Breach Repaired in Gods Worship, Treatise 1 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
Wherein it is ſhewed, what Singing is, or what it is to ſing, or what the Word doth import.
IT may ſeem ſtrange to ſome wiſe and learned Men, that I begin here; poſſibly they will ſay, there is no need to ſpeak a word about this, for all the World are agreed in the Caſe; all know what it is to ſing, as well as they know what it is to ſpeak. Though this be true, yet I find a neceſſity to open this Act of the Bodily Organ, as will appear by what follows; for ſome Men, it ſeems, are ſo confounded in their Thoughts, that they do not know what Singing is, but think there may be a Singing without the Tongue, taking the word [Melody in the Heart] to be all the Singing the Holy Ghoſt exhorts to in the New Teſtament; and ſo would have us believe there is a mental Singing, as well as mental Praying; nay, which is worſe, would wholly exclude all other Singing beſides that, which is very hard; if they ſhould do ſo by Prayer, it would ſtrangely amuſe all good People, viz. that we muſt have nothing but Heart-Prayer, without a Voice. Others ſay, that one Perſon may be the Mouth in Singing, as well as in Praying; and ſo a multitude may be ſaid to ſing with him, though there is none ſings but that ſingle Man, as in Prayer. A third ſort there be, I find, who conclude Singing is wholly comprehended in the Ordinance of Prayer, and from hence pleaſe themſelves that they do ſing, when in Prayer they give Thanks to God, or praiſe God. But very remarkable it is to ſee how theſe Men are confounded by this laſt Aſſertion, in reſpect of one Objection they bring againſt Singing.
Object. What will you ſing your Prayers? you may as well go to Common-Prayer, &c.
Thus I have heard one or two worthy Men ſpeak, not long ſince: Why, truly Brethren, it appears you do ſing your Prayers, nay, and that always too when you pray; for I am perſwaded you never pray to God for what you want, but you ſee cauſe to praiſe him for what you have received. All that ever wrote of Prayer, that I have met with, do jointly agree, that praiſing of God, or giving of Thanks, is one part or branch of Prayer, and that part, it appears in your opinion, you ſing. And if this be ſo, pray allow us to ſing ſome Prayers too, and do not charge us with Common-Prayer, unleſs David's Pſalms be a Common-Prayer-Book: And then it will appear that Common-Prayer is of Divine Inſtitution; nay, and enjoyned on the Churches too in the New Teſtament; for we know no Pſalms, I mean called ſo in God's Word, but the Book of Pſalms, or Pſalms of David.
Now theſe things being conſidered, I ſhall ſhew you what it is to ſing, and ſo remove theſe Cavils and Miſtakes about it.
I ſhall not in this Chapter ſhew you what 'tis to ſing with the Spirit, or with Grace in the Heart, that reſpects the right performance of …inging, but what it is to ſing in our common Acceptation, and in Scripture too.
Firſt, It may not be unneceſſary to conſider of thoſe ſeveral diſtinct and internal Acts of the Mind and Heart of a Man.
Secondly, Of thoſe external Acts of the Tongue of a Man.
1. To think, muſe, or meditate, is an inter…al Act of the Mind, wherein the Excellency of the Soul is diſcovered unto a Man's own …elf; as David ſaith, I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and that my Soul knoweth right-well, Pſal. 139. 14. The Soul has its divers Paſſions, as Fear, Anger, &c. there lie the Deſires; Sense of Want or Fulneſs; 'tis the Seat of Joy and Sorrow. But yet nevertheleſs there are ſeveral Acts that the Soul can't do without the bodily Organ; 'tis capable of praying, or to joyn wi… others in Prayer, without the Tongue; becauſ… there are the Deſires (as I ſaid before) an… God hears and knows the Groans, Sighs, an… earneſt Deſires of the Soul, as well as if the… were expreſſed by words, yet ought the Tongu… to be imployed in that Service notwithſtanding and not only for the ſake of others who are … joyn in with them in thoſe ſervent breathings … Man may put up to God, but it may be expedient when a Man is alone verbally to expreſs his Deſires to the Lord, for ſeveral reaſon… which I ſhall not mention here, it being not … our preſent buſineſs: Yet nevertheleſs the So… without the Tongue can't preach God's Word can't diſpute for it, &c. nor do many othe… things; neither can the Soul, I ſay, be ſaid … ſing in a proper ſenſe without the Tongu… True, there is a Metaphorical Singing ſpok… of in the Scripture, ſo by a Metonymie the Tre… of the Wood, and Mountains, and Fields … ſaid to ſing; and thus, in an improper Sense the Heart may be ſaid to ſing, when it on… rejoices in God. Many proper Acts of Me… are often in the Scripture aſcribed to Veget… bles and Animal Creatures, and many prop… Acts of Men are attributed to God.
