The Covenanted Uniformity in Religion of the Westminster Standards, Worship, and Exclusive Psalmody
Posted by Kay Stanford Jr Kastum at 1:33 AMThe title page of each of the documents contained in the Westminster Standards includes the phrase, "as a part of the covenanted uniformity in religion betwixt the churches of Christ in the kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland." This shows that the Westminster Standards, including the "Directory for Public Worship", were produced in fulfillment of the Solemn League and Covenant.
The "Directory for Public Worship," as a part of the covenanted uniformity in worship, mandated only the singing of Psalms in public worship.
There is not any evidence that the Westminster Assembly ever discussed the making of a separate "hymnal" (full of man-made compositions), and no such item was ever presented to Parliament, as was all the work of the Assembly. Neither was any such thing presented to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The Westminster Standards were ecclesiastically ratified by that General Assembly.
This information is important in demonstrating the original intent of the framers of the Westminster Standards regarding worship. It also shows that those ministers who have taken vows, without mental reservation, to uphold these Standards, while they continue to practice (even in ignorance) anything other than exclusive Psalmody, are guilty of perjury.
The debates concerning translators, publication, and the civil and ecclesiastical ratification of the Psalter are all well documented. Within this documentation there is not even one word regarding any effort to produce a hymnal composed of uninspired, man-made songs.
Given the "strict regulativist" makeup of both the Westminster Assembly and the Scottish General Assembly, this is truly amazing if a human "hymnal" had indeed ever been considered (never mind ratified by the different levels of church and civil government) as in keeping with the covenanted uniformity in worship aimed at by these men.
Besides the psalmody issue, the Westminster Assembly members did not even mention the use of musical instruments in public worship. At that time instrumental music was not even an issue among Reformed people.
The political rulers of that time eliminated the use of organs in public worship, "along with other remains of Popery," since they knew what the Scriptures said about these matters. (This article has been adapted from "Saul in the Cave of Adullam by Reg Barrow.)
The "Directory for Public Worship," as a part of the covenanted uniformity in worship, mandated only the singing of Psalms in public worship.
There is not any evidence that the Westminster Assembly ever discussed the making of a separate "hymnal" (full of man-made compositions), and no such item was ever presented to Parliament, as was all the work of the Assembly. Neither was any such thing presented to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The Westminster Standards were ecclesiastically ratified by that General Assembly.
This information is important in demonstrating the original intent of the framers of the Westminster Standards regarding worship. It also shows that those ministers who have taken vows, without mental reservation, to uphold these Standards, while they continue to practice (even in ignorance) anything other than exclusive Psalmody, are guilty of perjury.
The debates concerning translators, publication, and the civil and ecclesiastical ratification of the Psalter are all well documented. Within this documentation there is not even one word regarding any effort to produce a hymnal composed of uninspired, man-made songs.
The Psalms of David in Metre (Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650)
Given the "strict regulativist" makeup of both the Westminster Assembly and the Scottish General Assembly, this is truly amazing if a human "hymnal" had indeed ever been considered (never mind ratified by the different levels of church and civil government) as in keeping with the covenanted uniformity in worship aimed at by these men.
Besides the psalmody issue, the Westminster Assembly members did not even mention the use of musical instruments in public worship. At that time instrumental music was not even an issue among Reformed people.
The political rulers of that time eliminated the use of organs in public worship, "along with other remains of Popery," since they knew what the Scriptures said about these matters. (This article has been adapted from "Saul in the Cave of Adullam by Reg Barrow.)
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For additional information about Biblical worship (following the Regulative Principle of Worship), ecclesiastical history and the Reformation, please visit PuritanDownloads.com. There are many Reformation theology resources at that site.