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

But that which is ground of your scruple seemeth to be this, that that which is no gift of Grace, how can it redound to the Praise of Grace?

But the Answer is ready, that such things as help either the understanding, or the affection, and are appointed of God for his worship; they do tend to edification, and so to the praise of grace, though they may be performed by a gift of God in Nature or art, without any spiritual gift of Grace: Translation of the Scriptures into the Mother-Tongue, and the reading of them in a known tongue, do both of them help the understanding: and being appointed of God, they tend to the edification of the people in the Grace of Christ. The translating of the Psalms into verse, in number, measure, and meter, and suiting the Ditty with apt Tunes, do help to stir up the affection: And the singing of Psalms being appointed of God, they tend to make a gracious melody to the Praise of God and edification of his People. The sound of Aaron's Bells, and the blast of the silver Trumpets, and the workmanship of Hiram ▪ the Tyrian in Solomons Temple, did none of them hold forth any spiritual gift of grace: The gift of God in Nature and Art might •each them all. Yet all these being appointed by God, the putting forth of these gifts did tend to the edification of the Church of God in the Grace of Christ.

But the Answer is ready, that such things as helpe either the understanding, or the affection, and are appointed of God for his worship; they do tend to edification, and so to the praise of grace, though they may be performed by a gift of God in Nature or art, without any spirituall gift of Grace: Translation of the Scriptures into the Mother-Tongue, and the reading of them in a knowne tongue, doe both of them helpe the understanding: and being appointed of God, they tend to the edification of the people in the Grace of Christ. The translating of the Psalmes into verse, in number, measure, and meeter, and suiting the Ditty with apt Tunes, doe helpe to stirre up the affection: And the singing of Psalmes being appointed of God, they tend to make a gracious melody to the Praise of God and edification of his People. The sound of Aarons Bells, and the blast of the silver Trumpets, and the workmanship of Hiram the Tyrian in Solomons Temple, did none of them hold forth any spirituall gift of grace: The gift of God in Nature and Art might each them all. Yet all these being appointed by God, the putting forth of these gifts did tend to the edification of the Church of God in the Grace of Christ.