Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	speak_v	spirit_n	worship_v	2,123	5	8.9605	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A67166	Folly detected or, Some animadversions on a b[ook] called, A brief discourse [con-]cerning singing in the pub[lic] worship of God; put forth by one Mr. Isaac Marlow 1690, and an appendix printed 1691 Wherein the weakness of his arguments against singing God's praises, the dangerousness of his assertions, and his unaccountable confidence is laid open; and singing of Psalms, &c. in God's worship proved a Gospel-ordinance. By Joseph Wright.	Wright, Joseph.; T. W. Appendix: or, A brief answer to Mr. Marlow's notion of the essence of singing.	1691 (1691)	Wing W3704; ESTC R221057	43,280	88

the Voice saith Dr. Roberts how gross and Ignorant a Contradiction in the Adject and absurd nonsence is it to talk of Singing in Heart without the Voice Methinks I cannot but admire that any Man of common Understanding should expose to the view of the World such nonsensical gross Absurdities to justify his long neglect of a holy Ordinance of God that is as ancient as the World and will continue to the Glory of God when it ends But farther to convince him or any others that are misled by him that the Essence of Singing is not in the Spirit c. 't will appear thus 1. If Singing in its Nature and Essence is a Mode of Speaking then the Essence of Singing doth not consist in a Spiritual inward Exercise of the Soul or Mind c. for here is no Speaking consequently no Singing but Singing in its Nature and Essence is a Mode of Speaking for seeing it consists in a Modulation of the Voice therefore nothing else but a Mode of Speaking and consequently implies and presupposeth Speaking 2. If there can be no Singing without Speaking then the Essence of Singing doth not consist in an inward Act of the Mind This is plain because here is no Speaking and the Essence of a thing cannot be there where the thing it self is not But there can be no Singing without Speaking as appears thus If Accidents cannot exist separate from their Subjects then there can be no Singing without Speaking But Accidents cannot exist separate from their Subjects Accidentis enim esse est inesse 't is the very Nature and Essence of Accidents to exist in another and therefore Singing an Accident cannot be without Speaking its proximate Subject and consequently consists not in an inward Act of the Mind only 3. If you confine Singing to the Heart and Spirit because God will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth John 4.24 and those that sing ought to sing with the Spirit and Understanding 1 Cor. 14.15 by the same Rule as you have been told by others you may confine Prayer and Preaching to the Heart and Spirit to the Internal Acts of the Soul or Mind for we ought to pray with the Spirit and with Understanding and Ministers ought to preach with the Spirit and Understanding In short the Consequence of your Discourse about that which you call the Essence of Prayer and Singing as the Reverend Mr. Knollyes and Mr. Keach have told you opens a wide Door for silent Meetings and establisheth the Quakers in their mute Principles though God is a Spirit yet he requires us to worship him with our Bodies as well as our Spirits 1 Cor. 6.20 Vocal Prayer and vocal Singing may and ought to be with the Spirit and 't is of no other Prayer and Singing the Apostle there speaks but what ought to be done to the edification of the Church But who shall be edified by your inward Singing that you plead for That Ordinance of Singing that the Church of God before the giving of the Law of Sinai and under the Law practised and our Lord Jesus by his Command and Example to his Churches hath injoyned them to practise in their Assemblies in the Gospel-day is vocal Singing to their mutual Edification Col. 3.16 which you and others neglecting and some opposing do therein militate against a positive Statute-Law of Heaven Rob the Church as much as in you lieth of an Ordinance which our Lord Christ hath ordained for their edification and comfort lay stumbling blocks before the weak to lead them into Errour which the Lord make you sensible of and give you true Repentance for lest you repent it when too late take heed of adding Sin to Sin and kindly accept of the Admonitions that have been given you in Private and in Publick quarrel not with those that have shewed your Mistakes but seriously consider of what hath been said and the Lord give you true repentance for what you have done in opposing so plain a Truth of God FINIS

Mind of Man And if so then he wholly excludes Original Sin which doth not consist in the Act or Exercise of the Mind but is born with us and speaks only of Actual Sin and neither doth he speak of all Actual Sin but only of one Species or Kind namely of Heart and Thought and if he takes the term Essence in its proper signification it belongs to no Sin which as I said before is a privation unless he is running himself and would have others follow him into the old exploded Error of the Manichees And lastly neither is it a description of the Essence of actual Sin in the Thoughts for let him mean what he will by Essence of Sin 't is certain that Actual Sin in the Thoughts doth not consist in an inward spiritual Exercise of the Mind or Spirit this in it self is no Sin but a natural Act of a reasonable Creature the being therefore of this very Species of actual Sin consists not in the Exercise of the Soul or Mind considered in it self but as it relates to God's Law and wants such due conformity to it as it should have Therefore I am perswaded that either Mr. M. is under some pernicious Error in Judgment concerning Sin or else that he doth not understand what he asserts I hope the latter The word Essence is a hard Term especially when we talk of the Essence of Sin and I have too much cause to fear from mine own