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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47407	The breach repaired in God's worship, or, Singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, proved to be an holy ordinance of Jesus Christ with an answer to all objections : as also, an examination of Mr. Isaac Marlow's two papers, one called, A discourse against singing, &c., the other, An appendix : wherein his arguments and cavils are detected and refuted / by Benjamin Keach ...	Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704.	1641 (1641)	Wing K50; ESTC R21273	133,739	273

and proper signification of the Word is Singing or they sung And now do you not think you are greatly to blame to make such a stir ●pon a word you understand not after the manner you have done and thereby cause Doubts to arise in the Minds of poor weak Christians about the Translation of the Holy Bible and render our Famous and Learned Translators unfaithful But I hope our People will not regard or mind what you unadvisedly have wrote and said upon this Account Have not the Translators who compared divers Greek Copies together been more faithful to give the proper genuine and direct signification of the Word they hymned they sung an Hymn than from the remote sense they said Grace or gave Thanks We read he gave Thanks when he took the Bread c. the word there in the Greek is he Hymned I have often said to sing to God in aright manner is praising of God but all praising of God is not singing his Praises therefore they that translate the word they praised God speak the Truth but they do not speak all the Truth But if our Saviour and his Disciples did no more than in an ordinary manner give Thanks as we do after Supper our Translators do affirm a false thing to say they sung an Hymn as elsewhere I have more fully demonstrated because Singing is more and a different thing from saying of Grace as you hint an old Dutch Translation reads it But not to muster up a multitude of learned Men as I might do who exactly agree with our Translators on that word take once again what Dr. Du-Veil doth affirm who understood as I am informed all the Oriental Tongues in his literal Explanation of the Acts of the Apostles Acts 16. 25. tho I quoted him before citing Ruff Presbyter of Aquilia in the Title of the 72 d Psalm saith Hymns are Songs which contain the Praise of God If it be Praise and not of God it is not a Hymn if it be Praise and of God if it be not sung it is not an Hymn it must therefore saith he that it may be an Hymn have these three things Praise and of God and a Song therefore Paul and Silas saith the Doctor sung Praises to God for the Honour put upon them in that they suffered innocently for promoting the Glory of Christ Many of the Learned Men you quote say Hymnos is Praise you need not say any more to that we all own and grant it but 〈◊〉 also say the proper and genuine Signification of it is praising of God by Singing Now this being so you basely abuse the Translators Append. p. 12. in saying Surely it must be granted that the word sung and sing in those four Scriptures were imprudent Auditions to those sacred Texts These are your words 'T is a shame 〈◊〉 Man of your Learning should to defend your own Fantasy charge the faithful and renowned Translators after this sort These things being so What Authority have you to say our Saviour and his Disciples did not sing or what 〈…〉 any 〈◊〉 or Godly Christian to believe you if you so boldly affirm it Therefore I upon good Authority in opposition to what you say p. 12. that therefore from the Signification of the word Hymnos there is a good and sacred Foundation or Warrant for such vocal melodious singing at or after the Lord 's Suppe● seeing the word doth bear that as the direct and proper Signification of it And also we say that what Christ did was a Rule for us in that of Singing as well as in 〈◊〉 the Bread and breaking it and blessing it and taking the Cup c. Must not we sing the Praises of Christ who have the Spirit 〈◊〉 in measure because Christ had the Spirit without measure And because the Primitive Gospel-Church had the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit in Prayer Preaching and Singing also must we not pray preach nor sing if we must not do one of them we must do none of them And therefore in opposition to what you say Pag. 13. of your Appendix If the Practice of Christ and the Primitive Church doth not bind us to the Observation of one Ordinance viz. that of Singing it binds us to the Observation of none 't is time to look about us for your manner of arguing I do declare as 't was intimated to me the other day by my Reve●●nd Brother Knowles tends to the overthrow of all Gospel-Ordinances whatsoever therefore I warn all my Brethren to take heed how they hearken to you in this matter as they tender the Glory of God and the Establishment of all Gospel-Worship and Ordinances But to proceed 'T is an easy thing for any wary Reader who is not willing to be deceived to perceive the Man hath a bad Cause in hand and that he reasons not like a wise and enlightned understanding Christian Which doth fully appear if we consider the false and preposterous Mediums or Ways he takes to make out what he pretends to prove 1. For one while he seems to assert that the Essence of Singing which is he says in our Spirit that will serve our turn in discharge of the Duty of singing forth God's Praises without imploying our Tongues or bodily Organs in it which as I have again and again said doth as well exclude vocal Praying and Preaching c. as Singing See Pag. 8. of his first Treatise 2. Then again at another time because there are other ways to praise God besides singing of his Praises we must not sing his Praises at all Appendix p. 4 5. 