Regulative principle of worship

[HiredGoon]

Your evidence is written and from an English source. The New England Puritans left a consistent testimony to their beliefs in the physical meetinghouses. Please explain to me why none of these meetinghouses dating from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were constructed without any means of artificial heating. Was this some sort of oversight or could it possibly have emanated from a theological view?

It has to do with the impracticality of heating a meetinghouse at the time. The Puritan churches weren't the only ones without built in heating in the 17th and 18th centuries. And Medieval churches also did not have any built in heat. This is because the technology to heat a large open space like a church or meetinghouse did not exist. There were a few churches or meetinghouses in early New England that had fireplaces and chimneys, but these were inefficient and rare. Fireplaces were poor sources of heat, and could only provide a minimal amount of warmth to small rooms at the most. Samuel Sewall recorded that his ink froze while sitting next to a fireplace in his house during the cold New England winters. People in the past were just used to being cold in winter. The only practical way to keep warm in church at the time, beside wearing lots of warm clothes, was to bring foot stoves with you which was a common practice. But it could also be dangerous, sometimes forgotten foot stoves left in church could cause fires, and so were sometimes forbidden. For those who traveled greater distances to church from the surrounding countryside there were sometimes "Sabbath day houses" built near the church which had small common rooms with a fireplace to nap, eat, and keep warm between services. When cast iron stoves were later invented, they did not become common in the British colonies until well into the 18th century. In the mid to late 18th century we find the first New England churches installing expensive cast iron stoves, about the same time they are starting to show up in houses. But stoves too had their problems, they were ungainly, the stove pipes leaked smoke and soot, and the heat they gave off was sometimes said to cause headaches and cause some women to faint. It was not until relatively recently that we've had reliable technology to comfortably heat our buildings and churches. So the reasons the Puritans didn't construct their meetinghouses with artificial heating has more to do with a lack of heating technology, than any theological reason.

 

[Iosias]

So the reasons the Puritans didn't construct their meetinghouses with artificial heating has more to do with a lack of heating technology, than any theological reason.

Thanks for your post

 

[david01]

It has to do with the impracticality of heating a meetinghouse at the time. The Puritan churches weren't the only ones without built in heating in the 17th and 18th centuries. And Medieval churches also did not have any built in heat. This is because the technology to heat a large open space like a church or meetinghouse did not exist. There were a few churches or meetinghouses in early New England that had fireplaces and chimneys, but these were inefficient and rare. Fireplaces were poor sources of heat, and could only provide a minimal amount of warmth to small rooms at the most. Samuel Sewall recorded that his ink froze while sitting next to a fireplace in his house during the cold New England winters. People in the past were just used to being cold in winter. The only practical way to keep warm in church at the time, beside wearing lots of warm clothes, was to bring foot stoves with you which was a common practice. But it could also be dangerous, sometimes forgotten foot stoves left in church could cause fires, and so were sometimes forbidden. For those who traveled greater distances to church from the surrounding countryside there were sometimes "Sabbath day houses" built near the church which had small common rooms with a fireplace to nap, eat, and keep warm between services. When cast iron stoves were later invented, they did not become common in the British colonies until well into the 18th century. In the mid to late 18th century we find the first New England churches installing expensive cast iron stoves, about the same time they are starting to show up in houses. But stoves too had their problems, they were ungainly, the stove pipes leaked smoke and soot, and the heat they gave off was sometimes said to cause headaches and cause some women to faint. It was not until relatively recently that we've had reliable technology to comfortably heat our buildings and churches. So the reasons the Puritans didn't construct their meetinghouses with artificial heating has more to do with a lack of heating technology, than any theological reason.

Given the large masonry mass of medieval churches and the relatively moderate climate, temperatures in these buildings were not uncomfortable during the winter, which is true to this day. In the manor houses of the period heating was a necessity. The great halls of these houses, which compare in size with most New England meeting houses did have heat. Initially, the heat was provided by a fire in the center of the room but by the fourteenth century fireplaces began to be introduced as a practicality and soon were given decorative features.

