making melody in your heart to the Lord.

. Col.3.16. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you

richly, in all wisdome, teaching and admonish. ing one another in Psalms, and Hymns, and Spirituall

. Songs, singing with Grace in your hearts to the Lord. Ja'n.5.13. Is any among you affitted ? let him pray,

is Any merry: let him fing Psalms. Í is spoken generally: Is any merry ? let him fang, &c. not that it is unlawful to sing at other times (for then it might be argued as well, that 'tis not lawful to pray, but when sud) but as prayer is the best remedie for forrowes, so thanksgiv. ing or singing to Gods praise, is the proper duty in the cime of Mercies and comforts. In Misery, the proper duty is prayer ; In Prosperity, giving thanks.

4. We have Directions and Rules given us how to sing in a right manner. Namely, with Grace in our hearts wotorhe Lord: Which directions were needlesse, iffinging of Psalms were not a duty under the Gospel.

5. We find it practised by our blessed Savions and his Difciples, Mac.26.30. Und when they had Jung an Hymn, they went out into the Mount of olives. And by Paul and Silas, Acts 16.25. And at midnight Paul ard Silas prayed, and fang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 2.6. In the primitive times it was frequently

practiseats practised ; insomuch that the Heathens cook nó. tice of this use and custome among the Christi

ans. Pliny writing to Trajan the Emperor, tels · him of the Christians morning Hymns or Psalms ! 10 Christ and God; as an usual practise in their Colemn Worship.

I come now to the Second thing; That 'lis lawful and warrantable to sing Davids Psalms.

1. Because no composures can be equal to those of Gods Spirit. If any Psalms cherefore are

to be sung, then surely such as are given by Dii vine inspiration, as Davids were. Those excel

lent composures being part of the Word of God, and full of Heavenly matter cending to instruction and confolation; and being consigned to the use of the Church, onghè co be preferr'd before the composures of private persons, ordinarily gifted, and not infallibly afsifted: Observe that,2 Chron. 29.30. Moreover Hezekiah the King, and the Princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord, with the words of David, and Alaph the Seer, and they sang praises with gladnes. As for chic extraordinary gift of composing Psalms by the Sudden suggestion of the holy Ghost (which was given colome of the members of the Church of Corinth, 1 Cor.14.)ic is now ceased, with other extraordinary gifts, as that of Tongues, and Healing, ec.

2. The Apostle in those two places before mentioned, Eph.5.19. & col.3.16. by uling chose

344 of singing of Psalms. Chap.6

. Of forging of Psalms. three words, Psalms, Hymns

, and sportsline And yet surely there were some picked , does seem plainly to point at Davids Plamong them. Paul in the ship, Acts 27.35 they answer exactly to those three Hebremste thanks to God before Infidels, and pr Shirim, Tehilim, Mizmorim, whereby De Heathens. If the presence of wicked men Psalms were called, divided, and dirty hinder che acceptation of these chat are

ed.

the people of God were in a most fad con being never certain but some secret Hypocrit

3. ''Twas the custome of the Fews to

over (as Scalliger, Buxtorfius, and others, God will accept us according to our integrity some of Davids Psalms in the right of the N be in the most pick'd Asembly. But the b were those fix from the 113th to the breep, though in the midst of a thousand wo in their customes, inform us) Thole Put our company. God will hear the bleating more than probable, Christ with his lies at their own doors, We warn them again which were callid the great Hallelujah, my If the wicked take the Name of God in vai followed their custome herein, because If they do not their duties as they should, mu things be observed their usual Passeoverle therefore neglect ours ?

I come now to che Third thing; the objections 1sfually made against this the obj

. 1. Some scruple to fing in a mis com gation, where wicked men joga, charpes

obj.z. Why fhould we fing Psalms ? not we read them for our instruction? Ans

. Singing will affect, and raise, and en che heart to praile God, more than rea The voice is a great matter to quicken our h

formerly did not chink it enough to say what

to God. David cals on all creatures to domes of the Earen are bidden so prati men do not praise God as they should get a fin more in not doing it at all, then in most

Godin a right manner.

An. To render praises is a dutgalloa both in prayer and singing. The people of = praises to God. l'fal.145. And all the had done for them, but they did fing it, that Lord, Pfal.68.32. Though therefore we enlivened, and lifted up in the praises of Go=

hearts might be more affected, parmed, va obj

. 3. Some are oftended we sing on dan fafting and humiliation. Ans. Al Psalms are not fir for all occasions.T

Minyo

in a right manner.
2. In Exod. 15. We find Moles

sought to be a wise choice made: Children of Israel fang praises to God egy Psalmes David pean'd, and sung, when

0

Aa

A22

And yet surely there were some wicked persons among them. Paul in the ship, Acts 27.35. gave thanks to God before Infidels, and professed Heathens. If the presence of wicked men should hinder the acceptation of those chac are fincere,

the people of God were in a most fad condition, .: being never certain but some secret Hypocrite may

be in the most pick'd Aßembly. But the best is, God will accept us according to our integrity, noe our company. God will hear the bleating of one sheep, though in the midst of a thousand wolves. Ifche wicked take the Name of God in vain, for lies at their own doors. We warn them against it: If they do not cheir duties as they should, muft we therefore neglect ours?

obj.2. Why should we fing Psalms $ Cannot we read them for our instruction

Ans. Singing will affect, and raise, and quicken the heart to praise God, more than reading. The voice is a great matter co quicken our hearts both in prayer and singing. The people of God formerly did not chink it enough to say what God had done for them, but chey did fing it, that cheir hearts might be more affected, pourmed, raised, enlivened, and lifted up in the praises of God,

obj.3. Some are oftended we sing on daies of fafting and humiliation.

Ans. All pfelms are not fit for all occasions. There ought to be a wife choice made: Miny of the Psalmes David pean'd, and fung, when his mind was full of anguish and grief, and so he eafed his heart, by lamenting his dad condition before the Lord. Observe the Title of Psalm 102: prayer of the aflicted, when he is overwhelmed and poureth out his complaint before the Lord. Therefore our singing on falling daies, is not to make us merry; but to affect and meli our hearts with a deep sense of our fins. Penitential Psalms provoke to sadnelle, as Eucharistical, to joy and rejoycing obj

. 4. Davids Plalms do not suit our conditions. Is it not abfurd to give people Davids conditions to sing, and for them to tell God it is so with them, as it was with David, when possibly 'cis moching so?

Anf.1. All Scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction, &c. 2 Tim. 3.16. And written for our learning and comfort, Rows. 13.4. And therefore the Psalms also.

2. The Psams seem principally writcen for a threefold use.

1. For Instruction and admonition,
2. For Consolation.
3. For Praise and Thanksgiving.

Now what paßage' is there in Davids Psalms, but thou maist accomodate to thy self one of these waies? Suppose David said, I am not puft is mind, Pial. 131. And thou findeft thy heart prone to pride; here is a word of admonition to chee. So tb2c whilst thou art reciting and declaring

David's