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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

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

it by Singing of Praises 'T is said our ●viour rejoiced in Spirit Luke 10. 21. and ●anked his Father yet 't is not said he sung 〈◊〉 Joy is inward not known till expressed ●●d many times 't is expressed by Singing tho ●●t always The end why I mention this is to ●ew they are two different Acts and Duties 〈◊〉 I am enjoined to rejoice so I am enjoined so from that Joy to sing Jam. 5. 13. Fifthly and lastly to pass over this Sing●g is a Duty performed always with the Voice ●ad can't be done without the Tongue we may ●ather from the Noise it maketh to the hearing ●f others as it is noted in the Scripture See ●xod 32. 17. And when Joshua heard the Noise 〈◊〉 the People as they shouted he said unto Mo●s There is War in the Camp Ver. 18. And 〈◊〉 said It is not the Voice of them that shout 〈◊〉 Mastery neither is it the Voice of them that ●●●y for being overcome but the Noise of them ●at sing do I hear They that doubt about ●hat the Act of Singing is I desire them to ●nsider this Text well in which 't is to be ob●●ved that there are several distinct Acts vo●lly performed by the Tongue and all Man●nd easily distinguish the one from the other ●nless depraved in their Minds or under a De●●sion and Temptation of Satan 1. There is a shouting Noise of the Tongue ●nd all Mankind know what it is and can ●eadily resolve any Person about it when he ●istinctly hears it 2. There is it appears a crying Noise likewise 3. There is a preaching Voice or a Noise made that way 4. A praying or praising Voice 5. A singing Voice And all these distinct from each other Moses could readily resolve the Doubt that was upon Joshua when he lent his Ear to hearken to the Noise of the People Truly I am almost ashamed I have this occasion to speak and to be so large upon it but knowing what I have met withal from some poor weak and doubting Christians who stumble at Noon-day about the very Act of Singing not knowing what it is or at least raise such Objections against it I have thought good to begin here and if this may but satisfy them I shall bless God for what I have said in all plainness and do know it makes an easy Passage to the next Chapter wherein I shall by God's Assistance prove Singing yea such a Singing there being no other known to Mankind an Holy Ordinance of God and to be practised in the Congregation of Christians and in Private also only let me conclude this Chapter with two Inferences 1. If this be so then we may naturally infer from hence that all such who never sing the Praises of God with a Vocal Melody notwithstanding all those sweet Rejoicings they may have in the Spirit at any time never sing at all And if Singing be that which the Great God looks for from and enjoins upon his People and every one of them that then they lie short of their Duty and want an Ordinance Moreover if it be our Duty and that which belongs to God it is to take away one great part of his glorious Praise yea the highest manner of performance of it we are capable of and so it is a robbing of the Holy God as well as it deprives their own Souls and the Souls of others of much sweet and Heavenly Joy and Refreshment We may also infer that those who think they may be said to sing with him that sings when they approve of the Matter of his Song and are affected with it are mistaken seeing there is no proper mental or Heart-singing or joining that way with others in Singing as there is in the Duty and Ordinance of Prayer For all may be said as well to preach who like and approve of what a Preacher saith as they may be all said to sing who sit and hear one Man sing with delight when they themselves hold their peace and sing not CHAP. II Wherein 't is clearly demonstrated and proved that Singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs is an Holy Ordinance of God and part of Gospel-Worship and continues an Ordinance for ever by the Antiquity of it Arg. 1. MY first Argument shall be taken from the Antiquity of this Practice 't is as ancient as this World the World and Singing of the Praise of God came even in together or very near each other I have respect to that triumphant Singing of the Angels When Jehovah laid the Foundation of the Earth Job 38. When the Morning Stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for Joy I find an Eminent Writer paraphrasing thus on these words viz. Where wast thou when I laid the Foundation of the Earth c. at which sight the Morning Stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for Joy Taking the words as carrying an Allusion to or a Similitude taken from some noble Buildings or Structures whose Foundations use to be laid with Solemnity and with Singing or shouting Acclamations See Mr. Caryl on the Place who after he hath given several Opinions of Men about these Morning Stars some supposing they mean the Stars in the Firmament of Heaven he gives two Reasons to prove by them are meant the Angels of God There are some saith he who take these Stars Metaphorically or Figuratively for the Angels and then their Singing is proper And there are two