An account of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persuasions appointedAn accompt of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persvvasions appointed

are said by such of the people as can say them, the murmur of their voices in most Congregations is so unintelligible and confused, as must hinder the edification of all the rest; for who is edified by that which he cannot understand? We know not what you mean by citing 2 Chron. 7. 1, 4. Ezra 3. 11. where there is not a word of public prayer, but in one place of an Acclamation, upon an extraordinary sight of the glory of the Lord, which made them praise the Lord, and say, [He is good, for his mercy is for ever;] when the prayer that went before was such as you call [A long tedious prayer,] uttered by Solomon alone, without such breaks and descants. And in the other places is no mention of prayer at all, but of singing praise; and that not by the people, but by the Priests and Levites, saying the same words, [For he is good, for his mercy endures for ever towards Israel:] The people are said to do no more then shout with a great shout, because the foundation of the House was laid; and if shouting be it that you would prove, it's not the thing in Question. Let the ordinary mode of praying in Scripture be observed, in the prayers of David, Solomon, Ezra, Daniel, or any other; and if they were by breaks, and frequent beginnings and endings, and alternate Interlocutions of the people, as yours are, then we will conform to your mode, which now offends us; but if they were not, we beseech you reduce yours to the examples in Scripture: we desire no other rule to decide the Controversy by. As to your Citation, 1 Socrat. there tells us of the alternate singing of the Arians in the reproach of the Orthodox, and that Chrysostom (not a Synod) compiled Hymns to be sung in opposition to them in the streets, which came in the end to a Tumult and Bloodshed. And hereupon he tells us of the original of alternate singing, viz. a pretended Vision of Ignatius, that heard Angels sing in that order. And what is all this to alternate Reading, and praying, or to a Divine Institution, when here is no mention of reading or praying, but of singing Hymns; and that not upon pretence of Apostolical Tradition, but a Vision of uncertain credit? Theodore also speaketh only of singing Psalms alternately, and not a word of reading or praying so; and he fetcheth that way of singing also as Socrat.

are said by such of the people as can say them, the murmur of their voices in most Congregations is so unintelligible and confused, as must hinder the edification of all the rest; for who is edified by that which he cannot understand? We know not what you mean by citing