Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 4 April, 2021
“O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness:
fear before him, all the earth” (Ps. 96:9)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Telling Lies [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Zechariah 8
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 43
I. Living Like the Devil
II. Destroying Yourself
III. Calling Down God’s Wrath
Psalms: 144:1-8; 119:25-32
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 32
Text: Deuteronomy 32:2-4
I. Its Glorious Meaning
II. Its Refreshing Effects
Psalms: 18:1-7; 77:13-19
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart or the elders
CPRC Website: www.cprc.co.uk • Live Webcast: www.cprc.co.uk/live-streaming
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quote to Consider
Herman Hoeksema on Lord’s Day 43: “If we speak the truth in love under the blessing of God, there is created an atmosphere of the confidence of love, of seeking one another’s wellbeing, in which it is a joy to live and in which one can breathe freely as a child of God in the Lord Jesus Christ. He who speaks the truth in love saves his neighbor, saves himself, and saves the church of Jesus Christ, for God dwells where the truth dwells. Thus as children of God we have a calling to put off the old man that moves in the sphere of lying and to put on the new man in Jesus Christ, that always speaks the truth in love. Then there will be joy and peace and light in the midst of Zion, and God will dwell with us” (Love Thy Neighbour for God’s Sake, p. 176).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
The new Covenant Reformed News and the latest RFPA Update are on the back table. Standard Bearers are also available for subscribers, as are new books for RFPA bookclub members.
Catechism classes:
Monday, 5:00 PM: Jason & Sebastian (Juniors OT)
Monday, 5:45 PM: Eleanora, Hannah, Jorja, Penelope & Somaya (Beginners OT)
Monday, 6:30 PM: Angelica, Bradley, Josh, Samuel & Taylor (Seniors OT)
Tuesday Bible study at 11 AM will meet in the auditorium to discuss the Holy Spirit’s role in our assurance of salvation.
Belgic Confession Class will meet and be streamed live this Wednesday at 7:45 PM to consider more on Ezekiel and the “last days” in connection with Article 37.
Prof. Engelsma will be interviewed by Christopher Arnzen on his radio program Iron Sharpens Iron this Thursday, 8 April, from 4-6 PM EST (9-11 PM in the UK). The discussion will centre on his 2-volume commentary on the Belgic Confession. You can go on-line (www.ironsharpensironradio.com) and click on the live stream box.
Saturday night Bible study meets this Saturday, 10 April, at 8 PM on-line to discuss Hebrews 7:20-28.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. R. Kleyn is entitled, “The Cleansing of the Leper” (Mark 1:40-45).
Essentials catechism class (Alex, Jacob & Nathan) restarts on Monday, 12 April at 7:15 PM, with lesson 25B.
The Council meeting has been changed to Monday, 12 April, at 8 PM.
Offerings: General Fund: £807. Donation: £100 (Malaysia).
Translation Additions: 1 Russian and 1 Spanish.
PRC News: Hudsonville PRC has called Rev. Griess (First, MI).
Worship the Lord in Psalms
An excerpt from an article in the Standard Bearer, vol. 71, issue 2 by Prof. Herman Hanko
Psalm Singing and Reformation
Whenever God brought reformation to the church of Jesus Christ, a return to Psalm singing was a part of it. This ought not to surprise us. It lies in the nature of reformation.
True reformation in the church always has certain distinguishing characteristics, one of which is a return to what Jeremiah called “the old paths.” Reformation is a return to these old paths in doctrine, church government and liturgy. Any movement in the church which lacks this characteristic cannot properly be designated church reformation.
The singing of Psalms characterized the church’s worship in its early new dispensational history. This is not surprising, for the Psalms were God’s gift to the church precisely for singing and the Psalms were all the church had. Two things are important here: the church sang and the church sang Psalms.
Gradually the Roman Catholic church drifted away from congregational singing and from Psalm singing. Congregational singing was replaced by choirs. Again, that such a thing should happen is not surprising, for the Roman Catholic Church denied the priesthood of all believers. That is, the church denied that the people of God possessed the Spirit, and Paul makes it clear that one must be filled with the Spirit to sing: “Be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms …” (Eph. 5:18, 19). It is not even so surprising that the Romish Church lost the Psalms, for the Psalms, if sung in the church, will keep the church on the path of the truth. The Psalms no longer expressed Romish theology, and so songs were invented to express erroneous doctrines.
