as much in the Voice or Tune as in the Heart contrary to Eph. 5. Answ The Melody ought to be in the Heart according to Eph. 5. and in the Voice too or else it could not be singing 't is not to be a melody without the Voice but if it be only in the Voice and no Spiritual Melody in the Heart then 't is we grant contrary to Eph. 5. Doth not your supposed way of singing with chearful Voice consist as well in the Voice as in the Heart The Psalmist tells us when God brought back the Captivity of Sion He filled their mouths with laughter and their Tongues with singing Singing is only an act of the Tongue or Voice and so acknowledged by all Mankind Lastly you say There be such Speeches recorded in Scripture which are and may be called Songs of praise which we do not find were uttered with tuneable Singing but with an audible solemn chearful Voice as that which is called the Song of Hannah c. and the blessed Virgin Answ Why do you assert any such things if they praised God in a Song they sung the praises of God but they praised God in a Song Ergo they sung his praise this must be granted unless you can prove any did praise God in a Song without Singing 2. If this be not so the propriety of Speech or acts of the bodily Organs are confounded and we left in the dark and the common Understanding of all Mankind deceived 3. Thô 't is not said they sung those Songs yet their Singing of them is directly implyed because they praised God and magnified him in Songs 4. You know those Songs in the Original are in Metre Were you not a Scholar we should not so much admire at your mistake it was no proper Song they praised God in if it were not sung and none dare say that those are metaphorically called Songs 5. But you must conclude they were Tropical and Metaphorical Songs or else believe they in a proper sence according to the common Understanding of Man kind in general did sing those Songs To conclude with this Head viz. What Singing is all men may perceive your Trumpet gives in this matter an uncertain found for one while you intimate 't is praising of God in Prayer another while you suggest you wait for a special gift to perform it according to the Primitive platform And after all do not say 't is a musical melodious modulation or tuning of the Voice thô but of one single person alone which is the distinction of that distinct act of the voice known to the common race of mankind So that when that Gift is attained you wait for we know not what a sort of Singing we shall have But the Word of God hath not left us thus in the dark about what it is to sing 1. All Learned Men affirm 't is an act of the voice which all men know how it differs from any other act of the bodily Organs as Prayer common praises rejoycing preaching crying shouting c. as it also clearly appears from Exod. 32.17 2. That 't is clearly distinguished from the Duty of Prayer as another distinct act by the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 14.15 What is it then I will pray with the Spirit and will pray with the understanding also I will sing with the Spirit and will sing with the understanding also Common praise is by all confessed to be a part or branch of Prayer and comprehended in prayer and therefore that is not singing the same we have laid down by the Apostle James 5.13 3. In a word 't is we say again a musical melodious praising of God which had you affirmed you had not left your people in the dark about it as now you have But to proceed we shall referr our Reader for his further satisfaction concerning this to Mr. Keach's Book Chap. 1. p. 15 16 17 18 19 20. 'T is called the making a joyful noise to the Lord Psal 81.1 and Psal 91.1 In Rev. 19. 't is said those that shall sing those Hallelujahs shall make a noise as of a great Thunder which can't be the voice of one single man Secondly We shall come to examine that which in page 5. you call the order or manner of Singing which you say we are plainly directed unto by what is recorded in 1 Cor. 14. From 26th Verse you say it is a gift of the Holy Spirit bestowed on whom and when he pleases for the Edification of the Church and that the Psalm was to be uttered or sung by him that had it singly Answ That it was to be uttered or spoken forth by one singly is granted but that it was sung by him alone singly we deny the reason you give for your bold assertion follows in the said fifth page of your Epistle 1. For or because they were so to prophesie viz. one by one the same direction being given you say for expressing or singing of a Psalm verse 31. Answ Brother why did you not rehearse that 29 30 31. verses for had you so done all who read your Epistle might see what you say is not true there is nothing expressed or spoken in verse 28 29 30 31 about singing at all We will give the Reader the trouble to read the Verse which our Brother affirms this assertion from and let it be considered This Text had need to be plain for his purpose because he cites no other place of Scripture for what he says but this one only to prove that one single person should sing in the Church alone Let the Prophets speak two or three and let the others judge ver 29. If any thing be revealed to