Grace farther delivered from it than many others and therefore their turning back will be the more grievous and provoking to the Spirit of the Lord though our gracious Lord is pleased to deal very gently with his People in all their Weaknesses or Mistakes while a perverse Spirit is not found among them Wherefore we declare We have no disgust against nor would we maintain any Distance or Difference with those Brethren whose Apprehensions may not be the same with ours in this matter about Singing who carry it not only piously but peaceably in their Stations and among the Churches Some of whose Names are set to the Recommendation of this Book which we in the Substance of it have endeavoured to answer tho without their Knowledg or Consent For we believe they are so sober and righteous that whatever their Opinion might be of the Argument they would never have set their Names to such a universal Appropation without a faithful Witness against those abominable and lamentable extravagant false Accusations Reflections and Slanders contain'd in it As for Mr. Whinnel whose misguided Zeal may have misled him with some Misinformings to reflect upon us without cause as he hath He being a Person of a very courteous and obliging Conversation we hope he will for time to come if not better consider his Arguments for that common set-form Singing which he doth endeavour to promote yet at least forbear such causless Reflections against those that do in Judgment and Conscience dissent from him in that matter As for Mr. Keach who hath been the chief Instrument to raise up this Controversy which may occasion more Contention than Edification in the Baptized Churches we heartily desire he may for time to come labour after the things which make for Peace We know and he himself also how long he hath maintained a Wall of Partition between him and the rest of the Baptized Churches allowing no Church-Communion but such as can agree with him in his Opinion and Practice of Laying on of Hands upon the Members of the Church both Men and Women which Practice we find no where commanded by our Lord Jesus nor his Apostles yet we have not made it a Bone of Contention between him and us neither concerned our selves for many Years to make any publick Contest about it but to say no more of that matter only what relates to the Book it self 1. Whereas in the Title of it it 's recommended by divers Elders and Ministers of Baptized Churches mentioning the Names of several some of them affirm they never set their Hands to it saying they know not how their Hands came there and that the Epistle it self to which their Names are set they never saw until they saw it printed And whereâ—â— in the Title it 's farther said it is recommended by divers Elders and Ministers of the Baptized Churches we know that some of them are not Ministers nor Elders nor so much as Members in Communion with any Baptized Church as we know of 2. He hath very unjustly charged the Churches which were first gathered that they were of Opinion and did unanimously declare that for a Gospel-Minister to have a Yearly Allowance was an Human Invention and Antichristian whereas the contrary to which they have declared in their Confession of Faith printed by them soon after they came together as may more at large be seen in the former part of our Answer and it may farther appear what their Practice was in those Times by a late Printed Book entituled The Life and Death of Mr. Hanserd Knowlls written in his life-Life-time with his own Hand wherein he hath left this Testimony pag. 23 24. that he was Pastor to a Church in the Year 1645 and he received from the Church always according to their Ability most of the Members being poor What Man fearing God and desiring to preserve the Truth he himself professeth durst affirm so false a thing And what use may be made of it by such as are glad of any Opportunity to speak Evil of the Ways of God we leave to the Consideration of all Men. Finally We earnestly intreat the Baptized Churches their Elders Ministers and Members to consider what hath been said concerning this Question about Singing and that they would not any of them rashly or hastily upon any plausible Pretences be perswaded to set up that Way of set-form Singing which those Churches in times past did on maturâ— Deliberation from the Light afforded reject together with set-form Prayer But the Lord grant that we all may be pressing after more Purity bâ—th in the Form and Spirit of Holy-Worship nâ—t declining to any thing that is not of Divine Insâ—â—tution In the mean time bearing one with another in Love wherein we may be of differing Apâ—rehensions in those or other Matters that are of â— lower Concernment not being desirous of vain â—lory provoking one another studying and earneâ—â—â—y labouring every one of us to maintain Peace aâ—â— Holiness in our Souls in our Families and in thâ— Churches of our Lord Jesus that the God of Love and Peace may be with us We shall conclude with that Word Heb. 1â— 20 Now the God of Peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good Work to do his Will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight â—hrough Jesus Christ to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen We subscribe our selves Your Brethren in the Faith and Fellowship of the Gospel William Kiffin George Barrett Robert Steed Edward Man FINIS Errata Pag. 16. l. 11. for we r. some P. 23. l. 16. r. in them do they ADVERTISEMENT THere is now coming forth a Book entituled Truth Soberly Defended in a Serious Reply to Mr. B. Keach's Book called The Breach Repaired in God's Worship or Singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs proved to be an Holy Ordinance of Jesus Christ As also a Vindication of a Book entituled Prelimited Forms of Praising God vocally sung by all the Church together proved to be no Gospel Ordinance With a Postscript in Answer farther to a Book entitled Folly Detected Published by M. Joseph Wright And 〈◊〉 a Paper called an Appendix or a brief Answer to Mr. Marlow Notion of the Essence of Singing by T.W. And to a Paper called an Answer to a brief Discourse concerning â—â—nging by H. K. Whereunto is added a brief Narative of the â—ise Occasion and Management of the present Controversy of â—â—nging between I. M. and Mr. B. K. with some Reflections on Book called Truth Vindicated or Mr. Keach's Sober Appeal ansâ—red Wherein also his Abuses c. are detected under the â—nds of several worthy Pastors of Churches By Isaac Marlow Price bound together 1 s. There is also published a Book â—itled A Treatise of the Holy Yrin-unity in two Parts The first â—â—serteth the Deity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in the â—â—ty of Essence with God the Father The second in defence the former answereth the chiefest Objections made against 〈◊〉 Doctrine By Isaac Marlow Price bound 10 d.
Scripture because they are resolv'd not to entertain it Obj. But they again cavilingly object Can this be proved by any other place of Scripture if not say they it must be rejected Answ To which we reply That the Lord is here pleased to give a most plain Direction how a Psalm is to be brought forth or sung in a Gospel-Church not by a composed Form but by special Gift and not by the whole Assembly lifting up their Voices in consort but by one who hath received such a Gift And this being so evidently declared should we not rest satisfied with it Shall we question the Truth of a Divine Oracle because but once mention'd though it be never so plainly delivered Our Lord Jesus is but once called a Surety Shall we therefore question or deny the Truth of it as the Socinians do Heb. 7.22 Surely on this Ground the Hebrews might have rejected the Apostle's Proof of the Being and Excellency of the Priestly Office of our Lord and Saviour that he was a High-Priest after the Order of Melchizedeck because it was but once mention'd in the Old Testament Psal 110.4 Thus having we hope evidently proved that the musical tunable Singing of a composed Form by a whole Assembly with Voices in consort is no Ordinance of our Lord Jesus We shall now examine the Scriptures they earnestly urge to justify their Practice Q. 3. Whether those Scriptures Eph. 5.19 â—ol 3.16 do command or justify that kind of Singing in the Church of Christ which they plead for In answer to this Enquiry it being that on which Mr. Keach and Mr. Whinnel do bottom their Assertion for the introducing the common and popular Way of Singing into the Baptized Churches We shall first premise some Considerations which we desire may be seriously pondered First That those Scriptures supposing they intend a Direction for publick Worship in the Church which we do not grant on the Reason hereafter to be mention'd do plainly testify against the admitting of the Profane the Ignorant and the Unconverted to sing in the solemn Assembly of the Church of Christ forasmuch as they are to be sung for the Teaching and Admonition of others Did the Lord Jesus ever appoint the Ignorant Profane or Unbelievers to be Teachers in or Admonishers of his Church according to his New-Testament-Dispensation Can there be the least shadow of Proof produced for it Certainly as it was then told them in that Epistle of Mr. Steed's which they pretend to answer that he never appointed any to administer Teaching and Admonition to his Church but such as are orderly added to it and are qualified by the Gifts of the Holy Spirit being solemnly allowed or orderly called to such an holy Exercise this being such a Truth which they could not nor did they dare directly to gainsay How grosly do they endeavour to evade it by saying that they are allowed to worship God which is as much as to say to attend on the Worship of God in the Church Now we appeal to their own Consciences whether there be not a great difference between being at or attending on it as them that do worship God and administring Teaching and Admonition to the Church Which if the singing of the Psalms and Hymns c. here mention'd are for that end and use as it 's evident from these Scriptures they are