American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-05-15

IN ihct, not TILL Wltnln tue ihSt tnree years
have had any immediate connection with
persons Of this faith. During this short pc
riod have often inquired. for information,
upon what Scripture, persons of this faith
based their exclusveness 1t was for infor-
nation that put my request in print. Mr..
r. A. Renfrew, personal friend of mine
Il hope so at least), volunteers his services,
and indicts the following: r
'' In the absence of anv
other manual handed down to us, by our
Savior, through his Apostles and their sue
ce,sors, we would naturally draw the infrr-
ence that they used the songs indicted by
the Holy Spirit. What hymn did our Savior
sing on the mount? weuld conclude it to
be ne of the Divine hymns, perhaps the
| 22d, which 50 beautifully describes his suf>
ierlng and death, rs also very many others
do
am still in the same dilemma am
not after Mr. RS inferences, nor the infer
ences OF any other man. Mr.. r. concludes
our Savior sung a Divine song ON the mount.
Now, l conclude he did not sing a hymn at
all on the mount At least we have no knowl-
II u
man.s salvation is hung on matter of this
! kind it ought to be founded on something
more authoritative than mans iufereRces
and conclusions.
| Mr.. Rentrew seems to think Satan is the
author of the expression, Rouse's version
of the Psalms." lie informs US that they
are translation. l am really sorry that
my good friend has so exposed his ignorance.
HEar Mr.. Webster: "Eersion.- Tie act of
translaing; the rendering of thoughts or
ideas, expressed in one language, into words
of like Specification in another languaset'
| hope my friend will get the proper signi-
fcation Of words before be again wakes SO
eloquent and vindctive, In order to IN eet
the squeamshness of Mr.. r. | will tut my
question in this shape: Why is Ruuse's
translation of the Psalms any more inspired
than the translalions of Tate, Brady, Watts
or Wesley? The man who most correctly
translates the Scriptures into our language,
is the one who by the use of English words
conveys to our minds the exact mind of the
Spirit of God in indieting that Scripture.
Now if Waits, by the use of English words,
conveys the exact mind of the Spirit, in
translnting the Psalms, want to know why
Watts Psalms are not inspired as we'll as
those of Rouse?
Mr.. Renfrew accuses me Of contending f. p
,cords m ereiy, and ignoring that which the
words represent. He thus acknowledges
that the spirit and not the letter is the i'm
portant matter. | say amen. Now, if
man puts the spirit of the gospel, in
words of his own, will Mr.. r. tell us why
man may not sing these words? When
ask him where it is commanded in the BIZ
bic to sing nothing but inspired words, he
answers by asking me, "Where is il com
mAnded to sing uninspirod words ?" re
ply that as far as | know He has given no
commands about words at all. Words are
only signs to convey to our minds certain
truth. The W IDS are of no consequence
1t is the truth we are afer. know of ut |
two commands in the Bible ON this subject
l. We are commanded to sing.
2. We are commanded o slug With the
spirit and the understanding "
If there are any other commands in iefer>
ence to this subjecy am unacquainlsd with
them. We are commanded t. praise God.
Now, affirm that singing will not define
the word praise; or, in other words singing
is not Synonymous with praise. Singing is
hut very email part of praise Mr.. II. il
very much concerned lest, through mans
weakness, some defects may be found in
songs OF praise il human composition is per-
miued. Why Is he not as much concerned
that mau's praise may be defective in other
respects by allow q nan % speak Gud's
praise in any other than inspired words
Webster says: "A prayer CONSISTS Of l. Ad>
oratlon; 2. Confession 3. Supplica.ion
4. Thanksgiving" Why are not exclusive
psalm singers concerned lest human defects
insult Col in extempo raneous prayer IL |
were they would be consistent ami neye.
speak concerning my Maker except In the
language of inspiration.
But, we will turn our attention Tor short
time to the incunsis tency Of singing nothing
but the Psalms OF David, under he gospel |
dlspensation. In the first place, it is not
certain they were ever sung al all. 1t is
generally thought the Jews had only Pc
cuiar chanting style Of readiag these Psalms
and these Psalms are cIassed, by the Jews, |
under seven different heads:
l. Psalms which contain no note or indi-
cation of the time when written. They are
the /, 4, 8, 10, 81, 81, l10, l39. l45.
2. Psalms composed by David while per-
secuted by SAUL such as the IL, (, 81, "a, Sc,
etc. rt
8. Psalms composed after the death of
Saul, such as tie 2, 0, "a, 80, etc.
4. Psalms composed during the rebellion
of Absalom, such as the 8, 55, 20, II, etc
5, Psalm written between this rebellion
and the Babylonish captivity, such as the 1S,
30, 70, As, eto.
6. Psalms composed during the captivity,
such as the 10, II, lS, 25, %, etc,
z. Psalms written after the jews returned
to th,ir own land, such as the l22, IS, At,