another that fitteth by let the first hold his peace ver 30. For ye may all Prophesie one by one that all may learn and all may be comforted ver 31. These are the verses from whence Mr. Steed affirms the Apostle gives directions about singing one by one as in the case of prophecying But how greatly he is mistaken will appear 1. For 't is plain from hence that the Apostle speaks only of prophecying or preaching and not of Singing And evident it is that but one single person at once ought to preach prophecy or interpret the Scripture and this direction the Apostle gives about the exercise of those gifts because the contrary is confusion all the World knows But 't is not confusion for two three or threescore to sing together for if it were Moses and the whole Congregation and Christ and his Disciples performed a confused piece of Worship which is Blasphemy to assert 2. You say it is positively asserted by the Holy Spirit that to do otherwise is not order but confusion which the All-wise God is not the Author of ver 33. From this Rule it is say you that our Prayers our Doctrines and Exhortations are uttered singly in the Churches And that we do not admit of those responses or repetitions with audible voice of the
directed unto is when a person is merry or comfortable which certainly is to be suitable to his praying when afflicted and sorrowful which is not by reading a prayer of anothers composing but by pouring out his Soul in earnest Requests to God as he shall be assisted by the Holy Spirit In like manner the Singing here intended is not the reading and tuning of a Psalm out of a Book or writing of anothers composing but his solemn expressing the praise of God and his joyful thanks to God as the Holy Spirit doth assist him with a tuneable Voice or otherwise shall Prayer be with the Spirit and singing praises which is the highest worship be by a form Surely say you we are otherwise directed by the Word of God 1 Cor. 14.15 And we are counsell'd to labour to be filled with the Spirit if we will speak to our selves in Psalms and Hymns Eph. 5.19 which if it may be performed by reading and tuning a Psalm or Song indited for us may it not be by a person in a carâ—â—â— as much as by one in a Spiritual state and frame This Singing say you that a Christian in his chearfulness is directed unto we humbly conceive is explained Eph. 5.4 Neither foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks Where Believers are directed how to improve their merry and chearful seasons first negatively not as the World commonly doth in foolish talking and jesting to stir up laughter and vain mirth by Secondly positively to recreate their Spirits by getting up and holding forth their joy and comfort in praising and blessing the Name of the Lord as he shall graciously enable them whether with Metre Tunes or otherwise 3 Reply That a person should sing when in a joyful frame by influence or help of the Spirit we deny not as a person afflicted is so to pray and not by reading of a prayer yet singing of Psalms is one thing and prayer another may not a Man spiritually sing one of Davids Psalms or other Scripture-Hymns or Sacred Songs because he did not compose it himself Do you suppose that every Man and woman in those Times had that special Gift to bring forth a Psalm for 't is evident every Man and Woman some time or another may be merry or joyful in the Lord and then they lie without exception under the same obligation to sing Psalms You it seems admit of Singing with a tuneable Voice Nor indeed is there any other singing known to Mankind Now if every Man has not the special Gift to bring forth a Psalm both Matter Manner and Tune c. by an immediate help of the Spirit we find you suppose they cannot sing Psalms according to this Precept nor must they sing any Psalms but of their own enditing Doubtless the weakest person that had no special Gift If merry in the Lord is bound and obliged to sing Psalms as well as any other therefore singing was not tyed up to persons who had a special Gift so to sing Besides the Psalms are contained in the Holy Scripture which we are to sing the matter being already composed by the Spirit therefore praying and singing greatly differ thô both are to be performed by the assistance of the Spirit Brother there is a Book of Psalms left for us in Gods Word to sing by but no Book of Prayers is there left for us to pray by therefore you say nothing Nor is that doubtless true which you conceive from Eph. 5.4 i.e. that the Apostle there gives directions about singing but rather 't is about speaking viz. that we should not in our common discourse c. use foolish talking nor jesting but that God should be always in our Minds and we ready always to give thanks to him For as Men are subject to sing foolish Songs when merry which the Apostle James implicitely reproves and gives directions then to sing Psalms so they are as ready to use jestings and foolish talkings especlally at Feasts which are not convenient Therefore St. Paul gives directions to avoid them and to give thanks to God for all we have and demean our selves with gravity and an Holy and Heavenly Spirit 5. Now we come to the fifth and