of God in Jesus Christ Pardon of Sin Justification Union Communion Adoption c. No no here is the Spring of Joy and cause of true spiritual Singing and none can learn David's Psalms nor any other Scripture-Hymns or Songs thus to sing them but the 144000 none but such who have that new Name that new Nature can learn this Song as thus to sing it Rev. 14. 3. And let me tell you this Singing of the hundred and forty four thousand spoken of was under the Reign of Antichrist for the seven Angels with their seven Vials came out of the Temple afterwards who destroy Babylon Take what our late Annotators speak on the place The New Song here spoken of is probably the same with that we met with before chap. 5. 11. sang by the Voice of many Angels round about the Throne and the Beasts and the Elders called a new Song either for the excellency of it or because sung unto God after Christ was manifested in the Flesh The design of it was to declare the worthiness of Christ to receive Power and Riches and Wisdom and Strength and Honour and Blessing A new Song signifies a Song which praises God for new benefits received from him During the Reign of Antichrist none could learn this Song to give Power Riches Wisdom Strength Honour Glory and Blessing but a small number redeemed through the Blood of Christ Annot. on Rev. 14. 3. Secondly You say The singing of David's Psalms were suitable to all the rest of the Levitical Ceremonies and Temple-Worship pag. 12 13. Answ There is no doubt but the Singing of David's Psalms with Instruments of Musick was suited to the order of the Levites and to the Temple-worship What then must not we sing Psalms in the Gospel-days with Grace in our Hearts to the Lord We know no Psalms but David's Psalms or those called the Book of Psalms and the holy Ghost doth injoin the Gospel-Churches to sing Psalms as well as Hymns and spiritual Songs Will you take upon you to countermand God's holy Precept Will you say Very Tightly Bound we must not sing Psalms when the Churcheâ— are exhorted so to do Pray when you writâ— again tell us what Psalms they are the Holy Ghost there speaks of if not them or some oâ— them called the Psalms of David True all Types Shadows and Ceremonies are removed and done away but Singing thâ— Praise of God was no Ceremony but a Moraâ— Duty and performed by the Children of Israel before the Law of Shadows and Ceremonies was given forth Exod. 15. 1 2. You may 〈◊〉 well say Prayer was a Ceremony because theâ—â— were divers ceremonial Rites used in the performance of it particularly that of Incense 2. Did not Christ sing an Hymn after thâ— Supper Would he have left that as a Patteâ—â— to us and annexed it to such a pure Gospel-Ordinance had it been a Ceremony and only belonging to the Jewish Worship Or would the Apostle Paul have given by the Authority of the Holy Ghost such a Precept to thâ— Church of Coloss to sing Psalms c. whom 〈◊〉 strives so much to take off from Jewish Ritesâ— Days and Ceremonies Had singing of Psalmsâ— Hymns and spiritual Songs been a Jewish Ceremony he would not have done thus This is sufficient to convince any sober and unbiaâ—â—eâ— Person i. e. that Singing the Praises of God iâ— a Gospel-Duty and that it did not belong only to the Jews in the Days of the Old Testament But you contradict this your self foâ— afterwards you grant that the Saints when the extraordinary Gifts are given as you suppose they will in the thousand Years Reign you intimate then they shall sing as we do or else I know not what you mean How shall they use a legal and Typical Rite that only appertained to the Jews and Levites in that glorious state of the Church Doubtless their Singing of Old with musical Instruments was a Figure of that sweet spiritual Melody the Saints should make from a well-tuned gracious Heart and with united and melodious Tongues together in the Gospel-days as I have again and again shewed and this therefore is not mixing Law and Gospel together but continuing a Gospel-Ordinance in the Church that is of Gospel-Authority both from Precepts and Examples as I have proved in this Treatise so that I have answered your second and third and part of your fourth Thesis together Thirdly you say The matter of David's Psalms and other holy Men were suited to particular Occasions and Experiences and Accidents of that day as may be seen by divers of their Titles Some Prophecies of the Sufferings of Christ c. And some Places hard to be understood so improper to be sung by all the Church who can't sing them with Vnderstanding as well as justifying the singing Prayers as well as Praises Pag. 14. Answ Most of the Book of Psalms contains proper Instructions for most Occasions the People of God can find What was written afore Time the Apostle says was written for our Learning All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction and for Instruction in Righteousness 2 Tim. 3. 16. If all Scripture then the Book of the Psalms and for instruction by Singing them too because so required by the Holy Spirit Eph. 5. 19. Coloss 3. 16. May you not as well say they are of no use to us The Book of Psalms good Men look upon as the Heart of our Sacred Bible and as fruitful a Book for Saints in Gospel-times as any Book in the Old Testament but if there be any Psalms that can't so well be sung as some others God's People are at their liberty whether they will sing them or no however unless you can tell us there are others called Psalms besides these you say nothing for we are required to sing Psalms And as to those things contained in David's Psalms that are hard to be understood they may be opened to the People before they are sung As touching singing Prayers I have spoken to this already Though we are against humane Forms of Prayer yet the Singing of David's Psalms wherein there are some Prayers are of Divine Institution and therefore 't is lawful to sing Psalms and Hymns that have some Expressions Prayer-wife in them Our Brethren say praising of God in Prayer is Singing and indeed if they did not thus conclude I am perswaded they could not satisfy their Consciences to lie wholly short of this Duty and therefore in their sense singing of some part of Prayer is lawful or else Singing is something they do not as yet own nor can tell us what it is As to what you say in the fifth place p. 14. Object That David's Psalms were limited to the Levites Answ 'T is nothing to your purpose 't is rather an Argument for singing Psalms by the whole Church for the whole Church is that spiritual Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by
Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. That as the Priesthood or Leviâ—â—s sung together under the Law with Instruments of Musick it might typify out how the whole Church should sing spiritually with Grace in their Hearts to the Lord together under the Gospel You say in the next place pag. 15. Object There is no Institution to sing David's Psalms and that Christ nor his Apostles ever 〈◊〉 practised And also if the Apostles had occasion to translate any Text out of the Hebrew 〈◊〉 the Greek they did never turn them into Metre Answ There is an Institution to sing David ' s Psalms Ephes 5. 19. Col. 3. 16. If there be 〈◊〉 â—ther Psalms mentioned in the Scripture besides David's Psalms or the Book of Psalms and the Churches are required to sing Psalms as well 〈◊〉 Hymns Then there is a Gospel-Institution for singing of David's Psalms But there are no other Psalms mentioned in the Scripture besidâ—â— David's Psalms or the Book of Psalms and the Churches are required to sing Psalms as well as Hymns Ergo. The singing of David's Psalms or Psalms contained in the Book of Psalms is a Gospel-Institution That the Churches are required to sing Psalms we have shewed again and again Eph. 5. 19. If there be any other Psalms besides what are contained in the Book of Psalms which are so called you must shew which they be and then we will use those which we shall have the clearest ground to judg the Spirit of God may intend As to their translating any of them into Metre out of Hebrew into Greek it is remote to the Business we know not they did translate any Scripture at all out of Hebrew into Greek III. Of prescribed and precomposed Songs and Hymns First say you If the Essence of Singing as before is shewed consisteth in an inward spiritual Exercise of the Soul or Mind of Man and that both the Matter and the Melody of it proceedeth from the inward Graces and Operations of the Holy Spirit with the Word then surely no humane prescribed Form of Singing can be accepted of God but that which proceedeth from the Word of God by the Dictates and Teachings of the Holy Spirit You mention Ephes 5. 18 19. Col. 3. 16. Pag. 15. Again pag. 16. Now the Essence of Singing consisteth of these two parts viz. Matter from the Word and Melody by the Spirit So that neither the Word nor the Spirit can be wanting and therefore whatsoever Forms are used which proceed not from within us out of a Fulness and Enriching of the Word and Spirit cannot be Spiritual Singings Answ Brother who do you encounter with now 'T is evident this doth not concern as you need not have taken so much time and pains to prove that which no Body that I know denies But before I come to reply to that I cannot but take notice how you hug your former Notion of Essence of Singing but I perceive your have found out the Essence of Singing is not in the Spirit alone but it has Matter and Form too the Matter you say is God's Word there you are right you say The Melody lies in the Heart that is partly true but there must be something else added to the Essence of Singing or else you have it not and that is the chief thing the only thing from whence it 's called Singing that is a melodious Voice add that and then you plead for Singing take that away and 't is no more than inward Joy or Rejoicing Singing Mr. Caryl tells you is an Act of the Voice 'T is a melodious Noise do not mistake your self in one of the most plain and easiest Acts of the Bâ—dily Organ or Act of the Tongue But to the Business no Hymn must be made nor composed from God's Word it appears without the help and assistance of the holy Spirit I am of your Mind But I hope you do not mean the miraculous or extraordinary Help or Operations of the Spirit because you are a speaking of the Administrations of the Gospel and Gospel-Worship in general Now there are two things to be â—â—â—â—â—dered in bringing forth a Doctrine viz. That 't is agreeable to the Word of God he that compiles a Sermon must be sure to see 't is God's Word i. e. congruous thereunto and provable therefrom or else 't is humane 2. He must bring forth and preach it by the help and assistance of the Spirit also or else it may still be Human no Divine Sermon So and in like manner in compiling of an Hymn it must be as to the matter the Word of Christ Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms Hymns and spiritual Songs singing c. Col. 3. 19. See here the Direction for the matter of an Hymn or spiritual Song it must be in general the Word of Christ as it must be the Word of Christ that is to be preached Even so also aâ— Hymn c. must be we say compiled out of the Word of Christ and in singing of it there must be the assistance of the holy Spirit But now will you say we have not the Spirit of Christ in composing the Hymn which is part of Christ's Word Take heed you are too full of hard Words and Censures another may nay and some do say so too we have no Rule to compose a Sermon and I will say and testify I know no more Rule for a precomposed Sermon to be preached than for a precomposed Hymn that is to be sung and I am satisfied I have equally in them both the like assistance of the Spirit Your speaking here of the Spiritualness of the Gospel above the Law doth nothing in your case We grant it and say Our Singing differs now under the Gospel as to the Spirituality of it to that under the Law as much as my other Gospel-Service or Worship doth Our Sermons are no more made for us in God's Word than our Hymns are and we have equal Direction in both these weighty â—â—ses and I must tell you this way of 〈◊〉 you use is enough if People did observe it to overthrow all visible Worship and Ordinances unless we could make it appear 〈◊〉 we had the immediate and extraordinary help of the Spirit in the discharge of them Away â—â—ith one with your carnal and human preaching 't is a Form invented and done by Art will you call this Gospel-preaching The Apostles 〈◊〉 as they were moved by a mighty Spirit within them you must preach by immediate inspiration and not precomposed Sermons or else your Sermons are formal Thus you open a Door for Quakerism and throw Stâ—â—bling-blocks before the weak I intreat you to consider of it 2. Doubtless what the Apostles did by an extraordinary Spirit in bringing in a Doctrine and an Interpretation c. is a Rule for us in the ordinary Gifts for they preached and prayed c. by the wonderful or extraordinary Influences of the Spirit and
