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

as well as other Ordinances are What you say in the 27th Page about the Winter of Afflictions when that is past and the time of the Singing of Birds is come at the appearance of Christ's Kingdom which will fully perfect the Glory of Temple-worship You mistake that Text in Cant. 2. for all Expositors generally agree that that Place resers to two things first to the coming of Christ in the Flesh the time of the Jewish-Church-state or the dark and cloudy days before Christ came is set forth by Winter 't is known the Afflictions and Miseries of God's People before Christ came was great but then the glorious Sun arose or the Day-spring 〈◊〉 on high visited the Earth Luk. 1. 79. and the longed-for Spring came in and then the 〈◊〉 of the Turtle was heard in that and other Lands and the Birds of Heaven and Earth began to sing I mean both the Angels and Saints also with Grace in their Hearts in a most spiritual and heavenly manner to the Lord. Secondly By Winter may be meant as they shew that time while a Soul abides in its natural estate and when regenerated by the Grace of God then Winter is past and then the time for that Soul to sing is come and such also then hear the Voice of Christ that blessed Turtle sweetly by his Spirit speaking peace to their Souls But if in the third place it should also allude to the Churches final Deliverance from all outward Afflictions in the latter Days and so they have an extraordinary Cause to praise God and sing his Praises forth in those Times for temporal Salvation doth it follow from thence we must not sing forth his Praises till then 't is a horrible mistake to think Saints are more to be concerned to ●ing to the Lord for outward Blessings and worldly Peace and Prosperity on Earth than for their spiritual Blessings and Priviledges through Christ for the redemption of their Souls from Sin and eternal Wrath no For these Mercies we have infinitely more cause to sing than for all those great things you hint at besides that Song will be rather the Song of Moses than the Song of the Lamb the one was for temporal Deliverance and Salvation the other is for spiritual and eternal Mercies True when that time comes when we shall sing both those Songs together then the Melody may be the sweeter but though there are extraordinary times of Prayer and Praises yet that ought not to hinder the Saints from praying and singing at other times Your Reply in the fourth place to that in Isa 52. 8 9. viz. Thy Watchmen shall lift up the Voice with the Voice together shall they sing is nothing to the purpose at all What though the word will bear their making a noise o● shouting yet 't is a joyful Noise or a Noise of Singing and a Singing with their Voice together as a found of the great Jubilee And now though you would have this place to refer to the thousand Years Reign yet the Apostle applies it positively to the time of the Gospel see Rom. 10. 15. Come the Day of Gospel-Grace Gospel-Light Gospel-Glory and Priviledges is like the great Jubilee when desolate Souls who like waste places come to be renewed and the Church rebuilt and Ordinances restored this is the time to sing this is the chief cause of Joy and Gladness Many Men ignorantly apply Prophecies to the thousand Years Reign that refer to the time of the Gospel which began in the Apostles days besides there is a Doubt in the Hearts of many Men about that thousand Years 't is a Mystery not yet understood clearly No doubt the Antitype of Solomon's Temple say you what you please was the Gospel-Church in the days of the Apostles and so downward and not the thousand Years Reign for the Glory of the second Temple was a Type of the Glory of the Church in the latter days of the World as the best of our Expositors have excellently opened it to be so therefore what you speak pag. 28. makes against your self for if the Institution of Singing which was in the Levitical Temple-worship was compleated as to the Antitype in the Apostles Days as touching the beginning of it and not as you imagine and there is no doubt but 't is so for when the Antitype was come then the Shadow of Aaron's Order and musical Instruments fled away and then nothing was left but Singing with Heart and Voice by the Spirit to the Lord. Your fift Reply is to that of Christ and his Disciples singing of an Hymn after the Supper pag. 29. which you say might be no more than giving of Thanks or saying Grace Answ We have answered this Objection fully already but by the way had it been no more than his giving of Thanks why doth the Hloly Ghost express it in the plural Number 't is said He took Bread and blessed it and he 〈◊〉 the Cup and gave Thanks so some Translations render it but now at the close 't is said they sung an Hymn Besides multitudes of Learned Men do tell you that from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they hymned it is truly and rightly translated into English they sung an Hymn Dr. Du Veil who was as Learned a Man as most this present Age hath in it saith in