SINGING OF PSALMES A GOSPEL-ORDINANCE OR A TREATISE WHEREIN Are handled these Particulars 1. Touching the Duty it selfe 2. Touching the Matter to be Sung 3. Touching the Singers 4. Touching the manner of Singing By JOHN COTTON Teacher of the Church at Boston in New-England LONDON Printed for J. R. at the Sunne and Fountaine in Pauls-Church-yard and H. A. at the Crowne in Popes-Head-Alley 1650. OF THE SINGING OF PSALMES CHAP. J. Propounding the severall Questions about it and handling the First TO prevent the godly-minded from making melody to the Lord in Singing his Praises with one accord J meane with one heart and one voyce Satan hath mightily bestirred himselfe to breed a discord in the hearts of some by filling their heads with foure heads of scruples about the Duty 1. Touching the Duty it selfe of singing Psalmes with lively voyce whether there be any such Worship at all now to be allowed and practised in the dayes of the New Testament 2. Touching the matter to be sung whether Scripture Psalmes penned by David Asaph Moses Solomon Hezekiah Habakkuk Zachary Simeon Deborah Mary Elizabeth or the like Or songs immediately indited by some personall spirituall gift of some Officer or Member of the Church 3. Touching the Singers If vocall singing may be allowed Who must Sing 1. Whether one for all the rest the rest onely saying Amen or the whole Congregation 2. Whether women as well as men or men alone 3. Whether carnall men and Pagans as well as Church-members and Christians 4. Touching the manner of singing Whether the Psalme may be sung either 1. In Meeter Devised 2. In Tunes Invented 3. In Order after the Reading of it For the first Question wee lay downe this Conclusion for a Doctrine of Truth That singing of Psalmes with a lively voyce is an holy Duty of Gods Worship now in the dayes of the New Testament When we say singing with lively voyce we suppose none will so farre misconstrue us as to thinke wee exclude singing with the heart For God is a Spirit and to worship him with the voyce without the Spirit were but lip-labour which being rested in is but lost labour Isa. 29.13 or at most profiteth but little 1 Tim. 4.8 But this wee say As wee are to make melody in our hearts so with our voyces also In opposition to this there be some Anti-psalmists who doe not acknowledge any singing at all with the voyce in the New Testament but onely spirituall songs of joy and comfort of the heart in the word of Christ 1. Proofe for the Truth The first proofe for the truth is taken from the Commandement of the Lord by Paul who instructeth and exhorteth the Ephesians To speake one to another in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall Songs {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} c. Ephes. 5.19 And so in Col. 3.16 Teaching and admonishing one another in Psalmes Hymnes c. which cannot be done without lively voyce And so in 1 Cor. 14.15 16. The Apostle commandeth the Church of Corinth that such as sing in the Church should not onely sing in the Spirit but with understanding also that is not onely with their own understanding for all that sung with the Spirit did so but with the understanding of the hearers that so he that occupied the place of the unlearned might be edified and say Amen at such giving of thankes Whence it followeth unavoydably That singing of Psalmes is not onely a making of melody to the Lord with inward grace in the heart but also with lively and audible voyce which is the point in Question Obâ—ect 1. This place in the Corinths maketh nothing to the cause in hand For these Corinthian Psalmes were not the Psalmes of David nor sung by the whole Congregation much lesse in Meeter and Tunes devised by men as ours be but they were spirituall songs immediately inspired and endited by the Holy Ghost and sung onely by him that received that gift as the Spirit gave him utterance Answ. Neither did wee alledge the place to prove the singing of Davids Psalmes by the whole Congregation in such like Meeter and Tunes as ours be These poynts doe all of them belong to the other Questions which follow to bee handled God willing â—n their place But to this purpose we alledge the place That singing of Psalmes in the New Testament is to be dispensed in Christian Churches not onely with inward grace in the heart making melody to the Lord but also with outward audible lively voyce which is the very point in hand and which this commandment of the Apostle doth clearely demonstrate 2. Object The Apostle to the Ephesians and Colossians doth not say Sing one to another in Psalmes but speake or preach one to another or in other wordâ— Teach and admonish one another The Psalmes dwelling in their hearts they were to dispense them in a way of Teaching