Gift of the Mes 1M2 Bradford

The Gift of

To

Martha Strange May 7/1490

JOHN BRADFORD, A.B.

LATE OF WADHAM COLLEGE, OXFORD,

AND

MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL IN BIRMINGHAM,

LONDON:

E

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR

Sold by MATHEWS, Strand; TERRY, Paternoster.row; and
JORDAN, Fleet-street; London.

By LUCAS, High-strect; PIERCY, near the Welsh Cross; and at
the Vestry of Bartholomew-ftreet Chapel; Birmingham:
And at the Vestry of the Mecting House at West Bromwich

Entered at Stationers' Hall.

PREFACE.

THAT finging pfalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, was practised by the primitive Chris tians in their assemblies cannot, I think, be well denied: but that which gives this ordinance a higher sanction than can possibly be derived from custom or human authority, is the practice of our Lord himself, who, the fame night on which he was betrayed, after supper, before he went out to the mount of Olives, fang a hymn with his disciples. St. Paul too, writing to the Coloffians, says, " Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, " in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing

one another in pfalms, and hymns, and " spiritual fongs; finging with grace in your "hearts to the Lord." From hence it is plain that finging in the church of Chrift is intended for edification and improvement; that, whilft the tongue is employed in founding the praises of the Lord, the heart may be feelingly engaged in an exercise truly spiritual and heavenly.