Reasons given why by the Stars in this place we should understand the Angels First If we consider the Truth or Course of the History because the Earth being created the first Day the Stars were not in being till the Fourth unless we comprehend them as was said before as to their Matter and Reality under those words of Moses In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth But as to their Appearance and Formality so they were not till the fourth Day and if so how could they sing together the Praises of God at the laying the Foundation of the Earth A second Reason is given from this Chapter afterwards Vers 31 32. Canst thou bind the sweet Influences of the Pleiades or seven Stars or loose the Bands of Orion c. Here the Lord treats with Job about the Stars in proper Senses therefore probably the Morning Stars here mentioned are not to be taken Properly but Tropically for the Angels And then he goes on to prove how fitly the Angels may be called Stars c. And from this of the Stars or Angels Singing he infers First Singing is an Act of Divine Worship they sang to the Glory of God Note Secondly saith he Singing is an Expression of Joy 'T is very remarkable the Angels sang at God's bringing forth the first Creation to teach us our Duty and how we should celebrate the Praises of Jehovah by Singing for the Works of the first Creation doubtless this was and is the Will of God and we are to pray that

Time this Prophecy did refer to which you may soon see if you read the Context How beautiful upon the Mountains are the feet of them that bring good Tydings c. Which the Apostle absolutely applies to the Time of the Gospel and to Gospel-Ministers Rom. 10. 15. And the Prophet doth not only say The Watchmen shall lift up their Voice and with the Voice together sing but also calls upon the desolate and waste places to sing together which can refer to none but the Lord's People who in Gospel-Days shall be made a Praise to him who had been as a poor barren and waste Wilderness For saith the Prophet in the next words The Lord hath made his Arm bare in the Eyes of all Nations and the ends of the Earth shall see the Salvation of God Vers 10. Now this place directly declares the manner how we ought to Sing that is with Voices together And thus I find a most Reverend and Learned Man speak upon the place David's Psalms saith he were Sung together in Heart and Voice by the twenty four Orders of the Musicians who typed out the twenty four Elders which our Annotators and others say signify the Church and Ministers of Christ and so saith this Author viz. All the Members of Christian Churches Rev. 5. 8. who are made Kings and Priests to God to praise him as they did for if there had been any other Order of Singing besides the Body of the People to succeed those formerly used the Lord would doubtless have given directions how or what it was Not Moses only but all Israel sang and the Women as well as the Men also intimateth that that Song John speaks of Rev. 15. 3. which saith he the Protestant Churches getting Victory over the Beast with Harps in their hands and Singing the Song of Moses refers to that Song and manner of Singing Exod. 15. 1 2. And there is no doubt of it but it doth Moreover saith he Isaiah foretells in the days of the New Testament that God's Watchmen and dissolates lost Souls signified by desolate and waste places should with their Voice Sing together Isa 52. 8 9. The Song of the Lamb saith he was with many together Rev. 7. 9 10. And the Apostles expresly command the Singing of Psalms Hymns and spiritual Songs not to any select Christians but to the whole Church Ephes 5. 19. Col. 3. 16. Paul and Silas sang together in Prison Act. 16. 25. and must the Publick hear only one Man Sang I must say it would be a strange sight to see and hear and without any Warrant from God's Word or Practice of any Church of Christ To all these saith he we may add the Practice of the Primitive Churches the testimony of the ancient and holy Basil is instead of many Epist 63. When one of us saith he hath begun a Psalm the rest of us set in to sing with him all of us with one Heart and with one Voice and this saith he is the common practice speaking of Basil of the Churches of Egypt Lybia Thebes Palestina Syria To the same purpose Eusebius gives witness Eccles Hist lib. 2. cap. 17. The Objections saith he made against this do most of them plead against joying to Sing in Heart as well as in Voice as that by this means others out of the Church will sing as also that we are not always in a suitable Estate to the matter Sung and likewise that all cannot Sing with understanding and are not all therefore who have understanding to join in Heart and Voice together Are not all the Creatures in Heaven Earth Seas Men Beasts Fishes Fowles c. commanded to praise the Lord and yet none of these but Men and Godly ly Men too can do it spiritually and with understanding The third Scripture Prophecy is Hos 2. 