Fire and Hail, Snow and Vapours, Mountains and all Hills, fruitful Trees and Cedars, Beaſts and all Cattel, creeping things, and flying Fowl are exhorted to ſing and praiſe God, Pſal. 148. 8, 9, 10. which all know they cannot truly and in a proper ſenſe be ſaid to do.
'Tis frequent (as Mr. Caryl obſerves) in Scripture to attribute Acts of Life to Lifeleſs Creatures, and Acts of Reaſon to thoſe which have no Senſe; the Earth is ſaid to mourn, Tſa. 33. 9. the Trees of the Foreſt, as the Hills and the Valleys, are ſaid to rejoice, Iſa. 65. 12. 13. the Birds praiſe God, ſaith he, by their ſinging, and the Stars by their ſhining. Caryl on Job, chap. 38. 7.
Now in like manner, if there be any ſuch ſort or kind of ſinging as theſe Men plead for, viz. a mental ſinging, i. e. a Heart-ſinging without the Tongue, mentioned in Scripture, (tho I muſt confeſs I know none) yet it could be no more a proper ſinging, than the Blood of Abel, which is ſaid to ſpeak, is a proper ſpeaking: ſo that if they could ſhew us in any place of God's Word, where any Godly Man is ſaid to ſing, and yet his Voice was not heard, it would ſignify nothing to their purpoſe in turning all ſinging unto Heart-Melody, or inward rejoycing only, without the Tongue expreſſing of it muſically, or in a melodious manner; for this is juſt to deſtroy the Propriety of different Actions and Things ſaid to be done. As to the other Objection, take what Mr. Sid… …am, in his Treatiſe of Singing, ſaith in Anſwer to this Objection, pag. 208.
Obj. But if one ſay (ſaith he) when one prays all may be ſaid to pray, tho they do but conſent, it may be ſo in ſinging of Pſalms, &c.
Anſw. It is anſwered, ſaith he, All Ordinances muſt be conſidered according to their proper nature; ſome Ordinances are ſo to be adminiſtred, as that only one at once can perform it, as publick Prayer and Preaching, and yet there muſt be a diſtinction even in theſe; my Silence in Prayer ought to be when I pray with another, and yet I may be ſaid to pray as well as he, which is the mouth of the whole, becauſe my Heart is with him in the ſame Petitions, and my Deſires go equally with him: but in Preaching, where Silence muſt be likewiſe from the nature of the Ordinance, yet, tho I conſent fully with the Matter, and agree in all that is ſaid with never ſo much Affection, yet I can't be ſaid to preach, but only he that ſpeaketh preaches. So now as to Singing, there is a difference likewiſe of another Conſideration, if only one ſing, none elſe can be ſaid to ſing, tho they joyn with the Matter and agree to it in their Hearts; for it is an outward Act, and terminated in the Perſon that performs it: And tho in my ſilent Conjunction, I may readily praiſe God, yet I can in no ſenſe be properly ſaid to ſing with others, without I do uſe my Voice and bodily Organs as they do. This Conſideration, ſaith he, may give light to Men that mind the nature and diſtinction of Ordinances in their Adminiſtrations; that which is the Confuſion of other Ordinances, is the Beauty of this; for two to preach or pray together at the ſame time and place, were the greateſt Confuſion imaginable; but for an hundred to ſing together, is moſt harmonious and pleaſant, ſo far from the breach of Order, that Harmony is moſt diſcovered by it. So far Mr. Sidenham.
I hope our Brethren do not think there is Confuſion in Heaven, where the Heavenly Hoſt with one Voice-celebrate the Praiſes of God by ſinging to him.
2. Further, to prove that Singing properly can't be done without the Voice, it is material to obſerve the Hebrew word foreign Pſal. 104. 12. where our Dictionaries, as well as our Annotators on the Bible, ſhew it ſignifies giving a Voice, and ſuch a Voice too, that is melodious in Odulation, or tuning the Voice. And, ſaith Reverend Dr. Roberts, To limit Singing only in the Heart, and inward Melody of the Spirit, is utterly beſides the Apoſtle's intent, and contrary to the nature of Singing, and deſtructive to all Edification or Advantage to others by Singing. Where do we read of ſinging in all the Scripture without a Voice? How groſs, ſaith he, and ignorant a Contradiction in the Adject, and abſurd Nonſenſe is it to talk of ſinging in the Heart without a Voice. Dr. Roberts's Key of the Bible, p. 177.