that Men should go about to restrain or withhold Praises from the Lord which are due to his holy Name and wherein we are said to glorify him Psal 50. 23. I am perswaded they will have but little Thanks from him one day for their thus doing And truly that want of God's Presence or liveliness of Spirit or that cause of Complainings that are in our Churches of which you speak may partly arise from hence i. e. from the general neglect of this great Duty in which God of old appeared amongst his People like a cloud to fill his House with his glorious Presence 2 Chron. 5. 13. owned also by God's gracious Testimony in giving his People 〈…〉 such eminent Victories over their Enemies 2 Chron. 20. 21 22. And when they had consulted with the People and appointed Singers unto the Lord that they should praise the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness they went out before the Army and to say Praise the Lord for 〈◊〉 Mercy endureth for ever And when they began to sing and to praise the Lord set Ambushments against the Children of Ammon Moab and Mount Seir which came against Judah and they were smitten Israel's Success saith Mr. Wells follows Israel's Singing If the Lord's People will be found in their Duty they shall not want God's Presence To this I might add that glorious witness of his Presence in delivering Paul and Silas out of Prison upon their Praying and Singing Praises to him Act. 16. There may 't is true be a natural Joy or false Rapture by an erring Spirit but that Joy and Presence of God we meet with in his own Way and Ordinance nay in the same Ordinance in which he met with his People of old we may be sure is to be prized and esteemed as no natural or counterfeit Joy say you what you please If in singing Psalms Hymns c. there is no other Rule or Directions given in the New Testament differing from the Practice of the Saints before the Law under the Law and in Gospel-days performed by Christ and his Disciples Then no Christian has cause in the least to doubt but so we are to sing since 't is a Duty and injoyned on the Churches in the New Testament Ephes 5. 19. Col. 3. 16. But this I have spoken largely to already likewise See Chap. 9. In Pag. 47. of your Book you say As to Forms of Prayer and Singing you have sufficiently treated of them before and that the sufficient Gifts of the Spirit shall continue for the Worship of God in the Gospel-Church to the end of the World and therefore your Business here you say is only to shew that the using a Form of Preaching is no Example for a Form of Singing Because say you there is reason for a Form of Preaching from God's Word and Example of Christ himself who read a Text and then preached from it though as he was not so others are not limited to that or any particular Forms yet it is lawful for them and required of them to compare Spiritual Things with Spiritual and to give themselves to reading and meditation and to hold fast the form of sound Words rightly dividing the Word of Truth So that where the Scripture gives us a liberty we may use it but it is our Sin to take it where it is forbidden as you say you have shewed in a form of Prayer and Singing Answ In vain is all this for all the Saints and Ministers of Christ in all the World know there is no one form of Preaching laid down in all the Scripture We have no direct Precept nor Example to preach in the form of taking a Text of Scripture and to raise a Doctrine from it and then Generals and Particulars with Application 't is left to the faithful Servants of God to make use of such a Form or Manner as the Spirit of God may help them to and the best Form or Method they ought and do make use of which they judg may most tend to the profit of the People That place you mention of our Saviour taking a Text and then preaching from it is scarcely true however 't is a greater proof for a Form of Reading the Scripture in our Publick Assemblies than for taking a Text to preach from it The Text saith He went into the Synagogue of the Jews on the Sabbath-day and stood up to read Aud there was delivered to him the Book of the Prophet Isaias and when he had opened the Book he found the place where it was written The Spirit of the Lord is upon me c. Luk. 4. 17 18. And he closed the Book so do not we and gave it again to the Minister vers 20. And began to say unto them This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your Ears vers 21. We read of no more he spake unto them from that Scripture And as touching those general Directions you mention of comparing spiritual Things with Spiritual c. 1 Cor. 2. 13. the Apostle doth not prescribe a Form of Preaching but shews as our Annotators observe how they did disclaim those Orations of the Athenian Philosophers using a plain and spiritual Stile giving the naked Truths of God without any paint of gawdery Phrase speaking the Oracles of God as the Oracles of God fitting Spiritual Things to Spiritual Persons or opening one Scripture by another But certain it is they preached by an Immediate and extraordinary Spirit or Inspiration And so do not we but by an ordinary Spirit from the mediate Word and therefore must study and are left to use what Method we think may be as I said before most profitable for the Edification of the People so that although the Matter of our Sermons are God's Word and so Divine and Sacred yet the Form or Method you may as well call Formal and Human as so to call our Sacred Hymns c. God hath graciously owned nevertheless this form of Preaching and daily doth for the conversion of many Sinners and so he doth our way of Singing to the comforting and refreshing the Souls of many Saints We have matter to be sung plainly expressed viz. the Word of Christ in Psalms and they are well known and also Hymns and Spiritual Songs which are also easily known by such who are Spiritual whether they be the Sacred Word of Christ as to the Matter of them or not as it may be known that the Doctrine is so which we hear preached As touching David's Psalms they are formally God's Word as well as materially so and since we are exhorted to sing Hymns and Spiritual Songs I ask whether those Hymns and Spiritual Songs could be without a Form either immediately or mediately precomposed by the Spirit and whether the Spirit of God doth not may not assist God's Servants now in precomposed Hymns as he did of old Object But may be you will say They are not in Metre in the Scripture but other words are added to make them fit to be
