e who still continue the use
of the Harp while they open the dark saying.

The _Fourth_ Argument may be thus drawn up. There is almost an infinite
Number of different Occasions for Praise and Thanksgivings; as well as
for Prayer, in the Life of a {262} Christian; and there is not a Set of
Psalms already prepared that can answer all the Varieties of the
Providence and the Grace of God. Now if God will be prais'd for all his
Mercies, and Singing be one Method of Praise, we have some Reason to
believe that God doth not utterly confine us even to the Forms of his
own composing. This is thought a very sufficient Reason to resist the
Imposition of any Book of Prayers; and I grant that no Number of
Prayers of humane Composure cam express every new Difficulty or future
Want of a Christian; scarce can we suppose a Divine Volume should do
it, except it be equal to many _Folio's_. However I can see no thing in
the inspired Book of Praises that should perswade me that the Spirit of
God design'd it as a universal Psalm-book; nor that he intended these
to include or provide for all the Occasions of Thanksgiving that ever
Could befal _Jews_ or _Christians_ in a single or social Capacity. We
find in the History of Scripture, that new Favours receiv'd from God
were continually the Subject of new Songs, and the very minute
Circumstances of the present Providence are describ'd in the Verse. The
Destruction of _Pharoah_ in the _Red-Sea_; the Victory of _Barak_ over
_Sisera_; the various Deliverances, Escapes and Successes of the Son of
_Jesse_ are described in the Songs of _Moses_, _Deborah_ and _David_.
The Jews in a Land of Captivity sat by the Rivers of _Babylon_, and
remembred _Sion_; they could find none of the antient Songs {263} of
_Sion_ fit to express their present Sorrow and Devotion, tho some of
them are mournful enough; then was that admirable and artful Ode
written, the _137th Psalm_, which even in the Judgment of the greatest
humane Criticks, is not inferiour to the finest Heathen Poems. 'Tis a
more dull, and obscure, and unaffecting Method of Worship to preach, or
pray, or praise always in Generals: It doth not reach the Heart, nor
touch the Passions; God did not think any of his own inspired Hymns
clear and full and special enough to express the Praise that was his
due of new Blessings of Grace and Providence; and therefore he put a
new Song into the Mouths of _Mary_, _Zecharias_ and _Simeon_; and 'tis
but according to his