it_o be_v that_o some_o people_n can_v endure_v our_o service_n but_o heap_v up_o to_o themselves_o teacher_n that_o instead_o of_o the_o praise_n prayer_n and_o sermon_n of_o god_n immediate_a appointment_n will_v gratify_v they_o every_o meeting_n with_o a_o new_a prayer_n without_o trouble_v they_o with_o such_o prayer_n or_o sermon_n as_o they_o think_v old_a which_o be_v incomparable_o better_a only_o the_o itch_a ear_n of_o the_o people_n as_o the_o apostle_n foretold_v be_v please_v with_o the_o novelty_n and_o variety_n of_o the_o one_o and_o disgust_v the_o repetition_n of_o the_o other_o as_o the_o israelite_n do_v that_o of_o angel_n food_n psa._n lxxviii_o 25_o num._n xxi_o 5_o &_o xi_o 6_o it_o be_v the_o duty_n of_o all_o minister_n and_o the_o business_n of_o the_o true_o conscientious_a to_o check_v and_o curb_v this_o humour_n in_o the_o people_n and_o notwithstanding_o all_o discouragement_n the_o minister_n of_o our_o church_n instead_o of_o comply_v with_o they_o 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down_o let_v we_o kneel_v before_o the_o lord_n our_o maker_n the_o second_o verse_n of_o this_o psalm_n plain_o show_v we_o that_o this_o be_v mean_v of_o public_a worship_n let_v we_o come_v before_o his_o presence_n with_o thanksgiving_n and_o that_o this_o bow_v or_o kneel_v be_v to_o be_v interpret_v literal_o not_o figurative_o appear_v from_o the_o same_o verse_n where_o sing_v thanksgiving_n and_o psalm_n be_v all_o literal_o to_o be_v understand_v and_o there_o be_v no_o more_o reason_n for_o understanding_n bow_v and_o kneel_v in_o a_o figurative_a sense_n than_o the_o other_o ii_o the_o same_o bodily_a worship_n be_v require_v by_o the_o second_o commandment_n which_o forbid_v we_o to_o bow_v down_o to_o a_o grave_a image_n by_o which_o word_n we_o be_v command_v to_o bow_v down_o to_o god_n for_o it_o be_v confess_v by_o all_o and_o lay_v down_o as_o a_o rule_n by_o the_o assembly_n large_a catechism_n that_o the_o negative_a commandment_n include_v in_o they_o the_o 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image_n break_v the_o second_o commandment_n so_o do_v he_o who_o on_o occasion_n of_o public_a worship_n either_o refuse_v or_o neglect_v to_o use_v some_o such_o posture_n to_o god_n it_o be_v a_o contempt_n of_o god_n and_o contrary_a to_o his_o command_n to_o pray_v to_o he_o for_o instance_n without_o some_o posture_n of_o adoration_n to_o he_o when_o we_o can_v do_v it_o as_o well_o as_o it_o be_v a_o sin_n to_o kneel_v to_o a_o image_n without_o pray_v to_o it_o which_o the_o papist_n pretend_v to_o do_v the_o one_o be_v idolatry_n and_o the_o other_o sacrilege_n for_o the_o reason_n why_o we_o be_v not_o to_o bow_v down_o to_o a_o idol_n be_v because_o it_o be_v a_o act_n of_o worship_n due_a to_o god_n and_o whether_o we_o give_v what_o be_v due_a to_o he_o to_o a_o image_n or_o refuse_v to_o pay_v it_o to_o himself_o we_o be_v equal_o robber_n of_o god_n we_o deny_v he_o his_o honour_n and_o be_v guilty_a of_o sacrilege_n i_o wish_v all_o concern_v may_v serious_o consider_v and_o amend_v their_o practice_n in_o this_o particular_a iii_o but_o the_o practice_n of_o holy_a man_n and_o of_o the_o church_n of_o god_n in_o scripture_n be_v the_o best_a interpreter_n of_o god_n command_n and_o from_o they_o we_o may_v learn_v what_o he_o require_v or_o approve_v in_o his_o worship_n now_o through_o the_o whole_a old_a testament_n we_o shall_v never_o find_v any_o one_o sit_v at_o his_o devotion_n but_o on_o all_o occasion_n of_o worship_n especial_o in_o public_a assembly_n the_o people_n of_o god_n stand_v kneel_v bow_v or_o prostrate_v themselves_o it_o be_v say_v indeed_o 