what was said before from other Authors And further to confirm this sense of the word I might here add Zanch. Davâ—n Beza c. Then he proceeds to the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which he renders Hymnum cano I sing an Hymn this word is used Mat. 26. 30. Marâ— 14. 26. Acts 16. 25. Heb. 2. 12. and in all these places is rendred by Beza who was eminently skilled in the Greek Tongue after the same manner and on Mat. 26. 30. he commends Erasmus for correcting the vulgar Latin in changing dicto Hymno the 〈◊〉 being said to cùm ceciâ—issent Hymnum i. e. when they had sung an Hymn On ver 20. he gives an account out of Josephâ—s of the Jews manner in eating the Passeover and closing it with an Hymn consisting of Psalm 113. and the five immediately following which the Jews call their Magnum Hallelujah their great Song of Praise to God and it is the Opinion of many Learned Men that Christ sang this with his Disciples tho Grotius thinks that Christ made another on that occasion Now as to the three Authors Mr. M. mentions out of Mr. L. who differ in their version of these words we may justly sppose that by Praises they mean Praises in Verse and by saying Praises they mean such a saying as was accompanied with singing otherwise their rendering may be censured as improper Now Mr. M. proceeds to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isa 25. 1. which is derived of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in the Conjugation Hiphil signifies hath praised or coâ—fessed and as it is in other words the sense must be governed by the Context and so in this place the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tho render'd by Arias Montanus I will confess yet if he doth not mean such a Confession as was to be made by singing the Song of Praise to God for his manifold Benefits bestowed upon his Church his Version is not so agreeable to the Context as that of the Septuagint who render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will sing Praise and the like may be said of his Version Isa 12. 4. What is said in the third Paragraph and beginning of the fourth concerning the rendring those words before mentioned and some others is of little importance in clearing the present Controversy seeing it is granted already that God may be praised without Singing tho Singing is a principal way of setting forth the Praise of God as Dr. Owen saith And certainly that which is the principal way of praising God ought not to be excluded by Christiansâ— neither can we think that these Translators had any design to do it seeing they use such words as include this as well as other ways of praising God And whereas Mr. M. thinks he hath got clear and undeniable Evidence for his simple praising God only he hath got none at all unless three be not contained in the number four because one is Solomon saith The wringing of the Nose brings forth Blood and straining the words of these Translators may bring forth a sense which they never intended I see no such restrictive terms used by them which may reasonably be thought to restrain the Duty of Praising God to the particular mode of this Author but if they did intend it I could if the Bounds of my Paper would admit it produce six or seven Translators who are generally esteemed by learned Men very accurate who have render'd the words for that way of praising God which is pleaded for in the foregoing Treatise The Author which Mr. M. cites out of Marlorate on Mat. 26. 30. pretends it is uncertain with what words they praised God that is whether it was with the common Passeover-Hymn or some other of Christ's own which might be more sutable to the occasion and whether they sang this Praise or spake it simply the following words of the Author not being well render'd by Mr. Tymme I shall set down they are these Graecum verbum laudem quidem maxime quae Deo debetur includit non autem necessario evincit quòd cecinerint i. e. the Greek word indeed includes Praise chiefly that which is due to God But undoubtedly it doth evince that they sang 1. From the genuine Signification of the Original Word And 2. From the current of Learned Men who go this way To conclude I sincerely desire that the Lord would make this Friend sensible of the Evil and Vanity of this Attempt to remove out of the Church this part of Religious Worship which hath been kept up so many Ages both under the Law and under the Gospel FINIS ADVERTISEMENT THere is in the Press and will be published next Week a Treatise Intituled Spiritual Melody containing some hundred of Sacred Scripture-Hymns chiefly on Metaphorical Scriptures as they lie in a Book Intituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Key to open Scripture Metaphors formerly published by this Author with many others of several Occasions as they have been sung in divers Congregations Composed and now published by B. Keach at the earnest Request and Desire of several Christian Friends Printed for J. Hancock and to be sold at his Shop in Castle-Alley on the West side of the Royal Exchange in Cornhil THere is almost ready for the Press an Exposition on all the Parables and express Similitudes in the Four Evangelists It will be above one hundreed Sheets The PROPOSALS whereof with a Specimen which will contain two Sermons an Exemplar of the whole Work will be on the Par abolical Saying of our Saviour in Mat. 12. 43. When the unclean Spirit is gone out of a Man c. Written by the foresaid Author and will God willing be published in a very short time * Manuscript Psalmody This Epistle of Pliny is extant in Euseb Hist Eccles lib. 2. c. 17. In Ephes 3. 19. it was not Vocal Singing yet here he says 't is a Vocal Singing * This shews other Spiritual Songs may be sung besides David's Psalms in Gospel-days this was none of those Read pag. 8. of Mr. Marlow's Book
