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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47407	The breach repaired in God's worship, or, Singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, proved to be an holy ordinance of Jesus Christ with an answer to all objections : as also, an examination of Mr. Isaac Marlow's two papers, one called, A discourse against singing, &c., the other, An appendix : wherein his arguments and cavils are detected and refuted / by Benjamin Keach ...	Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704.	1641 (1641)	Wing K50; ESTC R21273	133,739	273

to Mr. Marlow's Appendix OTher ways to praise God than by singing of his Praises yet that is one way notwithstanding pag. 16. Dr. Owen is cited by Mr. Marlow to no purpose for his Cause p. 17. The direct and primary signification of Hymnos is to sing or they sung p. 18 19 20. Obj. Singing in the Primitive Days was by a special Gift Answered again pag. 21 25 26 27. Mr. Marlow has a bad Cause to plead appears by the Mediums he uses shewed in five things p. 22 23 24. Inward Joy Peace c. not the Fruit of the special Gifts but of the Graces of the Spirit p. 25 26. Fillings of the Spirit necessary for Saints in discharge of all Duties p. 29. Mr. Marlow's Arguing dangerous proved by one Argument p. 31. Obj. Women must not sing in the Church because they must not speak in the Church again answered p. 32 33 34 35. Women may speak several ways in the Church and sing too p. 33. Not for women to speak in the Church it is not to usurp Authority over the Man Singing not Teaching tho a Teaching in it p. 34. Women allowed to prophess in the Church p. 35. What Teaching is in Singing How all may be said to teach and yet all Hearers too p. 37 38. Mr. Marlow confounds Singing and Preaching together one while and Prayer and Singing at another p. 38. Mr. Marlow's Singing in the 1000 Years Reign examined And what Precepts the Saints shall have to sing then that do not impower us to sing now p. 38 39. Every word of a Sermon may be premeditated by the Spirit and yet be Spiritual and so may Hymns too p. 40. What Mr. Marlow says may lay Men under Temptation not to pray at all for want of a Gift p. 41 42. If we must not sing who have not a full assurance of God's Love we must not also rejoyce in God p. 42 43. We are come to such a Perfection of Divine Worship as to know what God's Ordinances are p. 45. One Note more worth observing on Eph. 5. 19. Col. 3. 16. p. 44. Obj. How shall we sing the Lord's Song in a strange Land answered p. 45 46. Singing a Moral Duty and more acceptable to God than Sacrifice or Mosaical Rites p. 44 45. The genuine and proper Signification of the word Hymnos and Mr. M's Citation of Dr. Owen examined by another Hand p. 48. Other Authors upon that Greek word examined and his Mistakes about it detected p. 49 50. to the end Reader before you read you are desired to correct these Faults that have escaped the Press PAge 27. last line blot out as the Hebrew word signifies P. 33. l. 22. for in r. to P. 64. l. 19. for with Miracles Gifts r. miraculous Gifts Appendix Pag. 19. lin 32. r. Is the Greek word there he hymned The Introduction IT cannot but be lamented to see what Temptations many Men have been laid under by the great Enemy of Truth in every Age of the World in their fierce opposition against one or another blessed Ordinance and Institution of Jesus Christ and this not only by bad Men but also by Men fearing God All which no doubt arises either from their Ignorance or else from that Prejudice there is in their Hearts against it from a fond Conceit that it can't be a Truth of Christ because they never looked upon it so to be nor some wiser than they nor are they willing to believe it to be a Truth since some who have not such Light and Knowledg in other blessed Truths do practise it as if because some Men who hold and maintain some gross Errors and Falsities can hold and practise no Truths at all whereas 't is evident the Church of Rome which is Mystical Babylon are sound in the Doctrine of the Trinity as far as I can gather and possibly in some other Points also For they believe the Resurrection of the Body and the Eternal Judgment and that Christ died without the Gate of Jerusalem but I am afraid some Men have a Fancy they know all the whole Mind of Christ and that they need not be taught any other Truths than those which they have received notwithstanding can't but know the Church is but newly come out of the Wilderness or Popish Darkness and not so fully neither as to be as clear as the Sun as in due time she shall Reformation 't is evident is a hard and ●●●ficult Work and ever was 't is no easy th●●g to restore lost Ordinances I mean such as have