is, that Moses and the children of Israel, sung a song at the Red sea, after their passage through it, and the destruction of the Egyptians in it; which is still on record, and it seems will be sung again when the antichristian Pharoah, and the antichristian powers, are destroyed by the christian conquerors, standing on a sea of glass, with the harps of God in their hands, Exod. xv. 1. Rev. xv. 2, 3. Now this being before the law of Moses, when first sung, it was not done by virtue of that law; nor was it of ceremonious institution, nor a part of worship peculiar to the Levitical dispensation; nor was it by any positive law of God to the sons of men, that we know of; but was sung by the Israelites according to the dictates of their consciences, and the examples of others before them, by which they were influenced, as to cry to the Lord when in distress, so to sing his praises when they were deliverd. 3. It was not a part of divine service peculiar to Israel under the law; but when psalmody was in the most flourishing condition, under the direction and influence of David their king, he in many of his psalms, called upon and exhorted the nations of the earth, to sing the praises of God; Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands, or all the earth; let the people, even all the people, praise thee; let the nations be glad and sing for joy, sing unto the Lord all the earth! &c. Psalm. Ixvi. 1, 2. Now if singing was not a part of moral worship, but of a ceremonious kind, the nations of the earth would have had no concern in it, nor would it have been obligatory upon them.4. When the ceremonial law was in its greatest glory, and legal sacri fices in highest esteem, singing of psalms and spiritual songs was preferred unto them, as more acceptable to God than the offering of an ox or bullock, Psalm Ixix. 30, 31. Now no other reason of this preference can be given, but that the sacrifice of an ox was of ceremonial institution, whereas singing the praise of God was a part of moral worship, which might be performed in a spiritual and evangelic manner. 5. When the ceremonial law, with all its rites, was abolished, this duty of singing the praises of God remained in full force; at the same time the apostle tells the churches, that the law of commandments was abolished, and they were no more to be judged with respect to meats, and drinks and holy days, these shadows being gone; he exhorts them most strongly to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, Eph. ii. 14, 15. &c. Now it is not reasonable to suppose that the apostle, in the same epistles, written to the same persons, should declare them disengaged from the one, and under obligation to regard the other, if they equally belonged to the same ceremonial law. 6. That the churches of Christ under the gospel dispensation were to sing, have sung, and ught to sing the praises of God vocally, appears, From the prophesies of the Old Testament concerning it. In many of the psalms respecting the times of the Messiah, the churches of God in them are invited to sing the praises of God; as in Psalm xlvii, lxviii, and xcv, and in many of the prophesies of Isaiah it is declared, that not only the watchmen, the ministers of the word, should lif up the voice, and with the voice together sing; but that churches should break forth inte joy, and sing together, Isai. lii. 7-9. blessed be God these predictions

are in a great measure fulfilled; gospel-churches among the Gentiles, as well as in Judea, have lift up their voices and sung the praises of God, according to these prophesies. This also is evident from express precepts and directions given to gospel-churches concerning it; it is not only prophesied of in the Old Testament, but is commanded in the New; particularly the churches at Ephesus and Colosse, are expressly enjoined to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, Eph. v. 19. Col. iii. 16. and directions are given them in what manner they are to sing them, which will be observed hereafter. This is clear from New Testament-instances and examples. Christ and his disciples sung an hymn or psalm together at the celebration of the Lord's supper; which they did as a church in the midst of which Christ sung an hymn, and they with him, Matt. xxvi. 30. the church at Corinth sung psalms in the times of the apostles; there were indeed disorders among them in the performance of this ordinance, as of others, which the apostle rectifies, and blames them, but not for that itself, provided they observed the rules he gave them, 1 Cor. xiv. 26.—This prac tice obtained in the earliest times of christianity, and has continued to the the present time. Pliny" in his letter to Trajan, the emperor, written at the latter end of the first, or beginning of the second century, acquaints him, that the sum of the charge against the christians was, that "they met together on a stated day, before it was light, and sung a song among themselves to Christ, as to God." And Tertulliano, in the beginning of the third century, speaks of reading the scriptures, singing psalins, preaching, and prayer, as parts of public worship. And Origen, a little later in the same century, observes, the need of the Spirit of God to assist in singing psalms and hymns to the Father in Christ, ευρυθμως, εμμελώς, εμμέρως καὶ συμφωνως, in good rhyme, melody and metre and in vocal concert. The proofs would be too numerous, and indeed endless to give of its continuance and use in after-ages; it will be sufficient to observe, that the book of Revelation is a representation of the service of the churches of Christ on earth, as well as of their state, condition, and sufferings, and their deliverance from them, in the several periods of time until his second coming; in which we frequently have an account of their being concerned in this work of singing, particularly at the time of the reformation from popery, and at the fall of Babylon, or antichrist, when the spiritual reign of Christ will take place; at which time, from the uttermost parts of the earth will be heard songs, even glory to the righteous, Isa. xxiv. 16. and in the millennium, upon the first resurrection, when the personal reign of Christ will begin, the raised ones will sing, as they will be exhorted, and will have reason so to do; Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust, Isai. xxvi. 19. in short, when all other ordinances will cease, this of singing the praises of God will be in its highest glory and perfection, Isai. xxxv. 10. I shall next inquire,

