Name by which they have known Salvation As for artificial Musick although it was practized in the Jewish Church yet we do neither find any Precept or President for it in the writings of the new Testament We read that David had Singers and appointed men to make use of Musical Instruments yea sometimes made use thereof himself yet we have cause to believe that what he appointed to be done upon these accounts was not intended by him for gratifying vain foolish and wanton Minds but the more to influence and affect the People at that time with that Worship and Service of God and to sing Praises to his holy Name therefore says he Awake up my Glory awake Psaltery and Harp I my self will awake early I will praise thee O Lord among the People I will sing unto thee among the Nations Psal 57.8 9. Again Make a joyful noise unto God all ye Lands sing forth the honour of his Name make his Praise Glorious Psal 66.1 2. But then although David's intent might be good in making use of those Musical Instruments at that time yet we read that when Israel was departed from the Lord and the Counsel of his Spirit and made use of those things in a Formal and Customary way the Lord declared against them saying Take thou away from me the noise of thy Songs for I will not hear the melody of thy Viols Amos 5.23 And again Wo to them that are at ease in Sion and trust in the Mountain of Samaria That Chant to the sound of the Viol and invent to themselves Instruments of Musick like David That drink Wine in Bowles and anoint themselves with the chiefest Oyntments but they are not grieved for the Afflictions of Joseph Amos 6.1 5 6. From whence it is manifest That it was then so far from being acceptable unto God for Vain Wicked and Sinful men to Chant to the sound of the Viol and to invent unto themselves Instruments of Musick like David that the Lord declares he will not hear their melody and also pronounces a Wo against them that are in the practice of such things and inasmuch as it was so then that the Lord was pleased to declare and testifie against the Songs and Melody of the Jews under that Dispensation it certainly behoves those who are called Christians seriously to consider what ground there is in true Christianity for the use of artificial Musick upon any account whatsoever and especially in the performance of their Devotions to God Almighty for as hath been before observ'd we do no where find that either Christ or his Apostles did at any time either command or recommend any such thing to be used among Christians not does it in the least appear that the practice thereof is any way consistant with the Purity and Spirituality of that Religion and Worship which was Instituted by our blessed Lord and Practized by his Disciples and Followers in the primitive times The Conclusion SInce then it is clearly manifest by what hath been said that it is the Lord Jesus Christ by his Grace and Spirit that is and ought to be the chief and principal mover and actor in the Hearts and Souls of his People in order to call and gather them out of the Vanities and Pollutions of this present World and to fit prepare and qualife them for performing that pure and spiritual Worship and Service which is acceptable unto God in this Gospel day whether it be in publick Preaching Testimonies and Declarations or in Prayers Praises and Thanksgivings unto him and that all men in their natural and unconverted State notwithstanding human Abilities until they be converted to God and have the help all such undertakings shall certainly feel and witness the returns of Divine Love Life Peace and Satisfaction from the hand of the Lord unto their Immortal Souls and shall be secretly uphelp supplied and supported by the blessed and holy power of God in all Straits and Difficulties that shall attend them upon the account of their service to God and his Truth and shall also be enabled thereby to persever in Faith and Patience unto the end of their Course until such time as it shall please the Lord God of Eternal Glory to call gather and remove them hence into an heavenly Habitation of Rest and Peace with him forever So that when the Wicked and Rebellious shall be seized upon with perpetual Sorrow and Anguish those who have thus received the Lord Jesus Christ and by his blessed and powerful hand have been conducted to their Eternal Mansion shall together with all the Saints and Children of God that are gone before them Everlastingly Praise Magnifie and Adore the Divine Majesty who alone is worthy of all Honour Glory Praise Magnitude and Dominion at this time henceforth and for evermore Amen ERATA In the Title Page line 12. read revealed in men in the Preface page 2. line 4. for Religions read Religious p. 4. l. 3. f. anology r. anology p. 5. l. 13. f. saw the r. saw that the. p. 17. l. 14. f. hollow r. hallow p. 20. l. 2. f. meet r. met p. 38. l. 18. f. silent r. in silence p. 43. lines 3 4 5 6. not to be â—alick Letter p. 51. l. 2. dele unto p. 59. l. 18. f. intened r. intended p. 68. l. 16. f. feed r. fed l. 25. f. Christ r. Christ's p. 88. l. 11. f. God r. Gods. THE END
