A47407:122
The breach repaired in God's worship, or, Singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,…
The breach repaired in God's worship, or, Singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, proved to be an holy ordinance of Jesus Christ with an answer to all objections : as also, an examination of Mr. Isaac Marlow's two papers, one called, A discourse against singing, &c., the other, An appendix : wherein his arguments and cavils are detected and refuted / by Benjamin Keach ...
London: printed for Author, 1691
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Singing of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, an Holy Ordinance of… › Chapter 3
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Object. I know it is objected, Hath not God given to the Tongue a faculty to laugh as well as to sing? and, is it their Duty to laugh?
Answ. There is no doubt to be made, but to laugh at some time is lawful and good, it may be done without Sin, though in much laughter there wants not Folly. Man has not that Faculty in vain; and many will tell you, it is found in some Distempers very good for the Body, and tends to remove them too; besides, it may refresh the natural Spirits, when suppressed with Melancholy Gogitations. But what a trifling Objection is this! for as the one seems to be disallowed, unless it be on some special Occasions, so the other is given, it appears, on a far more excellent and sublime Account and Consideration, with frequent Injunctions to be found in it, which is not to be found of Laughter; therefore away with such contentious reasoning, against Reason and Scripture too. God hath enjoined you to sing Psalms, &c. to hi• that dwelleth in Zion, Psal. 9. 11. Singing forth the H•••ur and Praise of his Name, Psal. 66. 2. That doth wondrous Works for the Children of Men, for his Mercy endures forever, Psal. 107. 8. And so much the more ought Saints to be found in it, because he delights to hear the sweet Voice of his Church. Cant. 2. 14. Let me hear thy Voice, for sweet is thy Voice, &c. not only of Prayer, but of such sweet Praises too, no doubt. Christ's Ear is affected with this harmonious Praise, when performed by his own Spirit with Grace in our Hearts; it also elevates and carries up our Spirits to him. The Cloud of the Lord's Divine Presence (saith one) descended not before, but when the Trumpets ⟨p. 38⟩and Singers were as one, to make one Sound to be heard in praising and giving Thanks to the Lord; and when they lifted up their Voices in Praises to him, saying, For he is good, for his Mercy endureth for ever: then the Lord bowed his Ear, and vouchsafed his gracious Presence to his People; then the House was filled […] a Cloud, even the House of the Lord, 2 Ch. 5. 13.