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

Answ. We cannot say, That Gods goodness goeth beyond his Truth, though sometime he show a man mercy out of his way. For we have the truth of Gods word to testify, that so sometime he doth as Saul found converting grace in going to Damascus to persecute the Saints. But this we say, that when God doth thus, he either convinceth a man of the error of his way, before he show him favour in it, (as he did Saul;) or else the way it self, or Duty is of God, though there be some falling in the circumstance of it. Many of Israel that came to the Passover in Hezekiahs time in their uncleanness, yet they found mercy with the Lord. But it was because the Ordinance and Duty was of God, the failing was only in the manner of Preparation to it, 2 Chron. 30.18, 19, 20. But if Micah set up an invention of his own in his house, though he may promise himself a blessing in some orderly circumstance of it, (as he did Judg. 17.13.) yet let him be sure he shall find a curse in stead of a blessing, according as God hath expressed it, Deut. 7.26. It is granted and bewailed, that there hath been found some sinful failings in sundry circumstances of some Ministers callings: And yet because the substance of the calling was of God; many have found saving blessings in attending on their Ministry. And the Lords ⟨p. 72⟩Supper administered by them being of God, though the gesture in which it was received was corrupt, the Lord was pleased to accept and bless what was his own, and to pass by sins of ignorance in his people. But can it ever be proved that when any practise of Gods worship hath been but an humane and Antichristian invention, that it hath been nevertheless blessed with the communication of spiritual affections, and that not seldom and rarely, but frequently and usually; not to one or two Saints, but generally; not to the weakest, but to the strongest Christians? We are verily persuaded no such instance can be given since the world began. God is not wont to honour and bless the ways of superstition, with the reward of sincere devotion. But surely God hath delighted to bless the singing of his holy Psalms, with gracious and spiritual affections, not only in Augustine's time, & in Justine Martyrs before him, but from age to age to his Saints, usually, generally, and abundantly: