:i;-^- \. 
 
FROM THE LIBRARY OF 
 REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D. 
 
 BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 W57 
 
Mr. HARRIS'S 
 
 E R M O N 
 
 O N 
 
 Catechizing^ 
 
 AND 
 
 Singing of Pfalms: 
 
Scripture - Knowledi 
 
 hy Catechizing, 
 
 SE RM O N 
 
 PreachM at the 
 
 Reverend Mr, F LEMMING'S 
 
 Meeting - Place, in Lothhry; 
 May the nth. 171 2. 
 
 T O 
 
 A S O C I E T Y , for Carrying on That 
 Work. 
 
 In which is alfo fet forth. 
 
 The Excellency and Usefulness 
 of Shohg of PSALMS. 
 
 By Samuel Harris. 
 
 L O N D O^N, 
 Printed by B. Mills, and Sold hy T.Hanifif^^ 
 at the IVeft Corner of the Ro)d Exchange] 
 in Corn hi II, 1712. 
 
n 
 
£5] 
 
 ' " " » i II I ^ 
 
 Scripture - Knowledge promoted hy 
 Catechizing^ &c. 
 
 A 
 
 SERMON 
 
 CoLossiANs iii. \6. 
 Let the Word ofChriB dwell in you 
 richly J in all Wijdoniy Teachings 
 and Admonijhing one another in 
 TJalms , Hymns , and Spiritual 
 Songs, Singing with Grace in your 
 Hearts to the Lord. 
 
 TH E Apoftle, according to his accuftom'd 
 Pradice with other Churches, labours 
 to fettle the Cdojfimi in the Effentials 
 of Chriftianity, in Oppofition to Pagamfm on the 
 One Hand, and "Judaifm on the Other ; or the 
 Blending of either with the pure Profeflion of the 
 Holy GofpeJ. 
 
 And 
 
6 Scripture-Knowledge 
 
 And having thus laid his Foundation, he 
 proceeds to- raife the Superftrufture of Holinefs 
 upon it ; herein evidencing himfelf to be a Wife 
 Mafter-Builder : An Honour, which, without 
 Vanity, he thought, he might affume to him- 
 
 felt. According to the Grace of GODy which 
 
 ^ giv^n to me^ as a Wife Majfer- Builder I have 
 iaid the Foundation, i Cor. j. lo. 
 
 And whereas the Sum of Practical Religion is 
 reducible to Two Heads ; either that which is 
 of Univerfai Concernment to al! in every State 
 or Condition ; or that which is of Peculiar 
 Concernment to fome only, in their refpeftive 
 Stations and Relations one to another ; he mul- 
 tiplies Precepts of Counfel of both Kinds. 
 
 The Words of this Text fall in with his more 
 General Exhortations of Univerfal Concernment, 
 in which he fixes his Eye on Two Things of 
 Weight and Moment in our Chrirtian Profeflion. 
 
 I. That we he richly furni(h'*d with Spiritual 
 i\jiO}vledge. 
 
 II. That rve he much in the Exercife of that 
 Branch of Religion, The Singing forth 
 GOD'S Praife. 
 
 I. That we be furnifh^d with a Stock of Spiritual 
 JKjjowledge : And in as much as Knowledge of 
 this kind, muft derive its Original from the Head- 
 Spring of Scripture ; therefore, he recommends 
 an Abounding in Scripture-Knowledge. Let the 
 Word of CHRIST dmll in you richly ^ in all Wif 
 dom. He aptly decypliers it the Word of CHRIST^ 
 partly as Himfelf was at firft the Publifher and 
 ^ ' Dif^ 
 
promoted hy Catechizing. j 
 
 Difpenfer of it ; and after Him His Chofen Apo 
 ftles, a£led by the fame infallible Spirit : And 
 partly, as the feveral Parts of Sacred Writ do pe- 
 culiarly treat of Him, His Perfon, Birth, Life, 
 Doftrine, Miracles, Office, Sufferings and Death ; 
 as our Glorious Head and Mediator, every Line 
 of Scripture-Revelation does center in Him. 
 
 And being His Word^ 'tis imply 'd, that all 
 imaginable Obligation is laid on us to be atten- 
 tive to it, and to labour to improve in the Under- 
 ftanding of it ; in that His Grace as well as Au^ 
 thorny is a Motive in the Cafe : We fliall evi- 
 dence our Ingratitude as well as Difobedience, 
 if the Word of the Redeemer, who dy'd to fave 
 lis, take not Place in our Hearts. I pray GOD, 
 the Senfe of His abounding Love exprefs'd this 
 Way may imprefs our Spirits, and excite us to 
 Application to the Word as pecuharly His. Par- 
 ticularly, 
 
 Firft, That it dwell in ui. 
 
