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spirit_n	father_n	worship_n	worship_v	8,591	5	9.7069	4	false

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

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 i● 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

converted by their Musical Singing yet it cannot be a Rule to judg that way of Singing to be an instituted Ordinance of Christ in the Church Some we know have declared they have been converted by the hearing of Common Prayer yet we suppose they will not therefore acknowledg that Common Prayer is an instituted Ordinance of Christ Also some have professed that they have been converted by partaking of the Sacrament in the way of the Nation And thereupon it is not many Years since several Learned Men imployed their Wits in writing large Treatises to prove it to be a converting Ordinanc●● And therefore that all without Exception ought to be admitted to it But we do suppose it is not their Judgment Object They again pretend they do not join w●●● Unbelievers but Unbelievers with them in th●● Work Answ 1. Then by this poor Excuse if Unbelievers will come and partake with them at the Lord's Supper of the Bread and the Wine they may permit them so to do and pretend that they do not join with Unbelievers in that Ordinance but they with them And so quickly bring the World and the Church into One that is Christ and Belial to have Communion together unto which this Practice and the Reason for it have a direct Tendency 2. If they plead for this Practice as lawful as that which is a converting Ordinance as that which is warranted by the Word of God Certainly they do more than permit they do admit and call them to it Object But it is further and earnestly urgeds that it is a natural Duty that all without exception are enjoined to do Answ 1. We grant that Worship was due to God by the Light of Nature And say further that Spiritual Worship was due from Man as his Creature inasmuch as God is a Spirit but the outward Means of that Worship what would be acceptable unto God was not known by the Light of Nature This was only known by positive Institution and depended not on the Law of Creation Adam in Innocency knew that God was to be worshipped yet by Nature he did not know by what outward Acts he was to pay this to his Creator This depended on the Direction of God as the Sovereign Lawgiver should prescribe And therefore we find the positive Institution of the Tree of Knowledg of Good and Evil c. The Pillars upon which the Worship of God stands cannot be known but by Revelation 2. We say that as God alone knows how and by what means himself will be worshipped so it is not in the Power of Men or Angels to prescribe Worship to his Creature and that it is an intrenchment upon his Soveraignty for any so to do Man being to observe whatsoever he and he only hath commanded 3. It is evident that in all the instituted Worship that God hath prescribed it is with all Plainness both in Matter and Manner And that God hath always done even in the first Institution God gave to Adam not to eat of the forbidden Fruit It was with that plainness and clearness that no Objection could be made by him in his disobeying the Command of God Also in all the Tabernacle and Temple-Worship every particular direction thereunto to the very Pin in the Tabernacle was given to them that they might not vary from without Sin And therefore the least Addition or Detraction from it was severely punished by God And now it is much more plain under the Gospel-Administration tho more Spiritual And the Worshippers that are admitted to perform or celebrate it in his Church are required even in the outward part both as to their Qualifications and Exercise to be more Spiritual than under the Law 4. Therefore tho the Obligation to worship is natural and that it is to be performed with the highest Reverence and Affection concreated with Man yet the whole of external Worship is positive and depends upon Institution Nature is silent therein otherwise than as it regulates with respect to Conveniency and Decency in common with other actions in matters of less moment than Worship to wit Marriage and Meats Man was created with an Instinct for Nutrition and Procreation but was directed unto the means and manner of both by Institution So in the present Case that God is to be honoured and praised is an innate Principle but the means how or which way or by whom it is to be manag'd in his Church depends only on his Soveraign Will and Pleasure declared in his Word Which that he will be thus worshipped by a mix'd Multitude lifting up their Voices together in Musical Singing he hath no where declared in his New Testament and therefore the pretence of proving it from its being a natural Worship falls to the ground having not the least weight in it to justify such a Practice Obj. It is further argued by them That Moses and the Children of Israel that were a mix'd Multitude sung by a composed Form therefore we ought to do so now Answ 1. We desire it may be seriously