3. At another time he seems to exclude all Singing out of the Bible from an improper Signification of a Greek word and strives to make it out 't was only common Praises or Thanksgiving in Prayer See the Epistle to me and Appendix p. 1 2 3 4 5. And so quarrels with the Translators of the holy Bible as if they wanted Skill in the Greek Tongue or else Faithfulness in rendring the Word they sung an Hymn which he tells you they should have rendered they gave Thanks or said Grace But further to clear our Godly Learned and Pious Translators of the Bible let it be considered how carefully they were in other Cases particularly in respect of the word Baptizo which they never ventured to translate Rantizo sprinkling to favour their own Practice but rather chose to leave the word in the Original Tongue and not translate it at all than to give a false Signification of it 4. But lest all these Tricks and Shi●ts should fail him he flies to another broken Refuge viz. intimating that the Ordinance of Singing doth not belong to us now but may be practised by the Saints hereafter in the thousand Years Reign or seventh thousand Years of this World Which is a very doubtful Point I mean whether there will be such a thousand Years Reign or not in his sense and yet this Duty lies amongst other Gospel-Ordinances and Precepts given

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 ●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 inter●al Act of the Mind wherein the Excellency of the Soul is discovered unto a Man 's own ●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 wi●● others in Prayer without the Tongue becaus● there are the Desires as I said before an● God hears and knows the Groans Sighs an● earnest Desires of the Soul as well as if the● were expressed by words yet ought the Tongu● 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 reason● which I shall not mention here it being not 〈◊〉 our present business Yet nevertheless the So●● without the Tongue can't preach God's Word can't dispute for it c. nor do many othe● things neither can the Soul I say be said 〈◊〉 sing in a proper sense without the Tongu● True there is a Metaphorical Singing spok● of in the Scripture so by a Metonymie the Tre●● 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 on● rejoices in God Many proper Acts of Me● are often in the Scripture ascribed to Veget●bles and Animal Creatures and many prop●● 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

judgment for it it be you contend against that which all Christians say they do own and perform But to proceed There may be 't is plain an extraordinary Spirit of Prayer at some times and an extraordinary Influence in Preaching and an extraordinary Occasion to perform those Duties likewise and so in Singiug But must not we therefore be found in the performance of each of these Duties at any other time And have not all true Christians always in themselves the chiefest cause or ground of Singing forth the Praises of God that can be viz. the consideration of Redeeming and Regenerating Grace though sometimes to such degrees they do not find that liveliness in their Spirits to do it Moreover we ought to strive to be filled with the Spirit that we may both Pray Preach and Hear also But sometimes we have not those fillings of the Spirit in such a measure as at other times yet must Pray Preach Hear and Sing also for the Argument or Motive of Singing as of our other Duties doth not lie in our being so exactly qualified to do it or in our extraordinary fitness for the Duty but in the requirement of God 't is his Ordinance and may be our Sin if we are not so fit to praise God as we should be nor are no more fit to pray and hear the Word preached Object But some may object Doth not James only injoin Singing of Psalms when People are merry or find great cause of inward Joy in the Lord Answ No by no means this must not be granted for if so then People must never pray but when they are afflicted Do but read the Text Is any among you afflicted let him pray Is any merry let him sing Psalms Jam. 5. 13. Sure 't is the Duty of the Lord's People to pray as well when they are not afflicted but are in Health and in Prospirity 't is always on fit and proper Occasions to be done but when afflicted more especially then in a more than ordinary manner to be in the Duty of Prayer So and in the like manner 't is our Duty to rejoice and sing the Praises of God always on all proper Occasions but when any are more then ordinarily lifted up with the Goodness of God or filled with the Comforts of the Holy Spirit which is intended doubtless in that phrase Is any Merry then they should in an especial manner sing Psalms or Hymns of Praises to God Also from hence we may argue that as it is the Duty of one afflicted Person thus by himself to pray so when the whole Church is afflicted they in an especial manner should keep days of Prayer together and so they oftentimes do on such an account Yet it is the Duty of the Church to pray at other times notwithstanding Why so it is in the case of Singing when the whole Church of God hath received some signal Mercies in an especial manner they ought together to give Thanks to God and sing his Praise but yet notwithstanding they ought to sing the Praises