N4r. *■" 
 
 
 %^: ^^^ 
 
 
 FROM THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D. 
 
 BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 sc^c 
 
 WSSA 
 
 S Srcfi 
 
 
 
Cotton, Jno. Singing of Psalmes a Gospel Ordinance, 
 or a Treatise, wherein are handled these foure Particulars. 
 I. Touching the Duty it selfe. 2. Touching the Matter to 
 be Sung. 3. Touching the Singers. 4. Touching the 
 Manner of Singing. By John Cotton, Teacher of the 
 Church at Boston in New-England 
 Small 4to, half calf. 
 
 London: Printed by M. S. for Hannah Allen, 1647 
 
 The earliest book bv an Anuricnn author on Singing in 
 Divine worship. The outer edge of the title is time stained, 
 and other edges cut close at top. Very rare in any shape. 
 
 
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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary Library 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/singingofpsalmesOOcott 
 
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 S I N G I i^N^^,p,. g,^^ 
 
 O F 
 
 PSALMES 
 
 A GOSPEL-ORDINANCE. 
 
 A TREATISE, 
 
 Wherein are handled thefc fourc Particulars. 
 
 I. Touching the Duty it felfe, 
 ^.Touching the Matter to he Sung, 
 
 3. Touching the Singers, 
 
 4. Touching the H^nmr of Singing, 
 
 B r John Cotton, Teacher of the 
 . Church at Boflon in New-England, 
 
 LONDON; 
 
 Printed by M* S- for Hannah AUen^ at the Cro-wn^ 
 in Popes- Head' Alley : and John Rothwell at the 
 Sunm and fount aim in Pa«/j- Church-yard. 
 
 1647. 
 

 n 
 
 njiL-i ^3uoi aisri^ b^lbniiii 
 
 .l^^^J'Jvl'?. 
 
 
 ^T'l TO 
 

 s 
 
 O F THE 
 
 INGrNG 
 
 O F T &ALM ES. 
 
 }Ui.. A.J 
 
 T"^- ~ r^nr 
 
 C H A P T E R. I. 
 
 "' 'ProfouHding the feverall ^ifeflions about it^ 
 and Handling the ^hr^* 
 
 O prevent the godly-minded from making me- 
 lody to the Lord in Singing his Praifes with 
 one accord ( I meane with one heart, and one 
 ! yoyce) Satan hath mightily beftirred him(etfej\ 
 to bretd a dilcord inthehearf«.of fomejbyBIr- 
 ling their heads with foure heads of fciuples- 
 about the Duty. 
 
 1. touching the Vutj it fdfe of fmging Tfalnies mth Ihely voyu^ 
 whether there be any fucl^v worftip at 4II now to, be allowed and^ 
 prafltifedinthedayesoirthe'NewTeftAment?^ -: 
 
 2. touching the matter to be (/<A7g,whe[her Scripture Tfilrms ptn-ih 
 ncd by Vavid^.Afaph, Mofes, Sobmonfiezekiab, Habak^k^Zjchary^i, 
 Simeon^ Veherahy Mary y Elizabeth^ or the like : Or fingj immidiatetjn ■ - 
 indited by Come. perlonaUMrUuallgift QfCm^p§ceryOr Mender of the v ; 
 
 Church? /-^ ;— T( • ''■ 5 :-• T M- o-' vn ii^folo jifi'.^ ; 
 5. %uchin^ihe Singers , If vocall finging may be allowed. 
 
 /r I. Whether one for all the reft, the reft onely faying 
 Who muft^ Amen >. or the whojc Congregation > 
 
 > < 2., Wheiher woraea as well as mentor men alone X . 
 J3.. "VVhetficr carnajl men and Pagans, 4s well a|f>' 
 L ' dhurch-members and Chriftians ^ 
 
 B 4* leaching. 
 
singing of P s A L M E s, 
 
 4., Touching the msnmr.offinging ; Whether the Tfalrm maybe 
 ? ;i C I. in AifeeterVcvifd} --^ 
 
 £ng5 elther<2. Inlumslnvmtd? 
 
 1^3. In Order, after the Reading of it? 
 
 For the fiift QnelHon , wee lay downc this CondufiorLfoi«;4 
 Doctrine of Truth ',th at Jinging of Ffjlmetrpij^ ^a livelji^viyce^k.M 
 holy Viity of Gods PForjhip now in the dajelr >()f M}e Neiv Tejhamenu 
 When we lay. Tinging with lively voyce, we fuppofe none will fe 
 farre mifconftrue us , as to thipke wee exclude finging with the 
 heart; For God is a Spirit : ^nd tOiWorflaip him with the voyce 
 without the Spirit, were but lip-labour : which ( being refted in ) 
 J« but loft labour (Ip. 2 cj. 13.) or at moft, prpfiteth but little, 
 1 7im. 4. 8. But this wee lay , As wee are to make melody in our 
 hearts, io with our voyces alfo. In oppofition to this, there be 
 iomt Jntipfilmips, who doe not acknowledge any finging at all 
 with the voyce* in the New Teftaraent, but onely fpirituall fongs 
 of joy and comfort of the heart in the wordof Chrift. 
 4[ I. Proofe for tha Trtttb. 
 
 Thefirft proofe for the truth ii takinfrom the Commmdement 
 of the Lord by Tad, who inftrufteth and exhorteth the Ephejiansy. 
 JCo jhexke^one to anofhrr In Pfalmes and Hymnes and fpirituall Song^^ 
 hdKiy% iAvioii 4^AJ/oT<j &c. Kphef.'^ 19. And Co in Col: 3. 1 6- TeachA 
 ing and admonifmng one another in Pfalmesy Hjmnes^ &c. which can^ii 
 not be done without lively voyce. And foin iCor, 14. 15, 1$, 
 The Apoftle commandeth the Church oi Corinth^ thatfmh as fin^ . 
 in the Church, (hot^'dnot oneljftngin the Spirit, but rvith.underfian^- , 
 ing ^ijo.'thas is, not one'y with their own underftahding'(tor alj ^ 
 that fung with the Spirit did fo ) but with the underftanding. of 
 the hearers, that fo he that occupied the place of the unlearned, , 
 might be edified, and (ay. Amen , at luch giving of thanke^.-^ 
 Whence it followeth unavoydably. That finging otPfatmes U ^o^r\ 
 onely a making of melody to the Lord with inward grace in the 
 heart, but alio voith lively and audible vojce, which is the point iii 
 Q^ieftion. ^. u 
 
 '^ ObfM. I. This place in the Corinths maketh nothing to the 
 '^ caufe in handjFor thefe Corinthian Pfalmes, were not the Pfalmes 
 '' oiVavid, nor fdng by the whole Congregation^' much lefle in 
 •• Meeter and Tunes deviftd by men, as ours b'cjbul they were f pi- 
 
 -•ntuaii 
 
<■ a Gojfei' Ordinance, 
 
 '^rituallfongs, immediately infpired and endited by the Holy 
 " Ghoft, and fung onely by him that received that gift; 3 as the 
 ''Spirit gave him utterance. 
 
 ,Anftj;. Neither did we alledge that place, to prove the finging 
 oi X>azjids PCalmeS:, by the whole Congregation in fuch like Mee- 
 tcr and Tunes as ours be. Theie poynts doe all of them belong to 
 the other Queftious, which follow to be handled ( God willing ) 
 in their place. But to this purpole we alledge the placcj Thatfing- 
 ing of TfjiiTM m the New Tefiamentj if to be dijpmfed in Chriflian 
 Churches i not ojjdy mth inward grace in the hearty making melody te 
 the Lordiyhut alfo with outrvard audible lively vojce : which is the very 
 poyntinhand, and whxh this commandement of the Apoftle 
 doth cltarcly deraonftrate. 
 
 *' ,2. Obp6i. The Apoftle to the Ephefians and Colojfians ^Aoth 
 '* uot (ays Sing one to another in PpW/jtui fpeake or preach one 
 ^ to another 5 or in other words , teach and admonifh one another, 
 " The Ffalmes dwelling in their hearts, they were to difpenle them 
 "in a way of Teaching and A4moj!i{hing. But as for finging he 
 " makcth no mention of that, untill he came to teach them the 
 ^ manner of diCpenfing the words of Chrift unto God in the end 
 '^ of the verie. And then indeed he teacheth them to fing in the 
 " Spirit, Diaking melody with grace in the heart unto God. 
 
 9>4:ifw, Such as tremble at the word ( as the framer of this ob- 
 jeftion profefleth himfelfe to doe, ) they {hould rather bow their 
 judgements and praftife to Scripture and language, then bow the 
 fence of Scripture to their own conceptions againft the language 
 of Sciipiure. It is one thing,to jf^e^J^ one to another in Tfahms^and 
 HymneSi and^irituaUfongs^ as is done in finging, another thing to 
 preach and teach onie another, out of Pfalmes, and Hymnes, and 
 (pi;iruail Songs. It is true, they were toTeach andadmonijl one ano- 
 ther out of the P/j/w2/, and the fcope of faul will reach that. But if 
 TauJhzd onely meant that, to wit , That they fhould teach and 
 preach one to another out of theP/i/we/, he would not have faid, 
 $peake yee one tp another in Tfalmes, or with Ffalmej : but out of 
 the P/^me/,ot from the Ffalmes j for fuch is thelang^uage cf the 
 Holy Ghoft in expre fling fuch a duty. Faul is faid to have ex- 
 pounded, and teftified, and pcrfwaded theJ^iv^JoutoftheLaw 
 of ^o/t!/,andout of the Prophets, >4d?/ 28. 23.S0 Fhilip is (aid to 
 
 B 2 begin 
 
4 Singing of P&almes, 
 
 begin to Preach Jefus to the Eunuch , aVS m >j«1flt'v1«f , from 
 that Scripture in Jfaiah^ or at that Scripturej/^fif.8.3 j; . He did not 
 Preach Jefus to him in fpeaking that Scripture. 
 ** Ohjeff. If that fpeaking of the Ephejians one to another in 
 " Tfafmcfj did not hold forth their expounding and preaching the 
 " Tfjlmef one to anotherjbut onely the bare reading or fingingthe 
 " letter of the Ffalmes^ This were fuch a fervice wherein there is 
 " nothing of Ch rift held forth externally.I fpeake not of the mat- 
 " ter of the Tfalmts^, ( which is full of Chriftjas other Scriptures:) 
 " but of the outivard manner of difpenfing it. There is nothing 
 " held forth in the finging of it after the ufuall manner, but what 
 " nature and art may attaine unto. There is no exercile of any 
 " fpirituall gift held forth b it, as is in all other adminiftrations, 
 " which Chrift hath ordained. 
 
 " 2. Befidesjas fuch a finging is not a gift of Chrift, fo neither 
 ^' doth it tend to the glory of Chrift, The Church not edified by 
 *^ it : elfe a Pagan finging with u?, might edifie the Church. 
 "3. From both thefe^it appearetb j That fuch finging ofTfalmes 
 ^' tendeth to the difhoncur of Chrift ': feeing it holdeth forth ex- 
 " ternally no morejthcn what a carnall man(a man out of Chrift J 
 ^' yea a Pagan might exprefie. 
 
 Anfiv. I. Singing of Pfalmes holdeth forth as much of Chrift 
 txternally^ as reading of the Word, or as the hearing of it read or 
 preached, or as the falling downe upon our knees in prayer, and 
 faying, Amen^ in the end of it. For though the Wordj when it is 
 publiquely read, ought alfo to be opened after thereadingtyet the 
 very reading of it, is it felfe an Ordinance , and is not without a 
 blefting to the faithfull reader or hearer of it, no more then other 
 Ordinances, Or elfe there would be fbme Ordinances of God like 
 unto humane Ceremonies, empty and beggarly. 
 
 Anfnp. 2. Morall duties, even in PaganSjraay edifie the Church, 
 as jibimekchs reproofe of Ahahamnud Sardb,Gen.20. Pro.9,10. 
 
 AKJiv. 3. Singing of Pfalmes is accompanied and blefled of God 
 ( by his grace ) with many gracious effects, above nature or art; 
 As I. It allay eth the paffions of melancholy and choler5yea and 
 fcattereth the furious temptations of evill fpirits, i Sam. 16. 23. 
 Whence alfo it helpeth to aflwage cnmitya and to reftore friend- 
 Mp and fayour^ ^lin Saitl to J>md, It was not the found oiVa- 
 
 vidr 
 
a (joffel-Ordinctnce, 
 
 vids Harpe that could have this power, either over the cvill fpirit, 
 or over the iinfull paflions of Saul himfelfe, it the found of the 
 Harpe had not been quickncd and enlived, as it were by a fpiritu- 
 all fongjand by the Spirit of God breathing therein. '^ 
 
 2. Singing of a fpirituall Tong, prepareth to prophecy, by mini- 
 ^ ftring the Spirit, 2 King,^ .15. Whikfl the AdinjireUplayedytbe hand 
 
 efthe Lord (that is, his Spirit) came upon Elijha: The Minftrells 
 playing, if it had not been accompanied with a fpirituall fong, it 
 could not have conveyed fuch a fpirituall bleflfing. In 1 Sam. 10. 
 5,6. they could not be faid ( as there they be ) to have propbecied 
 pfiith Harpes and VioUs^ unlcfle they had fung fome holy fongs, to- 
 gether with their playing on Inftruments. For Prophecy is an ut- 
 terance onely of the word of God, and of the things of God con- 
 tained in it ; which Inftruments without voyce cannot doe. Nor 
 had their playing with Inftruments been a means of conveying the 
 Spirit toSaul^haid not their voyces concurred and fung with their 
 Inftruments. 
 
 3 . Singing of Pfalmes honoureth God with our glory, Tfal i o8„ 
 l.&P/i/. 57. 738. Where Davids glory being diftingui(hed not 
 onely from his Harpe, but from his heartjit cannot fitly be under- 
 ftood of any other memberjbut his tongue,by which he was wont 
 in finging to glorifie God. 
 
 *^ OhjeSt, Thefe gracious effefts and fruits of finging PfalmeSj 
 " doe plead as much for finging and playing with inftruments, as 
 " for finging with voyces. 
 
 AnffP. I. This laft effeft of finging to the'glory of God with 
 our glory, is peculiar onely to finging with our tongues. 
 
 Anfof. 2. Suppofe it were true, that thefe effefts of finging 
 Pfalmes did plead zs much for finging and playing with inftru- 
 ments, as linging with voyces 5 yet evident it isj that finging With 
 voyces had the prcheminence, as that which utteriiig the word of 
 God,did chiefly utter the Spirit of God breathing in it. And with- 
 all evident likewife it is, that it is^ no impeachment to an Ordi- 
 nance, thac'the outward difpenfingof it may be perfotmed by na- 
 ture and art: but not with ftanding that, it may be accompanied 
 of God with a fpirituall bleflingo 
 
 Anftp. 5. Singing with Inftruments, was typicall,and fo a cere- 
 moniftll worftiip, and therefore is ceafed. But Ringing with heart 
 
 .« and 
 
singing of PsAlmes, 
 
 and voyce is a morall worfliip, luch as is written in the hearts oi 
 all men by nature : As to pray in diftreflfe, fo when we are merry, 
 and havecaulc of ibktnnc thankefgiving unto God, then to ling 
 Pfalmes, which the Holy Ghoft by theApoftlc J^jwe/ approvsLh 
 an!dianR:rfieth3 7'»»«. 5.»3. Or fuppofe finging with inftruments 
 were not typicall, but onely an exrernall roleninitie ofworlhip, 
 iittcd to the fobce of the outward fences of children underage, 
 (fuch as the IJraelites were under the Old Teftament^Gji,^. 152,3.) 
 yet now in the growne &^e of the heires of the New Teftaaienr, 
 fuch externall pompous Solemnities are ceafed, and no externali 
 worftiip refervedjbut fuch as holdeth forth limplicitie, and gravi- 
 m ; nor is any voyce now to be heard in the Church of Cfirifl-, 
 but luch as is fignificant and edifying by (ignification, ( i Cat. 14, 
 10, 11,26.) which the voyce of Iniiruments is not. t, 
 
 yinfrv. 4. It is an honpur to Chrift, and to his grace, not ondy 
 when we hold forth fpirituall gifts, but ailb when wee performe 
 Chriilian dutlts. And duties performed in Faiih (without which 
 prayer it felfe is not accepted ) they goe not without a fpirituall 
 bleflin^, though Nature and Art might performe the fameior the 
 outward wodie. The Trailing of the weapons of the I/raelites, 
 ijnd their Military March, both in iilence and fhouting, about the 
 walls o( Jericho^vvas no greater worke externally jthen carnall men 
 and Pagans might have performed aa well as Ifradites-j but this 
 being done by Jfiraelitesm faith and obedience to Gods command, 
 it was mightie through God to caft downe the high and ftrong 
 walls JO^Jerichoy Jofti. 6. 1 3, 1 4, 1 5 , 16, 20. And the Apoftle look- 
 ing at this and the like Precedents , fetteth forth Faith as that 
 which is prevalent and efieftuall in both Teftaments , howfoever 
 the worke or worlhip beexternali, Heb. 1 1. 30.1n like manner is it 
 with the reading of the Word, and the hearing of it, asalfothe 
 filent ioyning in prayer, and concluding it with y^fmew, though all 
 thefe be fuch duties as Nature and Art may performe the outward 
 worke of them : yet when the people of God doe performe the 
 fame in the faith of Cbrift , and in the obedience of Gods com« 
 mand, they finde a graciousibleffing of G^. Yea carnalland prfin 
 phaneperfons and Pagans, though they cannot expeft the like 
 blefling froiEi their empty outfideperformances^yet'they fometimes 
 taile more fweetneileand enlargement theFein,thenfle(h and bloud 
 
 could 
 
a Gdf^el- Ordinance, 
 
 cou'4 imagine, i Sam. 10.5,6. ^^v^^/ joyiiing with the Propiwii 
 m therr holy melody found another Spirit coming on him, which 
 alfo ai gueth (by the way ) that the joyning of prophane and car* 
 nail hypocrites in fuch fpirituall fongSjdoth not evacuate the b'ef- 
 Hng of God to his people, but rather reach forth fome fpirituall 
 bkHing, ( though common ) to fuch carnall hypocrites. 
 '^ Objcb. It may be in the old Tcftament, fuch an outward wor- 
 '^ (hip as Nature and Art could accomplifh, might be allowed and 
 '^ blefled of God: But now in the NewTcftamentjasGod is a Spi- 
 '' fit, fo he alloR'eth and blefleth no worfhipj but what is difpen- 
 ^^ (ed in Spirit and Truth. 
 
 Anfcv, God was a Spirit in the old Teftament, as well as in the 
 New ; nor did he then allow and bieflc any worQiip, but what ei- 
 ther was performed in Spirit and Truth, or did convey Spirit and 
 Truth. Albeit more cxternall rites in worfhip were then appoln- 
 tedjthcnin the NewTeftament are now continued 5 for which end 
 Chrift alledgeth thofe words in the place in John^ to which you 
 allude : But nev€rtheleHe,though Chrift have net limited his wor- 
 ship to any certain place now,as then(which was the point Chrift 
 there fpeaketh to \ ) nor doth he reft in externall performance 5 
 yet evident ic is, God hath appointed in thefe dayes of the Gofpel 
 fiindry externall worlhips now as well as theuj ( and the fame in 
 both Teftaments to be performed in Spirit and Truth; ) as hear- 
 ing and reading the Word, kneeling in prayer, and (Afin^^Amm ; 
 All vvhicli Nature and Art may performe as well as the iinging of 
 Pfalmes with vccall melody. 
 
 C H A p. I I. 
 
 Propunding and clearing the fecond Proofe for finging 
 Pfalmes mth lively voyce, 
 
 pS^*g*™^.He jecond Proofe is taken from the examples ofChrifi him^ 
 Jelfe, and of his Saints and Difcifks in the Neap leftammt, 
 Chrift himfelfe with his Difciples fung a Pfalme or aa 
 Hymnc togethcr,in the end oftheadminiftradon of the 
 
 Lords Supperp Mat* 26.30. Aod Vad and Sihs arc faid to have 
 
g singing of P s A L m e ^ , 
 
 (vmt Vfalme in the Vriforty (o as the Frifomrj heard them^hdis 1 6.25. 
 Now if in finging they had onely fpiritualiy rejoyced, and not cx- 
 prtiled their joy and their, fong in audible and lively voyce, the 
 Prifonei s coiild not have heard them.The ftranger doth not know 
 nor meddle with- the fpirituall joy of the hearty Fro. 14. 10. 
 " ObjeB. I. The place in Mif.26.30. may as well be tranflated 
 *'• They prayled God, as they fung an Hyrane. 
 
 Anjw. Though the meaning be , they praifed God , yet the 
 word implyethj they praifed God with an Hymne ; for it is im- 
 proper in that language to tranflate the word to Praile ( whether 
 God or man) but either with a Song, or with a Poeme. It is more 
 probable, then any reafbn canwavejthat Chrift and his Difciples 
 did (hut up the Lords Supper with finging one of their Hebrew 
 Pfalmes ; as the Jewes were wont to (hut up their Celebration of 
 the Pafleover ( as their own Records tell us) with finging Vfalme 
 III. with the five other Pfalmes next following together. But all 
 that I now intend, is to (hew that Chrift and his Difciplcs fang 
 togetherjand therefore with the voyceas well as the heart. 
 *<^ Obje^. 2. They might be faid to fing togetherjif one alone fang 
 '' and the reft faid Amenjin the clofe : as men may be faid to pray 
 " together, where one alone fpeaketh, and the reft confent. 
 
 jinftv, I. True: but then one at leaft fpeaketh with an audible 
 and lively voyce, though the reft doe not. And that's enough to 
 cleare the point in hand, that finging in the New TeftamentjCon- 
 lifteth not onely in making melody with grace in the heart, but 
 alfo in finging to the Lord with lively voyce. 
 
 Anftv. 2. If the Difciples did not joyne in finging that Hymne, 
 but onely by filentconfentjthey might as well be (aid. To have 
 taken the bread, and blefled it, and broken it, and diftributed it, 
 ( and fo the wine •, ) for all this Chrift did with their filent con- 
 fent. But what Chrift did alone is exprefly recorded, as done by 
 himfelfe : when it cometh to the finging of thcPfalme, that is re- 
 corded as done by them in the Plurall numbctyJ^hen they had fung 
 an Hymne^ they departed into the Mount of Olives : They that depar- 
 ted into the Mount of Olives, they (iing the Pfalme. Now it was 
 not Chrift alone , but the whole eleven Difciples with him that 
 departed into the Mount of Olives. And therefore it was Chrift 
 with his Difciples that fung the Pfalme together. 
 
a Gof^el-Ordinance, 
 
 ''^ ObjeCi, 3. Againft the proofe from ASh 16. 25, It is not (aid 
 ^^ (fay (brae ) that Paul and Silaf fung the Pfalmes of Vavid or 
 '^ jifaph, much lefle with Meeter and Tunes devifed by men. Had 
 '^ they (b done, the prifoners that heard them might have fung 
 *^ for the outward difpenfation fuch a fong of praife to God, as 
 ^^ well as they. 
 
 ^njiv. Wee doe not alledge this example of theirs (as hath 
 been often faid in like cale before ) to prove they fang any Pfahie 
 of David, though it ftand with good reafonjthat they joyning to- 
 gether in finging, did rather fing a Pfalme (orHymne) knowne to 
 them bothjthen any new Songdevifed by either of themjBut what 
 Pfalmes are to be fung is another Qiieftion, which ( by the hclpe 
 of Chrift ) wee (hall (peake to in the fequell. Neither doe wee al- 
 ledge their example to prove J they fang in a deviled Meeter or 
 Tune. For themfelves being HebreweSj it is likely they fang the 
 Hebrew Songs in the tunes of the San^uary, but that alfo is ano- 
 ther Queftion, of which we are to fpeake in his place, when wee 
 come to it. All that we gather from this place now , is, no more 
 then the words doe plainly hold forth, that they fung an Hymne 
 to God, not onely with inward melody of grace in their hearts, 
 but alfo with outward melody of the voyce ; for elfe the prifoners 
 could not have heard them. 
 
 " Againft thisj it is of no force to objeft ( as fome doe ) that if 
 ^'^ they had fung any of the Pfalmeeof D^Wor Afaph with an au- 
 ^^diWe voyce, then the other prifoners alfo might have joyned 
 *^^ with them, and have worfhippcd ( externally at Icaft ) as well 
 *'* as they. 
 
