of things at the beginning of the Ser. III. Reformation: Come, fays he, let us fing the 46th Pfalm, and let Earth and Hell do it's worst.

I fhall only further obferve, with relation to each of thefe Advantages of Singing, that they extend to others as well as to our felves. We are to speak to our felves, or to one another,in Pfalms, and to teach and admonish one another, als, the fame word as before. ?Tis mutually beneficial, and of extenfive Ufe. All concur together in this holy Exercife, and cach one excites and affifts the other. Every other Perfon, that fings the Praifes of God, helps to excite the Affection, and raife the Devotion of my Sout; and my Singing helps to raife and excite another's. The Breath of Praise mutually fans one another's Souls, kindles a divine Heat, and blows it up into a Flame; and fo every one contributes fomething to another's Good, and receives fome help from every other.

Ser. III.

II. I fhall confider it more relatively, and in comparison with other Dutys. This will not be any odious Comparison or invidious Preference, like those among Men, to fink the Character and darken the Reputation of one, to raife and brighten another. 'Tis ufual, in the Scriptures, to make Cómparifons of Graces and Dutys as well as Sins, and to give the Preference of one to another; and 'tis a proper meafure, by which to take the value of things, to compare them with others of the fame kind, and fhew wherein they excel. Thus our Lord fpeaks of the Mat.XXII First and Great Command, that which is chief and principal in Value as well as in Order; and fo Mat.V.19. We read of the Leaft Command. And the Apostle makes a comparifon among the principal Graces, and gives the juft Preference of 1 Cor. one to the reft: Now remaineth XIII. 13. Faith, Hope, Charity, these three, but the greatest of thefe is Charity; i. e. it excels the other two." And Cor.XII. he speaks of coveting the best Gifts,

38.

31.

and

1

and of fhewing a more excellent way. Ser. III. There is a real Difference in the Degrees of their Excellence, as there is in their Natures and Kinds. But then this must be understood to be in fome certain Refpects only, not in every Refpect: for every Grace and Duty has its proper Excellence as well as its proper Place, and fo every one exceeds another in fome certain Refpects and to fome special Purposes; fo that this is defign'd only to give the true value, and affign the proper place of one, not to prejudice or difparage any.

To bring this down to the prefent Cafe: There are other Dutys of Religion that, for instance, are more abfolutely neceflary in our prefent State, and all things confider'd, than finging the Praises of God; fuch as Repentance towards God, and Faith in the Lord Jefus Chrift: Thefe are indifpenfably neceffary by the Gofpel-Covenant, and fuch as we can't be fay'd without; and in this Refpect they exceed all others. But then this Duty is preferable in fome Reg ES spects,

Ser. II. fpects, and has Characters of Excellence peculiar to it felf. As now, for inftance, to reprefent this matter a little diftinctly.

§. 1. In the refpect it bears to its Object, it has a direct refpect to God, and fo has every other part of Worship; but it refpects him under a higher Confideration, and in nobler Inftances. He is to be confider'd as the proper Object of Praife; i. e. with refpect to the moft glorious Perfections of his Nature, and the most excellent Difplays of himself: other Dutys and Graces refpect him in lower Inftances, and in a more confin'd Senfe. So Prayer refpects his Allfufficiency, that he can fupply all my Wants; Repentance, his Mercy, that he is inclin'd to forgive; Faith, his Power and Word, that he is able and difpos'd to deliver and fave, &c.

But Praise refpects God, as he is in himself, in all the fhining Perfections of his Nature, and in all his wonderful Works; in every Appearance of Love and Power, of Mercy and Judgment to the World.

World. We confider him as the Ser. III. moft glorious and lovely Being, the most adorable Object, and worthy the highest Veneration. In a word, 'tis God in his highest Glo> ry, and under the beft Confidera tions of him, that is the proper Object of Praise.

Thus you fhall find he is always fpoken of in the prefent Cafe: We Pf. LXVI. fing forth the Honour of his Name ; 2. i. e, the Perfections of his Nature by which he makes himfelf known, and is diftinguifh'd from every other Being. We fing Praife to him according to his excellent Great- Pf. CL. 2. nefs. Sing Praifes to our King, fing Pf.XLVII. Praifes, for God is the King of all 67. the Earth. Sing to God, fing Praife, Pfal.. extol him that rideth upon the Hea- LXVIII.4. vens by his name Jah, and rejoice be fore him. And fo of his great Appearances in the World: We fing

of all his marvellous Works, and Pfal.IX.1. praife him according to his mighty Pf. CL. 2. Acts. We fhew forth his Salvation, Pf. XCVI. declare his Glory among the Hea 1, 2. thens, his Wonders among the Peaple: He is great, and greatly to be fear'd, above all Gods.