Singing of Psalms a Gospel-ordinance, or, A TreatiseSinging of Psalmes a Gospel-ordinance, or, A Treatise

Object. 9. Many of Gods people now have gifts to compose spiritual Songs, as well as carnal Poets to make carnal Sonnets, or as drunkards that make Songs of Gods people. Now every one that hath a gift is to administer it by Christs Command, 1 Pet. 4.10. And if any for want of experience of such a gift in themselves, should question it, they may consider the promise of pouring out the Spirit in a more plentiful measure, now in the days of the New Testament, then in the old.

Object. 9. Many of Gods people now have gifts to compose spirituall Songs, as well as carnall Poets to make carnall Sonnets, or as drunkards that make Songs of Gods people. Now every one that hath a gift is to administer it by Christs Command, 1 Pet. 4.10. And if any for want of experience of such a gift in themselves, should question it, they may consider the promise of powring out the Spirit in a more plentifull measure, now in the dayes of the New Testament, then in the old.

Answ. 1. Though many of Gods people have gifts to compose spiritual Songs, as well as carnal Poets carnal Sonnets, and Drunkards profane Sonnets; yet that will not argue, that the spiritual Songs, which many of Gods people have gifts to compose, are fit to be sung in the public holy Assemblies of the Saints, no more then the carnal and profane Sonnets of drunken Poets are fit to be sung in civill Assemblies. Let drunken carnal Poets sing their carnal Sonnets in their Taverns and Alehouses, and such of Gods people as have received a gift to compose a spiritual Song fit for their private solace, sing it in their private houses. But every spiritual Song, fit for private solace, is not fit to be sung in the solemn Assemblies of the Church for public edification: no more then it is fit for every private Christian who hath a gift to compose a spiritual prayer to utter and pour forth the same in the public Congregation of the Church.

Answ. 1. Though many of Gods people have gifts to compose spirituall Songs, as well as carnall Poets carnall Sonnets, and Drunkards prophane Sonnets; yet that will not argue, that the spirituall Songs, which many of Gods people have gifts to compose, are fit to be sung in the publique holy Assemblies of the Saints, no more then the carnall and prophane Sonnets of drunken Poets are fit to be sung in civill Assemblies. Let drunken carnall Poets sing their carnall Sonnets in their Tavernes and Alehouses, and such of Gods people as have received a gift to compose a spirituall Song fit for their private solace, sing it in their private houses. But every spirituall Song, fit for private solace, is not fit to be sung in the solemne Assemblies of the Church for publique edification: no more then it is fit for every private Christian who hath a gift to compose a spirituall prayer to utter and powre forth the same in the publique Congregation of the Church.