 For the anfwer is plaine and ready : Firft, The prifon was in 
 Thilippi, a Citie of Macedonia^ confifting partly of a Colony of the 
 'Komans, partly of the Grecians : no Jeofes at all are mentioned to 
 %t inhabitants there, much lefle prifoners at that time. And for 
 Pagahs to joyne in finging Hebrew Songs, in Hebrew verges and 
 tpnes, it fcemeth to be farre beyond either their skill,or devotion. 
 ^Secondly , Suppofe the prifoners had been Jewe/ (of which there 
 Is no hint at all in the Text ) and fuppole thofe prifoners hearing 
 \he melody oifaiil and Silas, and knowing the Song, had joyned 
 in the outward finging of it, and that without any grace in their 
 hearts (none of all which things appeare in the ftory) yet (uppofe 
 
 C all 
 
I o singing of P s a L m E s. 
 
 all this i fhali the unbeliefe of thofe Jcroes make the holy worfnip 
 of thefe Apoftles,anci their faith to God, or the faith of God to 
 them, of none eifsft^ ^aul renounceth and abhorretliluch carnall 
 reafoningSjKtfw.s. 3. 
 
 C HA P. III. 
 
 TnfQunMng^ and clearing tbe third ^roofe^ for fingi/ig 
 Pfalmes mth a lively voyce^ 
 
 ^ Third proofe of this truth , is tak^nfrom the Vrophecus 
 of the old Tefiamentyforetellhg andperfwadingfmh a dutie 
 in the N«;s'3lfa.52,S» with the voyce together (hall they 
 iing. And that isforetold of the tim&SiVphen thefeete of 
 ike Adeljengers of gUd.ty dings flTaJl be beautifully who ^aU fay unto Zi- 
 on^ithy Godreignetb,. Which Paul explaincth of the times of the 
 Goft'el J 'Rom. 10. 14. Pfakioo. i. Mak^. a joyfull noyfe unto the 
 Lord allyee Landi : and verf. 2^ Come before his prefence rvith finging^ 
 All yee landsj implieth the .Nations of the Gentiles, as well as of 
 the }ew€S 5 which pertaineth to the times of the New Teftament ; 
 So that now all are exhorted tofing before the prefence of God, 
 with aloud noyfe. or voyee. 
 
 So Tfil. 9$. 1 . come, let mftng unto the Lord : let m makl ^Py' 
 full noyfe to the rock^of our falvation . And ver. 2. Let m make a joyfull 
 noyfe unjto him vfithPfalmej. Which Pfalme theApoftle hinifelfe 
 Interpreteth to be meant of the times of the GofpeL Which is the 
 mors to be obferved, becaufe the Pfalmift, exhorting to the holy 
 and reverent performance of the ordinary duties of the Sabbath, 
 he mentioneth firft thankefgiving in (inging of Pfalmes with a loud 
 voyce, and thereafons thereof, t^er. I, to 5. And then folemne 
 prayer with the rcafons thereof, z'er. 6,7. and then faithfull atteni- 
 tion to the preaching of the Word on that day,not hardning their 
 hearts againft it , through unbeliefe, in the'end oiver, 7. and ver,%* 
 to 11. io day ifyee xpill heare his voyce, harden not your hearts. And 
 this day, theApoftle interpreteth to bemeantnotofthey^day 
 of reft from theCreation 5 nor of the day of reft, wherein fofhua 
 g^ye the people inheritance and reft in Canaan 3 but of the day of 
 
 reft 
 
a Gofiel'Vrdhance, 
 
 II 
 
 reft in the New Teftament, Heb. 4. 3. to 9. Whence the Apoft/e 
 inferrethj That there is remaining to us another Sabbatifoie, or 
 day of reftj now in the dayes of the Gofpel, different from the fe- 
 venth day of reft, kept in regard of Gods reft from the Creation^ 
 and different from the day of reft in Jofhuahs time : but the day of 
 reft remaining to usjhe dcclareth to be that day wherein the Lord 
 Jefus entred into his reft. And that was our Lords day jwhich Pj- 
 vid(^Co long before) foretold (hould be celebrated with folemne 
 prayer, preaching and hearing the Wordjand linging of Pfalracs^ 
 and that with a joyfull noyfe. 
 
 " Obje&, I. Though David exhorteth all Lands to Qns, to the 
 " Lord with a loud noyfe, it doth not appeare wee fhould make 
 ^^ fuch a manner of loud noyfe, as our forme of finging is,no more 
 '' then fuch a loud noyfe, as was made in Davids dayes, vpitb ten 
 ^^firinged injlruments j for (b the Lord was to be praifed. I doe ac- 
 " knowledge fronTthefeTexts,Thatit is the dutie of all thofe who 
 "arecalled to the knowledge of the Truth, when they doe come 
 ** before the Lord, not to come before him with forrow and fad- 
 " nefle, and with a dejefted fpirit, but with a finging ; or elfcjthey 
 " difhonour the Lord Jefu8,the fpirituall chiefe finger, author of 
 '' their new Song. But although this prophecy doth foretell of the 
 " joyfull approaching of the fpirituall worfhippers before the 
 "Lord ; yet it bindeth them no more to make fuch a noyfe, as the 
 ** finging booke teachethjthen the trees are to clap their hands, as 
 ^^Ifaiah prophecieth ', or as the new Converts are bound to come 
 ** with externall finging, when they come to joyn themfelves with 
 " the Church , Ifai. 51. 11. And as for fuch a manner of noyfe, 
 " as is made in our mixed AfTemblies,the Pfalme fpeaketh nothing 
 
 '* to it 
 
 Anftv, The manner of noyfe which is made by finding in our 
 Aflfemblles, it pertaineth not to the prefent Queftion in hand : and 
 therefore we referre it to the fequell. The Queftion now is, whe- 
 ther in the dayes of the New Teftament, we are to fing the praifes 
 of God, with a loud voyfe, or noyce. And for this we aliedge^be- 
 fidetheTextin Jfaiab^ the Prophecies of P^wV, who fore:ellethj 
 and exhorteth <«/( lands, ( at leaft the Churches and people of God 
 in aU lands ) Tatnak^ a joyfull noyfe unto the Lord, to make, a joyfull 
 noyfe unt9 him with Pfalmes, to come before his prefence vfiith fining, 
 VfaU 100. ij 2. & Ffal, 95.132. C 2 " Xm 
 
12 Singing of Psalmes, 
 
 " Yea but this bindefh us no more to make fuch a manner of 
 " loud noyie, as our forme of finging isj then to make fuch a loud 
 " noy (cjas was made in Davids dayeSjWif/b ten jlringed JnfirummtJ'y 
 " for fo the Lord was to be praifed. 
 
 Anjvo. So the Lord was to be praifed 5 Praiied with tenjlringed 
 Jnfirmmtjft : When was he (b to be praifed^ In Davids dayes? 
 True : And therefore it was the dutie of all the people in any land^ 
 that became Profelytes to the Church oflfiael in thedaycs of P^- 
 vidy and during all the time of the Temple woifhipj to come be- 
 fore the Lord, not onely with the loud noyle of finging Pfalme», 
 but of playing rvith Inftruments. But after the dayeSj not onely of 
 Davidj but of the Temple , and that worftip be paft , in the day 
 when our Jehovah ( the Lord Jeru8)hath entred into his reft, in 
 the day of our Lordj'when hecommandeth us not to harden our 
 hearts, but to heare his voyce, to fall downe and worflhip before 
 him in prayer, (both which are to be performed every Lords day) 
 he then commandeth us to come andjing unto the Lord^to mah^ a joy- 
 ful! noyfe to the rocJ{of our falvation^ and to make a joyful! nojfe unto hini 
 with Pfalmes s Pfal. 05. I52. Here is now no mention of making 
 a joyfull noyfe with Inftruments, but with Pfalmes. And therefore 
 the making a joyfull noyfe withPfalmes doth ftill continue, even 
 on our Lords dayesrwhen making a joyfull noyfe with Infimments 
 continueth not, but is laid downe in fiience : fave onely fo farre as 
 it is kept alive in the antitype, the aifeftions of our hearts, (our 
 Praecordia) making melody with the fongs and profeflionsof our 
 lips , and with the gracious and peaceable converfation of our 
 lives. 
 
 '"' When you acknowledge it to be the dutie of fuch as are called 
 " to the knowledge of the Truth, to come before the Lord, not 
 " with forrow and (adnefle, and with a deje^ed fpirit, but with 
 " finging. 
 
 What finging doe you meane "i If you meane onely the gracious 
 rejoycingof the h€art,that indeed,t hough it berequifite to avoyd 
 hypocrilie, yet it is not corapleate to reach the full extent of the 
 dutie, the dutie of making a joyfuU noyfe with Tfalmes. Our chiefc 
 Singer ( of whom you fpeake,) when he fet the Lord, and his own 
 death and refurrc^ion before his face, ( which he was to under- 
 goe for our fak€8)he was not oncIy glad in his heart, but hisglory 
 
 alfo 
 
A (joffel'Ordmance, 15 
 
 alfoCtbatiSj his tongue) rejoyced in finging a Pfalmeu his laft 
 Supper, ffal. 1 6. 839. with Mat. 26. 30. And therefore it will be 
 A difcord from the prafkife of our chicfe Singer, and fo a difho- 
 nour to himjifour hearts fing with joy, but our glory (to wit, our 
 tongues ) be mute with filcnce. Say not then, as you doe ; 
 " We are no more bound to make a loud noyle with our voyce?, 
 " then the trees are to clap their hands, ( as Ifaiah prophecieth ) 
 " or then the new Converts were to come with externall linging 
 "of Pralmesj/jf^i. 51.11. 
 
 For in fo faying, you will not avoyde the authoritie of the 
 Commandement, nor the necelTuie of that dutie of finging. For 
 when God redeemed his people out of the Captivitie oiBabel, not 
 onely their hearts ( the hearts of them who were returning to Zi- 
 :?« J were filled with rejoycing, but even their tongues alfo with 
 finging, F/*/. 126. i, 2. And though the Trees cannot be laid in 
 proper fpeech to clap their hands,(for they have no hands to clap) 
 yet common fcnfe will eafily tell you, that ther§ is a Metaphor ei- 
 ther in clapping of hands, or in the trees. If trees be taken proper- 
 ly, then clapping of hands is put ( by a Metaphor ) for the floa- 
 rjlhiog fruitfulnefle of the trees of the field, which ( by the blefling 
 of God) is wont to follow the profperitie of the Ghuich, in fuch 
 aboundance, that their boughss and branches ftiall clap and daili 
 themfelves and their fruite one upon another, whereby ( as by 
 hands ) they reach forth refrefhing and food to the children of the 
 Church. But if Trees be put by a Metaphor for trees of righteouf- 
 nefle, (as the Saint? are fo called, Tfi.61. 3. ) then they (hall clap 
 their handsj andpoitt for joy ^ and jingaloud^{^ QX^rt^mg external! 
 figncs of comfort) to behold andconfider the vponderfullgoodneffeofthe 
 Lord, to themfelves and their brethren. And Co in the fame verfe, 
 Ifai. 55.1*. when the Mount aines and hills are faid to br?ak forth 
 before the Saints into Jinging^ii there be not a Metaphor infingingy 
 then Mountaines andbillszre put fby a Metaphor) for Princes and 
 men of high degree, ( aS'PJal.'ji. 3. ) which fhall give example to 
 others in holy re;oycingi and particularly in finging praiics to the 
 Lord. So that thefe Texts in Ijaiah ^whlch you thoHgfett;:^ii)!ght 
 excnfe yoiU;frQp/fingii!ig wMi^t.he Voycci, ( which 'Bkvidt'^ovtad 
 to be done with a Ibud voyct) they will not exersptyou at all 
 fromthladutle, but rather hiiid you the ftronger loit., Andthir^ 
 •:.: foie: 
 
14 
 
 Singing 0/ P s A L M E s , 
 
 forclooke as M^htnT) avid {uxh ; Jcryed to the Lord vohhmyvoyce^ 
 '( Pfal. 3, 4' & 77' !• ) ^ •"*" ^^^^ detraft from his meaning, chat 
 -(ball fay, he cryed onely to God with his heart : So when Vjvid 
 exhorteth the Gentile Churches to make a joyfuU noyfi unto God 
 with PJalmes 5 yoa doe detraft in like fort from his meaning, when 
 ,yciJ make his meaning to be j not that wee (hould iing unto God 
 *with our voyecSj but that we {hould onely make melody to him, 
 with grace in our hearts. Such detrafling from the Word is alike 
 difallowed, and accurfcd of God, as is adding to the Word. 
 -^^ ObjeB. 2. Singing of Pfalmes with the voyce, is but a type of 
 *' finging Pfalmes with grace in the heart. 
 
 Anfiv. I. No Scripture fpeaketh of it as a type : nor doth any 
 evidence of reafon fo declare it. 
 
 2. You might as well fay, that praying with the voyce v/as a 
 type of praying with the heartjand lb is now abolifhed. 
 
 3. IffingingofPfalmeswithalcudnoyfejhad been atypicall 
 worfhip, Vavid would not have exhorted us to the praftife of it 
 -on the Lords day of theNewTeftament, Tfal. 95. i, 2. 7. 
 
 4. Chrift and his Apoftles would not have ufed it in the Lords 
 Supper, which is a feadof the New Tcftament, Mat. 2d. 30. nor 
 would P4«/ and 5//^/ have ufed it i« frz/o« among the Gentiles, 
 1^^/36.25. 
 
 5. The light of Naturcj which is never wont to teach us types 
 and (hadows, doth as well teach us to praife God in finging with 
 our tongues, in times of our rejoycing, as to cry to God with our 
 voyces in times of our diftreflfes. 
 
 C H A p. I V. 
 
 Propounding the fecond .^eftion , Stating it^ 
 and Pr coving it. 
 
 He fecond Qtieftion about finging of Pfalmes, wwcerwef^ 
 the matter of the Ffalmer to befitng ; for there be (bme 
 who doe hot fcruple finging with the voyce (as the for- 
 
 mer fort did ) but finging of the Pfalmes of Vavid now 
 
 -in thefedayes of the NcB>Te/i<w»e»/, As conceiving Vavids Pfalmes 
 
 were 
 
a Gdfi^ el-Ordinance, ^5 
 
 were penned for Temple worfhip, during the Psedagogy of the old 
 Teftament. But now in the dayes of the Niw Tejiw^ent^ when God 
 hath promised to powre out his Spirit upon all flsfti, now the 
 whole worlhip of God ftiould be carried on, not by iet formes of 
 P/^j/ww, (no more then by fet formes of prayer) but by perfonall 
 fpirituall gifts, whereby fome one or other of the members of the 
 Ghuichj having received a Pfalme by the enditement uf the Spirit, 
 he fingeth it openly in the publique Afltmbly of the Churchj and 
 the reft of the brethren fay Amen to it in (he clofcr 
 
 But touching the perfons of thofe who ftiould fing,it pertainech 
 to the third Q«efiion. This fecond C^ieftion chiefly concerneth 
 the matter to be fung , whether the Fjjlmet of "David ^ or fome 
 Ffaltne, or Hymncj cndited by the perfonall gift of this or that 
 member of the Church. Wherein we hold and beleeve 5 
 
 1. That not onely the Pfalmes ofVavidyhm any other fpirituaH 
 Songs recorded in Scripture, may lawfully be fung in Chriflian 
 Churches, as the fong of Adofes^and Afaph^Heman and Ethan, Solo- 
 mon and Heztkiah, Habacmk and Zachary^ Hannah and Veborak^ 
 Mary and 'Elizabeth, and the like. 
 
 2. Wee grant alfo, that any private Chriftian, who hath a gift 
 to frame a fpirituall Song, may both frame it, and iing it private- 
 ly jfor his own private comfortj and remembrance of fome fpcciall 
 benefitsor deliverance : Nor doe we forbid the private u(e of an In- 
 ftrumentof Mulick thercwithall j So that attention to the infiru* 
 raentjdoe not divert the heart from attention to the matter of the 
 
 Song. 
 
 Neither doe we deny, but that in the publiqne thanke^ivings 
 of the Church, if the Lord (hould furnifti any of the members of 
 the Church with a fpirituall gift to compofe a ffalme upon any 
 fpeciall occafion, he may lawfully be allowed to fing it before the 
 Church, and the reft hearing it, and approving it, may goe along 
 with him in Spirit, and fay Amen to it. IVhen Chriji afiended up on 
 high, to fit upon his throne of glory, looke as Princes are wont to 
 doe in the day of their Coronation, [ Spargere Mijfilia & Vmaria'] 
 fo did he powre out his gifts abundantly on all forts, gifts of Mi- 
 racles, Healing, Tongues, Pfalmes.hnd the Churches were willing^ 
 when they faw fuch fpeciall gifts of the Spirit powred out,to make 
 irfe of thenij as occafion ferved. Whence it was, that fundry of the 
 
 tneni"' 
 
-^ singing of Psalmes, 
 
 members of the Church oiCorimh^ as they had received a gift of 
 Pralmes and tongues ff cm the Lord Jefus, fo they had allowance 
 from the Church to imploy their gifts to ths f ubllque edification 
 of the Church. But as fuch gifts now are not ordinarily beftowedj 
 (which were at firft given chiefly for admiration and conviftion 
 of Infidellsj i Cor. 14. 22. ) fo we would not call upon men now^ 
 to preferretheirordinary common gifts as more fit for the pub- 
 lique edifying of the Church, before the extraordinary gifts of the 
 holy men of God in ScripturCj who by the Spirit were guided to 
 prepare fpirituall fongs, fuitable to all the conditions and aifefti- 
 ons and temptations of the Church and people of God in all ages. 
 So then the Queftion is, whether the Fjalmes of Vavidj and Afapb, 
 and fuch other Hymnesand fpirituall Songs endited by the Pro- 
 phets, and recorded in Scripture, be appointed by God, to be or- 
 dinarily fung in Chriftian Churches , or whether laying afide 
 Scripture- Songs, we are to iing onely fuch fpirituall Song8,as (hall 
 be endited by the perfonall (but ordinary ) gifts of any ordinary 
 Officer or ^Iember of the Church ? The former we hold to be the 
 Truth, others the latter. 
 
 The Reafons of our Faith and Praftife are theft : . 
 I. Taken from the Commandement,or exhortation of the A- 
 poftle, Ephef. 5.19. BeyoujiUed rvith the Spirit^ (faith hejjpeaklng 
 toyourjdves ( that is, one to another ) in Ffaltnes and Hymms and 
 (pirituall SongSy finging and making melody in your hearts to the Lord* 
 To the like purpoie ig his commandement and exhortation to the 
 ColoJJianr, Chap. 3. ver. id. Let the rvord ofChrijl diveUinyon richly^ 
 in aHtvifdome, teaching and admonijbing one another ^ in Pjfalmes and 
 Hjmnes and jfirituall Songs, fiagingxvith grace in your hearts to the 
 Lord, In both which places, as the Apoftle exhorteth us to fing- 
 ing, foheinftruft'^ch us what theraatter of our Song fhould bs^ 
 tomtiPfalmeSjHymnes^andJpiritHaU Songs ; Now thofe three bp 
 the very Titles of the Songs ofVavid, as they are delivered to us 
 by the Holy Ghoft hitnfelfe : fome of them are called C^DmDTD' 
 that iSjF/iW/iforae c^U'V'jnn) that iSiHjmnes-^ fome ! — d inj^^ 
 that is, Songs^ ^irituali Songs. Now what reafon can bs given why 
 the Apoftle fhould direct us in our finging to the very titles oiPa- 
 vids Pfalmes, if it were not his meaning that we (houJd fing them ? 
 Yea,either wee muft exclude the Pfalmes oiVavidy from the name 
 
 of 
 
A G off el-Ordinance, 17 
 
 o^TfJmesy and Hjmmj^ and j^irituaU Songs ; or ells we niuft be for- 
 ced to acknowledge, that we are exhorted to fing them, as waii at 
 any other. 
 
 C H A P. V. 
 
 ^Efore we proceed to any further Reafons of the point, 
 let U8 firft ( by the hcipe of Chrift ) cleare the Objecti- 
 ons agah^ft this. The Objeftions are reany, and fbme 
 ^^ of them feeme more weighty, and feme more liii;ht : 
 let us unpartially and evenly (by the Lords guidance) weigh them 
 all in the Ballance of the Sanctuary. 
 
 " ObjeU. I. liFaulhud UKa.nt'D avids Tfalmesj or Scnptiire-JongSy 
 '' it had been an eafie matter to have named Davids Pfalmesy or 
 '^ Scripture-J^wg/, asPiWi^/ himfelfe named his jo;^_g/, the ffulmss 
 '^ orSo?7gs of Vavidy when he delivered them to the chiefe MuJiti- 
 " an, and to his company to be fung. 
 
 Anfiv. I. It may as juftly be faid, xiVaul had meant to exclude 
 "Davids Pfalmesyor Scnptui'c-fongSy it had been as ealie to have ex- 
 cluded them by name, and to have limited them onefy to (bch 
 Ffalmes und Songs^ as the Spirit fhould fugged: unto their hearts. 
 
 t^nfrv.2. The Apoftle exprefly nameth FfalmeSj and Hj/wtjes, 
 and fpirltuall Songs ^ and they three are the very exprefle Titles of 
 the Tfalmes in the Pfalme-Booke. Now why hefliould direft them 
 to the very Titles oiDjvids Pfalmcs^^nd yet not meanc the Pfalmes, 
 that bsare thofe Titles, can a good confciencc give a good reafon 
 for it "i 
 
 Aiifof. 3. When PjyrVgave his Pfalmes and Songs to the Muli- 
 tians ill Jpael^k was maete he fhould fet his name to them , or by 
 fome other ma- ke mAke it appeare, that the Pplmes were infpired 
 and delivered bv a Prophet of God. But after the Book ofPfjlmcs 
 was generally knovvne and received to be of divine infpiratiorf^ 
 ( as other Oracles of God ) the Pfjlmesare as ufuaily allec^ged In 
 the NtJv lepaimnt^ without the name ofDavid^^s ivith itjLwi^a^. 
 44. y</c7/i3.33. 
 
 " ObjcB. 2. The Pfalmes here committed to the fpirituall Singers 
 
 D «jo 
 
1 8 Singing of P s A L M E s , 
 
 "tobefungjarethewordsofChriftj which are to dwell richly 
 "in u?3C(7/.3.i6. But the Pfalmes dedicated to thefonnes oiCorahy 
 '^weie the words of Pjz/;Vand Afjph. And fo the Holy Ghoft 
 " calleth them. Not but that the words fpoken by the mouth of 
 *^ VavidsinA AftphyWere the words of Chrift, but that the words 
 '* which are to be the fpirituall fongs of the SaintSj wherein they 
 '^ are to teach one another, and to ling unto God, they are words 
 ^' rpoken to the hearr^by the voyce of the Spirit of Chrift. Bsfidcs, 
 " the word of Chriftjis properly the Gofpel,by way of eminency, 
 " in way of oppofition to the Law, given by Mofis, 
 
 Anfw. I. The words o( Vavid and Afjpb^ as they were the 
 words of Chrift in the mouth oi'Davldaxid Afaph : fo they were 
 the words of Chrift alfo in the mouths of the fonnes ofCorah^ or 
 any other Singers in the Temple. If any of them did not fing them 
 with the Spirit of Chrift as well as Vavid and Apph fpake, and 
 penned them by the Spirit of Chriftjit was a finfull defedt in them, 
 but not in the word it felfe, nor in the godly Singers of the Tem-c 
 plcj ( fuch as HemjTiy and Jeduthun^ and others ) who were fpiri- 
 tuall, and holy men, and fang them with melody in their hearts, 
 as well as in their voyces. And it will be alike finfull dcfe£^ in the- 
 Wervle^amcHt^ in iuch as fing the Pfalmes of Vavid, to fing them 
 without fome raeafure of the Spirit oiVavid- For the Apoftle ex- 
 prefly requireth, that wee ftiould fing with grace in our hearts. 
 But if the words of PuwWand Afaph, be the words of Chrift, and 
 be (ling of the Church, with grace in the heart, wee demand whe- 
 ther this a^ of the Church,be not an aft of Faith,and of the obe- 
 dience of Faith to the word of Chrift , in that Text of the A- 
 poftle> 
 
 Anfrv. 2. It is an unfafe and unfavoury expreflion, to fpeake of 
 the words of Vavid and Ajaph, as if they were onely the words 
 of Chrift in the mouths of fpirituall Singers. For if they were not 
 the words of Chrift in the mouths of carnall Singers al(b,then the 
 holy Scriptures were not the word of Chrift, if they be read by a 
 carnall reader. So the unbeliefe of man ftiall make the faith of 
 God of noneelfeft j yea the word of God , not to be the word of 
 God. 
 