then such Persons are plainly excluded from any such solemn Exercise in the Church if the meaning of it be for a Directionâ— for the publick Worship of God in the Church as they would insinuate Moreover that it plainly excludes such from that kind of Singing in the Church is most evident inasmuch as it is expresly declared that the Singing there spoken of is to be brought forth from the Word dwelling richly in them Col. 3.16 and from being fill'd with the Spirit Eph. 5.19 Now are Unbelievers c. capable of being so qualifi'd in any degree Indeed in their Way of Singing by a compos'd Form there needs no more than the reading or hearing a Psalm or Song read to them and then they are sufficiently furnish'd for it be they never so ignorant profane or unbelieving In answer to which they say they detest such a Singing But why then do they plead for the Singing of such before mention'd who can sing no otherwise but in a carnal formal Manner Can they in truth say they detest that they allow and openly practise and vehemently contend for Secondly These Scriptures if they be as they say to direct the Church in its publick Worship do also plainly exclude the Women from singing in the Church They are expresly forbidden to teach or admonish in the Church but are commanded to be in silence without any exception that they may teach by Singing but not by an ordinary Speaking as we have before declared Thirdly In like manner if it be meant as aforesaid those Psalms and Hymns c. there mention'd are not intended to direct the Churches to sing David's Psalms or any other Psalms recorded in the Scriptures for then certainly our Lord Jesus would have caused them to have been translated into Greek Verse or Meeter for the use of the Churches in those times and as a Pattern for time to come But none ever did or can assert any such thing neither is that Saying of theirs of any weight whereby they would seem to prove that because the word Psalm c. is there mention'd that it must needs be meant of those called the Psalms of David c. because say they God hath given us a Psalm-Book but not a Prayer-Book an Expression which they have borrowed from others in the Scriptures For in that sacred Book there be abundance of the Prayers of holy Men recorded as well as their Songs and especially that our Lord Jesus hath left as a Platform in the manner of a Form of Prayer usually called by the name of the Lord's Prayer Therefore if we may take their Songs and read and sing them in the Church why may we not also take those Prayers at least such as we may think most sutable to our present occasion and read them there for our Prayers in the Church Let them shew if they can why there is not as much reason for the one as for the other Moreover The Book of Psalms as they were sung in the old-testament-Old-Testament-time for which season they were ordained were a part of the Temple-Worship Now if that be our Rule for Musical singing of them now as it must be if they be those Psalms that be here commanded to be sung Musically as a part of the New-Testament-Church's publick Worship then it must be our Rule in all parts which must be necessarily included in this Counsel if the Meaning of it be as they affirm and so there must be Instruments of Musick with Singers or Quiristers in the performance of it except they can prove that one part is abolished and the other remains For what God hath joined
that printed Book of theirs But shall chiefly insist on the main Pillars of their pretended Reasons for that sort of Singing which they would perswade the Churches to entertain as an Ordinance of our Lord and Saviour For if the Foundation fail the Building cannot stand And we shall return a Reply to some of the most gross most false and grievous Accusations and Reflections that are therein so boldly vented and shall leave it with you in the fear of the Lord diligently and seriously to consider and to search the Scriptures waiting for the Spirit of Truth to lead you into this as well as into all other Truths that either concern your most Holy Faith or Practice whereby you may be preserved from turning aside to those Humane Traditions from which you have been delivered which we desire and pray that the Lord may bless unto you for these gracious Ends before-mentioned That which we shall endeavour with as much plainness and brevity as the matter will bear to lay before you are these following Particulars First We shall detect and answer to some of those false Reflections and Accusations cast upon us and the Baptized Churches which are contain'd in Mr. Whinnel's Epistle and in the Book it self Secondly We shall manifest the weakness of the Foundation on which they build their Practice of common or popular Singing which will be apparent by an Impartial Examination of these following Enquiries 1. Whether Singing to the Praise of God according to the Phrase or Expression of it in the Holy Scriptures be to be restrained or only is to be understood of uttering the Praise due to the most High God by a Musical melodious