 Secondly, That it dwell in m richly. 
 
 Thirdly, That it dwell in m richly in allWifdom. 
 
 Firft, That it dwell in us : evoi^eilo h vfuv^ ah 
 oiKQSf Domus ; /. e. That it may take up its Abode 
 in us ; not be an Occafional Vifiter, but a fettPd 
 Refident, as a Man is in his Houfe, which he 
 choofes for his Dwelling : This implies Two 
 Things. 
 
 I. That we be familiar and Converfant with 
 If, as a Man is with his Home : His Occafions 
 poflibly, fometimes call him Abroad to difpatch 
 Bufinefs, neverthelefs he is a Stranger Abroad ; 
 his own Home is the Place of Being he is moftly 
 converfant with. Even fo the Word of GOD 
 
 Ihou'd 
 
8 Scripture-Knowledge 
 
 fhouM be our chief Study to know, and our 
 Care and Endeavour to conform unto : It Chou'd 
 employ our Minds at all Times and Seafons, in 
 every Place, and in every Condition ; fo we arc 
 
 admonifh'd it fhould. Deut. 6. 6, to 9. Thefe 
 
 Words which I command thee this Daj/y fha/l be in thy 
 He Art ^ and thou jhalt teach them diligently unto thy 
 Children^ and fbalt talk of them when thou JitteH in 
 thine Houfe^ and when thou walkeji by the Way^ and 
 when thou lye(l down, and when thou rifejl up ; Thou 
 jhalt bind them for a Sign ufon thine Hands, and 
 they fball be as Frontlets between thine Eyes j Thou 
 fhalt write them ufon the Po[ls of thine Huufe, and 
 upon thy Gxtes^ Oh ! 'tis fad to confider, how 
 generally Precepts of this Nature are neglected 
 m this degenerate i^ge? Many People are fo far 
 from being familiar with the Scriptures, that they 
 are Strangers to them, and fancy they do a great 
 Matter, if once or twice in a Week, they take 
 their Bible in Hand, ajid read a Chapter therein. 
 How, pray, can GOD's Word be faid to dwell m 
 their Hearts. 
 
 And that which adds to the Trefpafs of Ne- 
 gleft is, That tho"* the Canon of Scripture has 
 been long fince compleated, and the Grace of 
 GOD, and our Lord JESUS CHRIST in It 
 liioft amply reveaPd ; yet 'tis no Attradion to 
 them to the Study of It : Whereas a fmall Por- 
 tion of it pen'd in Mofes'^s Day, he judg'd had 
 fufficient Worth to invite hereunto. The Lord 
 grant a Revival of this decayed Work, the 
 Study of the Scriptures. 
 
 2. The Inhabitation of the Word in m^ imports 
 our High Fleajure and Delight therein : Like a 
 
 Man 
 
promoted hy Catechizing. § 
 
 Man in his Home, which, tho' perhaps, it be not 
 fo well accommodated as fome other Dwelling, 
 yet beft pleafes him becaufe his own : Home is 
 HomCj thd* never fo homelj. Now, a Delight like 
 this, there ought to be in the Word oi GOD ; 
 and indeed, will be, if we are converfant in it : 
 For by Converfe in it, we fliall difcern fuch Beau^ 
 ties, as will attract our Efteem. 
 
 Accordingly, the Devout Pfalmift, whofe At- 
 tainments this Way were Extraordinary and Un- 
 common, profeffes his abundant Satislaction m 
 It, Pfdm 119. 14. / have rejoyced in the Way of 
 thy Teflimonies as much as in all Riches. Again, 
 Ver, 16. I yvill delight my f elf in thy Statutes. And 
 Ver^"2.\. Thy Teflimonies are my Delight, In Truth 
 he feems to want- Words, to exprefs the over- 
 flowing Joy and Pleafure of his Soul taken herein. 
 
 And as Delight will flow from Familiarity with 
 the Word, fo our Delight, on the other Hand, 
 Will promote Familiarity : They are mutually in- 
 fluential on each other. ' Delight will make ev'ry 
 Thing pleafanr, and induce us to dig and delv^ 
 in Wifdom^'s Mines, without counting it a Task. 
 In lliort, nothing is a Difficulty to a Man lifted 
 up on the Wings of Delight. 'Thus for the firft 
 Branch of Exhortation. 
 
