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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44281	Gospel musick, or, The singing of Davids psalms, &c. in the publick congregations, or private families asserted, and vindicated, against a printed pamphlet, entitled, Certain reasons by way of confutation of singing psalms in the letter, objections sent in, in writing, scruples of some tender consciences by thy loving brother, N.H., D.D., M.M.S. ; vnto which is added, the iudgement of our worthy brethren of New-England touching singing of psalms, as it is learnedly and gravely set forth in their preface to the Singing psalms, by them translated into metre.	Homes, Nathanael, 1599-1678.	1644 (1644)	Wing H2567; ESTC R13654	26,991	33

prayers c. For Hieron and Augustine it makes no matter which we put first though in age we know Hieron was ancienter then Augustine we look to the order of times when men likely might write those things we quote yet that men may not mistakingly think we mistook we put Augustine first as younger in age Augustine 385. who was made Professor of Rhetorick and heard Ambrose as Bucholcerus saith about 385. after writing divers bookes Aug. lib. de Catechizandis rudibus Retractat lib. 2. cap. 11. commends the Churches in Egypt for their sweet ejaculatory singings saying that not voyces but devotions ascend up to Gods eares Adding that he would have their publick singings to be such as that all the people might understandingly say Amen He wrote also a booke as we have said against Hilarius in the behalfe of singing Hieronymus made a Presbyter at 20 years of age about A.D. 353. 353. so Helvicus and wrote his Catalogue of Illustrious men about An. Dom. 392. Canon Non mediocr distinct 5. so Bucholcerus finds fault that in his time they sang no more reverently And he is cited to say Better it is to sing five Psalmes with purity serenity and spirituall cheerfulnesse of heart then all the Psalter with distractions of heart Ambrose made Episc Mediol 369. about 369. yeares after Christ as Bucholc affirms Lib. 9. Confessionum is said by Augustine to have zealously put on the Westerne Churches in singing of Hymnes and Psalms Among whom the Roman Church was then eminent Basil the great 365. a learned pious man mightily commends the singing of Psalmes as we shall heare afterwards in the usefulnesse of it and therefore no doubt it was the custome of the Greek Churches in his time who flourished about 365. yeares 365. after Christ So he in his Com. in Gr. upon the Psalms Athanasius advanced singing in the Greeke Church of Alexandria who flourished about the yeare 325. viz. then made Episcop eo loci which Augustine commends and Gregory in imitats 325. in the Latin Church Tertullian who flourished neerer the Apostles times saith 194. that the Christians after their Love-feasts as Jude calls them Apologet. cap. 19. Jude 12.98 Tertullian useth the same word were wont to sing out of the holy Scriptures Eusebius tells us that Plinie the second about Anno 98. wrote an Epistle to Trajan the Emperour In the time of the Apostles This Epist of Plin. is extant in Euseb in hist Eccles lib. 3. cap. 33. Euseb Hist Eccles lib. 2. cap. 17. that the Christians being gathered together before day were wont to sing together Hymnes and praises to Christ as to a God And the same Eusebius testifies that Philo Judaeus did testifie the same of the Christians singing which Philo Judaeus did as Eusebius affirmeth live in the time of some of the Apostles And assures us also that the said Plinie and Trajan lived in the time of the Apostle John who died not till about 100. yeares after Christ And thus I have brought the practice of the Churches in singing of Psalmes up to the Apostles times by the writings of the most godly and learned men of former ages whose judgments you have heard approving the goodnesse of the practice as well as their Histories affirming the truth of the fact Upon which Zanchie boldly affirmes that singing was an Apostolicall institution And no wonder he should be bold in this when the text of Scriptures we laid down at first are so evident from which no doubt the Churches took their warrant 4. The necessarinesse of Singing with other Ordinances The Churches well knew that some ordinances are maimed without the connexion of this Gospel Musick with them if we follow the Scriptures and example of Christ and the Apostles How doe we celebrate a day of praise for deliverance according to the Scriptures unlesse we have Psalmes and Hymnes of praise as Moses had Exod. 15. Deborah had Judg. 5. David had 2 Sam. 22.2 See also Junius on Judg. 5.2 which Psalmes all Israel sang Exod. 15.1 Psal 18. How doe we receive the communion after the example of Christ which we justly urge for sitting at the Communion if after the administration thereof we doe not sing an Hymne or Psalme When are we Christian-like merry if not for receivall of mercies from the