〈◊〉 Voice p. 7. A Metaphorical Singing mentioned in Scripture p. 7. No mental Singing as there is no mental praying p. 12. The Essence of Singing no more in the Heart or Spirit 〈◊〉 the Essence of Preaching c. p. 14. Singing is a musical melodious Modulation or timing of 〈◊〉 Voice p. 15. 'T is not praising of God in Prayer p. 16. Wherein Singing and other praisings of God differ p. 16 17. Several distinct Noises of the Tongue or bodily Organ 19 20. They that 〈◊〉 not with the Voice sing not at all p. 21. Singing thâ— Praises of God proved our Duty from the Antiâ—â—â— of that Practice of the Angels singing at God's bringing 〈◊〉 the first visible Creation The Angels sung also at the â—â—nging in the second Creation or Work of Redemption 22 23 24. Singing an Act of the Voice and also an Act of God's â—â—rship p. 24. The Devil a great Enemy to the singing of God's Praise 〈◊〉 sing to Christ p. 25 26. An Argument to prove Singing part of God's Worship p. 27. Singing a Moral Duty proved by four Demonstrations â— 30 to p. 40. An Argument to prove it our Duty to sing Praise to God â—â—ken from its being a part of Natural Religion p. 41. Singing our Duty from the Practice of God's People beâ—re the Law under the Law and under the Gospel p. 41 〈◊〉 p. 45. Singing of Psalms c. our Duty proved from Scripture-Precepts p. 45 to p. â—2 Singing under the Law with Instruments of Musick typical p. 53. Singing the Praises of God proved to be our Duty because instituted under the Gospel and injoyned on the Churches p. 54 to p. 56. An Argument from thence p. 59. Obj. We cannot tell how to come at Singing answered p. 85. Singing God's Praises c. confirmed by a Miracle as other Gospel-Ordinances were p. 60. Obj. Singing was done by an extraordinary Gift therefore we must not sing now answered p. 62 146 147. The direful Consequents of such an Assertion p. 63. An Argument drawn from the extraordinary Gift in the Apostolical Church in bringing in a Psalm c. p. 64 65. Proving Singing of Psalms our Duty from the Practice of the Churches next after the Apostles Times p. 65 66 67. Shewing the form or manner of singing and that it ought to be with united Voices p. 70 71 72. Singing together with united Voices proved from the Practice of the Saints under the Old Testament p. 74 75. Proving Singing together in publick Worship our Duty from Scripture-Prophecies that relate to Gospel-days p. 75 76 77 78 79 80. Proving 'tis our Duty to sing God's Praises with united Voices from the great Noise singing in the Scripture is said to make p. 83. Four Sylogistical Arguments to prove singing together with united Voices the true manner of performance of this Duty p. 85 86 87 89. Shewing what Matter it is we should sing that the Matter in general must be the Word of Christ What is meant by Psalms Hymns and spiritual Songs p. 90. Ephes 5. 19. Col. 3. 16. distinctly opened p. 91 92 93 94. Other Hymns may be sung besides David's Psalms p. 95 96 97 98. p. 154 160 161. Shewing who ought to sing God's Praises and that the whole Church ought so to do p. 10â— Obj. What ground to sing before or after Sermon Answered pag. 102. Obj. What ground for the Church to sing with Vnbelievers Answered p. 105 106 107 108 120. Mr. Marlow's Book examiâ—â— and answered p. 111. No Apostacy or going back to sing God's Praises p. 112. Speaking and Admonishing one another in Psalms c. what plainly opened p. 113 114. The speaking to our selves in Psalms Ephes 5. 19. and Admonishing one another in Psalms meanâ— one and the same thing p. 114 115. Paul speaks not to Ministers in those words but to the whole Church p. 117 118. The folly of Mr. Marlow laid open about what be speaks of the Essence of Singing p. 122. His Notion about the Essence of Singing c. tends to destroy all External Duties and Ordinances p. 123 124. It confirm Quakerism and their Silent Meetings p. 125 126. Obj. No Institution for Singing till David's Time Answered p. 127 128. Obj. Singing of David's Psalms only suited to Levitical Ceremonies and Temple Worship answered p. 129 130. Objections about the Matter of David's Psalms Answered p. 131. Mr. Marlow's Objections and Cavils against precomposed Hymns Answered p. 134 135. Like Rule for precomposed Spiritual Hymns out of God's Word as for precomposed Sermons largely proved p. 136 137. Obj. Women must not speak in the Church therefore must not sing in the Church Answered p. 139 140 141. Obj. 1 Cor. 14. 20 to 34. about an extraordinary Gift to sing Answered p. 142 143 144. What meant by Winter and time of the singing of Birds Cant. 2. opened p. 147 148. Obj. Singing in the Temple by an Extraordinary Gift Answered p. 146 147. Mr. Marlow's Reply to Isa 52. 8. about the Watchâ—â—â— singing together Answered p. 149 150. The Antitype of Solomon's Temple not the Church in the 1000 Years Reign p. 150. Mr. Marlow's Reply to Christ's singing an Hymn with â—is Disciples p. 151. His Objections from Acts 4. 24. Answered Dr. Du-Veil's sense of the Greek word Hymnos p. 151. Mr. Marlow's Reply to Paul and Silas's singing Answered p. 153. Obj. Moses's Song by Inspiration Answered p. 160. Obj. Prayer under the Law differs from Prayer under the Gospel and so singing differs also There were Shadows and Legal Rites used in them then largely Answered p. 162 163. Jewish Temple-Worship Jewish Day of Worship Jewish Mâ—sick in Worship the Levites Maintenance all Legal Rites and Shadows yet to meet together to worship God a time of Worship a Maintenance for Gospel-Ministers and Singing all moral and perpetual Duties p. 165 166 167 168. Obj. A greater Measure of the Spirit required to sing than to pray answered p. 170 171. Obj. None must sing but such who are Merry or have an extraordinary cause so to do Answered p. 172. Obj. No Command to sing in Publick Worship again answered p. 173. As much Rule to sing before and after Sermons as to pray at those times proved p. 173. The Cause of the Decays in Churches what p. 176. Obj. Precomposed Forms Carnal Answered p. 177. As much ground to object against precomposed Sermons p. 179. Obj. David's Psalms the Original not in Metre Answered p. 180. The dangerousness of Mr. Marlow's Cavils about the Form and Manner of performing Ordinances opened p. 181 182. Singing a piece of Art Answered p. 103. Obj. The Gift for Singing not continued in the Church Answered p. 185. Mr. Marlow's unchristian Conclusion of his Book answered with Reflections thereupon p. 186 187. Singing God's Praises an Vniversal Duty done by all sorts of Men at all times in Affliction and at Martyrdom p. 189 190. The Vse and excellent Profit of singing God's Praises p. 190 191 192. The Contents of our Answer
