Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	hear_v	lord_n	sin_n	15,720	5	5.7661	4	true

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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

Secondly All Creatures are called upon to praise God to sing to him Now surely the Holy Ghost would not have injoyned this on all that have Breath if it did not belong to them and that which all Men are and ought to do is certainly a Moral Duty nay 't is evident there are more Precepts that injoin all Men to sing the Praises of God in the Old Testament than there are for them to pray unto him which seems to be done as if it were on purpose to silence those Mens Spirits whom the Holy Ghost might foresee would in some Age or another oppose this sacred Ordinance and so more reason to repeat it than that of Prayer that never was opposed or cavill'd against Thirdly That Faculty as one observes which God hath placed in Men to praise him in an harmonious or a melodious manner shews that it is a moral Duty belonging to all Men tho more especially the Saints of God to be found in the Practice of singing forth his Praise God who made nothing in vain but all things for his own Glory even the Tongue of little Birds to warble forth with their pleasant Notes the Praises of their Creator amongst the branches of the Trees Psal 104. 12. Who made our Tongues and placed that singing Faculty in them but the Almighty We see all Men and Women more or less are naturally as apt and ready to sing as to speak Now was this tunable and musical Tongue or that Faculty of Si●●ing not given to us and to all Mortals think you to sing forth the Praises of our Creator Can any be so weak as to think it was given to be imployed to sing any other Songs but such as are sacred and divine If it be a great abuse of the Tongue or rather a Dishonour to God for any to imploy their Tongues to sing profane and carnal Songs that stir up Lust and promote Ungodliness as all will say doubtless it is then it follows clearly this tunable or melodious note or faculty of Singing that God hath placed in the Tongue can be for no other reason but that thereby viz. with a sweet and melodious manner they nay all of them might discharge this Duty of singing the Praises of the Almighty God And indeed upon this account as well as any other or more than upon any other the Tongue may be called our Glory i. e. because thereby we in the highest manner we are capable of do praise and laud the Name of God in singing and setting forth that Glory that is owing to him from Now if to sing God's Praise we●● not the Duty of all Men it would follow God hath given them one Faculty in that Member for no use But of use it is and Men will use it too they will sing and say I they may nay more they ought but not to the Dishonour of God not filthy or vain and foolish Songs but such as may be to the Glory and Honour of his Name who made all Creatures and Things for his own Praise And since Mankind are naturally thus inclined to Singing and that this natural Gift and Faculty might be improved as all others to the Honour of God who as Austine in his Preface to the Psalms observes has left in his Word what they should sing and how to perform that Moral Duty Spiritus Sanctus videns obluctantem ad virtutis viam humani generis animam ad delect ati●nes hujus vitae inclinari delect abilibus mod●lis Cantilenae vim suae Doctrinae permiscuit ut dum servitate carmine mulcetur auditu● divini sermonis pariter utilitate miseratur The Holy Ghost seeing the Soul of Mankind strugling in the way of Godliness and being inclined to the Delights of this Life he mixed the Power of his Doctrine with sweet Singing that whilst the Soul was melted with the sweetness of the Verse the hearing of the Divine Word might be ingrafted with profit Austin in his Preface to the Psalms Object I know it is objected Hath not God given to the Tongue a faculty to laugh as well as to sing and is it their Duty to laugh Answ There is no doubt to be made but to laugh at some time is lawful and good it may be done without Sin though in much laughter there wants not Folly Man has not that Faculty in vain and many will tell you it is found in some Distempers very good for the Body and tends to remove them too besides it may refresh the natural Spirits when suppressed with Melancholy Gogitations But what a trifling Objection is this for as the one seems to be disallowed unless it be on some special Occasions so the other is given it appears on a far more excellent and subli●e Account and Consideration with frequent Injunctions to be found in it which is not to be found of Laughter therefore away with such contentious reasoning against Reason and Scripture too God hath injoined you to sing Psalms c. to hi● that dwelleth in Sion Psal 9. 11. Singing forth the H●●●ur and Praise of his Name Psal 66. 