of God at other times as well as pray at other times and nothing is in the least hinted here in this place by the Apostle James to the contrary Object But we have no Command to sing in our Publick Assemblies either before or after Sermon nor any Precedent that any Gospel-Church did so Answ You must take heed and avoid needless Questions and Contentions We have no Command to pray in our Publick Assemblies either before or after Sermons nor no Precedent that any Gospel-Church did so Must we not use that Practice therefore I am sure this Argument is as strong against the one as 't is against the other Obj. But we are commanded to pray always and that is a very convenient time when the Word of God is preached every thing is sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer Answ So we are commanded to rejoice evermore 1 Thess 5. 16. and in every thing to give thanks to God Phil. 4. 4 6. And to sing his Praises is the highest way or manner of rejocing and giving Thanks to God we are capable of attaining to as it appears in all the Scripture And also by the example of the Holy Angels who this way rejoice and give Thanks to God Besides the Preacher may pray before he comes out of his Closet or secretly in his Heart when in the Pulpit and answer those general Precepts so that you may see what such kind of Cavilings will bring us to 'T is evident we read of several Sermons the Apostle Peter preached and Paul too and some of them in Church-Assemblies but no more mention is made of praying before or after their Sermons than is of their Singing And is it not as convenient a time when we hear the Excellencies of Jesus Christ and the infinite Love of God and the Happiness of Believers opened then to sing and praise God as it is a proper Season to pray to God for a Blessing upon the Word there is the like parity of Reason for the one as there is for the other If any has the advantage 't is the Ordinance of Singing for two Reasons the one is a Precept the other a Precedent The Precept is given us by David containing a Prophecy of the Gospel-days and Gospel-Church Psal 100. 1. Make a joyful Noise unto the Lord all ye Lands Come before his presence with Singing So Psal 95. O Come let us sing unto the Lord let us make a joyful Noise to the Rock of our Salvation And vers 2. Let us make a joyful Noise unto him with Psalms This all People i. e. the Gentile-Churches are required to do as well as others and to do it too when they come into the Presence of God which 〈◊〉 Expositors say intends our coming into God's Presence in his Publick Worship Moreover the Watch-men and desolate Places or Souls who have been like desolate Places saith 〈◊〉 Prophet shall lift up the Voice with the Voice together shall they sing Isa 52. 7 8. And these Watch-men are those whose Feet are beautiful 〈◊〉 the Mountains who preach the Gospel of Peace and bring glad-tidings of good things And this very Text the Apostle applies in ge●●●al to Gospel-Ministers in their publick Preaching of Christ in Christian Assemblies see Rom. 10. 15. But we having so largely in this Treatise opened this we shall say no more to it here As touching Examples we have the Church of God viz. Israel of old who sung together in Exod. 15. 1. and in many other places 〈◊〉 always generally when they came together to worship God as they prayed to him so they sang Praises to him which we have proved is no Ceremony of Moses's Law but a Moral Duty and so a Perpetual Ordinance And in the New-Testament we have the Example of Christ himself with his Disciples who after that part of Publick Worship viz. celebrating the Holy Supper sung an Hymn together O how sad a thing is it

the● further Comfort and Establishment in his whol● Mind and Will I should not have answered yo● in the matter and if you or any body else shall see cause to reply I shall be ready to return an Answer if I find it do deserve or nee● one if God is pleased to spare my Life and t● enable me in the Work And now one word to you my dear Brethren and Sisters whose Souls are established in thi● sweet and heavenly Ordinance First Consider how universally this Ordinance hath been practised of singing the Praise● of God 1. By variety of Persons as Kings and godly Princes as Moses who was a King in Jesurun Deut. 33. 5. David Joshaphat Solomon c. By worthy Governours as Nehemiah c. by Prophets by the whole Congregation of God's People by Christ and his Apostles by the holy Martyrs of Jesus in the Primitive Times 2. In all places by Moses in the Wilderness Exod. 15. by David in the Tabernacle by Solomon in the Temple by Jehoshaphat in the Camp by Christ and his Disciples at the holy Supper by Paul and Sila● in Prison 3. In almost all Conditions in times of Imprisonment in Persecution and Martyrdom 4. By all Sexes both Men Women and Maidens old Men and Children 5. Nay and how all Creatures in Heaven and in Earth are called upon by the Holy Ghost to sing forth the Praises of God 6. Consider how God hath honoured it with his Presence and gracious Acceptance 2 Chron. 5. 13. with Victory over Enemies 2 Chron. 20. 21 22. 7. Confirmed by Miracles Act. 16. 25 26. Secondly Consider that Singing is 1. The Musick of Nature as Mr. Wells observes the Trees and Woods by a Metonymy are said to sing And what sweet Musick do the pretty Birds make in the Air and Woods 2. 'T is the Musick of Ordinances as appears by our Saviour's singing with his Disciples at the Celebration of one of the highest and most sublime Ordinances of the Gospel 3. Singing is the Musick and Melody of Saints 4. 