to the Ephesians says And you hath he quickened who were dead in Trespasses and Sins yea God who is rich in Mercy for his great Love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in Sins hath quickned us together with Christ by Grace are ye saved and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus Ephes 2.1 4 5 6. From whence it is very clear and plain that it is the Spirit of Christ that quickeneth the Souls of those who have been dead in Trespasses and Sins and that if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his and if he be none of Christs he is none of the true Church and consequently no true Worshipper Again he says That as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God and if Sons then Heirs and Members of the true Church who worship God in the Spirit Moreover as the Lord Jesus Christ by his divine Spirit and Power doth thus work upon the Hearts and Souls of those that receive him in order to cleanse from Sin and Iniquity and to raise up into newness of Life so also it is he only by his holy Light and Spirit that truly prepared and disposes the Hearts of People for the service of God and opens the Mysteries of Truth unto the Sons and Daughters of Men He it is that hath the Key of David that opens and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth Rev. 3.9 And without him the vision of divine things are as a Book that is Sealed and hid from the wisdom of man in the Fall and no man is worthy to open the Seals thereof for which cause it seems John Wept as we read in the Revelation And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the Throne a Book written within and on the back-side sealed with seven Seals and I saw a strong Angel proclaiming with a loud voice Who is worthy to open the Book and to loose the Seales thereof and no man in Heaven nor in Earth neither under the Earth was able to open the Book neither to look thereon and I wept much because none was found worthy to open the Book neither to look thereon and one of the Elders said unto me Weep not behold the Lion of the Tribe of Judah the Root of David hath prevailed to open the Book and to loose the seven Seals thereof Rev. 5.1 2 3 4 5. By the Lion of the tribe of Juda is to be understood the Lord Jesus Christ who prevailed with the Father to open the Book of Truth and to loose the Seals thereof without whom no man is able to open the same be he never so Wise in worldly Wisdom and never so Learned in natural Arts and Sciences as may hereafter in its due and proper place more fully and at large appear Section IV. Concerning the Gospel Church and Evangelical Temple AS it is the Light Spirit and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ that truely quickens and renews People unto God and renders them capable of performing that Spiritual Worship which is acceptable unto him so also it is by the vertue and influence of the same Spirit and Power that the Lords People have been and are stated in a joynt Fellowship and Communion and are drawn into an outward and visible Society and so come under the name of a Church yet for a better understanding of the word Church or what is meant thereby it may be considered in a two fold respect First As it comprehends all whatsoever of every Nation Kindred Tongue and People whom the Lord God by his universal Spirit and Power revealed and made manifest in and through our Lord Jesus Christ doth truly call and gather out of the Life and Spirit of the World and the Pollutions and Defilements thereof into that Pure Holy and Righteous State of Faith and Life wherein they are cccepted of God and owned by him as his Children and People which make up that one true Universal or Catholic Church out of which indeed there is no Salvation Secondly The word Chuch may be taken for a certain number of Persons who being Members of this Universal Church are gathered into an outward and visible Society and do Meet and Assemble themselves together really to wait upon and Worship the Living God and to bear a Testimony for the Truth against Error The Church in the first sence in Scripture terms is called The New Holy and Heavenly Jerusalem the general Assembly and Church of the First-Born the Lambs Bride and the City of the Living God Heb. 12.22 23. Rev. 19.7 and 21.2 9 10. The Church in the latter sence we have it often mentioned in the Scriptures as appears Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 1.2 Gal. 1.2 1 Thes 1.1 also Rev. 1.4 John writteth to the seven Churches in Asia Thus it is not the outward House Frabrick or Building of Wood or Stone that is or can be truly term'd the Church or House of God in this Gospel day as some vainly do conceive and therefore do ascribe some imaginary Sanctity or Holiness thereunto but it is the Assembly of Believers in this sence gather'd together as aforesaid who are the Evangelical Temple Gospel Church and House of God the Ornaments whereof are not the Embroideries and Furnitures of wordly Art and Wealth but the Gifts and Graces of the holy Spirit Love Meekness Faith Patience Long-suffering Humility Self-denial and Charity with other Christian Vertues 'T is true the Jews under the old Covenant and Dispensation of the Law had an outward Temple where they were to Worship as in 1 Kings 9. and 2 Chron. 