[1.] The outward part ; there we have — (1.) The subject matter, 'psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs.' (2.) The actions con- versant about it — (1st.) Speaking ; (2d.) Singing.
[2.] The inward part, ' Making melody in your hearts to the Lord.' Doct. That singing of psalms is an ordinance of God's worship under the gospel.
VeR. 19.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 409
I, Before I come to prove it, let me observe something out of the words, to fix and state the duty.
First, Observe that singing of psalms is made to be a fruit of being filled with the Spirit. This I gather from the context, 'Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs;' and in the parallel place. Col. iii. 16, ' Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.'
You will say, What need was there to exhort the Ephesians to be filled with the Spirit, or to have the word of God dwell richly in them for such a service ? Any small measure of the Spirit is sufficient, since the matter is provided to our hands, and we have nothing to do- but to read it and repeat it. I answer —
(1.) It may refer to the extraordinary gift, when any blessed God in a psalm, to which they were moved by the special operation of the Holy Ghost, inspiring them with matter and words. As Luke i. 41, 42, ' And it came to pass, that when Eh'zabeth heard the sahitation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb ; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: and she spake out with a loud voice, and said. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb ; ' that is, she was transported and inspired with a prophetic spirit, and therefore brake out into that benediction. And ver. 67, 68, 'And his fixther Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited and redeemed his people,' &c. By the special motion of the Spirit of God coming upon him he sung this hymn. So it is said, Acts x. 44-46, ' While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost ; for they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.'
(2.) Though the faithful be not moved by the Spirit to indite new songs, yet we need the help of the Spirit to sing to the praise of the Lord, and our own edification and consolation. A rich and full portion of the Spirit is needful to perform these duties after a right manner. Look, as there was heretofore a singing by the Spirit, so a praying by the Spirit: 1 Cor. xiv. 15, ' I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also : I will sing with the Spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.' They did use an extraordinary gift in prayer as well as in singing of psalms. W^hat shall we then conclude ? that there should be no praying unless by such an extraordinary impulse or gift ? or else that his help is not now necessary for pi-ayer ? No such thing. It requireth a rich and full portion of the Spirit, and knowledge of the word, to pray in a right manner ; so also to sing psalms. So that as we are still to pray in the spirit, we are still required to sing in the spirit, that our spiritual fervency be not abated, nor our delight in God quenched, and that our hearts be not stolen away in the duty. Surely they are strangers to the life and powei- of this ordinance that see not a need of his help, or that the word of God should dwell in them richly. To show you this I will examine— (1.)^
410 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XXIV.
What need of being filled with the Spirit ; (2.) That the word of God slioukl dwell in us richly ; and —
1. What need of the help of the Spirit? It signifieth the Holy Ghost or his graces.
[1.] The Holy Ghost. We need the help of the Spirit—
(1.) To purify and cleanse our hearts from vain thoughts and carnal affections. This is a work of the Spirit : 1 Peter i. 22, ' Seeing you have purified your souls, in obeying the truth, through the Spirit.' And this is needful for this duty ; for till our souls be purified and clarified from the dregs of sense, the sweetest things will become loathsome to us : Kom. viii. 5, ' For they that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh ; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.'
(2.) To be excited and quickened by the Spirit, which is another of liis operations, for it is the Spirit that quickeneth and giveth life. We are of ourselves dull and backward even in inspired songs ; as Deborah seeth a need of exciting herself : Judges v. 12, * Awake, awake, Deborah ; awake, awake, utter a song.' That fourfold ingemination showeth there is a deep drowsiness of spirit naturally in us, and there- fore she stirreth up herself and others to praise and thanksgiving.