Selected quad for the lemma: glory_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
glory_n	lord_n	name_n	praise_v	7,539	5	9.1162	5	true

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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

we may do the Will of God on Earth as the Angels do it in Heaven i. e. do what is his Will and do it so viz. with all readiness Mr. Caryl tells us They are not worthy to be reckoned Sons of God who have not a readiness or present disposition in them to join with all or any of his true Sons in this Work to celebrate the Praises of God at his graciou● Appearances in his mighty Works of Mercy c. Secondly As the Angels sang at God's laying the Foundation of the first Creation so also they sang at the beginning or bringing in the second Creation as Mr. Caryl also observes even at the Birth of Christ they sang Glory to God on High and on Earth Peace good Will to Men. To teach us that as we should sing the Praises of God for the Works of Creation and so much the more for the Work of Redemption Shall they sing to see the good Will of God towards us and shall we be dumb Shall we who are thus raised to Glory and magnified by the mighty God not sing or imitate the Angels to join together with united Voices to sing and celebrate his Praises When the Disciples rejoiced and sang those Hosannahs to Jesus Christ Blessed be the King that cometh in the Name of the Lord Peace in Heaven and Glory in the Highest Luke 19. 38. the envious Pharisees saith Mr. Caryl did not like the Musick and therefore said unto him from among the Multitude Master Rebuke thy Disciples By this it appears that the Devil is a great Enemy to Singing he does not love such Hosannahs and Praises should be sung to Jesus Christ he it is that rules in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience and 't was he no doubt that influenced and stirred up these Pharisees with Envy to have Christ's Disciples rebuked for singing and praising him in such a high and triumphant manner Take heed you that are God's People who do 〈◊〉 see it is your Duty to sing Hosannahs to Christ you do not forbid others so to do lest you are found in doing of it to degrade the Holy Jesus and take from him through the Temptation of Satan part of the chiefest Glory that is due to his glorious Name For pray observe the Answer of our Lord Jesus to those blind Pharisees Vers 10. I tell you if these should hold their Peace the Stones would immediately cry out as if he had said you labour in vain to suppress or hinder these to sing my Praises or to give Glory unto me for should they be silent the Stones would cry shame of them for neglecting their Duty and God would rather cause sensless Creatures to proclaim his Praise than to want it Object But some may say 'T is not said they s●ng Answ There is no doubt to be made but they sung all generally understand those Hosannahs were delivered in a Song Our Annotators hint that it might be the name of a Song that was used to be sung in Festivals Moreover they tell you that the Expressions seem to be taken out of Psal 118. 24 25 26. Also they were uttered as with one Voice The whole Multitude of the Disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud Voice Luke 19. 3● and uttered these words Hosanna blessed it he that cometh in the Name of the Lord Hosannah in the highest As God always was praised with Singing so now they seem to be raised with holy Triumph to express his Praise in the highest manner and therefore they sung But that I may close this take one or two Arguments Arg. 1. If Angels in Singing do the Will of God do that which is pleasing and acceptable to God and in so doing worship God then Singing or to sing is the Will of God well-pleasing to him and is acceptable in his sight and is a part of his Worship But Angels in Singing do the Will of God do that which is well-pleasing to him and acceptable in his sight ●and in so doing they worship him Ergo To sing is to do the Will of God 't is well-pleasing to him and acceptable in his sight and in so doing we worship him I never met with any that deny Angels to sing the Praises of Jehovah but all as one Man grant 't is part of their great Work and Business And this being so my Argument needs no Confirmation but is unanswerable Arg. 2. If Heaven and all the Host of Heaven or all that is therein and Earth and all that is in it are commanded by the Holy Ghost to sing the Praises of God then 't is the Duty of Men and Angels to sing his Praise But Heaven and all the Host of Heaven and all that is therein 〈◊〉 Earth and all that is in it are so commanded to do Ergo 'T