2_o sam._n seven_o 8_o that_o king_n david_n then_o go_v and_o sit_v before_o the_o lord_n but_o here_o the_o original_a word_n be_v capable_a of_o another_o signification_n and_o may_v as_o well_o be_v translate_v that_o he_o remain_v stay_v or_o abode_n before_o the_o lord_n and_o according_o it_o be_v thus_o translate_v in_o other_o place_n of_o scripture_n particular_o gen._n xxii_o 5_o &_o xxiv_o 55_o &_o xxix_o 19_o 1_o king_n twelve_o 2_o this_o place_n therefore_o be_v no_o exception_n against_o that_o practice_n which_o be_v so_o evident_a through_o the_o whole_a old_a testament_n that_o holy_a man_n worship_v god_n with_o their_o body_n as_o well_o as_o with_o their_o mind_n iv._o we_o shall_v find_v the_o same_o practise_v by_o our_o saviour_n and_o his_o apostle_n in_o the_o new_a t._n our_o saviour_n undoubted_o be_v the_o best_a example_n we_o can_v propose_v to_o ourselves_o for_o the_o worship_n of_o god_n and_o we_o ought_v to_o imitate_v what_o he_o do_v and_o approve_v now_o if_o we_o consider_v the_o worship_n he_o offer_v to_o his_o father_n we_o shall_v find_v he_o address_v himself_o to_o he_o with_o bow_v the_o body_n with_o kneel_v and_o prostration_n as_o well_o as_o with_o strong_a cry_n and_o tear_n so_o mat._n xxvi_o 39_o and_o he_o go_v a_o little_a further_o and_o fall_v on_o his_o face_n and_o pray_v o_o my_o father_n etc._n etc._n and_o luk._n xxii_o 41_o he_o kneel_v down_o and_o pray_v and_o as_o he_o pay_v this_o bodily_a worship_n to_o god_n so_o he_o accept_v the_o same_o from_o man_n when_o he_o be_v on_o earth_n thus_o the_o wise_a man_n worship_v he_o in_o his_o cradle_n mat._n two_o 11_o when_o they_o see_v the_o young_a child_n and_o his_o mother_n mary_n they_o fall_v down_o etc._n etc._n thus_o they_o that_o desire_v to_o be_v cure_a by_o he_o address_v themselves_o to_o he_o mark_v v_o 22_o when_o he_o see_v he_o he_o fall_v at_o his_o foot_n and_o beseech_v etc._n etc._n and_o after_o the_o same_o manner_n those_o who_o be_v cure_a by_o he_o return_v he_o thanks_o luke_n xvii_o 16_o thus_o his_o belove_a mary_n come_v into_o his_o presence_n john_n xi_o 32_o and_o matth._n xxviii_o 9_o they_o
read_v the_o word_n i_o come_v now_o to_o consider_v with_o you_o my_o friend_n who_o dissent_v from_o we_o how_o this_o great_a duty_n of_o teach_v the_o people_n the_o law_n of_o god_n be_v perform_v in_o your_o assembly_n and_o to_o compare_v your_o practice_n in_o this_o point_n with_o the_o scripture_n rule_v and_o example_n which_o i_o shall_v do_v with_o the_o same_o candour_n and_o integrity_n that_o i_o have_v hitherto_o endeavour_v to_o observe_v i._o and_o here_o i_o must_v needs_o say_v that_o your_o teacher_n seem_v to_o have_v have_v very_o little_a regard_n either_o to_o scripture_n rule_n or_o example_n in_o frame_v this_o part_n of_o your_o worship_n have_v lay_v aside_o all_o those_o method_n of_o instruction_n that_o the_o scripture_n recommend_v to_o we_o except_o it_o be_v that_o of_o exposition_n and_o exhortation_n which_o among_o you_o be_v call_v preach_v in_o so_o much_o that_o though_o a_o man_n frequent_v your_o meeting_n all_o his_o life_n yet_o he_o have_v no_o security_n or_o hardly_o possibility_n of_o learning_n from_o your_o public_a teach_n all_o the_o great_a mystery_n of_o his_o religion_n or_o the_o necessary_a principle_n of_o his_o faith_n 1._o for_o first_o your_o preacher_n be_v entire_o leave_v to_o their_o choice_n what_o place_n of_o scripture_n they_o will_v explain_v or_o what_o subject_n they_o will_v handle_v and_o hence_o it_o happen_v that_o hardly_o any_o one_o man_n in_o his_o life_n ever_o go_v through_o the_o necessary_a article_n of_o faith_n