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 16â—â— 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 Churcâ— 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 Wâ—â—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 Lâ—â—â—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 thâ—â— 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 â—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 itâ— 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 â—hould they must lose this Ordinance of â—inging which they have an equal Esteem â—or And how doth it open the Mouths of â—ur Godly Brethren of other Perswasions â—o speak against us for being so zealous for â—ne Gospel-Ordinance and so careless about â—nother that very few Christians who have â—ad the greatest Light Zeal and Piety in â—ny Age of the Church ever doubted of 〈◊〉 grieves me to think there should be a â—reach made in God's Worship among you â—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 â—hing it is If we have it not but 't is with â—ou we would willingly know what your Singing is or what you call Singing
For we do say and testify we believe you are wholly without Singing in any proper Sense at all The Lord give us Moderation don't let us be bitter one against another I shall beg a part in your Prayers and intreat you to look over what Weakness you may see in this small Tract for I am you know but a Babe in Christ's School and know but in part And now to you my Beloved Brethren and Sisters who meet on Horselydown whom I hope I may say are my Joy and my Crown whose Souls are most dear to me and whom I can say I truly love and long after it rejoices my Spirit to see how generally you are inlightned into this Gospel-Duty but 't is no small grief to me to see since the Church in such a solemn manner agreed to sing the Praises of God on the Lord's Day to find some of you so much offended I am perswaded 't is for want of Consideration for you have no new thing brought in among you Hath not the Church sung at breaking of Bread always for 16 or 18 Years last past and could not nor would omit it in the time of the late Persecution And have not many of the honest Hearers who have stayed to see that Holy Administration sung with you at that time and yet none of you ever signified the least trouble And have we not for this 12 or 14 Years sung in mixt Assemblies on Days of Thanksgiving and never any offended at it as ever I heard What is done more now 't is only practised oftner and sure if it be God's Ordinance the often practising of it by such who find their Hearts draw out so to do cannot be sinful And on that Solemn Day when the Church would have it put up to see 〈◊〉 the Members stood affected about Singing almost every ones Hand was up for it or to give Liberty to the Church at such times to sing And when put up in the Negative but about 5 or 6 at most as I remember were against it Did any one of you at that time say if we did proceed to sing at such times you could not have Communion with us which if you had I perceive the Church nay every one of us who had born our Burden for many Years would have born it a little longer Besides did not the Church agree to sing only after Sermon and when Prayer was ended And if those few Brethren and Sisters who were not satisfied could not stay whilst we sung they might freely go forth and we would not be offended with them so far was the Church or my self from imposing on the Consciences of any But is it not hard that some of us should so long be laid under a Burden when the Church generally was against Singing at that time and you cannot bear it now it is come to be your Lot I am afraid the noise of these things are misrepresented abroad and therefore I thought it might not be amiss to rectify Mistakes in you or any other Brethren The matter of Difference that is at present between the Church and some few of our dear and beloved Brethren and Sisters is not about Singing it self nor singing with others for that has been all along the practise of the Church for many Years as before I hinted but only about singing on the Lords Day unless it be one Member except the Judgments of any other are lately changed But my Brethren will I hope seriously consider of the Matter and labour after that Christian Love Tenderness and Forbearance the Gospel calls for We are exhorted to bear one anothers Burdens and so to fulfil the Law of Christ For the Lord's sake let us not fall out by the way and lay things grievous on one anothers Spirits for we are not Lords over one anothers Faith but Helpers of each others Joy O my Brethren pray let us all watch against Satan and strive to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace I must confess divers of you did much desire me to answer Mr. Marlow's Book before this time but I hope you will excuse my neglect for some of you know the occasion of it â—tis done now and in the fear of God recommended to your perusal And O that the Lord would be pleased to bless it to your Satisfaction then shall I have cause to praise the Lord that I undertook the