 Anfiv,^. Let it be confidered in the feare of God, whether the 
 Wi>rds oi Vavid and Ajapb^Cui)^ with grace in the heart unto God, 
 
 he. 
 
a Gofpel-Ordinance, j- 
 
 be not as truly and properly ( in the Apodles fence ) the word of 
 Chriftjas any Song end iced by the private gift of any Siincof God 
 now living ? If fo , then the Apoftle encouragech us to fing the 
 Ffalmej of Vavid and jijaph with their Spirit ; If notjthen there be 
 Chriftians now, that are carried by a more infallible Spirit, then 
 the Prophets were in old time. And yet Paul fpeaketh of the Saints 
 now, as led by the Spirit of God , Rom. 8. 14, But Peter fpeaketh 
 ofthe Prophet* then 3 as carried ( ^fojuewi ) by the Holy Ghoft, 
 2 Pet. I. 2 1. Which putteth this difference, that fuch as are led by 
 the Spirit may errejbut ftich asare carried by the Spirir,are carried 
 and lifted above chemfelves by the Holy Ghoft, and cannot erre ; 
 and (b was David and Afapb, 
 
 4. Though the words of Chrift be the Gofpe!,yet the words of 
 "David are not to be fhut out of the Gofpel j for the Gofpcl was 
 preached to Ifrael , when "David and the other Prophets were 
 preached, yea and fomc parts oiMofts Aiojieb.^, 2. Job. $« 46. 
 ** ObjeB. 3, But ifthe Apoftle had intended to commend to the 
 '' Churches the iinging of the Pfalmes and Hymnes and jpirituaU 
 '^ S&agf o{ David and Afaphy what need was there for him to ex- 
 ^ hort either the Ephefians to be filled with the Spirit^ or the Colof- 
 ^ fiansy to have thetvordofChriji dtpell richly in tbemy for fuch a (er- 
 " vice ? For any fmall mealure of the Spirit, and of the Word, will 
 ^^ fijffice to fing the Pfalmes of David and Afaph^ in their words, 
 ' and in the meeter and tunes accuftomed. But to invent new fpi- 
 '' rituall Songs, fit to teach and admonifti the Church, would re- 
 " quire a full meaftire of the Spiritjand a rich treaftire of the word 
 *^ to dwell in us. And therefore PW biddeth the Ephefians , to be 
 '' filled with the Spirit , in finging the (pirituall longs of the New 
 " Teftamentjas drunkards are filled with wine,andin the ftrength 
 " and fpirits of their wincj'.nvent and fing theirwanton Sonnets. 
 Arifh^. I . Paul did exhort them to be filkd tfith the Spirit^ as 
 drunkards be with wine, not that they might invent, and fingfpi- 
 rituall SongSjas drunkards doe wanton Sonnets; for neither doe 
 drunkards filled with tvincjufually invent Sonnets, but fing fuch as 
 they learned before, when they were fober ; nor doth the Apoftic 
 fpeake of inventing Songs at all , either wanton Songs by drun- 
 kards, or fpirituajl Songs by the faithfull 5 but oncly to be filled 
 with the Spirit, as drunkards be with wine, that fo chey might *- 
 
 D 2 voyd 
 
2 o Singing of PsaLmes, 
 
 voyd the riotous and excelTive mirth 0f drunkards, and employ 
 and improve their holy mirth and joy ,10 the fingi/ig ofPfalmes 
 and Hjmnes andfprituaU Songs ^ for their own mutuall edification 
 and coniblation, and for holy thankefgiving and praife unto the 
 Lord. 
 
 .Anfip. 2. Though it doe not require fuch a full meafure of the 
 Spirit iX\OT rich portion of the Word dwelling in us^to fing a Tfaltrn 
 invented and penned to our hands : yet a full and rich meafure of 
 the Word and Spirit will be needfull to performe all thofe dutieSj 
 which the Apoftle in thofe Texts calleth for. For the Apoftle cal- 
 leth tothe improvementjas of the whole word of Chriftjunto the 
 teaching and admonifhing of one another, fo of the Tfalmes^ not 
 onely unto thofe two heads^but alfo befides thofe, unto a further 
 third end , to wit , unto the finging of them unto Gods praife. 
 Now to be able to improve the whole word of God to thefe two 
 fpirituall ends, and the Pfalmcs to all thofe three fpirituall ends 
 doih require a full and rich meafure both of Spirit and Word to 
 dwell in us^ 
 
 Arsfac. 3. It will require a full and rich meafure both oilFord 
 and Spirit to dwell in t*f, to direct and appoint a fit Tfalmey (out of 
 the Booke oiFfalmes) fuitablc to the prefent occalions of linging 
 to Gods praife 5 and to the inrtruftion and admonition of the 
 Church, according to the prefent eftate of their affeftions, or af- 
 fliftion?, their confolation,or converfation in hand. 
 
 Anftv. 4. It will require a fuller and richer meafure of the Word 
 and Spirit to dwell inuf^ then acarnall heart would imagine even 
 to utter a Song with fuch grace in the heart^as might make melo- 
 dy to the Lord ; It requires a good meafure of the indwelling Spi- 
 rit, and word of God to pray in the Spirit t but much more to iing 
 in the Spirit, wherein cur fen(es delighted with the melody are apt 
 to (leak away our hearts from fpirituall fervency. Deborah found 
 her heart dull to be awakenedjfo much as to mvr the fong,which 
 ftiee had prepared by the Spirit for her and Baral{to fing together, 
 Judg. 5.12. Awake^ Awake^ ( faith (hee ) Awake ^ Awake Deborah^ 
 utter afongjtha.t fourefold ingeminatiqn, Aw.ike, Awah^ , Awake, 
 Awakli titter afong^ argueth in the beft of Gods ifervancs, a deepe 
 *^ drowlinefle of fpirit, when wee ftiodd come to utter a fpirituall 
 
 Song fpiricuallydike as that fourfold ingemination to the Church 
 
 of 
 
a Gofpel' Ordiaance. 2 i 
 
 oi Hierufakmi to T^iturne, KeiurnCy Eeturne, Returm^ Cant. 6. 1 3. 
 argucth a dtepe and ftrong averfenefle of the Spirit of the Jewes 
 unto Converfion, and returning to the Lord. 
 " Objedi. 4. The Apoftlc calleth the whole word ofChrift dwel- 
 '^ iing in us, Pfalmes and Hjmnes and j^iriiuaU Songj, neither doth 
 " he limit us to one Prophet more then to anotherjunlefle you will 
 " iayj that the words ofChrift in the Gofpel, or which was pro- 
 *'^ phecied by the reft of the Prophets j were not fpirituall foDgs ; 
 " But the Apoftle calleth them all Pfalmes and Hjmnes andjpinttiatl 
 " Songs^zs well as Davids /iHb.ey dwell in the heart. For the words 
 " of Chrift thercj ( to wit, in the heart ) are fongs for the Spirit, 
 '^ or ehe they are no fongs to any man. Therefore as yet, to ling 
 ^^ the Prophecies okT) avid dSt^t our: common manner ^ is no wor- 
 "^ fliip commanded or taught us in holy Writ. "^t Q 
 
 Anfw. I. It is a groundiefle AiilTtion to fay, that ?<«»/ calleth 
 the whole word of God dwelling in us 5 Tfahms and Hjm?ies and 
 jpiriiuall Songs. For why then ftiould the Holy Ghoft give that 
 ftyle and Title of P/^Wx and Hymnes and Jpiritujll Songs onely to 
 the Booke of Pp/>«e/,and to none elfe of ail of the Bookes of the 
 Prophets or ApolUes. Againe, if P^«/ called the words of all the 
 Prophets, r/^/we/ and Hjmnes anJjpir'ftuaU Songs ^ ivhy then did 
 not the Prophets in their own language pen them with niuixaU 
 accent?, as well as the Pfalmes oiVavid and ylf^pb ? 
 
 Belides, if the words of all the Prophets were fpiriiuall Songs, 
 why then did the Prophets themlelves tinde the Bookes of their 
 own Prophecies bitter in their bellies? Kei^. 10. 10. There be many 
 words ofthePfophecF, that are more fit matter for humiliation 
 and mourning before the Lord, then fit to be fung &sjpiritu.'.'ijimgs 
 unto the Lord. But fuppofe there be many words of Ghrift, and 
 of his Prophets, that are fie matter for fpirituall rc-joycing ( as in- 
 deed all the Doftrines and promifes of Grace be ) yet what war- 
 rant have wee to fing them, as in Tome Cathedrail Churches and 
 Coiledges, the Bible-Clerks doe (ing their Chapt<?rs out of the old 
 and New Teftament ? 
 
 Anfw,2. Whether the words of Chrift in the GofpeljOrin the 
 Prophetf, be fpirituall Songs or no, yet if tlie Pjd/nes of David be 
 alfbthe words of Chrift, if they likewife da?ell hi our hearts, and 
 if they be fpirituall Songs too , then it will unavoydably follow, 
 
 That 
 
.^a singing ^ PsaLmEs, 
 
 That the fame word of the Apoftle that commandeth us to fing 
 Tj'jimes andHmrtes and [pirituall Songs ^comm^ndtih us al(b to fing 
 the Tplmes * i Vavid^nd Afaph unto theLordsUnlefle you will fay, 
 that the Vfdma oiDavid^nd Ajjph;fj\\ou^ dwellingin the heart,) 
 are n<?iiher PfilmeSy nor Hymmt ^nor fpiritudl 5o?;gjjhowroever the 
 Holy Ghoft entitle them by fuch names. How then can yoa fay, 
 " that to fing the Prophecies of D^Wjdoth not yet appeare to bL--' 
 ^^ a woithip ot God commanded or taught in holy writ ? A« for 
 our common manner ©flinging of them, weefhall haveoccafion 
 to fpeake to that hereafter. 
 
 " ObjeB.$. Pjiy/<^J P/i/wiejconficieredsnot as Scriptures divindy 
 " inlpired, but as fpirituall Songs feeme to be appropriated to the 
 ^^ Temple- worfhip. i. Becaufe they are appointed to be fungby 
 "proper Officers and Muficall Inftruments, belonging to the 
 ^^ Temple, as appeareth by the Titles of feverall Ffalmes, 2. Becaufe 
 " neither Chrift, nor the Apoftles in their writings uCed them at 
 " alljOtherwife then as the other writings oiAdofes^ and the Pro- 
 "^ phetSjforinftruftion and il'uftrationjteaching us how to u(e the 
 ^' fame. Thofe Pfalmes therefore as Songs, being proper to that 
 *' Service of the Temple, are aboliftied with the Temple w6r(liip. 
 
 ^Anftv. I, BoththefeReafonsare too (lender to confine Z)jz;iix' 
 P/i/we/ toTemple-worlhip. For i. Though ConiG ofV avid j Pfalmes 
 were appointed to be fung by the Officers & Muficall Inftruments 
 of the Temple, yet not above one part of three, conlidering the 
 length of the 119. Pfalme, There be an hundred and ftftie Pfalmes 
 in all, and of all thcfe not above 57. are appointed to be fting by 
 the Officers and Inftruments of the Temple : and Vfalms 1 19. is 
 none of them ; fo that two parts of three are free from any exprcfle 
 reference to the Temple. 
 
 2. The matter of (bmeTfalmej doth evidently argue, they were 
 not appointed to be fung alwayes in the Temple 5 or at leaft did 
 agree more pioperly to other times then thofe, wherein the Tem- 
 ple flood. The 74*^ Ffalme ( <vhich was a FJalme ofJfifh^bm joy- 
 nzd With {he Pfalmes of Vavid') complained fhat the enemies had 
 fent Gods Sanftuary into the fire, (as the Hebrew word« be) and 
 had defiled by calling downe the dwelling place of his Name to 
 the ground, ver.y. The 44^^ Pfjlme, though it was committed to 
 the fonnes o( Corah, yet furely it was chiefly intended (as P<a«/ap- 
 
 plieth 
 
A (joffel^OrdtHance, 23 
 
 pliecb part of it ) to the times of the NewTeftament 5 For I fuppofe 
 it CGirfId never be verified of any times of the Jewift Temple, (firft, 
 or feeond ) that ever God gave up the people of Jfrad as flieepe for 
 roeate, to be killed all the day, to be appointed for theflaughter, 
 to be fore broken in the place of Dragons, and covered with the 
 (hadow of death, when as yet though all this evill was come upon 
 them, they had not forgotten their God , nor dealt falfly in his 
 Covenant 5 nor their hearts turned backe, nor their ftcps declined 
 from hifr way, ver. I7. to 22. Vmd indeed acknowledgeth this very 
 word to be accoinplifhed in the Saints of the Primitive Churches 
 in the Apofties times, ( Kom. 8. 36. J but where (hall wee finde the 
 like innocency 5 with the like calamitie met together in the chil- 
 dren of J/r js/,whil ft the Temple was ftanding ? And is it credible, 
 this Pfalme was confitied to be fung in the Temple, where they 
 could not fing it, but with a fad reproofe to themfelves for their 
 dtlcord in praftife, and yet forbidden to be fung in the Churches 
 of the New Teftamenr, where ( in (bme ages at leaft ) they might 
 ling it, both with hearr5and voycc, and pra£tire,all of them keep- 
 ing holy concent and harmony together ? 
 
 3. \t appeareth by the Titles of fuch Pfalmes as are dirc^ed to 
 the Officers and Inftruments of Temple- Mufick, That there was 
 foraeihing typicall or rudimcntall in the manner of finging fome 
 of the FJalmes ot Vavid and Afjph in the Temple- wor (hi p. But this 
 doth no more argue, that the whole fervice of God in (inging Va- 
 z^i^/P(alme8 was typicall or rudimentall, then it will argue prayer 
 to be a typi«all and Temple worfhip, bec.iufe prayer in the Tem- 
 ple was offered with Incenfejand fo with theTemple and with the 
 Incenle to be abolifhed. He that will rmke the Pfaltncs of David 
 (as they are fongs ) to be types of the fpiritiull fongs of the New 
 Teftamentjand therefore now the finging of them to be abolifhed. 
 He might as well fay(with M^. Smith Jehu the Letters ir; tht Scrip- 
 tures of the old Tel^amenr, were typicall, ( typing out the Law 
 written in our hearts) and fo abolifli all reading of the holy Scrip* 
 turesnow in the dayes of the Nta? Tejiament. 
 
 4. As it hath been (hewed above , that (ingJng of TfaJme; with 
 lively voyce, isnot aceremoniali but a morall dutie, and fo conti- 
 nuech now in the dayes of the N tv Teflament ; fo it may be as tru- 
 ly faidj. that the finging oiVavids PfaltneSa and other Scripture- 
 
 fongs „ 
 
2 a ^^"S^'^S ^f P S A L M E S 5 
 
 ibngSjis in like lori; noc a cerenionidli but a morall dude 5 anid Co 
 of like coniinuance in the New Teftament. The Pfjlmes oiVavid^ 
 and AJaphy and ths reR', are as fuU of holy and lively, rpiriaiillj 
 and evangeiica.il meditation?, and affef^iunSjInitiumentJjprayergj 
 and piaireSjas any that we can expetS: to be endited by any Oliicer 
 or member of the Chriiiian Churches now. Yea It is to be feared 
 that the F/j/we/ compiled by the devouteft Chiiftians nowjwould 
 fall (hort of thofe oWavid and Jfaphy in fplrit and life.How then 
 can we make the Ffalmes OiVavid and /4/>/'^3 ceremonial) types of 
 the fpiritnali fongs of the faithfull in the New 7ejlament 5 when as 
 types are wont to be more car nail, and worldly, and literall, and 
 iete fpii Ituall and lively, then the antitypes ^ Buc here the anti- 
 types are lefle (pirituall and lively then the types. 
 
 5. As for that other Reafon taken from the praftife of Chrift, 
 '^ and his Apoftlesj who in their ivritings never ufed the Pfahms of 
 ^^ Vavid for fpiriLuall fongs, as the writings oiMofes & other Prp- 
 " phets for inftr uftion and iliuftratlon •, this is of as fmali force as 
 the former. 
 
 For I. Wiltings are not a place or feafon for the u(e of^zVi* 
 iuallfings. Tfjlmes are to be ufed for fongs in Church Aflcfbhlies, 
 and private Soliloques and Conf^^renceSjnct in Writings : And yet 
 fo farre as Ffdrnes may be ufed {qt fongs in wridns; , F<Jnl (o ufed 
 theai in his Epiftles written to the Epbejians and Colojjians^ where 
 heinftiuSeth both Churches, and in them all otherPjtofing thefe 
 FJahms and Hjmms a^id jphiiujli Songs. Amongft which the(e 
 TJalmes o^Vavid ind ^faphj if they be not principally intended, 
 yet ilirely they are plainly included, or eife tliey are neither the 
 word of Chriil:, nor are they Fjalmss and Hjmnes and fpiritndl 
 Songs. 
 
 2. It If net credible, that Chrlfi: never ufed &iQ Ffthms ofVj- 
 v'ld and Afiph for (piritHjII Songs. For the ufe of thole Ffilmes for 
 Songs, was doubdtffe a part ot Gods woifhip whilefr che Temple 
 ilood.And if Chriit had neglected any part of that wof fhipjwhich 
 waj- then in force, how then, did himielfe fay, Ihat it became him 
 tofHljlUall righ!eciijhejfe ? Mat . 3 • 1 5 . 
 
 Beiije?, many things Jefus did and faid (and fo did the Apo- 
 ftles) which are not wrl? ten \^ the Gofpel,nor Afts, nor EpiUles, 
 'job. 21.25. And yet diis is faid, that he with his Dilciples fung 
 
 an 
 
a Gof^ el- Ordinance, 25 
 
 an Hymncj Mjt.26. 30. And Hymnes is the genera]! tide for the 
 whole Boake oiPfilmej-, For though ic be traullitedlj The Book^ of 
 Pfalmes, yet every one that knoweth that language^ knoweth the 
 word bj The Booke ofHymnes : So that looke, as when in ordinary 
 fpeech we fay, They fung a PfJme, we nieane one of the fjdm^s of 
 Vavid or Afaph^ ( unlefle fome other hi named ) becaule fuch are 
 wont to be lung in ordinary ufe ^ S') when the Evangelifts fay, 
 Chriil: and his Difciples fung an Hymne , the people of God 
 would noteafily underftand any other but one or move of Davids 
 Hjmnes, beeaufc ftich were wont to be the ordinary (bngs u(ed in 
 the wof (hip of God. And furely if Chriil and his Difciples had 
 fung any other Hyrnne , then one oi thefe Fplmes of David and 
 Afjp-hy which were wont to be fung in their Temples and Syna- 
 gogues, the Evangehils who are wont to record farre hffh matters 
 in thing* which pertatne to Gods worfhip, they would not have 
 omitted the (libftitutingofanHymneendiited for this fpeciall oc- 
 cafion, in ftead of the Hymnes wont to be fung in the end of the 
 Pafleover. 
 
 The like may be faid of P<j«/and Silas^ who are recorded (A&s 
 16. 25.7 to h^vefung an Hyrnne to God, ( for Co is the word ; ) 
 where common underftanding would take it for one or more of 
 theHymnesof PjwVor -^/i/>^, and not any other new invented 
 fpirituall fong, unkilc fome hint in the Text rhight carry us from 
 the ordinary meaning and ufe of the word amongft the people of 
 God, 
 
 '^ Ohje&. 6, Wee are called upon by David himlelfe to fing Nertr 
 " SongSi Pfal. 96. 1, and oft ehewhere, and fuch as had gifts then 
 " ufed them for enditrng and finging ne;v fongs, as Ajiph^Htman^ 
 '^ Ethan,^c. Thefoure Bea.diSjKev.'^.^, and the 144000 followers 
 " of the Lambe did ling a new Song ; as did they alfo, who had 
 " gotten viftory over the beaft, Kev. 1 5. 3 , 4. 
 
 Anfw, I. There is no eftate and condition that ever befell the 
 Church and people of God , or can befall them , but the Holy 
 Ghoftj as he did forefee the fame, fo he hath provided and recor- 
 ded fome Scripture- Pfalme, fuitable thereunto. And thefe Pfa'mes 
 being chofen out ftiitably to the new occafions and new conditi- 
 on? of Gods people, and fung by them with new hearts and re- 
 newed affeftionsj will ever be found new fongs. Words of etcrnall 
 
 E truth 
 
26 Singing of P s A L M E s , 
 
 truth and grace5are ever old (as the Gofpel is an eternall Gofpel ) 
 and ever nt.\N ■■, as the commandement of love is a new commande- 
 menc as well as old. And to the new Creature all things are be- 
 come newj 2 Cor. 5. 17, 18. Daily mercies are to him new mercies. 
 Lam, 3. 23. &c. Duties of Humiliation, which have been ofanci* 
 ent praftiie in the Church, are to himjas New winc.But to an old 
 and carnal! heart, that lieth under the ftate of vanitie and corrup- 
 tion of nature, there is nothing new, no new thing under the Sun, 
 Ecclef. 1.9. 
 
 2. Davids exhortation to fing a New Song, pertained to them in 
 the old Tefiamem, as well as to us in the New. And yet they upon 
 new occaiions fang the old Songs oiVavid, and that, with accep- 
 tance, 2 Chron, 5.13.2 Chron. 20. 21, Ezjra 3, 1 1. 
 
 3 . Afaph, Heman, and Ethan, were men indued with an infalli- 
 ble meafure of a Spirit of Prophecy , in enditing thofe Pfalmes^ 
 which the Church of Ifrael received from them. Give us the like 
 men with the like gifts, and we fhall receive and fing their TfMlmes^ 
 as the Church of Ijrael did the other. 
 
 4. The places objefted out of the Ket'e/^/io«, admit a further 
 anfwer, though the former might ferve ; the new Song mentioned 
 Kei'.5 .9, 1 0' may either be underftood metonymically for a Dono- 
 logy orThankefgiving, which the Saints in the Church fhould 
 give to Chrift upon occaiion of his revealing a cleare expofition of 
 the Revelation ; or el(e, if it be underftood literally, that they fang 
 that very fongjas it is there penned by the Holy Ghoft , then it 
 appeareth, that at (uch a time that Song ftiall be tranflated into 
 Number & Meeter,fit to be fung, and (hall be fung by the Church, 
 when they fhall fee fuch a cleare expofition of the Revelation come 
 to light, as fhall provoke them to give glory to Chrift , who hath 
 received power to open the booke , and by the fame Power hath 
 redeemed his psople,and called them to be Kings and Prieftsunto 
 God his Father, And thus, this place onely ftieweth, that it will 
 be lawfull to fing other Songs, befides thofe o( "David and jifaph : 
 but yet fuch onely,as are penned by an infallible Spirit ; or elfe up- 
 on rptciall occafion, by men of fpirituall gifts , which wee de- 
 ny not. 
 
 The Song of the 1 44000. followers of the Lambe, it is not ex- 
 piefly faid to be a New Songy but as it were a New Song^ Rev. 1 4.3, 
 
 New 
 
A Gofpel-Ordinance. %j 
 
 Ne^tothem who had been wont to heare the worftiippers of the 
 Beaft VQ^^ng and rejoyce in their own meritSjand fuperftitioua de- 
 votions : And new alfo in refpea of the renewed afFeftionSjwhere- 
 with they fang it : But yet the fame ancient Song which the ftieepe 
 and Saints of Chrift, were wont to^»g,even in Vaviis time^of the 
 righteoufneflcofChiiftjevenof hisonely, and of their ownblef- 
 fednefle In his not imputing their finnes to them. Thus Vavids 
 TJalmes in the fpirituall ufe and fence of them are new SongSj or as 
 it were Nerp Songs, to this dayjunto all that are renewed by grace, 
 to looke for their righteoufneflfe in Chrift 3 and nor in the works 
 of the Lawjof which V^id was wont to fing^ no flefti living could 
 bejuftified by them. And though it be faid. That no man could 
 learnethat Song , but the 144000. who were redeemed from the 
 earth ; yet it is not meant of the words and fentences of the Songy 
 but of the fpirituall fence and ufe of the Seng , which no man in- 
 deed can learne, but they that have felt the grace and power of 
 their' Redemption by the Lord Jefus. As no man knoweth the new 
 Name, but they that have received it, ^evel. 2. 17. 
 
