4 the power of the Church is nothing but a Ministry or Service whereby they publish and pronounce according to Gods word what Christ bindeth and looseth and not what they can bind and loose by their pretended usurpation for Ecclesiastical Laws and Traditions as they are called doth not stand in the authority and pleasure of men no nor of councels No Law is of force to bind conscience but as is is agreeable to the word of God but in the consent and agreement which they have with the Scripture and all such as have rule or Government in Church State or Family they must not rule according to their will and pleasure but in the Lord and for the Lord according to the word of God doing hom gâ—and â—eildiâ—g obedience to their Head and King Christ Jesus and every onâ— indeâ—vour to rule as a King over his own thoughts will and â—ffâ—ctions by Gods word and spirit Rev. 1.6 and â—hos to live unto God in meâ—s several places is to have Gods Kingdom to comâ— and to be erect d and set up among men when Christ alone is exalted accorâ—ing as we pray For this Kingdom is nor meant of Gods absolute Kingly power whereby he immediately of himself ruleth all things in Heaven and Earth but as is said before it is meant of the setting up of his Laws and O dinances in the Church the Kingdom of Grace here on Earth in the hearts of man the outward means thereof as the preaching of the word the administration of the Sacraments The Devil and evil instruments hinder the setting up of Christs Kingdom which is may be hindred from exercising of them in their purity according to Christs institutions by the Devil the Pope and other Prelates who will not suffer Christs ministers to minister his Ordinances according to the word of God except they mingle mens devised Ceremoniâ—â— and Traditions with the Laws and institutions of Christ and thus at this time the coming or setting up of Gods Kingdom in the hearts of men is hindred as much as they can though they Hiâ—orriâ—ically pray that his Kingdom may come he advanced and therefore it behoves all that are of Gods Kingdom the true Church to pray to God without ceasing to remove all blocks and impediments out of the way that his Kingdom may come and his Will may be dome The third Petition Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven In the former petition we pray that God-Kingdom may come that he may Reign Rule in our hearts by faith if he must Reign thâ—â— we must be his Subjects and obey his Laws and do his Will and his Will must be done by denying our selves and our own carnal wisdom and all humain inventions in a devised outward formâ—lity of will-worship for all is will-worship that is not according to the perfect and acceptable will of God VVill worship forbidden it is utterly condemned Rom. 12.1.2 Yea even all the Commâ—ndements and Doctrines of men though they have never so great a shew of holiness and humility in their wilâ— worship it must perish and will not avail the worshippers os Col 2.22.23 Here in these two Texts all voluntary Religion is condemned therefore nothing may go under the name of Gods worship but that which he hath prescribed in his word Deu. 12.31.32 For the rule of divine worship is not the will of him that worshippeth but the will of him that is worshipped therefore to worship after the precepts of mâ—n is detestable and vain for Gods a Spirit and they that worship God most worship him in Spirit and in truth for our father to whom we pray seeketh such to worship him John 4 23.24 For mans in â—nâ—â—â—n doth not make Gods worship but Gods will revealed in his word for â—â—aal in Israel was some time worshipped as the true God if we respect the intention of men The intention of men doth no make the VVorship of God therefore mens intentions in worshipping by Ceremonies and Traditions of there own devising is no part of the worship of God and therefore we pray thy will be done in Earth by us men as thy Saints and Angels do thy will in Heaven and they do Gods will willingly chearfully and readily and his will only and not the wiles nor Ceremonies of men neither should we but the will of God only for so we pray that we may do the will of God in Earth as the Saints and Angels do it in Heaven now to pray that we may have grace given us to worship God with that integrity and willingness that Saints and Angels do and after so praying to worship him after the precepts of men it is meer Hipocrisie and praying against our selves and a mocking of God openly declaring that we will not have Christ to Reign over us nor take him for to be King and Governour of his Church nor submit to his Laws like Johanan and the rest of Captains and people that sent the Prophet Jeremias to inquire of the Lord for them but they resolved before that whatsoever the Lord said by the Prophet they would do after their own devices Jer. 42. and like the Idolaters who said to