7. and because the Lord was pleased to Hollow it for his Name and honour it with his Presence as also to cause an outward Glory and Majesty to appear there by causing Fire from Heaven to consume their Sacrifices c. therefore it was called the House of God as is manifest in the writings of the old Testament And also the Lord Jesus before he was offered up gives it that Name Mat. 21.13 Joh. 2.16 But then after Christ was offered up and the pure spiritual Worship and Service came to be Exalted and born Testimony unto by the Apostles and Servants of Christ that outward Temple being left desolate of the Glory and Presence of God it came to Ruin according to the saying of the Lord Jesus and the true Ministers of the Gospel plainly testified That the most high dwelt not in Teinples made with Hands Acts 7.48 and 17.24 25. Neither was he Worshipped with mens hands as though he needed any thing seeing he giveth to all Life and Breath and all things but he is Worshipped in Spirit John 4.24 His Tabernacle is with men he will dwell with them and they shall be his People Rev. 21.3 Therefore the Apostle thus writes to the Church at Corinth Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit
deep things of God for what man knoweth the things of a man save the Spirit of a man which is in him even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God further adding That the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Moreover if the Lord had intended human Learning and Arts and Sciences to have been absolutely necessary for the Qualification of a Gospel Minister its probable he would not only have recommended the same the necessity thereof in those respects by some of his Servants but also would have chosen more of the Learned Doctors Rabbies of the times to have been publishers of his Mind Will unto the People in times past but on the contrary we find very few of those great Doctors that went upon that Errand neither under the Prophetical nor Evangelical Dispensation but rather the Lord was pleased to make use of Honest Plain often times Illiterate People upon these accompts to call several from their Vocations and Callings as the Scriptures bear witness to bear Testimony for him his Name and Truth unto the Sons and Daughters of Men that so the Glory of God and the excellency of his Wisdom and Power might more appear in and through such weak Instruments Object Now if any shall object That although several of the Apostles were unlearned when Jesus called them yet the Lord made them Learned by a Miracle before they went abroad to teach all Nations and from thence would argue That Illiterate People are not fit to preach the Gospel nor any but such who by the help of human Learning can understand divers Tongues and Languages Answ In answer thereunto I say That forasmuch as the Apostles were commanded to go and Teach all Nations the gift of Tongues was requisit at that time and upon that occasion to enable them to express themselves in every Nations proper Dialect that so those People to whom they spake might the better understand what was spoken to them yet it does not follow that because the gift of Tongues was expedient for them at that time in order to render them capable of speaking to the understanding of other Nations that therefore they must be Learned in other Tongues who speak only to People of their own Language Yet nevertheless it is not denied but that human Learning and Art and Sciences are very useful good and servicable in their places as a right use is made thereof for that People are thereby made more capable of managing temporal Affairs both in respect of Merchandize Trading and other matters as also it may so fall out that human Learning and the knowledg of Tongues and Languages may be useful upon some accounts unto such as are or may be called unto the Work and Service of the Gospel but then it is in a blessed Subordination and Conformity to the Teachings of the Divine Spirit which is that Golden-Key that opens the Mysteries of Truth and inspires the Soul with a right understanding of Spiritual matters and those People whose understandings are not opened thereby be they never so Learned or Wise in the Learning or Wisdom of the World yet by reason of the blindness of their Hearts Luk. 8.10 Ephes 4.18 Seeing they see not and Hearing they understand not the Mysteries of Gods Kingdom Yet so it is that when many People have by natural Education and Study acquired unto some knowledg in human Learning Arts and Sciences they grow puft up in Mind wise in their own Conceit and impatient of Contradiction and so are not willing that the use of natural Arts and Sciences should be so kept within their proper Sphere as to be limitted unto natural things and held in a subserviency to the holy Spirit but such will needs fall a meddling in things of a higher nature and by the help of human Learning and wordly Wisdom without the Revelation and Influence of the Divine Spirit they will put their meanings upon the Scriptures and give Expositions and Constructions upon Divine and Spiritual matters and which is yet worse they will oftentimes attempt the imposing of their Notions upon others and when the Lord is pleased to raise up any to oppose them then they fall into Passion Wrath Cruelty and Persecution the fruits of the Spirit of Error and upon this occasion