of what he hath commanded Mat. 28.19 2. In the great Gospel-Duties of Prayer and Praising God he hath graciously promised the assistance of the Holy Spirit both what to pray for as well as how we are to pray Rom. 8.26 For we know not what to pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh Intercession for us Where we observe that which respects the manner and frame of Heart in Prayer respects also the matter of Prayer Indeed we are poor Worms and know not how to order our Cause before him unless we are assisted both in Matter in the time of Worship as well as Manner And as it is in Prayer so is it in Praises which Duty ought certainly to be as spiritually performed as Prayer and we need as great assistance of the Holy Spirit to Praise as to Pray But if Gospel-singing the Praise of God be with a Musical Voice and the Form before composed in Verse then we know what to praise God for The Minister or some one brings that Matter composed in writing or in print in his Pocket and then what need will there be of the Spirit of God to help us what to pray for 3. But if it be objected that we ought before-hand to consider the Mercies we have received We readily grant it and do affirm that also in Prayer we ought to consider our Wants to beg Supplies and our Sins to beg Pardon But also in presenting them before the Lord we need the Assistance of the Spirit to order our very Requests before him And that it 's the Experience of every Servant of God that in Prayer to God and in Praises of God their Hearts are inlarged in matter far beyond the Preparations of matter in either of those Holy Exercises This is one of the most pregnant Arguments used against stinted Forms of Prayer by those Ministers that so do even that it is a stinting the Spirit of God in that Duty as also contrary to the blessed Design of the Lord Christ in his Ascension mentioned Eph. 4.8 And therefore we cannot see but it must necessarily follow but that if a set-Form of Praises composed and brought into the Church in the publick Worship of God is lawful or as an Institution appointed by him then certainly a set-Form of Prayer ought to be provided also as a part of the publick Worship of God for the Peoples Prayers And tertainly would they but seriously consider their own Arguments that perswade them to be against set-form Prayer the same would consute their Notions against set-form Singing if indeed they be against set-form Prayer For they that can so vehemently plead in that Book for reading Songs of Praise and for reading Sermons and call it Preaching in the Church why should they not be for reading Prayers there also especially when their Arguments for both are for the most part the very same that others urge for set-form Prayer As for what they most impertinently alledg for their Vindication in this Matter from the Song of Moses and the Hymn mentioned Mat. 26.30 with Col. 3.16 they will be considered in their due place Secondly We shall enquire whether for a mixed Multitude Professors and Prosane Believers and Unbelievers to sing in Consort in the Church be an Ordinance of our Lord Jesus according to his New-Testament-Institution 1. We desire it may be seriously considered that there is not the least mention of it in the New Testament by any Precept or Example wherein we are directed in the Worship of God Certainly if our Lord Jesus was most faithful in the House of God and if his Apostles did faithfully declare the whole Counsel of God to the Churches then they would not have failed to have declared this also So that it is purely a Humane Invention without any shadow of ground for it in the Scriptures before mentioned which are the only Rule to guide us in the solemn instituted Worship of God in his Church If this Arguments hold good against the common Practice of Infants Sprinkling called Baptism as undoubtedly it doth then it doth also as evidently prove that this way of common Singing is a Tradition of Men and not an Ordinance of our Lord Jesus 2. As there is not the least mention of it as aforesaid so it is directly contrary to what our Lord Jesus hath plainly declared both as to the Qualification of the Worshippers as well as to the manner of Worship in Gospel-Times Joh. 4.23 The true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and iâ— Truth c. Can the Unbelievers the Ignorant and the Profane thus worship the Father are they thus qualified or are they capable so to do So that this Practice of theirs is a plain Contradiction to the Will of our Lord and Law-giver in that Affair of Solemn Worship which therefore ought to be rejected by all the upright in Heart 3. Hereby there is an Opportunity given them to make or to speak a Lie before the Lord to take his Name in vain while they speak that which they do not understand and utter that as the frame of