time and instant And are the Spirits of the Prophets so contradictory to them that they will not suffer them to use common Discretion to take such Seasons to speak to themselves c. as that they may not lose the Benefit and Blessing in Union and Communion with the Church throughout all the Assembly but as Ephes 5. must have a whole Church Silent-Meeting awhile So some at Corinth might keep the like This is a strange Tongue a part of Quakerism But the Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets in this Case also that it doth not put them upon Disorder Confusion or Indecency And whatsoever any one's Gift or Learning may be for we must take notice of both and not any great difference between them neither for they that have learned a Tongue are not inferiour to them that received it by Gift as you may see in this Chapter they I say must not interfere or cause them to be speaking to themselves and to God in a silent mute frame to either hinder themselves or others from the benefit of the Ordinances of God in all the Assemblies continuance together for every thing is beautiful in its time but so is not the whole Church nor any of her Members in her Assemblies to be mute and silent and yet speaking to themselves in singing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs making Melody in their Heart to God nor any to withdraw his Communion from the Church at that instant and be speaking to himself and to God in silence I do not question but such might speak at a convenient time and place in uttering all his Matter by word of Mouth to himself and to God and offend not if he did it not as some do to be heard and not understood of others which must be his design that speaks where none can understand him The Holy Spirit did not give the Church Directions and Rules for that Time and Generation only or how extraordinary Gifts might be used only the Lord knowing what Gifts Natural or Spiritual he would give and what is fittest for our Generation which these Rules respect all at all times I come to your second Part of the Foundation as you call it Coloss 3.16 to which you say You confess that vocal Singing is here to be understood otherwise it could not be Teaching and Admonishing to others in Word and Deed Vers 17. Pag. 3. But you intend us nothing by this your Confession you restrain it absolutely to Ministring Brethren whose Work and Office it is to teach and admonish the other Members and to such too only as by an extraordinary Gift of the Spirit such vocal Singing which was used in the Primitive Apostolical Church of Christ which you say was and cannot be denied All you say makes this Proposition following viz. That some one Person at a time may sing in the Church if he have received a Spiritual Gift as Tongues and working of Miracles were received that he can extemporarially as the Spirit giveth him utterance and instantly suggesteth into his Mind Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Matter Tune and Time inspired and it cannot be denied to be used now if there were any such this is all But how if there were never any such may we look for it It is evident that the Holy Spirit requires all things should be done according to Mens natural understanding whether they had Gifts or none whether they had Learning or were Unlearned whether they were Believers or Unbelievers And that Understanding should be admitted in the disposing and ordering their Gifts and Duties that even every one here mentioned might receive Profit so that all what you call Extraordinary fell under the notice of all ordinary Capacities when demonstrated unto them I shall make this a Maxim all my way Now I must take what you have said about this to pieces as I have done the other You say Coloss 3.16 is meant of Ministring Brethren whose Work and Office it is to Teach c. But the Text is plain that it is written to all the Members as such because not one Verse in all the Epistle can be taken from them or doth speak to any other and the Holy Spirit particularizeth them as Members for even Pastors are Members too viz. Wives Husbands Children Parents Servants Masters comprehend the whole and all the distinction that is that they which were Members only should say to Archippus Take heed to the Ministry which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfil it Who must say this to their Pastor who must see this Epistle read amongst them and that it be read in the Church at Laodicea It is no Particular of what degree soever that the Holy Spirit made a Depositum to or concredited the Epistles with the Church consisteth not of them but they of her I may be bold to assert That those Hearts in which the Word of Christ dwells most richly contain the greatest Treasures of the best Wisdom Prov. 15.23 25.11 Then I will consider First What is meant by the Word of Christ Secondly What it is to dwell in us richly in all Wisdom Thirdly What Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs those are which