Breach Repaired in Gods Worship, Treatise 1 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II
Wherein 'tis clearly demonſtrated, and proved, that Singing of Pſalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, is an Holy Ordinance of God, and part of Goſpel-Worſhip, and continues an Ordinance for ever, by the Antiquity of it.
Arg. 1. MY firſt Argument ſhall be taken from the Antiquity of this Practice, 'tis as ancient as this World; the World, and Singing of the Praiſe of God, came even in together, or very near each other. I have reſpect to that triumphant Singing of the Angels.
When Jehovah laid the Foundation of the Earth, Job 38. When the Morning Stars ſang together, and all the Sons of God ſhouted for Joy.
I find an Eminent Writer paraphraſing thus on theſe words, viz. Where waſt thou when I laid the Foundation of the Earth? &c. at which ſight the Morning Stars ſang together, and all the Sons of God ſhouted for Joy. Taking the words as carrying an Alluſion to, or a Similitude taken from ſome noble Buildings or Structures, whoſe Foundations uſe to be laid with Solemnity, and with Singing or ſhouting Acclamations.
See Mr. Caryl on the Place, who after he hath given ſeveral Opinions of Men about theſe Morning Stars, ſome ſuppoſing they mean the Stars in the Firmament of Heaven, he gives two Reaſons to prove, by them are meant the Angels of God.
There are ſome (ſaith he) who take theſe Stars Metaphorically or Figuratively, for the Angels, and then their Singing is proper: And there are two Reaſons given why, by the Stars in this place, we ſhould underſtand the Angels.
Firſt, If we conſider the Truth or Courſe of the Hiſtory; becauſe the Earth being created the firſt Day, the Stars were not in being till the Fourth; unleſs we comprehend them (as was ſaid before) as to their Matter and Reality, under thoſe words of Moſes, In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth. But as to their Appearance and Formality, ſo they were not till the fourth Day; and if ſo, how could they ſing together the Praiſes of God at the laying the Foundation of the Earth?
A ſecond Reaſon is given from this Chapter afterwards, Verſ. 31, 32. Canſt thou bind the ſweet Influences of the Pleiades? (or ſeven Stars) or looſe the Bands of Orion? &c. Here the Lord treats with Job about the Stars in proper Senſes; therefore probably the Morning Stars here mentioned, are not to be taken Properly, but Tropically, for the Angels. And then he goes on to prove how fitly the Angels may be called Stars, &c. And from this of the Stars or Angels Singing, he infers;
Firſt, Singing is an Act of Divine Worſhip, they ſang to the Glory of God.
Note, Secondly, ſaith he, Singing is an Expreſſion of Joy: 'Tis very remarkable the Angels ſang at God's bringing forth the firſt Creation, to teach us our Duty, and how we ſhould celebrate the Praiſes of Jehovah, by Singing for the Works of the firſt Creation; doubtleſs this was, and is, the Will of God, and we are to pray that we may do the Will of God on Earth, as the Angels do it in Heaven, i. e. do what is his Will, and do it ſo, viz. with all readineſs Mr. Caryl tells us, They are not worthy to be reckoned Sons of God, who have not a readineſs, or preſent diſpoſition in them, to join with all, or any of his true Sons in this Work to celebrate the Praiſes of God at his graciou… Appearances in his mighty Works of Mercy, &c.
Secondly, As the Angels ſang at God's laying the Foundation of the firſt Creation, ſo alſo they ſang at the beginning, or bringing in the ſecond Creation, as Mr. Caryl alſo obſerves, even at the Birth of Chriſt, they ſang, Glory to God on High, and on Earth Peace, good Will to Men. To teach us that as we ſhould ſing the Praiſes of God for the Works of Creation, and ſo much the more for the Work of Redemption. Shall they ſing to ſee the good Will of God towards us, and ſhall we be dumb? Shall we, who are thus raiſed to Glory, and magnified by the mighty God, not ſing, or imitate the Angels, to join together, with united Voices, to ſing and celebrate his Praiſes?