" Ep. 1. 10. ep. 97. vid. Tertull. Apologet. c. 2. & Euseb. Eccl. Hist. 1. 3. c. 33. Anima. c. 9. P Tips ʊxns, ©, 6. p. 7. Ed. Oxon. 1686.

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III. What that is which is to be sung, or the subject-matter of singing; and the direction is to these three, psalms, hymns, and spiritual-songs, Eph. v. 19.

Col. iii. 16.

1. By Psalms may be meant the Book of Psalms, composed by David, Asaph, and others; but chiefly by David; hence he is called the sweet Psalmist of Israel, 2 Sam. xxiii. 1. this is the only sense in which the word is used through. out the whole New Testament; nor is there any reason to believe the apostle Paul designs any other in the places referred to; nor the apostle James, in chap. v. 13. Those who are of a different mind ought to shew in what other sense the word is used, and where; and what those Psalms are we are to sing, if not the Psalms of David, &c. since it is certain there are psalms which are to be sung under the gospel-dispensation. 2. By hymns are intended, not any mere human compositions; since I can hardly think the apostle would place such between psalms and spiritual songs, made by men inspired by the Holy Ghost, and put them upon a level with them, to be sung; but rather this is only another name for the Book of Psalms; the running title of which may as well be the book of hymns, as it is rendered by Ainsworth 9. The cxlvth psalm is called an hymn of David; and the psalm our Lord sung with his disciples after the supper, is said to be an hymn; and so the psalms of David in general are called suvor, hymns, both by Josephus and Philo. 3. By spiritual songs may also be meant the same psalms of David, Asaph, &c. the titles of some of which are songs; as sometimes a psalm and song, a song and psalm, a song of degrees, and the like; together with all other spiritual songs written by men inspired of God; called spiritual, because of the author of them, the Spirit of God; the penmen of them, such as were moved by the same Spirit; and the matter of them spiritual, useful for spiritual edification; and are opposed to all loose, profane, and wanton songs. And as these three words, psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, answer to Droin Dhan ånd onw the titles of David's Psalms, and are by the Septuag.nt rendered by the Greek words used by the apostle, it may be reasonably concluded, that it was Iris intention that the churches he writes to should sing them; but inasmuch as the word of God and Christ in general furnishes out matter for singing his praises, I deny not, but that such hymns and spiritual songs composed by good men, un-inspired, may be made use of; provided care is taken that they be agreeable to the sacred writings, and to the analogy of faith, and are expressed as much as may be in scripture-language; of such sort were those Tertullian' speaks of, used in his time, as were either out of the holy scripture, or de proprie ingenio, of a man's own composure.

IV. The manner in which psalms, &c. are to be sung may be next considered..

Vox, cum Hebræo titulo nn multo melius congruit. Lowth. de Sacr. Poes, Hel Prælect. 29. p. 376.

VOL. III.