Jeremias as for the word which thou hast spoken to us in the Name of the Lord we will not heark in unto thee here Mr. Perkins on the negative part of the second Commandment he saith that will worship is to worship God with a naked and bare good intention as in Col. â—â— 22.23 and so Sauls burnt-offering was a will worship for which Samuel told him he had done foolishly in not keeping the Commandment of the Lord wherefore the Kingdom should not continue with him 1 Sam. 13.9 to 14. he also faith that holy days and some sorts of apparrel gestures Ceremonies altars temporary prayers Consort in Church Musick in divine Service feeding the ear The Negativâ— part of the second commudâ—â—â— and not edifying the mind giving God a painted shew of worship without the sincerity of the heart to seek the pomp and glory of the world to be more forward to observe Traditions then the Law of God to corrupt Gods worship ordained for his Church by detracting or adding any thing to Christs Institutions as Ceremonies or Traditions all these and the like he saith are forbidden in the second Commandement for they are but Images to worship God by them for we may not obtrude any thing in Gods worship which Christ himself hath not ordained and appointed as a part of his worship for after the publishing of the Gospel the Ceremonies of the Jews Church though formerly commanded yet now became unlawful and so shall continue to the end of the world There is no new institution of Ceremonies in the Gospel and there is no new institution since neither of any of them nor any other Traditions or Ceremonies in the New Testament of Jesus Christ nor no command of God that Popes or
musick and Coristers doth but please the ear and doth not edifie the multitude that hears it therefore we think that it is no Ordinance of Christ nor the actors are no officers of Christs inâ—titution in the Church of Christ nor none of these is any way or means to obtain the Kingdom of God or his righteousness Therefore if we would seek the Kingdom of God in the right way we must seek it in the revealed will and word of God and not in the devised forms and Traditions of men for he is a transgressor of the first Commandment whose fear of God is taught by the precepts four Commandments broken by the use of Ceâ—imonies in Gods worship Câ—rimonies and Traditions of men Is 29.13 And he breakâ— the secâ—â—d Câ—mmandment that changeth or corrupteth the worship of God in wholâ— oâ— iâ— part Deuâ— 12.32 and Chap. 4. v. 2. And he breaks the third Câ—mmandment that useth the name of God or any of his titles in any way or manner of worship not instiâ—uted by Christ or in any Ordinance unreverently which is done when Christs institutions are mixed with mens precepts and traditions in any part of his worship and he breaks the fifth Commandement that for fear of men doth observe the precepts and Commandments of men and regards not to do the Commandments of God to worship him according to his own word and will Acts 4.19 Whereas we are bound in Conscience to obâ—y the institutions of Christ and none other touching the worship of God though all men were offended with us for so doing for all Doctâ—ines pertaiâ—ing to the foundation and good estate of the Church and the whoâ—e worship of God are set down and recorded in the written word of God 2 Tim 3 16.17 And the excellency of the Church the Spouse of Christ stands in her subjection and obedience to Christ her Head and Husband according to his will and word for as a Wife ought to submit to the lawful commands of her Husband rather then to Strangers and Forreigners so and much more ought the Church of believers for all others though they be in the Church they are not of the Church Christ ought to be obeyed rather then Straâ—gers 1 John 2.19 therefore believers ought to submit to the righteous Laws and institutions of Christ their Head and Husband only and not to the traditions nor Ceremonies nor precepts of Popes or Prelates who are as Strangers and forraigners in respect of Christ and the higher that any man is exalted either in Church or Common-wealth the more careful they should be in giving good ex mple in yeilding obedience to Christ lest by evil exampâ—e they prove to be like unsavoury salt to be esteemed of God sit for nothing but to be cast upon the Dunghil to be trodden down of Swine The fifth Petition Forgive us our Debts or Trespâ—sses c. In the former petition we pray for temporal bâ—essings and in this petition and the next we pray for spiritual blessings and hence we are taught that our care for our Souls should be double to the care for our bodies and the â—rder here set down is that we first trust Gods providence for the things of â—his life for unless we can do that we cannot rest on Gods mercy for the â—ardon of our sins for he doth but deceive himself that thinks he doth beieve in God for the pardon of his sins and the Salvation of his Soul and yet distrusts Gods providence for food and raiment and things necessary for â—he body for is not the life saith Christ more then meat and the body more then raiment Mat. 6.25 Forgive us our debts as a debt binds a man to make satisfaction or else to go to Prison so our fins binds us to make satisfaction to Gods Justice or else to suffer eternal damnation but this satisfaction we cannot make in our own persons but by our surety Jesus Christ who is called the Lord our Righteousness Jerem. 