since that time a corrupt People and false in their Church-Constitution and polluted with humane Innovation or Inventions of Men the abuse of an Ordinance is subject to raise Mens Spirits to a dislike of the thing it self But blessed be God I have for near twenty Years last past been fully convinced of the Truth of the Ordinance I now contend for and have an equal esteem for it through Grace as I have for any other Truth knowing every Word of God is pure and have found no little comfort in the practice of it publickly in the Church and in private also And that all may see upon what Authority we have received and do practise this Ordinance of singing of Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs I have wrote this Treatise and do hope with the Blessing of God it may tend to establish such who own it to be an Ordinance of Christ and convince others who either oppose it or through want of Light live in the neglect of it Singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs an Holy Ordinance of Jesus Christ CHAP. I. Wherein it is shewed what Singing is or what it is to sing or what the Word doth import IT may seem strange to some wise and learned Men that I begin here possibly they will say there is no need to speak a word about this for all the World are agreed in the Case all know what it is to sing as well as they know what it is to speak Though this be true yet I find a necessity to open this Act of the Bodily Organ as will appear by what follows for some Men it seems are so confounded in their Thoughts that they do not know what Singing is but think there may be a Singing without the Tongue taking the word Melody in the Heart to be all the Singing the Holy Ghost exhorts to in the New Testament and so would have us believe there is a mental Singing as well as mental Praying nay which is worse would wholly exclude all other Singing besides that which is very hard if they should do so by Prayer it would strangely amuse all good People viz. that we must have nothing but Heart-Prayer without a Voice Others say that one Person may be the Mouth in Singing as well as in Praying and so a multitude may be said to sing with him though there is none sings but that single Man as in Prayer A third sort there be I find who conclude Singing is wholly comprehended in the Ordinance of Prayer and from hence please themselves that they do sing when in Prayer they give Thanks to God or praise God But very remarkable it is to see how these Men are confounded by this last Assertion in respect of one Objection they bring against Singing Object What will you sing your Prayers you may as well go to Common-Prayer c. Thus I have heard one or two worthy Men speak not long since Why truly Brethren it appears you do sing your Prayers nay and that always too when you pray for I am perswaded you never pray to God for what you want but you see cause to praise him for what you have received All that ever wrote of Prayer that I have met with do jointly agree that praising of God or giving of Thanks is one part or branch of Prayer and that part it appears in your opinion you sing And if this be so pray allow us to sing some Prayers too and do not charge us with Common-Prayer unless David's Psalms be a Common-Prayer-Book And then it will appear that Common-Prayer is of Divine Institution nay and enjoyned on the Churches too in the New Testament for we know no Psalms I mean called so in God's Word but the Book of Psalms or Psalms of David Now these things being considered I shall shew you what it is to sing and so remove these Cavils and Mistakes about it I shall not in this Chapter shew you what 't is to sing with the Spirit or with Grace in the Heart that respects the right performance of â—inging but what it is to sing in our common Acceptation and in Scripture too First It may not be unnecessary to consider of those several distinct and internal Acts of the Mind and Heart of a Man Secondly Of those external Acts of the Tongue of a Man 1. To think muse or meditate is an interâ—al Act of the Mind wherein the Excellency of the Soul is discovered unto a Man 's own â—elf as David saith I am fearfully and wonderfully made and that my Soul knoweth right-well Psal 139. 14. The Soul has its divers Passions as Fear Anger c. there lie the Desires Sense of Want or Fulness 't is the Seat of Joy and Sorrow But yet nevertheless there are several Acts that the Soul can't do without the bodily Organ 't is capable of praying or to joyn wiâ—â— others in Prayer without the Tongue becausâ— there are the Desires as I said before anâ— God hears and knows the Groans Sighs anâ— earnest Desires of the Soul as well as if theâ— were expressed by words yet ought the Tonguâ— to be imployed in that Service notwithstanding and not only for the sake of others who are 〈◊〉 joyn in with them in those servent breathings 〈◊〉 Man may put up to God but it may be expedient when a Man is alone verbally to express his Desires to the Lord for several reasonâ— which I shall not mention here it being not 〈◊〉 our present business Yet nevertheless the Soâ—â— without the Tongue can't preach God's Word can't dispute for it c. nor do many otheâ— things neither can the Soul I say be said 〈◊〉 sing in a proper sense without the Tonguâ— True there is a Metaphorical Singing spokâ— of in the Scripture so by a Metonymie the Treâ—â— of the Wood and Mountains and Fields 〈◊〉 said to sing and thus in an improper Sense the Heart may be said to sing when it onâ— rejoices in God Many proper Acts of Meâ— are often in the Scripture ascribed to Vegetâ—bles and Animal Creatures and many propâ—â— Acts of Men are attributed to God Fire and Hail Snow and Vapours Mountains and all Hills fruitful Trees and Cedars Beasts and all Cattel creeping things and flying Fowl are exhorted to sing and praise God Psal 148. 8 9 10. which all know they cannot truly and in a proper sense be said to do 'T is frequent as Mr. Caryl observes in Scripture to attribute Acts of Life to Lifeless Creatures and Acts of Reason to those which have no Sense the Earth is said to mourn Tsa 33. 9. the Trees of the Forest as the Hills and the Valleys are said to rejoice Isa 65. 12. 13. the Birds praise God saith he by their singing and the Stars by their shining Caryl on Job chap. 38. 7. Now in like manner if there be any such sort or kind of singing as these Men plead for viz. a mental singing i. e. a Heart-singing without the Tongue mentioned
