A47407:677
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. We need no more the special Gift in Singing, to render our Singing Spiritual, than those special Gifts in Preaching to render our Sermons Spiritual.
2. As to have Grace in our Hearts, not only in the Habit, but also in the Exercise in Singing, we acknowledge it is necessary to a right performance of it: And so 'tis in Prayer, Preaching, and all other Spiritual Duties of Religion. And let me tell you, we need no greater assistance of the Spirit in Singing, than in Praying or Rejoicing, therefore what signifies that which you say pag. 45. Viz.
2. As to have Grace in our Hearts, not only in the Habit, but also in the Exercise in Singing, we acknowledg it is necessary to a right performance of it: And so 'tis in Prayer, Preaching, and all other Spiritual Duties of Religion. And let me tell you, we need no greater assistance of the Spirit in Singing, than in Praying or Rejoicing, therefore what signifies that which you say pag. 45. Viz.
The least exercise of true Grace in our Hearts in Prayer, gives Essence or Being to ⟨p. 42⟩Prayer; so the least exercise of gracious melodious Joy, gives Essence to inward Singing? And (say you) as we ought not vocally to pray in the Public Worship of God in the Church, without a sufficient Gift of the Spirit; so also we ought not vocally to sing in the Church, unless it be by a sufficient Gift of the Spirit. And seeing we have not such a Gift, we are not capable of vocal Spiritual Singing. […] we must be contented, as you intimate in pag. 46. with the Essence of it in our Spirits only.
The least exercise of true Grace in our Hearts in Prayer, gives Essence or Being to ⟨p. 42⟩