More Credenda/Agenda Inaccuracies, the Geneva Bible & Psalmody

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The Geneva Bible, Psalmody and More "Credenda/Agenda" Inaccuracies Answered

by Larry Birger

From the "Cave of Adullam" in "Credenda/Agenda" (vol. 9, no. 2)

News Flash!

Some may be heartened to know that Still Waters Revival Books, a Canadian ministry of some note, has apparently modified its earlier and very strong stand in favor of exclusive psalmody. This good news came with their latest catalog, which contained their ad for a facsimile of the complete 1599 Geneva Bible. As the ad noted, the marginal notes were authored by Calvin, Knox, and other leaders in the Reformation. In the back of this magisterial work, a metrical psalter is included for use in congregational singing in the Reformed churches. At the very beginning of this collection, we find a most cool collection of hymns and songs not found in the book of Psalms. The whole shebang is introduced with the title page which says the following are "set forth and allowed to be sung in all Churches." As the catalog put it so well for another entry, "If you want to know that what you are being taught is the genuine Reformed Faith, then go to the source documents!"

You are herewith encouraged to buy a copy of the 1599 Geneva Bible from Still Waters (swrb@swrb.com--for 159.95 clams, Canadian), and shortly thereafter you are encouraged to get your worship leader to work up some overheads for the Song of S. Ambrose, Te Deum, the Song of the Blessed Mary, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments. The guitar chords are not included.

Larry Birger's letter to the editor in answer to the above "Regnant Follies"

"Credenda/Agenda"

Subject: "Requesting Clarification"

Dear Editors,

Regarding your barb against Still Waters Revival Books in the "Cave of Adullum" (Vol. 9, No. 2), I request some clarification.

Perhaps you can explain to me how the printer's inclusion (and this edition was printed in London, not Geneva) of some non-psalms in the 1599 edition of the Geneva Bible suggests that Calvin (who died in 1564), Knox (who died in 1572), or other reformers sanctioned their use in public worship?

The original, complete Geneva Bible (1560, and this would be the source document, not the later English edition) contained no songs of any kind (to the best of my knowledge), though the Genevans used the Geneva Psalter in their public worship (not the Sternhold/Hopkins Psalter found in the 1599 Geneva Bible).

Furthermore, the 1599 Geneva Bible says that "The Booke of Psalmes" was "Set forth and allowed to be sung in all Churches." It does not mention anything about the public use of the other songs added to this Psalter -- which were likely added (without positive ecclesiastical sanction) by the printers. This was a common problem with printers during the Reformation. This is illustrated in David Hay Fleming's, masterful work, "The Hymnology of the Scottish Reformation" (an SWRB rare bound photocopy), which openly deals with the problem of unapproved additions of non-psalms by printers (as it manifested itself in Scotland). Hay Fleming also provides a detailed historical survey concerning exclusive Psalmody and the Scottish Reformation. For the best modern treatment of Calvin's position (and his practice of exclusive Psalmody) see Michael Bushell's "Songs of Zion" (2nd edition, pp. 167-184).

For Christ's Crown and Covenant,

Larry Birger, Jr.

John Calvin's comments on why Credenda's "guitar chords are not included" in the public worship of Protestant churches.

"To sing the praises of God upon the harp and psaltery," says Calvin, "unquestionably formed a part of the training of the law and of the service of God under that dispensation of shadows and figures, but they are not now to be used in public thanksgiving."1 He says again: "With respect to the tabret, harp, and psaltery, we have formerly observed, and will find it necessary afterwards to repeat the same remark, that the Levites, under the law, were justified in making use of instrumental music in the worship of God; it having been his will to train his people, while they were yet tender and like children, by such rudiments until the coming of Christ. But now, when the clear light of the gospel has dissipated the shadows of the law and taught us that God is to be served in a simpler form, it would be to act a foolish and mistaken part to imitate that which the prophet enjoined only upon those of his own time."2 He further observes: "We are to remember that the worship of God was never understood to consist in such outward services, which were only necessary to help forward a people as yet weak and rude in knowledge in the spiritual worship of God. A difference is to be observed in this respect between his people under the Old and under the New Testament; for now that Christ has appeared, and the church has reached full age, it were only to bury the light of the gospel should we introduce the shadows of a departed dispensation. From this it appears that the Papists, as I shall have occasion to show elsewhere, in employing instrumental music cannot be said so much to imitate the practice of God's ancient people as to ape it in a senseless and absurd manner, exhibiting a silly delight in that worship of the Old Testament which was figurative and terminated with the gospel."3

ENDNOTES:

1. On Ps. lxxi. 22.

2. On Ps. lxxxi. 3.

3. On Ps. Xcii. 1.

From: "Instrumental Music in the Public Worship of the Church" by John L. Girardeau (Still Waters Revival Books, [1888] reprinted 1991 [see further study section below]), pp. 63, 64.

Has Still Waters Revival Books changed its position on exclusive Psalmody?

I've added the comment that follows because some singers of uninspired hymns (in public worship) have actually been asserting that SWRB's position on exclusive Psalmody has changed, based solely on Credenda's misrepresentation cited above.

There has been no modification of our "stand in favor of exclusive psalmody," contrary to what was reported in "Credenda/Agenda." If anything, our understanding of the covenanted Reformation and the Reformed doctrine of close communion has strengthened our stand for exclusive Psalmody -- or at least our view of how the churches should protect themselves from those who would introduce innovations into the public worship of God (which God Himself has not instituted). Furthermore, if "Credenda/Agenda" ever reports that we are now in favor of adding the Apocrypha to our Bibles (because the original 1560 Geneva Bible included the Apocrypha, along with a note that it was not part of the inspired canon) don't believe them! They take far too many liberties in stretching the truth, under the guise of humor, and thus they have rendered themselves (to many) unreliable guides in the serious and sober matters related to the defense of the eternal verities of God's precious and holy Word. "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks" (Eph. 5:3-4).

Reg Barrow, President, Still Waters Revival Books (June 23, 1997)

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