their Hearts which they do not receive in their Minds nor can they know them or truly affect them while they remain in an unconverted Estate because they are spiritually discerned Now to be accessary unto or to promote such a Transgression in the solemn Worship of God which they unavoidably do who set up this common way of Singing is a Practice that cannot be justified There is more to be added to shew the great Irregularity of this common Practice which must be referred to its proper place Object But they object That we admit them to be present and to join with their Hearts in our publick Prayers which is as much or more than lifting up their Voices in singing in the Church Answ To which we reply That it is true we do admit them at the time of Prayer and Preaching to be present and so we can and do to the Spectators and Hearers when we partake of the Lord's Supper not knowing by what means the Lord may work upon them or give them Repentance unto Life But that which is affirmed that they join with us with their Hearts in Prayer is no true Assertion They do not so join with us because they cannot For the Holy Spirit who knows the Hearts of all Men plainly tells us that Persons while Unbelievers and Unconverted cannot so do as is most evident from that Scripture Rom. 10.14 How can they call on him on whom they have not believed Object But they say Some have been converted by their Singing for Psalms are full of Instruction c. Answ 1. We grant that Psalms are full of Admonition and Instruction but we deny that the Musical Tunes do instruct but the Matter it self that is sung And if it be Matter it self that doth only instruct as you would seem to acknowledg then it is not Musick but the Matter 2. Tho some should be
A SERIOUS ANSWER TO A Late BOOK STILED A REPLY to Mr. Robert Steed's EPISTLE concerning SINGING WHEREIN The chief Scriptures and Arguments are examined and the Weakness thereof shewed TOGETHER With an ANSWER to the several Reflections and false Charges against both Churches and Persons Recommended to the Elders Ministers and Members of the Baptized Churches Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth Jer. 20.10 I heard the defaming of many Report say they and we will report London Printed in the Year 1692. To the Elders Ministers and Members of the Baptized Churches throughout England and Wales Beloved in our Lord IT is a great Truth that as we are not to omit any thing in the Solemn Worship of God that is of his Appointment so we are not to admit any thing that is not of his Institution under any pretence whatsoever to be intruded upon us But it is greatly to be lamented that there is a proneness in Professors except by Grace prevented to turn aside from this Holy Rule either through the Infirmity of the Flesh or the Deception or Infection which through Temptation they meet withal in the World whereof there hath been and still is continually sad Experience An Instance whereof we have in the matter we have now to present to your serious Consideration When it pleased the Lord in Times past to inlighten some gracious Holy Persons in that great Ordinance of Baptism as it was commanded by our Lord and Saviour and practised by Him and his Apostles and the Primitive Churches And therefore to cast off Infants Sprinkling which was set up in the room of it as a Humane Invention They were then also on Scripture-Grounds well weighed and seriously considered convinced that the common way of praying to God or praising of God in what manner soever it were performed by a composed Form as usually then was and still is the Custom of many Protestants was not of Divine Institution and therefore to be rejected And accordingly it was in those Days laid aside by the Baptized Churches whom the Lord then graciously and eminently owned by many signal Tokens of his Presence among them But now to our great Grief some whose Duty and Place it was to have setled and further to have established the Churches in that Work of Reformation are declined from it asserting with Heat and Confidence that to sing by a composed Form with a whole Multitude lifting up their Voices together the Ignorant and Profane the Unbelievers or Unconverted with the Church-Members is an Ordinance of our Lord Jesus which they practise and with vehement Earnestness are contending for whereby the Peace and Edification of the Churches is hindred and the Minds and Consciences of many gracious Souls perplexed and intangled By this they are not only building again what hath been destroyed but thereby also there is plain Introduction unto a farther declining in Prayer and others of the Holy Ordinances of our Blessed Lord and Law-giver This common or popular way of Singing they also with great endeavour are labouring to promote in all the Churches by their publick pleading