are to be sung with singing Voice with Grace in our Heart to the Lord. First The Word of Christ is verily that Word mentioned by the Holy Spirit in the first Chapter of this Epistle Vers 5. The Word of the Truth of the Gospel Vers 6. Which came unto them as it is in all the World and bringeth forth Fruit as it doth in you since the day ye heard of it and knew the Grace of God in Truth whereof they had heard and learned Vers 7. It was not contrary to it it was the Word of Christ it was of Christ as the Author and Speaker and Redeemer and Blesser to cause it to bring forth Fruit and able to save their Souls Which takes in all the Holy Scriptures and whatsoever is contained in them and no other Word or contrary thereto from the Library of Christ is the Word of the Gospel preached proved and confirmed it is the Word of Christ as he is one with the Father and Holy Spirit from all Eternity in sameness and oneness of Essence and Divine Nature in which all Three are One only God It is the Word of Christ as spoken by him and of him as our Redeemer else we had never heard it nor of him and it still speaks of him both what he is and hath done and doth and will do for his Elect. This is the Word of Christ even the Word of God which must dwell richly in us in all Wisdom and every Saint of his must labour that it be so it is not an uncertain Word instantly suggested and vanisheth in the Air or left to Tradition or uncertain Custody but a sure Word the Word of the Truth of the Gospel which hath been less or more declared from the Foundation of the World in the Covenant God hath
c. Yet you say they have more to say you mean by God's Word else I grant it to your rebuke Those you respect do neither impose their Singing nor judg them which dissent but in all Bowels of Charity embrace them in whatsoever they may you can condemn unheard without Charity and Truth And I tell you if there could be as much said for imposed Forms of Prayer and Baby-Baptism as there can be said for social singing David's Psalms in private and publick Worship to God you and all your purest Churches are so defiled as you cannot be cleansed without true Repentance of all your suffering Testimony and Witness you pretend to have given against Singing and Forms of Prayer such ill Notions you propose Many of the Ministers and Members of the Baptists have offered the Pedobaptists that if they can give us but one Instance that any new-born Infant were either required to be baptized or that were baptized by our Lord Christ or any of his Disciples any Precept or Example in all the New Testament though never so private and we would yield and contend no more against it though we have so many pregnant Instances and publick Testimonies for us And I am sure all Opposers would be confounded with the least evidence of Example although many Circumstances were wanting were there but a bare Practice to be seen what a Structure would be raised upon it But notwithstanding our Lord Jesus Christ and his Disciples did sing in God's Worship and Paul and Silas sang Praise in God's Worship and the holy Spirit enjoined it without exception on the Church at Corinth Ephesus Coloss thereby confirming it to be acceptable in the Worship of God and in James's enjoining it to all Saints and those Instances in the Revelations which encourage the use and continuance of it you slight them all and say We have less to say than they who are for a Form of Prayer You craftily forsook the proof of your Parallel thinking to blind us with the Lord's Prayer which you can dispense with as well as those you oppose and begging the question under your Antagonist's Concession but Men know not what they do that deny those Forms of Praises in the holy Scripture to be used in God's Worship And humble Christians ought always to be perswaded that no Word Psalm Song or Prayer is vainly or rashly inserted into that Volume which infinite supream Wisdom dictated nor hastily censure any that use them verbatim in God's Worship at some time without putting them upon or censuring others And yet further I would yield to a Pedo-baptist if he had either Precept or Example for him in all the New Testament it may be you would not because you had rather follow some in our Age the which if doing so you would consider they 'l tell you that in things they esteem good to practise yet dare not impose Have a care of breaking the Law of Charity on purpose to cast the Shreds at their Heads which desire to keep it and do not Sampson-like kill your self on purpose to destroy others lest many things done and approved by the Lord be not so clear as social singing David's Psalms in God's Worship King David was not the Author of all the Book of Psalms most may be were collected by him many might be his some were long before him and some long after him if he collected some that were before him some he did not and others that were made in his days It shews the Lord gave his Church Psalms to be sung in private