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The Preface to Joseph Stennett’s Hymns for the Lord’s Supper
Probably one of the most influential figures in the development of the hymn in seventeenth-century England was Rev. Joseph Stennett (1663-1713). He served the Pinner’s Hall Seventh Day Baptist Church as its pastor for the last 23 years of his life. Upon entering the pulpit in 1690, one of the first things he did was to institute the practice of the congregational singing of hymns. At first, the practice was limited to the occasion of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, but Stennett himself produced hymns for the Sabbath as well as for some other purposes.
There is no evidence that any hymns but those of Stennett were ever sung in any of the Sabbath-keeping churches of London in the seventeenth century. Considering the times, one might conclude that no singing at all was practiced in the General Baptist congregation that became known as Mill Yard. Pinner’s Hall, a Particular Baptist congregation, may well have congregationally sung the Psalms from its founding.
The justification for the avoidance of congregational singing was that, since singing was an expression of faith, it was hypocritical to engage in singing a public congregation which might include people present who made no profession of faith. The opposition to congregational singing was so strong in the 1690s that Stennett refers to it in the introduction to his hymnal, and goes to the length of asking another person to write a defense of the practice. Both of these pieces of writing appear within this study. The Scripture texts referred to in footnotes in the original are given in the text in parentheses. The Bible texts in the original are given in regular type, while the commentary was in italic type. I have kept the italics throughout, and made my own comments on the text in ordinary type.
The anonymous defense of congregational hymn-singing that appears at the beginning of the Stennett hymnal is perhaps one of the most careful and clearly expressed defenses of the practice to be found. One might suspect Stennett of having written it himself but for the laudatory phrases of the hymn-writer. It would be undignified to claim that Stennett praised himself so highly even under disguise. Furthermore, the treatise closes with a poem so inferior in expression that it is impossible to have been written by a poet of Stennett’s quality.
The works of the late Reverend and Learned Mr. Joseph Stennett. Vol. IV. London: Printed in the Year M.DCC.XXXII, pages 56-71.
…The love of truth, and a charitable regard to some very serious and pious christians, whose minds have been so perplext with scruples about the lawfulness of singing in the service of God, that they wholly omit this so very useful and agreeable part of divine worship, mov’d me to desire a very worthy and ingenious friend to prefix to this book of hymns some arguments on that subject, with the substance of which he had before entertained me, in giving me an account how those prejudices against singing of psalms, &c. himself was formerly under, had been removed.
It is clear that there was a good deal of opposition to congregational singing. There must have been such opposition even in the Pinner’s Hall Church, or it would not have been necessary to write this justification of it. The opposition came especially from General Baptists, who at the time were much like Quakers in their liturgy.
His friendship, and the hope I endeavoured to make him conceive that what had convinced him, might (by the blessing of God) have the same effect on some other persons under the like circumstances, made him willing not to refuse my request; tho he has not given me the liberty of mentioning his name… Joseph Stennett (page 56)
The Preface: By another hand.
I have, at the request of the reverend author, prefix’d this brief discourse to the following hymns, in vindication of the practice of singing the praises of God, as a part of christian worship. And I the more readily complied, because I have myself laboured under the prejudices of education to the contrary; till convinced of what I now esteem my duty, by the highest authority, viz. that of Christ and his apostles.
Reference to the prejudices of education shows how deeply entrenched was the opposition to congregational singing. This was before the time of the Methodist Awakening and the great hymn traditions of the Wesleys, to say nothing of Isaac Watts, who had not yet appeared on the scene when Joseph Stennett instituted congregational singing of hymns at Pinner’s Hall.
I will not doubt of a becoming reception from those christians who have different sentiments. I shall only intreat the favour, not to say justice, of any such (page 58) who shall read this preface, to think it possible for them to have been mistaken, and to be equally willing to receive the truth, on which soever side of the question it shall appear to be.
The author intends to use truth as criterion and appeals to the reader to lay prejudice aside and be willing to admit that it is possible that his ideas are mistaken. What a wonderful challenge!"