 The Song of thofe who had gotten viftory over the beaft , 
 
 ( Kev. 1 5 . ) iiS ^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^ '^^"^ ^ ^°^^^ ^"^ ^^ *^^^ Lambe, ver. 3 . 
 Andfurelythe matter of i^o/ex Song^ QExod. 15. ^ might juftly 
 yeeld fit matter for the like DoxologyCor thankefgiving) upon the 
 like occafion : As the like did fall out in the yeare 88. Rome being 
 fpirituall ^gypt,Re^. n. 8. And the Pope with his Prelates re- 
 fembling PhZraoh with his Task-mafters, and the Spanifh Armada 
 marching forthwith the like pride and fury, to bring us backe 
 to the Egyptian bondage-,and the Redemption from them all be- 
 ing alike miraculous ; upon which miraculous deliverance, not 
 onely the matter ofMofes Song,but the very words alfo were then 
 fitly ufed, andmilmay be for a fpirituall Song of thankefgiving 
 unto the Lord, both for that and the like deliverances. ti\.i". t/t 
 
 And as for the Sorjg of the Lambe, which thofe that had viftory 
 over the Beaft did/«g,farely all thofe Songs oWavid, which cele- 
 brate either his own deliverances from 5W, or the deliverance of 
 the Church from ^gypta or Babylon, or from other enemies, 
 may juftly own and beare that Title. For when David aeknow- 
 ledgeth and profefleth, that in his Songs, the Spirit of the Lord 
 fpake by hiin,and that his word was in his tongue>( 2 Sam,2^^2,) 
 "^ E2 What 
 
2 8 
 
 singing of PsAX MES, 
 
 What Spirit of the Lord was that, but the Spirit of the Lord Je- 
 fusV And what are then fuch Songs^ but the Songs of the Lamhe^ 
 through whofe Redemption the Church and Saints enjoy all 
 their deliverances t And furelyj^^e Song of the Lamk, recorded ( in 
 Kevel.i')' 354O fecmcth evidently to point at fundry Tfalmes of 
 David y outofwhichit was compiled and coUefted, and which 
 therefore were (uitable and fie to be fung upon occafion of their 
 viftory over the Bsaft , cfpecially with refped" and reference to 
 thofe fpecidU (entencfSj which were fetched from thence, though 
 with fome fmall variation , fuch as is wont to be found in all the 
 Scriptures of the Nevp Tejiament ^quoted out of the old. 
 
 Rev. 15. 3' 
 
 Gmt and marveVoM are thy 
 vp«rks^ Lord God Aimigh- 
 
 iie. 
 
 Pfal. 86. 10. 
 'Thcu art great , and doeji n^ondrotu 
 
 things, thou art God akne. 
 Ver. 8. Among the Godsy there is none 
 like unto thee^ nor any vporki ^^H, ^h 
 fpork/. 
 Pfal. 1 1 1 . 2. 7he ^orh^ of the Lord 
 
 are great, 
 Ver. 4. AndT^onderfuU, 
 Jnji and true are thy m^es^ Ver. 7. l^he works of his hand are 
 
 7boM King of Saints. truth and judgement. 
 
 And ver. 4, Thou onely art P/al. 71.22^ Othou HoUf One oflf- 
 Holjf. Who foali not feare 
 
 thee, O Lord, andglorife Pfal. 86. p. All Nations whom thou 
 thy Name ? For aUNations hafi made , jhaU come and worfhip 
 
 fifalJ cortK and vporfhip be- before thee^ O Lordp andglmfie th) 
 
 fore thee. N<m»c. ;. > -^,, . ... , ., ,.,_ 
 
 ^&r thyfudgements are mad^ Pfal.p. 1 6i "Xbe Lord U hQort>m by the 
 manifeji, judgement pphich he execmeth. 
 
 pfal. 64. 9. -^11 men (hall feare and 
 fhaU declare the warke of God \ for 
 theyfhaU wifely cqnfider of his dor 
 ings. 
 
 In as niich therefore as thefe who got the viftory over the 
 Beaftj are faid to havepog the Song of the Lamk 9 and this Song of 
 
 the 
 
a G&ffei-OrdinnMce^ 2p 
 
 the Ljmbe is exprefly fetched from ieverall words of praife to the 
 Lambe, \n feverail Ffalmdf of r>jz;i^ 5 One of thefe two things ( ii 
 iiot both ) will from hence juftly be deduced. 
 
 I . Either this. That any of thofe PJalmes oil) avid may be fung 
 to the praife of the Lambed out of which thofe words of praife are 
 fetched (as when the people of God are (aid to hare praifcd God 
 wiihfuch a word in a Pp//«^ 3 it is meant ihey fimg the whole 
 ffalmc ; a?3 2 Chron. 5. 13.8c 20.21. Ezra.^.ii.) all of ihen.i point- 
 ing at P/i/w^ 136. 
 
 Or el(e fecondiy. That k may be lawful! upon fpecull and <x- 
 traordinary occafioES, toconipile a JpJrimall Sjng.om of Vavias 
 words of praife difperled in fevcrall Pfalmcs of V^vid^ and other 
 Pfalmifts in Scripture, and to fing them , compoied together as a 
 ffalmt of praife unto the Lord. And both thde wee willingly ad- 
 mit : For thefe areMl the divine Meditations, and fpirituall ex- 
 prefllons of the holy men of God in Scripture, wliich God hath 
 prepared for ttie fetting forth of his cnvn glory. 
 " ObjeB, 7. Ar the Apoftle writing to 'Timothy about Prayer ifi 
 '' generall , and prefcribing no forme of prayer , it is therefore 
 ^? jiuftly argued , that we are to ii(e no fet formes of prayer at all : 
 "So the fame Apoftle exhorting the Churches to ling , and not 
 •^ prefcribing atiy formes oiTfdmes , hence it followcih , that he 
 " alloweth not the finging oiVavids PfalrmJ.And whatfoever Ar- 
 "guments, ftrikeagainft ftin ted formes of prayer, ftrike againft 
 ^' all formes of Pfalmes alfo^ as ftinting and quenching the Spi- 
 "ritjScc. 
 
 Anfw. I. It is not true, that the Apoftle exhorting to Singed ot?i 
 not prefcribe any formes of Pfalmes. For in the fame Texts where 
 be doth exhort the Cburches and people of God to Jing , he doth 
 direct them alfo to fing Pfalmes ondHyrmes andf^iritujli Songs : 
 whicharerlicexpreffetitlesof the very formes of rp//»ei enditcd 
 by "David^nd -^f^p^^ 3S hath been fhe wed above. Neither can it be 
 truly faidjthat he alloweth not the Jinking ofVavids Pfalmes. Un- 
 lefle'it might be truly fard, that the Pfalmes oi Vavid, are neither 
 PfahneSy nor Hymnes^ rior jphimalJ Songs, 
 
 Artfwii, Ttie Scripture putteth a manifeft difference betweeq 
 thefe two, (et formes ofPtayet^ and fet formes oi Pfalmes ; alfo be- 
 tween fet formes devifed and prelcribed by men, and fet formes 
 
 appointed 
 
singing of PsaLmes, 
 
 appointed by God» Set formes of Prayer the Lord did never ordi- 
 narily prefcribe unto his peoplcj neither in the old 'Tefiament j nor 
 in the Nen? ; but fet formes oiPfalmes no man doubtethjwere ordi- 
 narily prcfcribed in the old Icfiamenty and wee fuppofe in the Ncrv 
 alfo, in the Texts alledged. 
 
 Againe, fee formes devifed and appointed by men , I will not 
 deny to be juftly reje^ed by the true meaning of the fecond Com- 
 mandement : but God that forbad us to make to our felves any 
 Images or imaginations and inventions for worfhip,did never for- 
 bid himfelfe to devife and appoint for us what forme of worlhip 
 himfelfeplealedj either in the oWTejiament y or in the Nexp. And 
 therefore what ever Arguments ftrike againft let formes of Prayer 
 invented and prefcribed by men , there is none of them ftrike a- 
 gainft fet formes oiFfalmes appointed by God.Neither can it with 
 any colour be pretended, that the ? [times of "David being devifed 
 and appointed by the H jly Ghoft himfelfe, (hould either ftint or 
 quench the Spirit 3 unleffe it might be thought, that Gods own 
 Ordinance to conveyjand quicken, and enlarge the Spirit, fhould 
 become an impediment and reftraint to the Spirit. 
 ^* Obje£i. 8. The edification of the Church and body of Chrift 
 ^"^ under the Nea? lefiamentj ought to be carried on by the perlbn- 
 ^•^ all and proper gifts of Gods Spirit, E/?^. 4. y, 8. 1 1, i6. i Pet. 4. 
 " 10, 1 1 . Kom. 1 2. 4. 6. 1 Cor, 1 2. But in finging of the Tfalmes of 
 *' Vavidy there is no more perfonall gift manifefted, then there is 
 *^ in reading a ftinted forme of Prayer. 
 
 Anjif. Thcfe Scriptures prove that God hath given the gifts of 
 the Spirit for the edification of his Church : and that they who 
 have received the gifts of the Spirit , (hould employ them to the 
 edification of the Church. And fome of thofe Scriptures prove 
 alfo, that they who have received any gifts, though outward gifts 
 of wealth and honour, fhould improve and employ them to the 
 good of the Church. But none of them prove, that ail the edifica- 
 tion of the Church fhould be carried on by the perfonall and pro- 
 per gifts of the prefent members of the Church. For then the 
 Church fhould not be edified now in thefe dayesby the gifts of the 
 pen-men of Scripture, whether ApoftleSjProphetSjOr Evangelifls, 
 which is exprefly repugnant to (bme of the Scriptures alledged by 
 you. For in Eph, 4. 8. to 1 3 . and in i Cor, 1 2, it is exprefly faid, 
 
 that 
 
a <Jofpei- Ordinance. 2 1 
 
 that God gave Apojiles, Prophets^ and Evangelifisj for the edifying of 
 ihe Churchy till the nf hole body ofChriji be perfeBed at the day of hit 
 comming. And leaft you fiiould dreame of new Apoftles to be raf- 
 fed up in every agcj the Holy Ghoft telleth us , the Church of the 
 Jewes at their laft converfion fiiali be builc upon the foundation 
 ofthe Ldmbes twelve ApoftleSj 'Kev. 21. 14. The twelve Apoftles 
 of the Lafnbe (hall have a fundamental! influence in the rearing 
 and building of the Church of the Jewes^ not by their refurreftion 
 to life againe in thole dayeSjbut by the power of the Spirit breath- 
 ing in their gifts and writings. And as Abel being deadyetjpeaketh, 
 Heb. 11.4. and that to edification : So the Apoftles though dead 
 fpeake alfo 5 and J^avid being dead (peaketh, and fingeth likewise 
 to the edification of the body of Chrift,till we come to fing Halle- 
 lujahs in heavenly glory. 
 
 Say not thele writings of the Apoftles and Evangeliftsjof Vavid 
 and the Prophets^doe not (peake to the edification of the Church, 
 butts they are expounded and applyed by the fpirituall gifts of 
 the Minifters and people of God in each age. For the very read- 
 ing of thens is an Ordinance of God, and no Ordinance of God is 
 empty and beggarly, and deftitute of the Spirit : which is the vi- 
 nitie of mens traditions, and may not be imputed to any of Gods 
 Ordinances. 
 
 '^ Neither ought you to fayjThat in finging the Pfalmes o( David, 
 " there is no more peribnall gift manifeftedj then there is in read- 
 " ing a ftinted forme of Prayer. 
 
 For I. in reading a ftinted forme of prayer, there is no gift of 
 the Spirit at all manifefted, but rather ( as I conceive) a manifeft 
 breach of the (econd Gommandement of God, which is a grieving 
 of the Spirit. But in finging of the Vfalmes oiVavidj there is a gift 
 of the Spirit manifefted, even the gift of obedience to the com- 
 mand of the Apoftle. And that is the perfonall gift of him that 
 fingeth. 
 
 And ftcondly, all the treafures of the gifts of the Spirit breath- 
 ing in the Vfalmes oi David are like wife manifefted in the reverent 
 and holy finging of them. You might more truly have faid, there 
 is no more perfonall gift of the Spirit manifefted in finging the 
 Tfalmes of Vavidj,thcn in reading the Pfalmes oiDavid ; becaule ei- 
 ther of both thofe duties are alike afts of obedience to Gods Com- 
 
 mande* 
 
5 2 ^^"^'^i ^f P S A L M E S 5 
 
 maudement. But it" you had lo laid, your objeftion hadanfwe- 
 red it fclfe. 
 
 " ObjeB.^. Many of Gods people now have gifts to compofe 
 " fpirituall Songs , as well as carnall Poets to make carnall Son- 
 *' net?3 or as drunkards that make Songs of Gods people. Now 
 " every one that hath a gift is to adminifter it by Ghrifts Com- 
 ^' mand, i Pet. 4. 10. And if any for want of experience of fuch 
 " a gift in thtmielvc?, (hould queflion it, ihey may conlider the 
 '*' promife of powring ouc the Spirit in a more plentifull meafure, 
 " now in the dayes of the New 'Tefiament, then in the old. 
 
 ^yinftv, I. Though many of Gods people have gifts to com- 
 pofe fpirituall Songs ^ as well as carnall Poets carnall Sonnet?, 
 and Drunkards prophane Sonnets 5 yet that will not argue, that 
 the fpirituall Songs 3 which many of Gods people have gifts to 
 compofe, arc fit to be fung in the publique holy Aflemblies of the 
 SaintSj no more then the carnall and prophane Sonnets of drun- 
 ken Poets are fit to be fung in civill Aflemblies. Let drunken car- 
 nall Poets ling their carnall Sonnets in their Tavernes and AU- 
 hou(€?3 and fuch of Gods people as have received a gift to com- 
 pofc a fpirituall Song fit for their private folace, fing it in their 
 private houfes. But every fpirituall Song, fit for private folace, is 
 not fir to be fung in the folemne Aflemblies of the Church for 
 publique edification : no more then it is fit for every private Chri- 
 ftian who hath a gift to compole a fpirituall prayer , to utter and 
 powre forth the fame in the publlque Congregation of the 
 Church. 
 
 Anfw. 2. It is more then probable, that many of the people of 
 God in the old Teftament had gifts to compole fpirituall Songf, 
 bcfides "David and Afa^h : and yet unleffc their gift were carried 
 along by an infallible Spirit, they were not received among the 
 Songs of the Temple. \ 
 
 -^w/tt?. 3. Suppofe that fpirituall Songs compofed by an ordi- 
 nary gift, might be received among the publique Songs of the 
 Congregation, yet will it thence follow, that the Church ftiall be 
 bound to fing onely fuch Songs , and deprive them(elves of the 
 Tfalmet , and Hymnes , and jpirituail Songs of David and Afapb, 
 which were compofed with a farre larger meafure and power oi 
 the Holy Ghoft> 
 
 Anfvv. 4. 
 
a Gofpel'Ordinance, 
 
 Anfw. 4. Ic is readily granted, chat as every man hath received 
 a gift, fo let him adniinifter and difpenie it^accoiding to the Text 
 alledgedj 1 Pe^. 4' 10. But yet in Chriftg way, every private gift is 
 not fit for pubhque Adminiftration ; nor every publique gift fie 
 to be adminiftred to the ftiouidring out oi a greater gift then ic 
 felfe, 
 
 Arifpp. 5. If fuch as want the experience of fuch a gift of fpfri- 
 tuall Poetry in themfelves, (hould be encouraged to expeQ: it 
 from the promife of powring out the Spirit on all flefla in the 
 dayesof the Gofpel, QABs2. 17.) they might as well lookefor 
 the gifts of tongues, and healing, and miracles. For it is the fame 
 Spirit ( though not the fame meafure) which is there promiied to 
 be powred out upon all flefh ; Let every man adminifter the gifts 
 of the Spirit, according to the^meafiire which he hath received 
 within his own line. 
 
 '* Objeli. I o. But the Lord is as full of the SpJrit now to heipe us 
 " to endite Tfalmes^ as in the diyes of David and Afaph. And it 
 *' feemeth a diftionour to Chriil, to dKpenfe his word by read- 
 " ing and iinging, without the exercife of the glorious and va- 
 "rious Adminiftrations of the fpirituall gifts of the Ncjv7ejij- 
 ment* 
 
 Anfzv, I. Ths Lord is as full of the Spirit now , and a? able to 
 furnilh us with a Propheacall Spirit now to endite Propheticall 
 Scriptures, as he did furnifti the Prophets in the old Teflament, 
 But yet God thought it no difhonour to Chrift to leave us the 
 Scriptures of the old Prophets for our edification in the N-jv Tefia- 
 ment, as well as in the old. It is the fame Spirit of the fame Ciirift 
 that fpake by the Prophets of the old Teftament, and fpeaketh in 
 the Saints of the N^rr. And it is no difhonour to Chriil to dif- 
 penfe his word, and to guide the body of his Church , as well by 
 the unity of the fame Spirit, as by the variety of the divers gifts of 
 the Spirit now. And though we doe not exercid' the glorious and 
 various Adminiftrations of the fpirituall gifts of the Neiv^efij- 
 menty in the enditing of New Pjalmes^ no more then in the endi- 
 ting of new Scriptures. Yet we can neither fing the old Pfalmes of 
 David, nor read the old Scriptures ofthe Prophets acceptably to 
 God, nor comfortably to our (elves urichout the exercife of the 
 gracious and various Ipirituall gifts of the Nov "Te^ammt. 
 
 F ''Objea. II, 
 
34 ^f^'g^^& 9f P S A 1/ M E S; 
 
 " ObjiB. 1 1. Wee have examples in the Neap Tejiament^ of exercl- 
 " fing perfonall gifts, as well in linging, as in praying and Pro- 
 " phecying, i Cor. 14. Which Epiftle is dircfted to all the Saint«, 
 " I Cor. 1,2. in all places. And confequently , that Church is to 
 « be Precedential! in difpenling perfonall gifts in this Ordinance 
 " of Singing, as well as in any other. 
 
 Anfiv. I. The Direftions given in that Epiftle to the Church 
 of Coriw//?, we willingly grant are Precedential! to all the Chur- 
 chee^as well as the Direftions given in other Epiftles to other 
 Chuiche?. And the Direftions there given be, that in diipenfing 
 fpirituall gircsj Prophecy be preferred before Tongues , nor any 
 Tongues difpenfed without interpretation 5 That order be obfer- 
 Vfcd vvithc ut con^ufion j That divers may (peake without inter- 
 rupt 'i>n ; That no man may fpeake without I'ubjeftioniThat wo- 
 men be not permitted to fpeake unto ufurpation -, That all things 
 be done to edification. And all thefe Direftions are Precedential! 
 to aU (uch Churches as have received the like gifts. But there is no 
 diicftion gWen to the Church o^ CorinthyOr any other, that eve- 
 ry man fhouid hivs a gift of tongues, or a gift of compiling a 
 Pfjlme y or if be have a gift of compiling a Tfdme for his private 
 ule by an ordinary Spiritjthat then he fhouid prefenc it to be fung 
 before the whole Church, and the Church to fay Amen to his 
 TJalme. For the gift of Pp/we/, which the Apoftle there fpeaketh 
 of, was not an ordinary gift to compile fome fpirituall Pitty in 
 verfe, but extraordinary, a8 joyned with the gift of ftrange 
 Tongues. For it appeareth by the Context, that the gift of 
 Tongues was ufed by the Mtmbers of the Church of Corinth^ 
 foure wayes : i . In peaking mjjieries^ ver. 2. 2. In prayer , ver. 1 4. 
 3. Injingingy ver. 15. 4. In thankejgiving, ver. 17. So that the 
 finging there mentioned, was by an extraordinary gift , as the 
 Tongues were, in which it was difpenfed. 
 
 " Objedi. Indeed the gift of Tongues , wherein thefe^ Tfalrms 
 " feeme to be uttered, was extraordinary, but it doth not follow 
 "that the gift ofcompofingthofe Pfilm.s was an extraordinary 
 ''gift, no more then prayer wherewith it was joyned, z;cr. 15, 
 " or Prophecy, ver. 26. Singing Tfaimes and Prophecy differing 
 " no otherwife then Poetry and P; ole 5 and if it was txtraordina- 
 *' ry in the Corinthians , wee have no warrant for publique ordi- 
 
 "nary 
 
A Gofpel-Ordinance, ^^ 
 
 '^ nary finging in the New Tejiament from any example. 
 
 Anf'v. I. As the gift of Tongues was extraordinary^ Co wa$ eve- 
 ry Oidinance diipen(ed in it, whether Pr^yer^ oi Pfjlme, or Pro- 
 phecy, all ofthem exrrabrdinary, both tor fub'itnky oF niatter, 
 (in the Spirit he fpeakethMyfterieSaZ^er. 2.) and for power and 
 demonftration of the Spirit, and for fudJennefle and dextcritie of 
 utterance without previous ilud , or meditauorij as /icis 2. 4. 1 1. 
 What though there be an ordinary gjfc of Prayer arid Prophecy- 
 ing,as well as of tinging? Yet nevercheiefle the Apoflles and Pro- 
 phets had an extraordinary gift of Prayer and Piophecying: and 
 ib had thofe Corinthians alio an extraordinary gift ( chough in 
 leffe raeafure ) of Praying and Prophecying and Singing alfo. 
 
 It is not credible that he who would have new wine put into 
 new Bottles, would powre forth ordinary and common matters 
 in new Tongues, and fo raife extraordinary expeftation of ordi- 
 nary thing?. 
 
 Anfw. 2, It is an uncouth comparifbn, to make no more diffe- 
 rence between finging Pfalmes and Prophecy, then between Poetry 
 and Prole. In Prophecy we open the Scriptures and Counfels of 
 God : in Pfalmes we open the Counfels and rhankefgivings of our 
 own hearts •-, In Pfalmes we fing to glorifie God -, in Prophecy we 
 fpeake to edifie men ; you might with farre more reafon and con- 
 gruitie have faid,That Prayer and iinging PJalmes differ no other- 
 wife then Poetry and Profe. And yet there is more difference 
 even between them, then fo, as the Apofile James notcth, James 
 
 5-13- 
 
 dnfw. ?. When you fay, that if the finglng in the Church of 
 
 *'Cori«ti5» was extraordinary, then wee have no warrant for our 
 " publick ordinary finglng in the New Tefament from any exim- 
 ple : Neither doth the Argument follow, nor if it did, is it of any 
 force. For though this example of hngiiig in the Church of Co- 
 rinth was extraordinary : yet that flaging of Chrift and his D,:ci- 
 ples at thelafl Supper was ordinary, A/4?.26.30. Andthv.ugh 
 there were no example of pub^'q le ordinary S;ngi!)g in the Narv 
 tefiamenty yet it is enough that tnere is a precept of {. ubJ que ordi- 
 nary Singing ^iven to the Churches, both of the Ephtfians^ and of 
 the ColoJJians, Evh. 5. i9.Colof 3. 16. And what the Spirit fi^eak- 
 eth to thole Churches, it (peaketh to all. 
 
 F 2 CHAP. 
 
3 6 Shging of Psalmes, 
 
 Chap. VL 
 
 Propounding a jecond and third Argument^ 
 for the finging of Davids PJalmes, 
 
 |Aving thus (by the heipe of Chrift ) cleared the 6rft 
 
 y ArgumenCjfor the Singing oiVavids Pfalniesjand (iich 
 
 like Scripture- P/a/wej" 5 Let us now proceed to a Cecond 
 
 Ars^unient 9 fallen from the end and uje of the Pfalmes of 
 
 Vavid. The Pfalmej oiVavid and Afaph^ and the like, were writ- 
 ten for a threefold endjas we fee exprefied by the ApoftlejCoAj.i 6, 
 C I. For Inftrudlion , or Teaching. 
 towir3<2. For Admonition. 
 