Modulation or tuning of the Voice as they are pleased to describe it 2. Whether Singing to the Praise of God according to the direction given us by our Lord in the New Testament is to be performed by a composed stinted Form by a whole mixt Multitude with the Church-Members in the solemn Assembly of the Church lifting up their Voices together in Consort 3. Whether those Scriptures Col. 3.16 Eph. 5.19 do command or justify such a sort of popular Singing in or by the Church as aforesaid which they so earnestly contend for 4. Whether that Hymn spoken of Mat. 26.30 and Mark 14.26 or the Hymning or as it is translated the Singing the Praise of God by Paul and Silas Acts 16.25 do further justify that Practice which they plead for And First Concerning their Reflections on us or Accusations against us we find Mr. Whinnel insinuating in the beginning of his Epistle as if Custom not Conscience did hinder us from joining with them in their way of Singing To which we answer First That it is a very unbecoming Censure in which there is not the least Grain of Truth or Charity exercised by him The same rash and unjust Judgment may as well be given against him and others for not conforming to the Common Prayer or the Liturgy of the Church of England by those that are zealous for it which we suppose he would reckon to be a very false and a very uncharitable Censure Secondly We do declare to him and to all Men That the Lord knows it is not Custom or a long disuse or neglect of it that makes us averse to that Practice of theirs But Judgment and Conscience knowing on a deliberate and serious Consideration that it hath no more Foundation from any Precept or Example of our Lord Jesus or his Apostles to warrant it than common set Form of Prayer hath In which we are the more confirmed by the weakness of the Arguments which by them and others are produced for the Justification of it But Secondly He doth positively affirm in that Epistle That they had no mind to have published their Thoughts to the World or to have troubled the Churches with any Dissertations about it but endeavoured to have a Friendly Debate with their Brethren who were conven'd to consult the Churches Welfare But that their endeavours therein were obstructed by the Opposers viz. of that common way of Singing And that soon after some of them from an imprudent Zeal not only openly opposed it but took to themselves a lawless Liberty to calumniate those who endeavoured the restoration of it c. Answ To all this bold Calumny we answer that we believe he cannot prove any part of it to be true It is a very false Suggection which is uttered either from a false Information or great Forgetfulness or from a sinful Contrivance For first Whereas he saith they had no mind to have publish'd their Thoughts about it c. but that they were obstructed in their Desires and Attempts to have a friendly Debate c. We reply What was the reason that before any Person that was contrary-minded to that Practice of theirs had said or printed any thing publickly against it that this Opinion of theirs concerning Singing was preach'd up and frequently and vehemently prest by several of them in variety of Assemblies and asserted in Print to the view of all Men by Mr. Keach in his Treatise call'd Gold Refin'd and in his great Book of Scripture Tropes and Metaphors and by Mr. H. C. in a select Treatise on that Subject though with more Sobriety than any we have seen since that hath been published on that Controversy by any of them Had they no mind to publish their Dissertations about it Was their publick Preaching and publick Printing for it against their Minds which was done by them before any Person did openly contradict them in it Who can believe it And all this before there was any motion or mention of a friendly Debate about it that we know of neither as yet do we know of any such Motion seriously made except it were for a Liberty to introduce it by a major Vote in a Church of Christ c. which was long after they had endeavoured to promote it by their Endeavours aforesaid If we were blame-worthy in this matter it was in being so long silent wherâ— by they took the opportunity to leaven so many honest Souls and to beguile so many Churches iâ— their Number be so many as they boast of with this irregular Doctrine and Practice hereby it was that to such a heigth of Confidence Mr. Keach was come who makes Breaches more than he repairs any that when one did but once preach on that Subject of Singing in the Church to which he belongs on a Lord's Day far enough off from Mr. Keach's Congregation because he did it not according to his Sentiments he coming the next day or shortly after in much affection to visit him Mr. Keach having heard of his Preaching as before mention'd immediately falls upon him as soon as ever he came into Mr. Keach's House with a most severe and very uncivil passionate Reprimand for daring to preach after that manner contrary to his Judgment as if he had the preheminence over all But when Mr. Marlow did but endeavour