and Admonishing But as for singing hee maketh no mention of that untill he came to teach them the manner of dispensing the words of Christ unto God in the end of the verse And then indeed hee teacheth them to sing in the Spirit making melody with grace in the heart unto God Answ. Such as tremble at the word as the framer of this objection professeth himselfe to doe they should rather bow their â—udgements and practise to Scripture and language then bow the â—ence of Scripture to their owne conceptions against the language of Scripture It is one thing to speake one to another in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall songs as is done in singing another thing to preach and teach one another out of Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall Songs It is true they were to Teach and admonish one another out of the Psalmes and the scope of Paul will reach that But if Paul had only meant that to wit That they should teach and preach one to another out of the Psalmes he would not have said Speake yee one to another in Psalmes or with Psalmes but out of the Psalmes or from the Psalmes for such is the language of the Holy Ghost in expressing such a duty Paul is said to have expounded and testified and perswaded the Jewes out of the Law of Moses and out of the Prophets Acts 28.23 So Philip is said to begin to Preach Jesus to the Eunuch {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} from that Scripture in Isaiah or at that Scripture Act. 8.35 He did not Preach Jesus to him in speaking that Scripture Object If that speaking of the Ephesians one to another in Psalmes did not hold forth their expounding and preaching in Psalmes one to another but onely the bare reading or singing the letter of the Psalmes This were such a service wherein there in nothing of Christ held forth externally I speake not of the matter of the Psalmes which is full of Christ as other Scriptures but of the outward manner of dispensing it There is nothing held forth in the singing of it after the usuall
Spirit so he alloweth and blesseth no worship but what is dispensed in Spirit and Truth Answ. God was a Spirit in the old Testament as well as in the New nor did he then allow and blesse any worship but what either was performed in Spirit and Truth or did convey Spirit and Truth Albeit more externall rites in worship were then appointed then in the New Testament are now continued for which end Christ alledgeth those words in the place in John to which you allude But neverthelesse though Christ have not limited his worship to any certain place now as then which was the point Christ there speaketh to nor doth he rest in externall performance yet evident it is God hath appointed in these dayes of the Gospel sundry externall worships now as well as then and the same in both Testaments to be performed in Spirit and Truth as hearing and reading the Word kneeling in Prayer and saying Amen All which Nature and Art may performe as well as the singing of Psalmes with vocall melody CHAP. II. Propounding and clearing the second Proofe for singing Psalmes with lively voyce THe second Proof is taken from the examples of Christ himself and of his Saints and Disciples in the New Testament Christ himselfe with his Disciples sung a Psalme or an Hymne together in the end of the administration of the Lords Supper Math. 26.30 And Paul and Silas are said to have sing a Psalme in the Prison so as the Prisoners heard them Acts 16.25 Now if in singing they had onely spiritually rejoyced and not expressed their joy and their song in audible and lively voyce the Prisoners could not have heard them The stranger doth not know nor meddle with the spirituall joy of the heart Pro. 14.10 Object 1. The place in Math. 26.30 may as well be translated They praysed God as they sung an Hymne Answ. Though the meaning be they praised God yet the word implyeth they praised God with an Hymne for it is improper in that language to translate the word to Praise whether God or man but either with a Song or with a Poeme Iâ— is more probable then any reason can wave that Christ and his Disciples did shut up the Lords Supper with singing one of their Hebrew Psalmes as the Jewes were wont to shut up their Celebration of the Passeover as their own Records tell us with singing Psalme 111. with the five other Psalmes next following together But all that I now intend is to shew that Christ and his Disciples sang together and therefore with the voyce as well as the heart Object 2. They might be said to sing together if one alone sing and the rest said Amen in the close as men may be said to pray together where one alone speaketh and the rest consent Answ. 1. True but then one at least speaketh with an