for many Years been neglected and strangely corrupted through that Antichristian Darkness that hath for so many Ages and Generations overspread the Earth which is manifest 〈◊〉 respect of Baptism and Imposition of Hands upon Baptized Believers as such One would even stand and wonder to see how many godly learned and good Men should be so dark as to maintain and that resolutely too that corrupt Practice of Pedo-Baptism or rather Rantism considering it hath not the least footing in the Word of God but is so directly contrary to the Nature and Constitution of a Gospel-Church and Administration of New-Testament-Ordinances But let not those of our own Perswasion much longer wonder at this since some of them seem as blind and dark in another Blessed Truth and Sacred Ordinance of the ever glorious God that hardly was ever opposed as by them but hath been generally owned in every Age of the Church and that by the most godly and enlightned Christians from the beginning of the World till of late days and not now neither but by some People of the Baptized Way and others who are against all Ordinances I must confess no Man through the Grace of God can be better satisfied touching the Truth of Baptism as practised by my Brethren than I am and of the true Order and Constitution of our Churches and soundness of their Faith in all the Fundamentals of Religion yet do I not think we have arrived to such a perfection of Knowledg of all practical Truths that we need not enquire after any thing which we may not yet have understan●ing in I must confess as one observes that the great Design of Satan is and always was to put a Cheat upon God's People as well as to hold the World in Blindness and Wickedness by the one saith he Satan holds Men in a state of Impenitency and by the other he deludes Christians to neglect their Duties and to obstruct their own Comfort and Priviledg He acts as well in the shape of an Angel of Light as of a Prince of Darkness stirring up vain Scruples and Objections especially in the Minds of weak Christians and filthy Imaginations in those who have not yet turned to God I must confess I my self when first God enlightned me into his Truth was an opposer of this Sacred Ordinance but it was not for want of Ignorance and partly through Prejudice perhaps to such who I esteem and even looked upon

it which is really their Duty as well as 〈◊〉 own I cannot sin in joining with any one in that Act to perform which is the Duty of another as mine though he may want the present Ability For Duties must be measured according to the Rule not the Ability of the Performer Now it 's no Duty for any Man to receive the Lord's Supper or be a Member of a Church in order to Communion without he find himself in some measure fitted by Grace these Sealing Ordinances of the Gospel suppose and require some other Qualification and are peculiar to visible Saints but where there is a natural Character or an Ordinance as to the Substance of it at least equally concerning all there is no Sin to join in the administration of it And if we consider of it warily unregenerate Men are great sharers in the Mercies of the Churches besides their own particular Duty that they may well join with them in setting forth God's Praises But more closely and particularly 1. When the Church and Saints of God are gathered together to worship him in Singing it is no more unlawful to sing with others that stand by and join their Voices than when in Prayer they stand by and give their Consent we do not so much join with them as they do own God's Actings among us It is no sin in them to join with us in such a Duty neither can it be any sin in us to sing though others very carnal will outwardly praise God with us 2. The Carriage of the Saints in their hearty and real Expressions of Praises may convince others in the coldness and lowness of their Spirit and stir them up to some spiritual Apprehensions Sidenham 〈◊〉 Singing pag. 213 214 215. 'T is evident the Church is not bound to worship God alone in the Administration of the Gospel and not suffer the People to come among them unless she intends to become no Church in a short time for how shall she increase or have Children born in her Is not Hearing the Word of God preached and Publick Prayer as Sacred Ordinances of Gospel-Worship 〈◊〉 Singing Why then may they be admitted to join with the Church in those Ordinances which they are no better able to perform acceptably to God than in Singing and be denied to sing By this Rule others must not be admitted to join with the Church in one part of Gospel-Worship you must not suffer them to join with us in any but even 〈◊〉 the Doors upon them and worship God alone And should we deny them to do this it might also lay