considered that this alledged of the Song of Moses belongs to the Old-Testament-Dispensation unto which we now in Gospel-times are not to have recourse to direct us in the positive Part of Worship we must therein hearken to the Son and not to the Servant We may as well argue as many do from the Children of Israel's with their Off-spring being as the Apostle saith all baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea for the Baptism of Infants now and so in like manner from Circumcision as to conclude from their manner of Singing to such a manner now 2. It is plain that it was an extraordinary Song on an extraordinary Occasion that we do not find was enjoined to be sung afterwards in their Tabernacle or Temple-Worship Nor do we find that ever the whole Congregation were afterwards to sing in Consort or with all their Voices together which they cannot deny Therefore if it were not admitted for a constant Practice then nor any such thing commanded by our Lord Jesus since to his Gospel-Churches we may wonder with what shadow of pretence they should alledg it to justify such a kind of Singing now They have only this poor sorry Evasion concerning their not Singing afterwards so in consort together That the Levites the Singers sung together and therefore all may now sing together which is a strange way of fallacious Arguing easily to be seen and exploded by all But consider those Levites or Singers had a positive Direction from the Lord so to do Let them produce such a Command from the Lord Jesus our Lord and Law-giver for his Churches now and the Controversy will be ended 3. If the manner of singing the Song of Moses be a Pattern for us now then must the Women sing by themselves with Musick and Dancing a● they did then Exod. 15.20 There cannot be t●● least reason given but if one be admitted so m●●● the other if it be a directing

on this Subject he being very dextrous to take Gold or Dross out of other Mens Writings and present them as his own Neither have they any more specious Pillars to uphold this common way of Singing than those that are pleaded for in this Treatise of theirs which we have now answered But Lastly We do much wonder that Mr. Keach and Mr. Whinnel should give themselves the Stile of being renowned they being the Authors of that Book in which they give this Encomium of their being Men of Renown It is but their own Opinion of themselves not it may be of others that know them However Modesty would have caused them if they had exercised any to have forborn to have spread their own Praise But surely Mr. Whinnel and Mr. K. forgot the Wise Man's Sayings Prov. 25.27 For Men to search their own Glory is not Glory And Prov. 27.2 Let another Man praise thee and not thine own Mouth And elsewhere that same Wise Man tells us Some Men are wiser in their own conceit than seven Men that ●●n render a Reason They again enquire how we dare say that Singing of Psalms with Voices is not of Divine Institution In answer to which we ask them again How they dare to say that Singing of Psalms in Meeter with a tunable Voice by the whole Church and a mixt Multitude is of Divine Institution when not one Word of all they have written doth prove it It hath been already granted that Singing of Psalms in the Temple-Worship was of Divine Institution And we acknowledg that all the Songs and Psalms in the Old Testament are the undoubted unerring Word of God and of excellent use to all the Servants of God profitable for Doctrine and Consolation wherein are contained many excellent Experiences of God's gracious dealing with his People and many blessed Promises and Prophecies for the establishment of the Church and Servants of God But we say the Singing of those Psalms as they had respect to the Temple-Worship with their Musical Singing and Instruments with the Persons assigned for that kind of Exercise are all at an end You will find 55 of them directed to the Master of Musick and 15 of them called each a Song of Degrees and most of them directed to the Sons of Korah And by the most Learned and Renowned Men of our Age it is asserted that those Ordinances being ended by the Coming of Christ who was to destroy the City and the Sanctuary and to cause the Sacrifice and Oblation to cease It remains now that the Word of Christ dwell richly in us in all Wisdom and that we be filled with the Spirit speaking to our selves teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs c. And if that manner of Worship under the Law is ceased as is affirmed by the Learned and Pious that it is then can it not be in the manner of that Administration in any respect unless you will say that the Type and the Anti-Type are all one But if the Gospel be the Anti-Type of those Types then we must conclude that as they were outward in their Melody and Musick so the Melody now under the Gospel must be inward or spiritual That is the joyful Voice signifying the Melody and Joy of our Hearts to God expressed in Praising and Thanksgiving to God who hath revealed more of his Grace by Jesus Christ That he who is a Spirit may be worshipp'd in Spirit and in Truth As Learned Dr. Owen saith in his Exposition on Heb. 2.13 before cited And whereas they say that they utterly deny that Prayer is a lower sort of Worship than Singing We answer That if they mean Singing in their Sense we agree with them but if in the Sense of the Scripture we do affirm that Praises which are the matter of a Song is a Duty of a higher Nature than Prayer For 1. The praising of God is that Duty which Saints and Angels will be employed in for ever but Prayer ceaseth On this account it is that the Apostle tells us that Charity is the greatest because it always abideth 1 Cor. 13. 