Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	deliver_v	holy_a	tradition_n	2,189	5	9.0529	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A92933	A Serious answer to a late book stiled, A reply to Mr. Robert Steed's epistle concerning singing wherein the chief scriptures and arguments are examined, and the weakness thereof shewed : together with an answer to the several reflections, and false charges, against both churches and persons, recommended to the elders, ministers, and members of baptized churches.	Kiffin, William, 1616-1701.; Steed, Robert, of Dartmouth.; Barrett, George.; E. M. (Edward Man)	1692 (1692)	Wing S2607; ESTC R42860	36,728	64

that printed Book of theirs But shall chiefly insist on the main Pillars of their pretended Reasons for that sort of Singing which they would perswade the Churches to entertain as an Ordinance of our Lord and Saviour For if the Foundation fail the Building cannot stand And we shall return a Reply to some of the most gross most false and grievous Accusations and Reflections that are therein so boldly vented and shall leave it with you in the fear of the Lord diligently and seriously to consider and to search the Scriptures waiting for the Spirit of Truth to lead you into this as well as into all other Truths that either concern your most Holy Faith or Practice whereby you may be preserved from turning aside to those Humane Traditions from which you have been delivered which we desire and pray that the Lord may bless unto you for these gracious Ends before-mentioned That which we shall endeavour with as much plainness and brevity as the matter will bear to lay before you are these following Particulars First We shall detect and answer to some of those false Reflections and Accusations cast upon us and the Baptized Churches which are contain'd in Mr. Whinnel's Epistle and in the Book it self Secondly We shall manifest the weakness of the Foundation on which they build their Practice of common or popular Singing which will be apparent by an Impartial Examination of these following Enquiries 1. Whether Singing to the Praise of God according to the Phrase or Expression of it in the Holy Scriptures be to be restrained or only is to be understood of uttering the Praise due to the most High God by a Musical melodious Modulation or tuning of the Voice as they are pleased to describe it 2. Whether Singing to the Praise of God according to the direction given us by our Lord in the New Testament is to be performed by a composed stinted Form by a whole mixt Multitude with the Church-Members in the solemn Assembly of the Church lifting up their Voices together in Consort 3. Whether those Scriptures Col. 3.16 Eph. 5.19 do command or justify such a sort of popular Singing in or by the Church as aforesaid which they so earnestly contend for 4. Whether that Hymn spoken of Mat. 26.30 and Mark 14.26 or the Hymning or as it is translated the Singing the Praise of God by Paul and Silas Acts 16.25 do further justify that Practice which they plead for And First Concerning their Reflections on us or Accusations against us we find Mr. Whinnel insinuating in the beginning of his Epistle as if Custom not Conscience did hinder us from joining with them in their way of Singing To which we answer First That it is a very unbecoming Censure in which there is not the least Grain of Truth or Charity exercised by him The same rash and unjust Judgment may as well be given against him and others for not conforming to the Common Prayer or the Liturgy of the Church of England by those that are zealous for it which we suppose he would reckon to be a very false and a very uncharitable Censure Secondly We do declare to him and to all Men That the Lord knows it is not Custom or a long disuse or neglect of it that makes us averse to that Practice of theirs But Judgment and Conscience knowing on a deliberate and serious Consideration that it hath no more Foundation from any Precept or Example of our Lord Jesus or his Apostles to warrant it than common set Form of Prayer hath In which we are the more confirmed by the weakness of the Arguments which by them and others are produced for the Justification of it But Secondly He doth positively affirm in that Epistle That they had no mind to have published their Thoughts to the World or to have troubled the Churches with any Dissertations about it but endeavoured to have a Friendly Debate with their Brethren who were conven'd to consult the Churches Welfare But that their endeavours therein were obstructed by the Opposers viz. of that common way of Singing And that soon after some of them from an imprudent Zeal not only openly opposed it but took to themselves a lawless Liberty to calumniate those who endeavoured the restoration of it c. Answ To all this bold Calumny we answer that we believe he cannot prove any part of it to be true It is a very false Suggection which is uttered either from a false Information or great Forgetfulness or from a sinful Contrivance For first Whereas he saith they had no mind to have publish'd their Thoughts about it c. but that they were obstructed in their Desires and Attempts to have a friendly Debate c. We reply What was the reason that before any Person that was contrary-minded to that Practice of theirs had said or printed any thing publickly against it that this Opinion of theirs concerning Singing was preach'd up and frequently and vehemently prest by several of them in variety of Assemblies and asserted in Print to the view of all Men by Mr. Keach in his Treatise call'd Gold Refin'd and in his great Book of Scripture Tropes and Metaphors and by Mr. H. C. in a select Treatise on that Subject though with more Sobriety than any we have seen since that hath been published on that Controversy by any of them Had they no mind to publish their Dissertations about it Was their publick Preaching and publick Printing for it against their Minds which was done by them before any Person did openly contradict them in it Who can believe it And all this before there was any motion or mention of a friendly Debate about it that we know of neither as yet do we know of any such Motion seriously made except it were for a Liberty to introduce it by a major Vote in a Church of Christ c. which was long after they had endeavoured to promote it by their Endeavours aforesaid If we were blame-worthy in this matter it was in being so long silent wher● by they took the opportunity to leaven so many honest Souls and to beguile so many Churches i● their Number be so many as they boast of with this irregular Doctrine and Practice hereby it was that to such a heigth of Confidence Mr. Keach was come who makes Breaches more than he repairs any that when one did but once preach on that Subject of Singing in the Church to which he belongs on a Lord's Day far enough off from Mr. Keach's Congregation because he did it not according to his Sentiments he coming the next day or shortly after in much affection to visit him Mr. Keach having heard of his Preaching as before mention'd immediately falls upon him as soon as ever he came into Mr. Keach's House with a most severe and very uncivil passionate Reprimand for daring to preach after that manner contrary to his Judgment as if he had the preheminence over all But when Mr. Marlow did but endeavour