a Stumbling-block in their way and give them a just offence against the Lord's People See more in Chap. 9. where we have spoken further to this Objection CHAP. XV. Wherein Mr. Marlow's Book and many other Objections raised against singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs are fully and plainly answered THough all that are impartial who shall read Mr. Marlow's Book against Singing and consider what I have already said in this Treatise will say He is answered Yet I shall now give a particular Reply to all that is any ways material contained in it which I have not detected and answered before That which he insinuates pag. 3 4. about the Weakness and Imbecility of some Christians about their reception of this Ordinance as a dangerous thing needs no Reply he would fain make his Reader think to receive singing of Psalms c. as an Ordinance is no less than a falling away from the Truth So clearly saith he manifested by the Holy Scripture and witnessed to by the Sufferings of the purest Churches in our Age who have born a lively Testimony not only against the humane prescribed and precomposed Forms of Prayer but against singing David ' s Psalms and other Hymns or Songs precomposed by Man Answ 'T is not a falling away from Truth to restore a lost or neglected Ordinance of the Gospel as you I perceive dare not deny but this of Singing is The main difference is about the Manner or what Singing is We say it is going forward i● the glorious Work of Reformation What though some Baptized Churches who I do believe have attained to greater Purity in some things than some others have born such a Witness against Singing of David's Psalms is it therefore no Ordinance of Christ must they needs know every Truth of Christ Is there any Church that is yet arrived to such a perfection of Knowledg that they need not the discovery of any Truth but what they have received I am afraid some of those Churches are yet short of the Knowledg and Practice of another Ordinance as well as this and speak against it as against this though it is one of the first Principles of the Doctrine of Christ Heb. 6. 1 2. Are they against the Singing of David's Psalms and Hymns do ye say God forbid since the Holy Ghost hath enjoyned the Churches to sing them pag. 3 4. But to pass over this you come to consider that Text Ephes 5. 14. Speaking to your selves in Psalms c. Object From these Words nor the Context relating to them is there any W●●for a vocal Speaking but otherwise it must be understood a speaking to your own Heart These are your words Answ 'T is well you do not affirm this Teaching is then a Preaching from Psalms c. in ordinary Gospel-Administration for some there have been and may be are now that assert that and I think we shall find you there too by and by however let the Speaking be what it will that is here meant it is evident 't is such a speaking that is used in Singing for so the following words explain it which you are not willing it may be to cite Singing and making of Melody in your Hearts to the Lord. You then mention Col. 3. 16. I confess say you that Vocal Singing is here to be understood otherwise it could not be Teaching and Admonishing to others in Word or Deed but yet here is nothing to prove Vocal Singing together for Teaching and Admonishing one another in Psalms c. is meant of the Ministring Brethren whose Work it was to teach and admonish the other Members according to the Gifts they had received and none can prove any more by these words one another than what must be understood from Heb. 3. 13. But exhort one another daily whilst it is called to day And therefore as the word Exhortation is not used in the Church but in an orderly ministerial way by one at once c. must be used also according to Gospel-Rule 1 Cor. 14. 26. How is it Brethren when you come together every one of you hath a Psalm hath a Doctrine c. be understood of a Vocal Singing all together for I think 〈◊〉 will say that those words Every one of you hath c. were spoken of all having those Spiritual Gifts which can't be though of euery Minister in that Church Vers 28 much

