A help to holy walking, or, A guide to glory containing directions how to worship God, and to walk with him in the whole course of our lives / by Edward Bury.

6. Direct. If thou art now convinc'd, that Sing∣ing Psalms is a Gospel Duty; yea, thy Duty, which God requires of thee, set upon it then with hopes of Success; but be sure to observe, that in this, as well as in other Duties, thy End be good; other∣wise the Action must needs be bad. Many a man loseth much Labour, and pains, and spends much Time to little purpose; an evident Example we have in the Pharisees, Mat. 6.1,2, &c. who Fasted, Prayed, and gave Alms; all Excellent Duties: But those Sacrifices, though otherwise good, being mixt with the Dung of their own self-seeking, and desire of popular applause, God throws it back into their Faces, as Dung, without a Reward; and so it will be with thee, if thou seek thy self, and not God, in the Duty: If Cu∣stom, Credit, or a desire of Popular Applause, drive thee on to this Duty, and not the sincere de∣sire of God's Glory, thou maist expect thy Re∣ward from Men, and not from God. Many Men in Singing Psalms, aim at no higher End, nor make any better use of it, than they do in their Prophane Songs, or Ungodly Ballads, viz. Their own Re∣creation, to drive away the Time, or a desire to be Applauded for their good Voice, or Tune, or Excellent gift in Singing. But the chief End which every Christian should aim at in all his Actions, especially in all his Acts of Divine Worship, should

be God's Glory, and his own Souls good; if this be laid aside, thou maist expect a Curse, and not a Blessing upon thy proceedings. If this be want∣ing, the Duty is spoyled; if this be minded, God will accept of it, though accompanied with many Imperfections. This Heavenly Duty is perfor∣med to this End, by the Angels, and the whole Church Triumphant, as before is shewed, and will be the Work of Eternity; and here upon Earth, if Heart and Voice go together: 'Tis a resemblance of Heaven, and represents, though darkly, that Melodious Harmony that is in Hea∣ven, amongst those Glorious Choristers. We should make Melody in our Hearts, and not only with our Mouths. Look upon it as a part of God's Worship, and Service, and appointed for Spiritu∣al Consolation, not for Prophane Recreation; and therefore we should, with the Psalmist, say, Not unto us, Lord; not to us, but to thine own Name be the Glory. Let us work for God, and he will not fail to give us a Reward; and there is great Rea∣son why we should in this Duty Trumpet out his Praise, for all we have is his, and from his hand it is we receive every good and perfect gift: We have our Life, and Being from him, and have no more breath than what he puts into us; and there is all the Reason we should render to him the Prai∣ses due for all: And this is one way we have to Praise him, Eph. 5.19. Col. 3.16. Thus the Ho∣ly Men of Old have gone before us, and aimed at this very End. Thus Deborah, and Barak; Moses, and Miriam, and many more; and thus David resolves to do, Psal. 7.17. I will Sing praise to the Name of the Lord most High, Psal. 111.1. And exhorts others to follow his Example, Psal. 30.4.

Sing unto the Lord, O ye Saints of his, &c. Psal. 47.6. & 92.1. Now, this Duty, though it espe∣cially concerns the Godly, as those that have re∣ceived the most, and greatest Mercies, and have the greatest abilities for the Work; yet others al∣so having received all they have from God, are also obliged to render Praise, and Thanks to God, and are frequently called upon, thus to do, Psal. 110.1. where all Nations are excited to this Du∣ty. And as God's Glory is chiefly to be minded, so our own Benefit is not to be neglected, and our Souls good. And the Psalms serve also for Instructi∣on, and Direction; for this, as well as other Scrip∣ture, serves to this End, Eph. 5.19. Col. 3.16. And if we observe, every Psalm will yield us some profitable Instruction, Direction, or Exhor∣tation; and inform us in many things concerning God's Word; his Attributes, Providences, Pro∣mises, Word, and Works; or something con∣cerning our selves, or others; good, or bad; concerning this Life, or that to come: And this we may not only Treasure up in our own Hearts, but also press it upon others, and Teach one ano∣ther in Psalms, and Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. Nay, wicked Men may hence be Instructed, Con∣vinced, and Reproved; to this End, Moses Song was Indited, Deut. 31.19. 'Tis matter of Conso∣lation also to the Godly in all Conditions; here are Petitions put up to God, here are Promises made by God: Perform this Duty now to right Ends, and doubt not of a Blessing.