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40 In this this I am using the definition of hymn which says it is the poem, not the music or tune. back 41 F.J. Gilham, The Evolution of the English Hymn (New York: Macmillan, 1927), p. 178. back 42 Op. cit., p. 49. Those are the main objections to singing. Some accounts of the period tell of individual voices at different tempos from the group; some of the tediousness of lining out psalms as there were no tunebooks. These, how ever, were not the main objections to psalm singing. back 43 Rood, op. cit., pp. 66f. I disagree in part, however, when he says, "They looked upon singing as a form of worship and praise, and would not practice it in any religious assembly lest it would be engaged in by those who were not sincere." (p. 66.) I say, there was reaction against the form, not because of the possible insincerity of singers, but because it was feared that the spirit would be stifled. back 44 A cope is a cap-like vestment. back 45 Samuel Hopkins, The Puritans (Boston: Gould and Lincoln, 1859), pp. 1 54ff. back 46 229. Percy A. Scholes, The Puritans and Music (London: Oxford, 1934), p. back 47 Ibid., p. 270. back 48 This Mason is not to be confused with Lowell Mason, the American hymn writer over a century later. back 49 For Sources on the precoding several pages on music, see these books: Benjamin Brawley, History of the English Hymn (New York: Abingdon, 1932), pp. 35f., 56, 58, 60f.; Underwood, op cit., p. 133; Minutes of the General Assembly of the General Baptist Churches in England, ed. by Whiteley (London: Abingsgate, 1910), II, 21; A. Mitchell Hunter. The Teaching of Calvin (Westwood, R. J.: Fleming M. Revell, 1950), pp. 281, 283; Gillman, op cit., pp.177f.; 198f.; choles, op cit., pp. 265, 267; Edward Dickinson, Music in the History of the Western Church (New York: Scribners, 1902), pp. 368ff; Robinson op. cit.,m p. 48. back 50 Joseph Stennett, An Answer to Mr. David Russen's Book, Entitl'd Fundamentals Without A Foundation, Or a True Picture Picture of the Anabaptists, &c. (London: 1704), pp. 139ff. Henseforth, I will abbreviate this book title: An Answer to . . . Russen. back 51 Iviney, op. cit., II, 377f. back 52 Whitley, "Seventh Day Baptists in England," op. cit., p. 254; Iviney, op. cit., II, 375, back 53 Whitley, A Baptist Bibliography, I, 130. back 54 Joseph Stennett, Hymns in Commemoration of the Suffering of Our Blessed Savior Jesus Christ, Composed for the Celebration of His Holy Supper (London: 1705 (2nd edition)), vii: "I have chosen these measures which suite the Tunes in most Common Use among us." Henceforth, I will abbreviate this title, Hymns in Commemoration . . . . back 55 Joseph Stennett, Works, I, xvi. back 56 Joseph Stennett, Hymns in Commemoration . . . ., vi. back 57 These "hymns" are just words or poem for at that time, it was the practice to publish only words. back 58 Hymns in Commemoration . . . ., viif. (Also in his Works, IV, 55.) It is well for us to consider the origin of the hymn; such caution today would eliminate many of our "gospel songs" from the church service! back 59 Joseph Stennett, Hymns in Commemoration . . . ., ix (Works, IV, 56). back 60 The references include Matt. 26: 30; Mark 16: 26; I Cor. 14: 15; Eph. 5: 19f.; Col. 3: 16f.; James 5: 13; Acts 4: 24; see Joseph Stennett, Hymns in Commemoration . . . ., pp. xii-xxii. back 61 Ibid., pp. xxivf. back 62 Brawley, op. cit., pp .68f.; cf. Gilman, op. cit., p. 205. back 63 Gilman. op. cit., p. 202; Bradley, op. cit., p. 62; Henry S. Burrage, Baptist Hymn Writers and Their Hymns (Portland, Maine: Brown Thurston Co., 1888), p. 623; etc. back 64 Christian Worship (Philadelphia: Judson, 1941 or St. Denis: Bethany, 1941). back 65 Christian Worship, number 464; Burrage, op. cit., p. 35. back 66 This hymn of course, in separate from the communion collection; it is not found, for instance, in We Glorify Thy Name, #9 and Joseph Works, IV, 231-234. Tracts