Work I can â—â—y you lie near my Heart and I would do any thing I am capable of to promote Truth and Peace amongst our selves and in all the Churches of Christ If any of you should say How can we be satisfied to have Communion with the Church when we believe 't is an Innovation that 's a hard word Arâ— you Infallible Is there not ground for you to fear you are mistaken or to think in the least 't is a doubtful case since so much is to be said for it and has been so generally received from the beginning by most enlightned Saints and you your selves with the Church for so long a time been in the Practice of â—t at other times Besides can you find any ground from God's Word that will warrant you to separate your selves from the Church upon this account and also may not the same or like Scruple rise in our Spirits against having Communion with you who we beâ—ieve lie short of a plain Gospel-Ordinance â—nd so through want of light diminish from God's Word as you say we add thereto by doing of it But far be it from us to have a thought to act that way towards any of you Moreover will not such a practice of a Separation from the Church upon this account justify other Godly Christians who are Members of such Churches who do not sing that are convinced as well as we it is their Duty to separate from those Congregations to joyn with such Churches as are in this practice Doubtless that Door that will let you out of this Church will let others out of those Churches I mentioned before and there are not a few such in this City There is one thing I think good to note here to prevent any mistake that tho I call Preaching a moral Duty yet to preach the Gospel only appertains to such whom God particularly hath gifted for that Work and who have a lawful call to it I shall conclude with the words of the Holy Apostle Finally Brethren farewel be Perfect be of good Comfort be of one Mind live in Love and Peace and the God of Love and Peace shall be with you 2 Cor. 13. 11. Which is the Prayer of him Who is Your unworthy Brother fellow Servant and poor Labourer in God's Harvest B. Keach From my House near Horselydown Southwark April 3d 1691. The Contents of the chief Things contained in the insuing Treatise WHat it is to sing Page 5. That there can be no proper Singing without the Voice pag. 6. 'T is not simple Heart-joy or inward rejoicing without
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 â—â—â—ficult Work and ever was 't is no easy thâ—â—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-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 understanâ—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
since that time a corrupt People and false in their Church-Constitution and polluted with humane Innovation or Inventions of Men the abuse of an Ordinance is subject to raise Mens Spirits to a dislike of the thing it self But blessed be God I have for near twenty Years last past been fully convinced of the Truth of the Ordinance I now contend for and have an equal esteem for it through Grace as I have for any other Truth knowing every Word of God is pure and have found no little comfort in the practice of it publickly in the Church and in private also And that all may see upon what Authority we have received and do practise this Ordinance of singing of Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs I have wrote this Treatise and do hope with the Blessing of God it may tend to establish such who own it to be an Ordinance of Christ and convince others who either oppose it or through want of Light live in the neglect of it Singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs an Holy Ordinance of Jesus Christ CHAP. I. Wherein it is shewed what Singing is or what it is to sing or what the Word doth import IT may seem strange to some wise and learned Men that I begin here possibly they will say there is no need to speak a word about this for all the World are agreed in the Case all know what it is to sing as well as they know what it is to speak Though this be true yet I find a necessity to open this Act of the Bodily Organ as will appear by what follows for some Men it seems are so confounded in their Thoughts that they do not know what Singing is but think there may be a Singing without the Tongue taking the word Melody in the Heart to be all the Singing the Holy Ghost exhorts to in the New Testament and so would have us believe there is a mental Singing as well as mental Praying nay which is worse would wholly exclude all other Singing besides that which is very hard if they should do so by Prayer it would strangely amuse all good People viz. that we must have nothing but Heart-Prayer without a Voice Others say that one Person may be the Mouth in Singing as well as in Praying and so a multitude may be said to sing with him though there is none sings but that single Man as in Prayer A third sort there be I find who conclude Singing is wholly comprehended in the Ordinance of Prayer and from hence please themselves that they do sing when in Prayer they give Thanks to God or praise God But very remarkable