2. Praise is giving to God the Glory of his Mercy received but Prayer is the begging from God the Mercies he hath promised and which we stand in need of But we shall not follow them in all their Mistakes and Impertinencies They also tell us they are against the composing ●●sing and imposing set-Forms of Prayer But would they but make known the Reasons why they are against set-Forms of Prayer no doubt but they would have answered themselves in all they could substantially alledg for their set-Form Singing and have saved us the labour But it is a Question whether it be so or no For this we find that those very Arguments those very scornful Reflections that those that are for set-Form Prayer do use against them that are opposite to that formal Will-Worship do these use to them that are against their set-Form Singing or Praising of God As for instance Do the one call in Scorn Praying by a Spiritual Gift ex tempore Praying in a confused Manner so do these to the like purpose spenk of praising or singing Praise to God without a set-Form Pag. 39. In the like manner as the one say If you pray by the Spirit your Prayer would be of equal Authority to Canonical Scripture so do these concerning singing Praise without a set-Form Pag. 36. Do the one say in derision that those that are against set-Form Prayer are Enthusiasts or setters up of Enthusiasm so do these in their pretended sober Reply say against those that deny their set-Form Singing Pag. 57 c. We hear that one whose Heart and Mind we believe as well as Name is to that Book of theirs hath asserted that Enthusiasm came in with the Doctrine of Believers Baptism whereby he would make our Lord Jesus the Author and Promoter of it that Doctrine of Baptism aforesaid being originally from his Command and Practice It were easy to answer to all these Cavils and Scorns cast upon us but we shall forbear at present because we would first know from them seeing they say they are resolved to answer and so to hold on this Controversy what they have to say to wipe off these Slurs cast upon their manner of Praying and yet that they may be deservedly cast upon those that are for praising or singing Praise by the same Spirit assisting in the same manner as he doth in Prayer But by these things the Baptized Churches may behold what that Spirit is that would introduce this common Singing among them that hath been so long rejected by them even the same that hath brought in and maintain'd all that carnal Worship which by the Anti-christian Apostacy hath fill'd the World to this Day And hereby they may see whereto it would lead them even back to lick up the old Vomit which will be the more pernicious to them than others because they have been through

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

Example for 〈◊〉 Gospel-times 4. Though it be said Moses sung and the Children of Israel yet it doth not necessarily follow that they all lifted up their Voices together It is very improbable if not impossible for 600000 to sing together nor could Copies of it be suddenly dispersed among them all to learn it but rather that there was some other way where 〈◊〉 through the direction of the Lord the Song 〈◊〉 manag'd wherein they might all join though 〈◊〉 all lift up their Voices at one time But however supposing they did so yet it signifies nothing in the least to prove it a New-Testament-Institution And it is an Argument so manifestly weak and impertinent that we may wonder it should be mention'd as a Proof to warrant their Practice but any Pretence shall serve the turn when Person are resolv'd for a human Tradition Thirdly The next and last Branch of this general Enquiry to be considered is Whether it be enjoined by our Lord Jesus as a Gospel-Ordinance for all the Members of a Church both Men and Women to sing a composed Form read to them by listing up their Voices together Answ 1. To this we say That having already manifested that a composed Form of praying to or praising of God doth not comport with that Assistance of the Holy Spirit promised not only to assist us in our Preparation for such solemn Exercises but also to help us both as to Matter and Manner in the very time of that sacred Work and therefore to be rely'd upon and expected by all that desire spiritually to worship him according to the New-Testament-Direction and Dispensation and therefore not sutable but contrary to the Design