or_o of_o practice_n in_o his_o public_a sermon_n and_o for_o the_o truth_n of_o this_o i_o appeal_v to_o yourselves_o 2._o you_o have_v no_o summary_n of_o principle_n enjoin_v to_o be_v either_o read_v or_o teach_v in_o your_o public_a assembly_n a_o catechism_n you_o have_v but_o neither_o your_o directory_n nor_o practice_n make_v it_o any_o part_n of_o your_o lords-day-service_n and_o beside_o your_o catechism_n be_v such_o that_o it_o no_o way_n answer_v the_o 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beseech_v you_o to_o consider_v whether_o this_o be_v not_o a_o lay_v aside_o the_o commandment_n of_o god_n for_o man_n invention_n unless_o you_o will_v call_v your_o sermon_n as_o some_o quaker_n be_v say_v to_o do_v as_o much_o the_o word_n of_o god_n as_o the_o bible_n iii_o i_o look_v on_o this_o as_o so_o material_a a_o point_n and_o conceive_v the_o honour_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n and_o the_o salvation_n of_o christian_n to_o be_v so_o deep_o concern_v in_o it_o that_o i_o think_v myself_o oblige_v to_o examine_v the_o pretence_n i_o have_v find_v to_o justify_v it_o though_o i_o confess_v they_o seem_v to_o i_o so_o weak_a that_o i_o be_o afraid_a i_o shall_v be_v almost_o suspect_v by_o indifferent_a person_n not_o to_o do_v justice_n in_o represent_v they_o for_o it_o be_v unaccountable_a that_o any_o body_n shall_v urge_v so_o slight_a reason_n for_o so_o considerable_a a_o omission_n and_o yet_o these_o be_v all_o i_o have_v ever_o meet_v with_o or_o hear_v from_o 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pray_v to_o god_n praise_v he_o and_o instruct_v our_o family_n in_o private_a and_o yet_o god_n forbid_v that_o our_o do_v these_o private_o shall_v banish_v the_o use_n of_o they_o from_o our_o public_a assembly_n or_o that_o any_o one_o shall_v think_v himself_o excuse_v from_o attend_v on_o the_o public_a performance_n of_o they_o on_o account_n of_o his_o private_a diligence_n in_o they_o and_o the_o same_o rule_n hold_v for_o read_v the_o holy_a scripture_n 3._o god_n tell_v the_o child_n of_o israel_n deut._n vi_fw-la 6_o that_o these_o word_n which_o i_o command_v thou_o this_o day_n shall_v be_v in_o thy_o heart_n and_o thou_o shall_v teach_v they_o diligent_o to_o thy_o child_n and_o shall_v talk_v of_o they_o when_o thou_o sit_v in_o thy_o house_n and_o when_o thou_o walk_v by_o the_o way_n and_o when_o thou_o lie_v down_o and_o when_o thou_o rise_v up_o and_o thou_o shall_v write_v they_o on_o the_o post_n of_o thy_o house_n here_o be_v as_o much_o private_a diligence_n 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read_v in_o they_o which_o be_v a_o certain_a mean_n to_o preserve_v the_o knowledge_n thereof_o as_o long_o as_o there_o be_v a_o church_n but_o he_o have_v no_o where_o promise_v the_o constant_a commonness_n of_o bibles_n nor_o ability_n to_o people_n to_o read_v they_o at_o home_n to_o omit_v therefore_o the_o institution_n of_o god_n for_o teach_v his_o word_n and_o to_o rely_v on_o people_n procure_v and_o read_v copy_n of_o the_o bible_n private_o be_v to_o leave_v god_n way_n and_o presumptuous_o depend_v on_o that_o which_o have_v no_o promise_n annex_v to_o it_o 3._o how_o easy_a soever_o we_o may_v imagine_v the_o obtain_n copy_n of_o the_o bible_n and_o notwithstanding_o the_o number_n of_o those_o that_o can_v read_v there_o be_v still_o many_o family_n even_o among_o protestant_n that_o can_v neither_o compass_v a_o bible_n or_o get_v any_o to_o read_v it_o if_o they_o have_v one_o and_o therefore_o this_o expedient_a be_v no_o way_n sufficient_a to_o supply_v the_o 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