in cold Weather so is he that singeth Songs to an heavy Heart And sometimes it was unseasonable while it was yet an Institution Psal 137.1 2 3 c. By the Rivers of Babylon there we sat down we hanged our Harps upon the Willows They that carried us Captive required of us to sing one of the Songs of Sion How shall we sing the Lord's Song in a strange Land Is any afflicted Jam. 5.1 let him pray Is any merry let him sing Psalms So then if Singing be the expressing of Joy Gladness and Mirth of Spirit and the Church of Christ be now in a Wilderness Mourning Sackcloth-State why should we imagine that Christ should appoint such an Ordinance for her constant universal Practice while she is in such Estate that is so improper and contrary to her State and Spirit but that the Typical Glory of the Jewish Church in Solomon's time shall be compleatly answered in the external and spiritual Glory of the Church of Christ in her Kingdom-State Secondly The Singing of David's Psalms were suitable to all the rest of the Levitical Ceremonial and external instituted Worship of God in the Old-Testament-Church in its most perfect splendant State in David's and Solomon's Days consisting of a wordly Temple Heb. 9.9 10 23. ch 7.12 ch 8.13 ch 10.1 for if the Sanctuary was worldly the Temple was also worldly and of carnal Ordinances which was a Figure for the time then present and Pattern of Heavenly things and Shadow of good things to come but not the very Image of the things and were imposed on them until the time of Reformation and change of the Priesthood Law Temple and Service or Worship of God which things being all removed by Christ the Body and Substance of them Acts 15.10.28 Rom. 7.6 who hath taken off that Yoak and delivered us from the Law that we should serve in Newness of Spirit and not in the Oldness of the Letter 2 Cor. 3.6 to bring in any part of the Levitical Ceremonial Institutions into Gospel-Worship for that is a mingling of Letter and Spirit of Law and Gospel together Thirdly David's Psalms were instituted appointed and appropriated not only to vocal Singing but to divers kinds of musical Instruments which are all named 1 Chron. 15.16 to 25. See Dutch Annot. on Psal 9. Psal 22. Psal 16. 1 Chron. 15.20 21. 1 Chron. 13. ch 14. ch 28.12 13. viz. Cymbals Harps Psalteries and Trumpets together with vocal Singing and limited by the Spirit as divers are of opinion to certain Tunes or Parts of Musick ordained and commanded by the Spirit of God and of as great Force as Singing was And therefore to follow the Old-Testament-Institution of David's Psalms there will be a Necessity of having David's Instruments of Musick and Tunes or Parts and of the Courses and several Orders of the Levites which Antichrist somewhat imitates mixing together the Christian Jewish and Pagan Religion instead of conforming to the true Apostolical Institutions and Pattern of Divine Worship Fourthly The matter of David's Psalms and of other Holy Mens contained in the same Book suited to the Levitical Service and not to Gospel-Worship for many of them were suited to particular Occasions and Experiences and Accidents of that Day as you may see by divers of their Titles others were general of Israel's Deliverance out of Egypt and from divers other Enemies Some were clear Prophecies of the Sufferings of Christ which to sing now were to deny that Christ is come in the Flesh and of his Church and the Glory that should follow under the Types and Names of David and Solomon and many legal things in which Gospel-Mysteries are wrapped up some of which are hard to be understood by the greatest Proficients of our Day and therefore improper to be sung by all the Church who can't sing them with Understanding and others of them being Prayers and miserable Complainings may as well justify the singing Prayers as finging Praises Fifthly The Psalms of David were limited to Persons viz. the Levites who were the Ministers of the Songs 2 Chron. 29.25 c. to 31. 1 Chron. 16.4 to 8. ver 36. ch 25. 1 to 8. ver 36 41. Psal 106.48 both by Voice and Musical Instruments for the People did not sing together with the Levites but only bowed the Head and worshipped and concluded with Amen and praised the Lord with Amen Hallelujah or Amen Praise ye the Lord. Therefore from this Davidical Institution there is no Ground Pattern or Example for the Gospel-Churich to sing together Sixthly Such singing the Psalms of David is no where instituted ordained or practised either by Christ or his Holy Apostles there is no Instance can be given in the New Testament that any of David's Psalms were ever sung by any Persons or Churches or that Christ or his Holy Apostles did ever use them but as they did other Scriptures or that the Holy Apostles when ever they had occasion to translate any one Text out of the Hebrew into the Greek Tongue did ever turn them into Metre and therefore finding no Institution nor Example we have no Warrant for the Singing of them III. Of prescribed and precomposed Songs and Hymns First If the Essence of Singing as before is shewed consisteth in an inward spiritual Exercise of the Soul or Mind of Man and that as I shall farther demonstrate both the Matter and the Melody of it proceedeth from the inward Graces and Operations of the Holy Spirit with the Word then surely no humane prescribed or precomposed form of Singing can be accepted of God but that which proceedeth from the Word of God by the Dictates and Teachings of the Holy Spirit which is manifest from those two Texts Ephes 5.18 19. Col. 3.16 saith the Apostle Be filled with the Spirit Let the Word of Christ dwell richly in you in all Wisdom c. Here is the Fountain of Gospel-Worship viz. the Word and Spirit of Christ not the Word alone for that cannot inrich the Soul in all Wisdom without the Spirit of Wisdom to understand it for to have the Word in the Head only is but a poor thing but we must have it to dwell richly in our Hearts by the Holy Spirit to sing with the Understanding and with Grace in our Hearts to the Lord. And as the Word in the Head only cannot create Melody in the Heart without a Fullness of the Spirit so the Spirit works not without the Word but fills us with matter from the Word and is witnessed to by the Word otherwise we know not the Spirit of Truth from the Spirit of Error Now the Essence of Singing consisteth of these two Parts viz. Matter from the Word and Melody by the Spirit so that neither the Word nor the Holy Spirit can be wanting and therefore whatsoever Forms are used which proceed not from within us out of a Fulness and Enrichings of the Word and Spirit cannot be spiritual Gospel-Singing
they were under the Law is explained and answered Page 44 12. Precomposed Forms of Preaching is no ground for using such Forms of Singing Page 46 The CONTENTS of the APPENDIX Sect. 1. SHeweth that God was and is otherwise praised than by singing only Page 2 Sect. 2. That the Word Hymnos a Hymn signifieth simply a Praise Page 6 A Discourse of Christ's Hymning or Praising at his Institution of the Supper Page 12 Sect. 3. Of the Nature of the Command or rather the Exhortation to sing and that the Singing used in the Primitive Church was from a special Gift of the Holy Spirit and also further proof that by Old-Testament-Names to New-Testament-Things are intended different Things than in the Old c. Page 13 14 20 24 Sect. 4. Of praising God as a Moral Duty and from Moral Qualifications only opened and clearly answered Page 27 Sect. 5. Womens Singing is more fully discussed and confuted Page 32 Sect. 6. A General Answer to those Prophetical Places of Scripture of All the Earths singing unto the Lord Page 38 Sect. 7. Premeditated stinted Forms for Prayer or Singing unlawful to be used Page 38 Sect. 8. Object That prestinted Forms of Singing are Spiritual Worship if their matter are agreeable to the Word of God and if sung with Grace in our Hearts opened and answered Page 43 Advertisement THere is no Alteration here made in the former Part or Brief Discourse before published except a larger Exposition of Ephes 5.19 See pag. 5. ERRATA In