is the Duty of Men and Angels to sing the Praises of God See Psal 148. There and in divers other places all in Heaven and Earth all are commanded to praise God in the Heights that is to sing Hallelujahs as the Hebrew word signifies Vers 1. CHAP. III. Proving Singing the Praises of God to be a Moral Duty OUR third Argument to prove Singing 〈◊〉 Ordinance of God shall be taken from the Nature of the Duty it self which generally worthy Men call a Moral Duty as well as it is brought under express Institution and so consequently a Branch of natural Worship And now because some weak Christians are offended at this Phrase viz. calling Singing a part of natural or moral Worship or Religion I shall explain what we mean when we speak thus First of all not but that 't is a spiritual Ordinance and a positively Law but we must distinguish between Precepts that are purely Moral and meerly Positive Breaking of Bread and Holy Baptism are meer positive Ordinances and they had never been known nor practised if there had not been a positive Institution to give being to them but to fear God to love God to pray to God and divers other Precepts of the same Nature had been the Duty of all Man-kind if there had been no written Law or Prescription positively to injoin them on the Creature and that by the Law or Light o● God in the Conscience of Men as Paul sheweth in Rom. 2. 14 15. For when the Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law those having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the Work of the Law written in their hearts All Mankind throughout the World know by that of God written in their Hearts they ought not to wrong their Neighbours they ought not to Steal nor commit Adultery nor Kill c. They are taught in a word the substance of the whole moral Law of God hereby if not wholly darkned and obliterated by their Sin and horrid Lusts Even so we say if there had been no written Law or positive Injunction to pray and sing the Praises of God

Mr. Wells affirms 〈◊〉 shall saith he take one Shaft out of the whole Quiver i. e. I shall use one Argument among many which is this viz. W● always find this Duty of Singing Psalm● linked to and joined with other moral Duties thus the Psalmist joins Singing and Prayer together Psal 95. 1 6. O come let us sing unto the Lord O come let us worship and fall down and kneel before the Lord our Maker There is Prayer and Singing con●exed Singing being of equal necessity and authority with other Ordinances 〈◊〉 so the Apostle James joins these two together Is any 〈◊〉 you afflicted let him pray Is any 〈◊〉 let him sing Psalms Jam. 5. 13. You 〈◊〉 observe both these Services are equally calculated for Man's Necessity Thus Paul and Silas join them in their practice Acts 16. 26. And so Justic● Martyr in his 117●● Question ad Orthod●●● tells us That they sang and sent up Prayers to God the Primitive Church confirming David's Injunctions and the Apostolical Commands So that by these Instances we may observe that the Duty of Prayer and Singing have walked in the same Equipage and lay claim to an equal Authority from Divine Writ the Scripture jointly favouring both p. 177. Secondly This Duty and holy Ordinance of Singing in Gospel-Days is evident from these Prophetick Psalms I may speak saith Mr. W●lls of Singing as Paul speaks of Timothy's Ordination 1 Tim. 4. 14. it was given by Prophesy There are divers Prophecies in the Old Testament concerning Saints singing in Gospel-times on Psal 108. 2. saith he M●●r● observe● that there David pours forth his ardent Prayers and Wishes for the Kingdom of Christ And so Divines observe that the 100 Psalm is Prophetical Make a joyful Noise unto the Lord all ye Lands Serve the Lord with gladness Come before his Presence with Singing O sing unto the Lord a new Song Sing unto the Lord all the Earth Here we and all 〈◊〉 Gentiles be sure who believe in Christ are required to sing nay and to come into his Presence that is into his Public● Worship with Singing The like 〈◊〉 1 Chron. 16. 23 24. Sing unto the Lord all the Earth shew forth from day to day his Sal●ation Declare his Glory among the Heat●● his marvellous Works among all Nations So Psal 66. 1 2. Make a joyful Noise unto 〈◊〉 God all ye Lands Sing forth the Hono●● 〈◊〉 his Name make his Praise glorious Psal 21. 