hand of God And how are we merry according to the prescript of Scriptures Jam. 5. if we sing not Saints glory in tribulation oft-times Rom. 5.2 so that Paul and Silas sing Psalmes in the prison yea in the stocks What kind of Christians then are we that will not sing at all Season no duties with singing Whereas the Churches in the primitive times in the ten persecutions sugared and sweetned their meetings and duties with singing of Psalmes afore they parted as we heard before The truth is devout singing of Psalmes is a savourie sauce to relish every condition and ordinance that is an iterated ordinance For Baptisme after once administration is never to be repeated Before Sermon the Churches sing to quicken their hearts to prayer After the communion they sing to raise them up in praise Yea I may say this spirituall sauce is meat it selfe In singing we pray we praise we confesse we petition we exhort we meditate we beleeve we joy we mourn Singing is praising Ephes 5.19.20 Speaking to your selves in Psalmes and giving thankes alwayes It is joying In the same place Making melody in your hearts Psal 38. ritle or first vers So in Hebr. So Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is meditating In the same place Speaking to your selves As David entitles one of his Psalmes A Psalme to bring to remembrance It is teaching Exhorting and admonisting our owne souls Coloss 3.16 Teaching and admonishing your selves in Psalms c. It is mourning See Davids many Penitentiall Psalms And that 102. Psalme whose title or first verse so in the Hebrew is A prayer of the afflicted when he is over-whelmed and poureth out his complaint before the Lord. When we will be merry in the Lord we must sing Jam. 5.13 But he doth not say but that when we are sad before the Lord we may sing as the Saints have done as we see in the instances we have given To which adde the sad song of the Lamentations of Jeremiah for the afflictions of the Church and made in curious meetre with great varietie as they that know the Hebrew can see which the Jewes sung for many yeares 2 Chron. 35.24 25. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah for his death was the beginning of the ruine of the Church and Jeremiah lamented for Josiah For 22 yeares at least till the captivity in Zedechia his time and all the singing men and singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day and made them an ordinance in Israel and behold they are written in the Lamentations By that we have said of mourning in

GOSPEL MUSICK OR THE SINGING OF DAVIDS PSALMS c. In the publick Congregations or private Families asserted and vindicated Against A printed Pamphlet entitled Certain Reasons by way of Confutation of singing Psalms in the letter Against Objections sent in in writing Against Scruples of some tender Consciences By thy loving Brother N.H.D.D.M.M.S. Vnto which is added the Iudgement of our worthy Brethren of New-England touching singing of Psalms as it is learnedly and gravely set forth in their Preface to the Singing Psalms by them translated into Metre LONDON Printed for Henry Overton in Popes-Head Alley 1644. In handling this Question or Case of Conscience touching singing of the Psalmes found in the Scriptures being translated into English metre you have these 6. generals presented to you 1. The warrantablenesse of it from the word of God 2. The unquestiondenesse of it in all Ages 3. The ancientnesse of use of it in all the reformed Churches 4. The necessarinesse of it with other Ordinances 5. The usefulnesse of it for Gods glory and mans comfort 6. The unjustnesse of mens exceptions against it and their objections answered Gospel Musick 1. The warrantablenesse of it from the word of word CHristians under the Gospel and New Testament have commended yea commanded to them the singing of Psalmes in publick and privat both by precept and paterne Ephes 5.19 Speaking to your selves in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirirituall Odes or Songs as we translate it making melody in your hearts to the Lord. This Apostle having cut the Ephesians short of all vain mirth The Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the name of a virtue in Ar. Ethic. vers 4. not allowing them such jesting which the wisest moral men counted virtue* yet enjoynes them this heavenly musick of singing Psalms as that which will both glad their hearts making saith he melody in your hearts and glorifie God making it to the Lord So Coloss 3. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisedome teaching and admonishing your selves in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall Odes or as it is in our translation spirituall Songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. The Apostle having zealously inveighed against all Jewish ceremonies ch 2. yet here puts home this duty of singing of Psalmes as that which did suit with a godly mans grace and Gods glory Jam. 5.13 Is any afflicted Let him pray Is any merry Let him sing Psalmes The Apostle doth as well command singing as praying and shewes that singing Psalmes is as proper to Christian joy as praying is to Christians afflictions Christ himselfe sang with his Disciples Matth. 