Breach Repaired in Gods Worship, Treatise 1 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Proving Singing of Pſalms, &c. An Ordinance, becauſe it was confirmed by Miracles, as other Ordinances were.
MY next Argument to prove it is a Goſpel-Ordinance to Sing Pſalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, is taken from that viſible witneſs that God did bear to it, in the New-Teſtament, it ſeems to me, (and others whoſe Eyes God hath opened) that it was confirmed by a Miracle, as all other Goſpel-Ordinances more or leſs were, Heb. 2. 3, 4. As the whole of Chriſt's Doctrine, or the Chriſtian Religion, was confirmed by Signs and Wonders, and divers Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Spirit according to God's own Will and good Pleaſure; ſo were moſt, if not all, Goſpel-Ordinances particularly.
1. Meeting together on the firſt Day of the Week was miraculouſly owned, and confirmed by that wonderful effuſion of the Holy Ghoſt, Acts 2. 1, 2, 3.
2. Preaching the Word was after the ſame manner confirmed. Whilſt Peter yet ſpeak theſe words, the Holy Ghoſt fell on all them which heard the Word, Acts 10. 44. For they heard them ſpeak with Tongues, and magnify God, verſ. 46.
3. Baptiſm was as wonderfully confirmed at the Baptiſm of our Saviour, for when he came out of the Water, the Heavens were opened, and to, a Voice from Heaven, ſaying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleaſed, Mat. 3. 16, 17. And the Spirit deſcended like a D…ve, and lighted on him.
4. Laying on of Hands was after the like manner owned and confirmed: And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghoſt came on them, and they ſpake with Tongues, and magnified God, Act. 19. 6.
5. Alſo when the Apoſtles had prayed, 'tis ſaid, the place was ſhaken where they were aſſembled; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghoſt, Act. 4. 31.
6. In the laſt place, we find. Singing alſo was in the ſame ſort confirmed: And at Midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and Sang Praiſes … God; … the Priſoners heard them. And ſuddenly there was a great Earth-quake, ſo that the Foundations of the Priſon were ſhaken, … immediately all the Doors were opened, and every Man's Bands were …, Act. 16. 25, 26. Mr. Wells taking notice of this place, ſaith, God honoured the Ordinance of Singing, &c. with Miracles: Behold here, faith he, an eminent Miracle, Priſons ſaluting their Priſoners Liberty. Paul and S…l… Singing, ſet God on working. And if their Tongues were looſed in Duty, their Hands ſhall be looſed for Liberty; Singing and Praying can work …ders. Certainly had not this Duty, as well as others, been to continue in the Church as moſt acceptable to God, he would never have witneſſed to it after this manner: but ſince he hath, let ſuch tremble that ſlight and contemn it. As theſe Miracles confirmed the Goſpel in general, ſo all muſt needs confeſs each Ordinance thus owned and born witneſs to, was miraculouſly confirmed, and as others, ſo this.
Joyntly with this Argument, it is neceſſary alſo in the next place to conſider, how Singing of Pſalms was brought into the Church in the Goſpel-times, as other Ordinances were, even as a Doctrine, Propheſying, Interpreting, &c. 1 Cor. 14. 26. Nay, and it ſeems it was in their Publick Aſſemblies, when Unbelievers were admitted to come in among them, as appears by verſ. 33.
Object. But this was an extraordinary Singing, or a Singing by an extraordinary Gift, and there are none have ſuch Gifts now; and therefore none muſt ſing in theſe days, ſince the miraculous Gifts are ceaſed.
Anſw. That the Pſalm was extraordinary as to the Matter, is doubtful; becauſe we know no Pſalms but the Book of Pſalms, or thoſe called the Pſalms of David: ſo that it is very likely it might be one of them; but let it be a Pſalm, or an Hymn, given forth by the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit, and ſung too by the ſame extraordinary Spirit, yet this doth not weaken, but ſtrengthen my Argument.
1. Becauſe, as I ſaid even now, all Goſpel-Ordinances were witneſſed to by the miraculous Gifts of the Holy Ghoſt, in the Apoſtles days; and ſo likewiſe they had extraordinary Gifts to diſcharge thoſe Duties reſpectively.
1. They had an extraordinary Gift of Prayer, extraordinary Gifts to Preach and handle a Doctrine; the like in Interpreting and Propheſying, ſo no doubt likewiſe for Singing. But if after theſe extraordinary Gifts ceaſed in the Church, the Saints were to ſing no more, but leave off that Ordinance, notwithſtanding the Churches are enjoined to ſing by the Holy Ghoſt:
Pray conſider the direful Conſequences of ſuch an abſurd Concluſion, i. e. the Apoſtles had an extraordinary Spirit, nay, an infallible Spirit, in Preaching, in Praying, in Propheſying, in Interpreting the Scripture; and in the whole of their Work, in the Adminiſtration of the Goſpel, in reſpect of every Duty and Ordinance thereof; theſe are all ceaſed, ſince none have theſe miraculous Gifts now. From hence it will follow, There's none now can, or ought to Preach, Pray, Interpret, &c. or diſpenſe any one Ordinance of the Goſpel, &c. Nay, and 'tis not unknown to many, there are ſome have lately made uſe of this Argument againſt all Ordinances: And this I will ſay, and by the help of God ſtand by it too, That if Singing muſt be rejected or thrown away, by virtue of this Argument, viz. Becauſe none have an extraordinary Gift to bring … forth, all Ordinances are gone, or muſt be caſt off. God deliver poor Chriſtians from the pernicious Arguings of ſuch weak Oppoſers of Singing of Pſalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. Beſides, 'tis evident, none of thoſe Duties and Goſpel-Adminiſtrations, were tied up to ſuch who … thoſe extraordinary Gifts, but that others who had but the ordinary Gifts, might and ought to attend upon the Adminiſtration of the ſame Duties and Ordinances, as well as thoſe ſo miraculouſly endowed: for the main Buſineſs the Apoſtle ſtrives to do there, was not to order the Matter of the Worſhip of the Goſpel, but to regulate the Manner how thoſe extraordinary Gifts in the Church ſhould be uſed to prevent Confuſion; and that all might be done to edification of the People, whilſt God ſaw good to continue them in his Church. Doubtleſs there cannot be a ſtronger Argument brought to prove and confirm this Ordinance. The Holy Ghoſt inſpired the Saints with Miracles, Gifts of the Spirit, to bring forth a Pſalm, as well as to bring forth a Doctrine; and ſo witneſſed to it, and eſtabliſhed it as a ſtanding Ordinance in the Church, as being of the ſame Nature and Authority with Prayer and Preaching, or any other Goſpel-Inſtitution. I will cloſe this with one Argument.
Arg. That Duty or Ordinance which was owned and witneſſed to by the Lord in the New Teſtament, with Miracles, and the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit, is to abide in the Church as a ſtanding Ordinance. But Singing of Pſalms, &c. was thus confirmed, owned, and witneſſed unto. Ergo, Singing of Pſalms, &c. remains in the Church as a ſtanding Ordinance.