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

Answ. 5. Though it was an abuse of the Egyptian Jewels, to borrow them to make a golden calf; yet it was no abuse of them to offer them to God for the building and furnishing of the work of the Tabernacle. God forbid any Christian soul should please it self in comparing the Praises of the holy and glorious God to the golden calf; for though the Singing of the praises of God by carnal men, may be compared to the employment of Egyptian Jewels to that end for which they are used: yet that end being the praising of God, and in such a way as God hath enjoined to all men, it is not an employment of Egyptian Jewels to the making of a golden calf, but to the Praises of the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of all them that believe.

Answ. 5. Though it was an abuse of the Aegyptian Jewells, to borrow them to make a golden calfe; yet it was no abuse of them to offer them to God for the building and furnishing of the worke of the Tabernacle. God forbid any Christian soule should please it selfe in comparing the Praises of the holy and glorious God to the golden calfe; for though the Singing of the praises of God by carnall men, may be compared to the employment of Aegyptian Jewells to that end for which they are used: yet that end being the praising of God, and in such a way as God hath enjoyned to all men, it is not an employment of Aegyptian Jewels to the making of a golden calfe, but to the Praises of the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of all them that beleeve.

Nor is there any resemblance between putting the Ark upon a Cart to be carried by Oxen, which should have been carried by Levites, and the permitting of men out of the Church to join in singing the Praises of the Lord. For neither do the members of the Church (to whom the Lord hath chiefly committed the singing forth of his praises) lay aside this duty, and leave it to Non-Members, (as the Levites laid aside the carrying of the Ark, and left in the Cart and Oxen:) neither are Non-Members as a Cart and Oxen, upon whom this duty was never laid: But are all of them enjoined, as to hear his Word▪ and to call upon his Name, so to sing forth the praises due unto his Name from all his creatures. There is much more just cause of fear, lest this new opinion of Rejecting of singing of Davids Psalms, and disallowing any Psalms to be sung, but such as are invented by ordinary common