 ^3. For Singing Praife and Thankefglving to the Lord, 
 Now if the Pfalmes of David ^ and the like, were written (as 
 doubdefle they were) in the old Teftament for this threefold end, 
 and each of tbem of niorall (that is, ofgenerall and perpetuall 
 ufe ) and none of them abrogated in the Netr> Tefiament^ look then 
 as it would be a facrilegious finne, to take away from the Pfslmei 
 either of the two former u(es ( the ule of Inftruftion, or Admoni- 
 tion 5 ) fo it will be alike (acr iledge to deprive them of the three- 
 fold ufe, by forbidding them to be fung for praife and thankeigi- 
 ving to the Lord. Whereto a third Arguruent may be added, ta" 
 ken from the datie ojfinging Pfalmes every Sabbath^ and the dtiedi of 
 provifion of other P/i/wej-jif the Pfalmes oiV avid^And other Scrip- 
 ture- P/^/m^/ be re fu fed. It appearethfromPp/>«e95. l^S.'y.'&c. 
 T!hat when rveprefent our jelves before the Lord^ to heare the vojice of his 
 word (as we doe every Lords day ) v&ee fljouldcome before buprc 
 fence vpith finging of Pf times. If ^q^ then fome muft have a gift, ei- 
 ther to prepare fet formes oi Pfalmes aforehand for every Sabbath' 
 day j or at leaft a gift, upon the prefent occafion, fuddenly to in- 
 vent and utter a Pjalme fit for the prefent Sabbath from weeke to 
 weeke : Neither of both which are eafie to be beleeved. For if It 
 werefo. then doubtlefle Chrift would have appointed fome or 
 other Officer to attend to this dutie of compiling Pfalmes, as he 
 hath appointed Elders to attend to the Miriiftery oi the Word, 
 and Prayer, A^s 6. 4. Or clfe he would infpire fome or other 
 
 ^Member 
 
a (jof^el-Ordinance. ^7 
 
 Member of the Church withfuch a Gift and Spirit of Pfalmifiry, 
 as might fuite the occaiions of the Church from Sabbath to Sats- 
 bath. But neither of both thefe doe wee Hndcj either in the Scrip- 
 tures of the Netv Tefiatnent, or in experience 5 we finde neither Or- 
 dinance appointing it, nor Pro^adence granting it. And yet evi- 
 dent it iSj that the gracious providence of God, is not wanting In 
 fupplying well ordered Churches, with all fuch gifts of Preach- 
 ingj and Prayer, and Rule, and the like, as God hath required for 
 the edification of the Church to the end of the world. Neither !s 
 It credible, that Chrift would take us off from fining the Pfalmes 
 oiVavid and Afaph^ which were of divine and infallible infpira- 
 tion,and leave us to an uncertain and common gift of private bre- 
 thren. 
 
 " If it be faid , the Church of Corinth wanted not fuch gifts of - 
 ** Pfalmes, nor fuch members as did compile,! Cor. 1 4. 26, 
 
 Anfip. It is true, neither did they want gifts of tongues, and of 
 Revelation in the fame Text. But thefe were extraordinary gifts, 
 fit to glorifie Chrift in his firft afcenfion into Glory , and fit to 
 commend and confirme the Gofpel to Pagans, but no where pro- 
 mited to be continued to Churches in after ages , nor no where 
 commanded to.be imitated : much leflfe our common gif[s,and the 
 Pfalmes endited by the fame to be fubftituted in their roomes, and 
 "Davids Pfalmes to be (ilenced , that our Pfalmes might be attend- 
 ed. 
 
 Chap. VII. 
 
 Concerning the Singers : andfirfi^ vphether one alone 
 to fing , or the whole Church, 
 
 He third Queftion about Singing of Pfslmes^ concerneth 
 the Singnrs. For though vocall Singing be approved, 
 and alfo the Singing oiVavids Pfalmes , yet ftcU itrc- 
 maineth to fome a Queftion , who muft ling chem. 
 And here a threefold fcruple arifetn. i. Whether one be to ling 
 for all the reft, the reft joyningonely in fpirit, andla/ing, Amen 5 
 or the wholeGongregation^ 2. Whether women, as well as men 5 
 
 or 
 
2 8 Singing of PsAlmes, 
 
 or men alone 1 3 Whettier carnal! men and Pa^ins may be per- 
 mitted Co iing with us 5 or Chriftians alone, and Church-Mem- 
 bers^ 
 
 Touching the firft of thefe Scruples ; It is out of doubt, i . That 
 a Chriftian man for his own private folace and edification, may 
 fing a Vfalme alone by himfelfe ; as Aja^h had his Songs by night, 
 Ffal.jy.6. 2. It is granted, that he who had a fpirituall and ex- 
 traordinary Gift of enditing SLPfalme, might (ing it himfelfej and 
 the reft of the Church joyne with him in Spirit , faying Amen: 
 though in the old Teftamentjhe that endited che P/i/w*, gave it to 
 the Mailers of Song, to be lung pubHquely, by others as well as 
 himfelfe. But the Queftion is of Singing the Fjalmes oi David and 
 other Scripture Pp/weJ, whether they are to be fung by the whole 
 Congregation, or by onealor;e for all the reft, ( the rell joyning 
 onely in the Spirit, and in the clofe ) faying. Amen 3 And to make 
 good this latter way, 
 
 *' OhjeB. I. It is alledged 3 In the Church of Corinth, one had a 
 " Ffalme, i Cor, 1 4. 26. And he that had a Pfalme fung in the Spi- 
 " rit, and was direfked to fing with underftanding alio, (that is, 
 " in a tongue underftood by ihe whole Church ) that they might 
 " joyne with him in Spirit, and fay Amen, ver. 1 5; , 1 5. 
 
 Anfip. This onely concerned the extraordinary P/d/^we/, endir 
 ted by fuch as had aUb a gift of Tongues as well as of Pfalmei, 
 For therefore it is, that (uch are direfted, as they fing in the Spi- 
 rit, that is, by a fpirituall gift, fo to fing with Uiider (landing al- 
 fo,to wit, with the underftanding of the Church. But this con- 
 cerneth not the Singing of the Tfalmes of Vavid^ which now are 
 nor glvsn by any pec liar gift to any one mm. 
 " ObjeSf, 2. It is alf.) alledged. That Singhigof P/^/wt'/isan aft 
 " of Prophecy. And the Prophets were to fpeake one after ano- 
 '^ ther , and if any thing were revealed to another that fate by, 
 '* the firlt was to hoid hi? peace, i Cor. I4. 30, 3 1. 
 
 Anfw. Prophecy is takei» two wayes in Scriptures, to omit o- 
 ther acceptions of the word, not pertinent to the point in hand. 
 I. Sometimes more ftri£t.y a.'H properly, for Preaching, that is, 
 for expounding and applying Scripture to edification. 2. Same- 
 times more largely , tor the pubhfliin^offpirituail things to the 
 glory of God, and edification of oar lelves or others. And in this 
 
 fence 
 
a Gdffei' Ordinance. 39 
 
 fence Maftcr Perkins ( in his Prophetka ) maketh two parts of 
 . Si- Preaching ot the Word. 
 
 **' / ?, Prayer ; for which he quoteth. Gen. 20. 7. Abraham is a 
 Fraphet , and he fhall pray for thee j he quorech alfo 1 Chrm 25.1. 
 where the SorinfiS of Ajaph^Heman^ and Jeduthun^ who were Sing- 
 erF, are faid to Prophecy rvUh Harpes, Which argueth that finging 
 o{Pfalmes as well as Prayer, may in Tome fence, (to wit, in this 
 large fence ) be called an aft of Prophecy. But in this ience Pml 
 doth not fpeake of Prophecy? for he doth ex^refly dirtinguKhit 
 from prayer, and much more from finging, i Cor. 1 1. 4, 5. At>d in 
 this 14. Chapter to the Corinthians , he doth plainly diltingu (h 
 prophecy from finging oiPfalmes j for when he exhorterh them 
 to covtc after fpirituali shifts , chiefly, that they might prophecy, 
 ( I Cor. 14. 1. ) it is not his meaning, they (hould chiefly covet af- 
 ter (hegiftofenditing or finging Pjalmes^ but rather after the gift 
 of Preaching, to wit,ofexpou iding and applying Scripture to e- 
 dification. When therefore Paul direfteth the Prophets to fpeake 
 one by owtyver. 30, 3 1. He fpeaketh not of that kinde of Prophe- 
 cy, whereby many may fing one and the fame Pfalme together, 
 but of the other kinde of Prophecy, which is Preaching. Howbeit, 
 true it is alfo, that if many fliall fing feverali Pfalmes at one and the 
 fame time together in one and the fame Congregation , it would 
 breed the like confufion in the Church, as if the Prophets Ihould 
 fpeake two or three, or more of them at once* 
 " Ifitbefaid, Why, is it not a confufion for fo many voycesto 
 " ioyne together id figging a Fp/mejthough it be one and the fame 
 *yPfalme? 
 
 Anjrv. No more now in the Tslew Tejiament , then it was in the 
 old , when the Trumpeters and Singers Were as one , to mike one 
 found to be heard in praifing the Lord , and ivhen they lift up their 
 voyce^ neith the Trumpeti:rj ^andCymhaUs^and Liftruments ofMufickfi^ 
 and praijed the Lord) faying J for he if good, for his mercy endureth for 
 «z«r, 2Chron. 5. 13. For then God fhe wed his approbation and 
 acceptance of that corcourleand confent of /o many v ay ces toge- 
 ther, by filling the houfe of the Lord with a Clc>ud , which was a ^ 
 gracious figne of his vifible pretence with them, and acceptance of 
 them, and of their worfhip. And fiif el v, Tf the concourfe and con- 
 ient oi To many voyces had bwen a confulion, doubtleHe it would 
 
 hare 
 
^o singing of P s A L m E s , 
 
 have been as much difpleafing to God in the old Teftament, as in 
 theNe«?. For God is not a God ofconfuiion in the Churches of 
 the SaintSj whether of the New teflamentj or of the old, i Cor. 1 4. 
 33. And if our defire be, the will of God may be done on earth as 
 it is done by the Angells in Heaven, we rtade of a multitude of an 
 heavenly hoafi of Angells , praifing God^ and faying^ Glory be to God on 
 Highy &c. withouc any coniulion. 
 
 " ObjeB, 3. Scarce any example can be given of any entire Gon- 
 " gregadon, that fang together, mentioned in Scripture. 
 
 ^hfiv. 1. Though no example could be given, yet it is afuffi- 
 cient warrant for the Duty, if any Precept have been given of it in 
 Scripture, and the Pieceptis plaine in Colof,i^.i6. wheie the whole 
 Church oiColoJfe is exhorted to have the word of Chriji dweli richly 
 in them^ not oneiy to Teach and Admoni(h one another, (iS well 
 in the Pfalmej^ as other Scriptures ) but alfo to fing the Pfalmes 
 with holy melody to the Lord. li: God had reierved this Dutic to 
 (bmc (eltdi Chorifters, he would have given fome direftion in the 
 Nen? Tejlament for their Q^ialification and Eisftioii : But fince he 
 fpeakcth nothing of any inch feleft Mufitiansjhecomraendeth this 
 Dutie to the whole Church. 
 
 " Afiftv. 2. It is not fafcly (aid, that (carce any example in Scrip- 
 '^ ture can be given of any entire Congregation that (ang toge- 
 ** ther. 
 
 For I. InExod.i'y^i. i^v/ej and the children of //r*ie/ are faid 
 to fing a Song of Thankelgiving to the Lord. And the fame, 
 they, that fang this Song, the fame are iaid foonc to forget Gods 
 works, and not to waite for his Counfell, but to fall a lufting, 
 Tfal. 106. 12, 13, 1 4. which was the body of the people. 
 
 2. Chrift and his Diiciples when they adminiftred and recei- 
 ved the Lords Supper, ( which was a Church Aft ) they were an 
 entire Congref^ation. And they afser Supper Jung a Pfalme or Hymne^ 
 Mat. 26. 30. To fey, that one fang it , and the other joyned in 
 Spirir, faying. Amen, hath no foot- hold in the Text, k might as 
 well be laid, they all tooke the bread, they ail blefied it, and brake 
 it, andgave it, in that one did it, and all the reft joy ned in Spirit, 
 and confented, and like enough to the blclTing of it, faid Amen. 
 
 3. It is no llraine of wit, but a folid and judicious expolicion of 
 ,the fourth Chapter of the Kiwlatioa, to make it a defciiption of a 
 
 par- 
 
4 Gofpei-Ordinance, aj 
 
 particular viiiblc Church of Chrift , according to the platforme 
 and patterne of the New 7efiament : where, as thefoure living Crea- 
 inres^ are the foure forts oi- Officers, (b the trventy-foure Elders fet 
 forth the brethren ot the Ctiurch, who are as Eiders, ( in refpeft 
 of their ripe age, Gj/. 4. i, 2, 5.) and twenty- fourcjin number, an- 
 swering to the twenty- foure Orders of Priefts and Levites,! C^row. 
 25. 9. &c. And theie are all faid to joyne together infingingamw 
 Song unto the Lambcy Rev. 5.8,9,10. 
 
 « Ohje^.^. It the whole Church (hould fing together, then all 
 "^ the members were Teachers. For the Apoftle biddeth us to 
 " Teach and Admonifh one another in Ffalmesy 0010^3. 1 6 . Buc 
 " the fame Apoftle denieth all to be Teachers, i Cor. 12. 29. 
 
 A»fn>. Though the Apoftle bid us to Teach and Admonifh one 
 another in Pfalmes i yet he doth not fay,that we fhould Teach one 
 another by finging Pfalmes together ; But he there holdeth forth 
 a twofoldufe and improvement of the whole word of God dwel- 
 ling richly in us , and a threefold ufe and improvement of the 
 Ffalmes. The whole word of God dwelling richly In us, is to be 
 improved to the Teaching and admoniftiing of one another : buc 
 the Pfalmes are to be improved, not onely to both the(e ends, ( as 
 all the reft of the Word befide ) but to a threefold end alfo, evea 
 to the Singing of Praifes to the Lord. Now in this third end, all 
 the Congregation may joyne, in improving the Pfalmes thereun- 
 to, though not in the Publique Teaching or Adinonilhing of the 
 Church by them,yet in fetting forth the Praifes, the Couotels, the 
 workes oi God declared in them. 
 
 Anfv. 2. Though not every one that Singeth a Pfalme, may be 
 faid forthwith to Teach or Admon-fti them that fing with him, 
 yet he that appointeth the Pfalme to be fung,may be faid to Teach 
 and Admonifti the whole Congregation that are to hng itjor heare 
 it. Julian the Apoftate, tooke himfelfe to be admoni(hed,yea and 
 reproved when the Criftians fang in his hearing the 115. and 97. 
 Pfalmes ^ which declare the vanitie of Idolls, and the confulion of 
 fuch as worfhip them, as is recorded in theChurch-Story by Sa- 
 crates^tbeodoret^Nicephorm, 
 
 Anftp. 3. Though the Apoftle deny all to be Teachers, hh 
 meaning is onely to deny, that they are all Teachers by publique 
 Office , to attend upon Expounding and Applying Scripture to 
 
 G publique 
 
42 singing 0/ P s A L M E s , 
 
 to 
 then 
 
 pubUqiie. edification: But it was no part of his meaning, either 
 forbd private Teaching, or Admonition of oneanother3(for then 
 AqaiU and PrifciUa had gone too farre in inftrufting ^faUos^ 
 Acts 1 8. 2 5, ) or to forbid the quickening and edifying of the Spi- 
 rit of one another, by finging together Pfaltms of Inftruftion, Acl- 
 monition,Confolation to tbemfelveSjand Prayer? and Praifes to 
 
 -.! T 1 
 
 the Lord. 
 
 C H A P. V I I I. 
 
 whether ivomen may fing as vpcH as men, 
 
 iHe fecond fcruj le about Singers is , iFhetber women 
 mayfing at fvel) at men. For in this poynt there be 
 fume that deale with us, as Tharaoh dealt with the 
 Jjraeliiej iVvho ihcugh he was at fit (l utterly unwil- 
 ling that any of them ftiould goe to facrifice to the 
 Lord in the Wildernefle, yet being at length convinced that they 
 muft goe, then he W3S content the men ftiould goe, but not the 
 women, Exod. 10. 1 1. So here, fotne that were altogether againfl 
 finging of ^/j/iM^/ at all with lively voycejyet being convinced^ 
 that it is a moeall woiftiip of God warranted in Scripture, then if 
 there muft be a Sifyiing>one alone muft ling, not al]5( or if all} the 
 men onely,ai)d not the women. 
 
 " And their Reason is. i. Because it is not permitted to awo- 
 "man tofpeakein the Church, iCor. 14 34. how then (hall they 
 ^Sing ? 2. Much fcfie is ii permitted to them to Prophecy in the 
 ^Church, I T'iw.a^n,!*,' And finging of P/^Z/we/ is a kinde of 
 "Propheciving. 
 
 O le answer may at once remove both thefe fi:ruples,and withall 
 cl are the Ti uth. It is apparent by the (cope and context of botb 
 thole Scriptures, That a Woman is not permitted to fpeakc in the 
 Ci^urch, in two cafes. . 1. By way of Teaching , whether in ex- 
 pounding, or applyirig Scripture. For this the Apuftle accounteth 
 an aft of Auihoritie, which is unlawfull for a woman to lifurpe 
 ^ over the man, 1 7im. 2. 13. And befides,the woman is more fiib- 
 jL& to Error then the man , ver. 14. And thereiore soigbtibone 
 prove a Stduccr^if ftiee became a Teathci* 
 
 2, Ic 
 
a G^fpelr-Ordinanctn » •% 
 
 2. It IS not pemiittfd to a woman to i'peake in the Chuichj by 
 way of propounding QjeftiofiSj though utider pi eceixe ot dciire 
 to learne for kier own idcisfaftfon j but rather ic is itquired fhee 
 (hould aske her husband at hc>m^i Cor. 1,4. "3^. 
 
 For under pretence ot Queftioning for learning fake, (he might 
 Co propound her Queftioo, as to Teach her Teachers ; or if not 
 fo, yet to open a doore to fome of her own weake and erroiicous 
 apprehenfions j or at leaft loone exceed the buunds of womafil|; 
 modefty. '^ ';«ki.w-w^Nu^i-it.i^XjS«o\a u^>,:t[«d'J i: ^^^ 
 
 Nevfrthelefleln tWoothW c^!(;^:isdtiTeJl Wo^aw-^sJilIowed 
 to fpeake in the Church, i* In way of fubie^ion , when (hee is 
 to give account of her ofictice. Thire Peter Q^i^rtioned Saph^rj. be- 
 fore the Ghuiich touching the price of land fold by fer'and her 
 husband, which her hu^bind had concealed by hw lye : -Atid ihce 
 accordingly fpake in the Church to give sn(wef to his<5L2 '^iony 
 ASs 5.8. 2. In way of nnging forth the Prailcs 6f the hjMd^x6^f' 
 ther with the reft of the Congregation. For it is evidem the Apq* 
 ftle layeth no greater rcftraint upon the women 'for lilen^e in the 
 Chupchj then the Law had put upon them before. For fo hirt)fclf« 
 fpiaketh in the-plicedkdg^dj 1 'GVk,-t<^ 34* Ititmifefmiued to 
 the women to ^eak^^ but to bk under fiihjiBim'.< as iil^fdth'tlMLaiv» 
 The Apoftic then T^d|iiireth the fame ftfbjeftiohin the wbmanj 
 which the Law had piit upon them : no more. NaW it is certain, 
 the LaW} yea the Lawgiver MiiJ4s> did permit Miriam and the wo< 
 riWsTi that'went e>tft '^fterli^-tb'ri'Bgibreh 'the praifts of^the Lord, 
 as well aVthehidfijin^ toaftrwcf the men in eheii^ S >ng ctf^^h^nkefi" 
 giving^ SingWe to the Lordifi/r he-hub triumphed glitiifujly : the horje 
 Jnd hkrtdertath'he thi^Hime intothe -S'fi^Ex'bd. i^. 20, 21; Which 
 may be a ground ifeftfefctlV to jdfti^^theljiw'fulfpraftire of wome^ri^ 
 in Hiigmg to^ec'hrfr'wlth nfefttheFraileSofthe Lord. And acctKdVv 
 ingly the andetTt-jyra^^Hfe^tjfMFomin in tfie^iirtiiriVte Churthfes to 
 fiig the publiqtTepi*aTrcs<:f tlie'Lord 5 wee reade ftcorded in the 
 EccIefiaftical!Hiftory3/S(?crdirlfjrl'.*Book€5Ghapter i8.oftheGrecke 
 Go^ejattd Cbai>. i 6 . df tbi Laiinfej T'Ufeeahfet third Booke, Ghap- .> 
 ter i^y '" -^«'"i<I : -i ■ .. ^ . • : :'; "^ ? w:. ■: • : i ;-ur. '. .. . ....; 
 
 >■ ^^i!t Hi3if)ntfjr)fcniuf/ iiJj.io'^ j>;JK>frtoi l>nf.i?f)Dfrnav!i' i i si^4 
 
/^4 ^'^g^^i 0/ Ps;ALMES, 
 
 # C HA ?• IX« 
 
 whether carnail men may fi»g , af rvell as 
 
 [He third fcrup^e about the S"nger8 remaineth , Whethit 
 earn jU men and Pagans may be permitted tofing with Wfj or 
 Chrijiianj alone j and Church- members f 
 vv hat wee bckeve in this poyot> may beXummed up in thele 
 three particular*. 
 
 I. That the Church and the members thereof are called to 
 fing to thePraifes oi God, and to their mutuall edification : For 
 they were ChuEchasof^Ghriftjjand members of C^Uiche?, %vhom 
 the Apoftlie'exhorfcthtofpeake toihemklve?, and maks melody 
 t-o theLord with PUlmes^and Hymnesand fpirituall longS3£/>i^.5. 
 
 . 2.' That the Praifingof God with Ffabnes is comely for all the 
 aprightj whether, received into the Fellowftiip of any particular 
 '/ilible.Gharch,or no. F-orfomuch the words otPjw^ hold forth j 
 Traill ii.Qomely for fhfiiJvightiW3i'<:\^S>. I- ^> ' ,, ,, ^ 
 
 5. Though fpifituallgitts are neceflary to make melody toth« 
 Lord in finging ; ^et fpirituall gifts are neither the onely , nor 
 chiefa grourjdoiiiogix!g*v but thechiefe ground thereof is the mo- 
 2;3lldut5f lying upon all mfisj) by the Gpmmandein^nt of God j 1/ 
 anjtbe merry tefing Ffahtes^ Jam. 5' '5. As in Prayer,, though fpiri- 
 tuall gifts.be requifite to make it acceptable j yet the dutie of pray- 
 er lyeth upon all men, by that Corappandijii^nt which forbiddeth 
 Atheifme j it is thefoole that faith in h^ heari^^here is no God^ of 
 whom it is faida they call not upon the l>9rdyPUUi 4^, 1. 4, Which alfsj 
 €0 may ierve for a )uft Argument and propfe of the point. 
 