Appendix Page 10. Line 26 27. add to laudes dixerunt they said Praises Pag. 21. line 3 and 9. to singing add together A BRIEF DISCOURSE CONCERNING SINGING IN THE Publick Worship of GOD IN THE GOSPEL-CHURCH By J. M. LONDON Printed for the Author MDCXC Concerning SINGING in the Worship of God SEeing it hath pleased the Almighty God by his special Providence to deliver his poor afflicted People in this Nation out of the Hands of their greatest Enemies to serve him without fear what then is expected from us but that in all things we should serve him with one Consent in Holiness and Righteousness all the Days of our Lives To which end he hath given us his blessed and holy Word as a Rule for our Faith and Practice But that which is most unhappy to many Saints who sincerely labour for and long after the perfect Union of the Church of Christ is That we cannot all attain to one and the same Conception of the Mind and Will of God revealed to us in the holy Scriptures And though there are divers Things of lesser moment in which we differ yet there are others of greater Consequence that ought to be duly weighed in the Ballance of the Sanctuary lest through the Imbecillity or Weakness of some Christians and by the seeming plausible Arguments of others there should be a falling away from the Truth so clearly manifested to us by the Holy Scriptures and witnessed to by the Sufferings of the purest Churches in our Age who have born a lively Testimony not only against the humane prescribed and precomposed Forms of Prayers but of singing of David's Psalms and other Hymns or Songs precomposed by Man as they are frequently used as part of the constant and ordinary Worship of God instituted in his Gospel-Church This being the Subject of the following Discourse I shall proceed to treat of it with as much Brevity and Clearness as I can to convince the Judgment of the mistaken Readers and to confirm and prevent others from the practice of so great an Error as will lead them to Apostacy or Backsliding who in this matter have less to say for themselves than others have who are for a Form of Prayer Ephes 5.18 19. And be not drunk with Wine wherein is Excess but be filled with the Spirit Speaking * Gr. In. See Pool's Annotations to your selves in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing and making Melody in your Heart to the Lord. Col. 3.16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing with Grace in your Hearts to the Lord. That which is needful before we come to take notice of the several Heads to be treated of is to consider of those three Texts which are made a Foundation for a vocal Singing together in the constant Worship of God in the Gospel-Church tho some things therein I leave to discourse hereafter 1st Ephes 5.19 Speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs 1. From these words there is not any Necessity for a vocal Speaking to be here understood but otherwise of speaking to your own Heart as it 's said 1 Cor. 14.28 But if there be no Interpreter let him keep silence in the Church and let him speak to himself and to God So that speaking to your selves may be taken as that is expresly said to be of keeping silence in the Church and is not limited to a vocal Speaking 2. This is farther confirmed as the aforesaid Mr. Pool in his Annotations read it Gr. in Speaking in your selves in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing and making Melody in your Heart to the Lord. 3. That both the speaking and the Melody in this Text cannot be limited to be vocally understood but is inwardly in the Heart is manifest from the preceding part of this Chapter wherein the holy Apostle naming of divers gross Sins and Enormities exhorteth the Church of Ephesus to flee from them and to have no Fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness but rather reprove them and not to be drunk with Wine wherein is excess but to be filled with the Spirit Whereby it appears that this Exhortation to the Church of Ephesus to speak to themselves in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs and to be giving Thanks always Ver. 20. c. was principally designed that instead of Filthiness and foolish Talking and Jesting which are mentioned in the former part of the Chapter they should rather be giving of Thanks Ver. 4. as it is expresly said and instead of having Fellowship with the unfruitful Works of Darkness and being filled with excess of Wine to be filled with the Spirit and to exercise themselves in private Devotions towards God in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing and making Melody in their Heart to the Lord. So that from the main design of the Apostle's Discourse relating to the Text both the Speaking and the Melody here intended is to themselves in their Heart and whether you read the Text speaking to or speaking in your selves it cannot necessitate a vocal Singing together but a speaking inwardly in their Hearts 4. Neither can this Text be taken as some would have it for a vocal Singing together from the words to your selves as if that did limit the Text to prove a Singing together any more than building up your selves on your most holy Faith â—ude 20.
Secondly That no humane prescribed or precomposed Forms are to be used in Gospel-Prayer or Singing appears from the Ministration and Conveyance of the Spirit and Power by the Gospel First The Gospel conveys the Spirit as Paul saith Who also hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit for the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth Life or quickneth Here the Law is called the Letter and the Gospel Spirit not because the Law was not spiritual and the Gospel was not transcribed in the Letter but 1st Because the Law required perfect Obedience to the Letter on Pain of Eternal Death and the Gospel sincere Obedience through the Spirit 2dly Because the Legal Worship was more formal in the Letter than the Gospel-Ministration which is in Spirit For we are the Circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and have no Confidence in the Flesh viz. in the formal and carnal Ordinances of the Law and much less in the humane precomposed forms of Men. 3dly Because the Law did not minister nor convey the Spirit to us it commanded in the Letter but gave no spiritual Power to perform Obedience to it which the Gospel did by giving the Spirit with the Word Therefore the Apostle calls the Gospel the Law of the Spirit of Life Rom. 8.2 And it is not through the Works of the Law that we receive the Spirit nor minister the Spirit but through the hearing of Faith Gal. 3.2 5 14. And this agrees with that great Commission which Christ himself gave to his Disciples Go ye therefore and teach all Nations Lo Math. 28.19 20. I am with you always even to the End of the World Not only by his outward Providence which is over others as well as they but by his Spirit which shall abide with us for ever John 14.16 And the Prophet saith As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My Spirit that is upon thee and my Words which I have put in thy Mouth shall not depart out of thy Mouth nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed nor out of the Mouth of thy Seeds Seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever Here the Word and the Holy Spirit are conveyed throughout all Generations to the end of the World by the Covenant or Gospel of Jesus Christ And as none can say that the Words which the Lord had put in his Mouth were a humane prescribed form but as Christ himself saith John 6.63 The Words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life So the same Words proceeding from us by the same Spirit are Spirit in opposition to humane and legal forms which reject and deny the sufficient successive Gifts of the Spirit So that it is clearly manifest that the sufficient Gifts of the Holy Spirit do still remain and shall remain for the Service and Worship of God to the end of the World Secondly The Gospel doth minister and convey Power For where the Spirit is there will be Power The Apostle saith Ye have not received