A92933:65
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.
1. We desire it may be seriously considered that there is not the least mention of it in the New Testament, by any Precept or Example, wherein we are directed in the Worship of God. Certainly if our Lord Jesus was most faithful in the House of God, and if his Apostles did faithfully declare the whole Counsel of God to the Churches, then they would not have failed to have declared this also: So that it is purely a Humane Invention, without any shadow of ground for it in the Scriptures before mentioned, which are the only Rule to guide us in the solemn instituted Worship of God in his Church. If this Arguments hold good against the common Practice of Infants Sprinkling (called Baptism) as undoubtedly it doth; then it doth also as evidently prove that this way of common Singing is a Tradition of Men, and not an Ordinance of our Lord Jesus.
2. As there is not the least mention of it, as aforesaid, so it is directly contrary to what our Lord Jesus hath plainly declared, both as to the Qualification of the Worshippers, as well as to the manner of Worship in Gospel-Times; Joh. 4.23. The true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and i• Truth, &c. Can the Unbelievers, the Ignorant▪ and the Profane, thus worship the Father? are they thus qualified? or are they capable so to do? So that this Practice of theirs is a plain Contradiction to the Will of our Lord and Law-giver, in that Affair of Solemn Worship, which therefore ought to be rejected by all the upright in Heart.
3. Hereby there is an Opportunity given them to make, or to speak a Lie before the Lord, to take his Name in vain, while they speak that which they do not understand, and utter that as the frame of their Hearts which they do not receive in their Minds, nor can they know them, or truly affect them, while they remain in an unconverted Estate, because they are spiritually discerned. Now to be accessary unto, or to promote such a Transgression in the solemn Worship of God, which they unavoidably do who set up this common way of Singing, is a Practice that cannot be justified. There is more to be added to show the great Irregularity of this common Practice, which must be referred to its proper place.