There is a reciprocal relation between heresy in the church and a drift from Psalm singing. I am not contending that no other factors enter when a church loses the truth. But surely one factor is the loss of Psalm singing. It is a fact that in post-reformation times heresy was sung into the church. But, as I say, the relation is reciprocal. A church which drifts from the truth finds the Psalms an inadequate vehicle to express her lust for wrong decisions.
The Reformation was a return to the old paths: the old paths of the doctrines of free and sovereign grace; the old paths of biblical church government; the old paths of worship in which the congregation sang Psalms. Calvin, almost from the outset of his work in Geneva, insisted on congregational singing of Psalms … Church reformation always included a return to Psalm singing.
Those who agitate for the introduction of hymns and choirs in the church or tolerate such innovations ought to remember that such innovations always have been a part of departure from the faith.
Psalms and Worship
It is not our purpose to argue in detail the biblical grounds for congregational singing of Psalms. A great deal of literature has been written on the subject and the interested reader can study the arguments for himself.
A few aspects to this question are, however, worth our while to consider.
It is a distinctive and emphatic teaching of the Scriptures that the congregation worships. This is what the most important part of keeping the sabbath day is all about. The congregation of Jesus Christ comes together to worship God. They are, on the wings of worship, transported into God’s dwelling place in the heavens. In God’s presence they worship God. There are different aspects of that worship. In some parts of the worship the minister leads the congregation in its speech to God—as in the public prayers. In some parts of worship the congregation listens attentively in worship as God speaks to the saints—as in the preaching. In some parts of the worship the congregation itself actively and on its own engages in worship—as happens in the singing. Suddenly the minister is only a part of the congregation. Overwhelmed by the wonder of being in God’s presence, the congregation joins in speaking to God—in singing. It is the only opportunity for the congregation so to speak.
This must not be taken from her. Choirs take it away. Choirs are for show, for entertainment, even for edifying. But this may be done in programmes. Choirs may not steal from the congregation what is her own. A congregation ought to be jealous of this part of her worship and refuse to allow any choir or soloist to steal her own worship.
That the congregation sings is so crucial because the congregation worships in the office of believers. Are only soloists able to worship? Are only choirs able to worship? Cannot God’s people worship? Rome denied that God’s people were themselves the prophets, priests and kings who know the Lord, can speak to Him and can rule in His name. The people of God function in the office of believers because they have the Spirit. “Be filled with the Spirit … singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:18, 19).
Many powerful arguments have been set forward by others in defence of exclusive Psalmody. Psalm singing is biblical. Psalm singing is the heritage of the Reformation. Psalm singing is done by the church which is determined to remain faithful to the Reformation. And saints in apostatizing churches, eager to return to the heritage of the Reformation and walk again in the old paths, throw out the hymns and return to the Psalms.
The point that needs emphasis here is a striking difference between Psalms and most hymns. It is characteristic of most (though not all) hymns that they are either anthropocentric or wrongly Christocentric. That is, they concentrate on man, man’s experiences, man’s importance; or they concentrate in a Christ who is a friend in some sloppy sentimental way but is far from the eternal Son of God through whom God reveals Himself.
The difference between Psalms and hymns is a crucial difference between apostasy in a church (accompanied by choirs and hymn singing) and reformation in a church (accompanied by congregational Psalm singing.
The theocentric character of the Psalms is exactly comparable to the one crucial issue which always necessitates reformation: the issue between sovereign and particular grace and salvation by human merit and works. It is a striking fact of history that the times when the truths of sovereign and particular grace were strongly and consistently maintained were few and far between, but when these times were present, they were times of church reformation. The reformation of Calvin and Luther—over against Rome; the great Synod of Dordt—in a death struggle with Arminianism; the truths of sovereign and particular grace in DeCock—over against the humanism of the state church; the struggle to defend particular grace over against those who were determined to make it “common.”
Hymn singing is, all too often, singing silly songs about man or sloppy songs about Christ. They go along with the constant drift in the church towards Pelagianism and its harlot sister, Arminianism. The robust, powerful, weighty, theocentric Psalms—they belong to the mighty battle in defence of sovereign and particular grace.
