A47407:54
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 1
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.
Now in like manner, if there be any such sort or kind of singing as these Men plead for, viz. a mental singing, i. e. a Heart-singing without the Tongue, mentioned in Scripture, (tho I must confess I know none) yet it could be no more a proper singing, than the Blood of Abel, which is said to speak, is a proper speaking: so that if they could show us in any place of God's Word, where any Godly Man is said to sing, and yet his Voice was not heard, it would signify nothing to their purpose in turning all singing unto Heart-Melody, or inward rejoicing only, without the Tongue expressing of it musically, or in a melodious manner; for this is just to destroy the Propriety of different Actions and Things said to be done. As to the other Objection, take what Mr. Sid•• •am, ⟨p. 10⟩in his Treatise of Singing, saith in Answer to this Objection, pag. 208.
Now in like manner, if there be any such sort or kind of singing as these Men plead for, viz. a mental singing, i. e. a Heart-singing without the Tongue, mentioned in Scripture, (tho I must confess I know none) yet it could be no more a proper singing, than the Blood of Abel, which is said to speak, is a proper speaking: so that if they could shew us in any place of God's Word, where any Godly Man is said to sing, and yet his Voice was not heard, it would signify nothing to their purpose in turning all singing unto Heart-Melody, or inward rejoycing only, without the Tongue expressing of it musically, or in a melodious manner; for this is just to destroy the Propriety of different Actions and Things said to be done. As to the other Objection, take what Mr. Sid•• •am, ⟨p. 10⟩in his Treatise of Singing, saith in Answer to this Objection, pag. 208.
Obj. But if one say (saith he) when one prays all may be said to pray, tho they do but consent, it may be so in singing of Psalms, &c.