and publick Worship They must have hard brows that dare deny that God was not worshipped by singing of Psalms which were sung by every one that did sing Psalms since the beginning of the World and that he is not by his Church to the end of the World still worshipped thereby The Book of Psalms according to the original Sepher Tehillim properly signifies the Book of Praises not only stiled so from the greater part but even penitential Psalms which contain Confession Repentance promise of Amendment yea whatever else therein contained for thereby is Glory given unto God as Josh 7.19 Rev. 16.9 Heb. 13.15 as the Margent which waits on the Text and such is the excellency of it and all Scripture-Psalms being wonderfully contrived for all Saints Occasions in what condition and of what condition soever Singing Psalms was used as part of God's Worship from the beginning of the World and must be unto the end of it and for evermore Job 37.7 No tolerable Interpretation can be given of this Place uttered by God himself except it be understood of the Angels made the first Day and that they were the Stars of Heaven for Brightness and Sons of God for other Stars and Sons of God there were none at the laying of the Foundation of the Earth and the Corner-Stone thereof When the Morning-Stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for joy Called Angels of Light 2 Cor. 11.14 and Stars for Brightness Rev. 1 and 2. Morning-Stars because made in the first Morning of the Worlds that they might behold the Creation of all other Creatures though they had no hand in it and first praise God before any other living Creatures were made These Morning-Stars and all the Sons of God sang together and shouted for Joy at the beginning of the World like the shouting and singing Praise to God at the laying the Foundation and Corner-Stone of the Temple Zech. 4.7 Ezra 3.10 11. all which were Worship unto God And that it was used as part of publick and private Worship to God amongst the Jews from the time they were a Nation if David did collect the Book of Psalms all which were afore were delivered and given for the Worship of God and used when first given as well as those which were made by him and as used in his time some of which are supposed to have been afore Israel went into Egypt Those in Exodus and Deuteronomy were by Moses delivered for the Worship of God though not included in David's Book save in substance Whether the Book of Psalms was David's or Asaph's or other Prophets or all of them were Instruments it matters not it being the pleasure of God there should be so many gathered into one Volume which had been as the Lord gave them used as part of God's Worship whether Moses Deborah and Barak Hannah David Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah Habakkuk Jonas or others in the Old Testament all were delivered to be used as part of God's Worship by Song and cannot with modesty be gain-said And it is unlearned to say that not in the Wilderness-Condition of Israel after the Flesh and so not in the Wilderness-Condition of Israel after the Spirit Nor is there either ground or reason in what is urged thereabout as shall appear in its place but a meer Fancy all Israel sang the Praise of the Lord at the Red Sea Psal 106.13 and Moses delivered unto them
that Song and others which he put in their Hearts and Mouths and which he did command to teach their Children even all along in the Wilderness and to David and afterwards And all the Children of Israel from the Red Sea were bound to teach and learn to sing the Lord's Songs in every Time and Generation wheresoever and under what Condition soever Deut. 31. 19 21 22. and chap. 32. I say these Songs were always to be kept in their Hearts and Mouths for God's Praise in his Worship And indeed a Psalm in any Language is more easily and readily learned by Heart and put in the Mouth better remembred and commonly received and familiar for frequent use than Words in another stile Writing in Verse is very suitable where the Matter is laid deep in it and truly wrought out of the Affections as those Scriptures which shew forth greatest Passions of Affections are composed as sacred Flames of pearless Love between Christ and his Spouse in Canticles the triumphant Joy and Praise by Moses and all Israel and Deborah and Barak who all sang saith the Word of God and no Incongruity as you do both dream and deny the afflicting Grief of Hezekiah and Jeremiah in his Lamentations and Habakkuk Passion is most free in Verse and hath the greatest Scope when tied to Numbers as that Deut. 32. and Hannah 1 Sam. 2. But the Book of Psalms is a Croud of all Affections Love Joy Fear Hope Anger and Zeal all acting their parts and wound up to the highest strains by the holy Spirit breathing poetical Eloquence and most divine Wisdom in those holy Songs where the direful Agonies and Sufferings of our ever-blessed Redeemer is the most precious Stone above all else fitly contrived for all