it is to see how these Men are confounded by this last Assertion in respect of one Objection they bring against Singing Object What will you sing your Prayers you may as well go to Common-Prayer c. Thus I have heard one or two worthy Men speak not long since Why truly Brethren it appears you do sing your Prayers nay and that always too when you pray for I am perswaded you never pray to God for what you want but you see cause to praise him for what you have received All that ever wrote of Prayer that I have met with do jointly agree that praising of God or giving of Thanks is one part or branch of Prayer and that part it appears in your opinion you sing And if this be so pray allow us to sing some Prayers too and do not charge us with Common-Prayer unless David's Psalms be a Common-Prayer-Book And then it will appear that Common-Prayer is of Divine Institution nay and enjoyned on the Churches too in the New Testament for we know no Psalms I mean called so in God's Word but the Book of Psalms or Psalms of David Now these things being considered I shall shew you what it is to sing and so remove these Cavils and Mistakes about it I shall not in this Chapter shew you what 't is to sing with the Spirit or with Grace in the Heart that respects the right performance of â—inging but what it is to sing in our common Acceptation and in Scripture too First It may not be unnecessary to consider of those several distinct and internal Acts of the Mind and Heart of a Man Secondly Of those external Acts of the Tongue of a Man 1. To think muse or meditate is an interâ—al Act of the Mind wherein the Excellency of the Soul is discovered unto a Man 's own â—elf as David saith I am fearfully and wonderfully made and that my Soul knoweth right-well Psal 139. 14. The Soul has its divers Passions as Fear Anger c. there lie the Desires Sense of Want or Fulness 't is the Seat of Joy and Sorrow But yet nevertheless there are several Acts that the Soul can't do without the bodily Organ 't is capable of praying or to joyn wiâ—â— others in Prayer without the Tongue becausâ— there are the Desires as I said before anâ— God hears and knows the Groans Sighs anâ— earnest Desires of the Soul as well as if theâ— were expressed by words yet ought the Tonguâ— to be imployed in that Service notwithstanding and not only for the sake of others who are 〈◊〉 joyn in with them in those servent breathings 〈◊〉 Man may put up to God but it may be expedient when a Man is alone verbally to express his Desires to the Lord for several reasonâ— which I shall not mention here it being not 〈◊〉 our present business Yet nevertheless the Soâ—â— without the Tongue can't preach God's Word can't dispute for it c. nor do many otheâ— things neither can the Soul I say be said 〈◊〉 sing in a proper sense without the Tonguâ— True there is a Metaphorical Singing spokâ— of in the Scripture so by a Metonymie the Treâ—â— of the Wood and Mountains and Fields 〈◊〉 said to sing and thus in an improper Sense the Heart may be said to sing when it onâ— rejoices in God Many proper Acts of Meâ— are often in the Scripture ascribed to Vegetâ—bles and Animal Creatures and many propâ—â— Acts of Men are attributed to God Fire and Hail Snow and Vapours Mountains and all Hills fruitful Trees and Cedars Beasts and all Cattel creeping things and flying Fowl are exhorted to sing and praise God Psal 148. 8 9 10. which all know they cannot truly and in a proper sense be said to do 'T is frequent as Mr. Caryl observes in Scripture to attribute Acts of Life to Lifeless Creatures and Acts of Reason to those which have no Sense the Earth is said to mourn Tsa 33. 9. the Trees of the Forest as the Hills and the Valleys are said to rejoice Isa 65. 12. 13. the Birds praise God saith he by their singing and the Stars by their shining Caryl on Job chap. 38. 7. Now in like manner if there be any such sort or kind of singing as these Men plead for viz. a mental singing i. e. a Heart-singing without the Tongue mentioned
it by Singing of Praises 'T is said our â—viour rejoiced in Spirit Luke 10. 21. and â—anked his Father yet 't is not said he sung 〈◊〉 Joy is inward not known till expressed â—â—d many times 't is expressed by Singing tho â—â—t always The end why I mention this is to â—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 Singâ—g is a Duty performed always with the Voice â—ad can't be done without the Tongue we may â—ather from the Noise it maketh to the hearing â—f others as it is noted in the Scripture See â—xod 32. 17. And when Joshua heard the Noise 〈◊〉 the People as they shouted he said unto Moâ—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 â—â—â—y for being overcome but the Noise of them â—at sing do I hear They that doubt about â—hat the Act of Singing is I desire them to â—nsider this Text well in which 't is to be obâ—â—ved that there are several distinct Acts voâ—lly performed by the Tongue and all Manâ—nd easily distinguish the one from the other â—nless depraved in their Minds or under a Deâ—â—sion and Temptation of Satan 1. There is a shouting Noise of the Tongue â—nd all Mankind know what it is and can â—eadily resolve any Person about it when he â—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
