The breach repaired in God's worship, or, Singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,…

IT may seem strange to some wise and learned Men, that I begin here; possibly they will say, there is no need to speak a word about this, for all the World are agreed in the Case; all know what it is to sing, as well as they know what it is to speak. Though this be true, yet I find a necessity to open this Act of the Bodily Organ, as will appear by what follows; for some Men, it seems, are so confounded in their Thoughts, that they do not know what Singing is, but think there may be ⟨p. 6⟩a Singing without the Tongue, taking the word [Melody in the Heart] to be all the Singing the Holy Ghost exhorts to in the New Testament; and so would have us believe there is a mental Singing, as well as mental Praying; nay, which is worse, would wholly exclude all other Singing besides that, which is very hard; if they should do so by Prayer, it would strangely amuse all good People, viz. that we must have nothing but Heart-Prayer, without a Voice. Others say, that one Person may be the Mouth in Singing, as well as in Praying; and so a multitude may be said to sing with him, though there is none sings but that single Man, as in Prayer. A third sort there be, I find, who conclude Singing is wholly comprehended in the Ordinance of Prayer, and from hence please themselves that they do sing, when in Prayer they give Thanks to God, or praise God. But very remarkable it is to see how these Men are confounded by this last Assertion, in respect of one Objection they bring against Singing.

Object. What will you sing your Prayers? you may as well go to Common-Prayer, &c.

Thus I have heard one or two worthy Men speak, not long since: Why, truly Brethren, it appears you do sing your Prayers, nay, and that always too when you pray; for I am persuaded you never pray to God for what you want, but you see cause to praise him for what you have received. All that ever wrote of