to manifest the Weakness of Mr. Keach's Arguments for common Singing which he publickly delivered in his Meeting-house not on a Lord's Day but on a select leisure-Time when he was like to have the Company of many Persons of several Churches a Time set apart yearly by him to preach up that with other Doctrines on purpose contriv'd to influence all the Churches especially in the City with that Will-worship or Practice O what a Clamour and Exclamation is there made against Mr. M. for it by him and others of the same Perswasion with him So that it plainly appears they had not a mind to be silent as Mr. Wh. falsly suggests they had but to publish all they could by all manner of ways for the propagating of this Opinion and to controul all with a high imperious Hand that should stand in their way or offer any contradiction to their Design They had no mind to have their Arguments examined they would indeed have none to speak but themselves Secondly Whereas he saith they desired a friendly Debate with their Brethren but were obstructed by the Opposers c. In this also we must charitably reckon that he is very forgetful For he was present at the General-Meeting of the Messengers when he with others of them were proffer'd a time for a friendly Conference on that Subject whenever they would desire it Only it was by the unanimous Consent of the whole Assembly agreed that it was not expedient to have the Controversy argued among them at that time because it would unavoidably obstruct them in the Business they came about which was for the general Good of all the Churches Indeed at the last General Meeting Mr. Whinnel did craftily and surreptitiously in Combination with others on the last Day of that Assembly when the most part of the Country-Messengers were gone home and many of the Messengers of the Churches in the City absent a Time intended only for them that remained to put in order what had been agreed on in the former days of their Assembling that it might be presented to the Churches then did he present something to be debated concerning Persons retaining their Communion with a Church whereof they were Members though the Practice of common Singing were contrary to their declared Judgments and Consciences set up in it Which being then so unseasonably presented in the Absence of the greater part of the Assembly it was witnessed against by many then present as that which was not fit to be debated at that time it savouring more of a politick Contrivance than of Honesty and Candor So that we are confident he cannot produce any time wherein a Debate of the Matter in difference was obstructed or opposed when there was a convenient opportunity for it Lastly Whereas he accuseth those that differ from him in this matter for taking a lawless Liberty to calumniate Persons with their Way of Singing We answer We know not nor ever heard of any that did take such a sinful Liberty to calumniate any on that account it must lie at their own doors For when Mr. Marlow printed his first little Tract about Singing in answer to what Mr. Keach had publickly preach'd for the proof of it at the time aforesaid forthwith four or five of them appear in Print against him with great Vehemency and Zeal though with very weak Arguments and some of them with many bitter and untoward Reflections Mr. Keach falls upon him in a publick House with great Passion without any Provocation given him by Mr. Marlow except his answering his Arguments for common Singing One Sheet among the rest was printed and published by Persons that would not or were ashamed to write their Names at length which was a piece as we may call it of Raillery where there was little else but the uncivil Abusing of Mr. M. which to render him the more infamous was publickly tendered to Persons in some of the Baptized Churches in the City of London Which if Mr. K. was not the Instigator and Contriver yet it is well known that he did promote the Publishing of it But we need go no further than the perusal of this Book printed in answer to Mr. Steed Surely it laid upon them no necessity to answer it as Mr. Wh. would suggest For he writ it for the Church to which he belongs They cannot say he calumniated or reflected upon any of them or medled with any of their Books And the less need had they to write if it be true or that they believe what they say pag. 3. of their Reply That all his Arguments were fully answered in their former Books before that Epistle was printed Why then if it were so they needed but to refer him and others to those Books and set down the Pages where those Answers were to be found and never have troubled themselves to write or others to read their needless and tedious Repetitions But what was it a Crime in their Eyes that the Members of other Churches had the sight of it Must nothing be seen or read by others but what they will allow of without sustaining the penalty of their Contradiction Reflection and Calumny He gave no publick notice of it in an Observator for the whole Nation to know it But if they did think in conscience