his literal Explanation of the Acts of the Apostles Chap. 16. ver 25. pag. 67. thus Hymns are Songs which contain the Praise of God If it be Praise and not of God it is not an Hymn if it be Praise and of God if it be not sung it is not an Hymn it must therefore that it may be an Hymn have these three things viz. 1. Praise 2. And of God 3. And a Song Now this being an Hymn our Saviour and his Disciples used in praising of God the Doctor affirms they sung and so did Paul and Silas But this is the old way of such who ever opposed a Truth when pinch'd presently fly out upon the Translators 't is so to be read in the Greek c. whereas all the World knows that as our Translators were able Scholars so they were very holy and upright Men Besides our Annotators and all Expositors generally say 't is truly rendred and 't is a bad thing unjustly to find fault with the Translators of the Holy Bible To perswade your Reader if you could that the Disciples did not sing with our Saviour or they did not sing together you bring that Passage of Hannah's mental praying or speaking in her Heart 1 Sam. 1. 11 13. How impertinent this is I may leave to all You suppose still because there is a Mental or Heart-praying there is a Mental or Heart-singing also you may after the same manner say there is a Mental or Heart-preaching likewise There is no proper Singing I tell you again without the Voice But you think you have done it at last from Acts 4. 24. Where it is said The Disciples lifted up

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

we may do the Will of God on Earth as the Angels do it in Heaven i. e. do what is his Will and do it so viz. with all readiness Mr. Caryl tells us They are not worthy to be reckoned Sons of God who have not a readiness or present disposition in them to join with all or any of his true Sons in this Work to celebrate the Praises of God at his graciou● Appearances in his mighty Works of Mercy c. Secondly As the Angels sang at God's laying the Foundation of the first Creation so also they sang at the beginning or bringing in the second Creation as Mr. Caryl also observes even at the Birth of Christ they sang Glory to God on High and on Earth Peace good Will to Men. To teach us that as we should sing the Praises of God for the Works of Creation and so much the more for the Work of Redemption Shall they sing to see the good Will of God towards us and shall we be dumb Shall we who are thus raised to Glory and magnified by the mighty God not sing or imitate the Angels to join together with united Voices to sing and celebrate his Praises When the Disciples rejoiced and sang those Hosannahs to Jesus Christ Blessed be the King that cometh in the Name of the Lord Peace in Heaven and Glory in the Highest Luke 19. 38. the envious Pharisees saith Mr. Caryl did not like the Musick and therefore said unto him from among the Multitude Master Rebuke thy Disciples By this it appears that the Devil is a great Enemy to Singing he does not love such Hosannahs and Praises should be sung to Jesus Christ he it is that rules in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience and 't was he no doubt that influenced and stirred up these Pharisees with Envy to have Christ's Disciples rebuked for singing and praising him in such a high and triumphant manner Take heed you that are God's People who do 〈◊〉 see it is your Duty to sing Hosannahs to Christ you do not forbid others so to do lest you are found in doing of it to degrade the Holy Jesus and take from him through the Temptation of Satan part of the chiefest Glory that is due to his glorious Name For pray observe the Answer of our Lord Jesus to those blind Pharisees Vers 10. I tell you if these should hold their Peace the Stones would immediately cry out as if he had said you labour in vain to suppress or hinder these to sing my Praises or to give Glory unto me for should they be silent the Stones would cry shame of them for neglecting their Duty and God would rather cause sensless Creatures to proclaim his Praise than to want it Object But some may say 'T is not said they s●ng Answ There is no doubt to be made but they sung all generally understand those Hosannahs were delivered in a Song Our Annotators hint that it might be the name of a Song that was used to be sung in Festivals Moreover they tell you that the Expressions seem to be taken out of Psal 118. 24 25 26. Also they were uttered as with one Voice The whole Multitude of the Disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud Voice Luke 19. 