 I. If by the Gommandementof God, and indeed by the light 
 of Nature^if all men be bound to pray unto God in their diftrefles, 
 (aseven Jqnays IVfarrsoers willconfeflein-aftorme, Jonah i, 6.) 
 then all men are hkewife bound to fing to the praife of God in 
 their deliverances, and comforts ; For the word runneth alike le* 
 vell^Ii any affli^edpUi himpraj ?h anj mmy f let him fing FfalmeS) 
 Jatnefi.iz* 
 
a G^ff el- Ordinance, j.5 
 
 A fecond proofe mxy be tak^n troni the general! Commande- 
 ment to all men upon earth to fing to the Lord, Tfd. 96. i. Sing 
 Mnto'the Lord all the earthy Pfal. 100. l, 2. Afake ajeyfull noyfe unto 
 the Lord alljee Lands ^ come before hit pre fence tvithfinging. Pfal. $%, 
 32, SinguntO'the Lord all the Kingdomes of the earthy O fing Fraifes 
 unto the Lord. And indeed the grounds and ends of Singing5though 
 fome of them doe more peculiarly concerne the Church and peo- 
 ple oi God (and therefore they of ail others are moft bound to 
 abound in this Dutie ; ) yet fundry of the grounds and ends of 
 Singing are common to .^11 the (bnnes of men, and therefore none 
 of them to be exempted from this (ervice. Af, the fovcraignty of 
 GodyThe Lnrd-is a great God^ and a great King above all Gods^ Pfal. 
 9«5 . 3, And theretorc mak^ a joy full nyfi to him with Pfalmes yver. 2. 
 He it to be feared abavc all OodsydiA. 96, 4. And there fore _/i»g««/« 
 him all the earthy 
 
 The greatnefle of Gods workes of Creation and Providence^ 
 they are other grounds of Singingjand they concern all the Tonnes 
 of men in common, P/a/. 145. 6. to 10. Ihe Lord giveth fcod to all 
 j^j5b,ver.i5ji^. Therefore let all flefli blcfle his holy Name3z;er.2i. 
 Let every thingthat hath breath Traife the Lord for bit mightie AHsy 
 and for his excellent Greatnejfey Pfal. 150. 2. to 6. The endof iinging 
 is to praife the.Lord for his goodncnTe, and to (lirre up our felves 
 and others to ierve the Lord with chearfulnefle and ^ad hearts. 
 And therefore IraveUersy Ttifonersy Sickmen^ •^&j;»e;7,being(aved. 
 from feverall diftrtfles by the good hand of God , they are all of 
 them commanded to praife the Lord for his ggodttejfe y^nd to declan 
 his wonders before the jonnes ofmenyPCdA, i6j..,6. to 52. 
 " ObjeH. I. Againft the iinging of all forts of men in theCongre-- 
 *'gation,caina!l as well as Chriftian, is taken from the examples 
 ** of Song fet forth in Scripture, which botlv in the old Tefiament, 
 **arid in the Nea?, were onely performed by the Church and 
 " Church- members. As the Song oiAdofs at the red Sea was fung 
 " by Adofesy and the children oiJfraely Exod. 15*1. His other Song, 
 " Vent. 52. he was commanded to teach it to the children oflpael^ 
 ** J)eMt. 31.19. The Song of Deborah was fung by her and Baraks > 
 *« Jiidg. 5. 1. Under the K'ngs of Judah , and after the^returnc j 
 *f from Captivitie, the Officers of the Church onely fang for the,, 
 « more orderly carrying on of thai Ordinance, i Chrm, 6.^0 32. 
 **e&*i6'4«Nei&. 11.22,23. *'In. 
 
a5 ^^^^^^S ^f Psalmes, 
 
 ^ In the N^R' teftament , Chrift and his Apoltles iang in a place 
 " apart from others, Mat. 26. 30. 
 
 " In the Church of Cwi»/iE>,none but the brethren had libertie of 
 
 " Prophecyj in Teaching or Singing Ffalmei. In the Revelation the 
 
 ^fottre Beajify and the twenty-fottre EUers^ and the 144000. who 
 
 " (iing the praifes of God and of the Lambe, were apparent reprc- 
 
 " fcntations of the Church her Officers and MemberSj Kev. 5. ^. 
 
 « c^ 14- 3. «^ 15- 13233,4. ^ 
 
 Anjrv. I . All thefe examples prove no morej but what we wH- 
 
 lingly grantjand what in the former part of this difcourfeswe have 
 
 been occafioned to niaintaine and prove, to wit, that it is lawfall, 
 
 not onely for one man alone, but for a whole Church, Officers 
 
 and Members, to fing the praiCes of the Lord in heart and voyce 
 
 together with one accord, and fo much all theft places doe evince. 
 
 2. We live not by examples onely , but by precepts alfo. And 
 
 evident precepts have been alledged already, for the generall pra- 
 
 Alfe of Singing by all the fonnes of men upon the face of the 
 
 earth. 
 
 3. Some ofthefe examples doe allow even wicked men and A- 
 poftates to fingjthough it be to upbraide and convince their wic* 
 kednelle. As that Song of Jkfojes^ Dtut. 32. was appointed to be 
 (iingby the children of i/r^e/, not onely in Canaan^ but in their 
 State of Apoftafie, and calamitie, If^hen evill jhottld befall them in ihe 
 latter dayes^DeiK.^l. 1^.21^22. 2<p, 
 
 " 0hjeBi2, It is one of the peculiar priviledges of the ChuhAi'- 
 '^ that the publique difpenfation o^the Word is commttted onety 
 " to them, Rom. 3. 2. e^ 9. 4. But fingmg for the matter of it, i^ 
 '* nothing elfe, but the word, Col. 3.16. And the aft of finging m 
 '* publjque, is the publique difpenfation of it. 
 
 Anftt>, I. The publique difpenfation of the Word, to wit, by 
 Preaching, that \% , by cxpofition and application of the word, 
 and that in way of office, is committed onely to the Church, atiq 
 to fome feleft members of the Church, chiefly for the Churches 
 fake, though the benefit thereof may redound alio to men with- 
 out. But the publique difpenfation of the word is not fo eon^i^a' 
 to the Churchjbutthat occafionally men without may pubiKjitidly" 
 as well as privately, diipenfe the counfell and will of God both to 
 the Churchy and co men out of the Church, And it may be a finne 
 
 both 
 
 a 
 
a ^offd-Ordmance, ±<j 
 
 both in Gods people and in otherijnot to hearken to it. Phofaah 
 Necho ( though neither Ifraelite nor Frojelyte ) yet by his Embafla- 
 dor« did publiquely declare the counfell of God to Jofiah ; and it 
 was a dangerous linne in Jofiah ^ that he did not hearken to the 
 words of Necho } which the Text (aich, were from the mmfhofGodj 
 zCbron. 55. 2 1, 22, Bj/^4»« publiquely dlfpen(ed che counfell and 
 word of God throughout the ■23. and 24*^ Chapters of Numbers^ 
 to BalackjLnd the Princes of -M»^/^ ; and it was a defolating finne 
 In Balackjind the Princes of Moab^ that they did not heaiken to 
 him : and it would have been a linne in the Church of JfrailalCo^ 
 a they hearing of the fame , had not received his Prophecies 
 ( which God put into his mouth ) as the word of God. The King 
 of the Thilijtimt reproved both Abraham and Sarah from the word 
 of the Lordy Gen. 20. 9, lo. t6. and it had been a finne in them 
 both 3 to have negleded his reproofe. 
 
 jinfiv. I. It is one thing publiquely to difpenfe any Ordinance 
 or worlhip of God y which is peculiar unto ihc Church, ( as the 
 Scales, and Cenluresj and the like t ) another thing to joyne with 
 the Church in fuch parts of the publique worlhip of God, which 
 are not peculiar to the Church, but common to all the fonnes of 
 men. Of which fort the publique prayers and praifes of God be, 
 and to the ffalmes alfo ; which though they be difpenfcd and offe- 
 red up in the very words of God, yet due praifes are not therefore 
 the more undue, becaule they are offered up in due words. 
 " Obje^i, 3. It is confufion for the Church and the world Co fing 
 *^ together, in a mixt AlTembly. 
 
 Anfiv, I, \\l that are out of the Church, are not forthwith the 
 world, many are called out of the world ( and fo indeed all ought 
 to be, except the children of the faithful) ) before they be received 
 into the Church. And (uch though they do ling with the Church, 
 yet it is not a finging of the Church and world together ; becaule 
 they are not of the world, biK Chrift hath calieJ them out of the 
 world, and the world hateth them. 
 
 Anfiv.2. It is no conHi(ion,but lawfull communion,for Church 
 and world 10 joyne together in a mixt AlTembly, to performe fuch 
 dutie*,as God requireth of them in common : as to heare the word 
 of God, and the like. In Antioch in Pifidia, the whole Citic al- 
 XBoft (jihe greateft part whereof were Pagans );came together to 
 
 heare 
 
Sin^hg of P s A L M E s 5 
 
 hcare ihc word ot OoUi AUs 13. 44. Was this a confuiion ? And 
 what if the Apoftles had prayed in that mixt Aflembly , and all 
 the faithfull had faid Amen to their prayers, and what it Pagans 
 aWb underftanding what they prayed,had faid Amen with them, 
 had it been a corvfufion V Yea what if in fuch an Aflembly, they 
 (hould not depart without the publick praifes of God in a P/a/we, 
 and that whole mixt Aflembly fhould joyne together in the fing- 
 ingof itjwould itbea confufion "i If it be noconfufion for ail forts 
 of men to joyne together in a mixt Aflembly to heare the word of 
 Goda becaufe it ^^ a dutie required of them all j then neither is it a 
 confufion, but alawfall communion to joyne together in finging 
 the praifes of God in a P/iW, becaufe it is aducie required of 
 them ali. "David foretelleth , that all the Kings of the earth ( and 
 why not their people ai well ? ^fhaUpraife the Lord^ rvhen they heare 
 the words of hit mouth. XeatheyjhaUfing in the Vf ayes of the Lgrd, 
 that great is the glory of the Lordj Pfal. 1 3 8. 4, 5 . 
 " Ohje&. 4. The end of finging is to inftruft, admonilh, and com- 
 " fort the Church : but the world muft not inftruf); the Church, 
 '^ the Church having received ilifficient gifts by Chrifts afceofioa 
 '^ to edifie it felfe, lEph, 4. 7. to 1 2, This were to borrow Jewells 
 •^^ of the Jtgyptians to make a golden calfe,and to put the Arke in- 
 *^ to a Cart, to be drawne by oxen, that fhould be carried by Le- 
 '* vites. 
 
 ^Anftfi. I. The end of finging is notonely to inftrud^admonidi, 
 and comfort the Church, but fuch alfo as are godly, though out 
 of the Church. Traife is comely for the upright ^ whether in the 
 Churchjor out of it. Nay further, the end of finging is not onely 
 to inftruft, and admonilli, and comfort the upright, but alfo to 
 inftruft, and convince, and reprove the wicked^as hath been fliew- 
 ed, Z)c«^3I.I9. 
 
 Anfa?. 2. The end of finging, is not onely to inftruft, and con- 
 vince,, and edifie men, but alfo to praife and glorifie God, Pfal. 96. 
 1,2. Though the Church might be fufficient to edifie it felfe : yec 
 is it not fufficient to glorifie God alonerwhich is a duty lying up- 
 on all the fonnes of men, yea in their kinde, upon all the crea- 
 tures. 
 
 Anfvp.'^. Though the Church have received from Chrifts af- 
 cenfion fufficient helpes within it felfe, to edifie it felfe : yet if his. 
 
 Provi- 
 
4 Cojfel'Ordirtante, ^p 
 
 Providence alfo caft in other helpes from without to edifie it, it is 
 from the vertue of the fame afcenfion of Chrift fitting at Gods 
 right hand ; and fuch helpes are not to be rejeftcd. fofiah did not 
 well to rejeft the admonition oiTharaob Necbo : Abraham and S^- 
 rah did well to receive the admonition oi Abimdech. And yec nti- 
 ther Fharaoh nor Abimekch were of the Church. 
 
 Anfiv. 4. The admonition and inftruftion given in the fing'sig 
 of a Pfilme, is rather given by him that penned the Pfulme, and by 
 him that appointeth the? falme to be fung, then by every Singer, 
 unlefle the admonition & inftruftion be to himfelfc by the words : 
 and unleile there be a ftirring up of affeftion to hlmklfe and o- 
 thers, by theblertingof Godupon the harmony. 
 
 Anfa?. 5. Though it was an abule of the JEgjptian Jewells, to 
 borrow them to make a golden calfe 5 yet it was no abu(e of them 
 to offer them to God for the building and furniftiing of the worke 
 of the Tabernacle. God forbid any Chriftian foule (hould plea(e 
 it felfe in comparing the Praiies of the holy and glorious God to 
 the golden calfe •, for though the Siaging of the praifiis of God by 
 carnall men, may becompared to the employment of Mgyptian 
 Jewells to that end for which they are ufed : yet that end being 
 the praiiing of God, and in liich a way as God hath enjoyned to 
 all men,it is not an employment of iEg^p/zj« Jewels to the making 
 of a golden calfe, but to the Praifes of the living God , who is the 
 Saviour of all men,efpecially of all them that beleeve. 
 
 Nor is there any refemblance between putting the Arke upon a 
 Cart to be carried by Oxen , which (hou!d have been carried by 
 Levitts, and the permitting of men out of the Church to joyiie in 
 finging the Praifes of the Lord. For neither doe the memb:;rs of 
 the Church (to whom the Lord hath chiefly committed the fing- 
 ing forth of his praiies ) lay afide this dutie,and leave it to Non- 
 Members, ( as the Levices laid afid? the carrying of the Arke, and 
 left in the Cart and Oxen : ) neither are Non- Members as a Cart 
 and Oxen, upon whom this dutie was never laid : But are all of 
 them enjoyned,astoheare his Word, and to call upon his Name, 
 fo to fing forth the praifes due unto his Name from all his crea^ 
 tures. There is much more jufircauleof feare, left this new opini- " 
 on of Rejefting of finging of Davids Pfjlmes^ and difallowing any 
 Tfalmes to be fung, butiuch as are invented by ordinary common 
 
 H gifts. 
 
5o Si'ging o/^. .P ^ A T M F s , 
 
 gift*, and rhe hme to be fungonely by tl em that invejit them, 
 kaft thif new Opinion, I fay , be worle then the new Cart of the 
 Thilijlims 5 for that was to carry the Arke of God to his place ^ 
 buL this new O/mion tendeth to carry this Ordinance of firging 
 Tf limes out of th: Countiey. And theie is the like caufe of leare 
 leaP- this over-pi iz'.ng our perlonall fpirituall common gifts, and 
 the Ffjlmes endited by rhem, above the Pjalmes oiVuvid^he not in- 
 deed the erecting oFa golden caltV , in Head of the Cherublms of 
 the Tabernacle. 
 
 " Ohje[i. 5. Ir Pagans and prophane perfons may fing, they may 
 " prophecy aUo in Chrifts fpiricuall Temple. 
 
 Aifv. Ic hith been (hewed above, thai Prophecy is taken two 
 wayes in Scripture, i. More properly for preaching the Word, 
 that is, expounding and applying Scripture to edification. 2. More 
 generally f jr fpeakii g or publifhing the holy things of God, to the 
 glory ot God., In the former of thcfc wayes, it is nor for Pagans, 
 or prophane perfons , ordinarily and allowably to Prophecy in 
 Chi ids fpirituall Temple, which is his Church. But in the latter 
 way. ic is not unlawfuSl as to fay Amen , to the publique prayers 
 of the Church , and thereby to exprcfle their joyning in prayer, 
 (which is one u ft of Prophecy i)foto joyne with them in finging 
 Tfalmes \ which it hath been fhewed above , is a dutie common to 
 them with the Church, as well as to joyne with them in hearing 
 the Word. Wherein whether they edifie the Church or no, cer- 
 tain it is, it tendeth to the glory of Gud. that Gods praifes fhould 
 be (et forth by all the fonnes of men. And it is a further glory to 
 - Godjthat fuch Pagans and prophane perfons fhould fing the word 
 of God to their own conviftion andconfufion of face : And from 
 both, fome edification and comfort redoundeth to the Church, 
 to fee the wicked convinced, and Gods Name to be glorified. For 
 it is an honour to God, and a comfort to his Church , that our 
 God is not as their God , our enemies being judges and wit- 
 nefles. 
 
 '^ Ohje&. 6. The godly Jewes would not fufferthe Samaritans to 
 "build the Temple wuh them , though they offered themselves, 
 " Ezra 4. 2, 3. And if finging be Prophccying in any fence , and 
 ^' any way tending to the comfort or edification of the Church, 
 "why fhould we fuffer prophane perfons to fing with us ? 
 
a Gof^el'OrdifiariCe, 
 
 Anjrv^ That the godly Jewes did rejeft tae Sainaiit^ns from 
 buiJding with them, it was not out of morall conliJeration, as if 
 it wcrc4inl.iwfull for Hsathensto contribute their a(rilUj:'Ce to the 
 worfhip or Ordinances of God t but out of a ccremoniall re^-'eO", 
 bccaufc no Heathens or uncleane perfons might be allowed to come 
 into the Tem'v'le of the Lord, A&s2i. 28. 2 Chron. 23. 19. But by 
 the death of Chrift the Partition of wail of Ceremonies is broken 
 downe : and wee may allow Heathens and prophane perfons to 
 come into our holy AdemblieSj 1 Cor. 14.24. which ihey wouid 
 not admit. Certain it iS} the godly Jewes thernfeivcs did receive li- 
 beral! contributions and oblatioiis trora the Kings of Pe-^j, to- 
 wards the building and maintenance of the Ttrnplcj Ezra 7 21. to 
 24. and chap. 8. 24 to 30. which was a morall acknowledgement 
 ot the honour due to the God ot Ifiaelyis weli by Gentiles ajjewes. 
 If therefore the Jewes would accept acknowledgenent of morall 
 homage and fervice from He.uhens and prophane perfons to the 
 God oiljraeli why may not Chriflians accept from Pagans and 
 prophane perfons, their acknowledgement of morall homage and 
 ferv'ce to our God, in linking forth his praifes amongft us? 
 ^ ObjeB, 7. Such carnall and prophane people are not worthy to 
 " take the Name and Praifes of God into their mouths ; nor are 
 '^ they able to make melody to the Lordj by linging to him n>itb 
 ^ grace in their hearts^ as is required Col 3.16. 
 
 Aajxv. I. if we fpeake of the worthineife of defert, John B iptift 
 was not worthy to loole the latchet of Chrifls fhooe , tKuch LfJe 
 to fing forth his glorioiis praife.But if we fpeake of the worthinelle 
 of ficneflcj though it be true, their uncleane lips are not fi to take 
 the holy word of God into their mouths 5 yet the holy word of 
 God is fit to come into their minds and mouths alfo, to convince 
 and reprove them of their Apoftafie from God, and rebellion a- 
 gainft him, Veut.:^i. 1 9. Ard howfoever they be unfic and unwor- 
 thy to take Gods Name andPraile into their mouths; yet furely • 
 the Lord is worthy of all Praife and Glory jBlelfing and Thankei- 
 giving from them, and alUhe Creatures which he hath made. 
 
 Anfiv, 2. It is true, carnali and prophane perfons are not able 
 to make melody, and fing to the Lord'with grace in their hearts; 
 y«t that dsfeGi doth no more excufe carnall perfons fi om fingingj 
 then it doth excufe them from Prayer , which they cannot per- 
 
 " H 2 forme 
 
 51 
 
5 2 ^^^g^^g ^f PsALMESj 
 
 forme acceptably to God, without a Spirit of grace and faith. To 
 Pray ( and fo to Sing) without Faith is a finne ; but not to pray ac 
 all is a greater finne : the one is Hypocrifie, the other i^heifme. 
 " Qbjei^. 8. Though the Scribes and Pharifees Joyned in the 
 "Temple-Songs upon the wofds oiDavid in the worldly SanCtu- 
 *^ ary : yeithc melody made by iuch carnall and cleane mouths, 
 " wasfaire more be^utifuU and glorious, then ours in the Aflem- 
 '' blies made with a multitude of all manner of Singers, upon the 
 " fame words oiVavid and Affph. For although they that fang 
 ^' in the Temple in thofe dayes were carnall , yet they were ap- 
 ^^ pointed to ling, and were choice Singerjr, endued with choice 
 *' ( though common ) finging gifts, which made the (ervice mod 
 '•^ beauufull, as men call beauty. But the melody of our Aflembly 
 *' compared with theirs, hath no outward beauty in it. So that if 
 ^' their melody were a Type of ours, then the Type is more glori= 
 " ous then the Antitype, which is a difhonour to Chrift. 
 
 Anfiv, 1. It is no difhonour at all to Chrift, that the Type (hould 
 befarre more beautifull and glorious to the outwaid man, then 
 the Antitype. Solomon was a type of Chrift , and the Temple of 
 Solpmm was a type of his body 5 and both Solomon himfelfeand his 
 Temple were farre more beautifull and glorious then Chrift him- 
 felfe to the outward man, J fa. 55.2. Yet this was no dilhonour to 
 Chrift, whole beautie and glory was fo divine and heavenly in the 
 Inner manjthat all their outward beautie and glory, were but dim 
 and darke ftiadowes to it. 
 
 Anfiv. 2. Wee doe not fay , that their melody in the Temple, 
 which was made with voyces , was a type of our melody made 
 with our voyceSjand finging the fame Pfalmej of P^w^and Afaph. 
 For though theii Chorifters were types of the whole Church, and 
 their inftruments of Muficke were types of the inward afl^ftions of 
 cur hearts, in finging forth the Praifes of the Lord, to the honour 
 .of his name, and to their own edification. 
 
 Anjn^. 3« Though their melody might be more beautifull and 
 glorious to the outward appearance, as being more artificial! and 
 more muficall : ye*^ feeing the Spirit of Grace is more abundantly 
 poured out in the New 'teftammt^ then in the old, if the holy Sing- 
 ers fine with more life and grace of the Spirit, our melody is the 
 more beautifull and glorious before the Lord , and his fpirituall 
 
 Sain tS) 
 
a G iff el- Ordinance, - ^^ 
 
 Saints, though theirs was more beautifull and glorious in the out- 
 ward (ence. 
 
 j4njjv, 4. Whether the Scribes and the Pharisees were any of 
 them Mulitians of the Temple, endued with choice gifts, and ap- 
 pointed to that office, ( as you fay) though wee doe not know it, 
 yet neither will we deny h. But this we dare fay. That if they were 
 appointed to ling, fo now not any choice order of men, but all the 
 fonnes of men are commanded to fing, as w^ll as to pray, as hath 
 been fhewed above. 
 
 " Objedl. 9. Where many fing together, ( as in a great mixt Af- 
 *' fembly ) many fing they know not what : and they that doe 
 " know what they fingj cannot but fee, that many of the Tfalmes^ 
 " which they doe fing, are not fuitabie to their own condition. 
 ^"^ And how then can they fing fuch Pfalmes , as Songs of their 
 *' own ? 
 
 Anfop, T. The ignorance of men in difcerningthe true mattefjor 
 the right manner of a Putie, doth not excufe them from perform- 
 ance of the Dutie : wefpcake of fuch morall Duties, as the moral! 
 Law of God and the Law of Nature requiiet h to be done. What if 
 a man know not what nor how to pray ? Yti that will not excu(e 
 him either from praying himfelte, or from joyning with others 
 that are better acquainted with prayerjthen hirafelfe. Soic is hfere^ 
 what if many a man know not what, nor how to fing to Gods 
 Praile t yet that will not excufe him, either from fingjng himfelfej 
 or joyning with others , that have more fpirituall skill in that 
 kinde then himfelfe. 
 
 Anjw,'!. It is an ignorance of a mans (elfe, and of the wayes of 
 God, to thinke that any Tfalme is unfuitabie to his own condici? 
 on. For every Fftlme fecteth forth either the attributes and wdlks 
 of God and his Chrifl", and this yceldeth me matter of holy reve- 
 rence, Blefling, and Praife : Or elfe it defcribeth theefrareand 
 wayes of the Church and People of God, and this afftfteth me 
 with compa(rion,inftru6:ion, or imitation : Or elfe it deciphcreth 
 theeftate and wayes of the wicked, and this holdeth forth to me 
 a word of admonition : Or elfe it doth lively exprefle mme own 
 affefti^^n8 and affl:ftiors, temptations and comicrti*, and then if 
 fUrnilheth me with fit matter and words to prelsnt mine own con- 
 dition before the Lord. But whatfoever the matter of the Tfjlme^ 
 
 concerning 
 
54 ^^'^g^^g ^f P S A L M E S , 
 
 concerning God or his Chriftjthe godiyjor the wckcJ, rr.y (eltcj 
 or others, the good or evili eltaie of one, or othi r. Ic tver m;ni- 
 itrcth fit matter and occafion to me of Tinging f^.rth the Piailes of 
 the Lord, lince the Name (^i God is to be bltfltd in all, whether it 
 goe well oi ill with our lelves or others. 
 
 Chap. X. 
 Of the manner of Singing, 
 
 p^^^^^,He fourth and laft head of Scruples remaineth, tou- 
 <w^\ \l0\0 ching the manner of Singing : concerning which a 
 ^^a threel^^old Scrapie arilfth. 
 
 \^^ I. fVhethtrit be lawfuU to fingVfJmes in Meeter 
 vjcs:s>.^ "^ devijtd by men ? 
 
 2, Whether in Tunes invented ? 
 
 3- Whether it be larvfall in Order unto Singing^to reade the Pfalme? 
 
 The two former of thefc SciUples, becauie they ftand upon one 
 and the fame ground jmay fitly be handled together. 
 
 The judgement of the Churches of Chrift in thefe Points, is 
 doubtlefie fuitable to their Pra&i*(e,Ti&j< it is laafnU tofing Tjalmes 
 in EjigUfh i^er/t/3( which runne in number, mea(u-e, and meeter) 
 and in fiich grave andmclodioM tunes^of doe well befit both the holine^e 
 andgraviiie of the matter, and the capacitie of the Singers. 
 