for it by Preaching and Printing in the defence of it And therein they not only vehemently contradict and oppose whatever is presented by any from the Holy Scriptures to deliver them or others from that Humane Invention which hath been so long rejected by the Churches aforesaid but they also take a licentious Liberty to reflect upon them that would hinder their design in this matter not only most falsly aspersing them but also uttering a most false Accusation and Slander against the Baptized Churches in their first gathering laying that to their Charge as a received Principle owned by them which they had openly declared against to the whole World in their Confession of Faith which was in those Days Printed and Published whereby they stigmatize or brand them with the deepest Hypocrisy that depraved Mortals can be guilty of These Things which are matter of great Lamentation are either evidently insinuated or plainly declared in a late printed Tract concerning Singing in answer to a small Sheet published by Mr. R. Steed which was intended chiefly for and therefore written by way of Epistle to that Church to which he is related which by some Friends that had perused it was given also into the Hands of the Members of other Churches wherein he only gives his understanding of what the Holy Scriptures speak concerning that Subject without mentioning or reflecting on any others that are of a contrary Mind But Mr. Keach who is the chief Promoter of this Controversy so as to heighten it to a Contention said It must be answered and that he would answer it And we do not question on good grounds but that he and Mr. Whinnel by his Instigation joined together to contrive that Answer which they have printed Tho Mr. Keach as we are informed did say to some that Mr. Wh. was not the Author of it It 's very probable that he was not the principal but Mr. K. expects to have the greatest Honour in due time of that Enterprize as being the chiefest Contriver of it But that their Book might pass with the greater Applause and Credit it is in the beginning of it recommended by an Epistle as a very sober Answer subscribed with several Names at the Conclusion of it Some of those Persons whose Names are there subscribed are such as we have no Communion with being such as are called Free-willers or Arminians holding a falling away from true Grace And some others whose Names are set down have professed that they did not subscribe it And some that did give their consent say they had not done it had it not been for Mr. Keach's Importunity And one of the chief of them saith that he never saw the Epistle till after it was printed to which his Hand was subscribed So that it 's ushered in with a gross Forgery in the beginning of it as it is carried on with unchristian Reflections and false Accusations which certainly cannot consist with Christian Sobriety or common Honesty whatever may be pretended But Mr. Keach who knows how to take Refined Gold out of another Man's Mine or Lines made ready to his Hand and present it as his own finding tho to the great prejudice of him whose indeed it was may know also how to take the Liberty to subscribe other Persons Names tho without their Consent The serious Consideration of these Things as they have been matter of Trouble and Sorrow to us so they have engaged some of us who have hitherto been silent as to these things now to appear for the Truth of our Lord against such Innovations And therefore to endeavour that the Churches may not be abused nor their Members deceived by such Artifices as these are We do not intend to answer every seeming Argument and carping Cavil or to take notice of every unseeming Reflection contained in
that printed Book of theirs But shall chiefly insist on the main Pillars of their pretended Reasons for that sort of Singing which they would perswade the Churches to entertain as an Ordinance of our Lord and Saviour For if the Foundation fail the Building cannot stand And we shall return a Reply to some of the most gross most false and grievous Accusations and Reflections that are therein so boldly vented and shall leave it with you in the fear of the Lord diligently and seriously to consider and to search the Scriptures waiting for the Spirit of Truth to lead you into this as well as into all other Truths that either concern your most Holy Faith or Practice whereby you may be preserved from turning aside to those Humane Traditions from which you have been delivered which we desire and pray that the Lord may bless unto you for these gracious Ends before-mentioned That which we shall endeavour with as much plainness and brevity as the matter will bear to lay before you are these following Particulars First We shall detect and answer to some of those false Reflections and Accusations cast upon us and the