A47407:627
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.
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.
Answ. 1. Have not Believers now the Holy Spirit, as well as they had it then, though not in such an extraordinary manner? And have not we the Fruit of it, i. e. Joy, Peace, &c. in believing? Also you mistake your self, Joy doth not appertain to the Gifts of the Spirit, but 'tis a •ruit of the Graces of the Spirit. Do not the Saints now rejoice in hope of the Glory of God, as well as they did then?
There is no such cause or ground from the Reception of Tongues, or the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit, (as you intimate) to sing the Praises of God; For many (our Saviour saith) shall say in that Day, We have prophesied in thy Name, and in thy Name have cast out Devils, and in thy Name have done many wonderful Works. To whom he will say, Depart from me, I know ye not. And the Apostle saith, Though I speak with Tongues of Men and Angels, and have not Charity, I am become as sounding Brass, or a tinkling Cymbal, 1 Cor. 13. 1.
From whence it appears that inward Joy and Peace of which you speak, as the Cause of Singing in the Apostles Times, did not flow from that extraordinary Gift of the Spirit, but from the saving Graces of the Spirit; either it flows from the consideration of common or external Mercies and Blessings, wherein all are concerned to sing the Praises of God, who gives them fruitful Seasons, filling their Hearts with Joy and Gladness; or else it flows from those special and internal Blessings which only concern the Saints, viz. Union with God, Communion with God, Faith, Love, &c. Tongues were for a Sign, not for them who believe, but for them who believe not, 1 Cor. 14. 22. Extraordinary Gifts were to convince Unbelievers of the Truth, and not for the Joy and Comfort of such who did believe. Men that have the Gift of Tongues, may be graceless, and so without Christ, and perish eternally in Hell;