'T is the Musick and Melody of Angels 5. 'T is and shall be the Musick and Melody of Heaven the glorious and glorified Saints and Angels send up their Praises this way But my Brethren be intreated to cry to God that you may pray and sing with the Spirit and with Vnderstanding also 1 Cor. 14. 15. and with Grace in your Hearts labour after Holy and Heavenly Frames We must sing with Affections let your joyful Noise be from the sense of God's Love in a dear Redeemer to your own Souls Let it be by exciting your Graces let Faith be in exercise in this Duty as well as in Prayer and under the Word Let it be with inward Joy remember it is your Duty to rejoice evermore and what then can hinder your Singing God's Praises at any time Let it be for Spiritual Mercies and Blessings chiefly more for deliverance from your Sin than from your Suffering You have found that Singing is not only sweet and raising to the Spirit but also full o● Instruction nay I have heard how God has blessed it to the Conversion of some Souls as well as to the Consolation of others Austis is very excellent to this purpose Quantu● flevi in hymnis canticis suavè 〈◊〉 Ecclesiae tuae voces ill● influebant 〈◊〉 eliquabatur veritas tua in cor meum ex ea effluebat inde effectus pietatis currebant lachrymae benè mihi erat cum eis How sweetly saith he have I wept in Hymns and Songs at the sounding of thy Church the Voices flew into mine Ears and thy Truth melted into mine Heart and from thence flew forth the Effects of Godliness the Tears ran down mine Eyes and it was well with me when I was with them Aug. in his Preface to the Psalms Cap. 6. FINIS AN ANSWER TO Mr. Marlow's Appendix Wherein his Arguments to prove that Singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs was performed in the Primitive Church by a Special or an Extraordinary Gift and therefore not to be practised in these Days Are Examined and clearly Detected Also some Reflections on what he speaks on the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hymnos And on his undue Quotations of divers Learned Men. By a Learned Hand Psal 119. 141. I am small and despised yet do not I forget thy Precepts 1 Cor. 14. 22. Wherefore Tongues are for a Sign not to them that believe but to them that believe not but Prophesying serveth not for them that believe not but for them that believe By B. KEACH London Printed for the Author and sóld by John Hancock in Castle-Alley on the West side of the Royal-Exchange and by the Author at his House near Horselydown in Southwark 1691. To all the Saints and Churches of Jesus Christ Christian Salutation Honoured and Beloved IT grieves me I have further occasion to trouble you after this manner I know not what should move Mr. Marlow to write his Appendix just at a time when he was told I was writing an Answer to his first Discourse he might have had a little Patience and have staid till my Treatise was published whereby he might the better have perceived whether what he wrote the last Year would abide the Test or Trial of God's Word or not This is therefore his second Attempt in publick against God's holy Ordinance of singing of Psalms Hymns c. before any body appeared visibly to oppose or put a stop to his undue Proceedings For what Call he had to begin this Controversy at such an unseasonable time I know not but since he has done it certainly● none can see any just cause to blame me for standing up in the Defence of that Truth of Jesus Christ which I am so well satisfied about and established in and that too as it is practised by the Church to whom I am related as an unworthy Member and above twenty Baptized Congregations besides in this Nation Tho before I went about it I offered my Brethren him or any other a sober and friendly Conference in the Spirit of Meekness which I could not obtain tho I did not give such a publick Challenge as my Brother intimates in that strange Epistle he hath wrote to me but upon the coming forth of his Book I was troubled and would have had it been discoursed in the General Assembly but that was not consented to and then I told my honoured and Reverend Brethren my purpose was to give an Answer to his Book but did not enter upon it till I was urged by several and particularly by Mr. Marlow himself before divers Witnesses in such kind of words as these i. e. Answer me like a Man Whether he is answered like a Man or but like a Child is left to your Consideration 't is done according to that Light and Ability God hath been pleased to bestow upon me But if he or any of his Helpers do see cause to reply they must answer such

Persons who have wrote upon this Truth like Men and Men too of great Parts Learning and Piety or let them not trouble me nor the World any more As touching his Epistle to the Churches I shall take but little notice of it nor of that he hath writ to my self sith in my Judgment neither of them signify much you are Men of greater Wisdom than to be frightned out of an Ordinance or deterred from seeking after the Knowledg of it with these scurrilous Names of Error Apostacy Human Tradition prelimited Forms mischievous Error Carnal Forms Carnal Worship c. These are hard Words and do not bespeak a trembling Heart nor a humble Spirit and better becomes a Man that pretends to Infallibility But what some Men want of sound Arguments they think to make up by hard Words and Confidence but this will never do with you How hath our Practice of baptizing Believers c. been branded with the reproachful Name of Error and 't is