Moreover, Mr. Caryl, whoſe Learning and excellent Parts and Wiſdom ſhines (tho dead) through the World, poſitively affirms, That Singing is an Act of the Voice, on Job 38. 7. So that it appears from hence, tho there is Heart-Prayer, Mental-Prayer, and that may be ſaid as properly to be Prayer, tho the Voice be not heard (as in Hannah's Caſe) as that which is vocal, yet there is no proper ſinging but that which is performed with the Tongue.
3. Were it not ſo, all Mankind are and would be miſtaken in one of the common Acts of the bodily Organs, and not be able to reſolve ſo plain a Queſtion, What is it to ſing? or what is ſinging? But ſo eaſy a Queſtion is this to be anſwered, that every Child can readily reſolve it, that is not above ſix or ſeven Years old; nay, if a Turk, Indian or Pagan ſhould come into our Aſſemblies, that underſtands not one word of Engliſh, and ſo can't diſtinguiſh in other Acts of Worſhip the one from the other, yet if he hears us a ſinging, he knows what that is; and if but one Man ſings (tho the reſt may ſhew their liking or approbation of it) if any ſhould ſay they all ſing, every one would ſay he told a Lie, there was but one Man only who ſung; but in Prayer, that being an Act of Worſhip, that may be performed without the Voice, 'tis quite another thing, all may be ſaid to pray, tho but one is the Mouth.
Now this being ſo, what is become of Mr. Marlow's Eſſence of Singing? for tho I ſhall not anſwer his Book until I come to the main Objections; yet what he ſpeaks in that place, and upon that occaſion, I ſhall take notice of …ere. Now (ſaith he) what can be more plain, …han that Singing, and other Gifts of the holy Spirit, have their Eſſence in our Spirits, wherein we are capable of worſhipping God, without Verbal and Vocal Inſtruments of the Body? Theſe are his very words.
I anſwer, Some have ſo ſmiled at this Expreſſion, that they can't tell what he intends by …t, unleſs he would ſhew himſelf skill'd in Chymiſtry. But ſince he meddles with Divine Things, I muſt confeſs I am troubled to ſee ſuch kind of words uſed, that no Body knows what to make of them: By Eſſence of a thing, I always underſtood the Subſtance or Being of a thing: Now if the Subſtance and Being of Sing…ng, and other Gifts of the Spirit, (by which I ſuppoſe he means other Duties of God's Worſhip which are to be performed by thoſe Gifts,) …ie in our Spirits, and may be, wihtout diſtinction, performed acceptably to God, without Verbal or Vocal Inſtruments of the Body, …hen farewel to Verbal or Vocal Preaching and Praying too: It grieves my Soul to ſee the Ho…y Truths of God's Worſhip invaded. Is not the Eſſence of Preaching in our Spirits, as much as the Eſſence of Singing is there? And are we not as capable in our Spirits to worſhip God, in all other Ordinances, without the Verbal or Vocal Inſtruments of the Body, as well as in Singing without Voice, by your Argument? And let me tell you, you have ſaid more to juſtify the Quakers Silent Meetings than you are aware of: Nay, 'tis an Argument, as far as I know, they may thank you for; but by this way of reaſoning, there is no mo… need of the poor Body to glorify God in his Worſhip; and our Glory, (viz. our Tongue) is brought to ſhame hereby; and 'tis no leſs … to rob God of the Glory of his Holy Ordinances, and his Church, and every particular Saint, of the uſe and comfort of them, ſo far as … Body or Members thereof are employed in … about them, they being of no uſe at all; And what is this, but to turn all outward or external Worſhip, into a ſpiritual, inward, or heart-buſineſs?
The Eſſence of Singing then, (if that word may be admitted) lies no more in our Spiri… than the Eſſence of Preaching, &c. And sha… the Quakers, or any other deceived People … Perſon, ſay, (when they meet together to preach, pray, or ſing the Praiſes of God) tha… in their Spirits they have the Eſſence of tho… Duties, and ſo perform them to God, notwithſtanding there is not one of them verbally and vocally done; certainly nothing can be more ridiculous. Beſides the main part (Eſſence too, if you pleaſe) nay the whole of Singing, lies in the Voice. I ſpeak of the act, or thing … ſelf, not of a right ſpiritual and Goſpel-Performance of it, for he may be ſaid to preach, who has not the Spirit of God to aſſiſt him in the doing of it, (nor is he affected with what he ſays) as properly as he that preaches ſpiritually, or by the aſſiſtance of the Holy Ghoſt in his own Heart. Doubtleſs, Birds ſing as truly as any Men can be ſaid ſo to do; and ſo do thoſe who ſing prophane Songs; t…ere's all the parts of Singing manifeſted in their Act, ſo much difference there is between the doing of an Act, or Work, and the Manner, Deſign, Spirit, and End, in performing of it.