When the Diſciples rejoiced and ſang thoſe Hoſannahs to Jeſus Chriſt, Bleſſed be the King that cometh in the Name of the Lord; Peace in Heaven, and Glory in the Higheſt, Luke 19. 38. the envious Phariſees, ſaith Mr. Caryl, did not like the Muſick; and therefore ſaid unto him, from among the Multitude, Maſter, Rebuke thy Diſciples. By this it appears, that the Devil is a great Enemy to Singing; he does not love ſuch Hoſannahs and Praiſes ſhould be ſung to Jeſus Chriſt; he it is that rules in the Hearts of the Children of Diſobedience▪ and 'twas he, no doubt, that influenced and ſtirred up theſe Phariſees with Envy, to have Chriſt's Diſciples rebuked for ſinging and praiſing him in ſuch a high and triumphant manner. Take heed, you that are God's People, (who do … ſee it is your Duty to ſing Hoſannahs to Chriſt) you do not forbid others ſo to do, leſt you are found in doing of it, to degrade the Holy Jeſus, and take from him (through the Temptation of Satan) part of the chiefeſt Glory that is due to his glorious Name. For, pray obſerve the Anſwer of our Lord Jeſus to thoſe blind Phariſees, Verſ. 10. I tell you, if theſe ſhould hold their Peace, the Stones would immediately cry out: as if he had ſaid, you labour in vain to ſuppreſs or hinder theſe to ſing my Praiſes, or to give Glory unto me; for ſhould they be ſilent, the Stones would cry ſhame of them for neglecting their Duty; and God would rather cauſe ſenſleſs Creatures to proclaim his Praiſe, than to want it.
Object. But ſome may ſay, 'Tis not ſaid they ſ…ng.
Anſw. There is no doubt to be made but they ſung; all generally underſtand thoſe Hoſannahs were delivered in a Song. Our Annotators hint, that it might be the name of a Song that was uſed to be ſung in Feſtivals.
Moreover they tell you, that the Expreſſions ſeem to be taken out of Pſal. 118. 24, 25, 26. Alſo they were uttered as with one Voice. The whole Multitude of the Diſciples began to rejoice and praiſe God with a loud Voice, Luke 19. 3… and uttered theſe words, Hoſanna, bleſſed it he that cometh in the Name of the Lord; Hoſannah in the higheſt. As God always was praiſed with Singing, ſo now they ſeem to be raiſed with holy Triumph, to expreſs his Praiſe in the higheſt manner, and therefore they ſung.
But that I may cloſe this, take one or two Arguments.
Arg. 1. If Angels in Singing do the Will of God, do that which is pleaſing and acceptable to God, and in ſo doing worſhip God; then Singing, or to ſing, is the Will of God, well-pleaſing to him, and is acceptable in his ſight, and is a part of his Worſhip. But Angels, in Singing, do the Will of God, do that which is well-pleaſing to him, and acceptable in his ſight, …and in ſo doing they worſhip him. Ergo, To ſing, is to do the Will of God, 'tis well-pleaſing to him, and acceptable in his ſight, and in ſo doing we worſhip him.
I never met with any that deny Angels to ſing the Praiſes of Jehovah, but all as one Man grant, 'tis part of their great Work and Buſineſs. And this being ſo, my Argument needs no Confirmation, but is unanſwerable.
Arg. 2. If Heaven, and all the Hoſt of Heaven, or all that is therein, and Earth, and all that is in it, are commanded by the Holy Ghoſt to ſing the Praiſes of God; then 'tis the Duty of Men and Angels to ſing his Praiſe. But Heaven, and all the Hoſt of Heaven, and all that is therein, … Earth, and all that is in it, are ſo commanded to do. Ergo, 'Tis the Duty of Men and Angels to ſing the Praiſes of God. See Pſal. 148. There, and in divers other places, all in Heaven and Earth, all are commanded to praiſe God in the Heights; that is, to ſing Hallelujahs, as the Hebrew word ſignifies, Verſ. 1.