26.30 And Paul and Silas sang in the Stockes Acts 16. St. Paul saith 1 Cor. 14.15 he will sing with the spirit that is by the holy Spirit in his own spirit and affections but with understanding also that is in a tongue understood of him and others in common with whom he sang as the 16. verse cleareth The Angels vocally doe sing Luk. 2.13 The Chore the Greek word Gr. A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oft applied by the Sept. to Davids Psalmes Syr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sign Hymnodiam dice●… canere The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the Title of Davids Psalms the Syriack word in the Syriack copie the Hebrew-word in Hutters Hebrew translation the matter and occasion shew they sang* In the Revelation we have oft mention of singing alluding to Moses Songs and Davids Psalms by mentioning Hallelujah Whether you understand the Church triumphant or rather militant both confirme the excellencie of singing these places are as evident as evident may be and so farre beyond all exception as that no pretence can be made against them They are alledged out of the new Testament so that there is no pretence to be made that they belong to the time of the Law They are not onely spoken but practised by Christ and his Apostles And their expressions are so full that they include all godly singing by what names or termes soever they be expressed whether we distinguish as Jerom according to the subject that Hymnos esse dicendum qui fortitudinem majestatem praedicant Dei ejusdem sempervel beneficia vel facta mirantur Quod omnes Psalmi continent quibus Hallelujah vel proepositum vel subjectum est Psalmi autem proprie ad Ethicum locum pertinent ut per organum corporis quid facidum quid vitandum sit noverimus Qui vero de superioribus disputat concertum mandi omniumque creaturarum ordinem atque concordiam subtilis disputator edisserit iste spirituale canticum canit Hieron in Ephes comment largior lib. 3. in c. 5. Psalmes are of Morall things as what wee ought to practise or leave undone Hymnes of Divine things setting forth the power and Majestie of God admiring his benefits and acts of providence Canticles Odes or as they are here translated Spirituall Songs are of Naturall things as of the concent order and concord of the world and all the creatures but in a spirituall way as he hath it in the beginning of his distinction He that is full of the Spirit saith he can take Psalmes and Hymnes and Canticles spiritually Or whether we distinguish of Psalmes according to the authours as some doe that Psalmes signifie Davids Psalmes Hymnes the songs composed by Moses Exod. 15. Dent. 31.30 Deborah Judg. 5. Isaiah chap. 5. c. Spirituall songs are those that are composed of other godly men touching the benefits of God as at the beginning and ending of our singing Psalms there is the Song of Ambrose a thanksgiving after the Lords Supper and a prayer against the Turk and Pope in meeter by R. W. And many of the pious Ancients penned many spirituall Songs in Latine and Greek * See Biblioth Patrum Now whether Christians had rather sing these or those composed by men endued with the infallible spirit of Prophesie I leave them to consider But of this after Or whether we distinguish with Calvin A Psalme is sung together with an instrument A Hymne is a Canticle or song of praise An Ode or spirituall song contains praises and precepts or instructions and exhortations Or whether we distinguish as Beza Zanchie and the notes in our English Bibles That Psalmes are those that containe various and mixt arguments as Lamentations and complainings to God narrations of our condition before God expostations and reasonings with God to grant good or remove evill These they say the Hebrewes call Mizmorim * MIZMOR is the particular Title of many psalmes of Zamar to sing Hymnes are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Laudative which properly handle the praises of God Therefore the Greek Writers say ‖ Gr. Schol. Chrys 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is a Hymne is more holy then a Psalme for the supernall powers or Angels doe sing Hymnes of God to God but doe not sing Psalmes These Hymnes they say are called in Hebrew Tehillim

