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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B06553	A sober reply to Mr Robert Steed's epistle concerning singing. Wherein all his objections against that way he calls the common and popular way of singing psalms, &c. are impartially examined, and in the spirit of meekness, fully answered. Recommended to the consideration of all the saints and churches of Christ, by divers elders and ministers of baptized congregations. Who desire their brethren who are against such singing, without prejudice to read these lines, and consider them.	Whinnell, Thomas, fl. 1699.	1691 (1691)	Wing W1667; ESTC R186465	46,288	68

A SOBER REPLY TO Mr Robert Steed's EPISTLE Concerning SINGING WHEREIN All his Objections against that Way he calls the Common and Popular Way of Singing Psalms c. are Impartially Examined and in the Spirit of Meekness fully Answered Recommended to the consideration of all the Saints and Churches of Christ by divers Elders and Ministers of Baptized Congregations Who desire their Brethren who are against such Singing without prejudice to read these Lines and consider them LONDON Printed in the Year 1691. To all the Saints and Churches of Christ who are not Convinced that 't is their Duty to Sing the Praises of God Beloved Brethren IT is matter of great Grief and Trouble to us to see any of our People much more so many lying short for want of Light of this great Christian Duty of Singing Psalms Hymns and spiritual Songs which as the Churches are enjoyned in the New Testament to do so we find it was always practised by the Lords People generally in their publick Assemblies in Gods Worship both in Time of the Law and Gospel But more especially to find some amongst us so resolute in Opposing of it and others to make Divisions upon the Practice thereof and yet find so little Argument against it Mr. Steed as it seems to us hath not so fairly stated the Question as he should which ought to have been this Viz. Whether Singing the Praises of God by the whole Church in their publick Assemblies be a Gospel Duty or not However we have read and considered this ensuing Answer to his Epistle and finding it so fully and soberly done think it necessary to recommend it to all your Considerations hoping it may tend to enlighten many of your Souls who as yet have doubts about it which that it may we shall commit it to the Blessing of the great God and remain Yours in the Work of the Gospel Joseph Masters William Collins Richard Adams James Jones Hercules Collins J. Warner Richard Mariot Abednego Smith Leonard Harrison Benjamin Dennis Joseph Wright Benjamin Keach Jo. Hammond William Groome R. Allen Samuel Bagwell John Christopher To the Elders Minisiters and Members of the Baptized Churches throughout England and Wales Beloved in our Lord THat common Proverb used amongst us viz. That Custom is a second Nature we find true in things Natural and Religious Old Customs tho never so bad are hardly left Jer. 13.23 and long neglected Duties we come up slowly to And that which makes Reformation in any thing the more difficult is that Opposition it usually meets with many times from those whose Duty and Office doth in a special manner Oblige them to restore every Trdth of God that 's fallen in our Streets And such hath been our case tho much to be lamented that when it pleased God to open the Eyes of many amongst us into that holy Ordinance of Singing his Praise both in Private and Publick and from the clear Evidence of his Word made us sensible that this part of Divine Worship so frequently commanded and commended in Holy Writt both to Jews and Gentiles is as Ancient as the World and will continue when Time shall be swallowed up in Eternity We had then no Mind to have published our thoughts to the World nor to have troubled the Churches with any Dissertations about it But endeavoured to have a Friendly Debate with our Brethren who were conven'd to consult the Churches Welfare But our Endeavours theretn being obstructed by the Opposers of this Truth Soon after some of them from an imprudent Zeal to maintain their own mistaken Sentiments openly opposed this holy Truth of God and took unto themselves a kind of lawless Liberty not only to calumniate those who endeavoured the restoration of this Ordinance but also to Reproach the Truth of God in this particular by calling it Will-Worship Formal Carnal Invented c. which put us upon a necessity unless we would betray the Truth of Christ by a sinful silence to discover their great Mistakes and unaccountable Absurdities and Prevarications herein to all that desire to wait upon God in the way of Holiness and to remove the Stumbling-blocks that busie men have endeavoured to trouble those Churches with who desire to live in peace This hath occasioned the publishing of this little Treatise now in thine hand which is hereby recommended to thy diligent and candid perusal and whoever thou mayest be that readest I have onely these few things to desire of thee Make the Word of GOD thy Rule in Judging