 Secondly, That the Word of CHRIST dwell in u^s 
 Richly, Hereby is intended, that we labour after 
 the Vntverfal knowledge ot it : For, tho' ev'ry Pare 
 of it is not alike ufeful, yet there is no Part of it 
 but has its Ufefulnefs. All Scripture is given by In- 
 fpiration of GOD^ and is profitable. 2 Tim* J. 16. 
 
 Had not every Part of it its Ufe, to what 
 Purpofe is it tranfmitted to us ? What a Re- 
 
 B fleaio£. 
 
1 o Scripture-Knowledge 
 
 fleftioh would this be upon the Wifdom of GOD, 
 to hand down a Writing to us, that is of no 
 Service, but might as well have been buryM in 
 Eternal Obfcurity 1 
 
 Wherefore, feeing that all the Parts of Scrip- 
 ture are defignM for Benefit, Duty obliges us 
 to be converfant with them, and to ftore our 
 Minds therewith ;. efpecially, fuch Parts as im- 
 mediately affect our Salvation and Happinefs ; 
 particularly, that we ftudy to know every thing 
 relating to our Bleffed Redeemer, and His glo- 
 rious Atchievments by Death and Sufferings. 
 That ne know Him^ and the Power of Hi4 Rejur^ 
 reclion^ hehg made CGnformMe to His Death^ Phil. 
 J. lo. That we have fuch a Knowledge of Him, 
 as fliall make us wife unto Salvation^ thro^ the Fatib 
 rvhich ii in Him. 2 Tim. j. 15. 
 
 Many People are well read in Scripture, but 
 in what Parts of it ? Perhaps, chiefly in Hiftori- 
 cal Parts. They can roundly relate the Story 
 of the Patriarchs ; the Journeying of the Chil- 
 dren of Ifraet in the Wildernefs ; and after that 
 their Poireffing the Land of Canaan : They can 
 tel) the Manner how they came thither •, and 
 what Difficulties they met with in that Expedi- 
 tion; the Enemies that opposM them, whom they 
 valiantly conquer'd : They can tell how they * 
 were fettPd iji that Country, who were their 
 Kings, who good, and who otherwife ; what 
 Leagues and Treaties they made with Neigh- 
 bouring Princes : All thele Things, with other of 
 the like Nature, are as frefh on their Mind and 
 Memory, as the Letters of the Alphabet. Bur, 
 alas ! what do's this amount to ? what's the Ad- 
 vantage 
 
promoted hy Catechizing. 1 1 
 
 vantage they reap from it ? They pleafe their 
 Fancies with the Hiflory of thefe Thiiigs ( as all 
 Hiftory is pieafant ) howbeir a Man may perifh 
 with his Head full of Hiflory : 'Tis only the 
 Knowledge of CHRIST that is Kjioivledge JAving^ 
 and will redound to our HApfinejs. The LORD 
 help us to abound in the Knowledge of Him ; 
 this is Excellent Kjiorvledge indeed : Kjion^ledge^ 
 that will evidence we are ftock'd with IVtfdom^ 
 as fecuring hereby our Everlafting Bleffedaefs : 
 Which leads to the third Branch of Exhortation, 
 viz. 
 
 Thirdly, That the Word of^ CHRIST dweU in us 
 richly in all Wifdom. i, e. So as thereby to manage 
 and govern ourfelves ; and from thence, as from 
 a Magazine of Stores, fetch all our Strength to 
 combat with our Enemies. This was admirably 
 exemplify'd in the Conduft, and Bravery of the 
 Bleffed Son of GOD ; Who, when cruelly at- 
 tackM by His Affailanr, the Devil^ had Recourfe to 
 the Scriptures for Armour of Defence. Whea 
 tempted by him to turn Stones into Bread for 
 the Relief of His Hunger in the Wildernefs ; He 
 
 replies to it, It t<s written^ Manjhall not live 
 
 hj Bread alone ; but b) every Word proceeding from 
 the Mouth of GOD- When tempted to throw Him- 
 felf from the Top of the Temple, he replies, ^Tts 
 written. Thou jjj alt not tempt the LORD thy GOD. 
 Again, When follicited to pay Homage to the 
 Devil, his Reply is, It is written, Thou jhalt rvor-- 
 fijip the LORD thy GOD. Mat. a. ^, to lo. Hence 
 the Word is faid to be the Sword of the Sfiritj 
 Eph. 6. 1 7. which is a Weapon OlFenfive and 
 Defeufive. 
 
