Skeleton, a thin Shadow, if we Ser. IV.
were oblig'd to do no more than
what our corrupt and felf-indul-
gent Nature fhould think necefla-
ry: Might we not then argue as
ftrongly against the Lord's Sup-
per? Can you not think of his
dying Love when you pray or
hear the Word preach'd? What
need of going to the Table? But
as this is an Ordinance, own'd to
be instituted on purpose for the
commemorating of Chrift's Death
and Sufferings; fo why may not
finging of Pfalms be a diftinct
Ordinance, appointed for the ce-
lebrating in an efpecial manner the
Praises of God? And can we be
fo difingenuous as to refuse exal-
ting the Name of God in any way
that is poffible and lawful for us,
who in fuch numberless ways hath
been infinitely merciful and gra-
cious to us?

§. 3. 'Tis objected that this is
a Practice without New Teftament
Prefcription; and would you have
us fing without warrant from
Chrift? To make good this Ob-
jection, they endeavour to enervate
the

Ser. IV. the force of thofe Paffages we produce from the New Teftament for the establishing our Practice.

As to that which mentions our Matth. Saviour's finging an Hymn with the XXVI. 30. Difciples, they would make us beὑμνήσαν- lieve the original word imports

no more than fimple giving of Thanks, without Singing; but all who understand Greek, and will be impartial, mult confefs that the word does in its primary and proper fenfe fignify fuch a praifing of God as is perform'd by Sing ing. To cite Authoritys can be of no ufe to the Unlearn'd, and to thofe who are converfant in this Tongue it is notorious; befides, the fenfe of this word is fo fully clear'd in fome late Treatifes, that I fhall refer you to them, where, you have the Judgment of Austin,. Conftantine, Suidas, Calvin, Beza, and our Countrymen Ainsworth, Leigh, and many more that might be added. But it may fuffice to

*Singing of Palms vindicated from the Charge of Novelty, printed by Mr. Parkhurft, Mr. Allen's Effay, and the Vindication of it. convince

convince the unskilful Reader of Ser. IV. the fenfe of the word Hymn (which is but an abbreviation of the Greek word vur, or Hymnos) that learned Men, by common Confent, have adopted it into the English Language to fignify a grave Song of Praife. To conclude, we have reafon to acquiefce in this fenfe of the word, inafmuch as it is generally acknowledg'd our Saviour did actually fing after his laft Sup per*, according to the cuftom of the Jews, who in the Pafchal Night, after they had eaten the Lamb, did ufe to fing fome of David's Pfalms; which folemn Hymns they call the great Hallel, and which began at Pfal. CXIII. and ended with Pfal. CXVIII. Hence therefore the word ὑμνήσαντες muft imply more than bare giving of Thanks, viz. fuch a giving of Thanks as hath Singing conjoin'd with it.

To thofe Places in St. Paul's Epiftles which we alledg for this

*See Lightfoot, Patrick, Jurieu, Whitby,

Duty,

16.

Ser. IV. Duty, they fay the Apostle requires Speaking only, and teaching Col. III. and admonishing one another. They can't deny they are further direc Eph.V.19. ted to fing, and to make melody: but they evade this, by telling us, it is confin'd wholly to the Heart; finging with Grace in your Hearts, fo finging and making melody in your Hearts to the Lord: and that thefe Expreffions have no refpect at all to vocal Singing. This we deny, and fay, that thofe who diffent from us must acknowledg thefe Actions of Speaking, teaching and admonishing, do undeniably imply the use of the Voice. This being granted, the Nature of the things, in which we are to use our Voice, do fufficiently deter mine the manner of doing it, viz. by Singing; the Duty requir'd being fuch as was to be perform'd in Pfalms, Hymns, and fpiritual Songs, which all who are impartial and ingenuous muft own were compos'd and form'd for Singing. But the Apostle fays, Singing with Grace in your Hearts, and making melody in your Hearts

·

Tis gran ted,

ted, and no doubt 'tis a great Du-Ser. IV. ty to do fo; but then this was not to exclude finging with the Voice, but only to caution us that we reft not in the external part of the Duty. But how can we teach and admonish one another in Singing? I reply, it would be no wrong done to the Text, if we fay that the word as, one another, may be rendred [your felves] for fo our Tranflators have rendred the fame word, Eph. V. 19. And indeed while we are finging, we have a fpecial Opportunity and Help to inftruct and admonish our own Souls; as that by dilating the Sound, and prolonging the Voice, there is more time given for the fixing our Hearts upon that which is fung with more delightful Meditation. But as I do not deny the word may be and is tranflated to one another, fo how our mutual Inftruction and Edification is promoted in the practice of Singing, is plainly and fully fet forth already by him who from this Text hath open'd the nature of the Duty. Thus I have with brevity