E-text prepared by Lewis Jones

Transcriber's note:

This essay was included at the end of the first printing of Isaac Watts (1707) "Hymns and Spiritual Songs" but was omitted from the 1818 reprint from which the Project Gutenberg edition of that work (e-book #13341, https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/13341) was transcribed.

The original 1707 page numbers are retained within curly brackets.

The spelling and punctuation of the 1707 printing are also retained; so are any inconsistencies and errors (e.g. "Excercise" on p. 265) except that a mistake at the bottom of page 246, as noted in the publisher's concluding "Errata," has been corrected.

The long 's' has been replaced by its modern equivalent.

Words broken off and hyphenated at the ends of lines have been joined up and the hyphens deleted.

Italics in the original are indicated by underscores around the text. Watts uses italics for proper nouns and quotations; when proper nouns occur within quotations their italics are removed.

Greek letters have been transliterated (e.g. Psalmos).

A Short Essay Toward the Improvement of Psalmody:

Or, An Enquiry how the Psalms of David ought to be translated into
Christian Songs, and how lawful and necessary it is to compose other
Hymns according to the clearer Revelations of the Gospel, for the Use of
the Christian Church.

by

Isaac Watts

{233} A Short Essay Toward the Improvement of Psalmody: Or, An Enquiryhow the Psalms of David ought to be translated into Christian Songs,and how lawful and necessary it is to compose other Hymns according tothe clearer Revelations of the Gospel, for the Use of the ChristianChurch.

To speak the Glories of God in a religious Song, or to breath out theJoys of our own Spirits to God with the Melody of our Voice is anexalted Part of Divine Worship. But so many are the Imperfections inthe Practice of this Duty, that the greatest Part of Christians findbut little Edification or Comfort in it. There are some Churches thatutterly disallow Singing; and I'm perswaded, that the poor Performanceof it in the best Societies, {234} with the mistaken Rules to which itis confined is one great Reason of their intire Neglect; for we areleft at a loss (say they) what is the Matter and Manner of this Duty;and therefore they utterly refuse: Whereas if this glorious Piece ofWorship were but seen in its Original Beauty, and one that believesnot this Ordinance, or is unlearned in this Part of Christianityshould come into such an Assembly, he would be convinced of all; hewould be judged of all, he would fall down on his Face, and report thatGod was in the Midst of it of a Truth; 1 Cor. 14. 24, 25.

In order to trace out the Matter or Subject of religious Singing, letus collect into one View the chief Texts of the New Testament wherethis Worship is mention'd, and afterwards see what Arguments may bededuced from thence, to prove, that 'tis proper to use Spiritual Songsof humane Composure, as well as the Psalms of David or the Words ofother Songs recorded in Scripture.

The most considerable Texts are these; Mat. 26. 30. & Mark 14. 26.relate, that our blessed Lord and his Disciples sung an Hymn. Acts16. 25. Paul and Silas prayed and sung Praises unto God.