Serm. I. Perfections, and wonderful Works, according to the Difcovery which he has made of himself in his Word, which we call the Scriptures of the Old and New Teftament.

And I conceive that whatever Songs are Scriptural are the proper Object of Singing, as it is under prefent Confideration; efpecially those which treat of Christ and the Benefits of his Redemption. For I can by no means be of their mind, who in the public. Congregations would confine us to that Collection of the Jewish Pfal. mody, which is call'd the Pfalms of David, for Reafons which I must not give, because I am not allow'd to invade another's Province. I come next,

Singing;

III. To the Manner and tho what I have here to propofe will fall under the Confideration of him whose business it is to give Directions, yet I am neceffarily oblig'd to mention fome things under this Head, because in all Moral and Religious Actions

the

the Manner of Performance is an Serm. I. effential Part, and the Neglect of it will, in the fight of God, denominate that Trifling and Hypocrify, which Men would have pafs for Divine Service or Worship. Therefore,

§. 1. It must be with Grace in the Heart. There must be a Concur-I rence of Heart and Voice. God' does indeed require the Calves of Hof. XIV. the Lips, but mere Praifes will not 2. be an acceptable Sacrifice. There-' fore David calls upon his Soul to bless the Lord, and all that was pf. CIII.1. within him to blefs God's holy Name.“ Agreeably to which the Apoftle directs, that we fhould make melody Eph.V.19.

in our Hearts to the Lord. And indeed it is a rul'd Cafe, that bo- iTim. IV. dily Exercife profiteth little. Now 8. Singing with Grace in the Heart may imply as follows:

(1.) That he that fings be a gracious Perfon, or a good Man. We know that God heareth not Sinners, is a Maxim applicable to the prefent Cafe. The Prayer of the Wicked is an Abomination, and his Praifes can't be acceptable. Yea,

Serm. I.it muft needs be a provoking thing to a holy and jealous God, for thofe to fing his Praifes that de pife his Government, and hate his Laws. Such People do but lye unto kim with their Mouths, and flatter him with their Lips. And even a Man of common Difcretion would lefs refent the Curfes. of an Enemy, than open and notorious Flattery. It is mocking and infulting the great God, for Men at once to praise his Name, and live in an habitual Defiance of him. It is a Pf. XXII. Holy God that inhabits the Praifes of Ifrael and therefore we should refolve as David did, I will wash. PLXXVI, my hands in Innocence, and fo will I compass thine Altar, O Lord: That I-may: publish with the Voice of Thankĺging, and tell of all thy wondrous Works.

3.

(2.) It must be in the lively Exercife of particular Graces; as, [1] Knowledg. A Man muft understand and actually confider what he fays, when he fings the

Pf.XLVII. Praifcs of God: Sing ye Praifes with Understanding.

7.

Otherwife

what he does. is no more an A&

of Worship or Devotion, than Serm. K the Noife of a mufical Instrument.

He is properly but as founding Cor.XIII Brafs, and a tinkling Cymbal.

[2.] Faith. For without Faith it

is impoffible to pleafe God. And he Heb.XI.5. that comes to him must believe that he is, and that he is a Remarder of all them that diligently feek him.

· [3.] Love. This is the first and great Commandment, Thou fhalt love Mat.XXU. the Lord thy God with all thy Heart, &c. Accordingly it is to be regarded as the Spring of all acceptable Obedience: and furely Praife must be a cold and naufeous thing, if it don't flow from a Heart fill'd with Gratitude and fincere Affection. If there ben't inward. Defire, Delight, and Admiration, Songs of Praife are empty and infignificant Things; efpecially confidering that God is not to be impos'd upon but all things are Heb. IV. naked and open in his fight with whom. we have to do.

[4] Humility. Tho Custom has not made it ufual to kneet in Singing as in Praying, yet an equal Proftration of Soul becomes B 4

Us

Serm. I. us in both, confidering what an infinite Distance there is between us and the Object of our Songs, and how he is exalted far above all Bleffing and Praife, the Hallelujahs of the Angels as well as the HoJannahs of the Saints: Efpecially remembring that we are Sinners, and fo deferve to be in that place where the Circumftances of the miferable Inhabitants extort weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, inftead of Praise and joyful Acclamations.

21.

§. 2. It must be in the Name of the Lord Jefus Chrift; ver. 17. Giving thanks unto the Father by him. Parallel to this is that of the AEph. III. poftle, Unto him be Glory in the Church by Christ Jefus. The Import of this Expreffion is, that our Praifes must be offer'd up to God thro the Mediation of Chrift, whofe Interceffion procures Acceptance for our Praifes as well as Prayers. The fame Hand muft. prefent, and the fame Incenfe perfume both.

IV. The