23 6. and Isa 45.24 In the Lord have I righteousness and strength Therefore God so loved the World that he sent his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life Christ only is our Righteousness and the alone satisfier of Gods Justice John 3.16 now to forgive sins is to have sins covered or not imputed as Psal 32. 1 2. and sins is covered and not imputed to elect believers by the free Grace of God in accepting of that satisfaction which Christ by his death and sufferings gave to Gods justice in the behalf of believers when God saw the travel of his Soul and was satisfied Isaiah 53.11 Thus Christs righteousness and satisfaction is imputed unto believers for their righteousness and satisfaction when they do believe and by a particular faith apply the same unto themselves for all the good works in the world as some plead for can never give satisfaction to Gods divine justice for the least sin but we must acknowledge the forgiveness of our sins and salvation of our Souls to be of the free grace mercy and favour of God without our desert As we forgive them that trespass against us this is the second part of the fifth Petition and here we pray conditionally to be forgiven as we forgive others that trespass against us and our Saviour Christ assureth us that if we forgive not others their trespasses according as we pray neither will our Heavenly father forgive us Mat. 6.14.15 By this it is lamentable to consider how many thousands not only of ignorant people but even such as pretend to be teachers of others who prays this prayer and yet their hearts swells with mallice envy back biting and evil speaking against others epecially such as differ from them in judgement Envious persons pray for one thing and do the contrary of the right way of worshipping God though perhaps they understand but little of the grounds and reasons why those who they hate and despise descent from them this is a raging and a reigning sin for while such pray to be forgiven as they forgive others when their consciences witness against them that they hate and envy others so that in their praying they pray against themselves that iâ—â—ffâ—ad of â—â—pacting a blessing in answer of their prayers they may expect a curse and never to be pardoned without unfeigned repentance being condemned by their own words and of their own Consciences for he that hateth his Brother is a murtherer and ye know that no murtherer hath Eternal Life abiding in him 1 John 3 15 and none are more forward in this wickedness then those who ignorantly do most pray or say this prayer not understanding or not seriously considering the extent and meaning of it Suppose those men whom you so malligne were in an error which was never yet proved against some sort of them ye that are strong or think your selves so ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not
to please your selves but to please others for their edification for Christ pleased not himself Rom. 15.1 2 3. And if any man be not so conformable in all things as some would have them ye which are spiritual and would be called so if ye be spiritual ye ought to restore such a one in the spirit of meekness and bear one anothers burthens and so fulfill the Law of Christ Gala. 6.1 2 3. And not lay burthens of fines imprisonment or banishment upon them for if you do how can you pray that you may be forgiven but as you forgive and not expect to pull down wrath and vengeance upon your selves therefore if you believe Scripture to be the word of God which is no more then what the Devils believe and tremble and if your Consciences be not seared cease from your unmerciful persecution and hatred for he shall have judgement without mercy that hath shewed no mercy James 2.13 Therefore as ye expect that God for Christs sake should forgive you so allso do ye for otherwise you will lead your selves into temptation whereas in the next Petition ye pray that you may not be led into temptation for thus God is mocked when they pray and practise contrary to what they pray The sixth Petition Lead us not into temptation In the former Petition we pray for pardon of sins and because forgiveness of sins and grievous temptations are in sepperable Companions in this Life therefore in this Petition we pray that we may not be led into temptation that is let us not be inticed to sins Many