3● and uttered these words Hosanna blessed it he that cometh in the Name of the Lord Hosannah in the highest As God always was praised with Singing so now they seem to be raised with holy Triumph to express his Praise in the highest manner and therefore they sung But that I may close this take one or two Arguments Arg. 1. If Angels in Singing do the Will of God do that which is pleasing and acceptable to God and in so doing worship God then Singing or to sing is the Will of God well-pleasing to him and is acceptable in his sight and is a part of his Worship But Angels in Singing do the Will of God do that which is well-pleasing to him and acceptable in his sight ●and in so doing they worship him Ergo To sing is to do the Will of God 't is well-pleasing to him and acceptable in his sight and in so doing we worship him I never met with any that deny Angels to sing the Praises of Jehovah but all as one Man grant 't is part of their great Work and Business And this being so my Argument needs no Confirmation but is unanswerable Arg. 2. If Heaven and all the Host of Heaven or all that is therein and Earth and all that is in it are commanded by the Holy Ghost to sing the Praises of God then 't is the Duty of Men and Angels to sing his Praise But Heaven and all the Host of Heaven and all that is therein 〈◊〉 Earth and all that is in it are so commanded to do Ergo 'T is the Duty of Men and Angels to sing the Praises of God See Psal 148. There and in divers other places all in Heaven and Earth all are commanded to praise God in the Heights that is to sing Hallelujahs as the Hebrew word signifies Vers 1. CHAP. III. Proving Singing the Praises of God to be a Moral Duty OUR third Argument to prove Singing 〈◊〉 Ordinance of God shall be taken from the Nature of the Duty it self which generally worthy Men call a Moral Duty as well as it is brought under express Institution and so consequently a Branch of natural Worship And now because some weak Christians are offended at this Phrase viz. calling Singing a part of natural or moral Worship or Religion I shall explain what we mean when we speak thus First of all not but that 't is a spiritual Ordinance and a positively Law but we must distinguish between Precepts that are purely Moral and meerly Positive Breaking of Bread and Holy Baptism are meer positive Ordinances and they had never been known nor practised if there had not been a positive Institution to give being to them but to fear God to love God to pray to God and divers other Precepts of the same Nature had been the Duty of all Man-kind if there had been no written Law or Prescription positively to injoin them on the Creature and that by the Law or Light o● God in the Conscience of Men as Paul sheweth in Rom. 2. 14 15. For when the Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law those having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the Work of the Law written in their hearts All Mankind throughout the World know by that of God written in their Hearts they ought not to wrong their Neighbours they ought not to Steal nor commit Adultery nor Kill c. They are taught in a word the substance of the whole moral Law of God hereby if not wholly darkned and obliterated by their Sin and horrid Lusts Even so we say if there had been no written Law or positive Injunction to pray and sing the Praises of God

one Man's Singing and divers others in the Book of Psalms before cited The third place is that in Rev. 19. which is a Prophecy of that triumphant Singing tha● shall be in the Church throughout the Earth or in all Nations at the downfal of Babyl●● And after these things I heard a great voice 〈◊〉 much People in Heaven saying Alleluj●● vers 1. And I heard as it were the Voice of 〈◊〉 great Multitude and as the Voice of many W●●ters and as the Voice of mighty Thundrings saying Allelujah for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth Vers 6. That Singing that is represented to John by these kind of Noises can 〈◊〉 signify the Singing of one single Man in 〈◊〉 Congregation and though it is said to be 〈◊〉 at that time to such a degree and on that occasion extraordinarily performed yet it makes not against ordinary Singing which is a Gospel-Precept as hath been proved for as there are times of extraordinary Prayer so of extraordinary Praise and Singing to Jehovah Moreover it follows no more that we must not sing at all unless we have an extrordinary cause to be merry or rejoice in God then it doth follow we may not pray at all unless we are afflicted James 5. 13. I shall now shut up this with three or four Arguments and proceed to the next Chapter Arg. 1. If it was never commanded of God nor the Practice of his People under the Old Testament nor in the New in the ordinary Worship of God for one Man alone to sing by himself in the publick Congregation then for any to attempt to bring such a Practice into the Church would be a great Evil and an absolute piece of Will-worship or an Innovation But it was never the Practice of God's People under the Old Testament nor in the New nor commanded of God in the ordinary Worship of God for one Man alone to sing by himself in the publick Congregation Ergo For any to attempt to bring such a Practice into the Church would be a great Evil and an absolute piece of Will-worship or an Innovation The Major certainly every Man will grant that is resolved not to add to or diminish from God's Word or doth believe there must be no Additions nor Alterations to what is laid down in Christ's New Testament for by that Argument if one