 B £ But 
 
1 2 Scripture-Knowledge 
 
 But then a good Meafure of Spiritual Wifdom 
 is neceffary, in rightly applying the Word we are 
 taught, to our particular Cafe ; if we have not 
 Skill in this, the fimple Underftanding of the 
 Letter of Truth will little avail. Kj^owledge and 
 Wtfdom are dillinft Gifts of GOD; tliere may 
 be the One where the Other is not. A Man may 
 be very knowing, and yet not wile ; all the 
 Knowledge he is Mafter of, is not fafficient to 
 dire£t his Way, but he wofully trips and (fumbles 
 in it : Notwithltanding his Light he gropes in 
 Darkncfs, and is unskill'd to employ his Light, 
 to fave him from the Dangers that clofely befet 
 hiip. 
 
 Whereas Wifdom is frojitahle to direct ^ Eccl. lo. 
 lo. It will teach us how to aft in every Cafe, and 
 make Ufe of Scripture, as our Shield of Defence 
 againft the Fierj Darts of Satan, our Enemy. I 
 pray, GOD grant us this Knowledge of His Will, 
 That as Occafions prefent, we may have our Sup- 
 ply at Hand to preferve us in Safety. His Word 
 is a perfeft Rule of Righteoufnefs^ fo as that if we 
 halt in our Way, or are defedive in any Part of 
 our Duty, it muft argue we are void of Wifdom, 
 and have not the Art of rightly Applying it to the 
 prefent Occafion. 
 
 And now the Method you have fixM on, to pro- 
 pasate Scripture-Kjiorvledge as thus defcrib'd, is 
 thi's of Catechizing. An Excellent Method : For 
 
 hereby the Fundamentals of Religion^ elTentially 
 neceffary to be knon-n and believ'd^ are laid open 
 to View, and clearly ^xplain'd : A Matter, which 
 ev'ry Chrillian concerned for his Happinefs, oug^ht 
 
promoted ly Catechizing. 1 3 
 
 doubtlefs, to be concern'd about; inafmuch as th^ 
 Stability of our Profeflion depends hereupon. — - 
 If you continue in the Faith grounded^ and fettled. 
 Col. I, 2 J. We muft be firft well-grounded in it, 
 before we can be fettled. The Reafon why many 
 are wavering and unftable, Tofs*d to and fro with 
 every Wind of Doctrine^ hy the Slight and Cunning of 
 crafty Men^ is, becaufe they are untaught the 
 Firft Principles of the Oracles of GOD ; and fo 
 are fubjeft to receive the Impreflions of £r- 
 rorj both in Doctrine and Practice. Where- 
 fore, as it cannot be thought, that a Man 
 fhould be skilPd in Learning, who is a Stran- 
 ger to Grammar ; or, that a Child fhould read 
 well, who is unacquainted with Letters and 
 Spelling ; fo no more can we be Proficients in 
 Religion^ unlefs inftrufted in the Doftrines of 
 Truth, on which it (lands. 
 
 Accordingly, this is no Novel Work, how • 
 much foever in this Day of Declenlion, like 
 an Old FafhionM Gai^ment, ic is laid afide : 
 The Ancient Fathers of the Church, with their 
 Followers, took great Pains in it ; yea, fuch a 
 Strefs did they lay upon it , that in many 
 places, they refus'd the Admiflion of Perfons 
 to the Eucharift, CUKl^T's Bleffed Supper, 
 'till after a convenient Time of Inftrudion this 
 Way ; and the Perfons thus taught, they cal- 
 led x'^n^ifxevoi. Yea, 'Tis no hard Matter to 
 prove, they were warranted in thisPraftice from 
 the Apoftles tliemfelves, inafmuch as there is fre- 
 quent Mention made of it in their Writings ; at 
 )eaft, in the Writings of this Apoftle St. PauL 
 
 Indeed, the Creek Y^rb x^^X^^} Inflituo-^ I 
 
 take 
 
1 4. Scripture-Knowledge 
 
 take to be a Generic Term, importing Injlruc* 
 tiorfj which Way foever it be conveyM to us. 
 
 And therefore, he who preaches the Word, or 
 reads fome Portion of it, and unfolds, and ap- 
 plys it, may ia fome Sort be term'd a Gate* 
 chift ; and they who attend it, his Catechumens : 
 Yet, for as much as one very apt and proper 
 Means of Inftruftion is, by propounding Quef- 
 tions, and receiving Anfwers ; I fee no Rea- 
 fon, why we Ihould not underftand thofc 
 Places of Scripture, where this Term is us'd to 
 import this Way of Teaching, 
 
 And allowing it fo, it has been the Cuftom, 
 and Praftice of Christian Churches, from the 
 firft of their Plantation and Settlement, to ap- 
 ply to this Work; which I pray God he would 
 gracioully blefs, as defignM to be eftablifhed 
 here : With his Permiffion, I Ihall make Trial 
 of it, but feiifible I am, without his Counte- 
 nance and Affiftance, no Hand can be made 
 of it. His Bleffing only, is the Life and Suc- 
 cefs of all our Undertakings. 
 
