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 ὑμνοσ 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 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 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 frightn̄ed 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 Men. 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
filling their Hearts with Joy and Gladness or else it flows from those special and internal Blessings which only concern the Saints viz. Union with God Communion with God Faith Love c. Tongues were for a Sign not for them who believe but for them who believe not 1 Cor. 14. 22. Extraordinary Gifts were to convince Unbelievers of the Truth and not for the Joy and Comfort of such who did believe Men that have the Gift of Tongues may be graceless and so without Christ and perish eternally in Hell therefore the extraordinary Gift of the Spirit fits not tunes not the Heart nor Tongue to sing the Praises of God You may as well deny the Saints may not ought not in these our Days rejoice in God nay not praise him in any other manner of ways as well as not sing from this Argument you make use of here on this account Therefore it follows that you strangely mistake pag. 15. Appendix in intimating when Paul exhorts the Saints to covet after the best Gifts he means the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit for certainly those are the best Gifts that most tend to the edification of the Church which Tongues could not be said to do And in the very next words he speaks of a more excellent way viz. that of Charity or Love which refers to the Graces of the Spirit And of so little use were those special or extraordinary Gifts to the Church that if there were no Interpreter they were to be silent and not use them in the Church at all who were that way gifted 2. You confound Tongues which did appertain to all sorts of Gifts with Prophecy and Singing He that had a Doctrine might have the Gift of Tongues to bring it forth so might he that had the Gift of Prophecy and he also that had the Gift to Interpret and so might he also that had the extraordinary Gift to bring forth a Psalm And pray why must ordinary praising of God be now admitted and Preaching Prophesying and Interpreting the Scripture by the ordinary Gifts of the Spirit be still allowed and yet Singing by the same ordinary Gifts must not be admitted What Reason do you give for this Is not this to darken Counsel with words without Knowledg I have demonstrated that the End of those extraordinary Gifts that were then in the Church in the Administration of every Duty and Ordinance was to confirm the ordinary practice of all those Ordinances and so to continue them in the Church to the end of the World And God hath equally honoured and confirmed Singing of Psalms c. to continue and the practice thereof to abide as of any other Ordinance You need not therefore spend your time to prove the Apostles Prayed Preached Prophesied and also Sung by an extraordinary Gift we acknowledg it but say this is no more against our Singing than against our Praying c. who have not now those special Gifts 2. He that had a Psalm of David might bring it forth in an unknown Tongue as well as he that had a Doctrine and so not to the Edification of the Church For if he brought out a Psalm of David in an unknown Tongue who could sing with him But if he had been to sing alone the Melody might have refreshed those who sung not as some say they have been in hearing the French Protestants sing who understand not their Language But to prevent this the Apostle Paul resolved when he sung he would sing with the Spirit and with the Understanding also because 't is the Matter sung that is fruitful to the Understanding and what is the Melody without that Your third Reason or Argument is taken from that in Ephes 5. 18. Be ye filled with the Spirit speaking to your selves c. Answ Doth not the Apostle pray that God would fill all the Saints with Joy and Peace Rom. 15. 13. And pray that they might be filled with the Fruits of Righteousness Now singing flows from that Joy that all the Saints ought to labour after and also from the Fruits of Righteousness we have an equal need to be filled with the Spirit to pray to meditate to praise God and to preach and hear the Word as well as to sing Psalms and Hymns c. But you say pag. 18. That the Gifts of the Holy Spirit were not given alike to every Member of the Church Answ 'T is granted But doth it follow because some had the extraordinary Gift of the Spirit to pray must not the others who had not those Gifts no more than we have them now not pray at all Brother I am grieved to see how you are deceived and would â—eceive others But as they who had not the extraordinary Gift of the Spirit to pray were notwithstanding to pray so they who had not the extraordinary or special Gift to sing were nevertheless to sing the Praises of God What you speak pag. 18. about the diversity of Gifts but the same Spirit from 1 Cor. 12. is rather more against the performance of those other Duties and Ordinances than Singing because Singing is not there mentioned But all that you say there has been answered already so is what you infer from Col. 3. 16. Ephes 5. 