 A double ground or reafon may be given hereof: The former is 
 this •, If it be lawful! to tranflate and turne the Hebrew Bible into 
 Englifh Profe in order to reading , then it is lawtull alfo to tran- 
 flate and mrneVavids Hebrew Tjalmes, and verfe into our Englifh 
 TfiAnes and Verfe^ in order to Singing. But the former of thefe, 
 is a confefled Truth, and generally received amohglt Proteftants j 
 except onely M^ Smith, who had a fingular conceit in this Point, 
 ^'' That all Letters in the writings of the old Tefiament were typi- 
 " call,( typing cut the Law written in our hearts : ) and therefore 
 '* would have all reading of the holy Scripture to be abolifhed un- 
 " der the Nen^ Tejiament. But Chrifl himfelfe commanded hisDif- 
 ciplts to fearch the Scriptures, Joh.5 39. And how fhail they fearch 
 them, except they reade them ^ And the noble Beraans are com- 
 mended ior fearching the Scriptures, in the examining of Pauls Do- 
 
 ftrine. 
 
a (j off el-Ordinance, 5^ 
 
 flrinc 5 AUs 17. 1 1, 1 2. which how could they have done with- 
 out reading ? A«id wiierefore did all the Apoftlcs and Evangeliits 
 Wrice the Nea? Xjiament in Greeke ? a language of all more gene- 
 rally knowne then (he Larine, and therefore much more then any 
 other in the world, as ThUji himfelfe reftiHeth Pro Arch^A Poeta : 
 was it not for this erfd, that the Nea? lejiammt might be read,and 
 generally underftood of ail Nations? And where it was not un- 
 ddfftoodj there i< might mQfl: ealily be traiiflated out of a lan- 
 guage vjtW knowne unto the (everall lane; -age of every N<jtion ? 
 Afid as f T che old Tefl:ament,it was tranflitcd to their hands out 
 of the Hebrew into Greeke alnioft three hundred yeares before the 
 Apo,ftIes citnes.Yea wherefore did God commit the whole Goun- 
 id\ of his will and word to writing, for the edification and falva- 
 tjon of all his people, but that it might be read and underftood of 
 them all ? If then it be the holy will of God, that the Hebrew 
 Scriptures fli )uld be tranflired into Englifh Piofe in order unto 
 reading, then it is in like fort his ho!y will , that the Hebrew 
 Tfilmej^ ( which are Poems and Verfes ) (hou!d be tranflitcd into 
 Edglifli Poems an i Veries in order to Singing. 
 
 The Cimfequence is evident and undeniable. For prefuppofing 
 that God would have the Scriptures read of Eijglifti men as well 
 as of other Nations , then as a neceflary meanes to that tnd, hs 
 would have the Scriptures tranfla ed into the Englifh Tongue, 
 that Englifh People might be able to reade them. In like fort, pre- 
 fuppofing that God would have the Pftlmesoi T>anid, and other 
 Scripture-F/^/w«e/tobe.fungof EngUfh men, ( as hath been evin- 
 ced above in the fecond Point) then as a necellary meanes to that 
 end, he wou d have Scripcure-PpZ/ww (which are Poems and Vci- 
 (es) to be trasifiated into EngHfh-P/i/mej-, ( which are in like fort 
 Poems and V^irfes) that E iglilh Pe(.iple might be able to fingthera. 
 Now as all Verfes in all Pue.Tis doe confiil of a certaine number, 
 and meafure of S/llables ; fo doe our Englifh Ve* les ( as they doe 
 in lome other Nitions) runne in meeter alfo, which make the 
 Verfes more calie f )r memory, and more fie for melody. 
 
 A fecond ground of this Point is this : If it be not lawfull to 
 traitflite Hebrew Pfjlmes ( which are Veries ) into Englilh Veries, 
 v;hich runne in number, meafure, and meeter of (yilables :) then 
 kis not lawfull to exprellc the elegancy of the Originall language 
 
 in 
 
5 6 ^^^g^^S ^f PsAlmes, 
 
 in a tranfladonjtor it is an artificiali elegancy which the holy Pen- 
 men of Scripture ufed that they penned the PJalmes, and fuch like 
 Poeticall books of Scriptures not in profe3(which men ufe in com- 
 mon fpeech) but in verfes 3 which ob(erve a certain number and 
 meafureof fyllableSjandlbme of them run in meeteraJfojas thofe 
 know that know iheHtbrew, and as Buxtorf. flisweth in htsThe- 
 fjttr. fag, 629. Now Purely then it were a facrileg'ous niceneflcj to 
 thinke it unlawiull lively to cKpreile all the artificjall elegancies of 
 the Hebrew Text, fo farre as we are able to imitate the fame in a 
 tranflation. Yea doubtleffe it were a pare of due Faithfulnefre in a 
 Tranflator, as to declare the whole Counfell of God, word for 
 word ; To toexprelle lively every elegancy of the Huly Ghofl:/(as 
 much as the vulgar language can reach) that fo ihs; People of God 
 may be kindly affefiied, as well with the mannerj as with the mat- 
 ter of the holy Scriptures. 
 
 And for the EngliOi Tunes thit wee ufe in finging of Pfalmef, 
 taketjjis for a ground 5 Since God hath commandtd us tofin^ 
 Pfalmes andHymms and jpirituaO Songs, and amongft others, rhoCe 
 oi David : and yet withall hach hid from us chs Hebrew Tunes, 
 and the muficall Accents wherewith the Pfjlmes of Vavid were 
 wont to be fung. It muft needs be that the Lord alloweth us to 
 fing them in any fuch grave , and folenine, and plaine Tunes , as 
 doe fitly fuite the gravitie of the matter, the folemnitie of Gods 
 ivorlhip, and the capacitie of a plaine People. As, to inftance in a 
 like cafe, when the Lord inftituted the Pafchall Siipper,and there- 
 in a whole Lambe to be eaten, the head feeze and purtenances,and 
 made no mention what drinke they (hould u(e in it, whether wine, 
 or water, or beere, or other liquor 5 Ir was therefore left to their 
 libertie, to ufe any fuch liquor as they were wont to drinke fit for 
 fuch meate as was to be CAten , and for fuch ftomacks as were to 
 feed upon it ; So here when the Lord appointed us to fing Davids 
 Pfalmes, and doth not appoint us in what Tunes, He therefore 
 plainly leaveth us to cur libertie, to make ufe of fuch Tunes as are 
 (uitable to fuch an Ordinance, and to them that partake in it. 
 " Ohje&. I. It will not follow, that because the word is to be 
 "difpenfed in a knowne tongue, ^^ fo tranflated into it, there- 
 " fore Hebrew Songs "into Englilh song?. For the former, we have 
 " the warrant of the Word to difpenfe it for edification, exhorta- 
 
 " tion 
 
a Goffel'Ordinance, gy 
 
 ** tion and comfort ; but no word for the other, nor no gifts of 
 *^that kinde given for the Churches profit 3 to di^nfe the word 
 ^ this way. Sudh Songs therefore, and fuch Tunes ( which are 
 "called grave Church- Tunes) are not of God. Nor doelbeleeve 
 " that thcLevites invented any New Tunes, I have no faith to be- 
 ** leeve that ever God betrufted jnans corrupt nature , to franie 
 " any thing in Gods worfhip to his praife. But fuppofe God had 
 " fofarre honoured the worldly Singers then j yet it will not fol- 
 " low, that the Lord Jefus alloweth us the like libertie now. He 
 ^ will not now allow any fltfti to boaft in his prcfence, who is not 
 " able to bring to pafle fo much as a good thought. 
 
 Anfiv. To weaken the argument for tranflating Hebrew Songs 
 into Englifli Songs and Tunes, taken from the like warrant of 
 tranflidng Hebrew Scriptures into Englilh Scriptures ; This ob- 
 jeftion deniethj that we have either the like word, or the like gift, 
 or the like libertie. Whereto our anfwer is , wee have all alike 
 equally. 
 
 For I. that wee have the like word for finging Hebrew Song?, 
 hath been proved above, out of Co/o/. 3. 16. & Ep^. 5.19. And the 
 fame word that commandeth us to ling them, comraandeth us al- 
 fo the tranflation of Hebrew Songs into Englilh Songs, as a necef- 
 fary meanes to the acceptable finging of them. Forifwelhould 
 fing Hebrew Songs in the Hebrew tongue, the People (the body of 
 the Church ) (hould fing without underftanding, which were di- 
 reiftly contrary to the Apoftles Direftion, i Cor. 14. 15. 
 
 2. That we have alfo the like gift of tranflating Hebrew Songs 
 into Englifti Songs, as well as Htbrew Profe into Englifti ProCej ig 
 evident by the event. For wee have not onely as many but more 
 Tranflations of the Hebrew P/j/»«e/ into Engliih Pp/Awe/ , then of 
 the Hebrew Bible into the Enghlh Bible. 
 
 ^^ If it be faid, fuch a gift of tranflating Hebrew Sangs into Eng- 
 *^ li(h Songs, is but aPoeticall gift, not a (piritHall gift. 
 
 Anfrt>. It might as well be faid , the tranilating of the Hebrew 
 Scriptures into Englilh, is not a fpirituall giFc,but a Grammatical!, 
 Or Rhetoric ill gift. Whacfoever the art or skill bejGrammaticall , 
 Rhetorical), Poeticalljthey are all of themgifcs of God (though 
 common) and given chiefiy for the fervice and edification of the 
 
 Church of God. 
 
 I 3. That 
 
5 8 Singing of PsaLmes, 
 
 3. Thar wc have alfo the iike liberty of inventing TuneSjap- 
 peareth from what hath been faid already ; For ifGod have given 
 us liberty and warrant to fing Ffaltnes and Hymms andjpirituall 
 Songjy then we muft fing them in fonie Tunes. Now the Tunes of 
 the Temple are loft and hidden from us, fo that wee cannot fing 
 them at all ^ and therefore we miift fing fuch other TuneSj as are 
 fuitable to the matter, though invented by men. 
 '' But you doe not beleeve that the Levites ev€r invented any 
 " New Tune. 
 
 Anfy. Either- the Levites invented New Tunes, or the Pfalmifts 
 delivered muficail Accents, and Notes together with the Pfalmes : 
 which feeing we underftand not, either wee muft not fing at all, 
 or we muft make ufe of fiich Tunes, as are invented by others. 
 ^•^ But you cannot believe, that ever God betrufted mans corrupt 
 " nature, to frame any thing in Gods worfhipto his Praife. 
 
 -^w/n?. Then you cannot beleeve, that ever God betrufted the 
 Hebrew and Greeke Scriptures, to be read in the Chriftian Chur- 
 ches in Englifti words j for all EngliOi words are framed by Englifti 
 men, in^corrapt nature, to wit, without the immediate afli ft ancc 
 of the Holy Ghoft in the framing of them. And if wee may not 
 make ufe of Tunes invented by men for the finging of the Pfalmej^ 
 then neither may we make ufe of words invented by men for the 
 Reading of the Ffaltnes, and other Scriptures. The one is as much 
 a worfliip of God as the other : And Englifti words are as much an 
 invention of man as Englifti Tunes. But leaft you ftiould begin 
 hereupon to take up a fcruple againft the Reading alfo of Scrip- 
 tures in Englifti words, as well as againft the finging oi Pfalmes in 
 Englifti Tune?, and both upon this pretence of the inventions of 
 men in the worftiipof God, be not ignorant, that fuch godly men 
 as have been defirous of Reformation, and moft 2ealous againft 
 humane inventions in the worftiip of God, they alwaies intended 
 (iich humane inventions in the worftiip of God, as had no warrant 
 but the wit and will of man, not fuch as had warrant either from 
 conlequence of Scripture, or light of Nature, or civill cuftomc. 
 For a woman to cover her head in time of publique Prayer,or Pro- 
 phecying, and for a man to uncover his head , the Apoftle war* 
 ranteth troth from the light of Nature 9 and the cuftomeof th^ 
 GhurcheS) i Cor, 1 1. 4. to 1 5. 
 
 The 
 
4 Coffel-Ordinance, ^^ 
 
 The K lie of love in holy Aflemblics was warrantedj not by di- 
 vine inftitution, ( for then it were a finne in us to negleft it now ; ) 
 but by occafion of civill ciiftome in thofe Nations; wherejit being 
 ofiiall in their Civili Aflcmblies to greet one another with a kifle 
 of love. The Apoftles doe not difallow the ufe of it in holy Af- 
 femblies, but onely require the finceritie and holinefle of the love 
 expreffed in fuch kifleSj I Cor. 1 6. 20. i Ihef, 5.26. i Vet. 5.14. 
 Thefe Apoftles did not beleeve in this Pointjas you doe, that God 
 never betrufted corrupt Naturcjto frame any thing in Gods wor- 
 (hiptohisPraife. 
 
 [^ It is true, mans corrupt Nature cannot bring forth a good 
 thought, to wit, a gracious thought, and that of it fclfe, but yet 
 by the helpe of Chrift , it may bring forth both knowledge by 
 TongueSjand Tunes by Mufick j and that with as good allowance 
 in thtNetv Tefiament as in the Old.God did as much difallow any 
 flefh toboaft iii his prefencein the old Teftament ^ as in the New j 
 Jer. 9. 2 3 J 24. But what caufe hath any flefh to boaft, either of his 
 Ipirituall, or common gifts ? Seeing both are gifts, and received of 
 God : and if received, why (hould men boaft, as if they had not 
 received them ^ 1 Cor, 4. 7. 
 
 " Obje&. 2. To fing with mans melody and meetcr, doth not 
 '' hold forth any fpirituall gift of Chrift, but onely the art and 
 "nature of man : whereas Prayer and Preaching doe hold forth 
 "fpirituall gifts. And the tuning of Scripture by mans art, it is 
 '^ no gift of Grace , neither doth it redound to the praife of 
 "Grace. 
 
 eyfnfit?. Though Prayer and Preaching doe hold forth fpiri- 
 tuall gifts, yet all the Duties that tend to edification, doe not hold 
 forth fpirituall gifts, butfomeof them common gifts onely. The 
 reading of the Scriptures tendeth to edificationjas being it feltc an 
 Ordinance of God, though expofition afterwards be added alfo, 
 which is another Ordinance, Veut. 3 1. 1 1, 12, 1 3 « And yet read- 
 ing of the Scriptures is no fpirituall gift. AquiU^ and Symmachm^ 
 and Tko^sfofwn, tranfldted the Hebrew Scriptures into Grcekcjand 
 yet none of them were endued with fpirituall gifts, or at beft but 
 common. To fay Amen at the end of a publique Prayer, tendeth 
 to edification ; and yet Amen may be faid without holding forth 
 any fpirituall gift. 
 
 I 2 « But 
 
6o Singing of Psalmes, 
 
 " But that whicli is the ground of your fcruple icenieth to bethisj 
 *^ that that which is no gift of Grace, how can it redound to the 
 "Praife of Graced 
 
 But the Anfwer is ready, that fuch things as heipe either the 
 underftandingj or the affeftion, and are appointed of God for his 
 worflVip 'j they do tend to edification, and (b to the praife of grace, 
 though they may be performed by a f\k of God in Nature or art, 
 without any fpirituall gift of Grace : Tranflationof the Scrip- 
 tures into the Mother- Tongue , and the reading of them in a 
 knowne tongue, doe both of them heIpe the underftanding : and 
 being appointed of God, they tend to the edification of the people 
 in the Grace of Chrift. The tranflating of the Pfalmes into verfe, 
 in number, meafure, and meeter, and fuiting the Ditty with apt 
 ' Tuhej, doe heIpe to ftirre up the aflfeftion : And the fingingof 
 Ffalmes being appointed of God , they tend to make a gracious 
 melody to the Praife of God and edification of his People. The 
 found oiAarons Bells, and the blaft of the filver Trumpets, and 
 the workmanfhip of Hiram the Tyrian in Solomons Temple, did 
 none of them hold forth any ipirituall gift of grace : The gift of 
 God in Nature and Art might reach them all. Yet all thefe being 
 appointed by God, the putting forth of thefe gifts did tend to the 
 edification of the Church of God in the Grace of Chrift. 
 '' ObjeB.i^, The Meeter of the late Tranflators, though it come 
 '' nearer to the Originall,then the former Mecters,yet not fo neare 
 " as the Pi ofe. They frame their words and fentences more to the 
 *^ Meeter, then the Profe. Yea they (bmstimes breakc the Attri- 
 " butes of God, and for the verie fake put Jah for Jihovah : which 
 '^ is a mangling of the word. 
 
 tyfnfiv. The meeter and verfe of the late Tranflators, cometh 
 as nwrc to the words and fence of the Origina!l,a8 doth the Profe; 
 efpecially confidering they doe withall exprefle the holy Art of 
 theOriginall Hebrew Poetry, which the Profe doth not attend 
 unto. Neither doe the Tranflators breake the Attributes of God, 
 when for the verfe fake, they put Jah for Jehovah ; For both Jah 
 and Jehovah doe hold forth one and the lame Attribute of God, 
 tven his eternall being. The Evangelifts and Apoftles give us a 
 patterne of greater changes of the Attributes of God, then that ; 
 and yet without breaking of the Attributes of God, and much 
 
 more 
 
A (jofftl-Ordiaarme, ^| 
 
 more vpifhouc mangling of the word of God. It is an ufuall thing 
 with them to tranflate Jehovah the Lordj Mat. 22. 44. with Pfal, 
 no. I. And yet fehovah holdeth forth his eternall eflenccj the 
 Lord his Soveraigne Dominion. Ic were facrileglous Bla(phemy 
 to call this changing either the breaking of Gods Attributes, or 
 the mangling of his word. BefideSj its very rare when theTran- 
 flitors doe make any fuch change oijah for Jehovah : and to pre- 
 vent all ftumblingj either of your felfe, or others at it j I fuppofc 
 they will heipe it in the nexc Edition of the Pfa'm^s. 
 ^'^ ObjeB. 4. What delight can the Lord take in fuch Praifes of 
 " himfelfe, where (infull men, or the Man ot finne hath an hand 
 " in making the melody t 
 
 Anfa>. God delighteth that his will (hould be obeyed : at leaf! 
 he abhorreth that his wil' Ihould be difobeyed 3 though by finfull 
 men, i Sam. 15.22,23. Since God commandeth all men in di- 
 ftreile toc^llupon him, and all men in their mirth, to fing his 
 Praile , what is mortall finfull man, ( Dufl: and Afhes ) that he 
 (hould forbid, what God hath commanded \ God knoweth how 
 • to allow, yea and to reward what is his own : when yet he taketh 
 no pleafure in the finfull manner of performance of any Dutie. 
 God tooke notice of Ahahs humiliation , and rewarded it with 
 refpite of temporal! judgements, though he tooke no pleafure in 
 his finfull hypocrifie, iKwg/21.275 28^29. And yet they that 
 had an hand in making the Melody of thef^nglifli TfJmes^ ( whe- 
 ther in'old 'England Qv Netp ) were men of a better fpirit then A^ 
 hab. But I can but marveile, why you fhould put in the man of 
 nnne, as having any hand at all, in making this Melody. For nei- 
 ther the man of finne5(by vjhom I fuppofe you meane Antichrift) 
 nor any Aniichriftian Church have had any hand in turning Da- 
 vids Pftlmes into Englilh Songs and Tunes , or are wont to make 
 any Melody in the Singing of them, yea they rejeft them asGene* 
 vah Gigj-' And they be Cathedrall Priefts of an Antichriftian fpi- 
 r[r, that have (coffed at Puritan-Minifters, as calling the People to 
 fing one ol Hopkms Jiggs, and fo hop into the Pulpit. God keepe 
 all Anti-Pfalmifts from the like Antichriftian Spirit. They that 
 have been in Antichriftian Churches can tell you, that Popifti 
 Churches are not wont to fing "Davids Pfalmes tranflated into verfe 
 hi their own Countrey Meeter, but they onely fing the Proie of 
 
 Davids 
 
62 ^^^g^^g € PsALMES, 
 
 Vcevids Ffalmes in Cathedral! Notes. VV hicn how larre your felfe 
 clofe withalla I leave to your (elfe toconfider. 
 
 C H A P» XI. 
 
 Of Reading the Pfalmes in order to Singing, 
 
 Helaft (cruple remaining in the manner of fingingjCf?^- 
 cerneih the order offinging afier the Reading of the Pfalme. 
 For it is doubted byfome, and concluded by others, 
 that reading of the Pfalmes is not to be allowed in or- 
 der to finging. We for our parts eafily grant, that where all have 
 books and can reade, or elfe can fay the Pfalme by heart, it were 
 needlefle there to reade each line of the Pfalme before hand in or- 
 der to finging.But if it be grantcdjwhich is already proved,that the 
 Pfalmes to be ordinarily fung in Publique, are Scripture- P/i/ww, 
 and thofe to be fung by the body of the Congregation. Then to 
 this end it will be a neceflary heipe, that the words of the Pfalme 
 be openly read before hand, line after line, or two lines together, 
 that To they who want either books or skill to reade, may know 
 what is to be fungjand joyne with the reft in the dutie of finging ; 
 It is no unwarrantable invention of man, brought into the wor- 
 (hipof God,to make ufe of fuch meanesawhich the light of Nature 
 teacheth us, to be either neceflary or convenient helpes, either to 
 the hearing or underftanding of what is faid in the worfhip of 
 God. Scaffolds erefted in Meeting houfcs are inventions of men ; 
 no exprelfe precept, nor example in Scripture calleth for them 5 
 and yet the light of Nature eafily fuggefteth it, that they heIpe to 
 hearing, and Co to edification, in as much as they draw multitudes 
 ofpcople to fit within the Minifters voyce; That which helpeth 
 the very outward fence of hearing, helpeth alfo knowledge and 
 underftanding, and fo edification. And therefore no man taketh 
 exceptions at Scaffolds as inventions of men, though they be ufed 
 to helpe forward Gods worfhip,and fpirituall edification ;becaufe 
 they are not brought in,nor ufed for fpirituall meanes immediate- 
 ly, but remotely, fo farre as they are fie to helpe the outward fence 
 of hearing,and fo underftanding. Of like ufe is reading in order tc 
 
 Singing. 
 
a G<iffet'Ordinance, 6% 
 
 Singing. It giveth the People to heare, and fo to underftand, what 
 is to be Tung, that fo they may joy ne with the reft in linging of the 
 Tfalme : and by Singing be ftirred up to ufe holy Harmony, both 
 with the Lord and his People. 
 
 ** Ohjedt^ I . The Scripture mentioneth no ordinary reading in any 
 *^ Churcha but that which is joyned with interpretation. 
 
 Anftx>, I, The Scripture doth exprtily mention Bamch to have 
 read the word in a Church Aflembly, without adjoyning any in~ 
 terpretation to it, fer. 36. 6, 7. 
 
 Anfac. 2. As Preaching of the word is an Ordinance , fo read- 
 ing the word in order to Preachings is an Ordinance alio. In like 
 fort, as finging oiTfalmes is an Ordinance, (b reading the Pfalmes 
 in order to linging, is allowable alio. 
 
 Anjw.i^. It is mentioned in Scripture, that the children of 
 Ifiael did all joyne in linging the Song of Mofis at the RedSea^ 
 Exod.15. 1. Now it is not credible, that they who were bred and 
 brought up in bondage, were brought up to reade. It were much 
 if one of a thoufand of them could reade. If raoft of them could 
 not reade, how could they joyne in linging that ffalme^ unlefle 
 fbme or other read, or pronounced the TJalme to them ? 
 
 Anftv,^. Though it be true, that the Church of Ifiael had fuch 
 an Ordinance amongft them 3 that after the reading of the Law, 
 or the Prophets, fbme or other of the Priefts or Levites, or Pro- 
 phetSjWere wont to expound the fame to the people, ( /^^/ 13 ''5* 
 €^ 1 5. 2 1. Neh, 8. 7, 8. ) yet the very reading of the word it felfe 
 was alfo an Ordinance, though no Expolition followed, Ps«/.3 1. 
 11,12, i9.r>e«/.27. 14.1026, 
 
 " ObjeSi. 2. The Scripture prelcribeth not what Officer (hall per- 
 '^ forme this aft, to reade the Ffalme in order to finging. 
 
 Anftv. The Scripture prefcribcth this , as it doth many other 
 matters of ordering Gods houle, to wic , tmder generall Rule?. 
 It is no where exprefly prelcribed in Scripture , who (hall be the 
 Mouth of the reft in the publique Admonition, or Excommuni- 
 cation of an Offendor ; yet by generall Rules, it may eafily be col- 
 lefted, That publique difpenfations of the Church,doe ordinarily 
 pertaine to the publique Officers of the Church. Any of the prea- 
 ching or ruling Elders may warrantably goe before the people, 
 in putting the words of the Ffalme into their mouths. 
 