13. Be thou exalted O Lord in thine 〈◊〉 strength so will we sing and praise thy Power These and many other Psalms are 't is evident Prophecies of Gospel-Times when the old Boundaries of the Church should be broken down to give an entrance unto the Gentiles into the Church of God and to shew us that is the Jews in their Church-State were to celebrate the Praises of God by Psalms so are we and as Israel sang the Praises of God in the Widerness and at the Red Sea and therein acknowledged the Benefits they received so 〈◊〉 we with Songs of Thanksgiving shew forth from day to day his Salvation and declare his Glory among the Heathen with a joyful and triumphant Noise otherwise we fall short of answering the Prophesy in our Day and Times and render not to God the Duty he requires And to all the prophetical Psalms I might add that pregnant Prophecy recorded by the Prophet Isa Chap. 52. 8. Thy Watchmen shall lift up the Voice with the Voice together shall they sing Which clearly saith Mr. Wells prognosticates this Musical Ordinance in Gospel-Times Musculus faith These Watch●en shall jubilee when they shall consider the great Joy approaching for the Redemption obtained by Christ There are two things which not only establish but sweeten and honour an Ordinance 1. Promises 2. Prophecies Christ himself was the Fruit and Issue of both These things clearly inform us 1. That Singing of Psalms c. is not a legal part of Worship but fuitable to Gospel-Times 2. That there is clear and manifest Institution of it nay and that these prophetical Gospel-Psalms and Prophecies are part of the Gospel being Prophecies of it as the first Chapter of John is What think you of those places of the Prophets and Psalms that speak of Christ as they are mentioned and recited in the New Testament are they not Gospel as well as any thing ye find therein taught or laid down anew Doth not the Apostle tell us That unto them that is to Israel the Gospel was preached as well as unto us And that in Promises and Prophecies it was preached to Abraham 3. Consider that there is no attainment under the Gospel of special spiritual Priviledges that can exalt Christians beyond th● practice of this Duty the more our Mercies are the greater are our Obligations 〈◊〉 praise God by Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs and so express the Joy of our Hearts by Singing forth the Praises of God they that attain to the greatest purity of Gospel-Worship and Institutions are to do as Moses and Israel did at the Red Sea Rev. 13. 3. 4. And they sang the Song of Moses the Servant of God and the Song of the Lamb saying Great and marvellous are thy Works 〈◊〉 God Almighty just and true are thy Way thou King of Saints Who shall not fear that and glorify thy Name O Lord for thou 〈◊〉 art Holy for all nations shall come 〈◊〉 worship thee for thy Judgments are 〈◊〉 manifest Manuscr Psalmody These were such that have attained to the Purity of Gospel-Institutions being purged 〈◊〉 by Fire from Antichristian Pollution being become as pure and transparent Glass having 〈◊〉 a perfect Conquest and Victory over Antichrist who are said thus melodiously to sing forth the Praises of God and to close this we 〈◊〉 sing in Heaven in the highest Glory and therefore it follows the highest state of Grace 〈◊〉 upon us be sure to be found in this so holy 〈◊〉 sublime Duty which as we have shewed in the Work of Angels Obj. But by the same Argument you bring to prove we ought to sing Psalms c. in Gospel-times from the Precepts given by David Why may we not as David did use an Instrument of ten Strings Answ 1. Singing with Instruments we say with Reverend Mr. Cotton was typical and so a Ceremonial Point of Worship and therefore ceased but Singing saith he with Heart and Voice is a Moral Worship such as is written in the Hearts of all Men by Nature As to pray in distress pag. 6. let it be observed that I am not alone in my Apprehensions as touching Singing being a Moral Duty Here you see that this worthy Man positively affirms the same And again he saith That singing of Psalms c. is not a Ceremony but a Moral Duty and so continueth in the New Testament Cotton's singing of Psalms pag. 23 24. But faith he suppose singing with Instruments were not typical but only an external Solemnity of Worship fitted to the Solace of