Baptized Churches which are contain'd in Mr. Whinnel's Epistle and in the Book it self Secondly We shall manifest the weakness of the Foundation on which they build their Practice of common or popular Singing which will be apparent by an Impartial Examination of these following Enquiries 1. Whether Singing to the Praise of God according to the Phrase or Expression of it in the Holy Scriptures be to be restrained or only is to be understood of uttering the Praise due to the most High God by a Musical melodious Modulation or tuning of the Voice as they are pleased to describe it 2. Whether Singing to the Praise of God according to the direction given us by our Lord in the New Testament is to be performed by a composed stinted Form by a whole mixt Multitude with the Church-Members in the solemn Assembly of the Church lifting up their Voices together in Consort 3. Whether those Scriptures Col. 3.16 Eph. 5.19 do command or justify such a sort of popular Singing in or by the Church as aforesaid which they so earnestly contend for 4. Whether that Hymn spoken of Mat. 26.30 and Mark 14.26 or the Hymning or as it is translated the Singing the Praise of God by Paul and Silas Acts 16.25 do further justify that Practice which they plead for And First Concerning their Reflections on us or Accusations against us we find Mr. Whinnel insinuating in the beginning of his Epistle as if Custom not Conscience did hinder us from joining with them in their way of Singing To which we answer First That it is a very unbecoming Censure in which there is not the least Grain of Truth or Charity exercised by him The same rash and unjust Judgment may as well be given against him and others for not conforming to the Common Prayer or the Liturgy of the Church of England by those that are zealous for it which we suppose he would reckon to be a very false and a very uncharitable Censure Secondly We do declare to him and to all Men That the Lord knows it is not Custom or a long disuse or neglect of it that makes us averse to that Practice of theirs But Judgment and Conscience knowing on a deliberate and serious Consideration that it hath no more Foundation from any Precept or Example of our Lord Jesus or his Apostles to warrant it than common set Form of Prayer hath In which we are the more confirmed by the weakness of the Arguments which by them and others are produced for the Justification of it But Secondly He doth positively affirm in that Epistle That they had no mind to have published their Thoughts to the World or to have troubled the Churches with any Dissertations about it but endeavoured to have a Friendly Debate with their Brethren who were conven'd to consult the Churches Welfare But that their endeavours therein were obstructed by the Opposers viz. of that common way of Singing And that soon after some of them from an imprudent Zeal not only openly opposed it but took to themselves a lawless Liberty to calumniate those who endeavoured the restoration of it c. Answ To all this bold Calumny we answer that we believe he cannot prove any part of it to be true It is a very false Suggection which is uttered either from a false Information or great Forgetfulness or from a sinful Contrivance For first Whereas he saith they had no mind to have publish'd their Thoughts about it c. but that they were obstructed in their Desires and Attempts to have a friendly Debate c. We reply What was the reason that before any Person that was contrary-minded to that Practice of theirs had said or printed any thing publickly against it that this Opinion of theirs concerning Singing was preach'd up and frequently and vehemently prest by several of them in variety of Assemblies and asserted in Print to the view of all Men by Mr. Keach in his Treatise call'd Gold Refin'd and in his great Book of Scripture Tropes and Metaphors and by Mr. H. C. in a select Treatise on that Subject though with more Sobriety than any we have seen since that hath been published on that Controversy by any of them Had they no mind to publish their Dissertations about it Was their publick Preaching and publick Printing for it against their Minds which was done by them before any Person did openly contradict them in it Who can believe it And all this before there was any motion or mention of a friendly Debate about it that we know of neither as yet do we know of any such Motion seriously made except it were for a Liberty to introduce it by a major Vote in a Church of Christ c. which was long after they had endeavoured to promote it by their Endeavours aforesaid If we were blame-worthy in this matter it was in being so long silent wherâ— by they took the opportunity to leaven so many honest Souls and to beguile so many Churches iâ— their Number be so many as they boast of with this irregular Doctrine and