An answer to a brief discourse concerning singing in the public worship of God…An answer to a brief discourse concerning singing in the publick worship of God…

You had done fairly, to have put this your Question in the Title Page of your Book, but there is not one word of it there, except what you have confessed and granted, again and again, (as I have already noted out of divers Pages of your Book.) And so I proceed to offer something to your serious consideration, about the Essence ⟨p. 3⟩or Being of Singing; Which, you say, consists in an Inward Spiritual Exercise of the Soul or Mind of Man, p. 5. lin. 24, 25, 26. And this must be granted, say you.

No Brother! You must not take it for granted, until your Reasons or Arguments be examined, which you bring to prove it. You affirm, p. 6. lin. 9, 10, 11, 12. That the Scriptures do clearly witness, That the Essence of Prayer and Praises, and of Sin, do all consist in an inward Exercise of the Soul and Spirit. And from thence you conclude, That the Essence or Being of Singing consists in the inward Spiritual Exercise of the Soul or Mind of Man. If you consult with any Logician, he can show you the Weakness of your Consequence in this Argument.

No Brother! You must not take it for granted, until your Reasons or Arguments be examined, which you bring to prove it. You affirm, p. 6. lin. 9, 10, 11, 12. That the Scriptures do clearly witness, That the Essence of Prayer and Praises, and of Sin, do all consist in an inward Exercise of the Soul and Spirit. And from thence you conclude, That the Essence or Being of Singing consists in the inward Spiritual Exercise of the Soul or Mind of Man. If you consult with any Logician, he can shew you the Weakness of your Consequence in this Argument.

Now, the Essence or Being of Singing in the Church of God, unto edifying, consists in the Voice, as well as in the Soul or Mind of Man: Page 16. lin. 16, 17. you say right pag. 9. lin. 9, 10. We find in Scripture another kind of Singing,