with Unbelievers, from the pre- Ser. VI. judice fuch an unequal Yoke would be to Family Religion, takes particular notice of this Branch of it, of finging*Pfalms: What Far and Difcord muft Vanity and Profaneness be to this heavenly Mufick of a Soul divinely tun'd? And afterwards defcribing the Happy Pair whom Love and Religion have united, he mentions this Part among the other Harmonys of fuch a Condition, That they fing together (fup- 1 Pet. III. pofing Ability) as Heirs of the 7. Grace of Life; neither their Prayers, nor their Pfalms were hinder'd. This was formerly more the Practice of good People, than 'tis now; and in later times, when FamilyReligion was not fo unfashionable a thing. One of the Minifters, in a Farewel-Sermon, tells his Hearers, "That he cou'd remember the "time when a Perfon, on a Lord's "Day, might hear a continu'd 5 Quid Maritus fuus illi, vel marito quid illa cantabit? Sonant inter duos Pfalmi› & Hymni, &c. L 2 "Melody Pfalm Ser. VI." Melody of Pfalmis, in walking from one end of this City to "the other. It's certain there are Family-Mercys and Bleflings that call for Family-Praises, as well as publick and perfonal. David feems to mark the good Man's Door with this Infcription, The CXVIII. Voice of Rejoycing and of Salvation is in the Tabernacles of the Righteous; Pf. XXX. and he compos'd a Pfalm on purpofe for the dedicating of his Deut.XX. Own Houfe. Under the Law every Houfe was dedicated Dedication and Worship make a Church, and by this 'twill be known that there is a Church in thy House. Mr. Philip And as a Man of God us'd to fay, 15. Henry's Life. This is the way to hold forth "Godlinefs, like Rabab's fcarlet "Thread, to fuch as pafs by our "Windows. And as the fame excellent Man us'd to fay," They do well who pray Morning and "Evening in their Familys, but "they do better who pray and "read the Scriptures; but they "do best of all, who pray, and "read, and fing Pfalms and "Chriftians fhould covet earnest ly "ly the best Gifts. This was his Ser. VI. own daily Practice, which he manag'd fo as to make it a Pleasure, and not a Task to Children and Servants; feldom long, never tedious: for he had an excellent Faculty of rendring Religion the moft fweet and amiable Imployment in the World. It's a Trifle to object we are afraid of being overheard, and that we fhall only entertain the Banter of a fcoffing World. Indeed a prudent Man will order his Affairs with Difcretion, and Wifdom is profitable to direct; but examine, whether this is not being afham'd of God and his Way. May not your Example and Practice do good to others? Has not your own Heart been warm'd and affected when you have gone by and heard a Family fo imploy'd? I fhall only add, That if Paul and Silas had been afraid of being overheard, the Jailor might never have been converted. (3.) Awake your Glory, and fing to God in Publick, with the united Voices of the Congregation. Let us L 3 come d Ser. VI. come before his Prefence with Thankfgiving, and make a joyful Noufe unto him with falms; and praife him in the midst of the great Congrega PL.XCV.2 tion. Be this the Burden of your Song, I close all with an Addrefs to two forts of Perfons. First, You that are yet unfatiffy'd and unconvinc'd, have a care of a cenforious judging Spirit, or reproachful Language: don't give way to any Eftrangedness from your Brethren upon this account. Your differing Opinion in this Matter ought not to drive you from the Communion of those that practife Singing; because you are not forc'd to fing with them, but may be meditating all the while; and because of the indifpenfible Duty all Chriftians are under to allow each other the Liberty of Confcience. If a Congregation fhould fhould be equally divided for, and Ser. VI. against this; I can fee no Reafon why the one fhould fay to the others, you shall not fing, while the Singers do not force it upon the Refufers; but according to Rule, Leave them that are otherwife minded, till God fhall reveal it; and yet whereto we have attain'd walking together. I am not utterly a Stranger to the Twiftings and Turnings us'd to evade this; but be open to Conviction: Strain not for Difficultys: Do not make an hard fhift to remain unfatisfy'd, while fome may without Cenfure be fuppos'd to practife many things in Religion upon lefs Evidence and weaker Proof. Omit not the Methods of Information, Reading, Prayer and Converfe; and when your Objections are fairly anfwer'd, let not Prejudice or Cuftom step up to the Breach, and maintain the Ground against a friendly Attack; in yielding to which you'l afterwards fee Reafon to fing a Triumph over your own Defcat. You' |