last thing you insist upon viz. you say you shall speak a little to the last particular you mentioned which is this viz. But it may be said is there no way to revive that Ordinance of Singing or bringing forth a Psalm in the Church as it was in the primitive times or as we have it recorded 1 Cor. 14.26 First You say the Church hath that which is chiefly intended by it in their solemn giving of Thanks and praising of God together as they have continual occasion and opportunity for it Reply Why do you say the Church hath that which was chiefly intended if the Church hath not the Ordinance or thing it self is not this like what some say of Sprinkling viz. Thô Baptism was performed by dipping or applying the subject to the Water in the primitive times and we use sprinkling say they yet we have that which was chiefly intended by it for we use water and apply it to the Subject and sprinkling with the Blood of Christ is mentioned as well as washing in his Blood and we use the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost when we do it c. What is it your Church hath Why you praise God together and so you ought aad may every hour and yet have none of this Ordinance because praising of God in prayer is not singing of his praises thô praising of God be the chief thing intended yet t is no other than a musical or melodious singing of his praises which if you do not so you have not the chief thing intended Why should God enjoyn his people to sing his praise if to praise him in prayer without singing was sufficient is not this to exalt your Wisdom above the Wisdom of God or to make void a Gospel precept by your Tradition read that in Matthew 2. It may be confidently expected say you that if the Lords people did more earnestly pray and wait for a more plentiful pouring forth of the Holy Spirit there might be more assistance afforded for enditing and uttering a Psalm or Spiritual Song according to the primitive pattern 1 Reply If you have that which was chiefly intended by singing what need is there to expect any more of the Spirit to be performed to endite a Psalm or to pray for such pourings forth of the Spirit to that end thô we all have cause to pray for more of the Holy Spirit to be poured forth yet not to revive the practice of any Gospel Ordinance which we see plainly the Churches were enjoyned to perform for if we want it to revive one Duty we want it to revive all 2. Prayer is an Ordinance Preaching is an Ordinance Baptism and the Lords Supper are Ordinances and you are found in the discharge of all
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
Truth but not till then can we believe you nor regard what you say on this account If there had been no Scripture Psalms c. in being nor known to the Churches when the Holy Ghost enjoyned them to sing Psalms Or if the ordinary Gifts of the Spirit might not serve and enable us as well to put a Psalm or Hymn in order to be sung as a Doctrine in order to be preached Then you might say the Church was to wait for some extraordinary effusion of the Spirit or some miraculous Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs before they could perform that Duty nor could that Duty be performed longer than such gifts abode in the Church And if so you had said something but now we see you have said nothing that has weight in it but more of this anon You say With a whole Congregation every one together without exception lifting up their Voices together that is in singing Reply Must this way of Singing be exploded as an invention of men God forbid for then Moses and the whole Congregation were guilty of an invention of men and Deborah and Barak David and all Israel and which is worse Christ and his Apostles Paul and Silas nay and an invention of men is enjoyned on the Church for they all are enjoyned thus to be Sung together every one of them not one excepted take two or three Arguments further to make it appear the Churches were thus required to sing 1. That way Christ and his Disciples sung the Churches were to sing because Christ and his Disciples set the direct Pattern But Christ and his Disciples sung all together as is fully proved in the late Treatises Ergo. 2. If the Churches are enjoyned to sing and not one Member is exempted or excepted then they are all to sing and to sing together according to the Pattern given by Christ and his Disciples but the Churches are enjoyned to sing and not one Member exempted or excepted Ergo They all are to sing and to sing together according to the Pattern given by Christ and his Disciples Mat. 26 30 Mark 14.26 3. If singing Gods Praises were under the Law with Voices lift up together and the Saints are in the New Testament required to sing and no other way is prescribed or laid down how they should sing Then the Saints in the New Testament ought to sing as they sang under the old But such was the Singing of Gods People under the Law and the Churches are enjoyned to sing Psalms in the New Testament and no other way prescribed or laid down how they should sing Ergo. The Churches are now to sing in the times of the Gospel as Gods People under the Lqw But you say the former that is Singing with Voices