19. For to think the Apostle refers to the special Gift of Singing in those places is of a pernicious tendency for you may as well say the same of all other Precepts enjoined on the Churches and so free us from all Gospel-Obedience for want of such Gifts Why must not Spiritual Songs be allowed as well as Psalms and Hymns What do you mean in pag. 23 Brother you were better be silent till you can distinguish better between Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs and the manner of the bringing of them forth by a special Gift A Doctrine may be as Spiritual that is precomposed as that which was brought forth by a special Gift so may an Hymn or Spiritual Song though 't is by the ordinary Gifts or Help of the Spirit precomposed there cannot be an Hymn nor Spiritual Song without its Form but if it be a Spiritual Song it has a Spiritual Form The very word may convince yoâ— of your Error if the Song be taken out of Christ's Spiritual and Sacred Word the Form is Spiritual and if it be sung with a gracious Heart and Tongue 't is doubtless Spiritual Worship and acceptable to God I shall conclude this Section of yours with one honest and plain Argument That Assertion or Notion against Singing the Praises of God that hath a natural tendency in it to overthrow the practice of all Gospel-Ordinances as well as singing the Praises of God is a vile and pernicious Assertion or Notion But for a Man to assert the Saints and People of God now in these days ought not to sing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs because we have not that special or extraordinary Gift of the Spirit to do it hath a natural tendency in it to overthrow the practice
is the very Text you mention take their words This Rule must not say they be restrained to ordinary prophesying for certainly if the Spirit of Prophesy came upon a Woman in the Church she might speak Anna who was a Prophetess in the Temple gave Thanks to the Lord and spake of him to all them that looked for the Redemption of Israel and I cannot tell how Philip's Daughters prophesied if they did not speak in the presence of many The reason given why Women should be silent is because they are commanded to be in Obedience A Woman say they might say Amen to the publick Prayers and also sing with the Congregation to the Honour and Glory of God but for her to speak in an ordinary course of Prophesy to instruct People c. she is forbidden The Apostle saith a Friend in a Manuscript doth not prohibit all manner of speaking for that is directly contrary to 1 Cor. 11. 5 6. where Women are admitted to pray and prophesy for Prayer they may say Amen to the publick Prayers of the Church and for Prophesy they may sing Psalms the Apostle using the Expression according to the Ideum of the Jews 1 Sam. 19. 20 21. 1 Sam. 10. 5. they shall prophesy and for they shall prophesy the Cald. Paraphras reads they shall sing and thou shalt praise with them Vid. Wilson's Dict. Dr. Hammond's Annotat. on 1 Cor. 11. 5. and so it 's used 1 Chron. 25. 1 2 3. The Prohibition saith he is not restrained only to Church-Assemblies but holds good in all places and at all times and intends a Subjection of Women to their Husbands as plainly appears by comparing 1 Cor. 14. 35. with 1 Tim. 2. 12 13. with the occasion and scope of the Text and is of no greater Restraint now than lay on them under the Law 1 Cor. 14. 34. where they were permitted to sing Object But say you If we should say such a vocal Singing together is for a Teaching then where are the Hearers if all be Teachers c. Appendix p. 35. Answ We have shewed you Singing is a distinct thing from that which is called Teaching or Preaching tho in Singing there is a Teaching but chiefly we speak to our own selves as the Apostle exhorts in Psalms c. and the matter of the Psalm or Hymn is full of Teaching and Admonition yet 't is the Matter sung which teaches rather than the Singers may be said to do it nor is it any Contradiction to say when I teach others yet I am thereby taught and admonished my self So that if it were admitted to be a common or ordinary Teaching which must not be allowed and all might be said to teach c. yet nevertheless all are Hearers also and are in a sweet manner taught admonished and instructed in singing the Word of Christ in Psalms Hymns and spiritual Songs as elsewhere I have shewed Nor is it any Contradiction to say according to the sense of the Apostle Women must keep silence in the Church and yet suffer them to sing c. no more than it contradicts their Silence when they speak at other times which they are allowed to do In Sect. 6. You speak of those prophetical places of the Psalms c. urged by us for Singing under the Gospel-days where all the Earth is exhorted to sing unto the Lord Psal 96. 1. Psal 95. 1 2. Psal 100. 1 c. 1. This you would have refer to the preaching of the Gospel i. e. as the Apostles sound went forth into all the Earth Rom. 10. 