they must answer his Arguments could it not be done without such untoward Reflections and Accusations There 's scarce a Leaf wherein there be not some untoward Slurs or other inserted Sometimes he is rendred by them a Promoter of Enthusiasm and the Notions of the Seekers or an Upholder of the Way of the Quakers with other such like Invectives Some of their Expressions seem more likâ— unsavoury Jears and Scoffs than a sober Replyâ— though interlarded with the Titles of Honour'd and Dear Brother which may be inserted as a covering for their uncivil treating of him or as Oil upon the Sacrifice to make the Fire of their Indignation to pierce the deeper But what do such causless Reflections or such groundless Accusations serve for certainly for nothing but Exasperation or to manifest unmortifi'd Pride and Passion The Lord grant that if Mr. Th. Wh. or Mr. K. print any more Epistles or Books they may put on more Sobriety Truth and Candor than they have in this Which we mention because he and Mr. Keach in that Book do threaten and boast that they will examine or answer every Treatise that shall come out to hinder their Design in this matter Which Threatning of theirs we trust by the Grace of God will quicken us to be so much the more diligent to defend the Truth of Christ in this matter and not to give the least place to them in this Controversy by silence as we have formerly done For as we are bold to say that Mr. Whinnel hath most falsly accused us to say that any of us have taken a lawless Liberty to calumniate Persons that would endeavour to set up this sort of Singing in the
Churches So we do as boldly in the fear of the Lord declare that the Way of common Singing which they contend for is after the Rudiments of the World after the Traditions of Men but not after Christ It is their lawless Liberty they take thus to accuse and represent us without cause in this Epistle and the like that hath necessitated us for Truth 's sake that 〈◊〉 may not suffer by such false Reports to declare â—uch things concerning some of them which otherwise we should have buried in oblivion But it was not enough it seems that we should be thus scandalously represented by Mr. Wh. in the Epistle that did not give a sufficient vent to their Indignation when we look into the Book where we might expect nothing but Answers to his Arguments there also as we said before we must be exercised with the reading their needless causeless Reflections on Mr. Steed and with their most false slandering of the Baptized Churches in their first gathering We shall say little to their taunting Reflections against him or their imperious treating of him in their Answer to him Only whereas they impertinently say that Mr. Knowles preach'd up the Singing they plead for in the Forenoon and that he preach'd against it in the Afternoon We upon enquiry of the Members of that Church that were present at that time in the Assembly find it to be utterly false a meer Invention put into the Head of some unwary Person to vent which Mr. Wh. and Mr. Keach greedily take up to proclaim without Modesty Sobriety or Verity on which we may with great cause use their own exclaiming Expression Sad Case But it is not with Mr. Steed only that they thus deal but they exhibit a very grievous and a very false Charge against those of the same Profession that were more ancient in it than the Authors of this Reply who vent this Scandal or any of those that by their Epistle have commended the same When those ancient Brethren were convinced of their duty That Believers upon Confession of their Faith were the only Subjects of Baptism and accordingly sate down together in Communion as a Congregation or Church of Christ and many in the Nation began to enquire into the truth thereof they met with many harsh Censures and false Charges cast upon them to make the Truth of Christ contemptible viz. That they were corrupt in the Doctrines of the Gospel That they denied Subjection to Magistates that they held that to maintain Ministers was Antichristian c. They to clear themselves and to take off those false Charges did think it their duty to publish to the Nation a Confession of their Faith which when drawn up was read in the Churches being then seven in number and consented to by all the Members not one dissenting and subscribed by two of each Church in the name of the rest Which Confession of Faith was five times printed in that year 1644 and from that to the year 1651 without the least alteration of any one Article of what was first printed which Confession gave such general Satisfaction to most Christians of all sorts of differing Perswasions from us that it took off from many that Prejudice and Offence that was formerly taken by them against our Profession What the Judgment of those Churches 〈◊〉 their first Constitution was concerning the Maintenance of Ministers may be seen in the 38th Article in these words We do believe that the duâ— Maintenance of Ministers should be the free and voluntary Communication of the Church That according to Christ's