15. which clearly alludes to the Gospel-days 〈◊〉 Expositors shew viz. when God should make a New Covenant with his People and betr●●● them to himself for ever vers 19. I will all●●● her and bring her into the Wilderness and speak comfortably unto ber Vers 14. And 〈◊〉 give her Vineyards from thence and the Valey of Achor for a Door of Hope and she shal● sing as in the days of her Youth and as in the day when she came up out of the Land of Egypt which is clear has respect to that of Exod. 15. see our Annotators on this Text for it fully confirms Singing under the Gospel and such a Singing as was of Old I shall close this with what Dr. Roberts saith in his Key to the Holy Bible pag. 175. Finally that passage in the Prophet Thy Watchmen shall lift up the Voice with the Voice together shall they Sing is saith he prophetically spoken of the Times when the Feet of the Messengers of glad-tidings shall be beautiful who shall say unto Sion Thy God reigneth This is interpreted by the Apostle Paul of the Gospel-times under the New Testament I rather chuse to give my Understanding of this glorious Truth in the words of other Men such worthy and renouned Men as these than in my own thinking some may more readily incline to receive the Truth from them than from such a poor Nothing-creature as I am yet did not I verily believe as they did in this matter I should not have cited a word from their Pens Besides some of their Works ●ie in great Folio's that very few may meet ●ith and what they say which they prove from God's Word we ought carefully to receive though in some things they differ from us Therefore if any Answer me they must also answer them in what I have cited out of their Writings or I shall conclude I have no Answer at all CHAP. XII Proving 'tis our Duty to sing the Praises of God with united Voices from the great Noise such are said to make when they sing THis appears by that in Exod. 32. 17 18. And when Joshua heard the noise of the People as they shouted he said to Moses There is War in the Camp vers 17. And he said It is not the Voice of them that shout for mastery neither is it the Voice of them that cry for being overcome but the noise of them that sing do I hear vers 18. Certainly one Man's Voice could not have made such a Noise nothing can be more clear but that they sung with united Voices together Obj. But here it is objected This was in praise of the Golden Calf and so no rule Answ 'T is no matter to whom they sung it was their Sin and horrid Wickedness to give that Divine Worship and Praise to a molten●mage that belonged to God only but there is no question but they sung now to this false God as they had done cap. 15. to the true God of Heaven and Earth and therein lay part of their wicked and horrid Deed. The second Scripture is Psal 81. 1 2. Sing aloud unto God make a joyful Noise which cannot be apply'd to

that Men should go about to restrain or withhold Praises from the Lord which are due to his holy Name and wherein we are said to glorify him Psal 50. 23. I am perswaded they will have but little Thanks from him one day for their thus doing And truly that want of God's Presence or liveliness of Spirit or that cause of Complainings that are in our Churches of which you speak may partly arise from hence i. e. from the general neglect of this great Duty in which God of old appeared amongst his People like a cloud to fill his House with his glorious Presence 2 Chron. 5. 13. owned also by God's gracious Testimony in giving his People 〈…〉 such eminent Victories over their Enemies 2 Chron. 20. 21 22. And when they had consulted with the People and appointed Singers unto the Lord that they should praise the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness they went out before the Army and to say Praise the Lord for 〈◊〉 Mercy endureth for ever And when they began to sing and to praise the Lord set Ambushments against the Children of Ammon Moab and Mount Seir which came against Judah and they were smitten Israel's Success saith Mr. Wells follows Israel's Singing If the Lord's People will be found in their Duty they shall not want God's Presence To this I might add that glorious witness of his Presence in delivering Paul and Silas out of Prison upon their Praying and Singing Praises to him Act. 16. There may 't is true be a natural Joy or false Rapture by an erring Spirit but that Joy and Presence of God we meet with in his own Way and Ordinance nay in the same Ordinance in which he met with his People of old we may be sure is to be prized and esteemed as no natural or counterfeit Joy say you what you please If in singing Psalms Hymns c. there is no other Rule or Directions given in the New Testament differing from the Practice of the Saints before the Law under the Law and in Gospel-days performed by Christ and his Disciples Then no Christian has cause in the least to doubt but so we are to sing since 't is a Duty and injoyned on the Churches in the New Testament Ephes 5. 19. Col. 3. 