lay by all Prejudice weigh what thou findest in the Ballance of the Sanctuary and do not judge before thou hast read what is said for this holy Ordinance And remember that every Truth of God hath some Adversaries and if thou wilt not receive Truth untill its Adversaries have nothing to say thou must receive no Truth at all untill the Devil is bound and all the Nations of the World undeceived Wait at the Throne of Grace in a humble Spirit for Light in this particular if thou art yet in the Dark concerning this holy Institution And whether thou dost own and practise this Ordinance or not see that thou put on Charity towards those that are otherwise minded and if you cannot all agree to sing the Praises of God together here on Earth I am sure all the Children of God will harmonize in this Work in Heaven Now that the Lord might bless this little Treatise to thy Establishment in the Truth of Singing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs to his own Glory and thy Souls and others Comfort and Edification is the Desire and shall be the Prayer of thine in the Lord Thomas Whinnel A Sober Reply to Mr. Robert Steed's Epistle SIR HAD you wrote private Letters to your own people about your sentiments concerning singing the praises of God to obstruct the restoration of that blessed Gospel Ordinance and not have published it to the World we might have seen no such Cause as now we do to answer your Epistle When we heard you were a writing we expected it would have contained an answer to what hath lately been published in vindication thereof by Reverend Mr. Knowles Mr. Keach Dr. Wright Mr. Whinnel c. but we now see no such thing attempted but contrarywise only a heap of words being little elfe than the substance of what Mr. Marlow hath troubled the World and Churches with And it seems as if the Sermon you formerly preached against this Holy Truth of Christ was the muddy Fountain from whence his lines proceeded and that it was you those worthy Persons in the dark contended with which was hinted to some of us some time since But truly Sir this way of yours seems new as well as strange Hath any controversible Truth met with such usage you at once give up the cause provided those weighty Treatises so full of Scripture Arguments are not answer'd for all men may see all that you have said fully answered before your Epistle was printed

special Psalm to bring forth others you foresee cannot sing with you but the same Psalm you must read or pronounce to them and so it would be a stinted Form to others as well as Scripture-psalms are so Brother how could all the Congregation of Israel Sing with Moses if he did not or some others read or pronounce each line to them 4. But why do you say so to sing doth not appear to be the Mind and Will of God you proceed and say 1. Because he never appointed or commanded that one person should write or indite a Prayer or Song for another nor did he promise a Blessing to them in their so doing in his New Testament Reply God hath appointed and commanded his people to sing Psalms Hymns or Spiritual Songs which are left on record in the Scripture as to the matter of them and he has as much appointed one person to set them in order to be sung as he hath appointed or commanded any person to indite a Sermon to preach it 2. In vain is all you speak about writing or inditing prayers for another for God himself hath made appointed and given us a book of Psalms but no such Common-prayer-book Had the Holy Ghost compiled a Form of Prayers as he hath a Form of Psalms and commanded us so to pray as he hath enjoyned us so to sing must we have rejected them Singing of Psalms is of Divine Authority say you what you please if our Bible be of Divine Authority But Secondly You say such singing doth not appear to be the Will of God because the Lord hath expresly declared that this Religious Singing-ought to proceed from the Word dwelling richly in them Col. 3.16 And being filled with the Spirit Eph. 5.18 Now say you if they may or ought to sing by a set stinted composed form that is before them it is then but reading or hearing of a Psalm or a Song read to them and then they are sufficiently furnished for this solemn work thô they are never so empty of the Word of Truth or destitute of the Spirit or indeed grosly ignorant which is in downright terms to contradict the Counsel and Command of the Soveraign Lord c. 1 Reply 'T is well you do acknowledge there is a religious singing But Brother who of us plead for such a carnal empty sort of Singing as you speak of Do we in order to a Religlous Singing say there needs no more but the knowledge of the matter to be sung viz. the Psalm to be read to us we say all that sing ought to sing with the Spirit and with Grace in their Hearts So that here you beat the Air for we detest such a Singing which you mention 2. As touching the Word of Christ dwelling richly in us to which you might have added in all wisdom in those who sing Spiritually 't is absolutely necessary But pray remember 't is the Word of Christ we have upon