 The Catechifm defignM to be the Ground- 
 Work of this Service, is that which is enti- 
 tuled, The Jjfemblies Catechifm* A Catechifm, 
 which has univerfally obtained Repute in the 
 Chriflim World, Many Eminent Men, and 
 fliining Lighcs in their Day, have laboured to 
 good Advantage this Waj^ and have composM 
 Syftems and Bodies of Divinity, which have 
 had their Ufefulnefs for informing the ignorant; 
 aeverthalefs, all Performances of this Nature 
 mufl: ftrike Sail to This ; in that a Great Body 
 
 of 
 
promoted hj Catechizing. i 5 
 
 of JudicioU'S and Learned Divines were joyntly 
 concernM in Compofing this Catechifm^ and ev'ry 
 One knows, Vts unit a, eft fortior- 
 
 Neither did they compofe it in an Hurry, but 
 with the greateft' DeUberation ; and doubtlefs, 
 often revis'd it while it was in Forming, and 
 made Amendments in it, until brought to that 
 Corre^nefsj Fuln&fsj and yet Concijenefs^ as we 
 now behold it ; fo that we may, without Vanity, 
 affirm, 'tis the moft Elaborate TraQ: oi this Nd^ 
 ture^ of any extant in the Reformed Churches. 
 
 Yea, exaftly harmonifes with, and is agree- 
 able to the Principles of the Faith of our Fore- 
 Fathers, profelsM at the Time of theReforma-^ 
 tion, in K. Edward VI, and Q^ Eliz.Abetb^s Days. 
 A Worthy Author, whofe Capacity for Judg- 
 ment and Learning may be reiy'd on, in Ex- 
 amination of the Matter, ' has compared the 
 feveral Jphcrifms and Propofttions of Truth 
 containM in it, with the DcSrinal Articles and 
 Homilies of the Church of EngU?td^ and Ihews 
 us their exafl: Agreement therewith, in a Book 
 by him printed about 40 Years ago. And, there- 
 fore, we humbly hope, and believe, that thePr^- 
 jm Clergy^ and Fathers of the ESTABLISH'!) 
 CHURCH, have the like Friendly Opinion 
 of our Cntechifm ftill ; feeing there is no Va- 
 riation either of It ; or their Articles and Ho-^ 
 miiies from that Time to this.' And the more 
 are they obliged hereunto, in that the Positions 
 of Truth laid down in It^ are materially, and 
 for Subliance, the fame, which in Q^ Elizabeth's 
 Reign, had the Authority of Qonvocation^ and 
 an uiii of PAriimnnt' 
 
 But 
 
1 6 The Excellency^ dec. of 
 
 II. But we mufl: pafs off from this Firft Branch 
 of the Text to the Second ; which fpecifies our 
 hearty Application to that Part of GOD's Wor- 
 fllip, The Singing forth His Praife ; thus worded, 
 — — — — Teaching and Admonifhing one another in 
 Ffalms^ and Hjmns^ and fpiritual Songs ; Jinging 
 with Grace in your Hearts to the LORD. 
 
 'Tis needlefs to infift on the Proof of our Ob- 
 ligation to the Praftice of this Ordinance, under 
 the prefent Difpenfation of Grace : For tho' Pre- 
 cepts concerning it are but fparingly giv'n, yet 
 there is enough faid, to fix it a Duty upon us, 
 in all convenient Times and Seafons. Add to 
 this, We have Prefidents and Examples of them^ 
 whofe Practice this was in the Infant-Times of 
 the Christian Church; Paul and Sil.i^ 
 fang in the Prifon at Philippiy A£Is i6. 2*;. It 
 was aifo in Ufe in the Corinthtan Church, x Cor. 
 14. 15. Yea, we have the Great Pattern and 
 Example of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, Who 
 at the Clofe of His Supper ( our Spiritual Re- 
 paft ) fang an Hymn with His Difciples* Mat. 28. 
 26. Yea, 'tis the Noble Employment of Heaven, 
 the Inhabitants of that Country fng the Song 
 0f Mofes, and of the Lamby Rev. 15. j. And 
 doubtlefs, ought to be ours ; who have the very 
 fame Motive and Inducement to it : viz. Our 
 Redemption to GOD by the Blood of the Lamb. 
 