18. confounding Preaching and Singing together one time and Prayer and Singing at another 2. You would have it chiefly to refer to the seventh thousand Years of the World or Reign of Christ hinting in your first Part as if then there shall be a Singing besides the Essence of it in their Spirits but if that thousand Years you speak of shall be before the end of the World or Gospel-Dispensation pray where lie those Precepts that will authorize them in those days to sing and yet do not authorize or warrant us to sing now Shall they have a new Bible for those Times But if the Precepts for Singing then are contained in our holy Scripture and yet do not belong to us 't is good for us to consider whether other Precepts written therein do not wholly refer to those Times too nay all Ordinances till the Spirit comes down in an extraordinary manner and so now we must throw off all Gospel-Administrations and turn Seekers I am sorry to see such Stuff as this published to the World But what I have said or cited from the Writings of other Godly Men in respect of those Prophetical Psalms and other places of Scripture that enjoin the Gentile-Churches to sing the Praises of the Lord I would have you and others consider well of before you write again In Sect. 7. you heap up a company of confused words to no purpose about premeditated Matter for Prayer to oppose premeditated Hymns c. Append. pag. 38 39 40 41 42 43 c. Answ 1. The Form of Prayer Christ hath left us is a Rule for us in Prayer and we may premeditate what we intend to lay before the Lord it appears from thence and so is the Word of Christ our general Rule by which we must premeditate and precompose our Spiritual Hymns and Songs 2. But Prayer and Singing differ the one from the other we may use other words in Prayer than what we premeditated as the Spirit of God may help us But we are limited by God's Word to sing David's Psalms or else Hymns and Spiritual Songs composed out of the Word of God Now let them be either they must be so many words and no more or else none can sing with him that has the Hymn Now we say the extraordinary Influences for Singing Preaching Interpreting c. are gone therefore every Ordinance must be performed by the ordinary Gifts and Influences of the Spirit or else we must have none at all Was Singing or any other Ordinance performed in the Gospel-Days by an extraordinary Spirit not performed then also and afterwards as well and as acceptable to God by the ordinary Gifts Shew if you can that other Ordinances which had such special Gifts then to attend them as well as Singing do notwithstanding remain Ordinances and yet Singing of Psalms and Hymns doth not so continue If therefore a Man should premeditate every word of his Sermon by the Assistance of the Spirit who dares to say he speaks not by the Help of the Holy Ghost or that his Sermon is not part of Spiritual Worship 'T is no matter whether we have our Sermons or our Hymns mediately or immediately composed and brought forth provided they be Spiritual and done by the help of the Spirit But to close all Are not David's Psalms part of Spiritual Worship and are not the Churches exhorted to sing them In Sect. 8. Appendix pag. 43 44 c.
in answer to what we say That our Psalms and Hymns are Spiritual though precomposed you say 1. That such Forms are not Spiritual Worship because Singing in the Primitive Gospel-Times was from the special Gift of the Spirit 2. Though say you the Matter of precomposed Forms of Singing be Spiritual yet the Heart must be Spiritual too or Grace and Melody must be in exercise in performing of them The Grace of Joy must be raised in the Soul to the heighth of Melody and so break forth Or to that purpose you speak pag. 44 45. Answ 1. We need no more the special Gift in Singing to render our Singing Spiritual than those special Gifts in Preaching to render our Sermons Spiritual 2. As to have Grace in our Hearts not only in the Habit but also in the Exercise in Singing we acknowledg it is necessary to a right performance of it And so 't is in Prayer Preaching and all other Spiritual Duties of Religion And let me tell you we need no greater assistance of the Spirit in Singing than in Praying or Rejoicing therefore what signifies that which you say pag. 45. Viz. The least exercise of true Grace in our Hearts in Prayer gives Essence or Being to Prayer so the least exercise of gracious melodious Joy gives Essence to inward Singing And say you as we ought not vocally to pray in the Publick Worship of God in the Church without a sufficient Gift of the Spirit so also we ought not vocally to sing in the Church unless it be by a sufficient Gift of the Spirit And seeing we have not such a Gift we are not capable of vocal Spiritual Singing And so we must be contented as you intimate in pag. 46. with the Essence of it in our Spirits only Answ By this way of arguing you may lay Godly Christians under Temptations about Prayer especially in the Church because they may plead they have not the Gift whereas the Grace of Prayer viz. a broken Heart is that which God chiefly looks at and so should we too This makes no more against Singing than it doth against Praying And thus I must argue upon you If I have not the special Gift of Singing I must content my self with the Essence of it in my Heart and yet as I have shewed the essence of it is not in the Heart as it is in the Voice and so since if I have not the special Gift of Prayer I must be contented with the Essence of Prayer only Heart-Prayer and not pray vocally at all But you intimate that none ought to sing but such who are in the full assurance of the Love of God But you might as well say none ought to rejoice in the Lord nor to praise him but such only as well as to say what you do here against their Singing who want that assurance But you hint in pag. 46. as if we must be satisfied with your Essence of Singing viz. inward joy in the Heart till we come to the primitive perfection of Divine Worship c. Answ We doubt not through Grace but we are come to such perfection of 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 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 more strength of Argument to convince your Reader what you say is true May be if you had Truth on your side you might