together was unanimously concluded by the most part if not all the Baptized Churches to be Will-worship 1. Reply Suppose it was so concluded to be by them then might they not be mistaken Had they attained to a perfection of Knowledge in the whole Will of God or were those Churches appointed by the Lord to be our Pattern further than they followed Christ and the Primitive Church 2. We ask you whether or no generally the same Baptized Churches in those times did not as unanimously conclude and declare it too that for a Gospel Minister to have a Yearly Allowance or a competent Maintenance was an humane Invention and Antichristian We speak in part upon our own Knowledge and by good Information we have had from others that both those Gospel Duties and Ordinances were equally decryed and we suppose you are not Ignorant of it nay and we hear some Churches or members of those Churches are of the same Opinion still How now Dear Brother are you for building what was destroyed if not we are no more guilty in the one than you are in the other and to our grief since it was so concluded then we find it comes to be so hard a thing to bring our Churches to embrace the one or the other as they ought 3. What if through a hot and an unaccountable Zeal our Churches in the beginning of the last Reformation did throw away some pure Gold with much Antichristian dross ought they not now God hath graciously been pleased to open their Eyes to labour to recover the Gold again we mean both those great Gospel Duties viz. Singing of Scripture Psalms and the Ministers maintenance Honoured Brother The path of the Just is as a shining light that shines more and more to the perfect day Prov. 4.18 God doth not discover all his whole Mind and Will to his people at once but some at one time and some at another And blessed be God there are some risen up of whom Mr. Steed is one who affirms That the Ministers of the Gospel ought to have a competent maintenance so that they may comfortably live of it and some others are risen up who do not only affirm that but also that the Churches ought to sing the praises of God and prove it too by undeniable Arguments and in that common way that was used by the Church of Israel under the Law and by the Lord Jesus and his Church and Churches under the Times of the Gospel And as it is now commonly used in most Churches of Christ in our days viz. with Voices lifted up together and hereby we do build what was wanting and restore an Ordinance too long neglected by some of the Churches of Christ Others contemn our way of preaching and call it a common Artificial acquired attainment as you contemn and call our Singing But how dare you so rashly affirm or intimate That this way of Singing is brought into some Churches by the guile and policy of Satan and compare it with Common Prayer have you an infallible Spirit Men may in some cases be bold in their assertions when they speak of some Truths that the whole Body of the Godly are established in But thus to speak against an Ordinance which almost all the Faithful people of God and Churches now and in every Age have received as an undoubted Truth of Christ is hard Especially considering how weak your Arguments seem to be or how little you have to say against it Sir this way of singing of Scripture Psalms is as certainly an Ordinance of Christ as Preaching Prayer c. are such and so it will appear one day say you what you please who affirm singing to be an Ordinance in the Church and yet sing not properly at all in any manner of way but wholly live in the neglect of this great Duty But you in Page 2. affirm you are for singing These are your words viz. The outcry is you are against singing in the Church if Persons in Judgment and Conscience testifie against common singing as that which ought not to be used in a Church of Christ which say you is false and as vile a Slander as the former for they are for singing that is for praising of God
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
Favour to our Souls in that Redemption we have through Christs Blood Thirdly Such a kind of Singing an Hymn you say is not to be practised now because we find the uttering or singing of a Psalm or Hymn in the Church was by command of the Lord to be manag'd after another manner as appears from the before mentioned 1 Cor. 14.26 Reply This is meerly to beg the Cause that manner of Singing you referr to is but your own private Conceit and Opinion which we have answered already The practice of our Saviour is a perfect Rule and we cannot err while we follow it for he is set forth as an Example for us in his Obedience in the discharge of Gospel Ordinances Had we not a Mind to spare you how justly might you be exposed by your strange and cloudy reasonings If the Copy is to be imitated in one thing why not in another 2. You do but suppose Singing was manag'd after another manner from that Text 1 Cor. 14.26 viz. by one single person and that too by a special or extraordinary Gift in Gods ordinary worship which you prove not nor can you whilst you live on Earth Is it not said with the voice together they shall sing Isa 52.8 3. And suppose it was then manag'd by such a gift