very observable how some Men of far greater Parts and Ability than my Brothers or mine either have cried out against the Reign of Christ Conversion of the Gentiles and calling of the Jews as a gross Error as witness Mr. Richard Baxter particularly of late 'T is Arguments I know you look for and if you find those of Mr. Marlow's to prevail against what I have said do not regard what I have wrote in the least for I would have your Faith as the Apostle speaks to stand in the Power of God and not in the Wisdom of M●n The smallness of the Number of our Churches who are in the Practice of this Ordinance I also know will signify nothing with you provided it be proved to be a Truth of Jesus Christ What tho there was not one of our Churches that had Light in it it would certainly the more concern them to enquire after it And tho he hath so coursly saluted me c. yet I am not concerned at it further than to bewail his Confidence and Ignorance to say no worse I know no Men in any Age who appeared first to vindicate a Truth which others call an Error but have met with the same Usage I meet withal from our Brother who I hope is a good Man and means well yet is he strangely beclouded As I have been a Preacher up of Spiritual Worship as he says and that too more than thirty Years tho a poor and unworthy one so through the Grace of God I hope shall continue to do unto the end of my days and 't is only Spiritual Worship you may perceive I plead for in contending for singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs none of which three can be without their special and particular form But must they needs be therefore carnal and humane Forms which appertain unto them I see 't is time to stand up for the Form of Ordinances for the Form of Doctrine and for the Form of sound Words for if we must part with singing of Psalms Hymns c. from his pretended Arguments about Forms all external Ordinances must go as well as that of Singing In a word we must give up our whole visible Profession and wait for those extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit that were in the Primitive Time if we must not sing till we have that extraordinary Gift to do it which some had in the Apostles Days and the like in discharge of every Gospel-Ordinance which were to abide in the Church to the end of the World He may as well therefore say I do but counterfeit that excellent Gift in Preaching when I preach which was in the Primitive Gospel-Church as thus to charge me in the case of our singing by the ordinary Gifts of the Spirit Read his Epistle to me Append. p. 15. It seems to me as if my Brother does not understand the nature of Moral Duties or natural Worship but mistakes and thinks natural or moral Worship must needs be carnal tho we never plead for the performance of any Duties that are moral naturally in themselves without the help and assstance of God's Spirit and the Graces thereof in our Hearts Is it not part of natural Religion and Worship to fear God to love God and trust in God and that too with all our Hearts and with all our Souls and with all our Strength and love our Neighbours as our selves c. These Duties appertain to natural Religion yet without the divine Help and Influences of the Spirit we can do none of them in a right manner no more say I can we pray nor sing the Praises of God which are Duties comprehended in our fearing honouring worshipping and loving of him And whereas Mr. Marlow reflects on me as if I singled out my self more than others in London in pushing on this practice of Singing I must tell him I have abundance of Peace in my Spirit in what I have done therein And if our People I mean the Church to whom I belong are one of the first Churches of our Perswasion in this City found in the practice of this Sacred Ordinance I am satisfied it will be to their great Honour and not to their Reproach and that not only in succeeding Ages but also in the Day of Jesus Christ But blessed be God the greatest number of our worthy London-Elders are as well satisfied in this Truth as my self and many of their People too and will generally I doubt not in a little time get into the practice of it Our Reverend Brother Knowllys 't is known is clear in it and has practised it for some Years though at present 't is not used in his Congregation He told me lately he is about to write in Vindication thereof which he intends to publish in a short time if the Lord please to spare his Life And whereas Mr. Marlow affirms as if I had brought Singing into our Congregation to the grief and trouble of many of our Members it is false for 't is known the Church hath been in this practice near twenty Years after Breaking of Bread and near 14 Years on Thanksgiving-days in a mixt Congregation And what was done of late in bringing it in after Sermon on the Lord's Days was done by a regular Act of the Church in a solemn manner And though some of our worthy Brethren and Sisters are at present somewhat dissatisfied with it yet I doubt not but will in a little time see their Mistakes if such busy Men as he do not in an undue manner blow up Coals of Contention amongst us Can any sober Christian think he hath done well to publish the Private Affairs of a Particular Church to the whole World It seems to some as if he has hopes there will be a Breach in the Church upon the Account of our Singing the Praises of God but I hope he will find our worthy Brethre●● understand themselves better than to go about to impose on the Church or Consciences of their Brethren or to