Page images
PDF
EPUB

first fruits of his Creatures.

1 Pet. 1.23. Being born again, not of corruptible feed, but of incorruptible by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Jam.1.21. Wherefore lay apart all filthinesse, and Superfluity of naughtineffe and receive with meekneß the ingrafted Word which is able to Jave your fouls.

V.23. But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own felves.

V.23. For if any man be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding bis natural face in a glaffe,

V.24. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of

man be was.

V.25. But whofo looketh into the perfect Law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful bearer, but a doer of the work, this man fhall be bleffed in his deed.

1 Pet.2.1. Wherefore laying afide all malice, and all guile, and hypocrific, and envies, and evil Speakings.

V.2. As new born babes, defire the fincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby,

John 8.47. He that is of God, heareth Gods Words, ye therefore bear them not, because ye are not of God.

I Cor.2.14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are

foolishne

foolishnelle to him, neither can he know them, because they are fpiritually difcerned. Rev.3.20. Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me.

Prov.2.3. Yea, if thou crieft after knowledge,
and lifteft up thy voice for understanding.
V.5. Then fhalt thou understand the fear of the
Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
Mat.13.3.2 The parable of the fower, and the
Luke 8.5. four forts of ground.

Mat.13.14. And in them is fulfilled the Prophefie of Efaias, which faith, by hearing, ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing, ye shall fee, and fhall not perceive.

[ocr errors]

V.15. For this peoples heart is waxed groffe, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eies they have clofed, left at any time they should fee with their eies, and hear with their ears, and fhould understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should healthem.

V.16. But bleffed are your eies, for they fee, and your ears, for they hear.

Thef. 2. 13. For this caufe alfo thank we God without ceafing, because when ye received the Word of God, which ye heard of us, ye recieved it not as the Word of men, but (as it is in truth) the Word of God, which effectually worketh alfa in you that believe,

Luke 1,

heareth me;

Luke 10. 16. He that heareth

you,

and be that defpifeth you, defpifeth me, and he that defpifeth me, defpifeth him that fent me. 1 Sam.8.7. And the Lord Jaid unto Samuel, they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

1 Thef. 4.8. He therefore that defpifeth, defpifeth not man, but God, who hath alfo given unto us his holy Spirit.

Luke 24.32. And they faid one to another, did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures.

Pfal. 119.162. I rejoyce at thy Word, as one that findeth great spoil.

Jer.6.10. To whom shall I speak and give warn ning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcifed, and they cannot hearken; behold, the Word of the Lord is to them a reproach, they have no delight in it.

Heb.2.1. Therefore we ought to give the more earneft heed to the things which we have heard, left at any time we fhould let them flip.

Prov.4.4. He taught me alfo, and faid unto me, Let thine heart retain my words, keep my mandements and live.

Com

V.21. Let them not depart from thine eies: keep them in the midst of thine heart.

1

Deut. 11.18. Therefore fhall ye lay up these my Words in your heart, and in your foul,&c.

Ifa.48.

Ifa.48.17. Thus faith the Lord thy Redeemer, the holy One of Ifrael, I am the Lord thy God, which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldst go.

J.

3. of Singing of Pfalmes.

Neglect not that excellent and Heavenly Ordinance of finging Pfalms, and lifting up the praifes of the most bigh; finging with understanding, and making melodie to God in thy heart. Many people in this age not understanding the reasons and grounds of the duties of Religion they perform; when they are queftioned, are apt to lay them afide. I hall therefore here do these four things.

1. Shew that Singing of Pfalms is a Gospel

duty.

2. That it is lawful and warrantable to sing Das vids Pfalms.

3. Answer the objections made against it.

4. Give fome Rules and Directions how Chriftians may practife this Ordinance to the Glory of God," and to their own great benefit and fpiritual advantage.

For the First, Singing of Pfalms was once an Ordinance of God in the Church, and a part of Divine Worship; and never repealed under the Gofpel. Pfal 95.1,2. O come, let us fing unto the Lord, let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of

[ocr errors]

our falvation. Let us come before his prefence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noife to him with Pfalms. And 'tis forted with other duties that are of a perpetual obligation, as Prayer, Hearing the Word, &c. v.6.7. 'Twas practifed by those eminent Saints of God, Mofes, Deborah, Barak, David the fweet Singer of Ifrael, Solomon, and others, whole Songs and Hymnes we have recorded in the old Teftament.

2. The Prophefies in Scripture, that foretel the fate of the Church under the Gospel, do fpeak of Pfalms to be used as a part of Gods WorShip and Service then. Compare Rom.15.9. with Pfal.18.49.

Rom.15.9. And that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his mercy, as it is written, for this caufe I will confeffe to thee among the Gentiles, and fing unto thy Name.

Pfal.18.49. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee (O Lord) among the Heathen; and fing praifes unto thy Name.

3. We have feveral exhortations to it, in the New Teftament.

Eph.5.18. And be not drunk with wine wherein
is exceffe, but be filled with the Spirit.
V.19. Speaking to your felves in Pfalms, and
Hymnes, and Spiritual Songs, finging and

« PreviousContinue »