the Spirit of Bondage viz. of the Law again to fear Rom. 8.15 16. but ye have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father The Spirit gave a sufficient Power not only to the Apostles as such or to the Saints in Rome as partaking of the extraordinary Gifts of the Holy Spirit in that present Day but Gal. 4.6 Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts crying Abba Father Here is the Reason of their Power because ye are Sons therefore all that are Sons according to the measure of the Spirit of Adoption which beareth Witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God have Power to pray to God as to their Father 2 Tim. 1.7 For God hath not given us the Spirit of Fear but of Power and of Love and of a sound Mind 1 Cor. 4.19 20. And the Kingdom of God is not in Word but in Power There were some in the Church of Corinth that were puffed up in their Minds whose Speech the Apostle would not know or regard but the Power of Religion was that which he looked for and did expect to find amongst them because the Kingdom of God viz. his Gospel-Church is not in Word but in Power A humane prescribed Form is no Power and therefore is none of this Gospel-Kingdom Jude 19. These are they that separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit And the Apostle Paul prophesied of such a professing People that should arise in the last Days Having a form of Godliness 2 Tim. 3.5 but denying the Power thereof and from such we must turn away They had an outward Form of Godliness but not the inward Power contrary to true Godliness which hath its Form from the inward Power and Workings of the Holy Spirit with the Word Now it is no Wonder that this formal People deny the Power of Godliness for an invented Form and the Power are Opposites and are inconsistent with each other for if there be a spiritual Power it refuses and denies the invented Form for then there is no need of a prescribed nor pre-composed humane Form and if we use such a Form we deny the Power and reject the sufficient successive Gifts of the Holy Spirit by relying on that Form And so the Apostle argues that as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these resist the Truth 2 Tim. 3.8 Men of corrupt Minds Reprobate concerning the Faith Thirdly Seeing that those Persons with whom I am chiefly concerned do not only oppose deny and refuse the Use of a humane prescribed and precomposed Form of Prayer but also of that Prayer which our Lord taught his Disciples of which they rightly say that it was but an Epitome of all Prayer and was never intended to confine Prayer to the Compass and Form of those Words For we find that none of those many Prayers in the New Testament were so limited but according to the State and Circumstances of Persons and things they made Supplication by the Holy Spirit and so must Singing also be left to the Liberty of the Holy Spirit of God And one might think that I need not use farther Arguments for their own Practice confutes their Error in Singing prescribed Forms and testifies the Truth I am pleading for for what Reason can be given for Forms of Singing when they deny all Forms of Prayer and how can they reject a Form of Prayer or the Form of Prayer which Christ hath left us in the New Testament while they maintain the use of a humane Form of Singing which is no where found in the Holy Scriptures IV. Of Womens Singing That Women ought neither to teach nor pray vocally in the Church of Christ is generally believed by all Orthodox Christians and is asserted from 1 Cor. 14.34 35. Let your Women keep silence in the Churches for it
is not permitted unto them to speak And 1 Tim. 2.11 12. Let the Women learn in Silence with all Subjection but I suffer not a Woman to teach nor to usurp Authority over the Man but to learn in silence I therefore greatly marvel that any Man should assert and admit of such a Practice as Womens Singing and that any Woman should presume to sing vocally in the Church of Christ when he positively and plainly forbids them in his Word for Singing is Teaching Coloss 3.16 and Speaking Ephes 5.19 both of which are plainly forbidden to Women in the Church And besides they are commanded to learn in silence with all Subjection And if this be not Truth I am at a loss how to find it And such as deny the Authority of these Scriptures to forbid Womens Singing do of necessity destroy the Authority of the Word of God and leave us destitute of a Rule of Worship But some may say Were there not Singing-Women in the Time of the Law True we read of Singing-Women but as there was no Institution of them amongst the Priests and Levites who were set apart by Name in their several Orders so we find them no where concerned as such in the Worship of God but either for Mirth and Delight or as Mourners for the Dead in which they were very skilful in making of Lamentations both by Voice and Instruments of Musick as was the Jewish Custom which you may plainly see by these Scriptures 2 Sam. 19.35 2 Chron. 35.25 Jer. 9.17 18. Amos 5.16 Eccles 2.1 8. Mat. 9.23 V. Of the Order of Singing This we have plainly and clearly delivered to us in 1 Cor. 14.26 to 34. How is it then Brethren when ye come together every one of you hath a Psalm hath a Doctrine hath a Tongue hath a Revelation hath an Interpretation Let all things be done to Edifying Here the Apostle speaks of the several Gifts of the Holy Spirit and lays down a general Order for their Delivery 1. The Tongue must be by two or at most by three and that by course And let one interpret that is That in case there were many could speak with Tongues they should not all exercise to take up the whole time with that Gift but only two or three of them and that by course or turns And if any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by let the first hold his Peace for ye may all prophesie one by one the Dutch translate it one after another Here is the Rule for our Practice one by one or one after another by course or turns they may speak with Tongues and prophesy And though only these two Gifts are particularized in the Rule yet the Order stands for all the rest as having relation to it The universal Practice of all Christians allows this Order in the Gift of Doctrine and we our selves in the Gift of Prayer that but one is to pray at once And therefore seeing that this Order is observed in the Gift of Prayer which is not mentioned amongst those several Gifts then surely we must allow the Psalm as one of those Gifts named in the Text and relating to the Rule to be delivered after the same Order appointed for the other Gifts And there is not the least colour of pretence why any should break the Rule in one of these Gifts more than others but that as they are named together and a general Order appointed for their Use and Delivery in the Church so it must be observed for the Psalm as well as for any other of those spiritual Gifts And if I should see a Song delivered by the Gift of the Holy Spirit in this Order I hope I should bloss the Lord for so great a Presence of his Spirit amongst his People VI. Objections Answered First Objection is That Moses and Deborah and Barah sang together with the Children of Israel and therefore it was in use before David 's Time in the Church Answer 1. It is certain that Moses delivered his Song by the Gift of the Holy Spirit and wrote it Exod. 15.1 as he did other Scriptures for a Memorial of Israel's Deliverance to future Ages but that it was then brought in or any part thereof till David's Time to the Levitical Service in the ordinary Worship of God is no where evident Nor can this Singing be any Rule either for Levitical or Gospel-Institution for then we must bring in Dancing as well as Singing for Miriam the Prophetess the Sister of Aaron took a Timbrel in her Hand and all the Women went out after her with Timbrels and with Dances 2. If we should suppose that Moses Miriam and Israel sang vocally together at one and the same time we may rather take it for an extraordinary Exstasy of Mirth Joy and Gladness before the Lord expressed by Dancing as well as