16. But this I have spoken largely to already likewise See Chap. 9. In Pag. 47. of your Book you say As to Forms of Prayer and Singing you have sufficiently treated of them before and that the sufficient Gifts of the Spirit shall continue for the Worship of God in the Gospel-Church to the end of the World and therefore your Business here you say is only to shew that the using a Form of Preaching is no Example for a Form of Singing Because say you there is reason for a Form of Preaching from God's Word and Example of Christ himself who read a Text and then preached from it though as he was not so others are not limited to that or any particular Forms yet it is lawful for them and required of them to compare Spiritual Things with Spiritual and to give themselves to reading and meditation and to hold fast the form of sound Words rightly dividing the Word of Truth So that where the Scripture gives us a liberty we may use it but it is our Sin to take it where it is forbidden as you say you have shewed in a form of Prayer and Singing Answ In vain is all this for all the Saints and Ministers of Christ in all the World know there is no one form of Preaching laid down in all the Scripture We have no direct Precept nor Example to preach in the form of taking a Text of Scripture and to raise a Doctrine from it and then Generals and Particulars with Application 't is left to the faithful Servants of God to make use of such a Form or Manner as the Spirit of God may help them to and the best Form or Method they ought and do make use of which they judg may most tend to the profit of the People That place you mention of our Saviour taking a Text and then preaching from it is scarcely true however 't is a greater proof for a Form of Reading the Scripture in our Publick Assemblies than for taking a Text to preach from it The Text saith He went into the Synagogue of the Jews on the Sabbath-day and stood up to read Aud there was delivered to him the Book of the Prophet Isaias and when he had opened the Book he found the place where it was written The Spirit of the Lord is upon me c. Luk. 4. 17 18. And he closed the Book so do not we and gave it again to the Minister vers 20. And began to say unto them This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your Ears vers 21. We read of no more he spake unto them from that Scripture And as touching those general Directions you mention of comparing spiritual Things with Spiritual c. 1 Cor. 2. 13. the Apostle doth not prescribe a Form of Preaching but shews as our Annotators observe how they did disclaim those Orations of the Athenian Philosophers using a plain and spiritual Stile giving the naked Truths of God without any paint of gawdery Phrase speaking the Oracles of God as the Oracles of God fitting Spiritual Things to Spiritual Persons or opening one Scripture by another But certain it is they preached by an Immediate and extraordinary Spirit or Inspiration And so do not we but by an ordinary Spirit from the mediate Word and therefore must study and are left to use what Method we think may be as I said before most profitable for the Edification of the People so that although the Matter of our Sermons are God's Word and so Divine and Sacred yet the Form or Method you may as well call Formal and Human as so to call our Sacred Hymns c. God hath graciously owned nevertheless this form of Preaching and daily doth for the conversion of many Sinners and so he doth our way of Singing to the comforting and refreshing the Souls of many Saints We have matter to be sung plainly expressed viz. the Word of Christ in Psalms and they are well known and also Hymns and Spiritual Songs which are also easily known by such who are Spiritual whether they be the Sacred Word of Christ as to the Matter of them or not as it may be known that the Doctrine is so which we hear preached As touching David's Psalms they are formally God's Word as well as materially so and since we are exhorted to sing Hymns and Spiritual Songs I ask whether those Hymns and Spiritual Songs could be without a Form either immediately or mediately precomposed by the Spirit and whether the Spirit of God doth not may not assist God's Servants now in precomposed Hymns as he did of old Object But may be you will say They are not in Metre in the Scripture but other words are added to make them fit to be

you are impartially to read and well weigh my sober Reply to my Brother's Appendix I am glad it came forth before all my Treatise was printed off though it is true it makes the Price more than I intended There is a Reverend and Learned Friend who meeting with Mr. Marlow's Appendix finding him quoting learned Authors in an undue and unaccountable manner to little purpose which because it might possibly amuse the Unlearned and more unwary Reader he has in love to this Sacred Truth and to deliver the Souls of Men and Women from Mistakes made some Reflections on what he has wrote on that account at the close of this Reply If the Lord please to bless what I and my Reverend Friend have said to the further clearing up the Truth I shall not be troubled at my Pains nor Charge I have been forc'd to repeat some things twice or thrice by reason of his leading me in such an unusual Path. This is all at present From him who is your unworthy Brother in the Gospel and Service of Jesus Christ B. Keach AN ANSWER To Mr. Marlow's APPENDIX FIrst of all you tell us That to praise God or praising of God is not confined to Songs of Praise but that there are other ways and manner of praising of him than such melodious Singing Answer We never yet asserted there was no other way or manner to praise God than by singing of his Praise Nor is there a Man who affirms any such thing that I know of but it is one thing to own those other ways of praising of God and another thing for you utterly to deny this way or the way we use in singing his Praise But I must tell you most Learned Men nay all that I have met with do conclude the Disciples or those Children you speak of Matth. 