Fourthly, to proceed, By Singing of Pſalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, therefore, we underſtand a muſical melodious Modulation, or tuning of the Voice, expreſſing our ſpiritual Joy for edifying one another, and for glorifying of God.
1. And that this is all the Singing the Holy Scripture ſpeaks of, and is meant or intended therein, will yet further appear, if we conſider theſe things following.
Firſt, 'Tis called the making of a joyful Noiſe; Sing a loud unto God our ſtrength: make a joyful Noiſe unto the God of Jacob, Pſal. 81. 1. O … let us ſing unto the Lord, let us make a joyful Noiſe to the Rock of our Salvation, Pſal. 95. 1. Let us come before his Preſence with Thankſgiving, and make a joyful Noiſe unto him with Pſalms, verſ. 2. So in Pſal. 98. 4, 5, 6. & 100. 1, 2. this is the Singing the Holy Ghoſt bears witneſs of; 'tis not meerly that in Word, Joy or rejoycing in Spirit, but an expreſſing of it wi… a melodious Voice, or by making of a joyful Noiſe unto the Lord.
Secondly, What the act of Singing is, or what it is to ſing, may be eaſily manifeſted by the Birds of the Air, thoſe melodious Notes they make, God in his Word (Cant. 2. 12.) calls Singing; and 'tis eaſy to know when they ſing, and when they do not; and 'tis as eaſy to know when the Lord's People ſing, and which of them ſing, and who do not, if Men will not ſhut their Eyes and Ears, againſt an Ordinance of Chriſt, and in oppoſing of it, render themſelves ridiculous to Mankind.
Thirdly, Singing is diſtinguiſhed from Prayer, as another thing differing from any part or branch of it; and that by the great Apoſtle himſelf, and therefore it cannot be comprehended in that great Duty; What is it then? I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the Vnderſtanding alſo: I will ſing with the Spirit, and I will ſing with the Vnderſtanding alſo, 1 Cor. 14. 15.
Prayer, all Expoſitors affirm, conſiſteth in three parts (as I hinted before): 1. In confeſſion of Sin, &c. 2. In ſupplication for what we ſtand in need of. And, 3. In giving of Thanks, or in Praiſing of God with raiſed affections, for what Mercies we have received from him. As if the Apoſtle ſhould ſay, I will confeſs my Sins and Wants to God by …he help of God's Spirit, and with the inward …ttention, and utmoſt intention of my own …pirit, or greateſt devotion and Fervour of Af…ections imaginable; and ſo will I ſeek to him, …nd ſupplicate his holy Majeſty for what I …ant, and ſo will I praiſe him, and give …hanks to him for all the good things I have …eceived at his moſt bountiful Hands. See our …ate Annotation, Phil. 4. 6. They mention there a Petition or Apprecation of Good to our ſelves or others; and alſo in Prayer, a Deprecation of Evils felt or feared. 3. A grateful acknowledgment of Mercies received, Benefits conferred, and Deliverances vouchſafed; Implying (ſaith he) that no Prayer is acceptable to God without this Ingredient of thankful reſentment of his Favours. Nor can I think that any gracious Soul doth ever leave out this ſweet and great part of Prayer when he is at the Throne of Grace, viz. Praiſing of God: Therefore this the Apoſtle would do when he prayed. But obſerve, beſides this, and as ſomething quite diſtinct from it, he adds, And when I ſing, I will ſing with the Spirit, &c. If therefore Singing were comprehended in Prayer, or praiſing of God when we pray unto him, then the Apoſtle uſes as great and palpable a Tautology as can poſſibly be; nay, and leaves all Men under a Cloud and Miſtake, if he meant nothing elſe (or no more) than praiſing of God in Prayer; ſince all the World ever underſtood a clear diſtinct difference between thoſe two things, viz. Prayer, or praiſing of God, and ſinging of his Praiſes: for though all right Singing to God is a praiſing of him, (nay, and in the highe… manner that we in our mortal Bodies are capable to do;) yet all praiſings of God are not ſinging of his Praiſe. Moreover, the difference there between Prayer, &c. and Singing, … clearly hinted by the Apoſtle James, where he exhorts thoſe in Affliction in an extraordinary manner to pray: James 5. 13. Is any afflicted? let him pray. And is any merry? let them ſing Pſalms. Certainly he wills the Afflicted to praiſe God, as well as to pray unto him, but to ſuch who are merry, or whoſe Hearts were greatly lifted up, or affected with the Love, Mercy and Goodneſs of God, why then, and upon ſuch Occaſions, to ſing, ye…, to ſing Pſalms. In which words, by the way, 'tis worth noting, to obſerve, that the Apoſtle ſtirs up Chriſtians to perform theſe Duties more than in an ordinary manner at ſuch… Times and Occaſions: for 'tis a Man's Duty to pray whether he be afflicted or no; and ſo in like manner 'tis a Man's Duty to ſing the Praiſes of God, whether he hath ſuch an extraordinary cauſe and ſpecial frame of Spirit upon him, or not.