c. Ergo Christ and his Disciples have left a sufficient Rule to shew how singing of Psalms and Hymns should be performed This Argument cannot be denied therefore let our Brethren consider where the fault lies who do not see the way how to sing c. 'T is said Moses was faithful in all God's House as a Servant and was careful to do every thing according to the Patern shewed him in the Mount but Christ as a Son is faithful over his own House Now since Singing was required of the Churches by Christ for what the Apostles injoyned by the Spirit Christ injoyned in the New Testament certainly he has left a sufficient Direction how it ought to be performed otherwise it would reflect upon his Wisdom and Faithfulness Strange is Singing practised by Christ and his Apostles and injoined on the Churches and is there no certain way to know what that Singing is nor how it should be performed I stand in a maze to see how confused some are in their Minds and Sentiments about it one saying 't is only Heart-Joy others 't is no more than to praise or give Thanks to God in Prayer saith another 't is to be performed or done by one single Man alone in the Congregation tho not one Example or Precedent in all the Scripture in God's ordinary Worship for any such Practice O how hard is it to bring Men off from their own conceited Opinions or to receive a Truth they either 〈◊〉 prejudiced against or else not willing to have it to be received as an Ordinance of God! CHAP. XIII Shewing what the Matter is the Saints and Churches of Christ should sing i● Gospel-Times opening what Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs are ONE Objection that is brought against Singing is this viz. We do not know what we should sing and therefore do not sing in our Congregations I must confess if Singing was practised and injoined and nothing was left in God's Word to shew us what it is we are to sing it would be strange and a sufficient Plea against the practice of it but such a thing could not stand consistent with the Wisdom of the Spirit But blessed be God 't is not so as we by his Assistance shall now further make appear For we have first our Pattern which is Christ's practice with his Disciples in this Case as in others 2dly The Rule which are those Precepts laid down in the New Testament Christ and his Disciples sung an Hymn And be sure the Matter of it was Spiritual it being performed by those Sacred and Holy Persons and in the Sacred Worship of God i. e. just as they had celebrated the Holy Supper But to speak to the Rule see Ephes 5. 19. Be ye filled with the Spirit speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs singing and making melody in your Hearts to the Lord. So Col. 3. 16. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs singing with Grace in your Hearts to the Lord. Here you have six Things observable or the words contain six parts First The Matter to be sung in the general viz. the Word of Christ Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms c. singing with Grace in your Hearts Like as the Word of Christ ought to dwell in us richly that we may meditate thereon and be able to preach it hear it and understand it c. so to sing it The Word of Christ is therefore positively laid down to be the Matter we must and ought to sing in the general for we are injoined to have it dwell richly in us in this place more especially to sing it than on any other account Secondly The Singers that is the Church or Churches to whom he wrote more particularly the Saints and faithful in Christ at Ephesus and at Coloss and in them to all other Saints and Churches of Christ to the end of the World Thirdly More particularly the Matter to be sung viz. Psalms and Hymus and Spiritual Songs Fourthly The Manner or how it should be performed i. e. with Melody or Spiritual Joy in the Heart or Grace What he calls Melody in our Heart in one place he calls Grace in the Heart in the other The Tongue is the Instrument but it must be tun'd with Grace or the Musick will not be sweet in Christ's Ears In Singing of Psalms c. saith one a gracious Heart takes Wings and mounts up to God to join with the Celestial Quire It is Grace which fills the Heart for and sweetens the Heart in this Duty Fifthly The Master of the Chore the Preceptor as Mr. Wells saith viz. the Heart we must look to the Heart in Singing that it is purged by the Spirit God is the Creator of the whole Man and therefore will be worshipped and praised with the whole Man The whole Man is bought with a Price our Tongues as well as our Spirits are not our own therefore we ought to glorify God in our Bodies and in our Spirit which are the Lords 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. My Heart is fixed O God my Heart is fixed I will sing and give praise Psal 57. 7. Awake my Glory c. I my self will awake What was this which David calls his Glory all tell you it was his Tongue and in Singing and Praising of God the Glory of it much lies when the Heart is filled and fixed with Grace in the discharge of this Duty So in Psal 108. 