Each of the documents within the Westminster Standards were produced in fulfillment of the Solemn League and Covenant, including the "Directory for Public Worship". For evidence of this, please note that the title pages of the various Westminster documents contain the phrase, "as a part of the covenanted uniformity in religion betwixt the churches of Christ in the kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland."
As a part of the covenanted uniformity in worship, the "Directory for Public Worship" mandated only the singing of Psalms in public worship.
The making of a separate "hymnal" (full of man-made compositions) was never discussed at the Westminster Assembly. Nor was such a thing ever presented to Parliament, and everything produced by the Assembly was presented to Parliament. Furthermore, nothing of that sort was presented to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, but that General Assembly did ratify the other documents produced by the Westminster Assembly.
The original intent of the framers of the Westminster Standards regarding worship is clearly derived from this information. It also means that ministers who have taken vows, without mental reservation, to uphold these Standards, are guilty of perjury if they practice anything other than exclusive Psalmody, even in ignorance.
There is plenty of documentation of the debates concerning translators, publication, and the civil and ecclesiastical approval of the Psalter. But there isn't any discussion regarding any effort to produce a hymnal composed of uninspired songs among this documentation.
Such a situation is inexplicable if an uninspired hymnal had indeed been considered (never mind ratified by the different levels of church and civil government) as being consistent with the goal of covenanted uniformity in worship, especially given that both the Westminster Assembly and the Scottish General Assembly were composed of strict regulativists.
During the Westminster Assembly the issue of the use of musical instruments in public worship was not even mentioned. Among Reformed people of that time, the use of instruments in worship was not an option.
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.)
As a part of the covenanted uniformity in worship, the "Directory for Public Worship" mandated only the singing of Psalms in public worship.
The making of a separate "hymnal" (full of man-made compositions) was never discussed at the Westminster Assembly. Nor was such a thing ever presented to Parliament, and everything produced by the Assembly was presented to Parliament. Furthermore, nothing of that sort was presented to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, but that General Assembly did ratify the other documents produced by the Westminster Assembly.
The original intent of the framers of the Westminster Standards regarding worship is clearly derived from this information. It also means that ministers who have taken vows, without mental reservation, to uphold these Standards, are guilty of perjury if they practice anything other than exclusive Psalmody, even in ignorance.
There is plenty of documentation of the debates concerning translators, publication, and the civil and ecclesiastical approval of the Psalter. But there isn't any discussion regarding any effort to produce a hymnal composed of uninspired songs among this documentation.
Such a situation is inexplicable if an uninspired hymnal had indeed been considered (never mind ratified by the different levels of church and civil government) as being consistent with the goal of covenanted uniformity in worship, especially given that both the Westminster Assembly and the Scottish General Assembly were composed of strict regulativists.
During the Westminster Assembly the issue of the use of musical instruments in public worship was not even mentioned. Among Reformed people of that time, the use of instruments in worship was not an option.
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 further information about Scriptural 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.
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