the loss of their Lives for though they were discovered by their Singing in their Assemblies yet they would not leave it off To pass by the Waldâ—nses practice in Singing c. and all other Godly Christians since the beginning of the Reformation How zealous were the Godly Puritans as they were called for this blessed Ordinance in whom Godliness shone so gloriously that few since may compare with them Also our Brethren of the Independent and Presbyterian Perswasion are as well established in this sweet Ordinance as in Prayer and Preaching What though they mistake in Baptism doth it therefore follow they must needs mistake here too Why may they not be wrong and off the Rule in their Preaching and Praying and all else they do I must confess I value not the Practice of all Mankind in any thing in God's Worship if the Word of God doth not bear witness to it but sence 't is positively injoined in the New-Testament and also an Example left of our Saviour and his Disciples practice I thought it could not be amiss to take notice of the unanimous Agreement and joynt Consent and Practice of the Churches and Godly Christians in the succeding Ages next after the Apostles and to this very Day but all this is needless since â—tis to me all one as to go about to prove the Saints in every Age of the World did pray and praise God this of Singing being an Ordinance of the same nature CHAP. IX Shewing the true Form or Manner of Singing in the Gospel-days and that it ought to be with united Voices or to sing together harmoniously I Having in the first Chapter proved there is no proper Singing but what is with the Voice part of my Work here is done already till I come to the Objections I need not handle that Point any farther But the Question is Whether one Person only or the whole Church should sing together with united Voices 'T is the latter that I do assert and shall by God's assistance endeavour to make appear and I shall begin with our Pattern I mean that Example our Lord Jesus and his Disciples have lest us Is it not said they sung that is Christ himself with his Disciples sung a Hymnâ— together in the end of the Administration of the Holy Supper Matth. 26. 30. The second place I may direct you to is Acts 16. 25. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang Praises unto God and the Prisoners heard them Obj. The place in Mathew 26. 30. may as well be translated they praised God Answ Though it is true they praised God and it will bear that sense yet as Mr. Cotton and all learned Men I can meet with say the Greek word signifies their Praising of God in a Hymn That is to say they praised God by Singing See Dr. Du-Veil on Act. 16. 25. Where is the Man that saith the Word will bear a praising of God without Singing if there should be such a Person I perceive by my converse with several Learned Men that I shall bring twenty may be an hundred to that one that will refute and contradict him in what he says But let this be considered viz. Though all spiritual Singing is a Praising of God yet all Praisings of God are not Singing his Praise I have already proved that Singing in the Spirit in a melodious manner is the highest manner to express the Praises of God that the Scripture bears witness of so that 't is no marvel that some tell you it signifies Praising of God But it is a poor sorry Cause that puts Men upon a temptation to quarrel with the Translators of the Bible who from the word they hymned positively affirm they sang a Hymn This is enough to stumble many weak Christians who from such Dangerous and unnecessary exceptious may be ready to conclude the Holy Bible is not truly translated in other places and so may not know what to receive as a Truth especially when they shall render a Greek word Singing and another shall say it signifies no more than giving of Thanks Yet Mr. Marlow seems to affirm no less pag. 30. All know these are two different things and tho he says truth that says they praised God when they sung an Hymn â— yet if they did no more than in the common manner say Grace or give Thanks he that says they Sung tells an untruth in plain English he lies and so every Man will say Should I give Thanks after Supper and one that is by should say I sung a Hymn would not others who were with me wonder at his Impudence and say he related a false Story and testify I did no more than say Grace or give Thanks Nor doth it signify any thing if some Greek Copy or old Traslation should render it they gave Thanks from the word they Hymned For of what Authority is such a Translation when compared to our late faithful and laborious Translators who having many Greek Copies and comparing them together do affirm the Greek Word signifies they sung 〈◊〉 Hymn and so saith Learned Dr. Du-Veil Object But might they not be said to sing together tho none sung but Christ only and 〈◊〉 Disciples at the close say Amen as in Prayer Men are said to pray when there is but one that is the Mouth