was not preaching or a Doctrine c. also manag'd by the same kind of Gifts and must we not preach c. now because no such Gifts Object The second Objection you pretend to answer is that about Paul and Silas 's singing praise to God Acts 16.25 1. To this you say p. 11. Paul and Silas pray'd as well as sang praises and were heard by the prisoners Can we think say you that when they prayed they spake both together Why then should any suppose they listed up their Voices together in singing praises the Holy Spirit gives no other account of the one than of the other Reply We say to you in answer why should any think the Holy Ghost speaks in the Clouds or unintelligibly When they prayed no body doubts but that one only was the mouth but if they both sung then one did not sing alone because all Mankind understand the act of Singing as has been proved differs quite from that of praying Many may we tell you again be truly and properly said to pray together when only one is the mouth but many cannot be said to sing together if but one single person only truly and properly sings 2. Therefore thô the prisoners heard them 't is not to be thought they heard both their Voices when they prayed but yet did hear both their Voices when they sung 3. Had it been no more than praising of God in Prayer the Holy Ghost had not added and sung praises strange you will distinguish no better on the Natures of differing Ordinances according to the common understanding of all Mankind Do you always when you praise God or give thanks for your meat and drink before or after meat sing would not any Body of understanding smile at you should you so speak 2. You say we may safely conclude they did not sing by lifting up their Voices together because we may judge that the Apostle knowing the Mind of the Lord in that particular which he could and did communicate unto others would not allow himself or this Companion to be transgressors of it 1 Reply Dear Brother you argue not at all strange that such lines should come from such a Pen You take that for granted which you prove not and which we deny by force of argument We say the Apostle well knew singing with Voices together was the practice of the Lords people under the Law and that so Christ and his Disciples sung and therefore so he and Silas sung and were no transgressors 2. And since Paul and Silas who you say knew the Mind of the Lord in that particular sung together we say so it is our Duty to do and they that do it not neglect a Gospel Duty Object The third Objection you pretend to answer is from that in Jam. 5.13 Is any merry let him sing Psams This Scripture you say is no direction for a Church assembled to employ themselves in singing together But how a particular person in a joyful frame ought to manage his Mirth or Comfort to the Glory of God Certainly it can never be a right Inference say you that because a single person when chearful or comfortable is exhorted to sing praise to God therefore to conclude that it is the Duty of the Church of Christ in its publick Assembly to have all the Members sing together with Artificial Rhimes and Tunes a composed Song or Psalm tho not commanded so to do and although they be not in a joyful frame is a strange inference 1 Reply We in the first place cannot but observe how clearly you here give away the Cause viz. do not you plainly intimate that singing is a different thing from Prayer or common ordinary praising of God in Prayer for if you do not grant this there is nothing in what you say for as one man ought so to praise God when in a joyful frame so you know ought a whole Church together to do the same Pray consider of this it looks ill upon you 2. We do not urge this Text to prove a whole Assembly ought to sing together and you know it well enough but to prove that singing is some other Act Duty or Thing than that of praising of God you plead for and would have to be Gospel-singing But however we would willingly know or be informed if one Man when glad or sees cause to rejoyce in the Lord may and ought to sing why many if in the same frame may not sing and sing together 3. However you are short in this Duty when merry or see cause to rejoyce in the Lord as a single person do you ever sing Psalms we hope you sometimes are merry in the Lord certainly you cannot conclude this intends some special Gift Had every one that was merry or joyful in the Lord a special Gift to sing or can you think the Apostle puts them upon a Duty they were not in a capacity to perform 'T is not left at the liberty of a person that is in a joyful frame to sing Psalms if he pleases but he is as much required to sing Psalms as a person afflicted is to pray 4. As to Rhime Tunes c. if there be a singing of Psalms a proper singing we mean without Tunes Metre c. you may so sing thô we know none Rhime we do not say is essential to singing thô Verse or Metre is but blame us not we so sing seeing you positively affirm it is not unlawful Talk no more of composed Psalms you know David's Psalms were composed by the Spirit of God and Scripture songs are as Sacred as Scripture prose we know no Psalms but those called David's Psalms 2. You say this Singing here