knowledg that by this means he hath laid a Stumbling-block before the Weak to cause them to err in Judgment concerning Sin and other things that his Notions lead to I hope the Lord will make him sensible of it and give him Repentance § 4. Or secondly by the Essence of Sin in the Spirit he means 't is in the Soul or Spirit as its Subject and in this sense 't is in part true tho the word Essence in a proper sense must not be allowed for the Soul of Man is the proper Subject of Sin yet not exclusive of the Body for the whole Man which consists of Body and Soul is the Subject of Sin But if he means thus 't is in the Spirit as its Subject tho 't is true in part yet 't is nothing to his purpose for here is no description of the Nature of Sin wherein it consists which is the very thing he pretends to declare but only a relation of what Subject it is in all one as if a Person should ask me What is the true Nature and Essence of Whiteness And I reply thus Whiteness is in the Wall you may very well answer so it is in Milk and in a Man's Body c. But what is this to the Nature of it And the same I reply to Mr. M. Actual Sin is in a Man's Words and Actions as well as in his Thoughts and Spirit But I suppose he takes not that Expression in this latter sense viz. the Essence of Sin is in the Spirit as its Subject but in the former 't is in the Spirit as it consists in an inward spiritual Exercise of the Soul or Mind of Man which he intimates to be his meaning in the words just preceding that particular for saith he Pag. 6. The Scriptures do clearly witness that the Essence of Prayer and Praise and of Sin do all consist in an inward Exercise of Soul or Spirit And then proceeds to prove each in particular viz. First saith he The Essence of Sin is in the Spirit This plainly shews he takes the Expression in the former sense which we examined above But in my Judgment he speaks one thing for another for there is a great deal of difference between the Essence of Sin as in the Spirit and the Essence of Sin consisting in an inward spiritual Exercise of the Soul or Spirit But in such dark Shades do Men wander when they oppose the Truth of God which they should love and honour But hitherto of the Nature of Sin § 5. As for the Nature or Essence of Prayer I conceive it thus Prayer is a Duty we owe to God and an Action of a reasonable Creature whereby he expresseth his Mind to the Lord sometimes with words and sometimes without words in petitioning for things agreeable to his Will Prayer is therefore either Mental or Vocal these are two Species of Prayer in general Now to say Vocal Prayer is not Prayer because Mental is is all one as to say two Species cannot agree in one Genus or that a Man is not an Animal because a Brute is but such Absurdities are unworthy Confutation The Essence therefore of Prayer consists not in the Mode of performance whether it be done with the Mind only or with the Voice also Therefore when Mr. M. saith Pag. 6. The Essence of Prayer is in the Heart or Spirit This is true in the general of one Species of Prayer namely Mental but not of Vocal Prayer for the Nature and Essence of this consists in the Voice as well as in the Mind and tho God will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth Joh. 4. yet who doubts but Spiritual Worship may be performed by bodily Organs As to the other Scriptures he mentions to prove his lame definition of Prayer they relate only to Mental Prayer and the Scripture is as plentiful in other Instances for Vocal Prayer had he been willing to collect them but this indeed would have shewed him that the Essence of Prayer is not only in the Spirit § 6. As to the Nature of Singing I conceive it lieth here 'T is an Ordinance of God and an holy Action of a reasonable Creature wherein by a fit Modulation of Voice sutable to the nature of the Matter sung they sound forth God's Praises 'T is a Mode of speaking 't is a solemn or melodious way of sounding forth the Praises of God And how this which is a mode of speaking can consist in the Heart and Spirit i. e. in an inward exercise of the Soul where there is no speaking at all for my part I cannot understand unless Accidents may exist separate from their Subjects which is contrary to the Rules of all Logick Whereas therefore Mr. M. Pag. 7. thus argues If the Essence of Prayer be inwardly in the Spirit why not of Singing also Not to repeat what I have said of Prayer I reply for very good reason Because Prayer may be performed by the Mind without the Voice mental Prayer is an Action and Accident of the Mind this is not separate from its subject though the Voice be wanting But Singing is a Mode and Adjunct of the Voice and therefore when we speak of proper not Metaphorical Singing it always presupposeth the Voice as its Subject and can in no wise be performed without it 'T is true a Man may praise God with his Heart and Mind for there is mental Praise though no mental Singing as well as mental Prayer but vocal Praise whether by Speaking or Singing cannot be performed without

