(3.) To direct the intention to a spiritual end, that we may not rest iu the works wrought, nor in the carnal delight of the action. That also is God's work : 2 Thes. iii. 5, ' The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.' This showeth our need of his grace, so that there is great need of the Spirit to sing psalms with such a frame of heart as such a heavenly piece of worship requireth.
[2.] The graces of the Spirit, faith, hope, and love.
(1.) Faith, without which this duty will be but a cold dead service, performed without any delight or spiritual refreshment. Believers' hearts are soon filled with pleasure ; every excellency and every act of God findeth them a delightful work whether in creation or providence; as a son taketli delight in a book wherein his father's royal acts or gests are recorded. Especially in his redemption by Christ : 1 Peter i. 8, 'Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.' They know whatsoever is sung or said of God is true, and it is of their God ; and therefore upon all these occasions they vent their joy in God.
(2.) Love : Ps, v. 11, ' But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice ; let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them ; let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.' Eveiy mention of God is pleasing to tlie soul that lovetli him. There is somewhat said or sung concerning their best friend, and therefore it doth afi'ect their hearts.
(3.) Hope also contributeth to this joy that is vented in singing : Rom. XV. 13, ' Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that 3'e may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.' Spiritual delights prepare the soul for heaven. They have so much of God and glory in them that they must needs be excel- ilent helps for our salvation. Carnal pleasures are unwholesome, like
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luscious fruits that make us sick ; but these delights of faith, hope, and love are safe and healthful.
2. Let the word of God dwell richly in j'ou. This is the Spirit's instrument, which he maketh use of to produce all his great effects in the souls of men ; his great business is to stamp it on the heart : Rom. vi. 17, * But Grod be thanked that ye were the servants of sin ; but ye have obeyed from the heart the form of doctrine which was delivered you ; ' and thereby to beget the divine and heavenly nature in us : 2 Peter i. 4, * Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature.' And so suiteth us to all the duties that tend to the support or com- fort of the new creature. Now the more richly it dwelleth in us, the more we profit by every act of worship, be it prayer, or singing, or hearing. A right disposed mind will not want holy thoughts ; a little thing sets it a-work, because there is something akin in their hearts to all that is represented from without. There is a double advantage when the word dwelleth richly in us — (1.) We understand better what is said or sung : Ps. xlvii. 7, ' Sing ye praises with understand- ing.' We cannot praise God or Christ sincerely unless we understand the reasons why we should praise him, or wherein his praise consists. (2.) We praise God more affectionately, for unknown things neither stir our desires nor delight ; but the more we are versed in the scrip- tures, the more our minds and hearts are apt to be wrought upon, for there occur to us such pregnant and pressing thoughts that the duty cannot pass unprofitably.
Secondly, Observe, that which is to be sung is ' psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs.' This is put in opposition to those carnal and wanton songs wherewith vain persons feed the oblectation of their minds. There are certain songs which God threateneth to turn into lamentation : Amos viii. 10, ' I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation.' And there are holy songs which, are not corruptive, but perfective, and must needs end well.
Some raise a scruple, whether we may or must only sing scripture psalms, as the psalms of David and otiier prophets.
I answer — We do not forbid other songs, if grave and godly, to be received into the chvn-ch. Tertullian showeth that in the primitive times they used this liberty, either scripture psalms, or such as were of a pi'ivate composure. Post aquam manualem et lumina, ut quisque de scripturis vel proprio ingenio potest, provocatur in medium Deo canere. Por scripture psalms, that they only should be used, it may be argued that it is more safe to give that honour to the word of God and the psalms there recorded, for the whole christian world consents to the bible, and that the faithful should be accustomed to the songs therein contained, lest some secret error creep into other composures, which the present age is not aware of, and afterwards is hardly gotten out of the minds of the people, who are accustomed to repeat these things in their worship. And yet, on the other side, it would seem to make more for profit if the shadows of the law were more interpreted in some holy hymns, that do more expressly concern Jesus Christ our mediator. You see, upon special occasions in the old testament, they had some new psalms ; as all the prophets, Moses, David, Isaiah, Habakkuk, not