Davids humble frame and condicion, thou ougheeft to lift up thy heart to God, chat he would work the like frame in chee. Lord, thy Servant David could truly say, I am not puft in mind: Good Lord grant me this Grace also. Sup: pose thou canst not find in thy self such a love to Gods Law, as was in David, Pfal.119. Then there is a word of instruction to thee, teaching chee what thou shouldst do. Thou oughtest to pray, to have such a Divine Affection to the Law of God kindled in thee. So that we fing Psalms as we read them, for the benefic and good use we may make of them. 'Tis therefore no more a lie to sing them, than to read them. By singing, as by reading them, we recite and repeat what God has revealed in his Word for our admonition and instruction. And though we cannot make some paßages our own, by using them for our selves, and in our own sam: (as David did) yec we may make them our own by a sweet meditatior on ihem, for our benefit and edification.

I come co the Fourth ching, to give fome Rules and Directions how Christians should practise this duty aright.

1. Sing with understanding and attention of mind to the matter sung. Labour to understand the mind and meaning of the holy Ghost, in the Psalm you fing, Psal.47.7. Sing yo praises with understanding. II. Labour to sing with Grace in the heart , i.e.

with a gracious frame of spirit. Our finging must not be a lip labour, an outward bodily exercise only, pleasing our selves or others with the i'une of a pralm: But we should look to it that our hearts be well tuned, as Maries was, Luke 1.46. My foul doth magnifie the Lord, &c.

III. Labour to exercise and act those peculiar Graces, which the matter fung requires and gives occasion to. God looks at the heart, and how a man is affected within.

1. Some psalms are laudatory, and set forth the high praises of God, from the confideration of his glorious Nature, Attributes, and Works. In singing these, we hould stir up our hearts to love God, to fear him, to trust in him, and our hearts should prompt our tongues cofound forth his praises.

2. Some are petitionary, containing supplica tions for fpirituall bleffings, such as pardon, Grace, the favour of God; or temporall, luch as directi. on, protection, provision, &c. Here we should look up to God, as the only author of these mercies, and humbly pray to him for them.

3. Some are Euchariftical, containing thankfgivings to God for mercies received, private or publick, spiritual or temporal,

4. Some contain precepts and instructions, co fear God, to love him, to walk in his waies, being backed with promises to encourage us chereupco: Some declare the evil wales of finners,

and

and the judgments of God chac accend them, co deter us chere-from.

5. Some contain imprecations and prayers for judgments on enemies. Here we are not to pray for, or wish the same judgments on oor private enemies. But

1. We may meditate on the fearful judgments of God that hang over the heads of all wicked and impenitent transgressours ; chat so we may fear to be like them.

2. We may pray for the like judgments on all the implacable and incurable enemies of Christ, and his Kingdome.

6. Some contain the fad complaints of the Church, under afflictions. Here chou maist mcdicate on the sufferings of the Saints, and life up thy heare to God to give thee also suffering Graces.

IV. Let there be a wife choice made of Psalms to be sung according as our present necessities and occasions do require.

V. Let thy endin singing be, that God may be honoured, thy self and others edified; chac che Graces of Gods Spirit may be excited and exercised inchy self and others.

4. Religious Conference.

'Tis the duty of all true and fincere Christians to labour co further one another Heaven-ward.

And

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And surely religious conference rightly mannaged is a great means of increasing knowledge and Grace among Christians. Communion of Saints is an Article of our Faith, The Apostle cels us, Rom. 12 5. We being wany, are o:se body in Christ, and every

, one members one of another. Such a body true believers are by their union with Christ, and ought to be by communion and fellowship one

with another, for their mutual edification. There ought to be a mutual serviceableneffe among Christians, and helping one another on in graci. ous courses.

I fhill cherefore,
1. Give fome Arguments, to perswade to it.
2. Some Directions about it.

1. We have many exhortations to it in the Scriptures, I Thef.5.11. Wherefore comfort your selves together, and edific one another, even as also ye do, Heb.10.24. And let us consider one anor her, to provoke unto love, and to good works.v.25. Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, As ye see the day approaching. Heb, 3. !3. But exhori one another daily, while it is called to day, lest any of you be hardened ihrough the deceitfulneffe of fin.

2. We find this practised by the primitive Saints, Acts 2.42. And they continued stedfaftly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowfbip, and break. ing bread, and in prayers.

fi: withal.

3. To this end God hach given several Gifts and Graces to his people, 1 Pet.4.10. As every man hath received the gift, even fo minister the

fame one to anotber, as good stewards of the mani. i fold Grace of God. 1 Cor. 12. 7. But the mani

festation of the Spirit is given to every man to pro

4. Where Christians are most frequent, and most faithful in this daty, there usuały they are in a most thriving condition, both as to knowledge and holinesse: As Countreys that maintain a trade and commerce together, do inrich each other.

5. 'Dis a good way to prevent seduction into errour. Christians are better able to resist erreurs by their united forces, and mutual counsels, than fingly and alone. The Church is said, Cant 6.10. to be terrible as an Army with banners

. Buc strage lers, and such as go alone are often snatcht up. How easie is it to pervert and draw one single per

for into any dangerous errour, who neglects che ī benefit of other Christians advice and counsel?

6. It will be a good means to increase love in che hearts of Christians one towards another; And Love is Christ's Livery, John 13.35. By this shall all men knew that we are my Disciples, if je have love one to another.

Thas much of the Arguments to perswde to this duty : The Directions follow.

I. Let Christians in their Religious Conferences have this principally in their aim, to edific

one