al Song?
Especially when we cannot find one ready pen'd in the Bible, whose
Subject is near a-kin to our present Condition, or whose Form is
adapted to our present Purpose.

The _Second_ Argument shall be drawn from the several Ends and Designs
of Singing, which can never be sufficiently attain'd by {257} confining
ourselves to _David_'s Psalms, or the Words of any Songs in Scripture.
The first and chief intent of this part of Worship, is to express unto
God what Sense and Apprehensions we have of his Essential Glories; and
what notice we take of his Works of Wisdom and Power, Vengeance and
Mercy; 'tis to vent the inward Devotion of our Spirits in Words of
Melody, to speak our own Experience of divine Things, especially our
religious Joy; 'twould be tiresom to recount the endless Instances out
of the Book of Psalms and other divine Songs, where this is made the
chief Business of them. In the Texts of the New Testament where Singing
is requir'd, the same Designs are propos'd; when the _Ephesians are
filled with the Spirit_, the Enlightner and Comforter, they are charged
to indulge those Divine Sensations, and let them break out into a
_Spiritual Song_, Eph. 5.19. When _any is merry_ or chearful, the
Apostle _James_ bids him express it by _Singing_. _Giving Thanks unto
God_, is the Command of St. _Paul_ to the Saints while he injoins
Psalmody on them; And speaking the Wonders of his Power, Justice and
Grace, is the Practice of the Church constantly in the Visions of St.
_John_. To _teach and admonish one another_, is mention'd by St. _Paul_
as another Design of Singing; the Improvement of our Meditations, and
the kindling Divine Affections Within our selves, is one of the
Purposes also of religious Melody, if Eph. 5. 19. be rightly
translated. Now, {258} how is it possible all these Ends should be
attain'd by a Christian, if he confines his Meditations, his Joys, and
his Praises, to the _Hebrew_ Book of Psalms? Have we nothing more of
the Nature of God revealed to us than _David_ had? Is not the Mystery
of the ever-blessed Trinity brought out of Darkness into open Light?
Where can you find a Psalm that speaks the Miracles of Wisdom and Power
as they are discover'd in a crucify'd _Christ_? And how do we rob God
the Son of the Glory of his dying Love, if we speak of it only in the
gloomy Language of _Smoke and Sacrifices, Bullocks and Goats, and
the Fat of Lambs_? Is not the Ascent of _Christ_ into Heaven, and
his Triumph