2. That doth wondrous Works for the Children of Men for his Mercy endures forever Psal 107. 8. And so much the more ought Saints to be found in it because he delights to hear the sweet Voice of his Church Cant. 2. 14. Let me hear thy Voice for sweet is thy Voice c. not only of Prayer but of such sweet Praises too no doubt Christ's Ear is affected with this harmonious Praise when performed by his own Spirit with Grace in our Hearts it also elevates and carries up our Spirits to him The Cloud of the Lord 's Divine Presence saith one descended not before but when the Trumpets and Singers were as one to make one Sound to be heard in praising and giving Thanks to the Lord and when they lifted up their Voices in Praises to him saying For he is good for his Mercy endureth for ever then the Lord bowed his Ear and vouchsafed his gracious Presence to his People then the House was filled 〈◊〉 a Cloud even the House of the Lord 2 Ch●● 5. 13. Then God takes possession of it as his Dwelling-place he is so affected with the Praises of his People when in a right manner they sing to set forth his Glory And as he minds for the neglect of this Ordinance in the Church viz. the not improving our Tongues and Faculties by the Assistance of the Holy Ghost in Singing the Praises of God he may withhold the Influences of his Spirit and may not be found to that deg●●● in his Dwelling-place Fourthly We may perceive what the Nature of this Ordinance of Singing is if we consider how often it is in the Holy Scripture joined with Prayer When we are exhorted to pray to him to worship him we are called upon also to sing his Praises And thus Paul seems to join them together in his practice When I pray I will pray in the Spirit c.

God in his Worship and our Glory viz. our Tongue is brought to shame hereby and 't is no less 〈◊〉 to rob God of the Glory of his Holy Ordinances and his Church and every particular Saint of the use and comfort of them so far as 〈◊〉 Body or Members thereof are employed in 〈◊〉 about them they being of no use at all And what is this but to turn all outward or external Worship into a spiritual inward or heart-business The Essence of Singing then if that word may be admitted lies no more in our Spiri● than the Essence of Preaching c. And sha●● the Quakers or any other deceived People 〈◊〉 Person say when they meet together to preach pray or sing the Praises of God tha● in their Spirits they have the Essence of tho●● Duties and so perform them to God notwithstanding there is not one of them verbally and vocally done certainly nothing can be more ridiculous Besides the main part Essence too if you please nay the whole of Singing lies in the Voice I speak of the act or thing 〈◊〉 self not of a right spiritual and Gospel-Performance of it for he may be said to preach who has not the Spirit of God to assist him in the doing of it nor is he affected with what he says as properly as he that preaches spiritually or by the assistance of the Holy Ghost in his own Heart Doubtless Birds sing as truly as any Men can be said so to do and so do those who sing prophane Songs t●ere's all the parts of Singing manifested in their Act so much difference there is between the doing of an Act or Work and the Manner Design Spirit and End in performing of it Fourthly to proceed By Singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs therefore we understand a musical melodious Modulation or tuning of the Voice expressing our spiritual Joy for edifying one another and for glorifying of God 1. And that this is all the Singing the Holy Scripture speaks of and is meant or intended therein will yet further appear if we consider these things following First 'T is called the making of a joyful Noise Sing a loud unto God our strength make a joyful Noise unto the God of Jacob Psal 81. 1. O 〈◊〉 let us sing unto the Lord let us make a joyful Noise to the Rock of our Salvation Psal 95. 1. Let us come before his Presence with Thanksgiving and make a joyful Noise unto him with Psalms vers 2. So in Psal 98. 4 5 6. 100. 1 2. this is the Singing the Holy Ghost bears witness of 't is not meerly that in Word Joy or rejoycing in Spirit but an expressing of it wi●● a melodious Voice or by making of a joyful Noise unto the Lord. Secondly What the act of Singing is or what it is to sing may be easily manifested by the Birds of the Air those melodious Notes they make God in his Word Cant. 2. 12. calls Singing and 't is easy to know when they sing and when they do not and 't is as easy to know when the Lord's People sing and which of them sing and who do not if Men will not shut their Eyes and Ears against an Ordinance of Christ and in opposing of it render themselves ridiculous to Mankind Thirdly Singing is distinguished from Prayer as another thing differing from any part or branch of it and that by the great Apostle himself and therefore it cannot be comprehended in that great Duty What is it then I will pray with the Spirit and I will pray with the Vnderstanding also I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the Vnderstanding also 1 Cor. 14. 