understanding.

*

LETTER IV.

REASONS FOR RETAINING THE BOOK OF PSALMS.

Subject stated. Versions. Arguments. Divine institution. Suitableness of matter. Excellence. Human compositions not appointed. Bad arguments. Evil· tendency of preferring human to inspired songs. Summary.

Dear Brethren,

IN this letter, I propose a brief discussion of the following question: Ought the Book of Psalms to be used still, in the public service of the Church? On the determination of this question, the issue of the controversy depends, The matter in debate should not be confounded with others, that may be but very remotely, or, incidentally connected with it.

The inquiry, then, is not, whether it be lawful to use, in the praises of God, any other inspired song, besides what are found in the Book

of Psalms. This, so far as I know, has never been a matter of contention.* Nor is it any matter of dispute, in the present instance, what version of the inspired songs, shall be used.The question at issue is; shall we have any version of this divine book, as the matter of our praise? Those on the one side expressly take the affirmative, and say, let us have the best version; and, if practicable, let us have a better than any now extant. On the other side, this has been as explicitly refused. The Book of Psalms is actually excluded from the psalmody of their churches. I would farther add, that the question is not, whether, in every case, it is unlawful to employ hymns of human

This subject came before the General Assembly of the Scottish Church in 1647, 1648, 1686, and before the Associate (Burgher) Synod, in 1747. These bodies appear to have ful ly admitted the lawfulness of using, in psalmedy, any scripture song. But they approved not of loose paraphrases. Their caution, and long exclusive use of the Book of Psalms, shew that they deemed it sufficient; and that any thing beyond it, was rather an allowable indulgence, than an indispensible privilege.

Upon the merits of this question I give no opinion. Whatever may be said of its lawfulness, we know it is not expedient, to seek the matter of our psalmody beyond the Book of Psalms. There is a sufficiency. It is selected by the Spirit of Gud, and by the Church's Head given for this purpose. True religion has never progressed where it has been departed from.*, Were my opinion asked I would say-Study, understand, digest, use well, the Book of Psalms, and, it is more than probable, you will be content.

Acts of assembly-Rev. R. Erskine's works, vol. 10.