Ans This can't be since there is so great a difference between the nature of Prayer and that of Singing which I have clearly opened in the first Chapter of this Treatise there is Mental Prayer praying in the Heart and Heart-rejoicing but there is no proper singing without the Voice so that this would be justly to confound the Propriety of Speech A whole Multitude that hear a Sermon and say Amen to what they hear may as well be said all of them to preach as many may be said to sing when there is but one only indeed that doth sing 2. But further to remove this Doubt I must say with Mr. Cotton If the Disciples did not joyn in singing that Hymn but only by silent Consent then they might as well be said to have taken the Bread and blessed it and broke it and distributed it and so the Cup for all this Christ did with their silent Consent But what our Saviour did alone is expresly recorded as done by himself He took the Bread and gave Thanks it doth not say they gave Thanks and he took the Cup c. But observe this of Singing or Hymning is laid down in the plural Number when they had siung an Hymn they departed into the Mount of Olives They that departed into the Mount were they that sung the Hymn Now it was not Christ alone but his Disciples with him that departed into the Mount of Olives therefore saith Mr. Cotton it was Christ and his Disciples that sung the Hymn together CHAP. X. Proving Singing the Praises of God with united Voices from the Practice of the Saints in the time of the Old Testament BUt to proceed
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 betrâ—â—â— them to himself for ever vers 19. I will allâ—â—â— 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 shalâ— 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 â—ie in great Folio's that very few may meet â—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 moltenâ—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
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 iâ— 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 Wâ—â—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◠further Comfort and Establishment in his whol◠Mind and Will I should not have answered yo◠in the matter and if you or any body else shall see cause to reply I shall be ready to return an Answer if I find it do deserve or nee◠one if God is pleased to spare my Life and t◠enable me in the Work And now one word to you my dear Brethren and Sisters whose Souls are established in thi◠sweet and heavenly Ordinance First Consider how universally this Ordinance hath been practised of singing the Praise◠of God 1. By variety of Persons as Kings and godly Princes as Moses who was a King in Jesurun Deut. 33. 5. David Joshaphat Solomon c. By worthy Governours as Nehemiah c. by Prophets by the whole Congregation of God's People by Christ and his Apostles by the holy Martyrs of Jesus in the Primitive Times 2. In all places by Moses in the Wilderness Exod. 15. by David in the Tabernacle by Solomon in the Temple by Jehoshaphat in the Camp by Christ and his Disciples at the holy Supper by Paul and Sila◠in Prison 3. In almost all Conditions in times of Imprisonment in Persecution and Martyrdom 4. By all Sexes both Men Women and Maidens old Men and Children 5. Nay and how all Creatures in Heaven and in Earth are called upon by the Holy Ghost to sing forth the Praises of God 6. Consider how God hath honoured it with his Presence and gracious Acceptance 2 Chron. 5. 13. with Victory over Enemies 2 Chron. 20. 21 22. 7. Confirmed by Miracles Act. 16. 25 26. Secondly Consider that Singing is 1. The Musick of Nature as Mr. Wells observes the Trees and Woods by a Metonymy are said to sing And what sweet Musick do the pretty Birds make in the Air and Woods 2. 'T is the Musick of Ordinances as appears by our Saviour's singing with his Disciples at the Celebration of one of the highest and most sublime Ordinances of the Gospel 3. Singing is the Musick and Melody of Saints 4. 'T is the Musick and Melody of Angels 5. 'T is and shall be the Musick and Melody of Heaven the glorious and glorified Saints and Angels send up their Praises this way But my Brethren be intreated to cry to God that you may pray and sing with the Spirit and with Vnderstanding also 1 Cor. 14. 15. and with Grace in your Hearts labour after Holy and Heavenly Frames We must sing with Affections let your joyful Noise be from the sense of God's Love in a dear Redeemer to your own Souls Let it be by exciting your Graces let Faith be in exercise in this Duty as well as in Prayer and under the Word Let it be with inward Joy remember it is your Duty to rejoice evermore and what then can hinder your Singing God's Praises at any time Let it be for Spiritual Mercies and Blessings chiefly more for deliverance from your Sin than from your Suffering You have found that Singing is not only sweet and raising to the Spirit but also full o◠Instruction nay I have heard how God has blessed it to the Conversion of some Souls as well as to the Consolation of others Austis is very excellent to this purpose Quantu◠flevi in hymnis