A47407:590
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.
Preface: To all the Saints and Churches of Jesus Christ, Christian Salutation.
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.
As to that way Mr. Marlow speaks of praising of God in Prayer, without singing of Praises, as being more suitable (as he thinks) to the ordinary Gifts of the Spirit. I must tell him, God's Word• our Rule; and since God doth require his People to celebrate his Praises by singing Psalms, Hymns, &c. doubtless that suits as well with the ordinary Gifts of the Spirit, as such Gifts suit with Prayer, Preaching, &c. And I fear one day he will not be found able to give any good account of himself in his bold Attempt, in seeking to rob God of his glorious Praise by singing to him, as he hath enjoined us to do; nor do I fear, but through the Help and Authority of God's Word, I shall, in the Day of Christ, stand with Joy and Confidence before him, upon this respect, when possibly he may be ashamed, if he has not sincere Repentance for what he has done.
As to that way Mr. Marlow speaks of praising of God in Prayer, without singing of Praises, as being more suitable (as he thinks) to the ordinary Gifts of the Spirit. I must tell him, God's Word• our Rule; and since God doth require his People to celebrate his Praises by singing Psalms, Hymns, &c. doubtless that suits as well with the ordinary Gifts of the Spirit, as such Gifts suit with Prayer, Preaching, &c. And I fear one day he will not be found able to give any good account of himself in his bold Attempt, in seeking to rob God of his glorious Praise by singing to him, as he hath enjoined us to do; nor do I fear, but through the Help and Authority of God's Word, I shall, in the Day of Christ, stand with Joy and Confidence before him, upon this respect, when possibly he may be ashamed, if he has not sincere Repentence for what he has done.
Is it not a false Assertion for him to say as he doth, (in his Epistle to me) That as to our way of Vocal Singing together• there is neither Command nor Example for it, either in ⟨p. 13⟩the Old or New Testament? I shall leave it to the Consideration of all wise and sober Men. Certainly all will conclude the Man is strangely left of God, especially considering he builds his main Confidence from a remote and indirect signification of a Greek Word, and yet, as I am told, understands not that Language neither.