audible and lively voyce though the rest doe not And that 's enough to cleare the point in hand that singing in the New Testament consisteth not onely in making melody with grace in the heart but also in singing to the Lord with lively voyce Answ. 2. If the Disciples did not joyne in singing that Hymne but onely by silent consent they might as well be said To have taken the bread and blessed it and broken it and distributed it and so the wine for all this Christ did with their silent consent But what Christ did alone is expresly recorded as done by himselfe when it cometh to the singing of the Psalme that is recorded as done by them in the Plurall number When they had sung an Hymne they departed into the Mount of Olives They that departed into the Mount of Olives they sung the Psalme Now it was not Christ alone but the whole eleven Disciples with him that departed into the Mount of Olives And therefore it was Christ with his Disciples that sung the Psalme together Object 3. Against the proofe from Acts 16.25 It is not said say some that Paul and Silas sung the Psalmes of David or Asaph much lesse with Meeter and Tunes devised by men Had they so done the Prisoners that heard them might have sung for the outward dispensation such a song of praise to God as well as they Answ. Wee doe not alledge this Example of theirs as hath been often said in like case before to prove they sang any Psalme of David though it stand with good reason that they joyning together in singing did rather sing a Psalme or Hymne knowne to them both then any new Song devised by either of them But what Psalmes are to be sung is another Question which by the helpe of Christ wee shall speake to in the sequell Neither doe we alledge their Example to prove they sang in a devised Meeter or Tune For themselves being Hebrewes it is likely they sang the Hebrew Songs in the tunes of the Sanctuary but that also is another Question of which we are to speake in his place when wee come to it All that we gather from this place now is no more then the words doe plainly hold forth that they sung an Hymne to God not onely with inward melody of grace in their hearts but also with outward melody of the voyce for else the Prisoners could not have heard them Against this it is of no force to object as some doe that if they had sung any of the Psalmes of David or Asaph with an audible voyce then the other Prisoners also might have joyned with them and have worshipped externally at least as well as they For the answer is plaine and ready First the Prison was in Philippi a City of Macedonia consisting partly of a Colony of the Romans partly of the Grecians no Jewes at all are mentioned to be Inhabitants there much lesse Prisoners at that time And for Pagans to joyne in singing Hebrew Songs in Hebrew verses and tunes it seemeth to be farre beyond either their skill or devotion Secondly suppose the Prisoners had been Jewes of which there is to hint at all in the Text and suppose those Prisoners hearing the melody of Paul and Silas and knowing the Song had joyned in the outward singing of it and that without any grace in their hearts none of all which things appeare in the story yet suppose all this shall the unbeliefe of those Jewes make the holy worship of these Apostles and their faith to God or the faith of God to them of none effect Paul renounceth and abhorreth such carnall reasonings Rom. 3.3 CHAP. III. Propounding and clearing the third Proofe for singing Psalmes with a lively voyce A Third proofe of this truth is taken from the Prophecies of the old Testament foretelling and perswading such a duty in the New Isa. 52.8 with the voyce together shall they sing And that is foretold of the times when the feet of the Messengers of glad tydings shal be beautiful who shall say unto Zion Thy God reigneth Which Paul explaineth of the times of the Gospel Rom. 10.14 Psal.
100.1 Make a joyfull noyse unto the Lord all yee Lands and vers. 2. Come before his presence with singing All yee lands implieth the Nations of the Gentiles as well as of the Jewes which pertaineth to the times of the New Testament So that now all are exhorted to sing before the presence of God with a lowd noyse or voyce So Psal. 95.1 O come let us sing unto the Lord let us make a joyfull noyse to the rock of our salvation And ver. 2. Let us make a joyfull noyse unto him with Psalmes Which Psalm the Apostle himself interpreteth to be meant of the times of the Gospel Which is the more to be observed because the Psalmist exhorting to the holy and reverent performance of the ordinary duties of the Sabbath he mentioneth first thankesgiving in singing of Psalmes with a loud voyce and the Reasons thereof vers. 1. to 5. And then solemne Prayer with the