canticis suavè 〈◊〉 Ecclesiae tuae voces ill◠influebant 〈◊〉 eliquabatur veritas tua in cor meum ex ea effluebat inde effectus pietatis currebant lachrymae benè mihi erat cum eis How sweetly saith he have I wept in Hymns and Songs at the sounding of thy Church the Voices flew into mine Ears and thy Truth melted into mine Heart and from thence flew forth the Effects of Godliness the Tears ran down mine Eyes and it was well with me when I was with them Aug. in his Preface to the Psalms Cap. 6. FINIS AN ANSWER TO Mr. Marlow's Appendix Wherein his Arguments to prove that Singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs was performed in the Primitive Church by a Special or an Extraordinary Gift and therefore not to be practised in these Days Are Examined and clearly Detected Also some Reflections on what he speaks on the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hymnos And on his undue Quotations of divers Learned Men. By a Learned Hand Psal 119. 141. I am small and despised yet do not I forget thy Precepts 1 Cor. 14. 22. Wherefore Tongues are for a Sign not to them that believe but to them that believe not but Prophesying serveth not for them that believe not but for them that believe By B. KEACH London Printed for the Author and sóld 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 1691. To all the Saints and Churches of Jesus Christ Christian Salutation Honoured and Beloved IT grieves me I have further occasion to trouble you after this manner I know not what should move Mr. Marlow to write his Appendix just at a time when he was told I was writing an Answer to his first Discourse he might have had a little Patience and have staid till my Treatise was published whereby he might the better have perceived whether what he wrote the last Year would abide the Test or Trial of God's Word or not This is therefore his second Attempt in publick against God's holy Ordinance of singing of Psalms Hymns c. before any body appeared visibly to oppose or put a stop to his undue Proceedings For what Call he had to begin this Controversy at such an unseasonable time I know not but since he has done it certainly◠none can see any just cause to blame me for standing up in the Defence of that Truth of Jesus Christ which I am so well satisfied about and established in and that too as it is practised by the Church to whom I am related as an unworthy Member and above twenty Baptized Congregations besides in this Nation Tho before I went about it I offered my Brethren him or any other a sober and friendly Conference in the Spirit of Meekness which I could not obtain tho I did not give such a publick Challenge as my Brother intimates in that strange Epistle he hath wrote to me but upon the coming forth of his Book I was troubled and would have had it been discoursed in the General Assembly but that was not consented to and then I told my honoured and Reverend Brethren my purpose was to give an Answer to his Book but did not enter upon it till I was urged by several and particularly by Mr. Marlow himself before divers Witnesses in such kind of words as these i. e. Answer me like a Man Whether he is answered like a Man or but like a Child is left to your Consideration 't is done according to that Light and Ability God hath been pleased to bestow upon me But if he or any of his Helpers do see cause to reply they must answer such
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 Mâ—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 Brethreâ—â— understand themselves better than to go about to impose on the Church or Consciences of their Brethren or to
Divine Worship as to know what Gospel-Worship is and also that we ought not to neglect one Ordinance more than another because we are not arrived to the height of Perfection I am sure the way you would lead poor Souls in is not to bring them forward towards perfection â—in Worship but to keep them back and hinder them in pressing on to that which some have not yet attained unto Moreover your folly appears too much in calling our Singing an Irregular way of Worship unless you had 〈◊〉 strength of Argument to convince your Reader what you say is true May be 〈◊〉 you had Truth on your side you might have 〈◊〉 like a Man But I am satisfied all wise Men will say there appears nothing less than Argument In both parts of your Book there are many words indeed but little else as I can see If what I have said have no more strength of Argument and Scripture and good Sense in it for Singing of Psalms c. than appears in your Book against it I do intreat my Reader to reject what I have said and 〈◊〉 it as worth nothing but if it be otherwise viz. upright even words of Truth O then ye Saints receivâ— this Ordinance and let what I have said by the assistance of God's Spirit be as Goâ—rds and as Nails fastened by the Master of Assemblies which are given from one Shepherd Prov. 12. 10 13. One word more to those Texts in Paul's Epistles Ephes 5. 19. Col. 3. 