thorize it. We have no command nor example in the New Testament to make new psalms, as has been already shown.* But we have abundance of passages in scripture to warrant the preaching of the word and praying to God without a form: and no ground to believe that the prayers and sermons recorded in scripture were used as such. We have no promise of the Spirit to assist us in making new psalms, or in altering those already made; but we have the promise of divine assistance in preaching the gospel. "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, and lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world!" (Mat. xxviii, 19, 20.) We have also the promise of the spirit to enable us to pray. "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication." (Zech. xii. 10.) Moreover, there cannot be a parallel run between preaching or praying, and praising; because this cannot be performed without a form, but those may, in regard one person only is the speaker. The Spirit of God has not left upon record such a large collection of sermons and prayers as of psalms, nor are they so well adapted to every case; therefore we may easily see that this is only a mere cavil. There cannot be

singing without a form, except all were enabled to compose at the same time, by having the same thoughts, and expressing the same words. Therefore it now follows, that either there must be no singing at all, or it must be done by a form, and if by a form, none is equal to that which the Spirit of God has indited: His words and phrases in expressing divine things are the most fit and emphatical. And we may rejoice that we can sing the praise of God, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but in them which are far more excellent, even these which the Holy Ghost teacheth.

OBJECT. 6. To confine the New Testament church in her praises to the psalms of David is tyrannical, and the same with imposing Liturgies and Homilies on the church.

ANSW. It is exceeding strange that the authority of God, in requiring his church to abide by his ordinances, and to offer these praises which are of the Spirit's inditing, should be reckoned tyrannical. It was owing to the amazing love of God to his church, that ever the book of psalms was composed, and delivered to her, as part of the canon of scripture. Though it belongs not to us, in the management of this subject, to enter on the head of imposing Liturgies and Homilies on the

church of Christ, yet we must observe, that it is very shocking to hear the psalms of David compared with these, which are only of human composure. We are persuaded that many who profess the Episcopal religion, and make use of the Liturgy and Homilies, yet by no means will exalt them to an equality with the psalms of David. To be tied down to the word and ordinances of Christ, in opposition to the doctrines and inventions of men, should not be deemed a heavy burden: Christ's "yoke is easy," and his "burden is light." (Mat. xi. 30.) But we rather think that to impose on the church of Christ, the many hymns, spiritual songs, and anthems which are of human composition, is wreathing a yoke of bondage about her neck, and laying a burden upon her which he has not commanded. He said to the church of Thyatira, "I will put upon you none other burden: But that which ye have already, hold fast till I come." (Rev. ii. 24, 25.) Such is the depravity of human nature, that men put themselves to the greatest trouble in following their own modes and opinions, rather than submit to the ordinances of divine appointment. And we find a far greater keenness for these, than zeal for such ordinances of Christ, as they are in the possession of. It is long since some counted it a piece of tyranny, to be obliged to adhere to the doctrine of the scriptures, as exhibited in our Confession of Faith, Catechisms larger and shorter, directory for public worship, and propositions concerning church government; and now the notions of tyranny are screwed so high, as that it is reckoned an infringement on christian liberty to be confined to the psalms of the Spirit's inditing, in our praises. May it not also be counted tyranny to tie people down to the scriptures of truth, as the alone rule of faith and obedience? But we suppose by this time we have tired your patience, and as the other objections against singing the psalms of David in gospel worship are so very trifling, we shall pass them by unnoticed, and shut up this discourse with a few exhortations.

First, Let us all be exhorted to bless God for putting us in the possession of a complete system of gospel ordinances, in their scriptural purity. The ordinances which are dispensed among us, bear evident marks of their divine appointment, and have been handed down to us, at the expense of much blood and treasure.* Gospel ordinances are the greatest blessing which God bestows on a people. "He showed his word

From the year 1660, to 1688, no less than 1800 persons suffered martyrdom for adhering to the covenanted principles of the church of Scotland.

unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation." (Psal. cxlvii. 19, 20.) We cannot be enough thankful for our privileges, and instead of pouring contempt on praising God in the words of David, let our hearts exult for joy, that ever they, with other parts of scripture, were made known to us. It is owing to the distinguishing goodness of God, that we are not covered with Pagan darkness, Popish superstition, or Mahometan delusion. O how little do we prize our privileges! Without the light of the sun, we could not discern the beauty of the creation; so without the light of divine revelation, we would not have seen the chief of the ways of God, even the glorious work of man's redemption by Jesus Christ. "Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke i. 78, 79.)