times none can by singing them deny Christ come in the Flesh as it is ill imagined because it commonly speaks of that which is fulfilled as it were with God from the Foundation of the World who calls things which are not to us and which shall be as though they were Divine Songs raise the Soul and infuse Comfort Common and Prophane do Satan Service and Spiritual by Grace Joy Zeal do God Service If any thing be able to warm and fire the Soul and sweeten and ease the hard things which God's Servants meet with here this will and was the special Solace at all times of greatest Difficulties and very often then delivered of God to praise him and comfort and confirm them and a most special Blessing I say again it is what ever any think of it to the contrary that such Heavenly Cordials are made ready for us The Singing of Scripture-Psalms have continued in use as part of God's Worship ever since Christianity were and will be to the end of the World Christ and his Disciples used it and gave order for its Observation and Continuance And the most antient Records and Monuments of Antiquity which remain unto this Day And it did never yet lead any into Apostacy Tertullian in his Apology c. saith Saints met afore Day to sing Psalms to the Lord. Basil in his Epistle saith When one of us hath begun a Psalm the rest set in to sing with him all with one Heart and one Voice and this saith he is the common practice of the Churches in Egypt Lybia Thebes Palestine Syria and those that dwell on Euphrates and generally where Singing of Psalms is of any Account And Eusebius testifies the like in his Ecclesiastical History And the New-Testament Songs of which there are about twelve in Singing Stile if that will do which shews the Holy Spirit was not against Singing Stile tho he did not translate the Hebrew Poetry into Greek Poesy not at any time translating much together seldom verbatim but always the Substance and Truth of it you do not know whether he did not translate in Hebrew Poetry tho in Greek Words Those 12 aforesaid in the New-Testament being extended till the Judgment executed upon the Great Whore which preceeds the Marriage of the Lamb do intimate the allowed continuance of the Singing in God's Worship and singing Praise unto God will be for evermore so were it not a Type all Duties in this Life else will cease but the Triumphant Thanks Praise Love and Joy shall be for ever As touching Mens precomposing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs I shall not condemn their doing yet I will affirm that for Profit and Delight and which may truly be called Spiritual Songs and the Word of Christ the Psalms in the Holy Scriptures must have the preheminency far above whatsoever hath since been or ever shall be dictated in this World the which if God had not so approved he would have hinted it I come in the next place to Page 4. to your two Scriptures Ephes 5.18 19. and Coloss 3.16 to see if we have any better dealing You tell us that these two Scriptures are made a Foundation for vocal Singing together in the constant Worship of God in the Gospel-Church pag. 5. You might have told us who made them so that if they were taken away all the Building would fall it may be you suppose it and so flatter your self to prevail if you could dig them up c. You say that Ephes 5.19 is not to be understood speaking to your selves but in the Original it is speaking in your selves and that is keeping silence in the Church compared with 1 Cor. 14.28 and Pool's Annot. Then we may read it so Be not drunk with Wine wherein is Excess but be filled with the Spirit that you may speak in your selves keeping silence in the Church in Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs making Melody in your Hearts to the Lord any Novice would be ashamed of such an Interpretation for this is a Duty enjoined to the whole Church therefore they are all to be filled with the Spirit and speak in themselves keeping silence when they are all met together at least while they are so speaking in themselves If thus at every Meeting how much of the time some of it may be much of it may be and all may be at one time or at different times so that some may be speaking in silence and another vocally if all at any time in silence then the Men and Women too may be inditing and singing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs making Melody in their Hearts to God in silence for this is to be in the Church-Assembly an Assembly carrying on an Ordinance in Silence and Women too as much Administrators as any Do you well to set your House on Fire on purpose to burn your Neighbours This intimates both Ministers and Members must keep silence in the Church tho filled with the Spirit and speak in themselves singing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs making Melody in their Heart c. not one Word heard This is for that while a silent Meeting and time must be allowed for it it is a Duty and it is Quakerism Such a Meeting is a sign of