it is that so many Contests Disagreements Jarrs and Controversies have risen among the Professors of the Christian Religion even because Poople have over-valued worldly Wisdom which is servicable in its place and under-valued sleighted opposed and disregarded the Teaching Direction Counsel Evidence and Revelation of the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ in themselves which alone can truly open and discover the meaning of that which hath proceeded from the same Spirit in others Luke 24.45 and so instead of the gracious Influence of the Divine Spirit they betake themselves unto human Literature Arts and Sciences and by their Dark Suggestions Quaint Distinctions and Logical Terms do render things more Obscure Intricate and Mysterious then of themselves they are so that the World is even burdened with the Voluminous Tractates long tedious and uncertain Discourses about Religious matters therefore hath it pleased God in his infinite Wisdom and Counsel in a great measure to lay aside the Wise and Prudent in the Wisdom of this World and by his Eternal Spirit to fit and qualifie many weak mean and contemptible Instruments in the Eyes of men and make use of them for the publishing of his pure and naked Truth that so it might be freed of those Mists and Foggs wherewith those Linguists have clouded it and that People might be directed to wait for that universal Spirit which as it is received doth opperate in the Hearts and Souls of People in order to work out Sin and Iniquity raise up into newness of Life and to give People an understanding in Divine and Spiritual matters that so they may be thereby fitted prepared and qualified for performing that Pure and Spiritual Worship which is acceptable unto God in this Gospel day And further such hath been the good pleasure of our God in times past as also in this our day not only in a great measure to lay aside the Wise and Prudent of the World upon these accounts but also to set aside as unnecessary for the Gospel Ministry those long tedious Books Discourses and Comments which have been and are the product of worldly Wisdom and the fruit of mans natural and unrenewed Mind and Spirit and the Lord by his own Wisdom Spirit and Power doth aid furnish assist and supply every true Gospel Minister in the performance of his Duty and Service both as to matter what the time when and the Persons to whom thus doth he in his heavenly Counsel order and dispose the Spirits of his People suitable for every Occasion and
THE Spiritual Worship EXALTED OR A Treatise concerning the Worship and Service of God Shewing how uncapable men are in their natural and unconverted State of Worshipping and Serving God acceptably in this Gospel day And that it is the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ reveaved in men which doth Renew Fit Prepare and â—ualifie them for performing that Pure Spiritual and Acceptable Worship which was instituted by our Lord and practiced by his Disciples and Followers As also several other things here inserted worthy of observation By a Lover of Truth and Wel-wisher of the Souls of all men George Myers But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritualy discern'd 1 Cor. 2.14 But the hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him John 4.23 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth John 4.24 Give unto the Lord the Glory due unto his Name Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness Psal 29.2 THE PREFACE TO THE Reader FOrasmuch as Divine Worship is the supream act of mans Life and a duty incumbent upon all for that thereby we answer the end of our Creation and pay those Respects and Acknowledgments which we owe to the Divine Majesty for all his Bounties and Favours towards us It greatly behoves all People to be very serious and weighty in that respect and truly to inform themselves what that Worship is which is acceptable unto God and how People ought to be qualified for performing the same the want of a right understanding upon these accounts has occasioned great Miscarriages and Defects among People in Religions matters and is one great reason why there are so many Jars and Divisions about the several Forms and Ways of Worship now extant in the World. The consideration of these things together with the drawings of Divine Love have induced me to the publication of this following Treatise wherein divers things relating to the Worship and Service of God are declared and held forth and whereby it is manifest that it is the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ revealed in the Hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Men that rightly Renews Fits Prepares and Qualifies them for Worshipping and Serving God acceptably and opens their Vnderstandings in Divine and Spiritual matters insomuch that in all acts of Worship and Service unto God the Holy Ghost is to have the Precedency so as to move act influence and assist the Persons exercised therein whether it be in publick Preaching Testimonies and Declarations for God and his Truth or in Prayers Praises and Thanksgivings unto him And also that those who in their own Will and Time do go about to perform acts of Worship and Service unto God in their Natural and