 Neither fliall I attempt Critically to diftinguifh 
 between the Three Words, the Matter of our 
 Song. — ' — Pfalms^ and Hjmns^ and ipiritual Songf, 
 I take a Spiritual Song to be the Genus^ and 
 Pfalmsy and Hjmns the Species j i- e. Every Spi- 
 ritual 
 
Singing of Tfalms. 1 7 
 
 ritual Song is a Pfalm, or an Hymn : If by art 
 Hymn^ is underftood an humane Compolure, 
 fram'd from broken and incoherent PafTages of 
 Scripture ; and by a Pfalm^ more ftriftly, one 
 or other of the Pfalms of David; .it is not 
 worth while to difpute about it. 'Tis enough, 
 that the Matter of this Ordinance is confinM to 
 fomething ffiritual ; in Oppofition to the fihhy, 
 lewd, obfcene, and unprofitable Songs of the 
 Wicked of this World : And forafmuch as the 
 Pfalms of Davidy contain a rich Variety of ffi^ 
 ritual Matter^ I fee no Reafon, why they fhould 
 not be in Ordinary Ufe ; Certain it is, thac 
 CHRIST and His Apoftles did ling his Pfalms ; 
 and fo likewife the Chriftians and Confeffors of 
 the Primitive Times : If, therefore, they were 
 ufeful then ; why not now ? Howbeit, if any 
 think, they are not fo fuited to the Diipenfa- 
 tion of Grace under which we are, as fomc 
 other Portions of the New Teftament arc; they 
 have Liberty to ufe them without Blame, or 
 Cenfure: All I apprehend required, is, thSiZ Sorne-^ 
 thing fpritual be the Subjeft of our Praife. 
 
 And ftating it thus, the Apoftle proceeds ; 
 
 BVy?, To direft the Way and Manner^ how 
 this Blejfed Service fhould be carry M on by us : 
 And, 
 
 Secondly^ To fliow the Advantage accruing from 
 It, as Regularly ferform^d. 
 
 Firfiy For the Manner of Performance j viz. 
 Singing with Grace in your Hearts to the LORD. 
 
 C 1. It 
 
1 8 The Excellency^ &c. of 
 
 I. Itmuft be mth Grace \ i. e. in a Graceful, 
 Amiable Way : So this Term, x'^P^'^y ^^ ^^^^ ' 
 times taken in Scripture-Language. Efh- 4. 2% 
 Let no Corruft Communication proceed out of your 
 Mouth y hut that rvhi^h is good to the Vfe of Edi- 
 f)ingj that it may minifier Grace to, the Hearers ; 
 j. ff. Let your Speech and Converfe \vith Me^, 
 earry fuch Weight and Solidity with it, as may 
 be graceful to your Converfants ; and not likq 
 the rotten, corrupt, obfcene CommunicatioQ of 
 gracclefs Man, which isnaufeous and deteftable : 
 Anfwering to the fame Thing in CoL 4. 6. Let 
 jour Sfeech be always xvith Grace^ fiaforM with 
 Salt. /. e. Sound, favoury Speech, that will not 
 fhame you, ia what Gompany foever you 
 are. 
 
 And now taking the Text in this Senfe, it 
 feems. to have an Eye to the external, accep- 
 table Performance of this Service; viz.. That it 
 be in a Graceful, Tuneable, Melodious Manner. 
 The Truth is, it is not Singing where this is 
 wanting. An InartijiciaL Sound, ( tho' ne'er fo 
 noify ) and Singing, are two different Thingsj. 
 Oh ! Surely our All-\vife Creator, who has dig- 
 nify'd Man with the Excellent Gift of Voice, 
 a Mufical, Harmonious, Tuneable_ Voice, does 
 require to be honoured therewith. Oo's He make 
 any Thing in vain ? Is not ev^ry Thing made, 
 defign'd in His Wifdom to anfwer fome End ? 
 Wherefore, having giv'n us a Voice, not only 
 for Speech and Converfe, but likewife for Mu- 
 lick, how can it he thought. He do's not ex- 
 pea, we Ihould Cng forth His Praife. If Ev'ry 
 Thing that hath Breath is to fraife the LORD^ PfaL 
 
 .150. 6» 
 
Singing of Vfalms. 19 
 
 i 50. 6. then by a Parity of Reafon, every One, 
 who has Voice for the fame. 
 
