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

2. We grant also, that any private Christian, who hath a gift to frame a spiritual Song, may both frame it, and sing it privately, for his own private comfort, and remembrance of some special benefit, or deliverance: Nor do we forbid the private use of an Instrument of Music therewithal; So that attention to the Instrument, do not divert the heart from attention to the matter of the Song.

2. Wee grant also, that any private Christian, who hath a gift to frame a spirituall Song, may both frame it, and sing it privately, for his own private comfort, and remembrance of some speciall benefit, or deliverance: Nor doe we forbid the private use of an Instrument of Musick therewithall; So that attention to the Instrument, doe not divert the heart from attention to the matter of the Song.

Neither do we deny, but that in the public thanksgivings of the Church, if the Lord should furnish any of the members of the Church with a Spiritual gift to compose a Psalm upon any special occasion, he may lawfully be allowed to sing it before the Church, and the rest hearing it, and approving it, may go along with him in Spirit, and say Amen to it. When Christ ascended up on high, to sit upon his throne of glory, look as Princes are wont to do in the day of their Coronation, [Spargere Missilia & Donaria] so did he pour out his gifts abundantly on all sorts, gifts of Miracles, Healing, Tongues, Psalms. And the Churches were willing, when they saw such special gifts of the Spirit poured out to make use of them, as occasion served. Whence it was, that sundry of the ⟨p. 16⟩members of the Church of Corinth, as they had received a gift of Psalms and tongues from the Lord Jesus, so they had allowance from the Church •o employ their gifts to the public edification of the Church. But as such gifts now are not ordinarily bestowed, (which were at first given chiefly for admiration and conviction of Infidels, 1 Cor. 14.22.) so we would not call upon men now, to prefer their ordinary common gift, as more fit for the public edifying of the Church, before the extraordinary gifts of the holy men of God in Scripture, who by the Spirit were guided to prepare spiritual songs suitable to all the conditions and affections and temptations of the Church and people of God in all ages. So then the Question is, whether the Psalms of David, and Asaph, and such other Hymns and spiritual Songs indited by the Prophets, and recorded in Scripture, be appointed by God, to be ordinarily sung in Christian Churches, or whether laying aside Scripture-Songs, we are to sing only such spiritual Songs, as shall be indited by the personal (but ordinary) gifts of any ordinary Officer or member of the Church? The former we hold to be the Truth, others the latter.