new Practice may be admitted others may As to the Minor if any can shew me in the Old or New Testament that any one Man in the ordinary Worship of God was allowed thus to do I must confess my Argument is lost but if they cannot do that 't is unan●swerable Arg. 2. If singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs be injoyned on or required of the Churches by the Holy Ghost in the New Testament and that there is no other way manner or 〈◊〉 prescribed than what was used by the S●●●ts under the Old Testament and by Christ and his Disciples in the New viz. a singing together with a melodious Voice then that way the 〈◊〉 sung under the Old Testament and Christ 〈◊〉 his Disciples under the New is to be our Rule 〈◊〉 Practice in Singing and there is no other 〈◊〉 singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual 〈◊〉 is enjoyned on or required by the Holy Ghost 〈◊〉 the Churches in the New Testament and 〈◊〉 is no other way manner or mode prescr●●●d than what was used by the Saints under the Old Testament and by Christ and his Apostles ●●der the New Ergo To sing together with a melodious Voice is to be our Rule and Practice in singing and there is no other No body will surely deny my Major if any can find another way manner or mode prescribed let him shew it us As to the Minor that singing of Psalms c. is injoyned I know no body doth deny it Arg. 3. If whatsoever was writte● aforetime or given forth in the Old Testament by the Spirit especially which were moral Duties nay and given forth afresh in the New was as to matter and manner for our Instruction and Learning and singing of Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs which is a moral Duty was given forth aforetime nay and it is given forth afresh in the New then the matter and manner of Singing as practised in the Old and practised in the New was for our Learning and Instruction that we should do the same But whatsoever was written aforetime or given forth in the Old Testament by the Spirit especially which were moral Duties nay and given forth afresh in the New as to matter and manner was for our Instruction and Learning and singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs which is a moral Duty was given forth aforetime in the Old Testament and afresh in the New Ergo Singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs as to matter and manner as practised in the Old Testament and in the New was for our Learning and Instruction that we should so do and practise the same The Major cannot be denied the Minor is proved from that in Rom. 15. 4. For whatsoever was written aforetime was written for our Learning 2 Tim. 3. 16. and from what I have said in this Treatise wherein 't is evinced that Singing c. is a moral Duty and given forth both in the Old and New Testament If any object and say that then we must sing nothing but David's Psalms or the Songs contained in the Old and New Testament I answer The Matter that then was sung was God'● Word or Divine and Holy Songs and so must the Matter of our Songs be the Psalms of David or the Word of Christ i. e. such things that are certainly Divine and Sacred congruous with the Word of God or spiritual Songs If they object about the manner used under the Law with Musical Instruments I answer 〈◊〉 plead for no other manner than was practised in the New Testament as well as in the Old 〈◊〉 under the Old we read of singing together with united Voices without Instruments and the same in the New So that unless Instruments of Musick as Organs c. were used in the New Testament they are unlawful to be brought into the Worship of God and in vain is it for any to object against Singing because Musical Instruments were used under the Old Testament since the one is given forth in the New viz. singing Psalms without mention made of Instruments of Musick and so practised also But to that Objection I purpose to give a full Answer when I come to consider of Mr. Marlow's Book Arg. 4. If Christ and his Disciples never practised nor injoyned on the Churches any Ordinance or Duty but they left a sufficient Rule how such Ordinances or Duties should be performed and yet Christ and his Disciples did sing and injoyned singing of Psalms c. on the Churches then they left a sufficient Rule how singing of Psalms c. should be performed But Christ and his Disciples did practise and injoin singing of Psalms and Hymns

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 〈◊〉 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 receiv● this Ordinance and let what I have said by the assistance of God's Spirit be as Go●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 ●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 ou● 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 ●●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 Exil● 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 〈◊〉 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 The● 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 con●●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