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Serm.II. that are recorded in Heaven, with everlafting Shouts of Praife to bim that fits upon the Throne, and to the Lamb. 'Tis in thefe terms that God's own Delight is ex

17.

Zeph. III. prefs'd; He will reft in his Loves and rejoice over them with finging. 'Tis a good way to allure our Value for that better Church, when the most delightful part of Worfhip here is to give it a Title. The Faith and Hope, that are contending upwards, do never fo well employ themselves, as in the Duty of admiring God; because it's fo much the fame with the Vifion into which they shall expire.

14, 15.

I'll conclude the whole with the Apostle's Advice, grounded on Heb. XIII. this very Argument, We have here no continuing City, but we feek one to come; 'tis the defire of our Souls that it may be, and we have the Word of a Redeemer that it fhall be: By him therefore let us offer the Sacrifice of Praife unto God continually, that is, the Fruit of our Lips, giving thanks unto his Name.

The

The EXCELLENCE of the Duty of SINGING.

SERMON III

PS AL. CXLVII, 1.

Praife ye the Lord, for it is good to fing Praise to our God; for it is pleasant, and Praife is comely:

IS the third Part of the

T Subject that has fallen to

my fhare, and which I am to confider at this time; i. e. To represent the Excellence of this noble Duty, and recommend it to your Love and Efteem. I fhall D 4. confine

Ser. III. confine my felf ftrictly to this fingle Branch of the Subject, and endeavour to keep within the limits prefcrib'd me.

EXCELLENCE, or the just Commendation that belongs to a thing, may be confider'd either as fomething real and inherent in the Subject; or as fomething relative, and in the respect it bears to other things. The former fignifies the intrinfick Value of a thing, or what it has in it felf to recommend it: The latter fignifies its Preference to other things, or what there is in it that exceeds others of a like kind..:

I fhall proceed upon thefe general Meafures in the prefent Cafe, and reprefent the Excellence: or Value of this Duty, under this double Confideration of it.

I. Confider it more Abfolutely, and as it is in it felf.

II. More Relatively, and as it ftands in comparison with others.

Under

Under the former I fhall fhew Ser. III. wherein it agrees, and what it has more in common with others: Under the latter, wherein it excels, and what it has more appropriate and peculiar to it felf.

1. I fhall confider it more abfo lutely. And the Excellence of it will appear, if you view the whole Frame of it, and confider it in all its Parts; viz.

§. 1. Confider the Matter that is to be fung; in the general, The Praifes of God: That I may fhew Pf. IX.14. forth all thy Praife. And the Apo tle expreffes it by Pfalms, and Hymns, and Spiritual Songs; which perhaps may be defign'd to fignify nothing more than the feveral Titles and Divifions of the Book of Pfalms.

But then this must be underftood in the fulleft Latitude: Whatsoever tends to the Praise of the Almighty, every Reprefentation of his Glory, and every Dif covery of his Will. And if you confult the Sacred Pfalmody, you fhall find that the Pfalms that are D $ проп

J, 2.

Ser. I upon record, are full of various
Excellencys, and one of the most
lofty and noble Parts of the Sacred
Writings. Particularly,

We are to fing the Praifes of Creating Power. To this purpose divers of the Pfalms of David are particularly directed; that recount the Glorys of the great Creator, and celebrate his Praife, in the ftately Fabrick of Heaven and Earth, in the rich Furniture and vaft Variety of Beings, in all the Impresses of his Glory upon the Creation, and all the Inftances of his eternal Power and Godhead. Pf. XIX. The Heavens declare the Glory of God, and the Firmament fheweth his Handy-work, &c. Thou art great clothed with Majefty and Honour; covereft thy felf with Light as with a Pf. CIV. Garment; ftretcheft out the Heavens beginning. as a Curtain: He layeth the Beams of his Chamber in the Water, maketh the Clouds his Chariot, and walketh upon the Wings of the Wind. Thou laid ft the Foundation of the Earth, that it fhould not be remov'd for ever, and cover'dft it with the Deep as with a Garment, &c.

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