made by Christ Jesus It is not the word Quakerism or Quietists c. nor a transient Word but the Word which is to dwell richly in all Wisdom used in all Wisdom teaching and admonishing one another therein And lest the Poetical part of it should be thought of no use or that which hath been sung should come into contempt or be counted a Type besides the use of it as all other Scriptures which are in Prose the Holy Spirit would that we always improve all our Wisdom to the suitable use thereof so that which is in Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs should be used as part of God's Worship and Godly Exercise singing with Grace in our Hearts at all times that whatsoever we do in Word or Deed we may do it in the Name of the Lord Jesus giving Thanks to God and the Father by him If this be so as I doubt not to vindicate it against all opposition then the Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs in Holy Scripture are the Churches Patrimony to be used and sung as part of God's Worship I shall meet with your Objections hereafter Secondly To let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly in all Wisdom truly it being a Command not for one Age but all Times and Saints not miraculous Gifts or Operations except all Saints Gifts may be called so and truly too this is verily to continue always as long as the danger that Men may be drunk with Wine so long as that is to be avoided so long Saints are to be filled with the Spirit and so long are they to let the Word of Christ dwell richly in them in all Wisdom to direct its Improvement and holy Use and against the Vice of Drunkenness And here again I add Prov. 15.23 25. 11 12. A Man hath Joy by the Answer of his Mouth viz. If his Mouth answereth suitably timeing and subjecting his words aright he hath Joy A Word spoken is either one Expression or a Theam or Speech Song or Doctrine in its season how good it is It is fitly spoken upon the Wheel thrusting it on in its going it is like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver And as an Ear-ring of Gold and an Ornament of fine Gold so is a wise Reprover upon an obedient Ear. Which sheweth that all Wisdom is required to the improvement of the rich in-dwelling Word of Christ that all the parts thereof may be disposed so as the Method of all our Duties may fall in their proper places and not disturb hinder or interfere with one another c. Prayer in its fit time Singing in its fit time Preaching in its fit time in the Church and all other Duties in their season so are they beautiful in their time and under what pretence soever in the time of those Seasons they must not be inverted As for Instance When the Church is come together and mutually consenteth that one of them should preach the Word in a known Tongue because there is not then there an Interpreter then may not he which hath Matter to speak in another Tongue may not he speak it to himself and to God For if he be a Prophet his Spirit is subject to him that he must not improve that time to the using it but slay till he may edify himself with it conveniently and undisturbed which he cannot do then for he ought then to attend the Publick Ordinance which is in present use else all things of the Churches Concerns and God's Worship will be in confusion and neither decent nor in order which in all Wisdom we are to attend and improve the in-dwelling Word of Christ to worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness And Wisdom is justified of her Children if they dance when piped to and weep when mourned to else not c. We must let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly in all Wisdom c. Richly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plusios the Adverb richly or plentifully 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 o Plutos Riches Wealth of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Polu much and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Etos a Year because Riches is the return of many Years gathering so the Word of Christ must dwell in us richly in all Wisdom in all our plentiful Gatherings which we are made partakers of in Reading Praying Meditating Study Hearing Singing holy Converse thrô the Assistance of the Holy Spirit in the use of such means is this Riches and Wealth gathered plentiously and enjoyed and kept Nor were any Proficients herein that did either despise those Duties and Means or were careless or had little Conscience about them Mat. 7.7 8. Joh. 5.39 So also David sung Psal 19.7 8 9. and sung again in the 13th part of the 119th Psalm and again otherwhere And Let is an Injunction to all Saints to use all the means as aforesaid gathering the returns thereof laying it up in our Hearts plentifully in all Wisdom improving it when we are holy careful to dispense it in fit Seasons to God's Glory it is to dwell co-habit and abide continue in all Fulness out of the Library of Christ's Word which is the Word of God the holy