Ordinance they that preach the Gospel should live on the Gospel c. And accordly they did then and we have ever since made it our Practice as a Duty required of all the Members of the Church that are able to give True it â—s that our Churches since the first have not been filled with many of them that have the Riches of this World the Poor receive the Gospel But this we can say with comfort and appeal to the Lord herein That according to our Abilities we have given to the Maintenance of our Ministers nor have any had any just cause to complain to the contrary that we know of although it hath been and is our trouble that we have not been able to make so great a Provision for them as we desire Herein we would be understood in this that we now assert concerning the Churches that we mean principally as they were in the beginning And we do find to our great Grief that which was then falsly charg'd upon us by those that did not know us is now as falsly with a far greater Aggravation of their Sin charg'd upon us by some of us who might have satisfied themselves had they perused our Confession of Faith But either they were willingly ignorant or negligent in enquiring but resolv'd to calumniate and therefore in the 9th Page of the said Book they charge us with the same things in these words It is a Question whether the said Baptized Churches in those times did not as unanimously conclude and declare too that for a Gospel-Ministry to have a yearly Allowance or a competent Maintenance was a humane Invention or Anti-christian We speak say they in part upon our own Knowledg and by good Information we have had from others To this Charge we answer That nothing can be more falsly asserted or more slanderously uttered For if this their Charge have the least shadow of Truth against the Baptized Churches in their first beginning here in England they must needs be the grossest fort of Hypocrites in professing the contrary by their Profession of Faith and yet believing and practising quite otherwise to what they solemnly professed as their Faith in that matter And we believe they cannot give one true Instance that any Church of the Baptists that are sound in the Faith ever did in the least conclude or declare against a competent Maintenance for a Gospel-Ministry as a humane Invention or Anti-christian since those times To conclude as to this matter concerning their unworthy Reflections and false Accusations tho we might instance in moâ—◠〈◊〉 one sort or other in that Book we must declare that we do wonder that any Persons professing Piety would commend that Book as a sober Discourse â—â—â—â—out any Limitation or Exception against 〈◊〉 gross and fulsom Slanders which with so much Confidence are delivered whatever their Judgments be concerning the Controversy about Singing Moreover We hope the Baptized Churches their Elders Ministers and Members do hereby at least see great cause to suspect and to be very cautious in believing that Spirit that would perswade them to the way of common or popular Singing which would make way for its Entertainment by such notorious Falshoods and abominable Slanders which were certainly devised by the Father of Lies thereby to offend or stumble the Weak tho otherwise honest and well-meaning Having now answered to some of their unrighteous and scandalous
A SERIOUS ANSWER TO A Late BOOK STILED A REPLY to Mr. Robert Steed's EPISTLE concerning SINGING WHEREIN The chief Scriptures and Arguments are examined and the Weakness thereof shewed TOGETHER With an ANSWER to the several Reflections and false Charges against both Churches and Persons Recommended to the Elders Ministers and Members of the Baptized Churches Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth Jer. 20.10 I heard the defaming of many Report say they and we will report London Printed in the Year 1692. To the Elders Ministers and Members of the Baptized Churches throughout England and Wales Beloved in our Lord IT is a great Truth that as we are not to omit any thing in the Solemn Worship of God that is of his Appointment so we are not to admit any thing that is not of his Institution under any pretence whatsoever to be intruded upon us But it is greatly to be lamented that there is a proneness in Professors except by Grace prevented to turn aside from this Holy Rule either through the Infirmity of the Flesh or the Deception or Infection which through Temptation they meet withal in the World whereof there hath been and still is continually sad Experience An Instance whereof we have in the matter we have now to present to your serious Consideration When it pleased the Lord in Times past to inlighten some gracious Holy Persons in that great Ordinance of Baptism as it was commanded by our Lord and Saviour and practised by Him and his Apostles and the Primitive Churches And therefore to cast off Infants Sprinkling which was set up in the room of it as a Humane Invention They were then also on Scripture-Grounds well weighed and seriously considered convinced that the common way of praying