The accomplished singer. Instructions how the piety of singing with a true devotion, may…

BUT let this be one of the First Things prescribed. Study and Labour for such Impressions of PIETY on our Minds, as we may easily discover to have been upon the Minds of the Inspired Writers, at the Time when they wrote the spiritual Songs, which we are now Singing unto the Lord. An Exultation of PIETY in Singing unto GOD, has an Infinite Recommendation of it, from This; That the Prophetic SPIRIT, falling according to the Good Pleasure of GOD, upon the Children of Men, and His Good Angels possessing of them, one of the Gifts with which they were endowed, and one of the Acts to which they were excited, was that of Singing unto GOD. They could not but break forth into songs, wherein the Great Things of GOD were celebrated: When they came together, every one (whom Heaven Inspired for it) had a Psalus. Those Extraordinary Operations have been withheld from the Church, during the Three Years and an half (that is to say, Twelve hundred and sixty) wherein it must not Rain. And whether they will be revived, when that Period shall be Expired, and there will be a sound of abundance of Rain, 'tis known only to our Ascended Lord, who has the bestowing of them. In the mean time, This is what we have to do, that according to the Dispensation of the Day, we may Sing with the Spirit, and Sing also with Understanding. The Writers of our spiritual Songs were Holy Men of GOD; and had a ⟨p. 13⟩Principle of PIETY Sanctifying of them. There can be no doubt of it, but that when the Holy SPIRIT with His Afflations, disposed them to write what we have in our Hands, He produced in their Hearts those Motions of Piety, which were agreeable and answerable to the Matter then flowing from their Pens. In what they have written, there is very Legible, and a very ordinary Capacity may see, A Confession of Holy Truths, with an Heart Believing of them, Consenting to them; A Desire of Promised Blessings, with a Value for them; a Love to GOD, (and Man;) and a Zeal for His Kingdom; and His Word and Ordinances; a Faith in GOD, and our SAVIOUR, and His Promises; with a Joy in Him; and a Rapturous Admiration of Him; An horror of sin, and a sorrow for it; and a Fear of the Judgments threatened unto it; a Resolution for the Service of GOD; and a Retreat unto Him: with a Despair to find Relief in Creatures; with other Motions of Piety, which belong to the Life of GOD in the Soul.

BUT let this be one of the First Things prescribed. Study and Labour for such Impressions of PIETY on our Minds, as we may easily discover to have been upon the Minds of the Inspired Writers, at the Time when they wrote the spiritual Songs, which we are now Singing unto the Lord. An Exultation of PIETY in Singing unto GOD, has an Infinite Recommendation of it, from This; That the Prophetic SPIRIT, falling according to the Good Pleasure of GOD, upon the Children of Men, and His Good Angels possessing of them, one of the Gifts with which they were endowed, and one of the Acts to which they were excited, was that of Singing unto GOD. They could not but break forth into songs, wherein the Great Things of GOD were celebrated: When they came together, every one (whom Heaven Inspired for it) had a Psalus. Those Extraordinary Operations have been witheld from the Church, during the Three Years and an half (that is to say, Twelve hundred and sixty) wherein it must not Rain. And whether they will be revived, when that Period shall be Expired, and there will be a sound of abundance of Rain, 'tis known only to our Ascended Lord, who has the bestowing of them. In the mean time, This is what we have to do, that according to the Dispensation of the Day, we may Sing with the Spirit, and Sing also with Understanding. The Writers of our spiritual Songs were Holy Men of GOD; and had a