Ordinance would not be questioned and then without doubt it would have been attended with as plain Directions both as to the matter and manner of its Exercise Obj. Lastly Whereas they say that it is incongruous to say the Hymn may intend a general Rule for giving of Thanks yet to question whether the Hymn be binding to us Answ To which we say it can be no Incongruity to affirm that if by the Hymn be meant a composed Song read and sung by all the Company it is not binding to us it then plainly appears to our Apprehension on the Grounds formerly mention'd to belong to the Passover and not to the Supper But if it mean only a giving of Thanks wherein one is the Mouth of the rest it may be only a general Rule for a Direction for the Churches to follow in all such Cases Finally It appears to be a conclusive Argument to us that the Hymn did not appertain to or that it was no Adjunct to the Lord's Supper because that the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 11.23 to the 26th ●hen he there declares that what he received of the Lord touching that Administration he delivered to them but makes no mention of the Hymn Obj. To this clear Instance they have this Evasion or rather utter this most false Assertion against the express Word of that Scripture which is that the Apostle leaves out another part of the Solemnity he does not mention say they that our Saviour when he took the Cup gave Thanks as well as he doth not mention the Hymn Answ To which we answer That it is most evident and plain that the Apostle doth mention that Solemnity about the Cup as well as the other It is a wonder to us that they should be so bold as to say he did not For these are the words of that Scripture v. 24. He took the Bread and when he had given Thanks he brake it V. 25. After the same manner also he took the Cup. Now is not this a plain mentioning of giving of Thanks at the taking of the Cup as well as of the Bread in the understanding of the meanest or weakest amongst Men How else could he say in truth After the same manner also he took the Cup That they should dare to assert the contrary notwithstanding such clear Evidence delivered with such Plainness is Matter of great lamentation Obj. And whereas it may be objected That praising of God is not mention'd in that place no more than singing therefore neither is praising of God there required at the Conclusion of that Ordinance Answ We answer That every Mercy received by us from God implyeth a Thankfulness to him as our Duty we owe to him from whom we have received it Therefore the Apostle Paul tells us 1 Tim. 4.4 That every Creature of God is good if it be received with Thanksgiving And we are commanded in every thing to give Thanks Therefor● the greater the Mercy is that we receive from God the more inlarged ought our Hearts to be in Praise and Thanksgiving to God from whom we do receive it Neither doth this imply as they cavil that then it is left to our Wisdom to teach us in that matter since we are directed by the Wisdom of God what to do in all such cases especially when he is pleased to afford to us or to priviledg us with such choice and singular Mercies Having thus we hope plainly made manifest how little that Hymning of our blessed Saviour with his Disciples either affirms or confirms their popular way of Singing we shall now as the Lord shall enable us examine that other Text of Scripture which is quoted as a Precedent for their Practice which is Acts 16.25 The Text saith Paul and Silas at Midnight pray'd and sung Praises to God and the Prisoners heard them To which we say 1. That we may take their Praying and Praising to be one intire solemn Act though two parts of it be severally noted neither is there any Inconvenience in so understanding it which seems the more likely for the Reasons mention'd in the first Enquiry Nor doth the Greek word translated sung Praises restrain us from such an Apprehension but rather confirm it 2. Suppose their singing of Praises were with a melodious Voice how doth it appear that they sung in Consort lifting up their Voices together We may as well from the Text suppose they pray'd in Consort with their Voices For the Scripture implies that the Prisoners heard both their Prayers and Praises What they answer to this is that it is the common Voice of Mankind that many be said to pray together when one is their Mouth but they cannot be said to sing Praises together unless they lift up their Voices in Consort which is still to beg the Question and to bring nothing for proof but the common Vogue or Custom which is most commonly greatly differing from the Language and Custom of the holy Spirit declared in the New Testament 3. But suppose they did then express the Joy of their Hearts by a melodious singing in Consort together what is that to the purpose to prove a stated Gospel-Ordinance a standing Institution of solemn Worship in the New-Testament-Church The use of civil or devout Singing is not denied either single or in consort to Persons in their private Conversation as we said before either to refresh the tired Spirits of those who think themselves refresh'd thereby or to express their inward Joy who think it a proper Expedient And the more religiously it is performed the better it is But if any Person shall from thence presume to bring it into the Church without a Divine Warrant they may be found intruding Transgressors in the Day of the Lord. Thus having we hope evidently discovered the Weakness of the Foundation upon which they build their Practice of common and popular Singing and answered their chief Objections which they have made against what was presented in that Epistle which they pretend soberly to answer we shall only add some few Remarks upon some Passages in that Book of theirs Pag. 42. They ask this Question Why we do not answer what renowned Mr. Cotton Dr. Roberts Mr. Sydenham Mr. Caryl Mr. Wells Mr. Jesse M● Knowles Mr. Keach Dr. Wright Mr. Whinnel a●● Mr. Ford have said on this Subject To which we answer That we desire to satisfy our selves in the discharge of our Consciences in what we are convinced to be our Duty and altho we own most of them in their Catalogue to be Men of renown both for Parts and Godliness yet what they write upon that Subject doth no more satisfy us than what they write for the proof 〈◊〉 Infant-Baptism doth satisfy them that ask th●● Question of us And what they have writ in answer to them doth as little satisfy them as if they had not writ at all Further We do not question but in answering Mr. Keach in this Treatise we have spoken to the chief of their Arguments