reasons thereof vers. 6 7. and then faithfull attention to the preaching of the Word on that day not hardning their hearts against it through unbeliefe in the end of ver. 7. and vers. 8. to 11. To day if yee will heare his voyce harden not your hearts And this day the Apostle interpreteth to be meant not of the 7.th day of rest from the Creation nor of the day of rest wherein Joshua gave the people inheritance and rest in Canaan but of the day of rest in the New Testament Heb. 4.3 to 9. Whence the Apostle inferreth That there is remaining to us another Sabbatisme or day of rest now in the dayes of the Gospel different from the seventh day of rest kept in regard of Gods rest from the Creation and different from the day of rest in Joshuahs time but the day of rest remaining to us he declareth to be that day wherein the Lord Jesus entred into his rest And that was our Lords day which David so long before foretold should be celebrated with solemne Prayer preaching and hearing the Word and singing of Psalmes and that with a joyfull noyse Object 1. Though David exhorteth all Lands to sing to the Lord with a loud noyse it doth not appeare wee should make such a manner of loud noyse as our forme of singing is no more then such a loud noyse as was made in Davids dayes with ten stringed Instruments for so the Lord was to be praised I doe acknowledge from these Texts That it is the duty of all those who are called to the knowledge of the Truth when they doe come before the Lord not to come before him with sorrow and sadnesse and with a dejected spirit but with a singing or else they dishonour the Lord Jesus the spirituall chiefe singer author of their new Song But although this prophecy doth foretell of the joyfull approaching of the spirituall worshippers before the Lord yet it bindeth them no more to make such a noyse as the singing booke teacheth then the trees are to clap their hands as Isaiah prophecieth or as the new Converts are bound to come with externall singing when they come to joyn themselves with the Church Isai. 51.11 And as for such a manner of noyse as is made in our mixed Assemblies the Psalme speaketh nothing to it Answ. The manner of noyse which is made by singing in our Assemblies it pertaineth not to the present Question in hand and therefore we referre it to the sequell The Question now is whether in the dayes of the New Testament we are to sing the praises of God with a loud voyse or noyce And for this we alledge beside the Text in Isaiah the Prophecies of David who foretelleth and exhorteth all Lands at least the Churches and people of God in all lands To make a joyfull noyse unto the Lord to make a joyfull noyse unto him with Psalmes to come before his presence with singing Psal. 100.1 2. Psal. 95.1 2. Yea but this bindeth us no more to make such a manner of loud noyse as our forme of singing is then to make such a loud noyse as was made in Davids dayes with ten stringed Instruments for so the Lord was to be praised Answ. So the Lord was to be praised Praised with ten stringed Instruments When was he so to be praised In Davids dayes True And therefore it was the dutie of all the people in any land that became Proselytes to the Church of Israel in the dayes of David and during all the time of the Temple worship to come before the Lord not onely with the loud noyse of singing Psalmes but of playing with Instruments But after the dayes not onely of David but of the Temple and that worship be past in the day when our Jehovah the Lord Jesus hath entred into his rest in the day of our Lord when he commandeth us not to harden our hearts but to heare his voyce to fall downe and worship before him in prayer both which are to be performed every Lords day he then commandeth us to come and sing unto the Lord to make a joyfull noyse to the rock of our salvation and to make a joyfull noyse unto him with Psalmes Psal. 95.1 2. Here is now no mention of making a joyfull noyse with Instruments but with Psalmes And therefore the making a joyfull noyse with Psalmes doth still continue even on our Lords dayes when making a joyfull noyse with Instruments continueth not but is laid downe in silence save onely so farre as it is kept alive in the antitype the affections of our hearts our Praecordia making melody with the songs and professions of our lips and with the gracious and peaceable conversation of our lives When you acknowledge it to be the dutie of such as are called to the knowledge of the Truth to come before the Lord not with sorrow and sadnesse and with a dejected spirit but with singing What singing doe you meane If you meane onely the gracious rejoycing of the heart that indeed though it be requisite to avoyd hypocrisie yet it is not compleate