Practice hereby it was that to such a heigth of Confidence Mr. Keach was come who makes Breaches more than he repairs any that when one did but once preach on that Subject of Singing in the Church to which he belongs on a Lord's Day far enough off from Mr. Keach's Congregation because he did it not according to his Sentiments he coming the next day or shortly after in much affection to visit him Mr. Keach having heard of his Preaching as before mention'd immediately falls upon him as soon as ever he came into Mr. Keach's House with a most severe and very uncivil passionate Reprimand for daring to preach after that manner contrary to his Judgment as if he had the preheminence over all But when Mr. Marlow did but endeavour
Reflections we shall endeavour as the Lord shall enable us to manifest the Weakness of the main Pillars of their Assertion concerning the Singing before mention'd For we shall not spend our time to answer every Particular in that Treatise the Weakness whereof is most evident to any that will but take any serious notice of it it would be very tiresom and altogether needless First then we shall enquire whether Singing to the Praise of God according to the Expression of it in the Holy Scriptures be to be restrained or is only meant of declaring those Praises by a Musical Melodious tunable Voice To which we answer That Singing or Uttering the Praise of God are convertible Terms according to the Language of the Holy Scriptures As for instance Cant. 2.12 The time of the singing of Birds is come c. that as able Interpreters tell us is meant that a Rejoicing or Praising-time is come Deut. 32.44 And Moses spake all the words of that Song unto the People and in v. 43. it 's said Rejoice O ye Nations with his People which is elsewhere called Singing and sometimes Shouting Doubtless there was never a greater Song of Praise uttered to the Honour of Christ than that Luk. 19.37 38. when the Disciples rejoiced and praised God for all the mighty Works which they had seen Saying not Singing Blessed be he that cometh in the Name of the Lord Peace in Heaven and Glory in the Highest That Musick uttered by them with their Voices made more Melody than any composed Songs that can be sung in Metre And as Mr. Caryl tells us upon that Scripture It was Musick the Pharisees did not like but would have them rebuked for so doing Obj. It is indeed frequently and earnestly pleaded by the Authors of that Book That Singing or Song bears that Acceptation of a Musical Melody with the Voice amongst all Mankind Answ To which we answer That if it hath pleased the Spirit of the Lord in the Holy Scriptures to make use of those words in another sense what have we to say to it or dare any that are truly pious to contradict it That Singing is in the Old Testament as well as in the New used in a Metaphorical Sense is apparent As where Singing to the Praise of God is ascribed to inanimate Creatures as well as to others See Psal 65.13 Isa 49.13 Jer. 12. So Job 38.7 if we take the Morning-Stars for the Angels as some do they need not the faculty of Speech or as others take the words for the whole Creation in their respective Kinds then the word Sing must be taken figuratively even for their Praising their Great Creator by ways sutable to their several Natures however a Supposition to the contrary would be highly ridiculous So in like manner in the New Testament as for instance 1 Cor. 14.15 where it appears that Singing and giving of Thanks be convertible Terms But especially we desire it may be considered seriously what may be the meaning of the Mind of God in that Scripture Heb. 2.12 I will declare thy Name unto my Brethren in the midst of the Congregation will I sing Praise to thee This Text was a Prophecy of Christ our Saviour quoted from Psal 22.22 For the opening of which we shall repeat the Exposition that the excellent Person Dr. Owen gives of it as followeth First What Christ will moreover do He will sing Praises unto God And Secondly Where he will do it In the midst of the Congregation The Expression of both these is accommodated to the Declaration of God's Name and 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 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 c. 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 Assemblies in the Temple 3. Where would he do this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the midst of the Congregation the great Congregation as he calls it v. 25. 