A47407:327
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 14
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.
2. It's not unlawful to join in any Act with others, or to countenance them in it, which is really their Duty as well as […] own: I cannot sin in joining with any one in that Act, to perform which is the Duty ⟨p. 109⟩of another, as mine, though he may want the present Ability.
2. It's not unlawful to join in any Act with others, or to countenance them in it, which is really their Duty as well as 〈…〉 own: I cannot sin in joining with any one in that Act, to perform which is the Duty ⟨p. 109⟩of another, as mine, though he may want the present Ability.
For Duties must be measured according to the Rule, not the Ability of the Performer. Now, it's no Duty for any Man to receive the Lord's Supper, or be a Member of a Church in order to Communion, without he find himself in some measure fitted by Grace, these Sealing Ordinances of the Gospel, suppose and require some other Qualification, and are peculiar to visible Saints; but where there is a natural Character, or an Ordinance as to the Substance of it, at least equally concerning all, there is no Sin to join in the administration of it: And if we consider of it warily, unregenerate Men are great sharers in the Mercies of the Churches, besides their own particular Duty, that they may well join with them in setting forth God's Praises. But more closely and particularly.
1. When the Church and Saints of God are gathered together to worship him in Singing, it is no more unlawful to sing with others that stand by and join their Voices, than when in Prayer they stand by and give their Consent; we do not so much join with them, as they do own God's Actings among us: It is no sin in them to join with us in such a Duty, neither can it be any sin in us to sing, though others very carnal will outwardly praise God with us.