15. Prayer all Expositors affirm consisteth in three parts as I hinted before 1. In confession of Sin c. 2. In supplication for what we stand in need of And 3. In giving of Thanks or in Praising of God with raised affections for what Mercies we have received from him As if the Apostle should say I will confess my Sins and Wants to God by ●he help of God's Spirit and with the inward ●ttention and utmost intention of my own ●pirit or greatest devotion and Fervour of Af●ections imaginable and so will I seek to him ●nd supplicate his holy Majesty for what I ●ant and so will I praise him and give ●hanks to him for all the good things I have ●eceived at his most bountiful Hands See our ●ate Annotation Phil. 4. 6. They mention there a Petition or Apprecation of Good to our selves or others and also in Prayer a Deprecation of Evils felt or feared 3. A grateful acknowledgment of Mercies received Benefits conferred and Deliverances vouchsafed Implying saith he that no Prayer is acceptable to God without this Ingredient of thankful resentment of his Favours Nor can I think that any gracious Soul doth ever leave out this sweet and great part of Prayer when he is at the Throne of Grace viz. Praising of God Therefore this the Apostle would do when he prayed But observe besides this and as something quite distinct from it he adds And when I sing I will sing with the Spirit c. If therefore Singing were comprehended in Prayer or praising of God when we pray unto him then the Apostle uses as great and palpable a Tautology as can possibly be nay and leaves all Men under a Cloud and Mistake if he meant nothing else or no more than praising of God in Prayer since all the World ever understood a clear distinct difference between those two things viz. Prayer or praising of God and singing of his Praises for though all right Singing to God is a praising of him nay and in the highe●● manner that we in our mortal Bodies are capable to do yet all praisings of God are not singing of his Praise Moreover the difference there between Prayer c. and Singing 〈◊〉 clearly hinted by the Apostle James where he exhorts those in Affliction in an extraordinary manner to pray James 5. 13. Is any afflicted let him pray And is any merry let them sing Psalms Certainly he wills the Afflicted to praise God as well as to pray unto him but to such who are merry or whose Hearts were greatly lifted up or affected with the Love Mercy and Goodness of God why then and upon such Occasions to sing ye● to sing Psalms In which words by the way 't is worth noting to observe that the Apostle stirs up Christians to perform these Duties more than in an ordinary manner at such● Times and Occasions for 't is a Man's Duty to pray whether he be afflicted or no and so in like manner 't is a Man's Duty to sing the Praises of God whether he hath such an extraordinary cause and special frame of Spirit upon him or not Fourthly 'T is easy to conceive of Singing or to know what it is if we consider how it differs from meer rejoicing in the Lord for a Man may rejoice in Spirit when he doth not signify

the● further Comfort and Establishment in his whol● Mind and Will I should not have answered yo● in the matter and if you or any body else shall see cause to reply I shall be ready to return an Answer if I find it do deserve or nee● one if God is pleased to spare my Life and t● enable me in the Work And now one word to you my dear Brethren and Sisters whose Souls are established in thi● sweet and heavenly Ordinance First Consider how universally this Ordinance hath been practised of singing the Praise● of God 1. By variety of Persons as Kings and godly Princes as Moses who was a King in Jesurun Deut. 33. 5. David Joshaphat Solomon c. By worthy Governours as Nehemiah c. by Prophets by the whole Congregation of God's People by Christ and his Apostles by the holy Martyrs of Jesus in the Primitive Times 2. In all places by Moses in the Wilderness Exod. 15. by David in the Tabernacle by Solomon in the Temple by Jehoshaphat in the Camp by Christ and his Disciples at the holy Supper by Paul and Sila● in Prison 3. In almost all Conditions in times of Imprisonment in Persecution and Martyrdom 4. By all Sexes both Men Women and Maidens old Men and Children 5. Nay and how all Creatures in Heaven and in Earth are called upon by the Holy Ghost to sing forth the Praises of God 6. Consider how God hath honoured it with his Presence and gracious Acceptance 2 Chron. 5. 13. with Victory over Enemies 2 Chron. 20. 21 22. 7. Confirmed by Miracles Act. 16. 25 26. Secondly Consider that Singing is 1. The Musick of Nature as Mr. Wells observes the Trees and Woods by a Metonymy are said to sing And what sweet Musick do the pretty Birds make in the Air and Woods 2. 