1. O God my Heart is fixed I will sing and give praise with my Glory Augustine saith It is not a musical String but a working Heart that is harmonious Mary sung with her Tongue and her Heart was in her magnificent Song And as saith another Godly Man When we sing Psalms c. let us take heed that we have the same thing in our Mind that we warble forth with our Tongues and that our Song and our Heart do not run several ways If saith Mr. Wells we in Singing only offer the Calves of our Lips it will too much resemble the Jewish Service Men may hear or pray as well as sing carnally therefore we should remember to do as the Apostle teaches to sing with the Spirit and with the Vnderstanding also 1 Cor. 14. 15. Sixthly and lastly The End viz. to glorify the Lord and lift up his Praise God is to be our true and only Scope i. e. to set forth his Glory ought to be our ultimate End I mean when we sing and perform all other Duties of Religion Now then since the Word of Christ is the Matter in general that ought to be sung it appears we are not left without Directions by the Spirit about this Ordinance let Men say what they please for as 't is Christ's Word we should and ought always to preach and hear so 't is his Word we

yet the Light of Nature would have taught us thus to do Remarkable is that passage of Moses in Gen. 4. Then began Men to call upon the Name of the Lord Ainsworth sheweth that the Text is taken two manner of ways the Chaldee in the Masovites Bible saith Then in his days Men left off Praying or became prophane so that they prayed not in the Name of the Lord. Others understand it directly the contrary way i. e. Then Men begun to pray or call on the Name of the Lord or erected publick Worship Preaching in the Name of the Lord. So Ainsworth Take it either way it appears they knew it was their Duty to Pray and Preach yet there was no positive Law or written Precept for either in those Days nor for many Years after even till Moses came so that 't is clear these are parts of moral or natural Worship And so is Singing no doubt for as all the Heathen generally invocate their Gods pray to them so they sing their Praises as might abundantly be demonstrated And what is more clear further to evince this than that Passage of the Children of Israels's Singing after their great Deliverance at the Red Sea Exod. 15. 1. Then sang Moses and the Children of Israel this Song c. Either they did it by the Dictates of their own Conscience as a part of Divine Homage due to God from the Law or Light of God in their own Hearts to magnify him for That wonderful Salvation or else by some special means of Inspiration or Injunction from the Lord though I incline to the former Plain it is this was before the Law was given forth or there were any written Prescription or Rule to walk by which clearly shews take it either way it was no Levitical Ceremony as some are ready to assert but a Duty it was and it has been practised by multitudes that never had any knowledg of the Scripture or positive Precepts Further to confirm what we have said upon this respect i. e. that Singing the Praises of God is a moral Duty and a part of God's natural Worship as well as Prayer take what Mr. Robert's says Singing of Psalms c. to God with the Voice saith he seems to be part of God's natural Worship which upon due consideration of God's Nature Man by the Light of Nature should perform to him though there were no particular Law requiring it nor Institution appointing it For 1. Singing of Psalms c. to God is a king of Prayer a Prayer not in Prose but in Meeter with Melody The Apostle joins them together as of like Nature And who can be so gross as to deny Prayer to be part of God's natural Worship 2. Singing of Songs to God was practised by God's People at the Red Sea before the Law was given forth or any particular Law for that Duty 3. Singing the Praises of God is a Duty of the first Commandment peculiarly requiring all natural Worship to be performed to him and so it is ranked by the Godly Learned and say Singing with Heart and Voice is a Moral Worship such as is written in the Hearts of Men by Nature As to pray in distress so when we have cause of solemn Thanksgiving unto God to sing his Praises Now saith he that which is a part of God's natural moral Worship is a Duty under the New Testament as well as under the Old natural Worship is always and in all times a Duty obliging semper tho not ad semper Doubtless even the Pagans by the Light and Law of Nature are bound to sing Praises unto God for his invisible Excellencies made known to them by his visible Works of Creation and Providence tho they never come to the Knowledg of the Scriptures of Psalms and Songs Roberts's Key to the Bible pag. 172. But further to evince this and make it appear yet plainer that it is without all doubt ● Moral Duty