sea By singing we present unto our sences and minds the lively type of heavenly joyes whether to be acted by the Church triumphant in Heaven or under Heaven at the great restauration when the spirituall Pharaohs the Antichrists of the world shall be drowned in the Red sea of their own blood In three verses of foure it is said three times Allelujah by the Church seeing the fall of Antichrist Revel 19.1 2 3 4. Singing of Psalms according to the Apostles prescript is a making or acting the Word to dwell richly in us Colos 3.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisedom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms A filling of us in publick with the spirit or an acting the graces of the spirit a prevention of drunken idle songs and mirth in private Ephes 5.18 19. Be not drunk with wine but be filled with the spirit speaking to your selves in Psalms c. or by * Tho Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will bear it compared with ver 18. speaking to your selves in Psalms To burthen you with no more of mine own observations touching the usefulnesse of singing I will now refresh you with the notions of others upon this point so far as they speak according to the rule Rabanus Manrus whose name and parts and time you have chronicled afore saith that into grosser and heavier minds whom bare words do not so easily move the sweetnesse of melodie makes some entrance for good things So he So in Saul Basil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Basil in Psal of whom also you heard afore saith Whereas the holy Spirit saw that mankind is unto vertue hardly drawn and that righteousnesse is the lesse accounted of by reason of the pronnesse of our affections to that which delighteth it pleaseth the wisdom of the same Spirit to borrow from melodie that pleasure which mingled with heavenly mysteries causeth the smoothnesse and softnesse of that which toucheth the eare to conveigh as it were by stealth the treasure of good things into mans mind To this purpose were those harmonious tunes of Psalms devised for us that which are in eares but young or touching perfection of vertue as yet not grown to ripenesse might when they think they sing learn O the wise conceit of that heavenly teacher which hath by his skill found out a way that doing those things wherein we delight we may also learn that whereby we profit So Basil And experience speaks for it For when we can hardly draw young people to other duties they cheerfully learn and sing Psalms And those that are ancient who cannot go abroad to and among the secular and civill joyes of men can sit at home and praise God with a Pialme And every well minded family by singing can make themselves a little Church And everie Church make themselves a little Heaven Hooker saith That musicall harmonic if but by voice consisting of high and lowe sounds is of that force and hath such pleasing effects in that very part of man which is most divine that some have been thereby induced to think that the soul it self by nature is or hath in it harmony A thing which delighteth all ages and beseemeth all states A thing as seasonable in grief as in joy as decent being added to actions of greatest weight and solemnitie as being used when men most sequester themselves from action The reason hereof is an admirable facilitie which Musick hath to expresse and represent to the mind more inwardly then any other sensible mean the very standing rising and falling the steps and inflections every way the turns and varieties of all passions whereunto the mind is subject yea so to imitate them that whether it resemble unto us the same state wherein our minds already are or a clean contrary we are not more contentedly confirmed by the one then changed and led away by the other In harmonie the very image and character even of vertues and vice is perceived the mind delighted with their resemblances and brought by having them often iterated into a love of the things themselves Yea although we lay altogether aside the consideration of dittie or matter the verie harmonie of sounds being framed in due sort and carried from the eare to the spirituall faculties of our souls is by a native puissance and efficacie greatly available to bring to a perfect temper whatsoever is there troubeld a part as well to quicken the spirits as to allay that which is too eager soveraigne against melancholie and despaire forcible to draw forth tears of devotion if the mind be such as can yeeld them Able both to move and moderate all affections The Prophet David therefore having singular skill not in Poetrie alone but in Musick also judged them both to be things most necessarie for the house of God left behind him to that purpose a number of Divinitie endited Poems for the raising mens hearts and the sweetning of their affections towards God In which considerations the Church of Christ doth retain it to this day Thus far Hooker To all which if not proceeding from a learned man professing Christianitie but from the mouth of an Heathen Christian experience may seal to as most true Zanchie saith Much and manifold is the use of this Musick viz. of singing Psalms 1. The glorie of God is held forth more illustrious because by this means the praises of God contained in Psalms and Hymnes are celebrated more magnificently and gloriously with greater attention