have answered 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 esteem it as worth nothing but if it be otherwise viz. upright even words of Truth O then ye Saints receive this Ordinance and let what I have said by the assistance of God's Spirit be as Goards 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 in 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 and more inward and Spiritual And therefore under the Gospel-Days we find the Saints sung in the midst of their greatest Sufferings for as our 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 Requests 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 Exile 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 Vers 31. This also shall please the Lord better than an Ox or Bullock that hath Horns and Hoofs Two things you may observe from hence 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—â— 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 confined 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 Testament Here the Doctor shews the genuine and proper signification of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and although the Doctor in his Exposition of this place extends the sense of the word to its utmost latitude that it might include all ways whereby our blessed Mediator was to Praise the Father yet certainly he never intended to exclude that particular way principally pointed at both in the Hebrew and Greek word which we find in the evangelical History so directly and expresly accomplished Mat. 26. 30. Mark 14. 26. as were also all other things prophesied concerning him yet I grant that the Prophecy had not its full and compleat accomplishment therein for the Design of Christ in the whole Administration of his Mediatorial Kingdom is to set forth the Praise and Glory of his Father and every Member of his Mystical Body should concur with him in this Work in all the Modes wherein it can possibly be performed because God is to be served with all our strength and might Moreover it is evident that the Doctor never intended to undermine or overthrow the Duty of Singing for herein he would have opposed his own Judgment which he hath published to the World in the account he gives of the several parts of Gospel-Worship where he makes Singing one though he terms it a fond Imagination for any to think that God cannot be praised in the Church without it and I doubt not but that all sober Christians agree with the Doctor therein I shall now pass to â—he second Section and consider some parts of it which I was desired to take notice of Mr. Marlow begins with the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which whatever he pretends concerning the generality of its signification most properly denotes a Song of Praise And what he cites out of the Learned Ainsworth on Psal 3. to favour his Purpose will not serve it at all for he there intends nothing less than a Song of Praise which is fitly composed to be sung as will appear to any one who considers the whole Paragraph without Prejudice and this import of the word is agreeable to the common sense of Learned Men notwithstanding what is cited to the contrary His first Citation is out of Constantin's Lexicon whence he tells us that Hymenaeus is a Nuptial Song And what if it be it is altogether impertinent in the present Enquiry for this is a word of another Family and descends from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word well known amongst Learned Anatomists And if he consults any of them he may soon know the full meaning of it and also the reason why Hymenaeus is used for a Nuptial Song This word being thus dismist as foreign to our present Purpose we may consider 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which according to Constantine as cited by him primarily and chiefly signify an Hymn or Copy of Verses made to Praise and to sing such an Hymn or Verse And as for the latter word he says also it is used for saying or pronouncing such an Hymn and the reason may be because saying or pronouncing is necessarily included in Singing for Singing is but a particular Mode of saying or pronouncing And if it was not thus I might say it is the common fate of all Words to be stretched beyond their prime and most proper Signification and who can help it seeing that the Wit and Fancy of Men are such luxuriant things that will make bold sometimes not only with Words but Persons too The Object of an Hymn and Hymning according to their usage in prophane Authors hath been extended with the like liberty both to Men and Things though the primary Object was their Gods Now I shall pass by two or three lines of unintelligible stuff Viz. Hymno etiam Kateuphemismon pro conqueror i. e. hymno also Kateuphemismon is put for Conqueror to complain