on the Sabbath (New York: American Sabbath Tract Soc., 1852, no. 10 is in error when "Jesus, I my cross have taken" is attributed to Joseph Stennett instead of Chas. Wesley. back 67 Joseph Stennett, Works, IV, 121, 124. back 68 Ibid., IV, 104. back 69 Ibid., Iv, 101, 102, 97. back 70 After the above was written, I happened to read E. A. PayneTs evaluation of Stennett's communion hymns: "None of the fifty hymns would make much appeal to-day, but they are important evidence of the attitude to the sacrament at the beginning of the eighteenth century." (The Fellowship of Relivers (London: Kingsgate, 1944), p. 58.) The early attitude would seem to be that communion had great significance. back 71 Joseph Stennett, Works, IV, 147. back 72 Ibid., IV, 108. back 73 Ibid., IV, 111f. back 74 As to the locations of the two churches, both are in the northern part of London. This part of London is defined with the Thames River as the south boundary and the western and eastern parts of the city as the sides. Pinners' Hall is located on "Old Broad St." (Wilson, op. cit., (London: 1803), II, 249.) I cannot locate this street on the maps available to me (Walter Besant, London in the eighteenth Century (London: Adam and Charles Black, 1903), inside the back cover; Encyclopedia Britannica (Chicago: Enclyopedia Britannica, Inc., 1953), XIV, 347), but I think "Broad Street" may be its location, if so, Pinners' Hall is somewhere between a half mile and a full mile above the Thames River, and quite easterly in the northern part of London. Barbican is about three-fourths of a mile west and sometimes also a little northward from Broad Street. back 75 I suppose Stennett took predominantly the side of Calvinism, for he is called a Calvinist and his own church was a Particular Baptist church. (Wilson, op. cit., III, 236.) Over and against the Calvinistic Doctrine of absolute predestination, the Remonstrants taught a predestination based on divine foreknowledge of the use men would make of the means of grace. Against the doctrine that Christ died for the elect only, Remonstrants asserted that he died for all, though none receive the benifits of his death for the elect except believers. They agreed on the denial of the ability of men to do anything really good of themselves--all is of divine grace. In opposition to the Calvinist teaching of perseverance, holding it possible that men may lose grace once received (Walker, op. cit., p. 455). I must say, that in his sermons which are extant, Stennett leans towards the Remonstrant side. back 76 Wilson, op. cit., II, 597f.; III, 236; Iviney, op. cit., III, 199ff, 203f.; Transactions of the Baptist Historical Society IV (1914-1916), 46f.; Underwood op. cit.. p. 137. Transactions of the Baptist Historical Society, III, 93, is in errror when it assigns the beginning of his ministry at Barbican about 1703. back 77 Joseph Stennett, Works, II (London: 1731), 162. This is on Sunday. back 78 Joseph Stennett, Works, II, 185. (June 30, 1700 at Spittle-fields.) back 79 Hunt, op. cit., I, 131. back 80 Joseph Stennett, Works, I B16ff.; Wilson, op. cit., II, 599; etc.; Thomas Macaulay, History of England (New York: Harper, ), IV, 516-530. back 81 Transactions of the Baptists Historical Society, II (1910-11), 89f. This address is quoted in full in The London Gazette, no. 3770, from Dec. 25 - Dec. 29, 1701. back 82 Joseph Stennett, Works, I, 24f. back 83 Joseph Stennett, Works, I, B19f; IV, 240. back 84 Joseph Stennett, Works, I, B18f. back 85 Walter D. Jeremy, The Presbyterian Fund and Dr. Daniel William's Trust (London: Williams & Norgate, 1885), p. 119; Daniel Williams, op. cit., I, xviif.; Joseph Stennett Works, I, BIO. back 86 Joseph Stennett, Works, I, B14; an advertisement in Joseph Stennett, An Answer to . . . . Russen; Whitley, A Baptist Bibliography, I, 132. As far as known, no copy is exant either in this country or England. back 87 Whitley, A Baptist Bibliography, I, 137. back |