Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	church_n	doctrine_n	worship_n	3,910	5	7.2192	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58333	Hymnes and spiritual songs extracted from Scripture on occasion of some useful texts discuss't / composed in private meditation and made use of (once) in publick for the saints comfort ; now published for their sakes that sung them or others that desire them.	Reeve, John, 1608-1658.	1682 (1682)	Wing R672; ESTC R33519	77,127	250

HYMNES and Spiritual SONGS Extracted From SCRIPTURE on occasion of some useful Texts discuss't Composed In private Meditation and made use of once In Publick for the Saints Comfort Now Published for their sakes that sung them or others that desire them Psal 32.7 And compass me about with Songs of Deliv'rance Psal 77.6 I call to mind my Song in the Night Matth. 26.30 When they had sung an Hymn they departed Plinius secundus pleads that Christians at meetings did Nil Romanis legibus contrarium nisi hoc solum quod antelucanos Hymnos Christo cuidam canerent deo Euseb cap. 32. p. 67. London Printed by J. R. for the Author 1682. To the Reader AS Errors in judgement cloud our heads in affections our hearts in action our lives humanum est errare So specially do errors in divine Worship obnubilate our devotion to God So that all may say or be mute as David who understands his errors Ps 19.12 who can indeed But of errours in Religion both in Doctrine and Worship not here now to treat at large of aspiring to Deity as Pagans arrogating legislation as Papagans affecting domination as Prelates I only touch obiter the self assumption of the Titles empty Names and Forms of Church Ordinances and Ministry without the things themselves As we Protestants of all sorts too oft do Oh how 't would become us first to enquire after divine measures by that Scripture-golden reed and to be asham'd of all we have done and next to wait and seek for that Holy Spirit as the Apostles were bid in Acts 1.4.8 rather than temerate as one sayes Gods sacred mysteries with unwashen hands and make that a mean of temporal Life that through the justice of God becomes the occasion of our own and others spiritual if not eternal death But two things concern us all that venerate that second Command that Papists expunge the Decalogue the one is to know the Holy will of our God both for matter and form that the first be bonum the second bene good well done that it be not call'd vain Oblation c. The other is to fear his wrath that ever attends divine jealousie If but so small as may seem an errour slip us as did Nadab and Abihu at the entry of Worship in offering strange fire and common or as Eli's Sons or Uzah's rash touch or Naamans cringing to Rimmon for company with his King and Master or as Uriahs usurping the Preisthood All which are fatal examples that do caution us to be tremulous for in all the parts of Worship Preaching Prayer Ministration of Instituted seals and Censures c. I fear our errors at our Masters coming will be found not a few so that we may say as Naaman the Lord pardon us c. as 2 Kings 5.17 or as David about Uzahs boldness in Errour 2 Sam. 6. v. 7. The Lord made a breach because we sought him not in the due order But I only mean to touch a little that part of Worship that is call'd singing And since its needless to lay open the Theory of it being so well done by others as Cotton Sydnam Rous Barton Hen. Ainsworth Those of N. E. and in that of Scotland Let me only hint at the Nature Form and Vse of Song in General the Occasion and rise of these in particular For the Nature I do not mean Jigs as the Papist styl'd Hopkins nor bare Poems as Crafhaws or Herberts Quarles Withers or Pordage's c. who tho' their songs may be good and spiritual and far usefuller especially to youth than amorous lays of Wit wanton Rhapsodies and prophane Ballads yet I should scarce take them as materials for Worship The ornature being human and polite But this I mean by 't A Spiritual Song in Scripture words or sense compos'd in measures tunable sung alone or with others to the Lords own praise our own or others joy in a sweet harmony of heart and voyces This may at present serve to hint the nature of song as the Author takes it till more convenient time be to enlarge upon it The great point that depends of late is about the form how to do it aright here quot capita tot sententiae some seclude it wholly their Assemblies and Families as lost like Hebrew-Musick and Meeter till 't is restor'd and so practise it not other than by prayer and praise natural worship Some in the other extream make so common and formal work of it that as the Minister sits above it as if it were below him to exhibite a song so a Clark the fag end of Anti-Christ takes upon him to lead as a Reader Some few only joyn as in prayer with one that has a song and utters it whether extempore or no I say not not the voice of any present joyning harmony with him as Silas and Paul and Miriam of old did c. This I like not Some again are for 't but act not as stumbling at a promiscuous assembly not yet being on mount Zion where the Lamb 's new song will be these are holy souls but short of duty for there be songs in the night one may sing at the lowest by the skirts of Zion with an eye to the heights as Jer. 3 1 12. nay in Jeremiah's Dungeon or Daniels Den or the Bishops Colehouse or the three Children in the Flames Others are for acting as we may now on the lowest round of Jacobs Ladder the Foot stair of Gods Temple Yet again some are for the Old way the Old Translation all old c. Others for correction and Reformation of which sort I am one and tho 't has been us'd till of late to sing in the words of David as of old 2 Chron. 29.30 Yet I scruple not to use the Canticles nor the sence of other Scriptures in the same or other words consonant to the Analogy of Fa th If then for the matter my song be in the words of the Sacred Scripture or reducible to it and for the form I neither limit my self in the composure nor yet impose on others least of all fix a stand or bound beyond which none in time to come ought to go tho' of more light and spirit than I am and aiming at purer Reformation yea waiting for a renovation of all I see not why any can scruple to joyn with me so or I with them Now for the use of Hymns and Songs I find the advantages that accrew many to compose and calm our evil spirits as Sauls was by David 1 Sam. 16.16 23. To allay a vexed perturb'd mind at the sight of a sinner as the Prophet 2 Kings 3.15 was by a Minstrel and one a late so weary in travel that he could not Preach till he had hear'd Musick As on the other hand the mind being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 well compos'd as Jam. 5.13 or merry it exhilerates and improves spiritual joy and comfort made Pauls Chain light and Stocks easie sometimes its instructive as some Psalms be