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

IT grieves me I have further occasion to trouble you after this manner: I know not what should move Mr. Marlow to write his Appendix, just at a time when he was told I was writing an Answer to his first Discourse: he might have had a little Patience, and have staid till my Treatise was published, whereby he might the better have perceived, whether what he wrote the last Year would abide the Test or Trial of God's Word or not: This is therefore his second Attempt in public against God's holy Ordinance of singing of Psalms, Hymns, &c. before any body appeared visibly to oppose, or put a stop to his undue Proceedings. For what Call he had to begin this Controversy at such an unseasonable time, I know not; but since he has done it, certainly none can see any just cause to blame me for standing ⟨p. 4⟩up in the Defence of that Truth of Jesus Christ, which I am so well satisfied about, and established in, and that too as it is practised by the Church, to whom I am related as an unworthy Member, and above twenty Baptized Congregations besides in this Nation. Tho before I went about it, I offered my Brethren (him or any other) a sober and friendly Conference in the Spirit of Meekness, which I could not obtain, tho I did not give such a public Challenge as my Brother intimates in that strange Epistle he hath wrote to me; but upon the coming forth of his Book, I was troubled, and would have had it been discoursed in the General Assembly, but that was not consented to; and then I told my honoured and Reverend Brethren my purpose was to give an Answer to his Book, but did not enter upon it till I was urged by several, and particularly by Mr. Marlow himself, before divers Witnesses, in such kind of words as these, i. e. Answer me like a Man. Whether he is answered like a Man, or but like a Child, is left to your Consideration, 'tis done according to that Light and Ability God hath been pleased to bestow upon me.