21. 16. Luke 19. 37. did sing those Hosanna's to the Son of David as I have shewed in the first Chapter of the foregoing Treatise I perceive you have now at last raised the Auxiliaries against this Blessed Truth of Jesus Christ But as a worthy Brother hinted the other day Dr. Owen is a press'd Man and as forced in so he doth you no service at all as will appear by what follows but more especially by what my worthy Friend has wrote at the close of this our Answer The Doctor from Heb. 2. 12. from the Greek word Hymneso se I will hymn thee i. e. I will praise thee saith 1. what Christ will do viz. He will sing Praise to God 2. Where he will do it i. e. in the midst of the Congregation The expression of both these he saith is accommodated unto the Declaration of God's Name and praising of him in the Temple The singing of Hymns of Praise unto God in the great Congregation was then a principal part of ' ●is Worship c. 2. The chearfulness and alacrity of the Spirit of Christ in this Work he would do it with Joy and Singing These are the Doctor 's words as cited by you Appendix pag. 4. And thus did Christ sing with his Disciples in that great Representative Church as our Annotators call it Now what is this to your purpose the Doctor tells you that Hymneso se is Singing Praises to God And how do you know but Christ might also often sing in the Temple and in other great Congregations though we do not read of it since 't is said that many other things did Jesus that are not written Joh. 21. 25. 1. Especially considering since it was prophesied of him that in the great Congregation he should sing God's Praise 2. Because as the Doctor observes Singing in the Temple was one great part of God's Worship from whence 't is not likely our Saviour should neglect that part Moreover he positively affirms Christ did with chearfulness and joy give Praise to God by Singing 'T is well known Dr. Owen owned no other Singing than what we do he doth nowhere talk of the Effence of Singing in our Spirit and so exclude vocal or proper Singing 1. He acknowledges Singing is Praising of God so do we and say 't is one of the highest ways of Praising him too 2. He intimates there are other ways of praising of God besides Singing his Praise though it clearly holdeth forth that our Saviour would praise God that way namely by Singing And you would do well to observe what our late Learned Annotators speak upon that of Heb. 2. 12. these are are their words Christ and they are of one Father that is the Saints are here called his Brethren he by Nature and they by Grace and from one Humane Parent Luke 3. 23 38. and both of one Flesh He solemnly sung and Praised his Father with them say they at his Supper Matth. 26. 30. in that Representative Church Mark 14. 26. Yet we as I said before do readily grant as the Doctor intimates those other ways of Praising of God and that Prayer the Word of ●aith and the Fruits of Obedience hath a tendency to the Praise of God But if the Doctor and some other Learned Men should intimate that that Greek word Hymnos should in a remote sence signify Praising of God without Singing we ask Whether any o● them say those ways of Praises without Singing is the immediate genuine direct and primary signification of the word All your Helpers will fail you here There are other Greek words to express those other ways of Praise to God besides Hymnos You are upon a dangerous Rock you make it you● Business to trouble our People with the signification of the Greek word Hymnos a Hymn though you understand not that Language just after the same manner that the Ped●baptists do with the word Baptiz say they i● signifies washing as well as dipping which learned Fisher grants But how Take his words 'T is saith he so taken improperly indirectly collaterally by the by or remotely it so signifys viz. a washing But saith he the direct immediate genuine and primary signification of the word Baptizo is Immersion Dipping or to dip c. You it seems take the same way to destory the Ordinance of Singing God's Praises as they take to destory the Ordinance of Baptism But this will do your business no better than that will do theirs Dipping is Washing but every Washing is not Dipping Theirs is as Mr. Fisher observes an improper remote or indirect Baptism that they infer from the improper Signification of the Greek word Baptizo and so no true Baptism it all So you asserting from those Learned Men that the Greek word Hymnos signifies a 〈◊〉 or common praising of God in Prayer 't is say I but an improper indirect and remote sort of Singing of God's Praise that the Word will admit of in that sense and so no Singing at all If you discourse with learned Persons they will tell you that some Greek words do in an improper or remote sense bear several Significations but the direct genuine