to reach the full extent of the dutie the dutie of making a joyfull noyse with Psalmes Our chiefe Singer of whom you speake when he set the Lord and his own death and resurrection before his face which he was to undergoe for our sakes he was not onely glad in his heart but his glory also that is his tongue rejoyced in singing a Psalme at his last Supper Psal. 16.8 9. with Math. 26.30 And therefore it will be a discord from the practise of our chiefe Singer and so a dishonour to him if our hearts sing with joy but our glory to wit our tongues be mute with silence Say not then as you doe We are no more bound to make a loud noyse with our voyces then the trees are to clap their hands as Isaiah prophecieth or then the new Converts were to come with externall singing of Psalmes Isai. 51.11 For in so saying you will not avoyde the authoritie of the Commandement nor the necessitie of
whether the Psalmes of David and Asaph and such other Hymnes and spirituall Songs endited by the Prophets and recorded in Scripture be appointed by God to be ordinarily sung in Christian Churches or whether laying aside Scripture-Songs we are to sing onely such spirituall Songs as shall be endited by the personall but ordinary gifts of any ordinary Officer or member of the Church The former wee hold to be the Truth others the latter The Reasons of our Faith and Practise are these 1. Taken from the Commandement or exhortation of the Apostle Ephes. 5.19 Be you filled with the Spirit saith he speaking to your selves that is one to another in Psalmes and Hymnes and spiritual Songs singing and making melody in your harts to the Lord To the like purpose is his CoÌ„mandement and exhortation to the Colossians Chap. 3. ver. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdome teaching and admonishing one another in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall Songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord In both which places as the Apostle exhorteth us to singing so he instructeth us what the matter of our Song should be to wit Psalmes Hymnes and spirituall Songs Now those three be the very Titles of the Songs of David as they are delivered to us by the Holy Ghost himselfe some of them are called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is Psalmes some {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is Hymnes some {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is Songs spirituall â—ongs Now what reason can be given why the Apostle should direct us in our singing to the very titles of Davids Psalmes if it were not his meaning that we should sing them Yea either we must exclude the Psalmes of David from the name of Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall Songs or else we must be forced to acknowledge that we are exhorted to sing them as well as any other CHAP. V. BEfore we proceed to any further Reasons of the point let us first by the helpe of Christ cleare the Objections against this The Objections are many and some of them seeme more weighty and some more light let us unpartially and evenly by the Lords guidance weigh them all in the Ballance of the Sanctuary Object 1. If Paul had meant Davids Psalmes or Scripture-songs it had been an easie matter to have named Davids Psalmes or Scripture-songs as David himselfe named his songs the Psalmes or Songs of David when he delivered them to the chiefe Musitian and to his company to be sung Answ. 1. It may as justly be said if Paul had meant to exclude Davids Psalmes or Scripture-songs it had been as easie to have excluded them by name and to have limited them onely to such Psalmes and Songs as the Spirit should suggest unto their hearts Answ. 2. The Apostle expresly nameth Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall Songs and they three are the very expresse Titles of the Psalmes in the Psalme-Booke Now why he should direct them to the very Titles of Davids Psalmes yet not meane the Psalmes that beare those Titles can a good conscience give a good reason for it Answ. 2. When David gave his Psalmes and Songs to the Musitians in Israel it was meete he should set his name to them or by some other marke make it appeare that the Psalmes were inspired and delivered by a Prophet of God But after the Book of Psalmes was generally knowne and received to be of divine inspiration as other Oracles of God the Psalmes are as usually alledged in the New Testament without the name of David as with it Luk. 24 44. Asts 13.33 Object 2. The Psalmes here committed to the spirituall Singers to be sung are the words of Christ which are to dwell richly in us Col. 3.16 But the Psalmes dedicated to the sonnes of Corah were the words of David and Asaph And so the Holy Ghost calleth them