and admiration of the auditorie then if they were recited with a lower voice without singing Which was the cause why the Levites in setting forth the great benefits of God to the people did do it with sweet harmonie So before the building of the Temple when they carried the Ark they sang with a shrill voice Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered And when they returned conquerours they also sung that thereby the benefits of God might be better understood more attentively heard and more princelike admired As on the other side hereby the enemies were terrified There is no Prince but thinks himself more honoured by singing forth his praise then by recitall of the bare voice 2. Use is the manifold profit 1 Mans spirit is much cheered by the sweetnesse of the harmonie As like is delighted with like For the mind of man is all harmonie and therefore is much recreated with Musick Which the Heathens understood in their parables of Orpheus and Arion alluring the stones after them by the harmonie of the Harp to build Thebans But those stories in the sacred Scripture of Elisha fitted for prophesie and Saul pacified in spirit by Musick are most certain 2 The Spirit of God is stirred up in us by singing So Ephes 5 Be filled with the Spirit speaking to your selves with Psalms And therefore it is apparent that this Musick in the Churches is not onely lawfull but necessarie Adde to all that it is oft read that

the Angels sang Isa 6. They cried that is they sang Holy holy holy c. so at Christs nativitie they sang Glory to God on high Therefore it is a divine and celestiall thing So far Zanch. Dr. Ames in his Cases of Conscience 1. Qu. What use hath singing above ordinarie pronouncing Ans 1 It carries to the godly mind a certain sweet delight Psal 104.34 2 It hath in it a more distinct and fixed meditation ibid. 3. A more copious and ample profession of godlinesse Coloss 3.16 4. A greater communion of mutuall edification in singing with others Ephes 5.19 Qu. 2. Whether singing be more sutable to joy or sorrow Answ More agreeable to joy Jam. 5.13 But profitably it agrees to the commemoration of past sorrowes as appears by the penitentall Psalms As also sometimes to remove present sorrow Prov. 25.20 6. The unjustnesse of mens exceptions against singing Psalmes Their Objections answered The last thing we have to doe upon this question is to answer the objections against singing of Psalmes And I am sory to find that godly persons should make some of the same objections as prophane malignant ministers have as that because Davids Psalmes were put into English meetre by Mr. Hopkins Mr. Sternhold who dobtlesse were godly men or else the Churches of England newly refined out of Popery had not used them that therefore it is not lawfull to sing Davids Psalmes As a prophane Priest said of late that the English singing Psalms were Hopkins his pigges I say it is a sad thing when Christians shall joyne with the enemies of Christ against an ordinance and practice of Christ who sang in his language yea likely in Syriacke in which he continually spake and preached differing from the Hebrew in which Davids Psalms are penned as we fing in our language The objections are referred to divers heads Some to 1. The matter 2. The forme 3. Translation 4. Some warrants seeming contrary 5. Communion or fellowship Of Psalmes and singing 1. From the Matter 1. Objection is that it is very doubtfull whether Christ or his Apostles sang Davids Psalmes or no. Answ 1. We have no warrant of Scripture to say to the contrary Christians should assert onely what the Scripture asserts and to deny what the Scripture denies 2. The aneient Hebrew copie of the Gospel of Matthew hath it Matth 26.30 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When they had sung one of the Tehillim which is the name or Title of Davids Psalmes 3. Under Psalms and Hymnes c. are comprehended all Psalmes unlesse we will under Hymne comprehend especially psalmes of praise as we shewed afore Now Davids Psalmes are so full of praises that they are all called Tehillim praises Therefore the Apostles in that Ephes 5. Coloss 3. and Matth. 26.30 useth a Greek word of the same signification namely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Hymne And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having sung an Hymne 4. The Apostles prayd a Psalme of David viz. the second Psalme Acts 4.24.25 And singing is nothing else but a more deliberate distinct pausing and mediating praying 5. If they composed other Psalms sure they at least some of them would have been left upon record as wel as we have upon record lesser matters as the people strewing of Palme branches c. 6. If they sang not Davids Psalmes at that time of the Supper if they sang any other penned Psalm either of Moses or Deborah it comes all to one 7. It is said that the most reformed Churches shall sing the Psalmes penned in the Scripture as