Singing as David when he danced before the Ark than for any part of instituted Worship 3. If we should conclude that all Israel did not vocally sing with Moses but those whose Hearts the Lord had touched with a sense of that great Deliverance joined in Spirit with him Acts 2.42 it is no more than what is evident from the like manner of Speech of the three thousand new Converts that continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship and in breaking of Bread and in Prayer for they did not all vocally pray together nor actually break Bread but joined with and partook of those Ordinances by the Ministry So that if you take it in either sense it will make nothing for the establishing of a vocal Singing together in Gospel-Worship Secondly It is said Judg. 5.1 It is said Then sang Deborah and Barak But Deborah did only vocally sing and Barak joined in Spirit with her in the chiefest part of the Song for how could Barak call himself Deborah saying Vntil that I Deborah arose that I arose a Mother in Israel And it is plain that she only did vocally sing unto the Lord ver 12. Awake awake Deborah awake awake utter a Song Arise Barak and lead thy Captivity captive thou Son of Abinoam Second Objection is That in Saul 's Time Musick was used by the Prophets 1 Sam. 10.5 and therefore why not Singing and Musick too in their Worship Answer Numb 11.16 24 26 Ex. 24.11 As others besides the Levites were Prophets so I do not find that any of those Prophets were Levites to whom alone both the Songs and Musick were afterwards limited as the Ministers thereof in God's Service and there being neither Institution nor Practice of it to be found we have no ground to believe that it was in use in the constant Worship of God before David's Time Third Objection is That if Musick and Singing commences its Date from David's Institution and was to continue for constant Temple-Worship till Temple and Temple-Service was made void by the Coming of Jesus Christ to erect a more spiritual Worship why should not Gospel-Singing
Christ under her Troubles and Persecutions in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ Rev. 1.9 For all that will live godly in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3.12 shall suffer Persecution And we must thrô much Tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God Acts 14.22 Seeing therefore it is given to us not only to believe on Christ but also to suffer for his Sake Phil. 1.29 and that God has appointed his Church her Days of Mourning and that thrô her falling away from her primitive Love and Zeal she has lost much of those blessed Gifts of the Holy Spirit she then had Let us not deceive our selves and think to recover the Gift of Singing with our carnal Spirits Isa 22.12 13. in an improper and contrary Season Israel-like when we should mourn for the great Apostacy Pride Covetousness and Carnality of Spirit which is found in the Church of Christ and fast and pray for the Pardon of Sins Isa 32.15 the full Deliverance of the Captive Daughter of Sion and the Return of the Holy Spirit that the Wilderness may become a fruitful Field And therefore as our Sins deprive us and as God hath not allotted to us a Heaven of continual Joy and constant Singing in this present evil World so the different Graces of his Holy Spirit and Duties required of us are suited to the different Circumstances of our Lives which are mostly filled with Troubles Sins and Temptations And though particular Saints may and oft-times do rejoice and glory in Tribulations when the Spirit of Glory rests upon them and raises their Hearts above their Troubles yet this is but now and then at certain Times through a sight of Faith when God is sealing his Love upon their Spirits to incourage their Souls to persevere Otherwise if it were constant Troubles would be no more Troubles nor Afflictions no more Afflictions or if their Joys were greater and more constant than their Sorrows it could not so properly be called a Sackcloth mournful afflicted State for either of them which is most constant and in which we have the greatest Share and Exercise of our Lives deservedly beareth the Name And therefore if particular Souls or the Church of Christ in general be in a State of Trouble and Affliction they are so far uncapable of the constant Exercise of the Grace of Joy and consequently of constant spiritual Singing in the publick Worship of God as their Troubles and Sorrows must needs exceed their Joys and then the Graces and Duties suitable to that State should be in exercise as Long-suffering Patience Faith of Reliance Meekness Watching Praying c. which are more strongly injoined and oftner pressed on us in the New Testament for our constant Practice than Singing is and that because our Troubles and Sorrows are more constant than our spiritual Raptures So that from our Incapacity of maintaining a constant and sufficient Exercise of the Grace of Joy in our Souls through the Troubles Sins and Temptations of this World the Weakness of our Faith and want of the sufficient Gift of the Holy Spirit we are not now able to sing with the Spirit and with the Understanding also in the constant and publick Worship of God and to press it beyond our Understanding proportion of Faith and measure of the gracious Gift of the Holy Spirit when other Graces should be in exercise is a Sin 2. Every true Christian nor the Church of Christ in general is not capable to sing Praises to the Lord in his publick and constant Worship because the greatest number of Christians as it is believed especially in our Day have not attained to a sufficient Faith of Assurance of the Love of God in Christ Jesus unto their Souls Rom 5.1 to 5. which made the Apostles to rejoice with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory but have their doubtings between Hope and Fear of what shall become of them to all Eternity 1 Pet. 1.8 And therefore while they are in the new Birth or Babes in Christ and have not met with the witnessing Power Rom. 8.15 or perswasive Influence of the Holy Spirit with their Spirits that they are the Children of God they cannot sing his Praise for their Redemption for if they are not sufficiently assured of it by Faith they cannot so rejoice in it And we should not think that God requireth more of his Church and People than he hath given Ability and Qualifications to perform Tenth Objection Formal Prayer and Singing were used under the Law and therefore why not formal Prayer and Singing under the Gospel Answer As the visible and successive Ministers of the Worship and Service of God under the Law were not called as spiritual converted regenerated Believers but were an Election out of the natural and carnal Seed of Abraham in their Generations by Succession unto the Ministerial Office so the Body of the Old-Testament-Church were not called into that visible Church-State as spiritual regenerated Believers but as the natural and carnal Seed of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. And therefore as that People were carnally and nationally imbodied into a visible Church-state so their instituted Worship was formal literal ceremonial carnal and typical suitable to them and the Design of God to make them and their Church-State a Type Shadow and Figure of his calling a spiritual People into a more spiritual Church-State to serve him in more spiritual Ordinances in Spirit and in Truth And therefore since Christ is come in the Flesh and hath removed and abolished the Mosaical and Levitical Church-State Heb. 7.12 17 18. Chap. 9.8 to 11. the New-Testament-Writers have described Gospel-Things in opposition to them as Power to Form Rom. 2.20 29. 2 Cor. 3.11 Gal. 3.2 3. 2 Cor. 3.6 Rom. 7.6 Chap. 1.28 29. Phil. 3.3 Gal. 3.29 Chap. 4.21 c. 29 to the End Heb. 10.1 Chap. 9.1 11 23. Col. 2.17 as Spirit to Flesh as Spiritual to Literal and Carnal as spiritual Seed to fleshly or carnal Seed as Shadows to Bodies as Worldly to Heavenly as Types and Figures of good Things to come So that there is no legal instituted Worship as found in the publick Levitical Service and Circumstances that can be either proper or a sufficient Warrant for our Practice in Gospel-Times and therefore it is our Duty to look more directly into the Gospel-Institutions for Gospel-Worship than to confuse the Minds of weak Christians with Questions from the dark Shadows of the Law which tend to Bondage and have proved very mischievous to the Gospel-Church for which cause many whom God hath graciously enlightned in the Holy Scriptures have been forced to treat the more largely on Legal Ceremonies 2 Cor. 3.14 15 17. to remove the Vail of the Law which to this day too too much remains on the Minds of many Christians Eleventh Objection Prayer under the Gospel is an Ordinance of the same Nature as it was under the Law and therefore Singing under the Gospel