Only with this Caution to the Author that when he makes his next Essay to shew his Scholarship in Print he would take better care lest he meet with a more severe Observator As to what he further saith of the use of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to reproach to accuse to complain c. I readily allow but then he must take notice that all this was done in Verse composed and sung to these ends and the use of the word to these ends doth not at all prejudice its primary signification which is to Praise with Songs And whatever the quick-sighted Author thinks he sees in Constantine or Sympson concerning its signifyng simply to Praise for my part I can see no such thing either in them or other Authors which I shall now inspect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is render'd by Scapula Carmine celebro praise in Verse Hymnis decanto I sing in Hymns and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 celebratio quae fit hymnis â—el carmine i. e. praising by Hymns or Verse â—ecantatio laudum a singing of Praises Greg. Naz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is render'd by Scap. Hymnus Carmen i. e. Hymn or Verse and sometimes peculiarly signifies carmen in honorem Dei Verse composed for the honour of God Thus we find 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. a Hymn to the Praise of Apollo Hymnus est cantilena contiâ—ens laudem Dei i. e. an Hymn is a Song containing the Praise of God Minsh The same Author derives it from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Hesych varies by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which properly signifies to sing Vid. Mart. Lex Gl. Cyril Isid lib. 6. 19. Now I shall enquire into the usage of this Word in the holy Scripture and shall follow his Method therein The first Instance which he gives as serviceable to his Design is Psal 78. 63. where he supposes the LXXII Translators were not acquainted with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as a Song of Praise or Marriage-Song which is more than he can tell for it is very probable they mistook the Radix 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he grieved or rather 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he lamented for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so translated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did not lament Of this you see more in Musc on the place But such as took the Radix 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have translated the words otherwise as Jun. and Term. Non Epithalamiâ— celebratae sunt i. e. were not honoured with a wedding-Wedding-Song and to this sense the words are render'd in six or seven Translations more Here the Antecedent is put for the Consequent viz. Praising or honouring with a nuptial-Nuptial-Song for Marriage it self Hence appears the Unskilfulness of this Author and his Ignorance in imposing upon his Reader Next he comes to Mr. L. in his Critica Sacra where you will find Mr. L. giving this sense of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it is Carnem sed peculiariter in honorem Dei i. e. Verse but peculiarly designed for the Honour of God This is agreeable to what was said before from other Authors And further to confirm this sense of the word I might here add Zanch. Daven Beza c. Then he proceeds to the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which he renders Hymnum cano I sing an Hymn this word is used Mat. 26. 30. Mark 14. 26. Acts 16. 25. Heb. 2. 12. and in all these places is rendred by Beza who was eminently skilled in the Greek Tongue after the same manner and on Mat. 26. 30. he commends Erasmus for correcting the vulgar Latin in changing dicto Hymno the Hymn being said to cùm cecinissent Hymnum i. e. when they had sung an Hymn On ver 20. he gives an account out of Josephus of the Jews manner in eating the Passeover and closing it with an Hymn consisting of Psalm 113. and the five immediately following which the Jews call their Magnum Hallelujah their great Song of Praise to God and it is the Opinion of many Learned Men that Christ sang this with his Disciples tho Grotius thinks that Christ made another on that occasion Now as to the three Authors Mr. M. mentions out of Mr. L. who differ in their version of these words we may justly suppose that by Praises they mean Praises in Verse and by saying Praises they mean such a saying as was accompanied with singing otherwise their rendering may be censured as improper Now Mr. M. proceeds to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isa 25. 1. which is derived of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in the Conjugation Hiphil signifies hath praised or confessed and as it is in other words the sense must be governed by the Context and so in this place the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tho render'd by Arias Montanus I will confess yet if he doth not mean such a Confession as was to be made by singing the Song of Praise to God for his manifold Benefits bestowed upon his Church his Version is not so agreeable to the Context as that of the Septuagint who render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will sing Praise and the like may be said of his Version Isa 12. 4. What is said in the third Paragraph and beginning of the fourth concerning the rendring those words before mentioned and some others is of little importance in clearing the present Controversy seeing it is granted already that God may be praised without Singing tho Singing is a principal way of setting forth the Praise of God as Dr. Owen saith And certainly that which is the principal way of praising God ought not to be excluded by Christians neither can we think that these Translators had any design to do it seeing they use such words as include this as well as other ways of praising God And whereas Mr. M. thinks he hath got clear and undeniable Evidence for his simple praising God only he hath got none at all unless three be not contained in the number four because one is Solomon saith The wringing of the Nose brings forth Blood and straining the words of these Translators may bring forth a sense which they never intended I see no such restrictive terms used by them which may reasonably be thought to restrain the Duty of Praising God to the particular mode of this Author but if they did intend it I could if the Bounds of my Paper would admit it produce six or seven Translators who are generally esteemed by learned Men very accurate who have render'd the words for that way of praising God which is pleaded for in the foregoing Treatise The Author which Mr. M. cites out of Marlorate on Mat. 26. 