16. where he enjoins those Churches to admonish one another in Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs c. Can any Man suppose 〈◊〉 these words the Apostle exhorts Ministers to preach and so sing in Preaching or to admonish one another to pray and so to sing in Prayer How absurd would it be to affirm either Why then say I he can mean nothing else but this Ordinance of Singing c. Object But say some Did not the Lord's People of Old in their Captivity say How can we sing one of the Lord's Songs in a strange Land Psal 137. 4. Answ 1. Under that Dispensation the Lord's People had a special and peculiar Right to Temporal Blessings and when they were deprived of them and in Exile they might not see they had that cause to sing the Praises of God But our Promises and Privileges are better â—nd more inward and Spiritual And therefore under the Gospel-Days we find the Saints sung in the midst of their greatest Sufferings for as ouâ— Sufferings do abound in us so our Consolation also aboundeth by Christ 2 Cor. 1. 5. 2. I know not but we nevertheless might see cause to refuse as they did to sing the Lord's Song at the taunting and reproachful â—â—quests of an insulting Enemy the Lord's People are not to do the Lord's Work at the Devil's Instigation 3. But blessed be God we are not in Exilâ— we are delivered like Men that dreamed our Liberty and Mercies are great if we do not sin them away In the last place consider how acceptable and well-pleasing to God his Praises are in a Song read Psal 69. 30. I will praise the Name of God with a Song and will magnify him with Thanksgiving Versâ— 31. This also shall please the Lord better than an Ox or Bullock that hath Horns and Hoofs Two things you may observe from 〈◊〉 1. That to sing God's Praises is acceptable to him 2. That 't is no Ceremonial Rite but in it self a Moral Duty Sacrifices appertained to the Ceremonial Law and though acceptable to God in their Nature and Design yet Moral Duties have always had the preference He hath shewed thee O Man what is good i. e. that excells that which God most delights in to do justly love Mercy c. Mic. 6. 8. And this of praising God in a Song seems from hence to be a Duty of the same Nature 't is not only acceptable but very acceptable it pleases God better than shadowy Ordinances or the Offering of an Ox or Bullock Theâ— few things Brethren I thought good to add at the Close that you may stick close to this Heavenly Ordinance and not be removed by the subtil opposition of any Men whatsoever Remember there is no Truth of Christ but has met with its Opposers but though we can't as yet agree to sing the Praises of God together yet let us love one another and let not the practising or non-practising of this Duty for want of Light break our Communion one with another nor make a Breach in our Affections Let us walk as we have attained If any be otherwise minded God may reveal it to them Phil. 3. 15. Let us live holy Lives and not sing God's Praises and soon forget his Works that so though we can't all sing together on Earth yet may so walk to the Praise of his Glory that we may sing his Praises together in Heaven FINIS Some Reflections on Mr. Marlow's undue Citations of several Learned Men shewing the genuine and proper Signification of the word Hymnos By another Hand THE Foundation of Singing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs in the Publick Assembly of the Saints is too firmly laid in Scripture and in the Judgment and Practice of Christians in general to be shaken by the New Notions of some few amongst us whom I hope the Lord in his time will lead into the knowledge of this Truth and make them sensible of their injurous Attempts to overthrow and remove it particularly Mr. Marlow in his late Book and Appendix which are answered in the preceding Tract and no more is intended in these few Pages but some short Remarks on the two first Sections of the Appendix In the first whereof he would not have Praising God conâ—â—ed to Songs of Praise or Vocal and Melodious Singing For my part I know not where he will find an Antagonist in this Point for without Controversy it will be generally granted that all Creatures according to their Natures and Capacities are obliged to praise their great and bountiful Creatour and the allowance hereof doth not in the least injure the Duty which he strenuously pleads against As for his long Citation out of the Learned Dr. Owen on Heb. 2. 12. to me seems very little for his purpose for the Doctor after he had made some Reflections on the translation of the former part of the Verse saith in the rest of the words viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. in the midst of the Church I will sing Praise unto thee the Original Heb. Psal 22. 24. is expresly render'd for though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be render'd simply to Praise yet it s most frequent use when it respects God as its Object is to praise by Hymns or Psalms as the Apostle here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sibi hymnos canam I will sing Hymnes unto thee or te hymnis celebrabo I will praise thee with Hymns which was the principal way of setting forth God's Praise under the Old