Not but that the words spoken by the mouth of David and Asaph where the words of Christ but that the words which are to be the spirituall songs of the Saints wherein they are to teach one another and to sing unto God they are words spoken to the heart by the voyce of the Spirit of Christ Besides the word of Christ is properly the Gospel by way of eminency in way of opposition to the Law given by Moses Answ. 1. The words of David and Asaph as they were the words of Chtist in the mouth of David and Asaph so they were the words of Christ also in the mouths of the sonnes of Corah or any other Singers in the Temple If any of them did not sing them with the Spirit of Christ as well as David and Asaph spake and penned them by the Spirit of Christ it was a sinfull defect in them but not in the word it selfe nor in the godly Singers of the Temple such as Heman and Jeduthun and others who were spirituall and holy men and sang them with melody in their hearts as well as in their voyces And it will be alike sinfull defect in the New Testament in such as sing the Psalmes of David to sing them without some measure of the Spirit of David For the Apostle expresly requireth that wee should sing with grace in our hearts But if the words of David and Asaph be the words of Christ and be sung of the Church with grace in the heart wee demand whether this act of the Church be not an act of Faith and of the obedeince of Faith to the word of Christ in that Text of the Appostle Answ. 2. It is an unsafe and unsavoury expression to speake of the words of David and Asaph as if they were onely the words of Christ in the mouths of spirituall Singers For if they were not the words of Christ in the mouths of carnall Singers also then the holy Scriptures were not the word of Christ if they be read by a carnall reader So the unbeliefe of man shâ—ll make the faith of God of none effect yea the word of God not to be the word of God Answ. 3. Let it be considered in the feare of God whether the words of David and Asaph sung with grace in the heart unto God be not as truly and properly in the Apostles sence the word of Christ as any Song endited by the private gift of any Saint of God now living If so then the Apostle encourageth us to sing the Psalmes of David and Asaph with their Spirit If not then there be Christians now that are carried by a more infallible Spirit then the Prophets were in old time And yet Paul speaketh of the Saints now as led by the Spirt of God Rom. 8.14 But Peter speaketh of the Prophets then as carried {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 Which putteth this difference that such as are led by the Spirit may erre but such as are carried by the Spirit are carried and lifted
manner but what nature and art may attaine unto There is no exercise of any spirituall gift held forth in it as is in all other administrations which Christ hath ordained 2. Besides as such a singing is not a gift of Christ so neither doth it tend to the glory of Christ The Church not edified by it else a Pagan singing with us might edifie the Church 3. From both these it appeareth That such singing of Psalmes tendeth to the dishonour of Christ seeing it holdeth forth externally no more then what a carnall man a man out of Christ yea a Pagan might expresse Answ. 1. Singing of Psalmes holdeth forth as much of Christ externally as reading of the Word or as the hearing of it read or preached or as the falling downe upon our knees in prayer and saying Amen in the end of it Fot though the Word when it is publiquely read ought also to be opened after the reading yet the very reading of it is it selfe an Ordinance and is not without a blessing to the faithfull reader or hearer of it â—o more then other Ordinances Or else there would be some Ordinances of God like unto humane Ceremonies empty and beggarly Answ. 2. Morall duties even in Pagans may edifie the Church as Abimeleths reproofe of Abraham and Sarah Gen. 20. Pro. 9 10. Answ. 3. Singing of Psalmes is accompanied and blessed of God by his grace with many gracious effects above nature or art As 1. It allayeth the passions of melancholy and choler yea and scattereth the furious temptatians of evill spirits 1 Sam. 16.23 Whence also is helpeth to asswage enmity and to restore friendship and favour as in Saul to David It was not the sound of Davids Harpe that could have this power either over the evill spirit or over the sinfull passions of Saul himselfe if the sound of the Harpe had not been quickned and enlived as it were by a spirituall song and by the Spirit of God breathing therein 2. Singing of a spirituall song prepareth to prophecy by ministring the Spirit 2 King 3.15 Whilest the Minstrell played the hand of the Lord that is