30. pretends it is uncertain with what words they praised God that is whether it was with the common passeover-Passeover-Hymn or some other of Christ's own which might be more sutable to the occasion and whether they sang this Praise or spake it simply the following words of the Author not being well render'd by Mr. Tymme I shall set down they are these Graecum verbum laudem quidem maxime quae Deo debetur includit non autem necessario evincit quòd cecinerint i. e. the Greek word indeed includes Praise chiefly that which is due to God But undoubtedly it doth evince that they sang 1. From the genuine Signification of the Original Word And 2. From the current of Learned Men who go this way To conclude I sincerely desire that the Lord would make this Friend sensible of the Evil and Vanity of this Attempt to remove out of the Church this part of Religious Worship which hath been kept up so many Ages both under the Law and under the Gospel FINIS ADVERTISEMENT THere is in the Press and will be published next Week a Treatise Intituled Spiritual Melody containing some hundred of Sacred Scripture-Hymns chiefly on Metaphorical Scriptures as they lie in a Book Intituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Key to open Scripture Metaphors formerly published by this Author with many others on several Occasions as they have been sung in divers Congregations Composed and now published by B. Keach at the earnest Request and Desire of several Christian Friends Printed for J. Hancock and to be sold at his Shop in Castle-Alley on the West side of the Royal Exchange in Cornhil THere is almost ready for the Press an Exposition on all the Parables and express Similitudes in the Four Evangelists It will be above one hundreed Sheets The PROPOSALS whereof with a Specimen which will contain two Sermons an Exemplar of the whole Work will be on the Parabolical Saying of our Saviour in Mat. 12. 43. When the unclean Spirit is gone out of a Man c. Written by the foresaid Author and will God willing be published in a very short time
else lest the Controversy to some more discreet and abler Pen. I cannot forget the two Brethren that oppoposed Singing the Praises of God and would not comply with the Church though they did not separate themselves from the Church when first the practice of it was received amongst us near twenty Years ago One of them soon after brought a great Reproach upon Religion by immoral Actions and came to nothing and the other sometime after turned Quaker and to my Face denied the Resurrection of his Body c. As to that way Mr. Marlow speaks of praising of God in Prayer without singing of Praises as being more suitable as he thinks to the ordinary Gifts of the Spirit I must tell him God's Word is our Rule and since God doth require his People to celebrate his Praises by singing Psalms Hymns c. doubtless that suits as well with the ordinary Gifts of the Spirit as such Gifts suit with Prayer Preaching c. And I fear one day he will not be found able to give any good account of himself in his bold Attempt in seeking to rob God of his glorious Praise by singing to him as he hath enjoined us to do nor do I fear but through the Help and Authority of God's Word I shall in the Day of Christ stand with Joy and Confidence before him upon this respect when possibly he may be ashamed if he has not sincere Repentance for what he has done Is it not a false Assertion for him to say as he doth in his Epistle to me That as to our way of Vocal Singing together there is neither Command nor Example for it either in the Old or New Testament I shall leave it to the Consideration of all wise and sober Men. Certainly all will conclude the Man is strangely left of God especially considering he builds his main Confidence from a remote and indirect signification of a Greek Word and yet as I am told understands not that Language neither My Portion is I perceive to undergo hard Censures from Men but 't is no more than my Blessed Master met with and what am I that I should complain One said He was a good Man but others said Nay but he hath a Devil and deceiveth the People John â— 12 20. The Lord increase Love among all the Saints and a bearing and forbearing a gentle and Christian Spirit We all know but in part And O that the Lord would be pleased to deliver Men who profess the Gospel from that horrid Sin of backbiting of their Neighbours and from that bitter and unaccountable Spirit of Prejudice that seems to be gotten into the Hearts of some from whence they seem to tear the Names of their Brethren to pieces through undue Offences These thnigs are matter of Lamentation and I fear the forerunner of a dismal Hour that is coming upon us Cannot Christians have the Liberty of their Consciences from their Brethren to practise a Truth according to their Light without being charged and censured after this manner with Carnal Forms and mischievous Error c. I shall not retain you longer but desire you