Fourthly, 'Tis eaſy to conceive of Singing, or to know what it is, if we conſider how it differs from meer rejoicing in the Lord; for a Man may rejoice in Spirit, when he doth not ſignify it by Singing of Praiſes. 'Tis ſaid, our …viour rejoiced in Spirit, Luke 10. 21. and …anked his Father; yet 'tis not ſaid he ſung; … Joy is inward, not known till expreſſed; …d many times 'tis expreſſed by Singing, tho …t always: The end why I mention this, is to …ew they are two different Acts and Duties; … I am enjoined to rejoice, ſo I am enjoined ſo from that Joy to ſing, Jam. 5. 13.
Fifthly, and laſtly, to paſs over this; Sing…g is a Duty performed always with the Voice, …ad can't be done without the Tongue, we may …ather from the Noiſe it maketh to the hearing …f others; as it is noted in the Scripture: See …xod. 32. 17. And when Joſhua heard the Noiſe … the People as they ſhouted, he ſaid unto Mo…s, There is War in the Camp. Ver. 18. And … ſaid, It is not the Voice of them that ſhout … Maſtery, neither is it the Voice of them that …y for being overcome; but the Noiſe of them …at ſing, do I hear. They that doubt about …hat the Act of Singing is, I deſire them to …nſider this Text well, in which 'tis to be ob…ved, that there are ſeveral diſtinct Acts vo…lly performed by the Tongue, and all Man…nd eaſily diſtinguiſh the one from the other, …nleſs depraved in their Minds, or under a De…ſion and Temptation of Satan.
1. There is a ſhouting Noiſe of the Tongue, …nd all Mankind know what it is, and can …eadily reſolve any Perſon about it, when he …iſtinctly hears it.
2. There is, it appears, a crying Noiſe likewiſe.
3. There is a preaching Voice, or a Noiſe made that way.
4. A praying, or praiſing Voice.
5. A ſinging Voice. And all theſe diſtinct from each other.
Moſes could readily reſolve the Doubt that was upon Joſhua, when he lent his Ear to hearken to the Noiſe of the People. Truly I am almoſt aſhamed I have this occaſion to ſpeak, and to be ſo large upon it; but knowing what I have met withal, from ſome poor, weak, and doubting Chriſtians, who ſtumble at Noonday about the very Act of Singing, not knowing what it is, or at leaſt raiſe ſuch Objections againſt it, I have thought good to begin here, and if this may but ſatisfy them, I ſhall bleſs God for what I have ſaid in all plainneſs; and do know it makes an eaſy Paſſage to the next Chapter, wherein I ſhall, by God's Aſſiſtance, prove Singing (yea ſuch a Singing, there being no other known to Mankind) an Holy Ordinance of God, and to be practiſed in the Congregation of Chriſtians, and in Private alſo; only let me conclude this Chapter with two Inferences.
1. If this be ſo; then we may naturally infer from hence, that all ſuch who never ſing the Praiſes of God with a Vocal Melody, notwithſtanding all thoſe ſweet Rejoicings they may have in the Spirit at any time, never ſing at all. And if Singing be that which the Great God looks for from, and enjoins upon his People, and every one of them, that then they lie ſhort of their Duty, and want an Ordinance. Moreover, if it be our Duty, and that which belongs to God, it is to take away one great part of his glorious Praiſe, yea, the higheſt manner of performance of it we are capable of; and ſo it is a robbing of the Holy God, as well as it deprives their own Souls, and the Souls of others of much ſweet and Heavenly Joy and Refreſhment.
We may alſo infer, that thoſe, who think they may be ſaid to ſing with him that ſings, when they approve of the Matter of his Song, and are affected with it, are miſtaken, ſeeing there is no proper mental or Heart-ſinging, or joining that way with others in Singing, as there is in the Duty and Ordinance of Prayer. For all may be ſaid as well to preach, who like and approve of what a Preacher ſaith, as they may be all ſaid to ſing, who ſit and hear one Man ſing with delight, when they themſelves hold their peace and ſing not.