Apolog. c. 39.
3D

1. Socially, and with united voices; so Moses and the children of Israel sung at the Red sea; so Christ and his disciples sung after the Lord's supper; so the watchmen will sing in the latter-day, even with their voice together; so did Paul and Silas in prison; and thus the churches are directed in Eph. v. 19. Col. iii. 16. — 2. With the heart along with the mouth, as heartily as well as vocally, which is making melody in the heart, Eph. v. 19. or performing the duty in sincerity and truth; and not as the Israelites, who flattered God with their lips, sung the praises of God, but soon forgot his works. 3. With grace in the heart, Col. iii. 16. with the several graces; not one note, but a mixture of netes, makes melody; many voices, yet one sound, make a chorus: so singing must be with various graces; with faith in God, without which it is impossible to please him; and with strong love and affection for him; and also with reverence and godly fear; for God is fearful in praises N reverend in them, to be praised with great fear and reverence of his Majesty. 4. With the Spirit, as the apostle Paul determined to do, 1 Cor. xiv. 15. with the Spirit of God, whose assistance is necessary in this as in prayer; and with our spirits, sincerely, fervently, and affectionately, and in a spiritual manner, suitable to the nature of God, who is a Spirit. -5. With the understanding also; with the understanding of what is sung; and in such a manner, and in such language, as may be understood by others; for one end of the duty is, not only to speak to ourselves in it, but to teach and admonish others; and perhaps the apostle may have some regard to one of the titles of David's psalms own Maschil, which signifies, a psalm giving instruction, and causing to understand. In a word, besides our mutual edification,- 6. We should have in view the glory of God; for we are to sing unto the Lord; not to ourselves, merely to raise our natural affections, to gain applause from others, by the fineness of our voice, and by observing an exact conformity to the tune; but to the glory of Father, Son, and Spirit, the one God, who condescends to inhabit the praises of Israel. What remains now is only,

V. To answer to some of the principal objections made to this duty; these are chiefly made against the matter and manner of singing, and the persons, at least some of them, who join in this service.

1. The matter and manner of singing, particularly David's psalms; to which are objected,

1. That they were not written originally in metre; and therefore are not to be sung in such manner; nor to be translated into metre for such a purpose. The contrary to this is universally allowed by the Jews, and appears from the different accentuation of them from that of other books, and is asserted by such who are best skilled in the Hebrew language, both ancients and moderns. Josephus says, David, in a time of peace, composed divine songs and hymns, of various metre, and some tri-metre, that is, of three feet; and others of penta-metre, that is, of five feet. And Jerom', who, of all the fathers best under

! Antiqu. 1. 7. c. 12. Ep. ad Paulin, tom. 3. fol. 3. 2. præfat. in lib. Job fol. §. 2.

stood the Hebrew tongue, takes the psalms to be of the Lyric kind, and therefore compares David, to Pindar, Horace, and others; and for the metre of them appeals to Philo, Josephus, Origen, Eusebius, and others. Gomai us has given hundreds of verses out of the psalms, which agree with Pindar and Sophocles; and the word commonly used throughout that Book, in the judgment of learned men, signifies metre"; and since then the Psalms were originally written in metre, it is lawful to translate them into it, in order to be sung in the churches of Christ. It is doubted whether the Book of Psalms is suited to the gospel-dispensation, and proper to be sung in gospel-churches. Nothing more suitable to it, nor more proper to be sung in it; since it abounds with prophecies concerning the person and offices of the messiah, his suffering and death, resurrection, ascension, and session at the right hand of God, now more clearly understood, and more capable of being sung in an evangelic manner; and also is full of precious promises; is a large fund of experience, a rich mine of gospel-grace and truth, and so is greatly suited to every case and condition the church of Christ, or a particular believer may be in and at any time; a little care and prudence in the choice of proper psalms on particular occasions, would fully discover the truth of this. 3. It is objected, that cases are often met with in this book we cannot make our own: and to sing them, it is suggested, would be lying to God; and that some are quite shocking, as curses and imprecations on wicked men; and seem to shew a want of that charity which is recommended in the gospel. To which it may be replied, that singing cases not our own, are no more lying to God than reading them is, singing being but a slower way of pronunciation, in a musical manner. Besides, when we sing the cases of others, we sing them as such, and not our own; which yet may be useful by way of example, advice, comfort, or instruction; and being sung in public, may be suitable to some in the community, though not to others; and so the end of singing be answered: and the same objection will lie equally against public prayer, and joining in that, since it cannot be thought that every petition is suitable to all: and as for curses, and imprecations on wicked men, these may be avoided; we are not obliged to sing all that are in the psalms; besides, these may be considered only as prophetic hints of what may be exepected will befal such persons, and may be sung to the glory of God, and with instruction to ourselves; since herein may be observed the justice and holiness of God, the vile nature of sin, the indignation of God againt it, and abhorrence of it, and in which it is to be had with all good men, -4. It is urged, that to sing David's Psalms, and others, is to sing by a form, and then why not pray by one? I answer, the case is different; the one may be done without a form, the other not; the Spirit is promised as a Spirit of

Davidis Lyra inter opera ejus, t. 2. p. 317, &c. w13 metrum, vel numeros, five quam Græci v vocant, significat, Lowth. de Sacr. Poesi Heb. Prælect. 3. p. 45. in marg. & Prælect. 4. p. 44. vid. Gejerum, & Michaelem, in Psalm iii. 1.