of Christ in offering your Praises to God contrary to his own appointed Way therein you do worship God in vain and I fear it will be said of you as it was to him that offered the Thank-offering under the Law Levit. 7.11 to 19. which was to be eaten on the first and second Days and if any of the Flesh of the Sacrifice of his Peace or Thank-offering were eaten at all on the third Day that it shall not be accepted neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it it shall be an Abomination and that Soul shall bear his Iniquity 5thly and lastly It is the Duty of all and of every individual Christian studiously to judg of the Doctrine delivered to them whether it be of Man or of God and to conform to the Authority of the Holy Scripture as the noble Bereans did Acts 17.10 11. who searched the Scriptures daily whether those things preached by Paul and Silas were so or no. And I am perswaded that it is for want of Zeal and Love to the Truths of Christ and through that slothful and idle Spirit attending so many Christians that the Errors of Men do so prevail But to leave what I have said I do beseech you courteous Reader christianly to overlook that Weakness you may espy in my Delivery and seriously to take notice not so much of that as of the main of this Subject without straining my Words beyond the drift and design of the body of my Discourse and to consider that the Authority of the Holy Scriptures is repugnant to such formal and customary Singing herein mentioned and treated of not with any Design to move Controversies or trouble others but to prevent the Divisions that possibly may arise amongst our selves through the Endeavours of some Persons to promote this Error in our Churches And as I hope the Lord hath engaged my Heart herein so he will bless my poor Endeavours to settle the Minds of my wavering Brethren and to prevent any farther Incroachments of this Error which hath been so generally rejected by us for many Years FINIS ERRATA Page 45. line 8. for formerly read formally P. 47. near the end in Margent add the Text Luke 4.17 c. ADVERTISEMENT There is now coming forth a Book intitled A Treatise of the Holy Trinunity in two Parts The First asserteth the Deity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in the Vnity of Essence with God the Father The Second in Defence of the former answereth the chiefest Objections made against this Doctrine By J. M. Chap. I. THE Case is briefly stated Chap. II. Sheweth that there is but one God the Creator and Former of all things Chap. III. Asserteth a Plurality of Divine Subsistences Chap. IV. Of the Father Chap. V. Proveth the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ 1. By his Names 2. That God in the Old Testament in divers Places is Christ in the New 3. By seven particular Texts of Holy Scriptures 4. That Christ pre-existed his Incarnation in his Divine Nature and is no Angel incarnate but is Coeternal with the Father 5. His Deity is proved by his Works And 6. By Divine Worship given to him Chap. VI. Proveth the Deity of the Holy Ghost 1. That he is a Person 2. His Deity is asserted from several Texts of Scripture 3. By his Works 4. By Divine Worship given to him Chap. VII Proveth the Unity of the Holy Trinity Chap. VIII Containeth some Explications of the Holy Trinunity 1. Of the essential Being of God 2. Of the Divine Persons the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit 3. Of the Distinctions of the Divine Nature and the Persons and some Shadows by way of Comparison of the incomparable and inconceivable Being of God and of the Union of Christ's two Natures PART II. Chap. I. Answereth Objections against the Scriptural Proofs of Christ's Deity Chap. II. Answers to Objections drawn from several Texts of Scriptures Chap. III. Answers to several Arguments against the Deity of Christ Chap. IV. Answers to several Objections against the Scriptures that prove the Deity of the Holy Ghost Chap. V. Answers to some Objections drawn from divers Scriptures to disprove the Deity of the Holy Spirit Chap. VI. Answers to some Scriptures from whence our Adversaries assert that the Father only is the true God With a general Answer and Conclusion Price bound one Shilling AN APPENDIX TO THE FORMER DISCOURSE Concerning SINGING in the Worship of GOD in the Gospel-Church IN the former Part of my Discourse on this Subject I laid a Foundation according to the proportion of Faith which I received from the Light of the holy Scriptures and have asserted something of the nature manner and order of Singing agreeable to the Dispensations of the Mind and Will of God unto his People both under the Old and New Testaments And finding my self concerned in the defence of the Truth of Christ which some have erred from in their practice of formal Singing I shall farther treat on this Subject for the better clearing of it from divers things that lie in the way of some Christians establishment in the Truth SECT I. 1. I Shall premise That to praise God or praising of God is not confined to Songs of Praise but that there are other ways and manners of praising God than with such melodious Singing as in Psal 145.10 All thy Works shall praise thee O Lord and thy Saints shall bless thee and in Psal 148. throughout the whole Creation is required to praise God for he commanded and they were created Their very Being and Subsistence and the order of Nature is a Praise to the glorious Wisdom and Power of God And David saith Psal 50.23 Whoso offereth Praise glorifieth me viz. God And as praising God is glorifying honouring and magnifying of him so also is glorifying God often put for the same as praising of him which in the following Scriptures do also differ from that of Singing as in Mat. 21.16 where the Children crying Hosanna to the Son of David that is Save now is by Christ called Praise and Luke 19.37 The whole Multitude of the Disciples began to rejoyce and praise God saying Blessed be the King that cometh in the Name of the Lord Peace in Heaven and Glory in the Highest And this praising God and Glory in the Highest is in Matthew and Mark said to be crying Hosanna to the Son of David Hosanna in the highest And Luke 18.43 And immediately he received his Sight and followed him glorifying God and all the People when they saw it gave Praise unto God And Acts 3.8 9. The lame Man walking and leaping praised God And also Thanking 2 Cor. 4.15 chap. 9.11 to end Phil. 4.16 chap. 1.3 4. 1 Thes 1.2 Phil. 1.4 is glorifying or praising God which is by the ordinary Gift of the Spirit always to be mixt with Prayer as Paul did making mention of the Saints with Thanksgiving always in every Prayer and therefore as God is thus praised