whoever 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 his Worship c. 2. That 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 Essence 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 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 Faith 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 of 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 your 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 Pedobaptists do with the word Baptizo say they it 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 destroy the Ordinance of Singing God's Praises as they take to destroy 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 at all So you asserting from those Learned Men that the Greek word Hymnos signifies a meer 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 and proper signification of the Word is Singing or they sung And now do you not think you are greatly to blame to make such a stir upon a word you understand not after the manner you have done and thereby cause Doubts to arise in the Minds of poor weak Christians about the Translation of the Holy Bible and render our Famous and Learned Translators unfaithful But I hope our People will not regard or mind what you unadvisedly have wrote and said upon this Account Have not the Translators who compared divers Greek Copies together been more faithful to give the proper genuine and direct signification of the Word they hymned they sung an Hymn than from the remote sense they said Grace or gave Thanks We read he gave Thanks when he took the Bread c. the word there in the Greek is he Hymned I have often said to sing to God in aright manner is praising of God but all praising of God is not singing his Praises therefore they that translate the word they praised God speak the Truth but they do not speak all the Truth But if our Saviour and his Disciples did no more than in an ordinary manner give Thanks as we do after Supper our Translators do affirm a false thing to say they sung an Hymn as elsewhere I have more fully demonstrated because Singing is more and a different thing from saying of Grace as you hint an old Dutch Translation reads it But not to muster up a multitude of learned Men as I might do who exactly agree with our Translators on that word take once again what Dr. Du-Veil doth affirm who understood as I am informed all the Oriental Tongues in his literal Explanation of the Acts of the Apostles Acts 16. 25. tho I quoted him before citing Ruff Presbyter of Aquilia in the Title of the 72d Psalm saith Hymns are Songs which contain the Praise of God If it be Praise and not of God it is not a Hymn if it be Praise and of God if it be not sung it is not an Hymn it must therefore saith he that it may be an Hymn have these three things Praise and of God and a Song therefore Paul and Silas saith the Doctor sung Praises to God for the Honour put upon them in that they suffered innocently for promoting the Glory of Christ Many of the Learned Men you quote say Hymnos is Praise you need not say any more to that we all own and grant it but yet also say the proper and genuine Signification of it is praising of God by Singing Now this being so you basely abuse the Translators Append. p. 12. in saying Surely it must be granted that the word sung and sing in those four Scriptures were imprudent Additions to those sacred Texts These are your words 'T is a shame a Man of your Learning should to defend your own Fantasy charge the faithful and renowned Translators after this sort These things being so What Authority have you to say our Saviour and his Disciples did not sing or what reason has any sober or Godly Christian to believe you if you so boldly affirm it Therefore I upon good Authority in opposition to what you say p. 12. that therefore from the Signification of the word Hymnos there is a good and sacred Foundation or Warrant for such vocal melodious singing at or after the Lord's-Supper seeing the word doth bear that as the direct and proper Signification of it And also we say that what Christ did was a Rule for us in that of Singing as well as in taking the Bread and breaking it and blessing it and taking the Cup c. Must not we sing the Praises of Christ who have the Spirit but in measure because Christ had the Spirit without measure And because the Primitive Gospel-Church had the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit in
Prayer Preaching and Singing also must we not pray preach nor sing if we must not do one of them we must do none of them And therefore in opposition to what you say Pag. 13. of your Appendix If the Practice of Christ and the Primitive Church doth not bind us to the Observation of one Ordinance viz. that of Singing it binds us to the Observation of none 't is time to look about us for your manner of arguing I do declare as 't was intimated to me the other day by my Reverend Brother Knowles tends to the overthrow of all Gospel-Ordinances whatsoever therefore I warn all my Brethren to take heed how they hearken to you in this matter as they tender the Glory of God and the Establishment of all Gospel-Worship and Ordinances But to proceed 'T is an easy thing for any wary Reader who is not willing to be deceived to perceive the Man hath a bad Cause in hand and that he reasons not like a wise and enlightned understanding Christian Which doth fully appear if we consider the false and preposterous Mediums or Ways he takes to make out what he pretends to prove 1. For one while he seems to assert that the Essence of Singing which is he says in our Spirit that will serve our turn in discharge of the Duty of singing forth God's Praises without imploying our Tongues or bodily Organs in it which as I have again and again said doth as well exclude vocal Praying and Preaching c. as Singing See Pag. 8. of his first Treatise 2. Then again at another time because there are other ways to praise God besides singing of his Praises we must not sing his Praises at all Appendix p. 4 5. 