Secondly, Let us be exhorted to hold fast every part of these ordinances. This is a day of great darkness in the church of Christ, and therefore the danger of their being corrupted is the greater: for when people lose views of the spirituality of God's institutions, they are apt to begin to please their fancies. To hold fast the institutions of Christ, and transmit them in purity to posterity, are duties incumbent on every generation of religious professors; and to hold fast the scripture psalms, and hand these down to the rising generation, are herein included. "We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come, the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children." (Psal. lxxviii. 4, 5.) The vigorous struggles of our religious ancestors to maintain the whole system of divine truth in purity, will greatly aggravate our sin in letting any of Christ's truths slip. "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also being led way with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness." (2 Pet. iii. 17.)

Thirdly, Let us be exhorted to beware of counting any of Christ's ordinances as little matters. God will honor them who make a bold stand for what is counted little. "And he said unto him, Well done thou good and faithful servant; because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities." (Luke xix. 17.) Every step of degene

racy in a church appears at first as a little matter.* A grave divine compares these evils in their first beginnings to the point of a needle, which however small, has a long thread after it; so these draw a train of dismal consequences after them. Innovations in the church at first, wear something of an innocent and attractive aspect, and the direful cosequences are seldom adverted to, but by a few. What some observe of horse hairs lying nine days under water, that they then quicken and turn living creatures, may exemplify the consequences of lesser matters being allowed in religion, without a divine warrant. Indeed it seems to be a new religion which some are taking up with ;-a religion which causeth people to treat the principles solemnly espoused by the reformation, as matters of indifference, or rather filleth them with enmity against them altogether. A new religion must have new modes of worship, and hence it is that the psalms of David, which have been sung in the churches of Christ with so much heavenly delight, are now reckoned by many as quite improper for gospel worship. When a people depart from God, and despise the methods he takes to reclaim them, he is provoked to "choose their delusions." (Isa. lxvi. 4.)

Fourthly, Let us who are ministers of the word of Christ, be exhorted to make a bold stand for every part of divine truth. Our ordination vows bind us in the exercise of our ministry, to be valiant for the truth on the earth. Let us hear with solemn attention the charge given to Timothy, "I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Jesus Christ, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment, without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Tim. vi. 13, 14.) Let us show our love to our glorious master, by endeavoring to keep up the credit of all the parts of his word, in regard there are so many subtle schemes now on foot, to weaken its divine authority. In a particular manner, let us be careful to explain the meaning, and show the propriety of the psalms of David; and thus endeavor to prevent their falling into disrepute among the people committed to our charge. "So they read in the book in the law of the Lord God distinctly, and gave the sense, and

*

'Well, if they be none of Christ's small things let them go, but if they be one of his truths, will ye call that a small thing? His small things are great things. It might be proven to you, that there never was a controversy since the beginning of the world, even touching the most momentous truths, that was not accounted a small thing while was occasion of trial."

Livingston's Sermon in the Appendix to his Life.

caused them to understand the reading." (Neh. viii. 8.) Whatever trials we meet with in the exercise of our ministry, whether from open foes or professed friends, let us never think to forsake the banner of the Captain of our salvation, but rather resolve to "endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ." (2 Tim. ii. 3.) Satan is unwearied in his attempts to bring the ministers of the gospel into contempt, because they are great enemies to the interests of his kingdom: He thus acts the part of the thief, who aims at killing the watchman, that with greater ease and safety he may get into the house. To asperse the character of ministers, and represent them as men who want by their sacred function only to exalt themselves above others, he ordinarily stirs up persons who have some reputation for holiness that by their influence they may raise a faction. These act as a live bird to bring others into the net. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram had in their company "two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown. And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them ye take too mnch upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy every one of them, and the Lord is among them; wherefore then lift you up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord." (Numb. xvi. 1, 4.)

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Finally, my brethren be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." (Eph. vi. 10.) To prevent our making shipwreck of the faith, and a good conscience, let us daily implore the communications of divine grace. "Now, unto him that is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy-To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory, and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (Jude ver. 24, 25.)