 Obje^,^, 
 
^4 ^^^S^^g ^f P S A L M E S , 
 
 « ObjS. 3. This reading of the Vfalme doth hinder the melodyj 
 '' the underftanding, the affeftion in iinging. 
 
 Anfrv. If a mans prejudice agaiivft reading doe not hinder hitn- 
 felfej Reading hlndreth none ot thcfe 5 not melody, for the Read- 
 ing is not in the art of fingingjbut in the paufejnor the underftand- 
 ingj for it helpeth fuch as cannot reade, or want Books to under- 
 ftand what is to be fung, which otherwife they could hardly per- 
 ceive 5 nor the afftftion, for when the melody is not interruptei^j 
 and the underftandiiig furthered, the affeftion is rather helped 
 then hindrcd ; or if it be hindred, lay the fault where it is , rather 
 in a coy 3 or cold heart, then in a diftinft and intelligent Read- 
 ing. 
 
 c H A p. xir. 
 
 ^nfvpering the ObjeBions brought from the ancient 
 praBife of the Primitive Churches, 
 
 ^Bje^. I. That praftife which was anciently ufed in the 
 Churches immediately after the Apoftles tiraeSj is moft 
 "^ r^^S3^1i probable to be neareft the conftitution of ttie Apoftles ; 
 *' and that praftife which followed a great while after it, is moft 
 '•^ probable to be furtheft offjas the water is pureft & cleareft,nea- 
 '^ reft the fountain, and runneth more troubled^and muddy after- 
 " wards.Now the praftife of finging Fp/«»e/,w^^were made by the 
 '' faithful!, was firft in ufe : For tho(e Pfilmej which the Primitive 
 ** Chriftians ufed before day in the time ot Pcrfecution , wherein 
 " they fang Praifes to Chrift their God, ( as Pliny writeth 10 Tra- 
 ^'^jan ) they are faid to be made of the faithful!. 
 *• Thefe were in ufe, even in Johns time, after he was called from 
 ** Baniftiment ( after Vomitians death ) to order the Churches ; 
 " which praftife alfo continued about three hundred yeares ; 
 ^* wherein there was more purity in Poftrine and Difcipiine, ( as 
 '^ ufeth to be under Perfecution) then afterwards. 
 
 Anfrv* I. This Syllogifme falleth ftiort of Truth in both the 
 Propofitions : For it is not alwaies true, that the praftife which 
 was ufed in the Churches immediately after the pureft times, is 
 
 neareft 
 
a G off el-Ordinance. ^m 
 
 neareft to their conftitution, (as the water is pureft and cleareft 
 next the fountaine ; ) and that which followeth a great while af- 
 ter itj is furthcft off. As water neare the fountaine may fall out*to 
 be troubled, and fo become leflecleare and pure, then in his run- 
 ning courfe further off. The night following the day, though ic 
 be nearefl to the day, yet it is more darke, then the day following 
 after, though ic be further off from the day before. The Elders 
 and People that lived in the dayes of Jofhuah, they ferved the 
 Lord : but when that Generation were gathered to their Fathers, 
 there aroje another Gemraiion after them^ which knew not the Lgrd^ 
 and they did eviU in the fight of the Lord^ and firved Baalim ^ Judg. 5. 
 7. to II. PWforewarneih the Elders oiEphefm-, He knew that 
 after his departure grievouf Wolves Jhould come in amongft themy not 
 faring the fiockii Afts 20.29,30. And Eufebim complaineth ou6 
 oiHcjefipptM^ That after the Apoltles times, the Church did not 
 long remaine a chaft and undefiled Virgin, Hi^or, Ecclef lib. 3. 
 cap. 26. ' 
 
 2. Neither is it true , that the prai^iife of finging Scripture- 
 Tfalmes followed a great while after the Apoftles times, as if the 
 faithfull had onely made ufe of their own perfonall gifts in com- 
 piling Tfdmes for the tirft three hundred yeares. For it is evident 
 that in the next Century after the Apoftles times, the Church did 
 ( ^s'TertuUian teflifieth, Apnloget^ Chap. ^9.) Veocanere^ cither <^c 
 Scripturis San&if, or de propria ingenio^ that is, either out of the 
 holy Scriptures, or out of their own gift. Yea and P/i/y himfelfe, 
 ( which is all the Teftimony you alledge of the Churches pra£l:ife 
 for three hundred yeares ) he doth not exprefle what Pfalmes they 
 fang, whether out of the holy Scriptures, or out of their own gift, 
 or that any one alone did (ing, buc that they did Carmen Chrifio 
 qitafi Deo dicerefiio invicem^ Plin, Epiji. lib.io. Epift, 97. Wh'?ch Ter- 
 tnUian and oth -rs exprefle, they did Cstm antelucanos habere ad 
 canendum Deo & Cbrijlo^ Apologet. cap. 2. They met before day 
 to fing Praifes to God and Chrift , and to confederate Difci- 
 pline. 
 
 3. Though they had made ufe of their perfonall gifts, more 
 then they did in the times of the Primitive Perfecutions, during 
 the firft three hundred yeares, yet that would not argue they neg- 
 lefted the ufe oiVavids Pfalmn ; much lefle would it incourage us 
 
 K t9 
 
66 Singing of PsaLmes, 
 
 to negleft the ufe of Vavids Vfdmes now. During the times of 
 thofc bloudy PerfecuiionSj as the fufferings of the Saints abound- 
 cJj fo did their Confolations (through Chrift) abound alfo. 
 As God honoured fundry of them with miraculous gifts , fo efpe- 
 dally with a large raeafureof fpirituall joy in the Lord, which 
 might furnilh them with more enlargement of heart, to compile 
 Ffalmes to fet forth his Praife^then God is wont to beftow in more 
 peaceable times. 
 
 4. Though fometimes they fang Scripture- Pfalmes^ and fome- 
 tiraes fpirituall Songs by perfonali Oifts : yet both forts evidence 
 the judgement and pra6[ife of thofe times, touching vocall Sing- 
 ing, They did not onely make melody to the Lord with Grace in 
 their hearts, but with Songs alfo in their mouths. Yea J«/?i» Mar- 
 tjr^ ( who flouriflied within fiftie yeares after the Apoftles time ) 
 ©r whofoever was the Author of thofe Queftions and Anfwers ad 
 Ofthodoxos amongft his works, though he (peake of Muficall In- 
 ftrumcntSs as utterly unfit for Church AflemblieSj yet fimple fing- 
 '^ ing with the voyce he much magnifieth ; as that which ftirreth 
 " up the heart to fpirituall joy , and holy defires ; as that which 
 '*^ fubdueth the paiTions and concupiscences of the fliefh ; as that 
 " which fcattereth the evill (uggeftions of fpirituall enemies 5 as 
 " that which watereth, and refrefheth the foule to fruitfulnefle in 
 " good Duties ; as that which ftirreth up courage and conftancy 
 ^' in wreftiings for the Truth 5 and as that which giveth fome 
 " medicine to all the griefes, which befall a man through fad and 
 *• forrowfull Accidents in this life, Juflin in Anfto ,^107. 
 
 5. After the three hundred yeares after Chrift were expired, 
 yet not long after the times of Perfecution returned in the dayes 
 oi Julian the Apoftata, when the Chrirtians oiAtitioch, together 
 with the women and children, fang fuch Tfalmes of Vavidas cur- 
 fed and reproached Heathen Idolls and Idolaters, Socrates Lcckf. 
 HijlorJib. 2. cap. 1 6. in Gn. cap. 18. Tbeodoret expreffsth by name. 
 Tfjl. 1 1 5. & Pfal. 62. Hijior. Ecclef, lib. ^.cap. I7. 
 
 6. Although before the three hundred yeares were expired, we 
 reade in Eufehim^ that one Nepw ( though a Millinary ) was well 
 refpeftedj.as for other good gifts and works, fo for divers Tfalmes 
 and Hymnes compofed by him , ( which fome brethren did wil- 
 Mngly ufe a long time after j ) yet wee fuppofe, that was fuch a 
 
 pra^ife^ 
 
4 GoJ^ el' Ordinance, ^j 
 
 praftife, as your felfe would not allowjtofing fet formes oiPfalmes 
 invented by men, and to continue to ling them after their depar- 
 ture, and in the meane timcj to refufe fet formes oi Pjalmesncndi- 
 ted by the Holy Ghoft i as if the Ffalmes endited by an extraordi- 
 nary meafure of the Spirit, were more uncleane, then the Pfalmes 
 endited by the common giftof an Ordinary Elder or Brother. 
 '^ 0bje£i.2» 4S<2W(?p/c««f the HcretickjC who denied the Diety of 
 " the Lord Jefus ) was the firft that within thofe firft three hun- 
 '^ dred yeares, oppofed this finging by perfonall gifts. 
 
 yinfrv. Not out of refpe^ to Vavids Pfalmet , but to avoyde the 
 Hymnes which did fet forth the Glory and Godhead of Chrift, 
 and to bring in Pfalmes^ which did fet forth his own Herefie, and 
 therewith his own PraiftSj as Eufebius teftifieth, Ecc/e/Hi^. lib. 7. 
 cap. 2^.in lat.cap. 30. ingr. 
 
 ^' ObjeB.:^. Thepra£kifeoffingingPtfWfi/iPp/we/wasaIaterin- 
 '' ventiouj brought into the Church oiAntioch by flavianm and 
 " Viodoruf. And hence this cuftome was taken up by Ambrofi and 
 " AHgufiine:but vehemently oppofed by one Hilary a Ruler there, 
 " bccaufe they fang out of a Booke. Hence Augufline tui ned a Pa- 
 ^^ tron for itjforced thereto rather by the importunitie of the peo- 
 ''^ pie, then of his own accord : as being deftitute of weapons out 
 " of the word of God for it : and therefore afterwards repented 
 " of it, and wifhed the Cuftome removed. 
 
 Anftp,\. TertuBians teftimony alledged above, doth evidently 
 evince, that the finging of Scripture- P/^/»«ex (and fo oiVauids) 
 was in ufe in the Church, before Flavianm and 'theodorus were 
 hornc^ Apologeu cap. 39. For 'tertnUian was about 140. yeares be- 
 fore them. 
 
 2. The pra6ii(e brought in by F/<2z/z4«Mf and PWor«f, was ra- 
 ther fome new falhion of finging Vavids Pfalmes^ then the finging 
 of them. For as Theodoret reporteth it, they were the firft that di- 
 vided the Quire of Singers into two fides, and appointed one fide 
 of them to anfwer the other in the finging of them : and ufed the 
 fame at the Monuments of the dead, and that fometimes all the 
 night long. But thefe indentions favoured rather of fuperftition, 
 then of pure Primitive Devotion : though they wrought a good 
 efieO: upon fheodofius ^when Flavianuf (knt thofe Songs to be (iing 
 at his Tablcj to moderate his wrath againft the Citizens of Afi" 
 
 K 2 tiochy 
 
eS singing of Psalmes, 
 
 tioch ; {ettheodffrety Hiji. Ecclef. lib, 2, cap. 24. Zozometij Hijl, Ec* 
 ckf.lib.j.cap.2:^, 
 
 3. It is fpoken without warrant of Antiquity, that Amhrofe and 
 Augufim took up the praftife of finging Vavids Pfalmes from Fla' 
 vianw and Viodorm. For neither did they bring it in , ( as was 
 (hewcn out oilertuVian ; ) nor is the flacknefle of fome Churches 
 in receiving an Ordinanceja juft exception againft the Ordinance, 
 but rather a juft reprehenfion of their negligence. And (b much 
 doth Augujiine confefle in his up. 'Epijilej chap. 1 8, Wher« fpeak- 
 " ing of this praftife of finging Pfalmes ^ though it be. faith he, Co 
 " ufefull to the ftirring up of the heart in godlineflejand to kindle 
 " the affeftion of divine reading : yet the cuftome of Churches is 
 " divers about itjand the moft members of the African Churches, 
 " Pi^rzor<3/««f 3 have been more floathfull in receiving it. Info 
 '•^ much that the VanatUU doe reprehend us, that we fing (bberly 
 " the divine Songs of the Prophets, whereas they inflame their 
 " drunkennefle ( as it were ) by a Trumpet of exhortadon to the 
 *^ finging of Pfalmes^ compoled by their own humane wit. 
 
 By which reproofe of the Donatifls , it may appeare that the 
 cuftome of finging JD^z^/V/ Pfalmes was in u(e in the African Chur- 
 ches, and in Millain alfb of former times ; and that the Cuftome 
 brought into the Church of Millain to keepe the people awake in 
 their night Watches againft the Arrlan violence , was the finging 
 oi Pfalmes after the Eafteriie manner, with more curiofitie of Mu- 
 ficke, and one fide of the Singers anfwering another. And of this 
 isAugHJiine to be underftood in the ninth booke of his Confejji- 
 onsy chap. 7. 
 
 4. Ic is not true , That Augujiine became a Patron of finging 
 "Davids Pfalmes^ rather forced to it by the importunitie of the peo- 
 ple, then of his own accord. For he faith exprefly iji the fame 
 " Chapter of the lame Epiftle^That the pra ftife of finging P/^/wer 
 " and Hymnes is to be done without doubting, feeing it may be de- 
 " fended out of the Scriptures, in which wee finde both the Do- 
 " ftrinej, and Examples, and Precepts of Chrift, and of his Apo- 
 " ftles for it. And the fame Augufinein his firftTome and third 
 " Rule, ( as it is dtled ) Nolitei^ faith he^ cant are, nift qtiodkgitis 
 " ejfe cantandum, ^od auiem non ita Scriptum ejl ut cantetur, non 
 " cantetur j that is, doe not fing but what you leade is to be fung, 
 
 " but 
 
A ^ off cl' Ordinance. ^p 
 
 '' bat that which is not written that it fliould be fungj let it not 
 " be (ung. Nor is it tiue, that Augufiine repented , that the cu- 
 '^ftomeoffingingPjw^/P/dj/ww was brought into the Church, 
 " or that he wifhed rather it were taken away. 
 
 For though when he faw his heart more taken up with the me- 
 lody of the Tune, then with the fweetnefle of the matterjhe could 
 have wiflied the fweetnefle of the melody removed from his own 
 earesjand from the Church:yet ftill he would have them fung af- 
 ter the manner of the Church of Alexandria^ and Athanafim : 
 And then correftmg himfelfe ; " But when I remcmberj iaith he, 
 ^^ my Teares which I powred out at the finging of thy Church, in 
 *' the firft reftoring of my Faith, and how I am ftill moved, not 
 " with the Song, but with the matter Tung, when it is fung with a 
 " cleare voyce, and convenient tune or modulation , I doe againe 
 ** acknowledge the great utilitie of this Inftitution. 
 
 And though he doe waver between the perill of delight to the 
 fence, and experiment of wholefomenefle to the foule : yet his 
 (cruple was not of the lawfulnefle of finging Ihividj Pfalmei, but 
 partly of the plealantnefle of the Tunes (which might be more ar- 
 tificial!, then the gravitie of the Ordinance required} partly of the 
 expediency thereof to himfelfe, till his heart were more fpirituall. 
 His writing againft HWarim jubentibits fratribus^ doth, not argue, 
 he wrote againft his will, but by a good call, in defence of finging 
 "Davids PJalmes againft a man that tooke up any occafion to carp 
 at Gods Minifters, Auguftin^ KetraB, lib, 2. cap. 1 1. 
 " ObjeU. 4. Belides it is to be noted, that Formes of divine Ser- 
 " vice and Letanies begun to be ufed at the fame time, in many 
 *^ places. In the French Churches, and in Canjlamines Court and 
 *^ Campe, both himfelfe and his Souldiers ufing a Forme of Pray- 
 "er, the Churches (as is wont under Chriftian Magiftrates) 
 "growing proud and lazie. At which time they had alfo their 
 " Regular and Canonicall Singers appointed hereunto by office : 
 ** The Tfaltnej compofed by private Chriftians, ( whom they call 
 " Idiots ) being interdified in one and the iame Counfell oiLaa- 
 " dicea^ till at length all was turned into a Pageant in the yeare 
 " 566.the fatall figure of Aatichrift : it being impoffibleCas it feem- 
 " eth ) that the lively, gifts of Gods Spirit in his people, fliouid 
 «' breath any longer when formes are once iet up iu the Church, 
 ««&c. AnffT. 
 
70 ^'^^g^^^ ^f PsALMES, 
 
 An^xv. Though Conjlantim appointed a ioinie ot Prayer to hifS 
 Souldiers, ( Eufek lib. 4. de vit. Conjiamin. cap,20.) yec we doe not 
 rcade that he limited them to the ufe ofit ; much lefle that formes 
 of divine Service and Letanles were brought into the Church in his 
 timeg nor fcarce of an hundred yeares after* Neither were Regular 
 and Canonicall Singers brought into the Church in his time. The 
 Counccli oiLaodicea which allowed themjand interdiftod Ffalmes 
 compofed by private Chriftians, was neare about fixtie yeares af^ 
 ter him. 
 
 2. Their forbidding any to fing. but fuch as were appointed to 
 fingj (^ConciL Laodic. Can, 15.) though they did it to abule the 
 Peoples abufe of theFfalmes by finging out of Tune 5 yet their care 
 might better have been beflowed in learning the people to know 
 and keepe the Tune, and in advifing fuch as had lowd and (Irong 
 voycesj and were skilfull of Song, to have led and kept the people 
 in a decent melody. But otherwife for their prohibiting of iinging 
 oiPfalmes compoled by private menjand the redding of any bookes 
 in the Church, but the writings of the Prophets and Apoilles, as 
 they doe inCanon^c^. that fo they might eitablifh the reading of 
 Scripture-booksjand the iinging of Scripture- P/iW/. Icis fbfarre 
 from fuperflitioD, that it tendeth rather to preferre divine Infti- 
 tutions, above humane Inventions. When they interdiOied the 
 Ffalmes compofed by private Chriftians,whom they called Idiots, 
 or as we call them in our language, iimplefooles. You are not ig>^ 
 norant that an Idoll in their language fignifieth no more but a pri- 
 vate man 5 and in the fame fence the Apoftle himfelfe ufeth it, 
 I Cor. 14. 16. though the Tranflators turne it unlearned. 
 
 Neither doe Formes of Gods Prai/e flop the breathing of the 
 lively Gifts of Gods Spirit,when the Formes are no other,but fuch 
 as were endited by the immediate Infpiration of the Holy Ghoft ; 
 For when the Ffalmes oiVavid, and of other holy men of God, 
 Were comm.ended to the Church ofJfrael^ and by them were ordi- 
 narily fung in the Temple and el fwhere, would you fay it did hin- 
 der the free paiTage of the breathing of the lively gifts of Gods Spi- 
 rit,either inthe Miniftery ofthe Priefts,orin the writings and Ser^ 
 mons of the Prophets^ Surely Elijha found it otherwifea2 Kings 3. 
 1 5.and the whole Church ofJudabAs for 6^6( which you call the 
 fatal 1 figure of Antichrift ) judge you in your own foule before the 
 
 Lord, 
 
a Goffel-Ordiftance, yi 
 
 Lord, whether it doe more favour of an Antichriftian fpirit, for 
 the whole Church to ling the Tjalmes oiVavid with one accordjOr 
 to (ing Te Veum, or fomc other Anthem deviled by a private (piritj 
 one man alone ^ Sure ic is ( as we faid before ) Antichriftian Chur- 
 ches doe utterly rejeft the finging of Vavids Ffalmes in the Meeter 
 of each Nation intheir Mother Tonguejyea and do reproach fuch 
 Tjalmes as Genevah liggs 5 fo farre are they off from clofing with 
 finging of them as an Invention of their own. 
 " ObjeB. 5. Let no man thinke, that the finging oWavids Pfalmes 
 ^^ is an Ordinance of God , becaufe many Chriftians have found 
 " their afFeftioHS ftirred( as AHgujiim alfo did ) in the finging of 
 "them. This doth notjuftifie thispraftile, no more then ic doth 
 '^ Preaching by a fal/e callingjbecaufe fome have found converfion 
 ^^ by it : no more then it doth the receiving the feale of the Supper 
 *^ in a falfe Churchjand that with the Idolatrous geflure of knee- 
 "ling, becaufe fome have found quickening and ftrengthening 
 " Grace therein. For Godsgoodnefle many times goeth beyond 
 " his Truth. 
 
 tyinfa. We cannot fay. That Gods goodnefle goeth beyond his 
 Truth, though fometime he (hew a man mercy out of his way. For 
 we have the truth of Gods word to teftifie, that (b fometime he 
 doth as Saul found converting grace in going to Vamafcus to perse- 
 cute the Saints.But this we fay,that w/hen God doth thus,he either 
 convinceth amanofthe error of his way, before he fhew him fa- 
 vour in it,( as he did Saul y) or elfe the way it felfe, or DuLie is of 
 God, though there be (ome failing in the circumftance of it. Many 
 oilfiad that came to the Pafleover in Hezeki^hs time in their un- 
 cleannefle, yet they found mercy with the Lord. But ic was becaufe 
 the Ordinance and Duty was of God, the failing was onely in the 
 manner of Preparation to it, 2 Chron. 30, 1 8, 1 9, 2 o. But liA^kab 
 (et up an invention of his own in his houfe, though he may pro- 
 mise himfe'fea bkffing in fome orderly circumftance of it, ( as he 
 did Judg. 17. 13.J yet let him be fure he (hall finde a curfe in (lead 
 ofa bleffing, according as God hath expreft it, 'Dent. 7. 26. It is 
 granted and bewailedjthat there hath been found fome finfull fail- 
 ings in fundry circumftanccs of fomeMinifters callings : And yet 
 becaufe the fubftance of the calling was of Godjmany have found 
 (aving blefCngs in. attending on their Miniftery. And the Lords 
 
 Supper 
 
72 singing -of P s A L m E s , 
 
 Supper adminiftred by ihetii being of Godj though the gefture in 
 which it was received was corruptjthe Lord was pleated to accept 
 and blefle what was his owne, and to pafle by finues of ignorance 
 in his people. But can it ever be proved that when any praftife of 
 Gods worlhip hath been but an humane and Antichriftian inven- 
 tionjthat it hath been neverthelefTe blelTcd with the communicati- 
 on of fpirltuallafFcftionSj and that not feldome and rarely, but 
 frequently and ufually 5 not to one or two Saints^ but generally ; 
 not to the weakeft, but to the ftrongeft Chriftians ? We are verily 
 perfwadsd no fuch inftance can be given fince the world begaut 
 God is not wont to honour and blefle the wayes of fuperftition, 
 with the reward of fincere devotion. But furely God hath deligh- 
 ted to blefle the finging of his holy Tfalmet^ with gracious and {pi- 
 rituali affeftionSj not onely in Aitgitjiines time, and in Jufiim Mat' 
 /yr/ before him, but from age 10 age to his Saints, ufually, gene- 
 rallyjand abundantly : fo that doubtlefltithefervantsofGod de- 
 fraud their foules of much fpirituall good, and comfort, who de- 
 fraud themfelves of the Fellow(hip of this Ordinance. 
 
 But here is the mi(ery of theprefent age, that thofe Ordinances 
 that men have praftifedjeither without the knowledge of the true 
 grounds thereof, or without the life and fence of the comfort of 
 them, or without the fincere Jove of them, they have therefore af- 
 terwards in the houre and power of Temptation caft them afide, 
 and fo forfaken the holy Inftitutions of God, to embrace & pleafe 
 themfelves in their own imaginations. How much more fafe were 
 it, for humble and fincere Ghriftian8,to waike in Gods holy feare, 
 and in fence of their own ignorance, infirmities, and temptations, 
 to fofpeft their own private apprehenfions, and humbly to beg a 
 Spirit of Light and Truth, to lead them into all Truth,and meek- 
 ly toconfult with Brethren without fettingup any Idoll or fore- 
 ftalled Imagination in their hearts, before they relblve to runne a 
 by-way, to the griefe and fcandall of their Brethren, It is a Pal- 
 (ey diftemper in a member to be carried with a diflferent motion 
 from the reft of the body : The Lord healeour fwervings, and fta- 
 blifli us with a Spirit of Truth and Grace in Chrlft Jefus. 
 
 F I ^ I S, 
 
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