glorified and thanked I can see no reason to confine his Praises to Songs of Praise only which the Learned Dr. Owen strongly opposes in his Exposition of Heb. 2.12 notwithstanding the word in the Greek that is there put for Praise is Hymneso se I will hymn thee viz. I will praise thee his Words are these It is declared farther 1. What Christ will moreover do He will sing Praises unto God and 2. where he will do it in the midst of the Congregation The Expression of both these is accommodated unto the Declaration of God's Name and praising of him in the Temple The Singing of Hymns of Praise unto God in the great Congregation was then a principal Part of his Worship And in the first Expression two Things are observable 1. What Christ undertakes to do and that is to praise God Now this is only Exegetical of what went before He would praise God by declaring his Name There is no way whereby the Praise of God may be celebrated like that of declaring his Grace Goodness and Love unto Men whereby they may be won to believe and trust in him whence Glory redounds unto him 2. The Chearfulness and Alacrity of the Spirit of Christ in this Work he would do it as with Joy and Singing with such a frame of Heart as was required in them who were to sing the Praises of God in the great Assembly in the Temple 3. Where would he do this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the midst of the Congregation the great Congregation as he calls it ver 25. that is the great Assemblies of the People in the Temple And this was a Type of the whole Church of the Elect under the New-Testament The Lord Christ in his own Person by his Spirit in his Apostles and his Word by all his Messengers unto the end of the World setting forth the Love Grace Goodness and Mercy of God in him the Mediator sets forth the Praise of God in the midst of the Congregation I shall only add saith he that whereas Singing of Hymns unto God was an essential Part of the instituted Worship under the Old Testament to whose use these Expressions are accommodated it is evident that the Lord Christ hath eminently set forth this Praise of God in his Institution of Worship under the New-Testament wherein God will ever be glorified and praised And he farther saith That he viz. Christ no sooner was delivered from his Sufferings but as he lands upon the Shore from that Tempest wherein he was tossed in his Passion he cries out I will declare thy Name unto my Brethren in the midst of the Congregation will I sing praise unto thee And thus we find that upon his Resurrection he did not immediately ascend into Glory but first declared the Name of God unto his Apostles and Disciples and then took order that by them it should be declared and published to all the World This was upon his Spirit and he entred not into his glorious Rest until he had performed it The Words themselves also do evidence it in that Expression of celebrating God's Name with Hymns with Singing It was a Joy of heart unto him to be engaged in this work Singing is the frame 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 James 5.13 of them that are in a glad free rejoycing Condition So was the Lord Christ in this Work Moreover Psal 258. the Lord Christ by declaring that he will set forth the Praise of God in the Church manifests what is the duty of the Church it self namely to praise God This is indeed the very end of gathering the Church and of all the Duties that are performed therein and thereby This is the end of the Institution of all Ordinances of Worship in the Church Eph. 3.8 9 10. and in them do they set forth the Praises of God unto Men and Angels This is the tendency of Prayer the word of Faith the fruit of Obedience It is a fond Imagination which some have fallen upon that God is not praised in the Church for the work of Redemption unless it be done by Words and Hymns particularly expressing it All Praying all Preaching all Administration of Ordinances all our Faith all our Obedience if ordered aright are nothing but giving Glory to God for his Love and Grace in Christ Jesus in a due and acceptable manner So that it is manifested from the aforesaid Premises that praising of God is not limited to Songs of Praise SECT II. Of the word Hymnos a Hymn THat the word Hymnos signifieth Praise and is of such a general Signification as that it is not to be confined only to Songs of Praise is shewed briefly in my former Discourse Par. 1. p. 29 33. wherein I cited Ainsworth on Psalm 3. who translates it Praise and the Dutch Annotations which do not limit it to Songs but do also admit of it to signify saying Thanks to God to which former Testimony I shall add some farther Evidence for the confirmation thereof And first in Constantine's Greek Lexicon though it tells us that Hymenaeus is a Nuptial Song and Hymnos Hymnus Laus Deorum the Praise of the Gods c. Yet he also confesseth hymneo dico hymnum I say an Hymn as well as hymnos canto I sing Hymns cano vel dico laudes I sing or say Praises Neque solum de Diis ut quidam tradunt dicitur sed etiam de hominibus aliis rebus Neither is it spoken only of the Gods as some say but also of Men and other Things Hymno etiam Kateuphemismon pro conqueror that is Hymno also Kateuphemismon is put for conqueror to complain convicior to accuse or reproach Hymnein for lamentari to lament So in the English Greek and Latin Lexicon by Andrew Symson Minister it is Hymnus Ephes 5.19 Coloss 3.16 a Song containing Praises to God yet he also saith Hymnum cano Hymnum dicto to sing an Hymn to say an Hymn Mat. 26.30 Mar. 14.26 to praise to give Thanks unto God This word viz. Hymnus saith he signifieth also to complain which is a more foreign Signification And though these Lexicon-Writers do apply the use of the word to Songs of Praise and Nuptial Songs yet we see they do also admit of its simple signification to praise without Songs But that which chiefly concerns us is to consider the use that is made of it in the Holy Scriptures And 1. The LXXII learned Translators of the Old Testament out of the Hebrew into the Greek Tongue were not so well acquainted with it as such a proper limited word to signify Marriage-Praise or Songs of Praise for if they had then surely they would have used the word Hymnos in Psal 78.63 And their Maidens were not given to Marriage in the margent it is Heb. praised lo hullalu shall not be praised which the Septuagint translate Epenthesan and use not the word Hymnos for Marriage-Praise 2. In Mr. Leigh's Critica Sacra on Matth. 26.30 Mark
Worship whereby the Gifts of the Holy Spirit were to be appointed otherwise to be exercised in his Church so we should rather conclude that because Christ did sing if it could be proved as it cannot who had the Spirit without measure and because the primitive Gospel-Churches had the special Gift of Singing that therefore we might also sing in the publick Worship of God or at the Supper after the same Order with a single Voice if we had the sufficient Gift of the holy Spirit for it But to affirm that because Christ did sing at that Ordinance if it were so as it is not to be proved that he did and because that Singing was used in the primitive Church therefore it is binding on us now as a constant Ordinance is to bind us to the constant use of that Gift of the Holy Spirit we never had SECT III. I Come now to discourse of that which I find is made the greatest Plea for such vocal Singing together and that is say they It is commanded by Christ in the New Testament and therefore we must practise it in the constant Worship of God And that I may the better remove this grand Obstacle of the Truth as they make it in not understanding the true Nature and Intentment of Christ's Command concerning Singing I shall premise two things 1. That such Spiritual Singing as was used in the Primitive Apostolical Church was from a special Gift of the Holy Spirit 2. That the Gifts of the Holy Spirit were not given alike to every particular Member of the Church of Christ for publick Worship First It is evident that such Spiritual Singing as was used in the Primitive Apostolical Church was from a special Gift of the Holy Spirit Gal. 5.22 1 Joh. 2.27 Isa 61.3 Eph. 1.14 Rom. 5.2 For as the Grace of Joy is a Fruit of the Spirit and as God had promised the Oil viz. the Spirit of Joy for Mourning so the primitive Church had some Earnests of it and did rejoice in hope of the Glory of God and through the abundance of the Spirit wherewith she was baptized her Ministers delivered the Word of God in extraordinary ways and manners viz. by Prophesy Tongues and melodious Singing which I shall here demonstrate was also a special Gift of the Holy Spirit for after the Apostle had exhorted the Corinthians to