lead themselves into temptation the Apostle James saith that God temps no man he moves no man â—o sin but every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and inticed James 2.13.14 To be led into temptation then is to be overcome in temptations or to be drawn away of our own lust and inticed for many that pray this Prayer lead themselves into temptation for Christ sheweth us the means of deliverance his word and Ordinances in their purity according to his divine institution but those that will not obey but chose rather to follow the precepts Ceremonies and Traditions of men these men lead themselves into temptation and pray against themselves as to the matter and manner of his worship For Christ as he is King and governor of his Church he doth exercise two prerogatives royal which he will not impart to any other neither in whole no in part and that is first to make Laws-for the government of his Church for there is but one Law giver saith James 4.12 And he is able to save such as obey his laws and to destroy all those that dare oppose or presume to bâ— Check mate with him to add their Ceremonies or Traditions to his Laws or institutions for the government of his Church Christs second prerogative royal is to appoint and ordain what officers shall be in his Church now in Gospel times and as all Scripture is given by divine inspiration 2 Jam. 3.16 So God hath set down by the Pen men of holy Scripture in Eph. 4.11 12. that Church officers were ascention gifts for when he ascended up on high he gave gifts unto men vâ—z he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ the same Church officers are also mentioned in the 1 Cor. 12.28 With this addition helps in government That is ruling Elders which some call Lay-Elders and Deacons But neither Aâ—ch Deacons nor sub Deacons but Deacons to minister to the poor as in Act 6.3 to v. 6. And these officers though instituted by the Apostles we may râ—â—â—nally believe that they did it by direction from Christ the forty days after â—iâ— resurection in which time he spake to his Apostles of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God as in Acts. 1.2 And as they also were authorized and inspired by the holy Ghost 2 Tim. 3.16 And that none since them have been so authorized And now seeing these are al the Church officers that Christ and his Apostles hath instituted and appointed in the new Testament for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ and if Christ whose prerogative royal it is to appoint Church officers appointed these and none other and saw them sufficient for those and above named Eph. 4.12 Then all others call them by what names or titles soever you will from the Pope to the Parâ—itor they are superfluous and vain usurpers and none of Christs Church officers nor of his institution and appointment now then to worship God in any way or manner then he hath prrscribed in his word or by any other Church officers then Christ you see hath appointed and ordained and mix this Prayer with Ceremonies and forms of their own inventions what is it but a mocking of God being drawn away as Jame saith of their own lusts and inticed for by ends of pleasure or profit fear or favour and so a leading of themselves into temptation whil they think they pray against temptation they pray against themselves to draw down Gods vengeance upon them in stead of a blessing because in this Prayer they in words in the presence of God they seem to pray for that which they do not intend or purpose for to do namely that Gods will may be done in Earth as it is in Heaven which if it be then must he be worshiped according to his own institutions and not according to mens devisings and by such Church officers as Christ hath instituted and not men As Mr. Stilling fleet in his book of the Idolatry practised in the Church of Rome saith Page 49. that Gods honour in his worship is not to be measured by the intentions of men it being in the power of God to determine in what way he will be worshiped we are not to inquire what mens intentions are in their worship but whether God will allow of such a worship or no for Godâ— divine Law saith he is the rule of worship whatever the intention of the Person be â—or our worship is not to be guided by our own fancies saith he but by the will of God Page 98. for we affirm saith he that we ought not only perform the offices of Religion out of obedience to his divine commands but with due veneration of his majesty with subjection of our souls to his supreme authority about these things Page 102 did the Heathen saith he use solemn Ceremonies of making any capable of divine worship so do the Roman Church c. Page 139. It is agreed he saith on both sides that the Scriptures do contain in them the unquestionable will of that God whom we are bound to serve and it being the end of devotion as it ought to be of our lives