“5. The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear, the sound preaching, and conscionable hearing of the Word, in obedience unto God, with understanding, faith, and reverence; singing of psalms with grace in heart; as also the due administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments instituted by Christ, are all parts of the ordinary religious worship of God: besides religious oaths, vows solemn fastings, and thanksgivings upon special occasions, which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in a holy and religious manner. Another element of true worship is the "signing of psalms with grace in the heart." It will be observed that the Confession does not acknowledge the legitimacy of the use of modern hymns in the worship of God, but rather only the psalms of the Old Testament. It is not generally realized today that Presbyterian (and many other Reformed) churches originally used only the inspired psalms, hymns and songs of the biblical Psalter in divine worship, but such is the case. The Westminster Assembly not only expressed the conviction that the psalms should be sung in divine worship, but implemented it by preparing a metrical version of the Psalter for use in the churches. This is not the place to attempt a consideration of this question. But we must record our conviction that the Confession is correct at this point. It is correct, we believe, because it has never been proved that God has commanded his Church to sing the uninspired compositions of men rather than or along with the inspired songs, hymns, and psalms of the Psalter in divine worship.” PsalmsReformed TheologyRegulative Principle Of WorshipWestminster Confession Of FaithExclusive Psalmody Author:G.I. Williamson
“The “Order Principle” in 1 Corinthians 14 means that Christian worship should be structured in such a way that instruction is clear, intelligibility is essential, ordained roles and teaching offices are maintained, all the saints are built up in the faith, love and peace are abundant, and God is glorified in all things. It is for this reason that Christians have historically ordered their meetings and services around a well-structured service that takes believers through all of the essential components or elements of a full, robust worship experience. We might speak of this as the “liturgy,” from the Latin word liturgia meaning “service.” A well-ordered liturgy takes the gathered saints through an incredibly beautiful journey in which practically every aspect of the history of redemption is recalled and applied. Although there is great variation in ancient, historic, Protestant, and even Reformed liturgies of worship, certain basic elements are usually present somewhere in the service. These include: an acknowledgment of God as Creator, a confession of the fallen state of man, a rehearsal of the Law of God, the proclaiming of the saving Gospel of Christ, the tangible celebration of the sacraments, and the blessing of the Christian life. In other words, the service moves through the history of redemption: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Consummation. Worship is therefore Trinitarian. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are each extolled and praised.” WorshipRegulative Principle Of Worship Book:Worshiptainment: The Modern Church's Golden Calf Source: Worshiptainment: The Modern Church's Golden Calf