THE Breach Repaired in God's Worship OR Singing of PSALMS HYMNS and Spiritual Songs proved to be an Holy Ordinance of JESUS CHRIST With an Answer to all Objections AS ALSO An Examination of Mr. ISAAC MARLOW'S two Papers one called A Discourse against Singing c. the other An Appendix Wherein his Arguments and Cavils are detected and refuted BY BENJAMIN KEACH Preacher of God's Word and Pastor of the Church of Christ meeting on Horselydown Southwark Job 6. 25. How forcible are right words but what doth your arguing reprove Isa 52. 8. Thy Watchmen shall lift up the Voice with the Voice together shall they sing London Printed for the Author and sold by John Hancock in Castle-Alley on the West side of the Royal-Exchange and by the Author at his House near Horselydown in Southwark 16●● THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY TO ALL THE Baptized Congregations In England and Wales Who are in God the Father and in our Lord Jesus Christ Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied Particularly to the Church of Christ meeting on Horslydown Holy and Beloved IT cannot but rejoice my Soul when I consider of the exceeding Grace and abounding Goodness of the Holy God towards you his poor and despised Churc● and People in respect of that clear Discovery he hath given you of most of the glorious Truths of the Gospel and of the true Apostolical Faith and Practice thereof You have not made Men General Councils nor Synods your Rule but God's Holy W●●d your Constitution Faith and Discipline is directly according to the Primitive Pattern God hath made you in a most eminent manner to be the Builders of the old Wastes and Raisers up of the former Desolations and Repairers of the waste Cities the Desolations of many Generations Isa 61. 4. You have laboured to sever the Gold from the Dross and to build with proper and fit Gospel-Meterials viz. Spiritual and L●●●ing Stones well hewed and squared by the Hammer of God's Word and Spirit and will not take one Stone of Babylon for a Corner you will go forth as far as you have received Light by the Footsteps of the Flock and feed your Kids beside the Shepherds Tents Cant. 1. 8. And God of a small People hath graciously made you a Multitude you have been helped and so born up by everlasting Arms that you have held fast your Holy Profession in the Day of Trial and exposed all that you have had in the World to spoil and loss for the sake of Jesus Christ when many turned their Backs and exposed the Holy Name of God to Reproach and to our further Joy many of you have of late more especially in your General Assemblies shewed your great Zeal for the Name of God and Care of his Church in a more than usual manner and particularly you have endeavoured to revive our hopes for the continuation of a faithful and laborious Ministry for the time to come by striving to promote such Learning and Studies as God's Word directs to and not require like Israel's Task-Masters poor Ministers as I may so say to make Brick and allow them no Straw but you do now more fully see that Gospel-Ministers ought to have a Gospel-Maintenance even such as God hath ordained that so they might not be intangled with the Affairs of th●● Life but wholly give themselves up to that great Work they are called to Go on and prosper Holy and Beloved Let not your Hands be weak nor Satan obstruct or hinder so hopeful a Beginning let it appear you do love Jesus Christ more than Father or Mother more than Son or Daughter and labour to reform what is amiss as to those great Evils that abound too much in the Churches of the Saints tho I hope not so much amongst you as among some others particularly in respect of Pride and Covetousness or that base Worldly and Earthly Spirit that is the Bane of Religion and makes the Lor'd People of so ill a savour in the World let your Lives declare whose you are and to what Countrey you belong and as you have a good Doctrine so labour for a suitable Conversation and then Brethren what can or will be wanting to make you compleat in the whole Will of 〈◊〉 Truly according to my small Light I know not unless it be a restoration of this lost and neglected Ordinance of Singing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs which I fear and partly understand some of you want light in I have therefore made bold to dedicate this small Treatise to you all hoping you will take it from me in good part and well weigh what is here said before you judg and condemn it for an Errour I am afraid of some old Prejudice some of you have taken against this Sacred Truth of the Gospel for so I must call it you can't think you have as yet come to a full attainment or are already perfect in Knowledg Besides I hear you generally own Singing of Psalms c. an Ordinance of God and indeed I cannot see how any who own the Bible and New Tastament of Christ to be their Rule can deny it Why then consider whether you have this Ordinance at all or can be said to sing in any proper Sense Certainly many of you are wholly without it as will I hope appear fully if you read this Treatise quite through impartially Can ●t be thought the Churches should be enjoined by the Holy Ghost to sing Psalms and Hymns and yet there 's no coming at the practise of it● without an extraordinary Spirit or miraculous Gifts I have been provoked by our Brother who wrote against Singing to set Pen