Satan the World c. This is the chief Song we should sing and this we have perpetual cause or â—easong to sing But to returm it appears the Saints did celebrate the Praise of God by singing before the Law was given forth on Mount Sinai And then Secondly under the Law are a multitude of Instances of their Melodious Singing to God Moses as Mr. Wells observes penn'd the ninetieth Psalm and no doubt 〈◊〉 he and the Children of Israel sang it Dâ—vid and all the Lord's People sang in 〈◊〉 Worship of God in his time Also Hezekâ—â— sung and Asaph sung 2 Chron. 37. 30. 〈◊〉 Prophets sang the Jews sang before and 〈◊〉 the Captivity Nehemiah and the People 〈◊〉 him sung and praised God Thirdly The Lord's People in Gospel days were found in this Ordinance 〈◊〉 Practice of Singing the Praises of the Loâ—â— To pass by the Song of Zacharias and Elizabeth and Simeon How sweetly did 〈◊〉 sing 't is called by the Annotators the famoâ—â— Song of the blessed Virgin Luk. 1. 46. Alâ—â—â— our Lord Jesus with his Disciples after 〈◊〉 celebration of the Holy Supper the holy Ghâ—â— saith sung an Hymn they praised God 〈◊〉 they praised him by Singing Moreover 〈◊〉 and Silas sung Praises tho in Prison and 〈◊〉 Feâ— were fast in the Stocks Act. 16. Shâ—â— any Men now dare to say There are no Pâ—â—cedents for Singing Psalms and Hymns c. 〈◊〉 the New Testament certainly they will forbâ—â— to assert any such thing And now from 〈◊〉 whole take this Argument Arg. 4. That which was the Practice of 〈◊〉 Lord's People before the Law and under 〈◊〉 Law and also in the Gospel-Dispensation is 〈◊〉 indispensible Duty of the Saints and People 〈◊〉 God to practise in all Ages But Singing 〈◊〉 Praises of the Lord was the Duty of the Lord 〈◊〉 People before the Law and under the Lâ—â—nd also in the Gospel-time and Dispensation Ergo. 'T is the indispensible Duty of the Saints to â—â—actise singing the Praises of God in all Ages If any should go about to answer this Argument they must shew what Duty or Ordinance was ever practis'd before the Law under the Law and in the Gospel-Dispensation that notwithstanding is not obliging or binding to â—s or else they will say nothing to the purâ—ose but the Argument will stand as firm as Rock CHAP. V. Proving Singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs an Holy Ordinance of Jesus Christ from Scripture-Precepts WE shall now prove and demonstrate that Singing of the Praises of God not only in Private but also in Congregations is a Duty incumbent on us in Gospel-Times as well as it was of Old As there is the same God of Mercies so the same Praises are to be rendered to him for his Blessings no doubt and in the same manner now that is by Singing as was then will appear 1. Because the Lord who alone appoints his own Worship hath commanded and 〈◊〉 it at our Hands and his Command and Pâ—â—cept is the Rule of our Obedience Rejoice 〈◊〉 Righteous Praise is comely for the Vprigâ—â— Praise the Lord sing unto him Psal 84 1 〈◊〉 3 4 5. Sing aloud unto the God of our Strenâ—â— make a joyful Noise unto the God of 〈◊〉 Make a joyful Noise unto the Lord come â—â—â—fore his presence with Singing Psal 100. 1 〈◊〉 Psal 95. 1 2. O come let us sing unto the 〈◊〉 let us make a joyful Noise to the Rock of 〈◊〉 Salvation And many such Precepts are giâ—â— forth by the Holy Ghost as 't is well knoâ— to all 1 Chron. 16. 9. Sing unto him 〈◊〉 Psalms unto him and tell of all his wondâ—â— Works So Psal 68. 32. Sing unto the Lord 〈◊〉 the Earth O sing Praises unto the Lord. 2. Consider these Commands by which 〈◊〉 Lord established this part of his Worship of 〈◊〉 are as obligatory unto us in Gospel-Times 〈◊〉 they were then to them when first instituted â—â—cept it could be proved to be either Ceremoâ—â— or Judaical or hath received a change in 〈◊〉 Gospel And this is evident in many respâ—â—â— particularly as to Prayer that was a Duty 〈◊〉 and the Precepts contained in the Psalms 〈◊〉 the Prophets which enjoin it are of the 〈◊〉 Authority with those in the New Testament and equally bind the Conscience So also 〈◊〉 Fasting a Duty as one observes required 〈◊〉 the Prophets and not so clearly repeated 〈◊〉 any Institution under the Gospel as this 〈◊〉 Singing is and the same might be said for Days of Thanksgiving Nay and 't is obserâ—able how oft our Brethren upon all proper â—nd fit Occasions fly to those Precepts to press Prayer Fasting and Thanksgiving too If therefore Singing as it is laid down and enâ—oined in these Sacred Precepts in the Book of Psalms c. is not binding notwithstanding â—tis repeated and given forth in the New Testament afresh Why do you when you exhort â—o other Duties make use of Arguments and Proofs out of the Book of Psalms and the Proâ—â—ets in other Cases since the Commands thereof though neither Ceremonial nor Judaiâ—al are as you seem to affirm of any Force â—or obligatory to us This seems strange for â—ertainly Men have more reason in them than â—o press Obedience on Subjects to their Suâ—eriors by abrogated or antiquated Staâ—utes And shall the Lord's Ambassadors be more irrational in pressing Obedience to the Lord than meer rational Men are in Civil Affairs Now saith one Since there is no Man that questions whether Singing of Psalms was instituted and commanded of God of old how can they avoid the Power of such Precepts considering as he minds particularly Psal 81. ver 4 5. where Singing is called a Statute for Israel and the Law of the God of Jacob and ordained in Joseph for a Testament which saith he refers to a Time before they were brought into the Ceremonial Worship Hence saith he it inevitably follows that until any Man caâ— shew us that Singing of Psalms yea Singing of the Book of Psalms was Ceremonial or Judaical or are changed or abrogated 〈◊〉 the Gospel those Precepts lie upon us now with the same Power and Obligation as 〈◊〉 laid them under then for the Antiquity of a Law or Institution rather commends it to us than any ways abates of its Obligation so that had there been no other Institutionâ— for Singing of Psalms c. than what is 〈◊〉 the Book of Psalms we should have had sufficient Authority to be found in them A Manuscript called Psalmody He might have added Since especially it is of 〈◊〉 like Nature with Prayer viz. a moral Preceptâ— as well as brought into a written Law But 〈◊〉 all I might add 't is much more unreasonable to plead an exemption from the Force and Obligation of those Precepts since the Saints are injoined to sing those Psalms of David by the Holy Ghost in the New Testament for 〈◊〉 grant there are no other Psalms none called Psalms besides the Book of Psalms 3. To this take what