record 't is not some new inspired matter immediately given in nor doth singing require more of that Soul-enriching indwelling Word of Christ than in Preaching Prayer Meditation c. the Word of Christ ought to dwell in us richly in all wisdom as Dr. Wright shews that so we may know when and how to pray when and what to preach when and how to hear when and how to read when and how to meditate and when and how Spiritually to sing Davids Psalms or other Scripture Hymns and Spiritual Songs Many excellent Duties as he shews p. 63. may be spoiled in the observation of them there may be a praying which is sin reading and not consider hearing a favour of death partaking of the Lords Supper to Judgment giving all to the poor and profit nothing and a singing of Gods praises and soon forget his works or without Grace in the Heart or be ignorant of the Soul-enriching Word and destitute of the Spirit Therefore as Singing so all other Duties ought to be performed in the Spirit and with Understanding and Grace in the Heart to the Lord and to a right singing of Scripture-psalms c. 't is needful the Word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom not as touching the bringing forth of a Psalm as to the matter of it so much as to a Spiritual singing of that Psalm with Grace Wisdom and Divine Influences Singing Psalms saith he is to be reverently performed for God's Glory and Honour and not for the pleasing our selves So that one must suit his inward Thoughts to the matter if it be of praise to God our Hearts must be elevated and chearful if in the Psalm or Hymn Petitions be contained fervent if threatning great awe of God if deliverance raised hope if Judgment fear if Duty holy purpose to obey if Promises to believe if Prophecy expectation Thus the Word in all wisdom should dwell in us that so we may know how to sing to the Glory of God and our own Instruction Comfort and Consolation as in other Duties Some have lately told you that the Word of Christ is to be in us richly as well to help us to compile a Scripture Hymn as to compile a Scripture Sermon but we conclude it ought to dwell in all richly as in one not so much as we said afore to bring forth a Psalm as to a right Spiritual singing of Psalms Hymns and Divine Songs 'T is a great mistake to suppose the Spirit ought so to dwell richly in us as immediately to inspire us to bring forth a Psalm both Matter Manner and Tune in an extraordinary sort 1. Because we are exhorted to let it dwell in us richly 't is press'd upon the Saints in general as their Duty so to be filled with it special Gifts were only given to some and not taught as a Duty to be attained by all but as a promise given to some in particular as the Spirit distributed to every man that had them as he pleased 2. Nor can it be proved the matter of the Psalm spoken of in 1 Cor. 14. was immediateiy given when they were met together But they had a Doctrine had a Psalm c. when first they came together 1 Cor. 14.26 How is it brethren when you come together every one of you hath a Psalm hath a Doctrine c. they were not to wait for them but had them ready so that the Church was not at uncertainty about them which might be a Psalm of David we reading of no other so called and they might bring it forth in some extraordinary manner and may be in an unknown Tongue which they were not permitted to do unless there was an Interpreter that so others might joyn with him that had it For that word When I pray I will pray with the Spirit and with the Understanding also doth not mean only when he was alone but when in the Church that others might pray with him and so he would when he sung Sing with the Spirit and with the understanding

Book of the Lamentations was a mourn●ul Song and thô their case was deplorable yet they ●ung It is the Lords mercies we are not consumed be●●use his compassions fail not Lam. 3.22 The Lord is ●●y portion saith my Soul c. the Lord is good unto them ●●at wait for him ver 24 25. Thus they sung then ●nd thus we may and ought to sing now We grant when Babylon is down the Tongues of many 〈◊〉 have been dumb shall sing i. e. many shall then 〈◊〉 converted and from thence shall sing but we 〈◊〉 before that time comes have obtained that Grace 〈◊〉 Blessing have as much cause to sing now as they sh●● then But since that will be a day of general Conv●●sion or wherein multitudes shall be brought in●● Christ it is noted as a special time of singing 4. Do you think there wants now such a measure the Spirit that is sufficient to put any one Gospel O●dinance into practice The smallness of the Gifts 〈◊〉 Measures of the Spirit cannot justifie any person the neglect of any Gospel Duty you forget y●●●self singing of Psalms is a Gospel Precept and the●●fore we must that way praise God or we neglect a du●● 5. What you speak of formal Singing c. aff●●● us not we plead for no such thing but say our sing is Spiritual as our preaching and praying is so and invention but a Sacred Institution of the Gospel 6. What you speak concerning the Lords Peo●●● after the Captivity in