Ser. V.

But the further enlarging upon, and enforcing of these things, with futable Arguments and Motives, will be the Work of my Worthy Brother, who finishes what we defign from this Subject.

An EXHORTATION to the Duty of SINGING.

SERMON VI.

PSAL LVII. 8..

Awake up my Glory; Awake Pfaltery and Harp; I my felf will awake early..

Y

OU have had the feveral Parts of this Subject of finging Pfalms in fo many Difcourfes diftinctly eflay'd, with defign that the whole of it, as a Duty, might be more compleatly explain'd and afferted by Us while, as a Gift, the becoming manner of performing it is im

Ser. V. prov'd and cultivated by You: Wand, I hope, our joint Endeavors may do fomething toward the fettling its Theory and Divine Regulation, its more decent and orderly Practice, the reviving its more general Ufe, retrieving its Glory, refcuing it from the Objections of the Scrupulous, and from the Corruptions of Levity or Superftition.

To this end the Nature of the Duty has been ftated, that you with

may fingo'danding. Its

Obligations
that you may
fing without the fear of Will-wor-
Ship, or offering Strange Fire. The
Excellence of it has been difplay'd,
as truly Angelical and Seraphic;
as pleafing to God, and comely
for the Upright; as that whereby
we are carry'd into the Company
of Angels, to join in their Work,
and partake of their Joys. Objec-
tions have been anfwer'd, that your
Hearts may be fix'd while you fing
and give Praife. The true manner
of finging the Divine Praifes has
been directed, fo as to make Melo-
dy to God, and that it may be ac-
ceptable

ceptable to him, and profitable Ser. VI.

to us.

What remains then, but that we make the most of fuch a Duty as this? And fince here's nothing elfe to hinder, Indifference, Drow finefs or Carelefnefs. fhould not; but that we awaken all our Powers to a Work that is fo much its own immediate Reward. And fince the foregoing Sermons have prefented you with the Scale of Heavenly Mufick, as found in Scripture fet by the Holy Ghof who in all this Matter is the chief Mufician; prac tife upon it as high as you can:) and tho at prefent the lower Notes only are within your Compafs, hereafter the higher Strains hall not be beyond your reach: for when we are made like Angels, we fhall fing like them too in that World where Love and Harmony, are in Perfection, In the mean time, we may bear an humble Part. And why fhould we think our Heaven can begin too foon? If the Grace of Heaven do but tune the Heart, Wonder, Love, and Joy will never let your Tongue

an

lie

Ser. VI. lie ftill, but will awaken your Glory, and all that is within you to bless his Holy Name.

The former Part of this Pfalm recounts the many Calamitys David was under, his Circumftances dark and gloomy as the Cave he was now in; diftrefs'd and befieg'd on every fide, no way open to Relief but that toward Heaven; he was flying before Saul's Cruelty, now inftigated by that evil Spirit, which in the abfence of David's Harp and Pfalmody, had taken intire poffeffion of him. The Sweet Singer of Ifrael was thus drove out to join Confort with the untaught Harmony of the Woods, wandring like a Vagabond, and had nothing fix'd but his Heart, and that he was refolv'd fhould never be remov'd from God, or from his Praife; for even in fuch a time as this he could fay, My Heart is fix'd, O God! my Heart is fix'd; I will fing and give Praife. Fix'd in the midit of Agitations, ferene within when all around was Storm and Tempeft. And how Divinely Great does that Man look,

whofe