 And I am very pofitive, if we bend our Minds 
 hereunto, we fhall take greAt P/eafure in It, and 
 be otten in Its Exercife ; which will enrich us 
 with Matter of Divine Meditation^ and give us 
 Heav'nly Frames in Earthly Employment ; yea, 
 chale away thofe vain, impertinent, fooUlli, 
 finful Thoughts and Fancies, that on all Occa- 
 fion^ crowd in upon us. In a Word, this will 
 mightily affift our humble Devotions, and make 
 ev'n our Prayers, and other fpiritual Oblations, 
 molt grateful to GOD. The LORD revive this 
 decayed Part of His Worfljipy both in our Churehes 
 and Families • But, 
 
 2. As we are to fing Gracefull)^ fb likewife 
 Gracioujlj^ worded ia^ our Hearts^ or voitb our 
 Hearts ; i, e. with the Lively Exercife of Grace 
 in our Hearts *: This is fo Eflential to accep- 
 table Singing with GOD, that the Chief of its 
 Melody confilis herein. — — Singi^g^ and making 
 Melody in your Hearts to the LORD^ Eph. 5. 19. 
 Tho' we are Compound Beings confifting of 
 Flejh and Bloody as well as Sfirit^ our Service 
 muft be of a Compound Nature ; yet 'tis our 
 Heart and Spirit in Worfhip, that He princi- 
 pally looks at, to recommend us to Him. 
 
 Accordingly, that fweet Singer in Ifrael^ King 
 Davidj took great Care in the firft Place, to 
 get his Heart in Tune for the Work. GOD^ 
 my Heart is jixed , / will ftng^ and give Praife. 
 Pfalm 108. I. And having wound up that to its 
 true Pitch, He calls in for the Help of His Voice j 
 yea, and Mufical Inflruments prepared to per- 
 
 C z fed 
 
2 o The Excellency^ & c. of 
 
 itdi the Work. I will fwg^ and give Praife^ ev^n 
 with my Glory : /. e. his Tongue. Awake Pfaltery 
 and Harp, I my felfwill awake early • 7 will praije Thee^ 
 LORDj among the People^ Instil fmg Pratfe uht} 
 Thee among the Nations. 
 
 And now the like Concern muft be on our 
 Spirits: Heart and Voice, and Voice and Heart 
 muft joyn together. The Devotion of our Hearts 
 muft not excufe the Difu^e of our Voice^ much 
 lefs the Melody of our Voice the In-Devotion of 
 our Hearts ; There being indeed, a natural Be- 
 light in Mt^fi(^l^y which runs thro' the whole 
 Creation : The fleafmg Airs of Sound have a 
 ftrong Temptation, to carry off our Minds from 
 GOD ; but this muft be carefully watch'd a- 
 gainft, and the Matter of our Divi&a.Song prin- 
 ipipally regarded. 
 
 5. This Ordinance performed, muft be unto 
 the Lord^ \, e. with an Eye to -Him ; that he 
 therein be glorify'd : We are not to .fing One 
 to Another, to pleafe^ and charm each Other's 
 Ears ; but all with united Heart and Votcp un- 
 to HIM^ giving Praife to his Name, He is the- 
 Terminm ad quem^ the Mark, to whom all Zjon"^ 
 Citizens Ihould dired their Praife, Pf^L 65. i. 
 Praife waiteth for thee^ G Dy in Zion, and 
 unto thee jhall the Vow be performed. 
 
 And taking //", as Service done to the LORD^ 
 it follows, that all People are to engage hi i>, 
 as they would evidence themfelves His faithful 
 Servants. Pfal. 100. i, 2* Make a joyful Noifs 
 mto the LORDj all ye Lands ^ ferve the LORD 
 m:h Gladnefs^ come before His Prefence with 5//;^- 
 ino. 'Tis not the Work of a few in our Chrif- 
 