Scriptures through the assistance of his Spirit It is our School and School-master to teach us when and how to pray when and what to read to profit when and what to meditate when and what to sing when and what to speak and hear this is the Fountain whereof the Prophet sings Isa 12. With Joy draw ye Waters out of the Fountain of Salvation Thirdly The Holy Scripture is the Fountain and Word of Christ and especial means under him as aforesaid from which may flow this rich fulness in Wisdom to teach and admonish one another even in Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs therein contained and that in singing with Voice and Grace in our Hearts to the Lord. And here I affirm that the Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs which are in the Library of Canonical Scripture are those which Saints should sing socially as part of God's Worship to him First I shall prove Social Singing by Holy Scripture Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs to be intended in both these Texts Ephes and Coloss under Consideration Secondly Give some Essays what it is to sing with Grace in our Hearts and making Melody in our Heart to the Lord towards the latter end of this Discourse 1. By Social Singing I mean Saints as Saints tho they be not all Ministring Brethren if some of them be yet they are no other in my Intention here yet I shall reckon with such in Office as you have it hereafter Prayer Singing Preaching Communion at the Lord's Table Collection Discipline are the permanent standing Ordinances of the Church of Christ without exception to be made against any one of them only Singing is called in question wherefore I shall mainly speak to it wherefore these two Texts Ephes 5. and Coloss 3. do require a Social Singing as well as a Vocal Singing which is confessed
interpret he must keep silence there and speak to himself and to God at another time and give attendance to the Ordinances there as if he had no Gift at all according as he can understand them else it will be confusion I see no Objection but what will lie against the Text. And if it comes to pass that there are Saints which cannot understand one anothers Tongue so as what is taught the Benefit should redound alike to either And this might happen in Greece where Corinth was there were six Dialects in Greece and each a strange Tongue to one another in very many words and difference in the same word either in â—he Letters Pronunciation or Accents or Syntax all which must not be demonstrated here viz. the Attick Ionick Dorick Aeolick Boetick and Poetick Yea in our Britain there are many natural Dialects as besides the little Islands adjacent Cornwal Wales and South and North Wales differ so as they must have Interpreters to one another and Scotch English and ours differ and even in England too And in Wales there is intermixture of both so that at this day where it doth happen that the Preacher speaks in the Welch Tongue and there be but one English-man or other that understands it not he must interpret every word in the English Tongue and if the most part be English and he speaks in that Tongue he must also repeat verbatim all in the Welch Tongue for their sakes that are there which must be done though tedious according to this Rule 1 Cor. 14.26 And these things I give for irrefragable Instances wherefore if strange Tongues were not ordinary and still to be spoken in the Church some now might not speak nor hear therefore the Holy Spirit requires it be not forbidden Vers 39. as foreseeing the necessity always of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath a Revelation This Greek word signifies a Declaration Discovering making Manifest a Revealing And this must be either extraordinary foretelling things to come or infallibly making known some Truth or practical Duty which was not known or revealed afore or ordinary viz. An ability to open and prove by God's Word all or somewhat infallibly all which some in the Church had already received and might increase in Persons and Matter as Vers 30. and of which all might judg which this latter sense might fall under The first is not only removed afore and further by this That the Church is no Judg of infallible Revelations but must receive them on the Author's account the Holy Spirit Wherefore hath a Revelation is also an ordinary Ability to declare discover and make manifest what through the use of Means one hath attained for Edification or Interpretation Vers 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath an Interpretation which is Can Expound or an Explanation 1 Cor. 12.10 John 1.39 Mat. 1.23 Luk. 24.27 where the same word is used and may imply an ordinary ability or pre-received Gift or Learned as well as an instantly inspired in the time while met together yea the Church must know that one can interpret afore they suffer one to speak in a strange Tongue If this have no place here then all those five Particulars are all extraordinary and miraculous