India Christiana

p. 1The Joyful Sound reaching to both the INDIA's.

A Discourse delivered unto the COMMISSIONERS, for Propagating the GOSPEL among the INDIANS, On 18. d. XI. m. 1720. A Time Set apart for Supplications to Heaven for a Blessing on their Intention, at the House of Judge SEWALL.

Blessed is the People, that know the Joyful Sound.

THERE was a Direction given and taken in the Old Church of Israel, Numb. X. 2. Make thee Two Trumpets of Silver, that thou mayst use them for the calling of the Assembly. By the Sound of p. 2such Silver Trumpets, the People of GOD' were called unto the Employments and Enjoyments of their Sacred Solemnities. And, was this the Joyful Sound, which the People that heard it, are now Pronounced a Blessed People? I deny not, the Reference here-unto, which may be here supposed. But then, we will suppose a further Intent of the Holy Spirit, by whom the Psalm was dictated. He may intend the Joyful Sound, which in the Gospel, and the Institutions thereof, His People are Blessed withal. And accordingly, It will be no wrong unto the Text, if we put it unto the use, of Supporting this DOCTRINE.

Glorious is the Blessedness of the People, who truly Know the Joyful Sound, which in and with the Glorious Gospel of the Blessed GOD, and the Institutions thereof, arrives unto us.

In the Gospel, and the Ordinances of it, there is a Joyful Sound, which we are made partakers of. A True Knowledge of this Joyful Sound, will render the People that have it, a Blessed People.

Let us proceed more distinctly, in Three Propositions, to consider what we have before us.

p. 3I. THERE is a Joyful Sound, which is to be heard among the Children of Men, where the Gospel is Published, and where the Ordinances of it are Established. The Sound of the Silver Trumpets which Entertained the Ancient Israelites, in and for their Solemn Assemblies, was no less Typical than Musi◊al. In these Days of the New-Testament, we have the Substance of the Instrumental Musick, which was of old used in the Worship of GOD; the Shadow is vanished away. The Shadow was of old confined unto the Temple; But the Substance we have now in every Synagogue. The usage of Instrumental Musick in our Publick Worship of GOD, hath been long since disrelished among His Faithful People. Justin Martyr long ago exploded it. Yea, Aquinas, himself as late as less than Five hundred Years ago decried it. Indeed, it was one of the Last Things which the Man of Sin introduced, in the Worship of our SAVIOUR, which he had already fill'd with a Multitude of Superstitions. We will then for the present look on the Jewish Trumpets, and Organs too, as a part of the Abrogated Pedagogy. Yea, but the Trumpets of the Gospel, these we have still sounding in our Ears. But the Sound has diverse properties assign'd unto it, which it will be proper for us, now to take notice of.

p. 4There is a Sound in the Gospel, and the Ordinances thereof; And it is, first, A Great Sound. Oh! were we so much in the Spirit on the Lords Day, as to hear, what is to be heard in the Gospel then brought unto us, we should be able to say, I heard a Great Voice, as of a Trumpet. There is a famous Prophecy; Isai. XXVII. 13. The Great Trumpet shall be blown, and they that were ready to perish, shall come and worship the Lord. Whatever other Accomplishment this Prophecy may have, it is very gloriously accomplished in the Proclamation which our SAVIOUR in His Gospel makes unto us. The Gospel, as with the Sound of a Trumpet, invites the Sinners ready to perish, O come, and worship, and obey, and enjoy the Lord. And when this Great Trumpet is blown, Great, Great is the Sound thereof. The Sound of the Trumpet is Great in the Extent of it. We read, Rom. X. 18. The Sound goes into all the Earth. In less than Forty Years, it reached unto the utmost Bounds of the vast Roman Empire; and tho' Satan Seduced numbers of Miserables into America, that they might be out of its hearing, it has now reached hither also. The Silver Trumpets were at first but a Couple, for the Two Sons of Aaron; but afterwards in Solomons Time, we find an hundred & twenty p. 5Silver Trumpets all Sounding together. Before the Incarnation of our SAVIOUR, His Gospel was heard but a little way. Afterward, it Sounded far and near, and the Gospel was Preached unto every Creature: It might be said, It Sounds in every Place. The Sound of the Trumpet is also Great in the Effect of it. A Loud Sound indeed; so Loud, as to Awaken them that have a Dead Sleep upon them! So Loud, as to convey Life unto them that Ly Dead in Trespasses and Sins! Yea, Joh. V. 25. The Hour now is, when the Dead hear the Voice of the Son of GOD, and Live. The Sound of this Trumpet fetches back the Lost Souls of all the Elect, from the power of Satan unto GOD. They are not Silver Trumpets, that are now Sounding unto us; But they are Saving Trumpets! Faith comes, the Love of GOD comes, the Love of our Neighbour comes, and the Foretaste of Heaven comes, by the Hearing of them. What are they, But the Power of GOD unto Salvation!

p. 5Secondly; 'Tis a Good Sound, as well as a Great one. No Trumpets can give so Good, so Grateful, so Lovely, a Sound, as the Trumpets of the Gospel do. Fame often in her Trumpet, has a Sound, which may not be relied upon; But every Trumpet of the Gospel, p. 6gives a Sound, of none but Faithful Sayings, and worthy of all Acceptation. We are told; Prov. XXV. 25. …