〈◊〉 is the great Assembly 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 that whereas singing of Hymns unto God was an especial 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 This was that which the Lord Christ engaged to do upon the Issue of his Sufferings and we may propose it unto our Example and Instruction Thus Dr. Owen on that Text Pag. 256. And again on the same Text Pag. 258. Moreover 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 for the Work of his Love and Grace in our Redemption by Christ Jesus This he promiseth to go before them in and what he leads them unto is by them to be persisted in This is indeed the very end of gathering the Church and of all the Duties that are performed therein and thereby The Church is called unto the Glory of the Grace of God Eph. 1.6 that it may be set forth in them and by them This is the end of the Institution of all Ordinances of Worship in the Church Eph. 3.8 9 10. and in them they set forth the Praises of God unto Men and Angels this is the Tendency of Prayer the Work of Faith and 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 And this is that which ought to be in our Design in all our Worship of God especially in what we perform in the Church To set forth his Praise to
declare his Name to give Glory to him by believing and the Profession of our Faith is the end of all we do Thus we have the Testimony of that worthy Person that Singing to the Praise of God is not to be restrained according to the Scripture to a Musical Melodious Tunable Voice But further we judg it worthy to be observed and seriously considered the Mind of God concerning that Singing mention'd Rev. 14.2 3. I heard a Voice from Heaven as a Voice of many Waters c. and they sung as it were a new Song before the Throne c. Note First it could not be a Song prepar'd in Meeter or any of the Songs mention'd in the Old Testament Because Secondly It was a Song they only could learn that were redeemed from the Earth Thirdly This they did with Harpers harping The Meaning of which as Learned Forbes tells us was the Hearts of the Redeemed Ones Fourthly The Matter and Substance is therâ— expressed And Learned Mede by this Song tells us the whole Mystery of Evangelical Worship is in it contained And Brightman on Rev. 15.2 tells us that Drusius on that Place saith they are called the Harps of God because God sendeth the Joy of his Spirit into their Hearts wherewith they may be able to give God his due Praise And by this Song of the Lamb saith Brightman is meant that whereof mention was made Rev. 14.3 wherein they do magnify God the Father for the Grace of their Adoption in Christ The Joy of their Heart is called a Song by a Metonymy the effect ariseth out of Faith in the Righteousness of Christ whereby we feel the fatherly Love wherewith God doth imbrace us which Song hath been always sung by the Saints in all Ages So that whereas they tell us where-ever Singing is mention'd in Scripture it must be understood with a tunable Voice it appears they did not consider these and such like Scriptures We shall only mention one more Job 29.13 I caused the Widow's Heart to sing for joy whereby it appears there is Heart-singing as well as by Expression in Meeter with the Tongue In which Text it appears that Joy and Singing are convertible Terms From all which and many other Scriptures that might be quoted or alledged it evidently appears that Singing to the Praise of God is not to be restrained to a melodious tunable Voice in the direct stated solemn Praising of God in his Church And that there are Praises sung to God in the Language of the Scripture in Praying and Praising and in all the Administration of Holy Ordinances when there is no tunable or musical Voice heard among them as appears from what hath been mention'd from Heb. 2.12 Which we shall further make evident by these following Considerations First We may conclude it to be a certain Truth that no sober Person will deny that the Gifts of the Holy Spirit wherewith our Blessed Lord furnish'd his Church upon his Ascension to be comâ—leat and sufficient for the fitting of his People â—nto every good Word and Work for every part of his Worship Eph. 4.8 11 12 13. yet there we find no Singing-Masters appointed which would have been absolutely necessary if musical or tunable Singing with the Voice was a Gospel-Ordinance The Old-Testament-Church had such as taught to sing Praise 1 Chr. 25.7 2 Chr. 25.13 which if the New-Testament-Church had needed we may reasonably judg or conclude she should have had them to a higher Degree than the former For the Worship prescribed in the Gospel ought to exceed that under the Law therefore if Musical Singing be that which is now required then the best Voices in Singing do most acceptably perform that Duty to God at least in the outward part of it and therefore it would be absolutely necessary that all Christians both Men and Women should learn from such as can teach them to elevate their Voices and Tunes in the highest Strain Seeing they call this an Ordinance of the New Testament and that no other can be called Singing though Persons with never so great a Sense of the Majesty