Gifts and instant Inspirations and so felo de se and no rule for ordinary and most generally pre-conceived and pre-received to Meetings at least the Grounds of them therefore all those particulars are so and respect the same Gifts which Saints commonly have to edify one another and not Inspirations for there is no Means ordinary to obtain extraordinary Gifts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let all things be done to edifying which is to build or found an House and by a Metaphor to Admonish to Correct to cause one to profit Now so must all those Particulars be used that the whole House of God his Church may receive this Benefit so they are not extraordinary excepting ordinary for they are all of them not any more than of ordinary use in the Church and for that they all are Now I will return to the two first viz. Psalm Doctrine Every one of you hath a Psalm Psalmon a Psalm I will let it go for a general Name of all singing to God as Doctrine may go for all Teaching and some of these five Particulars may be near of Kin one to another But sure I may be that what kind soever it is it cannot be instantly inspired Singing for the Reasons aforesaid and also I think there were never such extraordinary Gifts used in Publick Worship that a Psalm were extempory instantly on a sudden inspired and sung as fast as inspired in the Church but it was received afore the Meeting began and committed to writing by an infallible Prophet and so committed unto the Church for her Use and Edification and they which expect otherwise must look for an infallible Prophet above all that have been yet for any thing I know How easy is it for a People to be imposed upon by one who pretends to an extraordinary Gift when it may be no more than a common may be a natural Gift Wherefore I take hath a Psalm to be as hath a Doctrine in some respects though not all then as Doctrine may be premeditated so may a Psalm be preconceived all the Particulars are the common Benefit of the Church and its Blessings for its Edification of which there is no denial and it may be feared there hath been too much formality in Prayer and Preaching too and so in singing that being as unlike to escape as other things but that doth not null a Duty And thence I will affirm that Psalms c. already in the Holy Scriptures are every way to be preferred to and above what can be premeditated or preconceived by any one whatsoever forasmuch as here and our Saviour and Paul and Silas and in the Ephesians Colossians and James the word is used in a general way and not of any extemporary or instantly inspired it doth shew plainly all those Psalms were the then known Psalms already in use and such as without hesitancy they might with Heart and Voice join together to sing And they which do not condemn preconceived Doctrine or Notes may by no means do it against Scripture-Psalms according to James every particular Person might sing Psalms For what is possible may be so then every one must have or expect extraordinary extemporary Inspirations or they must betake themselves to ordinary prereceived preconceived Psalms and Spiritual Songs The first is not pretended that it ever was or will be in this World the latter then is the thing I seek for and it cannot be denied me and one of these two will follow that either the Psalms c. which are already in the Scriptures or those that can may indite and bring them into the Church for its edification or else both I indeed prefer the first though I will not condemn the other till I hear what in them is amiss
purpose and answering to as little compared with your former Part. In p. 20. you say that the 26th ver of 1 Cor. 14. cannot be taken for a positive Command to sing a Psalm seeing it is put by way of question if they had a Psalm c. You dare deal ill with holy Scriptures Pray in what Copy did you ever read that 26th verse so I could never find that word If nor any that I have heard of Would you bring Scripture to your Opinion which all your Discourse is strong of you have hoped for a credulous Reader but we must beware of you Your Fourth I leave to them concerned a little to your 5th Section c. In your handling 1 Cor. 14.34 you say this Scripture though it hath such relation to the following verse as to forbid Women asking any Question in the Church during the Worship and Service of God therein yet it tends to more c. 1. We are seeing it is so to enquire what is meant by Church 2dly What is meant during the time of Worship and Service of God therein The Church cannot be understood here but as it is in an Assembly together precisely then her Assembly is either when the Lord's Day is come or the time therein appointed by her to meet whether few or more be come then the Church is met And I question if Women be looked to that they say nothing nor ask Questions in the Meeting-place from first to last or that it is any Evil in so doing but if it intend that after the Minister hath begun till he ends then