Vnconverted State whilst they are despising and dis-regarding the Counsel Drawings and Directions of the Light and Spirit of Christ in themselves such Worshippers in that State and under those Circumstances may please themselves with such pretences but can no way perform that Divine and Spiritual Worship which is acceptable unto God in this Gospel day Although I might have produced divers Testimonies both of Antient and Modern Authors in favour of this Discourse yet for several Reasons I rather chuse to keep close to the Holy Scriptures inasmuch as I conceive those who are inclined to be Religious will not dare to make exceptions against that which is concluded to proceed from the Divine Spirit Let none be Offended that I do not admit of human Learning and natural Arts and Sciences to be of such absolute necessity for the Qualification of a Gospel Minister as some would have them For by what is here Written I do no way intend to undervalue human Learning or lessen its esteem in the minds of such as are inclin'd to make a right use thereof for I do grant that it is good and serviceable in its place yea it is and may be serviceable upon many accounts to a Gospel Minister where it is reduc'd to a blessed Subordination and Conformity to the Spirit of Truth but then if People will attempt to exalt it above the teachings of the Divine Spirit and lay that stress upon it for opening the Mysteries of Truth which the Holy Ghost will not admit of in that case I found my self concern'd to bear a Testimony for the Truth and against the Vanity of such as would extol human Learning and natural Arts and Sciences above their proper use and service Albeit the consideration of those many Treatises which have been writ by other Hands upon these accounts did at first seem to divert me from this undertaking yet for clearing of my Conscience in the sight of God and in performance of that Duty and Service which I owe to him I thought fit to cast my Mite into the Treasury desiring that what I have here Written in Humility may be Read and Expounded in Charity and that God Almighty who is the Author of all our Blessings may by his Grace and Goodness make this small Treatise effectual for informing the minds of People upon these accounts and for reducing them into that pure and spiritual Worship which is acceptable unto him through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen So desireth and so prayeth thy Christian Friend George Myers THE CONTENTS § 1. COncerning the Worship that was Instituted by Jesus Christ and Practiced by his People pag. 1. § 2. Concerning Mans incapacity of Worshiping and Serving God acceptably in his natural and unconverted State. pag. 4. § 3. Concerning the necessity of receiving the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ in order to quicken and renew to God and so to prepare and qualifie People for his Worship and Service pag. 10. § 4. Concerning the Gospel Church and Evangelical Temple pag. 15. § 5. Concerning silent waiting upon God for the help and concurrence of his holy Spirit in the performance of Divine Worship pag. 20. § 6. Concerning the Preparation Call and Ordination of Gospel Ministers pag. 25. § 7. Concerning Women Preaching pag. 34. § 8. Concerning the Rise of Gospel Performances the Qualifications of Gospel Ministers showing that they are not from Human Learning Worldly Wisdom and Natural Arts and Sciences but from the Divine Spirit pag. 43. § 9. Concerning outward Force and Violence in Religious matters and the unlawfulness of forceable resisting the temporal Magistracy p. 55. § 10. Concerning the Maintenance of Gospel Ministers pag. 63. § 11. Concerning Prayer pag. 75. § 12. Concerning Singing of Psalms and Artifical Musick pag. 88. The Conclusion pag. 98. THE Spiritual Worship EXALTED Section I. Concerning the Worship that was Instituted by Jesus Christ and Practiced by his People AFter the Lord God in his own appointed time saw meet to put an end to the Dispensation of the
in them before he mentions Singing or making Melody to the Lord and also the same Apostle gives an account what he himself will do upon this account saying I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the Vnderstanding also 1 Cor. 14.15 As for the Songs of wicked vain and ungodly People who daily rebel against the Light and Spirit of the Lord and the pure motions and conceptions thereof in themselves we do no where find that such have ever obtain'd divine acceptance in their excercise therein whilst they have continued in Vanity and Wickedness for the Lord by his Servants hath still testified against them Concerning Israel he saith Take thou away from me the noise of thy Songs for I will not hear the melody of thy Viols Amos 5.23 Also I will turn your Feasts into Mourning and all your Songs into Lamentation Amos 8.10 And of Tyrus he saith I will cause the noise of thy Songs to cease and the sound of thy Harps shall no more be heard Ezek. 26.13 And what was the reason of all this Even Sin and Iniquity for that has always been the cause of Dis-union and Separation between God and man. Object It s probable some may alledge the saying of the Apostle James Is any among you Afflicted let him Pray Is any Merry let him sing Psalmes And