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

Answ. Prophecy is taken two ways in Scriptures, to omit other acceptions of the word, not pertinent to the point in hand. 1. Sometimes more strictly and properly, for Preaching, that is, for expounding and applying Scripture to edification. 2. Sometimes more largely, for the publishing of spiritual things to the glory of God, and edification of our selves or others. And in this ⟨p. 39⟩sense Master Perkins (in his Propheticâ) maketh two parts of it, 1. Preaching of the Word. 2. Prayer; for which he quoteth, Gen. 20.7. Abraham is a Prophet, and he shall pray for thee; he quoteth also, 1 Chron. 25.1. where the Sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who were Singers, are said to Prophecy with Harps. Which argueth that singing of Psalms as well as Prayer, may in some sense, (to wit, in this large sense) be called an act of Prophecy. But in this sense Paul doth not speak of Prophecy; for he doth expressly distinguish it from Prayer, and much more from singing, 1 Cor. 11.4, 5. And in this 14 Chapter to the Corinthians, he doth plainly distinguish prophecy from singing Psalms; for when he exhorteth them to covet after spiritual gifts, chiefly, that they might Prophecy, (1 Cor. 14.1.) it is not his meaning, they should chiefly covet after the gift of inditing or singing of Psalms, but rather after the gift of Preaching, to wit, of expounding and applying Scripture to edification. When therefore Paul directeth the Prophets to speak one by one, ver. 30, 31. He speaketh not of that kind of Prophecy, whereby many may sing one and the same Psalm together, but of the other kind of Prophecy, which is Preaching. Howbeit, true it is also, that if many shall sing several Psalms at one and the same time together in one and the same Congregation, it would breed the like confusion in the Church, as if the Prophets should speak two or three, or more of them at once.

Answ. Prophecy is taken two wayes in Scriptures, to omit other acceptions of the word, not pertinent to the point in hand. 1. Sometimes more strictly and properly, for Preaching, that is, for expounding and applying Scripture to edification. 2. Sometimes more largely, for the publishing of spirituall things to the glory of God, and edification of our selves or others. And in this