Answ. So we are commanded to rejoice evermore, 1 Thess. 5. 16. and in every thing to give thanks to God, Phil. 4. 4, 6. And to sing his ⟨p. 174⟩Praises, is the highest way or manner of rejoicing and giving Thanks to God we are capable of attaining to, as it appears in all the Scripture; And also by the example of the Holy Angels, who this way rejoice and give Thanks to God. Besides, the Preacher may pray before he comes out of his Closet, or secretly in his Heart when in the Pulpit, and answer those general Precepts: so that you may see what such kind of Cavillings will bring us to. 'Tis evident we read of several Sermons the Apostle Peter preached, and Paul too, and some of them in Church-Assemblies, but no more mention is made of praying before or after their Sermons, than is of their Singing. And is it not as convenient a time when we hear the Excellencies of Jesus Christ, and the infinite Love of God, and the Happiness of Believers opened, then to sing and praise God, as it is a proper Season to pray to God for a Blessing upon the Word? there is the like parity of Reason for the one as there is for the other. If any has the advantage, 'tis the Ordinance of Singing, for two Reasons; the one is a Precept, the other a Precedent. The Precept is given us by David, containing a Prophecy of the Gospel-days, and Gospel-Church. Psal. 100. 1. Make a joyful Noise unto the Lord, all ye Lands: Come before his presence with Singing. So Psal. 95. O Come let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful Noise to the Rock of our Salvation. And, vers. 2. Let us make a joyful Noise unto him with Psalms. This all ⟨p. 175⟩People, i. e. the Gentile-Churches are required to do as well as others, and to do it too when they come into the Presence of God; which […] Expositors say, intends our coming into God's Presence in his Public Worship. Moreover, the Watch-men (and desolate Places, or Souls who have been like desolate Places) saith […] Prophet, shall lift up the Voice, with the Voice together shall they sing, Isa. 52. 7, 8. And these Watch-men are those whose Feet are beautiful […] the Mountains, who preach the Gospel of Peace, and bring glad-tidings of good things.
Answ. So we are commanded to rejoice evermore, 1 Thess. 5. 16. and in every thing to give thanks to God, Phil. 4. 4, 6. And to sing his ⟨p. 174⟩Praises, is the highest way or manner of rejocing and giving Thanks to God we are capable of attaining to, as it appears in all the Scripture; And also by the example of the Holy Angels, who this way rejoice and give Thanks to God. Besides, the Preacher may pray before he comes out of his Closet, or secretly in his Heart when in the Pulpit, and answer those general Precepts: so that you may see what such kind of Cavilings will bring us to. 'Tis evident we read of several Sermons the Apostle Peter preached, and Paul too, and some of them in Church-Assemblies, but no more mention is made of praying before or after their Sermons, than is of their Singing. And is it not as convenient a time when we hear the Excellencies of Jesus Christ, and the infinite Love of God, and the Happiness of Believers opened, then to sing and praise God, as it is a proper Season to pray to God for a Blessing upon the Word? there is the like parity of Reason for the one as there is for the other. If any has the advantage, 'tis the Ordinance of Singing, for two Reasons; the one is a Precept, the other a Precedent. The Precept is given us by David, containing a Prophecy of the Gospel-days, and Gospel-Church. Psal. 100. 1. Make a joyful Noise unto the Lord, all ye Lands: Come before his presence with Singing. So Psal. 95. O Come let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful Noise to the Rock of our Salvation. And, vers. 2. Let us make a joyful Noise unto him with Psalms. This all ⟨p. 175⟩People, i. e. the Gentile-Churches are required to do as well as others, and to do it too when they come into the Presence of God; which 〈…〉 Expositors say, intends our coming into God's Presence in his Publick Worship. Moreover, the Watch-men (and desolate Places, or Souls who have been like desolate Places) saith 〈…〉 Prophet, shall lift up the Voice, with the Voice together shall they sing, Isa. 52. 7, 8. And these Watch-men are those whose Feet are beautiful 〈…〉 the Mountains, who preach the Gospel of Peace, and bring glad-tidings of good things.