would infer from thence That if any be inclin'd to Mirth they may Sing by the Apostles Directions Answ In answer thereunto I say That there are two sorts of Mirth The one is a Mirth or Joy that springs up in the Hearts and Souls of Gods People being touch't and overcome with the Love and Presence of God as David said In thy Presence is fullness of Joy at thy right hand are Pleasures for evermore Psal 16.11 Also in Isaiah Behold my Servants shall sing for joy of Heart Isa 65.14 And Christ saith I will see you again and your Hearts shall rejoyce and your Joy no man taketh from you John 16.22 The other sort of Mirth or Joy is the Joy of wicked and sinful Men or that Mirth which arises from a vain foolish and wanton Mind The Apostle James is so far from directing such to sing Psalms that in the same Epistle he tells them of Mourning and Heaviness saying Cleanse your Hands ye Sinners and purifie your Hearts ye double minded be Afflisted and Mourn let your Laughter be turned into Mourning and your Joy into Heaviness James 4.8 9. Also Solomon spoke of this Mirth and said In Laughter the Heart is sorrowfull and the end of that Mirth is heaviness Prov. 14.13 Again he saith The Heart of Fools is in the House of Mirth Eccles 7.4 Also the Prophet speaking concerning Israel that was Apostatized and gone from the Lord and the counsel of his Spirit amongst other things says I will also cause her mirth to cease Hosea 2.11 Thus then as it is manifest that there is two sorts of Mirth or Joy and that the Mirth or Joy of the Wicked is but Vanity therefore we may conclude that the Mirth spoken of by the Apostle was that true Mirth or Joy that arises in the Hearts of Gods People being secretly toucht and overcome with the Love and Goodness of God and those who are witnesses of this true Mirth and Joy may sing Psalms according to the Apostles directions upon that account Object Some may object and say That although the Lord disowns vain Mirth yet David 's Psalmes are very good and useful and may be sung by those professing Christianity Answ Although David's Psalmes are very good and useful yet it does not therefore follow that any can sing them acceptably unless they be in some measure endued with that Spirit of God David was endued with and be under the fence and exercise of what they speak It is not only the repeating or singing over of good Words that the Lord looks at as hath been before observ'd but it is the frame and disposition of their Souls and Spirits from whom those words do actually proceed There 's no question but the Singers of Israel could express themselves with great Curiosity and draw out their Notes very exactly but what signified all that so long as it was not real but only formal and that their Hearts were adulterated from the Lord To what purpose can any rationally suppose it to be for People to sing David's Psalmes in Saul's Spirit or for those who spend their precious time in Wickedness Folly and Vanity and do very seldom think of Divine and Spiritual matters or of the Eternal and Irrevocable decree that must in one day be past upon them to sing thus I am weary with my Groanings All the Night make I my Bed to Swim I water my Couch with Tears My Heart is like Wax it is melted in the midst of my Bowels My Heart is not haughty nor my Eyes lofty My Soul is even as a weaned Child I have hated the Congregation of Ev l-Doers and will not sit with the Wicked I have set the Lord always before me My Heart is endicting a good matter I have remembered thy Name O Lord and have kept thy Law. Thy Statutes have been my Songs in the House of my Pilgrimage Thy Testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my Heart Lord I have loved the habitation of thy House and the place where thine Honour dwelleth These were David's Words and it s very likely that he was a Witness of what he spoke in these respects but then for any to undertake to sing them before the Lord because David spoke them and not because they are witnesses of such things in themselves nor of the Work and Influence of the Grace and Spirit of Christ by which these things are effected such Singers will not meet with divine acceptance in such performances nor is Singing in the least suitable to their State and Condition but rather Mourning and Lamentation because of Sin and Transgression Howbeit still although the Songs of the Wicked shall be turn'd into Lamentation and their Mirth into Heaviness in one day if they report not yet the Righteous shall Rejoyce and be exceeding Glad in the Lord and shall sing to his Praise and Glory in the Congregations of his People as David said Sing unto the Lord O ye Saints of his and give thanks at the remembrance of his Holiness Psal 30.4 Again Sing unto the Lord a new Song and his Praise in the Congregation of Saints Psal 149. 1. It s only those who by the Power and Spirit of Christ are gathered and redeemed out of the Defilements and Vanities of this World that can truly sing this new Song as John said No man could learn that Song but the hundred and fourty four thousand which were redeemed from the Earth Rev. 14.3 Such can sing the Songs of Sion and the Songs of Deliverance in the Land of the Living and can truly Magnifie and Extol that great and powerful