to Paper and not only by him and his Book but I have been induced by Multitudes for several Months to give him an Answer so that I hope you will not be offended with me in what I have done I have much Peace in the doing of it and truly Brethren the loss of this Ordinance doth I am afraid more obstruct the increase of our Churches than many are aware of What a Multitude are convinced of Christ's true Baptism and yet refuse to have Communion with our Churches when baptized because they say if they ●hould they must lose this Ordinance of ●inging which they have an equal Esteem ●or And how doth it open the Mouths of ●ur Godly Brethren of other Perswasions ●o speak against us for being so zealous for ●ne Gospel-Ordinance and so careless about ●nother that very few Christians who have ●ad the greatest Light Zeal and Piety in ●ny Age of the Church ever doubted of 〈◊〉 grieves me to think there should be a ●reach made in God's Worship among you ●o whom God hath given so much Light in other Cases And O that what is here said might through the Blessing of God prove a Means to repair it In a Word Singing is injoyned Some ●hing it is If we have it not but 't is with ●ou we would willingly know what your Singing is or what you call Singing

and when I sing I will sing with the Spirit c. 1 Cor. 14. 15. So doth the Apostle James join them together as of equal Worth Nature and Authority James 5. 13. From all which Considerations it appears ●inging is of the same Nature with Prayer even a Moral Duty These things I thought good to communicate to the consideration of all especially for the sake of some weak Christians Object What you then say some plead for a natural or carnal thing natural Religion and Worship Away with your Singing we thought all our Religion ought to be Spiritual Answ We plead for Spiritual Worship as well as you and say That all the Parts of Religious Duties must be Spiritual or they will not be accepted of God But what is this to the purpose Divers Ordinances in their original and proper Nature are Moral and part of natural Worship Is not Prayer in particular by all acknowledged so to be And may not Prayer be carnally performed too as well as Singing nay and so may any other Ordinance of Christ Another Man will tell you whilst you plead for Prayer you plead for a Moral Duty and a Branch of natural Worship But doth that detract from its Glory No sure all wise Men know it adds greatly to it Cornelius Act. 10. 1 2 3. was a Man much in Prayer tho a Gentile and without the knowledg of the Gospel or Law either as far as we know So the Mariners which were with Jonah in the Ship in their Distress tho Heathens 't is said every Man called upon his God Jonah 1. 5. But why shall any call Singing a low or carnal thing they have the least reason so to term it of any Ordinan●● performed by the Spirit Pray are Angels sound in any carnal Ordinance or th●●lorified Saints in Heaven What Ordinance can shine more glorious and subli●● in its Nature than this of Singing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs if this be duly considered But as to the true or right manner of performance of this Duty as in all others we must have our recourse to the Word of God For though Prayer is a Moral Duty yet it is commanded and also the manner prescribed how to be performed as acceptable to God so is Preaching likewise Yet every Man by the Light of Nature is taught to instruct his Children and Servants nay and his Neighbours too as Matters may present So is Singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs brought under express Institution 'T is required and enjoined on the Churches and Saints of God in the Gospel-days with Matter and Manner how to be performed as shall hereafter before I have done God assisting be fully proved so that 't is a mistake in our Brethren to think we pl●●● for any natural Religion that is Carnal or Fleshly Though divers Precepts were Moral in their own Nature and so part of natural Worship due to God from his Creatures and known without the written Word the Duty I mean though not the Manner how to be performed And from the whole I draw this third Argument Arg. 3. That Duty which in its Original or Primitive Nature is Moral and a Branch of Natural Worship or Religion as well as it is given forth by Divine Institutio● is the i●●●spensable Duty of all the Lord's People for ever ●o be found in the practice of But Singing the Praises of the Lord is a Duty or Ordinance ●n its Original or Primitive Nature that is Moral and a Branch of Natural Worship or Religion as well as it is given forth by Divine ●nstitution Ergo Singing of the Praises of God is the indispensable Duty of all the Lord's People for ever All Men know Laws or Duties which