Preface to the Bay Psalm Book (1640) A discourse declaring not only the lawfulness, but also the necessity of the heavenly ordinance of singing Scripture Psalms in the churches of God. The singing of Psalms, though it breathe forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody: yet such is the subtlety of the enemy, and enmity… Read More The Necessity of Singing the Psalms
There is no doubt that Calvin pioneered psalm singing for his generation and that the Reformed churches quickly became known for their psalm singing. It is more difficult to prove that Calvin and the various churches of the evolving Reformed tradition of that time were Exclusive Psalmodist (EP) in the sense we understand it today… Read More Was John Calvin an Exclusive Psalmodist?
“Now, I see here today more people that I am accustomed to having at the sermon. Why is that? It is Christmas day. And who told you this? You poor beasts. That is a fitting euphemism for all of you who have come here today to honor Noel. Did you think you would be honoring… Read More An XMas Day Sermon by John Calvin
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This… Read More God Regulates His Worship By His Word
John Brown of Haddington, Systematic Theology, pp. 568-569. It is plain from Scripture declarations that Christ has appointed rulers in his church that are not appointed to preach the gospel (Rom 12:7-8; Heb 13:7,17). Different gifts qualify men for teaching and for ruling (Eph 4:7). Such rulers are necessary for the assistance of pastors (Gal… Read More The Difference Between Elders and Pastors
Did Judas partake of the Lord’s Supper? The Gospel accounts seem contradictory. Luke seems to imply that he was there, but the others seem to imply that he had already left by the time the sacrament was administered by Christ. Theologians have landed on either side of this question, but the orthodox affirm that even if… Read More Did Judas Partake of the Lord’s Supper?
The Trial and Triumph of Faith Sermon VII, pp. 75-82 [Christ hath a sevenfold relation to the covenant. 1st, He is the Covenant itself. 2nd, The Messenger. 3rd, The witness. 4th, The Surety. 5th, The Mediator. 6th, The Testator. 7th, The principal party contractor.][1] The parties of the covenant are God and man. Oh, how… Read More Christ’s Sevenfold Relation to the Covenant of Grace
Scripture captures a fascinating chain of events in the history of King David and the people of Israel that results in a dramatic killing of a Priest named Uzzah who was helping to transport the Ark of the Covenant. This incident in the history of God’s people is a highly instructive one as it relates… Read More The Death of Uzzah
Samuel Rutherford The Trial and Triumph of Faith Sermon VI, pp. 52-61 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. (Mat. 15:22) In her prayer, as it is… Read More Crying Out to God in Prayer
From the Preface to the Bay Psalm Book (1640). As for the scruple that some take at the translation of the Book of Psalms into metre, because David’s psalms were sung in his own words without metre, we answer: First, there are many verses together in several psalms of David which run in rhythms (as… Read More Psalmody Objections Answered: Meter
Purely Presbyterian 