covet earnestly the best Gifts and to desire Spiritual Gifts 1 Cor. 12.31 chap. 14 1 13 14 15 16 17. and to seek that they might excel to the edifying of the Church and that he that spake in an unknown Tongue should pray that he might interpret for if saith he I pray in an unknown Tongue my Spirit prayeth but my Vnderstanding is unfruitful He mentions Prayer and Singing saying What is it then I will pray with the Spirit and I will pray with the Vnderstanding also I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the Vnderstanding also Else when thou shalt bless with the Spirit how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of Thanks seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest From whence I observe that as the Saints of Corinth were moved by the Apostle to covet after the best Gifts so it is evident that both the Prayer and Singing here mentioned were from the special and excellent Gifts of the Holy Spirit for as the strange Tongues and the Interpretations of them which were then given to the Gospel-Church were from the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit so this Prayer and Singing with the Spirit and with the Understanding also being with the Inspiration of strange Tongues and from the extraordinary Gift of Interpretations of them delivered in a known Tongue for the edifying of the Church must needs be granted to be an extraordinary Gift of Prayer and Singing For though Prayer in some other places may be taken as a more common Gift of Grace from the holy Spirit and so might occasion some scruple if it were to be found joyned with Singing without any adjunct to demonstrate Singing to be a Gift of an higher attainment than Prayer is that Singing also was a more common Gift than is here asserted yet seeing that it is no where in the New Testament so expressed and joyned with Prayer but with a sufficient adjunct to shew that it is an higher Gift than ordinarily Prayer is as James 5.13 where Affliction exerts Prayer but spiritual Mirth in a sufficient fulness of Joy from the Holy Ghost puts forth Singing and that it is here joined with a more than ordinary Gift of Prayer there is no reason for such a doubt but to conclude that Singing is an extraordinary Gift of the holy Spirit Moreover common Reason tells us so far as it is elevated to discern spiritual Things that spiritual Singing is an excellent Gift of the Holy Spirit from its different manner of delivering the Word of God for as the excellent Gifts of the Spirit that were for the ministring of the Word consisted in an extraordinary Inspiration of Light and Understanding together with a sufficient Power and Capacity to open and declare the wonderful Counsels and Works of God so they were sometimes farther evidenced to be such excellent Gifts in that the same sort of Worship that was performed by a more ordinary gift and way of Delivery viz. Prayer giving Thanks and Teaching and Admonishing were delivered with Interpretations of Tongues and some of them with melodious Singing which were both a Witness of and suitable to the extraordinary Gifts and Inspirations of the holy Spirit but not of the common Gifts Nor doth the Blessing and Thanksgiving mentioned in the following Verses afford an Argument to make Singing a common Gift for as the Dutch Annotations on the word Bless allow that it is to be understood with respect to this Gift viz. of Singing of the holy Spirit being given to make publick Thanksgiving in the Church so to me it is plain that this Singing Blessing and Thanksgiving are meant of but one and the same Gift which the Apostle is here speaking of under these several Names the Nature of the two latter as having relation to the Gift of Singing as the immediate preceeding and annexed subject Matter treated of are Denotives of the nature of the Song before-mentioned For though we do allow and maintain that Blessing and Thanksgiving have relation to Prayer also yet seeing that Singing is here last mentioned and that the Apostle speaks of giving Thanks not so as any ways to intimate to us that it is to be understood of ordinary Thanksgiving mixt with Prayer but treating of the extraordinary Gifts of the holy Spirit and of Thanksgiving as such a Gift saying For thou verily givest thanks and Amen at thy giving of Thanks by which words relating to the Gift of Singing and both of them as appears in the Text being accompanied with the extraordinary Gift of an unknown Tongue or Tongues See Samuel
Clark's Annot. must be taken to denote a Thanksgiving or a Blessing of God with the extraordinary Gift of Melodious Singing 2ly In ver 26. it is said How is it then Brethren when ye come together every one of you hath a Psalm hath a Doctrine hath a Tongue hath a Revelation hath an Interpretation Let all things be done to edifying All had or doubtless might have had the Psalms of David to read and therefore as none can say but that to have the Doctrine and other Gifts of the holy Spirit were something more than to be able to read or make a bare recital of some part of the holy Scriptures So there is the same reason to conclude that the having a Psalm was something farther than to be able to read or sing them out of a Book and that as sometimes the Doctrine as well as the Tongue the Revelation and the Interpretation were the special Gifts of the Spirit so was the Psalm also 3ly Singing is a special Gift of the holy Spirit because it is annexed to the fillings of it as his Fruits and Effects Eph. 5.18 19. Be filled with the Spirit speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs which plainly shews it to be the Fruits of a more than ordinary Fulness and Gift of the holy Spirit Secondly That the Gifts of the holy Spirit were not given alike to every Member of the Church of Christ for publick Worship appears from 1 Cor. 12.4 6 8 9 10 11 12 28 29 30. Now there are diversities of Gifts but the same Spirit And there are diversities of Operations but it is the same God which worketh all in all For to one is given by the Spirit the word of Wisdom to another the word of Knowledg by the same Spirit To another Faith by the same Spirit To another the Gifts of healing by the same Spirit To another the working of Miracles to another Prophesy to another decerning of Spirits to another divers kinds of Tongues to another Interpretations of Tongues But all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit dividing to every Man severally as he will c. and Rom. 12.4 6 7. So that the Gifts of the holy Spirit are severally divided and distributed as God is graciously pleased to bestow them for the benefit and edification of the Church and though the Gift of Singing is not expresly named yet it is included in the Word of Wisdom and Gift of Teaching which are comprehensive of all manner of Teaching as well in Singing as otherwise Having proved that such spiritual Singing as was used in the Primitive Apostolical Church was from a special Gift of the holy Spirit and that the Gifts of the Spirit were not alike distributed to the Members of the Gospel-Church for publick Worship From whence it follows that every Member or the whole Church as they have not the like spiritual Gifts so they are not capable of the like spiritual Singing I now come to answer the said Objection and to open those Scriptures that are brought to prove that Singing is commanded by Christ in the New Testament so as to bind us to the constant use of it in the Gospel-Church 1st Scripture that is brought to prove vocal Singing commanded for constant Worship is 1 Cor. 14.15 See more part 1. pag. 8. 