are Moral in their own Nature lay all Men under a perpetual Obligation And that Singing is of such a Nature let what we have said be well considered Hereafter if I am answered I shall say more to it if God please to spare my Life CHAP. VIII Proving Singing of Psalms c. an Ordinance of Christ from the Practice of the Saints before the Law in the Law and under the Gospel MY next Argument shall be taken from the Practice of the Saints and People of God in all Ages of the World 'T is strange any should doubt of the truth of Singing the Praises of God if it be made appear it was the Practice of the People of God before the Law and also under the Dispensation of the Gospel 1. Not wholly to pass over what I have b●fore hinted of the Angels Singing though I shall but touch upon it here and do little more than cite a Passage out of a Sermon preach'd by Reverend Mr. Wells in the Supplement to the Morning Exercise these 〈◊〉 his words Singing is the Musick of Ang●●● Job tells us the Morning Stars sang together Job 38. 7. Now these Morning Stars saith he as Pineda tells us are the Angels to which the Chaldee Paraphrase accords naming these Morning Stars Aciem Angelorum a● Host of Angels nay when this heavenly Host was sent to proclaim the Birth of o●● dearest Jesus they deliver their Message in this raised way of Duty Luk. 2. 13. they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 delivering their Message in a laudatory Singing the whole company of Angels making a musical Quire nay in Heaven there is the Angels joyous Musick they sing Hallelujahs to the most High and to the Lamb who sits upon the Throne Rev. 5. 11. As I said before Singing as it appears by this Singing of the Angels is as ancient as the World it self and well-pleasing unto God he would never imply his Angels else in it as I shewed in the second Chapter But to our Business First That it was practised before the giving forth of the Law is evident from that ●assage before mentioned Exod. 15. 1 2 c. ●hen sang Moses and the Children of Israel 〈◊〉 S●ng unto the Lord and spake saying I ●ill sing unto the Lord for he hath triumphed ●●oriously c. and spake Note in Singing here is a speaking and though they spake ●et the Holy Ghost saith they sang what they 〈◊〉 spake and though it were the whole Con●regation that sang yet it was as if it were ●ut one Man so united were they in their ●oice which will further appear in its proper place Also 't is worthy observing this very ●ong the Gospel-Saints shall sing at the destru●tion of Babylon Rev. 15. 3. Nay some con●lude they have already sung it though I am ●ot of that Opinion not believing any of the 〈◊〉 Via●● are by the seven Angels yet poured ●ut but that this Song shall be sung at that ●ime when the Saints have gotten temporal Victory over the Beast and Mystical Babylon is evident But let none mistake though the Saints can't yet sing that Song yet they may and ought to sing the Song of the Lamb which is to praise God for spiritual Victory obtain'd by Jesus Christ over Sin

Persons who have wrote upon this Truth like Men and Men too of great Parts Learning and Piety or let them not trouble me nor the World any more As touching his Epistle to the Churches I shall take but little notice of it nor of that he hath writ to my self sith in my Judgment neither of them signify much you are Men of greater Wisdom than to be frightned out of an Ordinance or deterred from seeking after the Knowledg of it with these scurrilous Names of Error Apostacy Human Tradition prelimited Forms mischievous Error Carnal Forms Carnal Worship c. These are hard Words and do not bespeak a trembling Heart nor a humble Spirit and better becomes a Man that pretends to Infallibility But what some Men want of sound Arguments they think to make up by hard Words and Confidence but this will never do with you How hath our Practice of baptizing Believers c. been branded with the reproachful Name of Error and 't is very observable how some Men of far greater Parts and Ability than my Brothers or mine either have cried out against the Reign of Christ Conversion of the Gentiles and calling of the Jews as a gross Error as witness Mr. Richard Baxter particularly of late 'T is Arguments I know you look for and if you find those of Mr. Marlow's to prevail against what I have said do not regard what I have wrote in the least for I would have your Faith as the Apostle speaks to stand in the Power of God and not in the Wisdom of M●n The smallness of the Number of our Churches who are in the Practice of this Ordinance I also know will signify nothing with you provided it be proved to be a Truth of Jesus Christ What tho there was not one of our Churches that had Light in it it would certainly the more