ur present Case, than Forms
of Worship to which we should precisely and unchangeably confine our
selves. And as Sermons which are conformable to the Holy Scripture in a
large Sense may be called the _Word of God and the Word of Christ_, and
are usally and justly so called if they are agreeable to the Scripture
and drawn from thence; so Hymns of Humane Composure according to the
Spirit and Doctrines of the Gospel may be as well termed the _Word of
Christ_, which is the proper Matter for Christian Psalmody. _Col_. 3.
16. whereas in the strictest and most limited Sense of the Word nothing
deserves that Title but the _Hebrew_ and _Greek_ Originals.

Object. 4. In the New Testament there are Promises of Divine Assistance
to Ministers and private Christians in preaching the Gospel and in
Prayer; But we have no Promise of the Spirit of God to help us to
compose Psalms or Hymns for our private Use or for the Use of the
Churches; and how can we practise in the Worship of God what we have no
Promise of the holy Spirit to encourage and assist us in?

_Ans_. 1. There are many general Promises of the Presence of _Christ_
with his Ministers, and the Supply of his Spirit in the Discharge of
all their Duties for the Edification of the Church: Now there are
several Performances which are necessary for the Churches Edification,
to which there is no peculiar Promise made of the Assistance of the
Spirit in express Words: Such are, Translating the Bible into {271}
our Mother-Tongue, Composing our Sermons or at least the Substance and
Scheme of them before preaching, Writing pious and useful Treatises
upon divine Subjects, and Diligent Reading and study of Books so
written; nor is there any more express Encouragement to expect the
Presence of the Spirit in turning the Psalms of _David_ into Rhime and
Metre, than in composing new Spiritual Songs: And yet Ministers that
are fitted for such Performances may pray and hope for Divine
Assistance in them all, and trust in the general Promises for Help in
particular Services.

_Ans_. 2. There is no need of these Gifts of Criticism or of Poesy for
all Christians nor all Ministers, tho it seems necessary that some
should be furnish'd with them. A few Persons in an Age or a Nation may
translate the Scriptures into the National Language, and may compose a
sufficient Number of Hymns to answer the chief Designs and Wants of the
Church for that Day for publick Worship. Where there happen Occasions
very