Please give me those instances of meetinghouses in seventeenth and eighteenth-century New England which were constructed with fireplaces.

As I previously noted, Colonial legislative chambers and courthouses were heated so the technology most certain did exist. A prominent example is Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Granted, that people lived in colder houses than we do and dressed accordingly. However, it was a remarkable occurence when a house was so cold that ink froze in an inkwell. Granted also, that heating efficiency was much less than modern technology supplies. However, that certainly did not deter them from using what limited technology they had to heat even large buildings of public assembly - except meetinghouses. By the way, these limitations did not seem to deter the Quakers in Pennsylvania from building meethinghouses with heating.

 

[david01]

Now, back to the issue of congregational singing. I am waiting for a reasonable and scriptural response.

 

[HiredGoon]

Please give me those instances of meetinghouses in seventeenth and eighteenth-century New England which were constructed with fireplaces.

The very earliest meeting place for many congregations in New England was often the pastors house. These were very small structures and would have been heated by a hearth in the corner of the room. As settlements and congregations grew, separate meetinghouses were constructed which were larger, and sometimes heated.

"It is a common but erroneous opinion that the hardy Puritans did without any form of heating in their meetinghouses, even in the severest winter. Donnelly points out that the contract for the enlargement of the meetinghouse in Salem, Massachusetts, as early as 1638 specified 'One Catted Chimney of 12 foote long, and 4 foote in height above the top of the building.' She also adduces evidence that later at Southampton in New York State each family was instructed 'by turn lykwise make a fire in the meeting house upon each Sabathe daye, and to give notice to the next whose turn yt is.' There is also a record that the Killingworth, Connecticut, founding congregation voted to build a meetinghouse 'with a Doble Chimney at one end.'" The Worship of the American Puritans by Horton Davies, pgs. 287-288.

As I previously noted, Colonial legislative chambers and courthouses were heated so the technology most certain did exist. A prominent example is Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Independence Hall has fireplaces in chambers that are smaller and easier to heat than most 18th century churches. Besides, it was built after the first churches in New England were beginning to have stoves installed to heat them.

 

[Iosias]

Now, back to the issue of congregational singing. I am waiting for a reasonable and scriptural response.

It has already been provided in the first page of the thread.

Further to that, here is Gill's exposition:

Eph 5:19 - Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs,.... By psalms are meant the Psalms of David, and others which compose the book that goes by that name, for other psalms there are none; and by "hymns" we are to understand, not such as are made by good men, without the inspiration of the Spirit of God; since they are placed between psalms and spiritual songs, made by men inspired by the Holy Ghost; and are put upon a level with them, and to be sung along with them, to the edification of churches; but these are only another name for the Book of Psalms, the running title of which may as well be the Book of Hymns, as it is rendered by Ainsworth; and the psalm which our Lord sung with his disciples after the supper, is called an hymn; and so are the psalms in general called hymns, by Philo the Jew (n); and songs and hymns by Josephus (o); and שירות ותושבחות, "songs and praises", or "hymns", in the Talmud (p): and by "spiritual songs" are meant the same Psalms of David, Asaph, &c. and the titles of many of them are songs, and sometimes a psalm and song, and song and psalm, a song of degrees; together with all other Scriptural songs, written by inspired men; and which are called "spiritual", because they are indited by the Spirit of God, consist of spiritual matter, and are designed for spiritual edification; and are opposed to all profane, loose, and wanton songs: these three words answer to תהלים שירים מזמורים the several titles of David's Psalms; from whence it seems to be the intention of the apostle, that these should be sung in Gospel churches; for so he explains speaking to themselves in them, in the next clause:

singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord; singing, as it is a distinct thing from prayer, so from giving of thanks, which is mentioned in Eph 5:20 as another duty; it is not a mental praising of God, for it is called speaking, and teaching, and admonishing, but it is a praising of God with the modulation of the voice; and is rightly performed, when the heart and voice agree; when there is a melody in the heart, as well as in the tongue; for singing and making melody in the heart, is singing with, or from the heart, or heartily; of as elsewhere, "with grace", and which the Alexandrian copy reads here; that is, either with gratitude and thankfulness, or with grace in exercise; and the end in view should be the glory of God.

(n) De Mutat. Nomin. p. 1062. & alibi.
(o) Antiqu. l. 7. c. 12. sect. 3.
(p) T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 94. 1.

 

[david01]

It has already been provided in the first page of the thread.

Further to that, here is Gill's exposition:

Eph 5:19 - Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs,.... By psalms are meant the Psalms of David, and others which compose the book that goes by that name, for other psalms there are none; and by "hymns" we are to understand, not such as are made by good men, without the inspiration of the Spirit of God; since they are placed between psalms and spiritual songs, made by men inspired by the Holy Ghost; and are put upon a level with them, and to be sung along with them, to the edification of churches; but these are only another name for the Book of Psalms, the running title of which may as well be the Book of Hymns, as it is rendered by Ainsworth; and the psalm which our Lord sung with his disciples after the supper, is called an hymn; and so are the psalms in general called hymns, by Philo the Jew (n); and songs and hymns by Josephus (o); and שירות ותושבחות, "songs and praises", or "hymns", in the Talmud (p): and by "spiritual songs" are meant the same Psalms of David, Asaph, &c. and the titles of many of them are songs, and sometimes a psalm and song, and song and psalm, a song of degrees; together with all other Scriptural songs, written by inspired men; and which are called "spiritual", because they are indited by the Spirit of God, consist of spiritual matter, and are designed for spiritual edification; and are opposed to all profane, loose, and wanton songs: these three words answer to תהלים שירים מזמורים the several titles of David's Psalms; from whence it seems to be the intention of the apostle, that these should be sung in Gospel churches; for so he explains speaking to themselves in them, in the next clause:

singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord; singing, as it is a distinct thing from prayer, so from giving of thanks, which is mentioned in Eph 5:20 as another duty; it is not a mental praising of God, for it is called speaking, and teaching, and admonishing, but it is a praising of God with the modulation of the voice; and is rightly performed, when the heart and voice agree; when there is a melody in the heart, as well as in the tongue; for singing and making melody in the heart, is singing with, or from the heart, or heartily; of as elsewhere, "with grace", and which the Alexandrian copy reads here; that is, either with gratitude and thankfulness, or with grace in exercise; and the end in view should be the glory of God.

(n) De Mutat. Nomin. p. 1062. & alibi.
(o) Antiqu. l. 7. c. 12. sect. 3.
(p) T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 94. 1.

I am probably exceedingly thick about this matter, but I failed to find a single word in your post concerning the issue of congregational singing. Mr. Gill spends his entire argument proving that the texts address the exclusive singing of Psalms. He, like others, may assume that congregational singing is implied in the texts. However, a close examination of the texts reveals that these are to be spoken, or taught, to one another - a feat which is utterly impossible if the entire congregation is singing them. In this light, how do you understand I Corinthians 14:26?

 

[Iosias]

I am probably exceedingly thick about this matter, but I failed to find a single word in your post concerning the issue of congregational singing.

What is Paul urging upon the Ephesians? "Speaking to yourselves" (note the plural) doing what? "singing", "making melody in your heart" (again note the plural). Paul is urging the church of Ephesus to sing "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs".

In this light, how do you understand I Corinthians 14:26?

Not too sure what your point is but....