his Spirit came upon Elisha The Minstrells playing if it had not been accompanied with a spirituall song it could not have conveyed such a spirituall blessing In 1 Sam. 10.5 6. they could not be said as there they be to have prophecied with Harpes and Violls unlesse they had sung some holy songs together with their playing on Instruments For Prophecy is an unterance onely of the word of God and of the things of God contained in it which Instruments without voyce cannot doe Nor had their playing with Instruments been a means of conveying the Spirit to Saul had not their voyces concurred and sung with their Instruments 3. Singing of Psalmes honoureth God with our glory Psal. 108.1 Psal. 57. â— 8. Where Davids glory being distinguished not onely from his Harpe but from his heart it cannot fitly be understood of any other member but his tongue by which he was wont in singing to glorifie God Object These gracious effects and fruits of singing Psalmes doe plead as much for singing and playing with instruments as for singing with voyces Answ. 1. This last effect of singing to the glory of God with our glory is peculiar onely to singing with our tongues Answ. 2. Suppose it were true that these effects of singing Psalmes did plead as much for singing and playing with Instruments as singing with voyces yet evident it is that singing with voyces had the preheminence as that which uttering the word of God did chiefly utter the Spirit of God breathing in it And withall evident likewise it is that it is no impeachment to an Ordinance that the outward dispensing of it may be performed by nature and art but notwithstanding that it may be accompanied of God with a spirituall blessing Answ. 3. Singing with Instruments was typicall and so a ceremoniall worship and therefore is ceased But singing with heart and voyce is a morall worship such as is written in the hearts of all men by nature As to pray in distresse so when we are mercy and have cause of solemne thankesgiving unto God then to sing Psalmes which the Holy Ghost by the Apostle James approveth and sanctifieth Jam. 5.13 Or suppose singing with Instruments were not typicall but onely an externall solemnitie of worship fitted to the solace of the outward sences of children under age such as the Israelites were under the Old Testament Gal. 4.1 2 â— yet now in the growne age of the heires of the New Testament such externall pompous solemnities are ceased and no externall worship reserved but such as holdeth forth simplicitie and gravitie nor is any voyce now to be heard in the Church of Christ but such as is significant and edifying by signification 1 Cor. 14.10 11 26. which the voyce of Instruments is not Answ. 4. It is an honour to Christ and to his grace not onely when we hold forth spirituall gifts but also when wee performe Christian duties And duties performed in Faith without which prayer it selfe is not accepted they goe not without a spirituall blessing though Nature and Art might performe the same for the outward worke The Trayling of the weapons of the Israelites and their Military March both in silence and shouting about the walls of Jericho was no greater worke externally then carnall men and Pagans might have performed as well as Israelites but this being done by Israelites in faith and obedience to Gods command it was mightie through God to cast downe the high and strong walls of Jericho Josh. 6.13.14 15 16 20. And the Apostle looking at this and the like Precedents setteth forth Faith as that which is prevalent and effectuall in both Testaments howsoever the worke or worship be externall Heb. 11.30 In like manner is it with the reading of the Word and the hearing of it as also the silent joyning in Prayer and concluding it with Amen though all these be such duties as Nature and Art may performe the outward worke of them yet when the people of God doe performe the same in the faith of Christ and in the obedience of Gods command they find a gracious blessing of God Yea carnall and prophane persons and Pagans though they cannot expect the like blessing from their empty outside performances yet they sometimes taste more sweetnesse and enlargement therein then flesh and bloud could imagine 1 Sam. 10.5 6. Saul joyning with the Prophets in their holy melody found another Spirit coming on him which also argueth by the way that the joyning of prophane and carnall hypocrites in such spirituall songs doth not evacuate the blessing of God to his people but rather reach forth some spirituall blessing though common to such carnall hypocrites Object It may be in the old Testament such an outward worship as Nature and Art could accomplish might be allowed and blessed of God But now in the New Testament as God is a