26. I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the Vnderstanding also How is it then Brethren when ye come together every one of you hath a Psalm hath a Doctrine hath a Tongue hath a Revelation hath an Interpretation Let all things be done to edifying 1st In verse 15. there is no positive Command but Paul's Example which we should follow according to the measure of the Gift of Christ which is not now attained by us for such vocal spiritual Singing 2dly Nor can verse 26. be taken for a positive Command to sing a Psalm seeing it is put by way of Question If they had a Psalm a Doctrine c. and that what Gift or Gifts of the Spirit every one of the ministring Brethren had the Command was that they should put them forth for the edifying of the Church Nor can this Text be a positive Command for singing a Psalm in the constant Worship of God any more than it is a Command for the constant Use of the other extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit together mentioned with the Psalm Neither is there any colour of Reason to think that the Psalm should be vocally sung by all the Church together any more than that the Doctrine and the Revelation and other Gifts of the Holy Spirit should be delivered or said vocally together or any of them otherwise than according to the general Rule in the following Verses 2dly Ephes 5.18 See more part 1. pag. 4 5 c. 19. From this Scripture I have shewed before that there is no warrant for vocal Singing but that speaking to your selves may be properly taken for inward speaking in the Heart and have cited Mr. Pool who renders it speaking in which the word to in this Text as we read it is there shewed to import But if it were granted as it is not that vocal Singing was here intended yet this Exhortation is no such positive Command as to make it binding for the constant Worship of God any farther than to such a Gift of the Spirit for this Exhortation respects our being filled with the Spirit and speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs are annexed as his Fruits and Effects and therefore the latter cannot be attained without the former so that we are under as strict a Command to be filled with the Spirit Col. 3.16 for the inriching of us with the Word of Christ to dwell in us in all Wisdom as we are to sing yea to be filled with the Spirit being primarily commanded as the efficient cause to Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs then to be filled with the Spirit should be primarily sought after and instead of runing into humane Forms of Worship to obtain the Spirit and the Increase of his Graces in our Souls we should seek more earnestly for the Spirit to raise up our Hearts above our ordinary frames to worship the Lord in the Beauties of Holiness Besides this Exhortation given to endeavour after the fillings and inrichings of the Word and Spirit warrants none either disorderly to improve his Gifts or to counterfeit their Attainment of them 3dly Col. 3.16 See more part 1. pag. 7. This Command or rather this Exhortation to teach and admonish one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs is given neither absolutely to require Impossibilities of us nor yet to break any other Command nor to interfere with the order and manner of God's Worship and therefore this Scripture intends no more than to stir up the Church of Coloss to the Attainment of this spiritual Gift of Singing 1 Cor. 12.31 Chap. 14.1 Phil. 3.11 as well as of other
essence to inward spiritual Singing And as we ought not vocally to pray in the publick Worship of God in the Church without a sufficient Gift of the Spirit so also we ought not vocally to sing in the Church unless it be by a sufficient Gift of the Holy Spirit And seeing we have not such a Gift we are not capable of vocal spiritual Singing But as for Prayer it is believed and it is apparently manifest that there are many Christians that are in the exercise of the Grace of Prayer for many years that do not attain to the full assurance of the Love of God in his eternal Purpose of their Salvation much less so as to have the melodious Joy of the Spirit filling their Hearts with the Comfort of it Moreover Prayer is a lower Attainment and therefore there is not the same necessity for an extraordinary Gift of the Spirit to qualify us for the exercise of it in the publick Worship of God as there is for Singing And as there is reason to believe that suitable to the vocal melodious Singing and other excellent Gifts of the holy Spirit that were in the Primitive Church there were also extraordinary Gifts of Prayer and Supplications so as we have now only attained to the ordinary Gift of Prayer and Prophecy Col. 3.9 12 Ephes 1.16 Phil. 4.6 Col. 4.2 we have suitable to them the ordinary way of praising and thanking God which we find were ordinarily mix'd with Prayer And therefore with respect to the Essence of spiritual Singing yea and of vocal Praises Prayer-wise we are in a suitable degree sometimes in the true exercise of it as we are of other Gifts of the Holy Spirit And as these increase in the Church of Christ in their proper times so may that of Singing also from the Essence of Melody in the Heart and of vocal Praises Prayer-wise till we come to the primitive pattern and perfection of Divine Worship going from strength to strength till every one appears before the Lord in the heavenly Zion Psal 84.7 But while we are in this Wilderness-state if we worship God sincerely according to that measure of Grace which we have received it is accepted of him according to that a Man hath 2 Cor. 8.12 and not according to that he hath not And it is more pleasing to God to hear our Heart-Melody without or with an ordinary Voice than to hear a melodious Voice without a suitable melodious spiritual Heart somewhat like tho not in personal Qualifications the Publican's Prayer that was rather heard Luke 18.11 to 15. than the Pharise's self-righteous thanking God And for any to say that they have the inward Melody in the use of outward melodious Forms we may rather conclude that it is carnal and sensual instead of spiritual and from the sense and workings of Nature rather than from the gracious actings of the holy Spirit of Christ I will not say but that God may somewhat own a sincere Soul that hath no greater Light in his way of Worship But this I dare affirm that the more we come up to his perfect Rule the greater our Peace and Comfort shall be and that whatever Comfort a Soul may meet with in any part of Divine Worship coming short or going beyond the Rule of Christ it is no Seal of God's Acceptance of it as so performed but it is rather a Token of his unexpressible condescending Love in taking notice of such a Soul that sincerely loves his ways though perhaps the Mist of Antichrist is not perfectly cleared from off his Eyes But though I confess a Possibility of a sincere Soul meeting with something of God's Presence in such an irregular way of Worship and dare not presume to limit the free Grace of God yet there is little reason to expect any comforting Presence of God in such a way for the holy Scriptures run contrary to it Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh Righteousness those that remember thee in thy ways not in our ways but in God's ways we may expect to meet with his blessed Presence And therefore as such humane prestinted Form are opposite to the prescribed Ways of God and are a bar to the free exercise of the Graces of the Holy Spirit in us there is reason to fear that the inward Joy tho of a sincere Christian in the use of outward melodious Forms is not from the Fountain of the Holy Spirit And herein I humbly conceive the Mistake lies that such a Soul being somewhat affected with spiritual things and the vocal Melody pleasing the sensual Appetite and raising a natural Joy in the Heart then because there is something spiritual it is all counted spiritual not considering that as we have two Natures so the workings of each of them may meet together as in James and John who had doubtless a true spiritual Zeal for Christ which their natural Passion fell in with to a sinful Revenge against those Samaritans that slighted their Lord and Master But Christ rebuked them and said Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of And now Christian Reader I renew my Request unto you in the close of my former Part And if my labour herein hath been any ways helpful to you for your establishment in the Truth render to God the Father of Lights and giver of every good Gift the Glory and Praise to whom alone it is due Amen FINIS