to God or praising of God in what manner soever it were performed by a composed Form as usually then was and still is the Custom of many Protestants was not of Divine Institution and therefore to be rejected And accordingly it was in those Days laid aside by the Baptized Churches whom the Lord then graciously and eminently owned by many signal Tokens of his Presence among them But now to our great Grief some whose Duty and Place it was to have setled and further to have established the Churches in that Work of Reformation are declined from it asserting with Heat and Confidence that to sing by a composed Form with a whole Multitude lifting up their Voices together the Ignorant and Profane the Unbelievers or Unconverted with the Church-Members is an Ordinance of our Lord Jesus which they practise and with vehement Earnestness are contending for whereby the Peace and Edification of the Churches is hindred and the Minds and Consciences of many gracious Souls perplexed and intangled By this they are not only building again what hath been destroyed but thereby also there is plain Introduction unto a farther declining in Prayer and others of the Holy Ordinances of our Blessed Lord and Law-giver This common or popular way of Singing they also with great endeavour are labouring to promote in all the Churches by their publick pleading for it by Preaching and Printing in the defence of it And therein they not only vehemently contradict and oppose whatever is presented by any from the Holy Scriptures to deliver them or others from that Humane Invention which hath been so long rejected by the Churches aforesaid but they also take a licentious Liberty to reflect upon them that would hinder their design in this matter not only most falsly aspersing them but also uttering a most false Accusation and Slander against the Baptized Churches in their first gathering laying that to their Charge as a received Principle owned by them which they had openly declared against to the whole World in their Confession of Faith which was in those Days Printed and Published whereby they stigmatize or brand them with the deepest Hypocrisy that depraved Mortals can be guilty of These Things which are matter of great Lamentation are either evidently insinuated or plainly declared in a late printed Tract concerning Singing in answer to a small Sheet published by Mr. R. Steed which was intended chiefly for and therefore written by way of Epistle to that Church to which he is related which by some Friends that had perused it was given also into the Hands of the Members of other Churches wherein he only gives his understanding of what the Holy Scriptures speak concerning that Subject without mentioning or reflecting on any others that are of a contrary Mind But Mr. Keach who is the chief Promoter of this Controversy so as to heighten it to a Contention said It must be answered and that he would answer it And we do not question on good grounds but that he and Mr. Whinnel by his Instigation joined together to contrive that Answer which they have printed Tho Mr. Keach as we are informed did say to some that Mr. Wh. was not the Author of it It 's very probable that he was not the principal but Mr. K. expects to have the greatest Honour in due time of that Enterprize as being the chiefest Contriver of it But that their Book might pass with the greater Applause and Credit it is in the beginning of it recommended by an Epistle as a very sober Answer subscribed with several Names at the Conclusion of it Some of those Persons whose Names are there subscribed are such as we have no Communion with being such as are called Free-willers or Arminians holding a falling away from true Grace And some others whose Names are set down have professed that they did not subscribe it And some that did give their consent say they had not done it had it not been for Mr. Keach's Importunity And one of the chief of them saith that he never saw the Epistle till after it was printed to which his Hand was subscribed So that it 's ushered in with a gross Forgery in the beginning of it as it is carried on with unchristian Reflections and false Accusations which certainly cannot consist with Christian Sobriety or common Honesty whatever may be pretended But Mr. Keach who knows how to take Refined Gold out of another Man's Mine or Lines made ready to his Hand and present it as his own finding tho to the great prejudice of him whose indeed it was may know also how to take the Liberty to subscribe other Persons Names tho without their Consent The serious Consideration of these Things as they have been matter of Trouble and Sorrow to us so they have engaged some of us who have hitherto been silent as to these things now to appear for the Truth of our Lord against such Innovations And therefore to endeavour that the Churches may not be abused nor their Members deceived by such Artifices as these are We do not intend to answer every seeming Argument and carping Cavil or to take notice of every unseeming Reflection contained in