For in so saying, you will not avoid the authority of the Commandment, nor the necessity of that duty of singing. For when God redeemed his people out of the Captivity of Babel, not only their hearts (the hearts of them who were returning to Zion) were filled with rejoicing, but even their tongues also with singing, Psal. 126.1, 2. And though the Trees cannot be said in proper speech to clap their hands, (for they have no hands to clap) yet common sense will easily tell you, that there is a Metaphor either in clapping of hands, or in the trees. If trees be taken properly, then clapping of hands is put (by a Metaphor) for the flourishing fruitfulness of the trees of the field, which (by the blessing of God) is wont to follow the prosperity of the Church, in such abundance, that their boughs and branches shall clap and dash themselves and their fruit one upon another, whereby (as by hands) they reach forth refreshing and food to the children of the Church. But if Trees be put by a Metaphor for trees of righteousness, (as the Saints are so called, Isa. 61, 3.) then they shall clap their hands, and shout for joy▪ and sing aloud, (expressing external signs of comfort) to behold and consider the wonderful goodness of the Lord, to themselves and their brethren. And so in the same verse, Isai. 55.12. when the Mountains and hills are said to break forth before the Saints into singing, if there be not a Metaphor in singing then Mountains and hills are put (by a Metaphor) for Princes and men of high degree, (as Psal. 72.3.) which shall give example to others in holy rejoicing, and particularly in singing praises to the Lord. So that these Texts in Isaiah, which you thought might excuse you from singing with the voice, (which David exhorted to be done with a loud voice) they will not exempt you at all from this duty, but rather bind you the stronger to it. And therefore ⟨p. 14⟩look as when David saith; I cried to the Lord with my voice, (Psal. 3, 4. & 77.1.) a man shall detract from his meaning, that shall say, he cried only to God with his heart: So when David exhorteth the Gentile Churches to make a joyful noise unto God with Psalms; you do detract in like sort from his meaning, when you make his meaning to be, not that we should sing unto God with our voices, but that we should only make melody to him, with grace in our hearts.
For in so saying, you will not avoyde the authoritie of the Commandement, nor the necessitie of that dutie of singing. For when God redeemed his people out of the Captivitie of Babel, not onely their hearts (the hearts of them who were returning to Zion) were filled with rejoycing, but even their tongues also with singing, Psal. 126.1, 2. And though the Trees cannot be said in proper speech to clap their hands, (for they have no hands to clap) yet common sense will easily tell you, that there is a Mataphor either in clapping of hands, or in the trees. If trees be taken properly, then clapping of hands is put (by a Metaphor) for the flourishing fruitfulnesse of the trees of the field, which (by the blessing of God) is wont to follow the prosperitie of the Church, in such aboundance, that their boughes and branches shall clap and dash themselves and their fruite one upon another, whereby (as by hands) they reach forth refreshing and food to the children of the Church. But if Trees be put by a Metaphor for trees of righteousnesse, (as the Saints are so called, Isa. 61, 3.) then they shall clap their hands, and shout for joy▪ and sing aloud, (expressing externall signes of comfort) to behold and consider the wonderfull goodnesse of the Lord, to themselves and their brethren. And so in the same verse, Isai. 55.12. when the Mountaines and hills are said to break forth before the Saints into singing, if there be not a Metaphor in singing then Mountaines and hills are put (by a Metaphor) for Princes and men of high degree, (as Psal. 72.3.) which shall give example to others in holy rejoycing, and particularly in singing praises to the Lord. So that these Texts in Isaiah, which you thought might excuse you from singing with the voyce, (which David exhorted to be done with a loud voyce) they will not exempt you at all from this duty, but rather bind you the stronger to it. And therefore ⟨p. 14⟩looke as when David saith; I cryed to the Lord with my voyce, (Psal. 3, 4. & 77.1.) a man shall detract from his meaning, that shall say, he cryed onely to God with his heart: So when David exhorteth the Gentile Churches to make a joyfull noyse unto God with Psalmes; you doe detract in like sort from his meaning, when you make his meaning to be, not that wee should sing unto God with our voyces, but that we should onely make melody to him, with grace in our hearts.