 ^ tian 
 
Singing of Tjalms. 21 
 
 tian Affemblies , but all ; inafmuch as herein 
 we are ferving the LOR D. Yea, 
 
 Further, we are ferving One Another in it, 
 .. — .— Teachings and Admoniffjwg Om Another in 
 Pfalms^ &c. Mutual Edification is a Duty incum- 
 bent on every Chriftian : Our own Benefit is 
 to be regarded principally, but that of Ano- 
 ther's fecondarily : And, as there are various 
 Ways to promote this Work, fo This I am up- 
 on, is notifyM as One : And an apt One it is, 
 in that, a chearful Engaging in // ourfelvcs, 
 will prompt Others hereunto : Moreover, the 
 Subje^i'Matter of Fraife has ever fomething in 
 It of an Edifjing Nature^ either to humble us 
 for our Sins^ or to implore GO D'^s Pardoning 
 Grace, or to adore His Excellencies, or to be 
 thankful for His Benefits, or to deprecate His 
 Judgments, or to recognize His Favours to His 
 Church and People ; which are SubjeQis, the 
 Book of Pfalms is abundantly ftor'd with. The 
 LORD grant to us al), an Heart and Spirit 
 framM for this Work^ an Emblem of the fam^ 
 Service carry'd on in Heaven^ in the moft per- 
 feft Manner. 
 
 Some few Things 'tis necefTary, be fubjoln'd 
 at the Clofe of this Difcourfe, which could 
 iiot fo fairly be inferted in it. 
 
 As for You of This Form'^d Society^ for the 
 
 Work engag'd in, I know you will bear with 
 
 ray Piainneis of Speech, being zealous for your 
 
 ^Velfare, and the Profperity of the A^grk. And 
 
 . ' that 
 
2 2 Scripture^ Knowkdge 
 
 #hat which I fay to ybu is, Be Watchful, left 
 Satan fupplant you in it ; he is a fubtil Adver- 
 fary, and. has fuch Depths of Intriegue as are 
 not prefehtly founded j ho, not by the moft Ex- 
 perienced and Obferving Chriftian. Conclude 
 upcin it, he will fap your Ground, and lay his 
 Mines to blow up your Defign : It being a De- 
 iign defti^uftive of his Kingdom, which flourifhes 
 by Darrknefs ; you'll have an Enemy of him, 
 hePH declare Wdf againft you: Wherefore Be 
 Vigikm ahd Sober, {Particularly, 
 
 t: Sfet out in this JDefign u^ith a fmcere Aim 
 to the G/^rj of GOD ; that You ahd Others tiiay 
 abound in the Knowledge of His Will. Unlefs 
 your Defign is laid here, He will fend a Blaft 
 on // ; it Ihall languifli and dye: Whereas if 
 you have an Eye to Himin It^ (the Pleafing and 
 Honouring of Him) then He will be with y6u, 
 and fupport you in It, 
 
 2. Have a Care of ffiritUAl Prid^, to which 
 Unfanftify'd Knowledge is a p6werful Tempta- 
 tion. Kjiowledge fujfeth up. i Cor- 8. 2. 'Tis a 
 bleffed Thing, when People come to Ordinances 
 with an humble, teachable Mind ; fu;:h only lye 
 fair for Reaping the Benefit of them. 
 
 Wherefore, fuppofing Queftions put to you, or 
 any of you, which you cannot prefently anfwer y 
 or fuppofing One can anfwer that wliich another 
 cannot, yet there's not the leaft Ground of Dif- 
 couragement in the Cafe, inafmuch as the beft of 
 tis aU, are but Scholars in Religion on this Side the 
 Grave* We fee but in Part^ and know but in Part, 
 ^Tis'-only in Heaven that we are perfed ia 
 Knowled?;e. 
 
 J. Striaiy 
 
promoted hy Catechizing 25 
 
 5. Striaiy charge your felves to Attend all 
 Times and SeafonSy in v/hich This Service is to be 
 carryM on, and fufFer no Plea but what is Un- 
 anfwer^ble to excufe your Abfence- The Nature 
 of the Service requires your Prefence : I can 
 Preach without you, but I can't Catechize other- 
 wife than with you. And befides, your Culpa- 
 ble Abfence will be a Temptation to others of 
 your Company to follow your Example : Yea, 
 and alfo will refleft upon you, as fickle and un- 
 conftant ; as hot for a Spurt, but foon cold. 
 I pray, GOD direfl: you to fome Expedient to 
 prevent this Evil, which will be a Damage to 
 me and^OThers, as well as your felves. And then, 
 
 Refpefllng J'OU of this Jjfemblj, who fhall 
 attend this Ordinance for your Edification, my 
 Requeft is, that you be Afliftants in it, by 
 your Fervent Prayers and Supplications • That 
 The God of all Grace, and Kjiowledge, the Father 
 of Mercies, would frofper this Work, and make it 
 of Service to Multitudes of Souls ; That at the Coming 
 of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, and the Gathering 
 of the Saints to Htm, we may abundantly rejoyce in 
 Reviews taken of being Inflrumental to add to His 
 KJngdom, 
 
 To Whom be Glory for Ever. Amen. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
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