the song of Moses and the song of David witnesse Hallelujah and Amen three or foure times in foure verses Rev. 19.1 2 3 4. which words are very oft in Davids Psalms Where the Scriptures quote Psalms they would have us take it for granted that Davids Psalms are meant As Luk. 24.44 Act. 1.20.13.35 Therefore they are meant where is mention of singing Psalms 2. This is the objection of The certain Reasons against Singing And of others Obj. from the Matter that the matter of our singing should be somewhat immediatly dictated to us by the Spirit or at least we should compose Psalms by the Spirit For Paul saith I will sing with the spirit And Ephes 5. Col. 3. Sing spirituall Songs Ans Those places are meant of spirituall songs for the matter not the maner of making Of Pauls singing in his own spirit or mind yet so as in a tongue that he might be understood Now to the objection 1. For the Spirits dictating of matter presently sit for singing we say it is a gift not found in one of 10 thousand Saints if in any at all See these times drive mainly at revelations in all things Touching Knowledge Assurance Practice and this of Singing It is an extraordinary gift if Ministers or Christians can speak divine Matter pertinently upon the sudden extemporarily in preaching and exhorting any length of time Who then shal be able upon a sudden to speak matter and forme that is meeter fit for singing For if men will sing though alone any tune and not yell out a confused noise they must measure out their words to a certain length And then who can study matter and meeter all in the same instant and be devout too We never read in the Scripture of any such but rather the contrary David penned his Psalmes Moses penned his Song and both with exactnesse and variety of meeter which argue not sudden rapsodicall singing 2. We say that no Christians can sing together because their meditations will differ if not the meeter too and so make confusion 2. For Christians deliberate composing the matter of Psalms to be sung in common we have no rule in the Scripture to require that Generally those that penned the matter of Psalms were extraordinary men as Moses David Isaiab Jeremiah Habakuk c. 2. We read of a gift of praying and preaching c. But we read not of a particular gift given by Christ in the new Testament to one above another to compose the matter or ditties of Psalms If not then 3. there will be a doubt whose Psalms shall be sung whether those composed by this brother or that brother 3. We preferre mans composall before Gods whereas in preaching the Scriptures is the text In baptizing and administring the communion the Scripture is the form For praying the Lords prayer is the plat-forme And so by the same analogie Davids Psalmes are the dittie for singing In all to keep to the plat-formes of Scripture 4. Men are but men If in the matter or dittie for I do not now speake of meeter there should be any unfoundnesse of doctrine by custome and the musick the people would fall in love with it and as Zanchy saith very well there would be no removing it If all Churches should have their several meeters for singing it would not so tend to the union of Churches and anticipating of emulations But if all Christians should be left to

said some how even to us And for those imprecating Psalms 1. saith he we may meditate in singing on the formidable dread of God against impenitent sinners 2. We may pray in singing that God will hasten his just judgements on the in curable enemies of the Church though not against our private personall adversaries 3 Obj. Touching warrant is That in turning Davids Psalms into and singing them in Meeter with adding and changing of words is adding to if not diminishing from the text of Davids Psalms on which adding and diminishing is pronounced a curse Revel 22.18 19. Deut. 4.2 Prov. 30.6 Ans There is no adding but onely explaining even as we do in translating the Bible and in alledging texts in Sermons applying them to particular purposes so that unlesse you dare say that these are unlawfull you must not say the other is unlaw The Lord requires no more of us in such using the Scriptures but to keep to the sence as is plain a thousand times over in the Apostles alledging in the New Testament places out of the Old The fifth and last sorts of Objections are from communion and fellowship with wicked men in the duty of singing Psalms Ans If we may not sing in a mixed Congregation then not pray For singing for the most part is but more deliberate meditationall praying If we may not pray in a mixt congregation then we must not have the Word preached which is a gathering ordinance belonging to all blessed to the auditorie by prayer Christ praied amidst unbeleevers Joh. 11. v. 41.45 Jesus lifted up his eyes and said I thank thee O Father c. Then many of the Jews beleeved on him Other places might be alledged but for hast As his giving thanks when he miraculously fed