Information that cannot be gain-said and yet this neither clashes nor necessarily destroys the Word of God nor leaves us without a Rule of Worship though it may Mens Ignorance None of those Teachings or Speakings are such as Women are forbidden or commanded to learn in silence with subjection And they speak in the Church when they tell the next to them the Proofs which were quoted this is familiar and yet breaks no Rule of what you pretend if you have not spoken the Truth you are at a loss how to find it so you be in more things than this For it is evident you confound things not minding Matters contained in the Word of God which is such a sweet Harmony as there is no Absurdity nor Contradiction in it There is Teaching which Women are forbidden in the Church and yet Teaching which they are not forbidden in the Church and there is learning in silence and a learning vocally which Women are allowed as abovesaid likewise out of the Church they may pray and prophesy too if they be covered How should it be a shame for them to be uncovered if no Men see them nor hear them And what can a Woman do with her Hair on if the Place where it groweth be not covered with it none can tell which cannot be meant but of some place where it grows not viz. the Face Pag. 22. Your fifth Particular which is of the Order of Singing this you say We have plainly and clearly delivered in 1 Cor. 14.26 to 34. How is it then Brethren When ye come together every one of you hath a Psalm hath a Doctrine hath a Tongue hath a Revelation hath an Interpretation let all things be done to edifying Here you say we have plain and clear the Order of Singing c. I say If it be you have not left it so c. That we may have what is given us therein take it first as it is in the Original viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How is it Brethren when you come together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every one of you this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every one is only read in the Singular Number of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not near but separate as one Man is from another in fifteen places in the New-Testament and it includes each and all and that without exception except it be made 1 Thess 2.11 Eph. 4.16 Rev. 20.13 Phil. 2.4 which is the same word for every in all the places 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath it is near 130 times in the Present Tence hath in the New-Testament and in no other sense as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So that from the Notation of the word hath and the following intimation in the 30th Verse which admits that if any thing be revealed to him that sitteth by there is a manifestation between hath and what might be therefore hath doth positively import that at the Church's coming together these five things specified in Vers 26 were or might be in some or all of the Church-Members even at their first coming together for it is not said if any of these be revealed but every one of you hath those Particulars were enjoined afore they might come already furnished with some or all of them So that it appears they were not then in the time of their Meeting as extraordinary Gifts immediately given or to be depended upon to be immediately given or received for if so the Text is no directive to the constant Worship of God but to some extraordinary kind Then I observe that some or all the Church-Members were furnished and prepared aforehand and had even at their coming together a Psalm Doctrine Tongue Revelation Interpretation all which for the constant Worship of God which they were in such a manner to communicate use and improve in the Church now met to God's Glory and their own Edification and Conviction of Unbelievers They had a Psalm Doctrine Tongue Revelation Interpretation all ready to use and improve else they might have and depend on or expect Silent-Meetings for the Lord gives his Blessings to Saints in their private Meditations Reading Studying Prayers and Converse in increasing and multiplying Graces and Knowledg of himself upon chewing the Cud contemplating upon what they have been taught seeking asking knocking unto which great Promises are annexed and fulfilled and the Grounds and Substances of most precious Truths are received and digested before the Church meets according as God distributes unto every one so that some or all may have a Psalm Doctrine Tongue Revelation Interpretation to use in the constant Worship of God for God gives these ordinary Gifts when and to whom he pleases and is not tied to give them when the Church is all met together only we are tied to Means and expect his Blessing in the Use Wherefore as that called Doctrine cannot be denied to be an ordinary and constant Gift or Means in the Church and by all allowed to be digested and one may or hath it as soon as the Church is met because as afore it follows that the other Four are likewise to be in readiness even as that or else that is all that is to be in readiness and the ordinary and constant use in the Church or else if the other Four are extraordinary and immediately to be received in the instant of being met so must Doctrine also And this plain Text is Direction for extraordinary Gifts only and none else from first to last and ordinary Gifts and constant Worship are not here to be found But I am not of that mind but that it is all of it respecting the ordinary and constant Worship of God in his Church as met together in all Ages to the end of the World therefore I must sort it a little laying the word Psalm and Doctrine a little by the last is not gainsaid and speak unto the latter three Tongue Revelation Interpretation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath a Tongue I say this is by a Metonymy of the instrumental Cause and is put for Speech or Language yea a strange Tongue though the word Strange be not there a Tongue which few or none might understand But now whether this must be of necessity understood an immediate Gift here because such there was while the Church was met together or such a Tongue as were either Learned for there might be as well Learned as Unlearned or a Tongue naturally spoken and yet strange to all most or some The first it could not only respect for then all the five Particulars may as well be so accounted extraordinary immediately given and Prophesy and Prophets too in the after Verses for such there were also in that time But there were then also Teachers Prophecy Revelations Interpretations in an ordinary manner and is so still so must there be Singing too And a Saint of a strange Tongue according to his Notion may upon occasion be at an Assembly and have a Gift to speak but being where none can