to sing forth the Praises of God I might argue thus All Men are to pray to God every one saith Prayer is a Moral Duty then all are bound to praise him since Praise is comprehended in Prayer as a branch or part of it This being granted readily by all I further argue Ought not every Person then to perform this Duty of praising of God in the highest and most acceptable manner they are capable to do none to be sure will deny this why then say I they are all therefore taught to sing by natural or moral Principles 't is evident First Because to sing forth the Praises of God or Man is the highest manner or mode of praising either God or Man that we know of or are able to attain unto which doth appear 1. Because when any Man naturally is filled with Joy and Gladness or sees extraordinary cause of rejoicing he by a natural Instinct falls into singing all the World knows this is so Now who is he on such occasions bound to rejoice in● and sing to but the Lord only who gave him those good things he possesseth or delivered him from those evil things he seared and so upon the one account or other filled his Soul with Joy and Gladness Why ought the Saints particularly to rejoice in Christ Jesus and sing to him but because all that Good their Souls are made partakers of is in and through him Why did the People break forth into those sweet and triumphant Songs of Praise to David when they sang Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands was it 〈◊〉 from the Consideration of those singular Blessings and Victories they had received from David and hoped further to partake of from his Hands as an Instrument in the Hand of God And if Moral Principles lead People forth thus upon all occasions of this nature to sing to the Instrument of Blessings and Salvation how much more to the great Agent and Author of them viz. the great God of Heaven and Earth who will not give his Glory in another c. 2. Because this way of praising of God by singing is called by the Holy Ghost a praising of him in the Heights or as the heavenly Hosts Praise God with Allelujahs or in the highest manner Praise ye the Lord praise ye the Lord in the heights Psal 148. 1. Praise ye him all his Angels praise ye him all his Hosts vers 2. See Ainsworth The Angels singing forth God's Praises there can be no higher way doubtless to praise 〈◊〉 than that way by which the glo●●●●s S●●●●●ims and Cherubims do express and perform 〈◊〉 Also all the Godly in every Age have ●●●ified it as their stedfast Belief as well as ●●e holy Scriptures bear Witness to it that this is the way by which the glorified Saints in Heaven do and we with them shall when we come thither celebrate the Praises of God viz. by Singing therefore this of singing sorth the Praises of God is the highest and be●●●●y and manner Praises can be given to the ●ord

Secondly All Creatures are called upon to praise God to sing to him Now surely the Holy Ghost would not have injoyned this on all that have Breath if it did not belong to them and that which all Men are and ought to do is certainly a Moral Duty nay 't is evident there are more Precepts that injoin all Men to sing the Praises of God in the Old Testament than there are for them to pray unto him which seems to be done as if it were on purpose to silence those Mens Spirits whom the Holy Ghost might foresee would in some Age or another oppose this sacred Ordinance and so more reason to repeat it than that of Prayer that never was opposed or cavill'd against Thirdly That Faculty as one observes which God hath placed in Men to praise him in an harmonious or a melodious manner shews that it is a moral Duty belonging to all Men tho more especially the Saints of God to be found in the Practice of singing forth his Praise God who made nothing in vain but all things for his own Glory even the Tongue of little Birds to warble forth with their pleasant Notes the Praises of their Creator amongst the branches of the Trees Psal 104. 