the multitudes with a few loaves and fishes And Joh. 12.27 28 29. see before c. after there was a mixed multitude about him To decline praying in a mixt congregation is to lay a footing for neglecting of prayer in families and so to let them live as Atheists Psal 14. As for the holy Communion it doth intimate us to be and integrate and seal us into one bodie the bodie of Christ is his Church It doth suppose us to be one lump 1 Corinth 5. one bread 1 Corinth 10. It is an ordinance to give one life to them that have some alreadie And therefore in this Ordinance none but supposed Saints or beleevers may joyne with us But for singing the sound is naturall the tune artificiall in which is no spirituall communion at all and for the matter it is common as other places of Scripture to all Lastly for manner if they sing aright with faith and affection they are meet for Communion therin If not they sing not at all spiritually and so we have no true fellowship with them just as we may say as much of praying Men may haply cavill against this answer but let them rest satisfied till they can shew us a word to exclude the mixed multitude from praying and singing as we have from Communions James writing to the twelve Tribes scattered abroad Jam. 1.1 bids them sing Psalms Jam. 5.13 I may say of this case here as once was said in humane ancient stories touching paricide there was no Law anciently made against it because it was supposed never any child would be so unnaturall as to kill his parent So no casuist or controversie moves this doubt of singing Psalms in a mixt congregation therein all learned men are silent as supposing none would be so unspirituall as to question it To close up all You have heard what we can say for the defence of the lawfulnesse to sing as we do in our English Churches wherein we concur with all reformed Churches As that of Germany where Luther would call for the 46 Psalm in his troubles And Zamchie would say Zanch. on Ephes 5. de Music in Eccles By any means sing the Psalms and Hymnes of the Scriptures for the bringing in of others will be of dangerous consequence Of Scotland where Buchanan was so taken with it that he most elegantly turned the Psalms into Latin Meeter Of the Greek Churches of the French of Holland of New-England all which have for that purpose translated Davids Psalms into Meeter in their own tongues Even as at this day as I am assured from them that have been eare witnesses the Jews in their Synagogues sing the Psalms of David in their own Hebrew tongue So that besides all that hath been said we have the custone of all the reformed Churches of God and this is not to be despised * 1 Cor. 11.16 but rather they that yet will not be satisfied are to be put by with that of the Apostle in another case If any man seem to be contentious as to lay aside singing of Davids Psalms we have no such custome nor the Churches of God In the same 1 Cor. 11.16 A Discourse of our worthy Brethren of New-England declaring their grave Judgement touching not onely the lawfulnesse but also the necessity of the heavenly Ordinance of singing Scripture Psalms in Meeter in the Churches of God Which Discourse coming to the hand of the Author after he had finished his weak Tract he thought good to annex for strengthening his and setling the doubting Christian THe singing of Psalms though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony and melodie yet such is the subtiltie of the enemie and the enmity of our nature against the Lord and his waies that our hearts can find matter of discord in this harmonie and crotchets of division in this holy melodie for There have been three questions especially stirring concerning singing First what Psalms are to be sung in Churches whether Davids and other Scripture Psalms or the Psalms invented by the gifts of godly men in every age of the Church Secondly if Scripture Psalms whether in their own words or in such meeter as English poetrie is wont to run in Thirdly by whom are they to be sung whether by the whole Churches together with their voices or by one man singing alone and the restjoyning in silence and in the close saying Amen Touching the first certainly the singing of Davids Psalms was an acceptable worship of God not onely in his own but in succeeding times As in Solomons time 2 Chron. 5.13 in Jehosaphats time 2 Chron. 20.21 in Ezra his time Ezra 3.10 11. and the text is evident in Hezekiahs time they are commanded to sing praise in the words of David and Asaph 2 Chron. 29.30 which one place may serve to resolve two of the questions the first and the last at once for this commandment was it ceremoniall or morall some things in it indeed were ceremoniall as their musical Instruments c. but what ceremonie was there in singing praise with the words of David and Asaph what if David was a type of Christ was Asaph also was every thing of David typicall are his words which are of morall universall