A92933:143
A Serious answer to a late book styled, A reply to Mr. Robert Steed's…A Serious answer to a late book stiled, A reply to Mr. Robert Steed's…
A Serious answer to a late book styled, A reply to Mr. Robert Steed's epistle concerning singing wherein the chief scriptures and arguments are examined, and the weakness thereof showed : together with an answer to the several reflections, and false charges, against both churches and persons, recommended to the elders, ministers, and members of baptized churches.A Serious answer to a late book stiled, A reply to Mr. Robert Steed's epistle concerning singing wherein the chief scriptures and arguments are examined, and the weakness thereof shewed : together with an answer to the several reflections, and false charges, against both churches and persons, recommended to the elders, ministers, and members of baptized churches.
London : s.n., Printed in the Year, 1692
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.
In answer to which, we ask them again, How they dare to say, that Singing of Psalms in Meter, with a tunable Voice, by the whole Church, and a mixed Multitude, is of Divine Institution, when not one Word of all they have written doth prove it? It hath been already granted, that Singing of Psalms in the Temple-Worship was of Divine Institution. And we acknowledge that all the Songs and Psalms in the Old Testament, are the undoubted unerring Word of God, and of excellent use to ⟨p. 58⟩all the Servants of God, profitable for Doctrine and Consolation; wherein are contained many excellent Experiences of God's gracious dealing with his People, and many blessed Promises and Prophecies for the establishment of the Church and Servants of God. But we say the Singing of those Psalms, as they had respect to the Temple-Worship, with their Musical Singing and Instruments, with the Persons assigned for that kind of Exercise, are all at an end. You will find 55 of them directed to the Master of Music, and 15 of them called each a Song of Degrees, and most of them directed to the Sons of Korah. And by the most Learned and Renowned Men of our Age, it is asserted that those Ordinances being ended by the Coming of Christ, who was to destroy the City and the Sanctuary, and to cause the Sacrifice and Oblation to cease: It remains now that the Word of Christ dwell richly in us, in all Wisdom; and that we be filled with the Spirit, speaking to our selves, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms, and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, &c. And if that manner of Worship, under the Law, is ceased, as is affirmed by the Learned and Pious that it is, then can it not be in the manner of that Administration in any respect, unless you will say that the Type and the Anti-Type are all one. But if the Gospel be the Anti-Type of those Types, then we must conclude, that as they were outward in their Melody and Music, so the Melody now under the Gospel must be inward or spiritual: That is, the joyful Voice, signifying the Melody and Joy of our Hearts to God, expressed in Praising and Thanksgiving to God, who hath revealed more of his Grace by Jesus Christ, That he who is a Spirit, may be worshipped in ⟨p. 59⟩Spirit and in Truth. As Learned Dr. Owen saith, in his Exposition on Heb. 2.13. before cited.