Ser. IV. vindicated the principal Places of the New Teftament, that are produc'd for this Duty of Singing, from the Exceptions that are brought against them. There are fome other Scriptures which will fall in our way to be fpoken to in their proper Places.

S. 4. The last Objection against Singing in the Worship of God is, That it is unfutable to the prefent bewildred and afflicted State of the Church.

There is fo little in this, that there needs not much to be fpoken to it: Befides, I do not find it urg'd in the Writings of our modern Oppofers, who feem to have dropt it, as being confcious, I fuppofe, of the Weakness of it. The Church's Aflictions are fo far from being an Objection, that I think them rather an Argument for the performance of this Duty; and because the is in a bewildred State, he has the greater need of fomething to recreate and refresh Prov. her, which might be like giving XXXI. 6. of Wine to him that is of a heavy Heart. And it is worthy our no

tice, that many of the Pfalms are Ser. IV. wonderfully futed to the loweft Condition and moft afflicted State of the Church, plainly enough fignifying the end of their Compofure, and when we ought to make ufe of them. And we do not find the Jews, tho often brought into a very low and bewildred Condition, did upon this account defift from this part of religious Worfhip. We read indeed that when they were under the Babylonish Captivity, they hung their Harps Pfalm upon the Willows; but the follow-CXXXvii. ing words give us reafon to be-2. lieve this was upon a very fingular occafion, viz. when their Enemys did infult over them, and by way of Scorn did require them to entertain 'em with fome of their Mufick, and let 'em hear one of thofe Songs which were wont to be fung in the Temple: otherwise 'tis more than probable they did. now and then refrefh themfelves with this Divine Mufick, and for this, when led into Captivity, they carry'd their Harps along with them from Jerufalem, or pro

cur'd

Ser. IV.cur'd those Instruments in Babylon, tho now upon the infulting

and barbarous ufage of their EneJam. V. mys they laid them afide *. Much 13. is con- more might be faid in answer to fider'd althis Objection, but I have spent too Serm. II. much time upon it already. I

ready in

come

II. To the fecond Clafs of Objections, viz. fuch as are level'd against the Matter of the Duty Those mention'd are against the Act of Singing; these against the Matter that is ufually fung in our publick Affemblys, viz. the Pfalms of David, Afaph and others. Here it is objected, That the Matter of them frequently does not fute our Cafe: That there are many Pallages we cannot fing with Truth, nor others with Charity; and furthermore, to use thefe in the Worship of God is to introduce a Form, and to fint and limit the Gifts of the Spirit.

Before I reply to thefe Objections, I fhall give you a brief Ace count of our Opinion concerning the Matter to be fung in publick. Worship. And,

1. Tho we approve and fhall Ser. IV. prefently vindicate the Practice of our Churches in finging David's Pfalms, yet we are not against other Compofures. However,

2. What of this kind may be allow'd to be fung, we fhould advife the Matter of them to be collected from the Holy Scriptures; in turning of which into Metre, a diligent regard ought to be had to the Text, and the Senfe at least to be carefully retain'd: and it may not be amifs that we here caution against too great a liberty to the flights of a Poetical Fancy, left by being too profufe, it detract from the Senfe and Beauty of the Scriptures, which always appear beft in their own naked Simplicity.

3. We do not this out of any mean, irreverent and unbecoming Thoughts of David's Pfalms, or that we would difcard these from having their part in the Worship of God; but that adding others to them, we may ftill have a fulLer Set of Pfalms, and a more abundant variety of fpiritual Songs to

promote

Ser. IV. promote and further the celebrating of God's Praifes in the Chriftian Church; and thefe being for the Matter of them collected from the Scriptures, there is no Addition made to the Word of God hereby, as many will be ready otherwife to object.

Having thus given our Opinion about the Matter to be fung, I fhall now confider the Objections that are made against the use of David's Pfalmis, and give you in a narrow Compafs the Heads only of thofe Replys which may be made unto them, referring the Reader to fuch Authors as infift more largely upon them.

§. 1. 'Tis objected, That the Matter of thefe Pfalms does not correSpond to the prefent Cafe and Occafions of God's People, as more Evangelical Compofures would do.

To this we fhall only fay, if it be impartially confider'd, we shall find a great many at least of the Pfalms very well adapted to the Gafe and Circumstances both of the Church in general, and each particular Member of it; and pro