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

Answ. 1. Paul did exhort them to be filled with the Spirit, as drunkards be with wine, not that they might invent, and sing spiritual Songs, as drunkards do wanton Sonnets; for neither do drunkards filled with wine, usually invent Sonnets, but sing such as they learned before, when they were sober; nor doth the Apostle speak of inventing Songs at all, either wanton Songs by drunkards, or spiritual Songs by the faithful; but only to be filled with the Spirit, as drunkards be with wine, that so they might avoid ⟨p. 20⟩the riotous and excessive mirth of Drunkards, and employ and improve their holy mirth and joy, to the singing Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs, for their own mutual edification and consolation, and for holy thanksgiving and praise unto the Lord.

Answ. 1. Paul did exhort them to be filled with the Spirit, as drunkards be with wine, not that they might invent, and sing spirituall Songs, as drunkards doe wanton Sonnets; for neither doe drunkards filled with wine, usually invent Sonnets, but sing such as they learned before, when they were sober; nor doth the Apostle speake of inventing Songs at all, either wanton Songs by drunkards, or spirituall Songs by the faithfull; but onely to be filled with the Spirit, as drunkards be with wine, that so they might avoyd ⟨p. 20⟩the riotous and excessive mirth of Drunkards, and employ and improve their holy mirth and joy, to the singing Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall Songs, for their own mutuall edification and consolation, and for holy thankesgiving and praise unto the Lord.

Answ. 2. Though it do not require such a full measure of the Spirit, nor rich portion of the Word dwelling in us, to sing a Psalm invented and penned to our hands: yet a full and rich measure of the Word and Spirit will be needful to perform all those duties, which the Apostle in those Texts calleth for. For the Apostle calleth to the improvement, as of the whole word of Christ▪ unto the teaching and admonishing of one another, so of the Psalms, not only unto those two heads, but also besides those, unto a further third end, to wit, unto the singing of them unto Gods praise. Now to be able to improve the whole word of God to these two spiritual ends, and the Psalms to all those three spiritual ends doth require a full and rich measure both of Spirit and Word to dwell in us.