1 Corinthians 14:26 "How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying."

Dr. Lightfoot understands this in the following manner:

When the congregation came together, some were for spending the time in psalmody; others in explaining particular doctrines; others in reading, praying, or speaking in the Hebrew tongue; others were curious to hear of farther revelations; and others wished to spend the time in the interpretation of what had already been spoken.
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John Gill comments:

1Co 14:26 - How is it then, brethren?.... Or "what is it brethren?" The Arabic renders it, "what is the sense of my words?" The meaning of what he had said, the drift of his whole discourse; or rather the sense is, what is to be done in the case he was about to propose?

when ye come together; as a church into one place, to worship God;

everyone of you hath a psalm; not that everyone had this, or any other gift here mentioned, but that there were some among them that had one or other of these several gifts: some of them had a gift of composing and singing a psalm extempore; they delighted in psalmody, and were forward to promote it, and fond of spending the time wholly in it.

Hath a doctrine; others of them had a gift of deducing doctrines out of the word of God, which is profitable for that purpose, in an extraordinary manner, without study, and were capable of teaching them, and instructing men in them in a very edifying way:

hath a tongue others had the gift of speaking with divers tongues; or had knowledge and skill in the Hebrew tongue, could not only pray and sing in that language, and read the sacred text, but could deliver a sermon in it.

Hath a revelation; others had a peculiar insight into the types and figures of the Mosaic dispensation, a clear view of the prophetic writings, and a large discovery of the mysteries of the Gospel, by the Spirit, as a spirit of wisdom and revelation.

Hath an interpretation; others had a gift of interpreting languages, particularly the Hebrew language, when anything was delivered therein by another. Now the apostle answers to the question, what is to be done in such a case, where there is such a variety of gifts, and everyone is desirous of exercising his peculiar gift?

let all things be done to edifying; intimating, that each of these things might be done; every gift might be made use of: he that had a psalm might sing it; and he that had a doctrine might deliver it; he that had a tongue might speak with it; and he that had a revelation might declare it; and he that had an interpretation might make use of it; provided that care was taken that each was done in such a manner, as might be for the edifying of the church that was met together; otherwise, if it was only for ostentation sake to make a show of their gifts and talents, and to nourish their own pride and vanity, no good end would be answered; it had better be let alone: but if edification could be promoted, each gift might be employed; for which the apostle gives the following directions.
​

 

[david01]

The very earliest meeting place for many congregations in New England was often the pastors house. These were very small structures and would have been heated by a hearth in the corner of the room. As settlements and congregations grew, separate meetinghouses were constructed which were larger, and sometimes heated.

"It is a common but erroneous opinion that the hardy Puritans did without any form of heating in their meetinghouses, even in the severest winter. Donnelly points out that the contract for the enlargement of the meetinghouse in Salem, Massachusetts, as early as 1638 specified 'One Catted Chimney of 12 foote long, and 4 foote in height above the top of the building.' She also adduces evidence that later at Southampton in New York State each family was instructed 'by turn lykwise make a fire in the meeting house upon each Sabathe daye, and to give notice to the next whose turn yt is.' There is also a record that the Killingworth, Connecticut, founding congregation voted to build a meetinghouse 'with a Doble Chimney at one end.'" The Worship of the American Puritans by Horton Davies, pgs. 287-288.



Independence Hall has fireplaces in chambers that are smaller and easier to heat than most 18th century churches. Besides, it was built after the first churches in New England were beginning to have stoves installed to heat them.

Thank you for your concession that the technology did, indeed, exist to heat large spaces of public gathering. Thank you also for providing evidence that some meetinghouses were heated. I certainly now concede that unheated meetinghouses were de rigeur. However, the apparent fact remains that the vast majority were not heated.

The Council Chamber in Independence Hall, although not as large as some meetinghouses, was large enough to contain the Congress which was not a small number of men. As pointed out, although early Puritan meetings were often held in homes (as had been the practice in England and Holland) separate meetinghouses were constructed in due time. Many of these were of smaller size than the Council Chamber in Independence Hall and were not heated. Simple technology may have played a factor, but I doubt that it was the only factor or, possibly, the principal factor.