of God and of their Mercies received with the greatest spiritual Melody and Inlargement of Heart utter his Praise but no such Gifts being given nor any such Art required we may safely conclude it is not a Gospel-Ordinance Secondly If Musical singing with the Voice be a Gospel-Ordinance as they assert then assuredly the Songs of Praise recorded in the New Testament would have been written in Greek Verse as an example for others to have followed them in their Language But that it is otherwise is manifest to all that can read the Greek Testament Moreoveâ— It is not said that those that uttered those Songs dâ—â— it with a Musical tunable Voice but only that they spake after a solemn and audible manner those Praises As may be seen from the Song of the blessed Virgin Mary to those mention'd in the Revelations Lastly Whereas they frequently say that we admit or allow of no singing Praise to or praising of God in the Church but what is in Prayer We answer We are indeed for praising of God with our Supplications to him for Mercy But if the Holy Spirit fills any that are qualified for the Administrations of his House with the Joy of the Lord and so with the matter of Praise such may express it without mentioning any Petitions with a solemn chearful audible Voice as the Spirit of the Lord may give Utterance either with or without a tunable Voice to the Glory of God and Refreshing of others Which is singing Praise in the New-Testament Language whereunto they have not nor can they prove that according to the Scripture-Dialect aforesaid a musical tunable Voice is essential We shall now come to the second Enquiry which is as followeth Quer. 2. Whether singing the Praise of God in the Church of Christ ought to be by a composed Form by the whole Multitude assembled Professors with the Profane or Ignorant or the Church-Members of all sorts lifting up their Voices together in Consort In answer to this Question that we may the more distinctly resolve it we shall divide it into several Branches or Particulars and speak to them severally Namely First We shall consider whether singing the Praise of God in the Church of Christ may be performed by a composed stinted Form Answ 1. In answer to which we desire it may be remembred that the Institutions left by our Lord Jesus in the Gospel as they are very plain so they are more Spiritual and require more of the Spirit than under the Law therefore we have a more plentiful effusion of the Spirit promised It being a State of more Grace as well as of more Truth Therefore our blessed Lord and Saviour as he procured by his Death so by his Resurrection and Ascension he sent his Holy Spirit unto us to fit us for the Worship of God that we might have more intimate Converse with him in the Observation
Grace farther delivered from it than many others and therefore their turning back will be the more grievous and provoking to the Spirit of the Lord though our gracious Lord is pleased to deal very gently with his People in all their Weaknesses or Mistakes while a perverse Spirit is not found among them Wherefore we declare We have no disgust against nor would we maintain any Distance or Difference with those Brethren whose Apprehensions may not be the same with ours in this matter about Singing who carry it not only piously but peaceably in their Stations and among the Churches Some of whose Names are set to the Recommendation of this Book which we in the Substance of it have endeavoured to answer tho without their Knowledg or Consent For we believe they are so sober and righteous that whatever their Opinion might be of the Argument they would never have set their Names to such a universal Appropation without a faithful Witness against those abominable and lamentable extravagant false Accusations Reflections and Slanders contain'd in it As for Mr. Whinnel whose misguided Zeal may have misled him with some Misinformings to reflect upon us without cause as he hath He being a Person of a very courteous and obliging Conversation we hope he will for time to come if not better consider his Arguments for that common set-form Singing which he doth endeavour to promote yet at least forbear such causless Reflections against those that do in Judgment and Conscience dissent from him in that matter As for Mr. Keach who hath been the chief Instrument to raise up this Controversy which may occasion more Contention than Edification in the Baptized Churches we heartily desire he may for time to come labour after the things which make for Peace We know and he himself also how long he hath maintained a Wall of Partition between him and the rest of the Baptized Churches allowing no Church-Communion but such as can agree with him in his Opinion and Practice of Laying on of Hands upon the Members of the Church both Men and Women which