I think Men may not ask Questions in your Opinion while another is speaking But Women are under such Circumstances as Men are not I grant yet it is the Church in and to which they are to give an account of their Faith and evidence against an evil Doer and Acknowledgment of their Faults when dealt with in the Church therefore in several Cases Women cannot be under Silence nor hindred giving good Counsel and teaching in some kind yet not that Teaching which they are forbidden in the Church for all your Confidence with unreconcilable Objections it is through your ill handling them If she will learn any thing she must ask her Husband at home She must come into the Church to learn too or else what doth she there if not to learn She must learn in Silence So must every one else while one is speaking How if she have no Husband how if she be more able to teach him or he is an Unbeliever how if she be a Virgin or Widow Truly as she must learn in Silence as all others while one is speaking so she may learn all that come to her if she ask her Husband at home leave to learn all that will hear her pray or prophesy If she have no Husband she hath power in her own House and all the Church-Members and Pastors too may come and hear her it being no Church-meeting else Women may not pray nor prophesy any where at all in Mens hearing All the Members may teach and learn one another in Psalms c. but all Males and Females may not teach and learn one another in the time of publick Worship except in this and this is commanded without exception but an Exception is made against any thing else but Psalms in time of Worship nor is it possible that a Woman should be in a Transgression to lead Men to be deceived herein which otherways might be nor doth she usurp Authority over the Man by answering him in the same Sayings and Melody for she harmonizes with him and shews her greatest Agreement more than her Silence forced till she can vent it but she joins with her Heart making melody therein with all others to the Lord and is not guilty of any Breach of the moral Law more than Miriam and Deborah Hannah or the Virgin Mary which you can set up and pull down at your pleasure if one had nothing else to do but to trace you Your Sixth Section is a Presumption what shall be fulfilled in the 7th thousand Years of the World and we must not sing till then by your leave so let it go for your redolent Dream All your Appendix is out of my Question such as is concerned may look to you I well hope I have spoken in seriousness tho not so much as you would yet longer than I would if I knew how to help it I commend it to the Wise to judg The 70 and vulgar Latin upon Psal 19. latter end of the 4th Verse translate He hath placed his Tabernacle in the Sun which countenances Idolatry instead of he hath set in them a Tabernacle for the Sun POSTSCRIPT REader I never saw Mr. Keach's Book called The Breach Repaired c. till after I had quite finished this Tract but since I came up to London I have seen it and also Mr. Marlow's Sheet he has dispersed amongst the Churches c. wherein he pretends Mr. Keach has misrepresented what he has wrote and contradicted himself and intimates as if he had left most or great part of his chief Arguments unanswered which I find to be such a piece of Pride Falshood and Arrogancy as hath been hardly seen For if any wary and discreet Reader compares those Books they will see 't is no such thing which he boldly affirms which I suppose Mr. Keach or some other Person for him will suddenly make appear to his shame 'T is a strange and unaccountable way to answer a Book to leave all the argumentative Part and to quarrel with a few Words and that without any just reason too which will appear to all unbiassed and understanding Men upon a strict Examination of the Matter This Man 't is judged by wise and thinking Men who are not of our Mind has done more hurt and brought more reproach on the holy Name of God than any one Person for many Years and a Shame it is to his Abbeters who countenance him in his nonsensical and ridiculous way of Scribling in opposing a precious Ordinance of God FINIS An APPENDIX OR A Brief Answer to Mr. Marlow's Notion of the Essence of Singing By T. W. Pastor of a Baptized Congregation SIR THat Question the Lord useth to convince his Servant Job of his unadvised words I would have you to consider Job 38.2 Who is this that darkneth Counsel by Words without Knowledg for I find some hard words made use of by you in your little Book to darken and obscure a plain Truth And the best Construction I can put upon them is to hope you did deliver some things ignorantly not well understanding what you have affirmed And therefore that I might discharge my Duty towards the Lord in bearing Witness to and for that God-honouring Gospel-adorning and Soul-comforting Ordinance of Singing Psalms c. in the Publick Worship of God to his Glory and our mutual Edification and also toward you in shewing your great Mistakes