Nathaniel Homes (Holmes), English Puritan (1599-1678), wrote a 1644 treatise entitled
Gospel Musick. Or, the singing of Davids psalms, &c. in the publick congregations, or private families asserted, and vindicated. This defense of psalmody, not hymnody, is, ironically, said to be the first published use of the term 'gospel music'. In it, he encourages families as well as churches to sing the Psalms of David.
Every well minded family by singing can make themselves a little church. And every church make themselves a little heaven. (p. 12)
"Those do well that pray morning and evening in their families, those do better that pray and read the scriptures, but those do best that pray and read and sing the psalms." - Philip Henry, Matthew Henry, The Life of Philip Henry, p. 75
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lifefebc.com/resources/Midis/psalter/psalm001_arlington.mid
Psalm 1
1 O greatly bless-ed is the man
Who walketh not astray
In counsel of ungodly men,
Nor stands in sinners' way.
2 Nor sitteth in the scorner's chair,
But placeth his delight
Upon God's law, and meditates
On His law day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree that grows
Set by the water side,
Which in its season yields its fruit,
And green its leaves abide;
And all he does shall
prosper well.
4 The wicked are not so,
But are like chaff which
by the wind
Is driven to and fro.
5 In judgment therefore shall
not stand
Such as ungodly are,
Nor in th'assembly of the just
Shall wicked men appear.
6 Because the way of godly men
Is to Jehovah known,
Whereas the way of wicked men
Shall quite be overthrown.
Tune: Arlington
Trinity Psalter
Publisher: Crown & Covenant Publications
http://www.crownandcovenant.com/