03.16.06
Worship – Its Priority, Principles and Practice (Review)
Worship – Its Priority, Principles and Practice
J.C Ryle, Banner of Truth Trust, bklt 32pp
This booklet is a reprint of an article found in Ryle’s work ‘Knots Untied’ in which he asks the very important question ‘How do we worship God?’ In answer to this he shows the general importance of public worship before giving six leading principles of public worship. In the third section he deals with the essential parts of worship and then warns of things we ought to avoid in worship. He concludes by suggesting four tests by which our public worship should be tested.
The material is well outlined and written in Ryle’s characteristic clear and simple style. In a day when the worship of God is becoming increasingly confused and irreverent this booklet should prove a useful antidote and encouragement to those who read it. Ryle highlights the need to worship with the understanding, affections and reverence, together with the need for order in our assemblies. The simplicity of Christian worship is demonstrated in its parts – the reading and preaching of God’s Word, prayer, praise and the celebration of the sacraments. He lays particular stress on the primacy of preaching, denying the scripturalness of any system where the sermon is made little of.
One weakness is what Ryle means by Scriptural worship. As an Anglican Ryle held that all that is not expressly forbidden by Scripture is allowed, and Reformed readers will detect some weakness in his arguments because of this. Nevertheless, this is a useful publication and because of its structure and brevity it could be turned to regularly in preparation for public worship.
G.B
(The Reformed position is that only what is expressly commanded either by precept or example is allowed).
Sing the Lord’s Song (Review)
Sing the Lord’s Song – Biblical Songs in Worship
Rev J. Keddie, Crown & Covenant Publications, 2004, pbk pp 74
Sing the Lord’s Song is written by the Rev John Keddie, minister of Bracadale Free Church of Scotland (Continuing). It is an expanded, second edition of his book formerly published in 1994 by Knox Press. In it he examines the important subject of what the Church ought to sing in the public worship of God.
He begins by highlighting the sad displacement of the Psalms of God by hymns of human composition in the contemporary Church before clearly presenting his case: that in congregational worship, we have no warrant for the use of anything but the one-hundred and fifty psalms of the Biblical Psalter.
In chapter 2 he graciously answers a variety of objections which are commonly raised against exclusive psalmody, before presenting the nub of the argument in chapters 3 and 4. These two chapters should be studied carefully. In chapter 3 he demonstrates from scripture that we are nowhere commanded to sing anything other than the Psalms of God. Then in chapter 4 he introduces ‘The Regulative Principle’ which teaches that everything introduced into the worship of God must have His own express command. This principle is largely rejected or ignored today, even in professedly Reformed churches, but Mr. Keddie proves that it is the clear teaching of scripture and the position embodied in the Westminster Standards. The unavoidable conclusion from these chapters is that the Psalms are to be sung to the exclusion of all else.
Chapter 5 is a historical survey of the practice of Psalm singing in the Christian Church that will encourage those already committed to the practice of exclusive psalmody, and challenge those who are yet to be convinced. The book is then drawn to a close in six clear conclusions which form suitable application for the material presented.
We welcome the republication of this book because of the importance of the subject matter, and commend it for the gracious manner in which it is written. It is a useful size and is characterised by simplicity of style, clarity of argument and above all faithfulness to scripture. It will not be found too daunting or difficult for those looking at the subject for the first time, yet those who are familiar with the arguments will also profit from it. Furthermore, for the benefit of those desiring a more in-depth study, an excellent list of material for further reading is appended in which each book has been helpfully critiqued. In a day when the issue of song in the Worship of God has been raised among conservative Christians we wish Mr Keddie’s valuable contribution a wide circulation.
G.B