'T is the Musick of Ordinances as appears by our Saviour's singing with his Disciples at the Celebration of one of the highest and most sublime Ordinances of the Gospel 3. Singing is the Musick and Melody of Saints 4. 'T is the Musick and Melody of Angels 5. 'T is and shall be the Musick and Melody of Heaven the glorious and glorified Saints and Angels send up their Praises this way But my Brethren be intreated to cry to God that you may pray and sing with the Spirit and with Vnderstanding also 1 Cor. 14. 15. and with Grace in your Hearts labour after Holy and Heavenly Frames We must sing with Affections let your joyful Noise be from the sense of God's Love in a dear Redeemer to your own Souls Let it be by exciting your Graces let Faith be in exercise in this Duty as well as in Prayer and under the Word Let it be with inward Joy remember it is your Duty to rejoice evermore and what then can hinder your Singing God's Praises at any time Let it be for Spiritual Mercies and Blessings chiefly more for deliverance from your Sin than from your Suffering You have found that Singing is not only sweet and raising to the Spirit but also full o● Instruction nay I have heard how God has blessed it to the Conversion of some Souls as well as to the Consolation of others Austis is very excellent to this purpose Quantu● flevi in hymnis canticis suavè 〈◊〉 Ecclesiae tuae voces ill● influebant 〈◊〉 eliquabatur veritas tua in cor meum ex ea effluebat inde effectus pietatis currebant lachrymae benè mihi erat cum eis How sweetly saith he have I wept in Hymns and Songs at the sounding of thy Church the Voices flew into mine Ears and thy Truth melted into mine Heart and from thence flew forth the Effects of Godliness the Tears ran down mine Eyes and it was well with me when I was with them Aug. in his Preface to the Psalms Cap. 6. FINIS AN ANSWER TO Mr. Marlow's Appendix Wherein his Arguments to prove that Singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs was performed in the Primitive Church by a Special or an Extraordinary Gift and therefore not to be practised in these Days Are Examined and clearly Detected Also some Reflections on what he speaks on the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hymnos And on his undue Quotations of divers Learned Men. By a Learned Hand Psal 119. 141. I am small and despised yet do not I forget thy Precepts 1 Cor. 14. 22. Wherefore Tongues are for a Sign not to them that believe but to them that believe not but Prophesying serveth not for them that believe not but for them that believe By B. KEACH London Printed for the Author and sóld by John Hancock in Castle-Alley on the West side of the Royal-Exchange and by the Author at his House near Horselydown in Southwark 1691. To all the Saints and Churches of Jesus Christ Christian Salutation Honoured and Beloved IT grieves me I have further occasion to trouble you after this manner I know not what should move Mr. Marlow to write his Appendix just at a time when he was told I was writing an Answer to his first Discourse he might have had a little Patience and have staid till my Treatise was published whereby he might the better have perceived whether what he wrote the last Year would abide the Test or Trial of God's Word or not This is therefore his second Attempt in publick against God's holy Ordinance of singing of Psalms Hymns c. before any body appeared visibly to oppose or put a stop to his undue Proceedings For what Call he had to begin this Controversy at such an unseasonable time I know not but since he has done it certainly● none can see any just cause to blame me for standing up in the Defence of that Truth of Jesus Christ which I am so well satisfied about and established in and that too as it is practised by the Church to whom I am related as an unworthy Member and above twenty Baptized Congregations besides in this Nation Tho before I went about it I offered my Brethren him or any other a sober and friendly Conference in the Spirit of Meekness which I could not obtain tho I did not give such a publick Challenge as my Brother intimates in that strange Epistle he hath wrote to me but upon the coming forth of his Book I was troubled and would have had it been discoursed in the General Assembly but that was not consented to and then I told my honoured and Reverend Brethren my purpose was to give an Answer to his Book but did not enter upon it till I was urged by several and particularly by Mr. Marlow himself before divers Witnesses in such kind of words as these i. e. Answer me like a Man Whether he is answered like a Man or but like a Child is left to your Consideration 't is done according to that Light and Ability God hath been pleased to bestow upon me But if he or any of his Helpers do see cause to reply they must answer such