A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

And now I come to the main Case, How we may make melody in our hearts to God in Singing of Psalms.

Answ. 1. We must sing with understanding. We must not be guided by the Tune, but the Words of the Psalm; we must mind the Matter more than the Music; and consider what we sing, as well as how we sing; The Tune may affect the fancy, but it is the Matter affects the heart, and that God principally eyes. The Psalmist adviseth us in this particular, Psalm 47.7. and so doth the Apostle, 1 Cor. 14.15. Otherwise this sweet Duty would be more the work of a Chorister than of a Christian; and we should be more delighted in an Anthem of the Musician's making, then in a Psalm of the Spirit's making. A Lapide observes, that in the Text 1 Cor. 14.15. the word understanding is Maschil [Greek or Hebrew] profound judgment: We must sing wisely, if we will sing gratefully; we must relish what we sing. In a word, we must sing as we must pray; now the most rude Petitioner will understand what he prays; 1 Cor. 14.15. If we do not understand what we sing, it argues carelessness of Spirit, or hardness of Heart; and this makes the Service impertinent. Upon this the worthy ⟨p. 184⟩Davenant cries out,¹ Adieu to the bellowing of the Papists, who sing in an unknown Tongue. God will not understand us in this Service, which we understand not our selves. One of the first Pieces of the Creation was Light, and this must break out in every Duty.

Answ. 1. We must sing with understanding. We must not be guided by the Tune, but the Words of the Psalm; we must mind the Matter more than the Musick; and consider what we sing, as well as how we sing; The Tune may affect the fancy, but it is the Matter affects the heart, and that God principally eyes. The Psalmist adviseth us in this particular,