because we have not those Gifts must we not be found in this Ordinance viz. to sing which is required in the New Testament we by the same Argument must lay all others aside likewise as the None-Churches have done from such a way of arguing as you use here the Lord deliver us But what you speak on this occasion doth not concern them that sing David's Psalms therefore if composed Hymns were not justified by God's Word as comprehended in Hymns and spiritual Songs Col. â— 16. then the Book of Psalms as our Brethren say are wholly intended and then they must be sung and them only but we see no reason so to believe Eusebiw speaks of the Christians singing of Hymns to Christ as to God in the first Century which shews it was the Practice of the Church in the Primitive Times to sing other Hymns besides those in the Book of Psalms As to Forms of Prayer the Lord hath left us a Form by which we are directed how to pray and so he has left us his Word and the Psalms of David that we may know how to compile our Hymns as well as our Sermons by the help and assistance of his Spirit there is no more a Form of Preaching left than there is a Form of Hymns and what tho Christians differ in their singing they also differ in their method or form of Preaching as much and your Argument say you what you will 〈◊〉 alike against the one as against the other But is it unlawful to premeditate what we design to ask of God in Prayer Have not some in Prayer and Fasting-days in Churches drawn 〈◊〉 several things as a Form of those Cases 〈◊〉 they agreed together to spread before the Lord and is this Form sinful think you But 〈◊〉 of this hereafter IV. Of Womens Singing Object You say Women ought not to sing in the Church because not suffered to speak in the Church and also because singing is teaching By the way then it appears the bare Melody in the Heart where you say is the Essence of Singing that is not Singing by your own Assertion Thus you destroy what you would build Answ But if Women may not speak nor â—â—ach in no sense in the Church they must not be admitted to give an account of their Conversion in the Church or how God was pleased to work upon their Souls for that Practice is full of Teaching and Instruction and has been blessed to the Conversion of some other Persons that have been by But I will be at the pains to transcribe what worthy Mr. Cotton hath said to this Objection it appears others have brought it before you The second scruple about Singers is saith he whether Women may sing as well as Men for in this Point there be some deal with us as Pharaoh dealt with the Isrâ—â—litesâ— who tho he was at first utterly unwilling that any of them should go to sacrifice 〈◊〉 the Lord in the Wilderness yet being 〈◊〉 length convinced that they must go then 〈◊〉 was content the Men should go but not 〈◊〉 Women Exod. 10. 11. So here some that were altogether against singing of Psalmâ—â— at all with lively Voices yet being convinced that it is a Moral Worship of God warranted in Scripture then if there must be a singing one alone must sing not all 〈◊〉 if all the Men only and not the Women He then mentions your Objection to which he replies 1. One Answer saith he may at once remove both Scruples and withal clear the Truth it is apparent by the Scope and Context of both these Scriptures that a Woman is not permitted to speak in the Church 1. By way of teaching whether in expounding or applying Scripture for this the Apostle accounteth an Act of Authority which is unlawful for a Woman to usurp over the Man 1 Tim. 2. 13. And besides the Woman is more subject to Error than the Man ver 14. and therefore might sooner prove a Seducer if she became a Teacher 2. Yet nevertheless in two cases it is clear a Woman may speak in the Church â— In way of Subjection when she is to give account of her Offence thus Peter questioned Sapphira before the Church touching the price of Land sold by her and her Husband c. and she accordingly spake in the Church to give her Answer to the Question Acts 5. 8. 2. In way of singing forth the Praises of God together with the rest of the Congregation for 't is evident the Apostle layeth no greater restraint upon Women for silence in the Church than the Law put upon them before for so himself speaketh in the place alledged 1 Cor. 14. 34. it is not permited to a Woman to speak but to be under Subjection 〈◊〉 also saith the Law 2. The Apostle then requireth the same Subjection in the Woman which the Law put upon them Now it is certain the Law yea the Law-giver Moses did permit Miriam and the Women in the Song of Thansgiving to sing the Praises of God Sing ye to the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously the Horse and his Rider hath he thrown into the Sea which may be a ground sufficient to justify the lawfulness of Womens singing together with the Men the Praises of the Lord and accordingly in the Primitive Churches it was the ancient Practice of Women to sing the publick Praises of the Lord we read recorded in the Ecclesiastical History Socrates Chap. 18 Greek Copy and Chap. 16. of the Latin Theodoret's third Book Chap. 17. Obj. But say you there is no Institution for Womens Singing Answ No need 't is a Moral Duty You may ask whether they are to praise God as well and demand a word of Institution for their Breaking of Bread with the Church for you know some demand a Proof for that V. Of the Order of Singing What need you talk of Order about Singing or of Womens Singing when the Essence of it being in the Heart is sufficient though the Act or Thing it self be never done But to proceed This you say we have plainly and clearly delivered to us 1 Cor. 14. 20 to 34. How is it then Brethren when ye come together every one of you hath a Psalm hath a Doctrine hath a Tongue hath an Interpretation let all things be done to edifying That which you infer from hence is that this is the Rule for our Practice viz. one by one or one after another must speak and exercise their Gifts and not all together and so he that has the Gift of a Psalm he is singly or alone by himself to sing as in Prayer and Preaching Answ The Apostle directs that Church in the exercise of extraordinary Gifts There was 't is clear confusion about the exercises of those Gifts in the Church of Corinth it seems this was their practice some times viz. Every one of them who had a Doctrine and that had a Psalm and so of the rest would come forth with them together May be many