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

I answer, Some have so smiled at this Expression, that they can't tell what he intends by •t, unless he would show himself skilled in Chemistry. But since he meddles with Divine Things, I must confess I am troubled to see such kind of words used, that no Body knows what to make of them: By Essence of a thing, I always understood the Substance or Being of a thing: Now if the Substance and Being of Singing, and other Gifts of the Spirit, (by which I suppose he means other Duties of God's Worship which are to be performed by those Gifts,) •ie in our Spirits, and may be, without distinction, performed acceptably to God, without Verbal or Vocal Instruments of the Body, •hen farewell to Verbal or Vocal Preaching and Praying too: It grieves my Soul to see the Ho•y Truths of God's Worship invaded. Is not the Essence of Preaching in our Spirits, as much as the Essence of Singing is there? And are we not as capable in our Spirits to worship God, in all other Ordinances, without the ⟨p. 14⟩Verbal or Vocal Instruments of the Body, as well as in Singing without Voice, by your Argument? And let me tell you, you have said more to justify the Quakers Silent Meetings than you are aware of: Nay, 'tis an Argument, as far as I know, they may thank you for; but by this way of reasoning, there is no mo•• need of the poor Body to glorify God in his Worship; and our Glory, (viz. our Tongue) is brought to shame hereby; and 'tis no less […] to rob God of the Glory of his Holy Ordinances, and his Church, and every particular Saint, of the use and comfort of them, so far as […] Body or Members thereof are employed in […] about them, they being of no use at all; And what is this, but to turn all outward or external Worship, into a spiritual, inward, or heart-business?

I answer, Some have so smiled at this Expression, that they can't tell what he intends by •t, unless he would shew himself skill'd in Chymistry. But since he meddles with Divine Things, I must confess I am troubled to see such kind of words used, that no Body knows what to make of them: By Essence of a thing, I always understood the Substance or Being of a thing: Now if the Substance and Being of Singng, and other Gifts of the Spirit, (by which I suppose he means other Duties of God's Worship which are to be performed by those Gifts,) ie in our Spirits, and may be, wihtout distinction, performed acceptably to God, without Verbal or Vocal Instruments of the Body, hen farewel to Verbal or Vocal Preaching and Praying too: It grieves my Soul to see the Hoy Truths of God's Worship invaded. Is not the Essence of Preaching in our Spirits, as much as the Essence of Singing is there? And are we not as capable in our Spirits to worship God, in all other Ordinances, without the