of our Lord in his Ascension spoken of Eph. 4.8 Therefore we shall say no more to it now but refer the Reader to what was before declared neither can there be any true solid Reason given why if the Members of a Church of Christ may have a composed Form of Praises written and read to them to sing why may they not have a composed Form of Prayer read to them also for them audibly to repeat over as the manner of some is 2. All the Members may not lift up their Voices together because the Women are expresly forbidden to teach or so to speak in the Church Singing being for Teaching as hereafter will be declared Neither doth the Holy Spirit except this exercise of Singing with their Voices as if they were therein allowed Had this Liberty been granted or this as a Duty enjoyned them there 's no question but the Apostles who faithfully deliver'd the whole Counsel of God would have declared it and for any to make Exceptions where the Lord hath made none is to be adding to his Word or to be partial in his Law Obj. But they alledg to justify this Practice that Miriam and Deborah sung in the Congregation Answ 1. We desire it may be remark'd how they are still constrained to fly to Old-Testament-Instances to justify their popular Way of Singing they having not the least ground for it in the New Testament But herein how manifestly do they strengthen the Hands of them that are for Infants Baptism who fetch their strongest Arguments from the Old-Testament-Instances and Practices to prove it Which way of Arguing if it be allowed of how soon will the Worship of God according to the Gospel be perverted or changed from its Primitive Purity in all respects 2. It is plain as hath been declared Exod. 15.20 that Miriam and the Women did not sing with the Men they sung by themselves with Timbrels and Dancing If that Example be authentick to justify Womens Singing now then it must be by themselves with Musick and Dancing which as yet they dare not plead for now to be practised As for Deborah her Song was by an extraordinary Inspiration and it appears by the manner of her expressing it that she spake it or sung it alone though Baruch might join with her in Spirit neither is there the least Intimation in the Scripture that she sang in the Congregation But what a pitiful irrational Argument is this because a Woman extraordinarily call'd and inspir'd uttered or sung a Song by that extraordinary Inspiration on an extraordinary occasion therefore all the Women in a Church may ordinarily though under no such Inspiration sing a composed Song of another's making though they have no direction for it in the Word of the Lord but are rather commanded and enjoined to be silent there Surely it is a bad Cause that cannot be supported or pleaded for but by such incoherent groundless Inferences as these which they might be ashamed to publish 3. We find according to the Direction and Commandment of our Lord and Lawgiver a Psalm is to be manag'd after another manner in the Church of Christ For in 1 Cor. 14.26 where it is mentioned plainly with reference to the publick Worship of God in the Church it is most evident by the Context from ver 24 to 31. that there it is under the general Regulation of the Gift of Prophecy and the Exercise thereof limited unto one as farther appears from the 16th and 17th Verses without the least intimation of its being confined or restrained to any thing Musical or in Meeter in the Delivery of it Moreover it may be certainly concluded that if singing or uttering the Psalm was to be by lifting up of their Voices in Consort when the Apostle had by the command of the Lord limited them to one at a time in their Exercises in the Chu●●● 〈◊〉 would not have failed to have plainly told them that the Psalm was otherwise to be manag'd Obj. But to this plain and undeniable Testimony they earnestly plead that the Apostle speaks there of Prophesying not of Singing Answ To which we answer The Psalm is there plainly and evidently manifested to belong to the Gift of Prophecy as much as the Doctrine or Interpretation and is included in it He prophesy'd that uttered a Psalm as much as he that declared the Doctrine or the Exhortation Therefore it appears that singing or uttering the Psalm is plainly included in the Limitation of one at a time as well as the rest of those solemn Exercises which Psalm was from a special spiritual Gift as much as any other there mention'd For if the Psalm aforesaid might be one taken out of a Book or out of the Old Testament why so might the Doctrine or Exhortation be nothing else but a reading something out of a Book or out of the Scripture there being plainly as much ground for the one as for the other which would be a groundless Imagination Therefore Mr. Burroughs with others of the Godly Learned do own that the Psalm there spoken of was by special Gift and therefore for any to imagine it to be any of David's Psalms is to give up themselves to any Fancy or Supposition so they may contradict the Truth which is so apparently manifested in that Portion of the