the Praises of God, that the Heart Ser. III. ben't diverted by fenfible Pleasure, or too close Attendance to the Rules of Art, the Harmony and Proportion of Numbers, or the Melody and Sweetnefs of Sounds. Let the Soul be rais'd and futably mov'd; let the Heart and Voice join together, and the Affections keep pace with the Tongue.

If the Heart be abfent or out of tune, 'twill spoil the Mufick of the fweetest Song, and render the foftest Voice, like tinkling Cymbal or founding Brafs, inharmonious and difagreeable in the Ears of God.

This will be the Work of Heaven; Labour after an heavenly Frame of Mind: "Twill be the Work of a whole Eternity; let us begin the bleffed Exercife now, and inure our felves beforehand. Let us fo fing the Pfalms of David here on Earth, that we may fing the Song of Mofes, the Servant of the Lord, and the Song of the Lamb for ever.

F 2

Amen.

OBJECTIONS confider'd against the Duty of SINGING.

SERMON IV.

PSAL. LXVII. 3; 4;

Let all the People praise thee, O God, let all the People praife thee: O let the Nations be glad, and fing for Joy.

Am to answer the Objections againft Singing in the Worship of God. This is the only thing that can be thought unpleafant in our whole Undertaking; and 'twere pity to interrupt the Harmony

Objections confider'd, &c.

ΤΟΙ

Harmony of our Discourses with Ser. IV. the ungrateful Jarrings and Dif cords of Controverfy (the most unfutable thing in the World to our prefent Subject) did not the Difficultys and Scruples of fome People require it.

That I may perform what is expected from me, I fhall but just mention the Argument in my Text, and then reply to the most confiderable Objections that are produc'd against this Duty.

In the Verfe foregoing the Pfal- Ver. 2mift prays for the Converfion of the Gentiles, That God would make known his way upon Earth, his faving Health among all Nations; then follow the words of my Text, Let the People praife thee, O God, let all the People praife thee: intimating, that the knowledg of Salvation would be fuch an infinite Mercy to the World, as not only to invite, but oblige all Mankind to publish and refound the Praifes of God. And that we may not be at a lofs how this ought to be perform'd, he expreffes himself more clearly in the following F 3 words:

Ver. 4.

וירננו ונן a

Cantare

Ser. IV. words: O let the Nations be glad, and fing for Joy; i. e. exprefs their Praifes in joyful Songs and Triumphs, as the word in the Original does plainly fignify. So that to praise God by Singing is a titia, Practice not only very futable to Buxt.Opus the State of the Gospel, but a XXX An- Duty now to be perform'd by all norum. People; as being what was not only pray'd for, but foretold of

præ læ

antient time by the infpir'd Prophet.

And is it not then ftrange, that a Duty fo reafonable and becoming, fo clear and exprefs, fo noble and excellent, fo pleafant and ufeful, as appears from the foregoing Difcourfes, fhould meet with oppofition from any? When if we remain filent, or hold our Peace, it might be expected (if fuch a thing were poflible) that as our Luk.XIX. Lord himself speaks, the Stones would immediately cry out. And had we fuch a fenfe of the adorable Majefty and Perfections of God, and thofe immenfe Benefits he hath bestow'd upon us, as they deferve, we fhould find the Prac

40.

tice we are pleading for necella-Ser., IV. ry, if it were only for the Relief of our Nature, nay fometimes, for ought I know, for the Prefervation of Life it felf: for our Hearts might be ready to burit, and we might even die under our Joys, if in fome fpecial Cafes we fhould not be allow'd giving them vent in the loftieft Strains, and loudest Shouts of Thanksgiving and Praife.

But bleffed be God, among thofe who have formerly oppos'd this Practice of Singing, there are many now convinc'd of its being a Gofpel-Duty; and they who in this particular diffent from us, are confiderably leffen'd in their Numbers. This is owing to the fuccefsful Industry of feveral of Mr. Maitheir worthy Minifters, whom God fters, Mr. hath rais'd up from among them-Collins, felves, who have strenuously affer, Mr. StenMr. Allen, ted and vindicated this Practice, nett, Mr.' and hereby had occafion of giving Piggott, proof not only of their Skill in Mr. HarriArgument, but in the Art too they Keach. fon, have defended, by thofe excellent Compofures wherewith One of Mr. Stenthem hath oblig'd the Chriftian nett. Church.

E 4

And