3. At another time he seems to exclude all Singing out of the Bible from an improper Signification of a Greek word and strives to make it out 't was only common Praises or Thanksgiving in Prayer See the Epistle to me and Appendix p. 1 2 3 4 5. And so quarrels with the Translators of the holy Bible as if they wanted Skill in the Greek Tongue or else Faithfulness in rendring the Word they sung an Hymn which he tells you they should have rendered they gave Thanks or said Grace But further to clear our Godly Learned and Pious Translators of the Bible let it be considered how carefully they were in other Cases particularly in respect of the word Baptizo which they never ventured to translate Rantizo sprinkling to favour their own Practice but rather chose to leave the word in the Original Tongue and not translate it at all than to give a false Signification of it 4. But lest all these Tricks and Shifts should fail him he flies to another broken Refuge viz. intimating that the Ordinance of Singing doth not belong to us now but may be practised by the Saints hereafter in the thousand Years Reign or seventh thousand Years of this World Which is a very doubtful Point I mean whether there will be such a thousand Years Reign or not in his sense and yet this Duty lies amongst other Gospel-Ordinances and Precepts given out by the Spirit and enjoyned on the Churches which is enough to shake the Faith of our People in respect of other Ordinances which they have as much reason to say may not belong to us but shall be practised in time to come when the Church as the Seekers say shall attain its first or original Purity See Pag. 27. of his Discourse 5. And lastly like a wary and fore-seeing Man to be sure to carry his Cause he retires to his last Fort and Strong-hold and affirms That the Ordinance of singing of Psalms Hymns c. was only in the Primitive Time performed by an extraordinary Gift and unless we have such a Gift we must not sing the Praises of God now in these days Tho I have said enough to detect this fond Conceit yet since he leads me in this Path I must I perceive reply again as I have already done that this Objection lies equally against Prayer Preaching and interpreting the Scripture c. sith all these Gospel-Duties and Ordinances in the Primitive and Apostolical Days were performed by the said extraodinary Gifts of the Spirit If he could make this appear there was no need for him to trouble us with the Greek word nor with any of his other Mediums he uses to exclude Gospel-Singing it cannot but appear by this last shift he acknowledges that Singing is somewhat more than that Praising of God he speaks of But these things betray the Man's Integrity or rather his Weakness and shew he doth not argue but plays the part of a Sophister though not a cunning One because his Nakedness plainly appears to the meanest Capacity through his pittiful threadbare Covering For if he had thought his other Mediums would have served his turn or held the Test we should not have I am perswaded heard any of this But however we will come to examine his pretended Arguments he brings to prove this Assertion His first Argument to prove Singing was always performed from a special Gift is in Appendix pag. 14. For as the Grace of Joy is the Fruit of the Spirit saith he and as God had promised the Oil viz. the Spirit of Joy for Mourning so the Primitive Church had some earnest of it and did rejoice in hope of the Glory of God and through the abundance of the Spirit wherewith she was baptized her Ministers delivered the Word of God in extraordinary ways and manners viz. by Prophesying Tongues and melodious Singing Answ 1. Have not Believers now the Holy Spirit as well as they had it then though not in such an extraordinary manner And have not we the Fruit of it i. e. Joy Peace c. in believing Also you mistake your self Joy doth not appertain to the Gifts of the Spirit but 't is a Fruit of the Graces of the Spirit Do not the Saints now rejoice in hope of the Glory of God as well as they did then There is no such cause or ground from the Reception of Tongues or the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit as you intimate to sing the Praises of God For many our Saviour saith shall say in that Day We have prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name have cast out Devils and in thy Name have done many wonderful Works To whom he will say Depart from me I know ye not And the Apostle saith Though I speak with Tongues of Men and Angels and have not Charity I am become as sounding Brass or a tinkling Cymbal 1 Cor. 13. 1. From whence it appears that inward Joy and Peace of which you speak as the Cause of Singing in the Apostles Times did not flow from that extraordinary Gift of the Spirit but from the saving Graces of the Spirit either it flows from the consideration of common or external Mercies and Blessings wherein all are concerned to sing the Praises of God who gives them fruitful Seasons