Practice we find no where commanded by our Lord Jesus nor his Apostles yet we have not made it a Bone of Contention between him and us neither concerned our selves for many Years to make any publick Contest about it but to say no more of that matter only what relates to the Book it self 1. Whereas in the Title of it it 's recommended by divers Elders and Ministers of Baptized Churches mentioning the Names of several some of them affirm they never set their Hands to it saying they know not how their Hands came there and that the Epistle it self to which their Names are set they never saw until they saw it printed And whereâ—â— in the Title it 's farther said it is recommended by divers Elders and Ministers of the Baptized Churches we know that some of them are not Ministers nor Elders nor so much as Members in Communion with any Baptized Church as we know of 2. He hath very unjustly charged the Churches which were first gathered that they were of Opinion and did unanimously declare that for a Gospel-Minister to have a Yearly Allowance was an Human Invention and Antichristian whereas the contrary to which they have declared in their Confession of Faith printed by them soon after they came together as may more at large be seen in the former part of our Answer and it may farther appear what their Practice was in those Times by a late Printed Book entituled The Life and Death of Mr. Hanserd Knowlls written in his Life-time with his own Hand wherein he hath left this Testimony pag. 23 24. that he was Pastor to a Church in the Year 1645 and he received from the Church always according to their Ability most of the Members being poor What Man fearing God and desiring to preserve the Truth he himself professeth durst affirm so false a thing And what use may be made of it by such as are glad of any Opportunity to speak Evil of the Ways of God we leave to the Consideration of all Men. Finally We earnestly intreat the Baptized Churches their Elders Ministers and Members to consider what hath been said concerning this Question about Singing and that they would not any of them rashly or hastily upon any plausible Pretences be perswaded to set up that Way of set-form Singing which those Churches in times past did on maturâ— Deliberation from the Light afforded reject together with set-form Prayer But the Lord grant that we all may be pressing after more Purity bâ—th in the Form and Spirit of Holy-Worship nâ—t declining to any thing that is not of Divine Insâ—â—tution In the mean time bearing one with another in Love wherein we may be of differing Apâ—rehensions in those or other Matters that are of â— lower Concernment not being desirous of vain â—lory provoking one another studying and earneâ—â—â—y labouring every one of us to maintain Peace aâ—â— Holiness in our Souls in our Families and in thâ— Churches of our Lord Jesus that the God of Love and Peace may be with us We shall conclude with that Word Heb. 1â— 20 Now the God of Peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good Work to do his Will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight â—hrough Jesus Christ to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen We subscribe our selves Your Brethren in the Faith and Fellowship of the Gospel William Kiffin George Barrett Robert Steed Edward Man FINIS Errata Pag. 16. l. 11. for we r. some P. 23. l. 16. r. in them do they ADVERTISEMENT THere is now coming forth a Book entituled Truth Soberly Defended in a Serious Reply to Mr. B. Keach's Book called The Breach Repaired in God's Worship or Singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs proved to be an Holy Ordinance of Jesus Christ As also a Vindication of a Book entituled Prelimited Forms of Praising God vocally sung by all the Church together proved to be no Gospel Ordinance With a Postscript in Answer farther to a Book entitled Folly Detected Published by M. Joseph Wright And 〈◊〉 a Paper called an Appendix or a brief Answer to Mr. Marlow Notion of the Essence of Singing by T.W. And to a Paper called an Answer to a brief Discourse concerning â—â—nging by H. K. Whereunto is added a brief Narative of the â—ise Occasion and Management of the present Controversy of â—â—nging between I. M. and Mr. B. K. with some Reflections on Book called Truth Vindicated or Mr. Keach's Sober Appeal ansâ—red Wherein also his Abuses c. are detected under the â—nds of several worthy Pastors of Churches By Isaac Marlow Price bound together 1 s. There is also published a Book â—itled A Treatise of the Holy Yrin-unity in two Parts The first â—â—serteth the Deity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in the â—â—ty of Essence with God the Father The second in defence the former answereth the chiefest Objections made against 〈◊〉 Doctrine By Isaac Marlow Price bound 10 d.