the rebuilding the Temple ●●●ving no Urim and Thumim c. makes against your 〈◊〉 we would know whether there was any one O●●●nance they neglected from such pretences viz. t●●● had no Urim and Thumim nor Ark of the Coven●●●● or wanted some other visible demonstranion of G●●● presence or special Gifts to perform it the Lord pen your eyes to do as they did who as they fou●● written in the Law of Moses presently set about 〈◊〉 work without waiting for any visible or special ●●●dence of Gods Spirit or presence with them 〈◊〉 were accepted with God He that forced himself in haste to offer a Sacr●●●●● and would not wait you say was sharply rep●●●ed 1 Sam. 13.12 and sustained great damage b● tho he seemed to make a fair plea for what he 〈◊〉 the Lord grant say you it may not be so 〈◊〉 those who out of pretended Zeal to restore an O●●●nance would bring in that which is not of Di●●●● Institution but humane Invention and Composit●●● c. page 13. 1 Reply How unreasonably and impertinently yo●●ring the passage here in of Sauls offering a Sacrifice to atone for his sin of Disobedience let all wise ●●en judge for as it belonged not to him so hi● Conscience told him he should forbear the doing of 〈◊〉 But we know it belongs to us and to all the Churches of Christ to sing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs and sure you cannot be so censorious to ●●dge we do that which belongs not to us and also ●●rce our selves to do it against the light of our Conscience 2. The second thing asserted by you is as bad and 〈◊〉 Unchri●●●●n as the former viz. That our Zeal to ●estore a lost Ordinance is but pretended in which ●ou hint as if we were but a company of Hypo●●ites in what we do herein God will judge between you and us who alone is able and whose ●●ace and right it is you presume too far on Gods ●rerogative 3. How dare you say singing of Psalms c. ●ith Voices together for that we suppose you mean 〈◊〉 not of Divine Institution but of humane invention and composition David's Psalms and other Scrip●●re Hymns and Spiritual Songs are not of humane ●omposition unless part of the Holy Bible is a piece 〈◊〉 humane Invention and for the singing of such ●salms it is commanded or positively required or ●●joyned on us and on the Churches of the Saints 〈◊〉 evident to all whose eyes are enlightened from ●●ph 5.19 Col. 3.16 and that our Saviour with his ●isciples Moses and all Israel Paul and Silas sung ●●gether hath been proved beyond doubt 4. Should one man force himself to sing alone in ●●e Church under pretence of a specfal Gift you ●ight see cause to charge him after that manner i.e. ●●cing himself so to do there being no Command nei●●er Precept nor Example for such a practice therefore such an act would be humane and not of Di●●ne Appointment 5. Saul did not what God commanded and therefore 〈…〉 reproved nay more than that 〈…〉 enough to fear upon the like acc●●● 〈…〉 our People do not sing Psalms 〈…〉 commanded to do but strive to 〈…〉 p●●ctice of it Our Saviour saith He 〈◊〉 breaks the least of these Commandments and teaches 〈◊〉 so to do shall be called the least in the Kingdom of ●●●ven Matth. 5.19 Not that we have so little Ch●●●●ty as to charge you as guilty herein but you w●●●● do well to consider that passage 6. It grieves us to see such lines should drop 〈◊〉 your Pen as your Epistle is made up of sin●● we 〈◊〉 what wise men who have no great love to you us speak not only of you but of the Baptists in ●●neral upon the account thereof and here is room ●●deed for them to say we in restoring Baptism c. but force our selves without any power received 〈◊〉 on high But when you can prove we may and o●● to restore one lost Ordinance without a special ●●sure of the Spirit c. and not another we shall ●ther consider of what you have said Some say 〈◊〉 have read your Epistle that the Baptists are turn Quakers Enthusiasts and what not We hope our Reverend Brethren who are not convinced of Singing but dare not censure others 〈◊〉 see cause to prevent the coming out of any more 〈◊〉 kind of stuff for the time to come and find out 〈◊〉 other way to put an end to this unpleasant Con●●●versie which all know was begun by Mr. Mar● thô the more which is said against singing of Psal●● c. we are sure it will tend for the further clea● it up to be the duty of the Churches You to close your Epistle would have your pe●●●● to consider what a presence of God was with the ●●●tized Churches formerly with continual addition 〈◊〉 them c. however it hath been unduly represe●●●● by a Zealot for common singing to the contrary ● Reply That our Churches were blessed in those ti●●● we deny not and yet this is weakly added by 〈◊〉 ●●●ce they walked up according to 〈…〉 received but we have little 〈…〉 should be prosperous or alike 〈…〉 hath convinced us of this a 〈…〉 ●ould we willfully neglect them 〈…〉 mean we know not Is not Prayer you say a moral duty as much as singing 〈◊〉 be why then do they not call upon all to lift up their Voices ●●●ether in prayer c. there be many bundreds that can speak ●●●ibly that cannot sing at all or not