{236} If we turn over the New Testament, and search out all the Songs that are there written, we shall find the Matter or Subject of them as various as the Occasions upon which they were sung or spoken: Such are the Song of the Virgin _Mary_, Luke 1. 46, &C. They Song of _Zecharias_, ver. 67. The Song of the Angels, _Luke_ 2. 13. And of _Simeon_, ver. 29. Besides many others in the Book of the _Revelations. The three chief Words used to express the Matter of Singing, are _Psalmoi, _Humnoi kai Odai_: _Psalms, Hymns and Songs_, as the three Verbs from which these are derived are generally used to express the Act of Singing, _psallo, humneo, i ado_. Now if it were lawful after so many learned Contentions about these Words, I would give my Sense of them thus: 1. I think no Man hath better explain'd the original Meaning of these Words than _Zanchy_. A Psalm, _Psalmos_, is such a Song as usually is sung with other Instruments besides the Tongue. Hymns, _Humnoi_, such as are made only to express the Praises, and set out the Excellencies of God. Songs, _Odai_, such as contain not only Praises, but Exhortations, Prophesies, Thanksgivings; and these only sung with the Voice. 2. The Scripture doth not always confine it self to the original Meaning of all these Words; for _Psalmos_ a Psalm, and the Word _psallo_, are used, 1 Cor. 14. and in other Places of the New Testament, where we can never suppose the primitive Church in those Days {237} had Instruments of Music. And the Word _Ode_ a Song, is used several times in the Book of _Revelations_, where Harps are join'd with Voices in the Emblematical Prophesy. 3. The Sense therefore of these Words in the New Testament seems to be thus distinguish'd. A Psalm is a general Name for any thing that is sung in Divine Worship, whatsoever be the particular Theme or Matter; and the Verb _psallo_ is design'd to express the Melody it self rather than to distinguish the Matter of the Song, or Manner whereby the Melody or Music is performed; and therefore in Eph. 5. 19. our Translators have well rendred _adontes kai psallontes_, _Singing and making Melody_; and it should be thus rendred, Jam. 5. 13. _Is any merry, let him make Melody_. I confess in the New Testament the Noun _Psalmos_ refers generally to the Book of Psalms, and without Doubt there are many of the Palms of _David_ and _Asaph_, and other Songs among the Books of the Old Testament which may be prudently chosen and sung by Christians, and may be well accomodated to the Lips and Hearts of the Church under the Gospel. Yet this Word is once used in another Sense, as I shall show afterwards. An Hymn, whether imply'd in the Verb _humneo_, or exprest in the Noun _Humnos_, doth always retain its original Signification, and intend a Song whose Matter or Design is Praise: Nor is there any thing in the Nature or Use of the Word either in Scripture or other {238} Authors, that determines it to signify an immediate Inspiration, or humane Composure.