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CHAP. I. Of Praises.
PAge 6. The Author doth forthwith fall upon the offering up of Praises to God by the use of Psalms, and for its Authori∣ty quoteth 2 Chron. 29. 30. Hezekiah the King, and the Prin∣ces, commanded the Levites to sing praises to the Lord, with the words of David and Asaph, and they sang with gladness; and Ephes. 5. 19. and Col. 3. 16.
Ans. To all this we agree, knowing it our duty to praise God by singing the Psalms of David.
But Page 7. Though the Scriptures recommend to us singing of Psalms, yet in some cases they allow us to say them:
Ans. 1. Who doubteth but we may Read or Say Psalms, ei∣ther in publick or privat: But, 2ly, This saying Psalms, is not to turn out singing of Psalms, which is the ordinance of God: I of∣ten read of singing, but no where in Scripture of saying Psalms: what induceth the Author to make so great a trouble to himself and his Reader, I understand not; only I know Papists have a way of Singing, and muttering Psalms, and Songs in their Worship.
But I find our Author resolved to prosecute this Saying instead of Singing; for,
Page 8. 'Tis certain the Word of God recommends to us Psalms and Hyms in prose, &c. and as to the Hebrew Psalms it's evident they are Poetical, but the Poetry of them consists rather in the stile, and manner of expression, than in any certain measures or Verses. And af∣terward, we cannot find that the Church in our Saviour, or the Apostles time, did sing any thing in Verse, but we are sure they sung Hymns in