12. Who made our Tongues and placed that singing Faculty in them but the Almighty We see all Men and Women more or less are naturally as apt and ready to sing as to speak Now was this tunable and musical Tongue or that Faculty of Si●●ing not given to us and to all Mortals think you to sing forth the Praises of our Creator Can any be so weak as to think it was given to be imployed to sing any other Songs but such as are sacred and divine If it be a great abuse of the Tongue or rather a Dishonour to God for any to imploy their Tongues to sing profane and carnal Songs that stir up Lust and promote Ungodliness as all will say doubtless it is then it follows clearly this tunable or melodious note or faculty of Singing that God hath placed in the Tongue can be for no other reason but that thereby viz. with a sweet and melodious manner they nay all of them might discharge this Duty of singing the Praises of the Almighty God And indeed upon this account as well as any other or more than upon any other the Tongue may be called our Glory i. e. because thereby we in the highest manner we are capable of do praise and laud the Name of God in singing and setting forth that Glory that is owing to him from Now if to sing God's Praise we●● not the Duty of all Men it would follow God hath given them one Faculty in that Member for no use But of use it is and Men will use it too they will sing and say I they may nay more they ought but not to the Dishonour of God not filthy or vain and foolish Songs but such as may be to the Glory and Honour of his Name who made all Creatures and Things for his own Praise And since Mankind are naturally thus inclined to Singing and that this natural Gift and Faculty might be improved as all others to the Honour of God who as Austine in his Preface to the Psalms observes has left in his Word what they should sing and how to perform that Moral Duty Spiritus Sanctus videns obluctantem ad virtutis viam humani generis animam ad delect ati●nes hujus vitae inclinari delect abilibus mod●lis Cantilenae vim suae Doctrinae permiscuit ut dum servitate carmine mulcetur auditu● divini sermonis pariter utilitate miseratur The Holy Ghost seeing the Soul of Mankind strugling in the way of Godliness and being inclined to the Delights of this Life he mixed the Power of his Doctrine with sweet Singing that whilst the Soul was melted with the sweetness of the Verse the hearing of the Divine Word might be ingrafted with profit Austin in his Preface to the Psalms Object I know it is objected Hath not God given to the Tongue a faculty to laugh as well as to sing and is it their Duty to laugh Answ There is no doubt to be made but to laugh at some time is lawful and good it may be done without Sin though in much laughter there wants not Folly Man has not that Faculty in vain and many will tell you it is found in some Distempers very good for the Body and tends to remove them too besides it may refresh the natural Spirits when suppressed with Melancholy Gogitations But what a trifling Objection is this for as the one seems to be disallowed unless it be on some special Occasions so the other is given it appears on a far more excellent and subli●e Account and Consideration with frequent Injunctions to be found in it which is not to be found of Laughter therefore away with such contentious reasoning against Reason and Scripture too God hath injoined you to sing Psalms c. to hi● that dwelleth in Sion Psal 9. 11. Singing forth the H●●●ur and Praise of his Name Psal 66. 2. That doth wondrous Works for the Children of Men for his Mercy endures forever Psal 107. 8. And so much the more ought Saints to be found in it because he delights to hear the sweet Voice of his Church Cant. 2. 14. Let me hear thy Voice for sweet is thy Voice c. not only of Prayer but of such sweet Praises too no doubt Christ's Ear is affected with this harmonious Praise when performed by his own Spirit with Grace in our Hearts it also elevates and carries up our Spirits to him The Cloud of the Lord 's Divine Presence saith one descended not before but when the Trumpets and Singers were as one to make one Sound to be heard in praising and giving Thanks to the Lord and when they lifted up their Voices in Praises to him saying For he is good for his Mercy endureth for ever then the Lord bowed his Ear and vouchsafed his gracious Presence to his People then the House was filled 〈◊〉 a Cloud even the House of the Lord 2 Ch●● 5. 13. Then God takes possession of it as his Dwelling-place he is so affected with the Praises of his People when in a right manner they sing to set forth his Glory And as he minds for the neglect of this Ordinance in the Church viz. the not improving our Tongues and Faculties by the Assistance of the Holy Ghost in Singing the Praises of God he may withhold the Influences of his Spirit and may not be found to that deg●●● in his Dwelling-place Fourthly We may perceive what the Nature of this Ordinance of Singing is if we consider how often it is in the Holy Scripture joined with Prayer When we are exhorted to pray to him to worship him we are called upon also to sing his Praises And thus Paul seems to join them together in his practice When I pray I will pray in the Spirit c.

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