concern them to enquire after it And tho he hath so coursly saluted me c. yet I am not concerned at it further than to bewail his Confidence and Ignorance to say no worse I know no Men in any Age who appeared first to vindicate a Truth which others call an Error but have met with the same Usage I meet withal from our Brother who I hope is a good Man and means well yet is he strangely beclouded As I have been a Preacher up of Spiritual Worship as he says and that too more than thirty Years tho a poor and unworthy one so through the Grace of God I hope shall continue to do unto the end of my days and 't is only Spiritual Worship you may perceive I plead for in contending for singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs none of which three can be without their special and particular form But must they needs be therefore carnal and humane Forms which appertain unto them I see 't is time to stand up for the Form of Ordinances for the Form of Doctrine and for the Form of sound Words for if we must part with singing of Psalms Hymns c. from his pretended Arguments about Forms all external Ordinances must go as well as that of Singing In a word we must give up our whole visible Profession and wait for those extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit that were in the Primitive Time if we must not sing till we have that extraordinary Gift to do it which some had in the Apostles Days and the like in discharge of every Gospel-Ordinance which were to abide in the Church to the end of the World He may as well therefore say I do but counterfeit that excellent Gift in Preaching when I preach which was in the Primitive Gospel-Church as thus to charge me in the case of our singing by the ordinary Gifts of the Spirit Read his Epistle to me Append. p. 15. It seems to me as if my Brother does not understand the nature of Moral Duties or natural Worship but mistakes and thinks natural or moral Worship must needs be carnal tho we never plead for the performance of any Duties that are moral naturally in themselves without the help and assstance of God's Spirit and the Graces thereof in our Hearts Is it not part of natural Religion and Worship to fear God to love God and trust in God and that too with all our Hearts and with all our Souls and with all our Strength and love our Neighbours as our selves c. These Duties appertain to natural Religion yet without the divine Help and Influences of the Spirit we can do none of them in a right manner no more say I can we pray nor sing the Praises of God which are Duties comprehended in our fearing honouring worshipping and loving of him And whereas Mr. Marlow reflects on me as if I singled out my self more than others in London in pushing on this practice of Singing I must tell him I have abundance of Peace in my Spirit in what I have done therein And if our People I mean the Church to whom I belong are one of the first Churches of our Perswasion in this City found in the practice of this Sacred Ordinance I am satisfied it will be to their great Honour and not to their Reproach and that not only in succeeding Ages but also in the Day of Jesus Christ But blessed be God the greatest number of our worthy London-Elders are as well satisfied in this Truth as my self and many of their People too and will generally I doubt not in a little time get into the practice of it Our Reverend Brother Knowllys 't is known is clear in it and has practised it for some Years though at present 't is not used in his Congregation He told me lately he is about to write in Vindication thereof which he intends to publish in a short time if the Lord please to spare his Life And whereas Mr. Marlow affirms as if I had brought Singing into our Congregation to the grief and trouble of many of our Members it is false for 't is known the Church hath been in this practice near twenty Years after Breaking of Bread and near 14 Years on Thanksgiving-days in a mixt Congregation And what was done of late in bringing it in after Sermon on the Lord's Days was done by a regular Act of the Church in a solemn manner And though some of our worthy Brethren and Sisters are at present somewhat dissatisfied with it yet I doubt not but will in a little time see their Mistakes if such busy Men as he do not in an undue manner blow up Coals of Contention amongst us Can any sober Christian think he hath done well to publish the Private Affairs of a Particular Church to the whole World It seems to some as if he has hopes there will be a Breach in the Church upon the Account of our Singing the Praises of God but I hope he will find our worthy Brethre●● understand themselves better than to go about to impose on the Church or Consciences of their Brethren or to