Selected quad for the lemma: grace_n
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A53671
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A brief instruction in the worship of God, and discipline of the churches of the New Testament, by way of question and answer with an explication and confirmation of those answers.
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Owen, John, 1616-1683.
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1667
(1667)
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Wing O721; ESTC R9489
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80,905
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observance which is to be kept entire according to the primitive institution of Christ 1 Cor. 11.23 I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you not admitting of any corruptions in it to avoid the greatest trouble Gal. 5.11 And I Brethren if I yet preach circumcision why do I yet suffer Persecution Qu. 9. How do we in our Observation profess our subjection unto the Lord Jesus Christ and his Gospel Answ. In that being all of them 1. Appointed by him as the head Law-giver King of his Church And 2. Made by him the ensignes and tokens of his Kingdom and Subjects in their due observation principally consists that profession of him and his name which be so often calleth us unto and so indispensably requireth at our hands Mat. 28.18 19 20. 1 Cor. 11.23 Heb. 3.6 Heb. 12.25 John 8.31 Chap. 13.13 Chap. 14.15 21 23. Chap. 15. 14 17. Chap. 13.35 Chap. 15.14 Luke 9.26 Rom. 10.10 1 John 2.3 4. Explication The ground and reason of this Duty is evident The Lord Jesus Christ streightly enjoyns all his Disciples the profession of his name and layes it on them as indispensable unto Salvation Rom. 10.10 With the heart man believeth unto righteousness with the mouth confession or profession is made unto salvation John 12.42 43 44 45. Now this profession of the name of Christ which is so much abused and mistaken in the World consists in the keeping of his commandments John 15.14 ye are my Friends if ye do whatsoever I command you So also Mat. 28.20 his Disciples are to be taught to do and observe whatever he commandeth Now whereas he is the head and King of the Church the next immediate and special Law-giver of it appointing unto it all his Ordinances and its whole worship as it becomes him who is Lord of the house the institutions of the Gospel worship are his most especial commands And in their observation consists that profession of him which he requires of us Therein doth he call them out of the world by profession whom he hath redeemed out of it by his blood 1 Cor. 6.15 16 17. Rev. 5.9 in these he exerciseth his Kingly or Lordly power over his Church Heb. 3.6 and in the willing obedience of his people gathering themselves unto the Ensigns of his Rule he is glorified in the World Qu. 10. How do we in and by them build up our selves in our most holy faith Answ. By the exercise of that communion with God in Christ Iesus which in their due Observation he graciously invites and admits us unto for the increase of his grace in us and the testification of his love and good will towards us Gen. 17.10 Levit. 26.11 12. Prov. 9.5 6. Ezek. 26.27 28. Zach. 14.16 17. Mat. 26.27 28. Rom. 6.3 Explication The next and principall ends of all instituted worship in respect of Believers are the increase of the Grace of God in them their edification in their most holy faith and the testification of the good will of God unto them Ephes. 4.11 12 13 14 15. And 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 Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carryed about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lye in wait to deceive but speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ from whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplyeth according to the effectuall working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of it self in love Whence also is that prayer of the Apostle for the blessing of God upon the Church in the use of them Ephes. 3.16 17 18. That he will grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inward man that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth the length and depth and heighth and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God For these ends and with a design to have them accomplished in and upon their souls ought they to attend unto them James 1.21 Receive with meekness the ingrafted word of God which is able to save your souls 1 Pet. 2.2 As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby Unto the effecting of these ends especially the increase and establishment of our faith are they suiâ—ed and appointed of God whereon all their efficacy doth depend In their due observation doth God give out that supply of Grace which he hath promised Ephes. 1.16 17 18 19. and thus also is faith exercised in an especial manner which iâ— the only ordinary means of its growth and increase Habits both acquired and infused are increased and strengthened by frequent acts on suitable objects Hos. 6.3 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord. In the celebration of Gospel Ordinances God in Christ proposeth himself in an intimate manner to the believing soul as his God and reward and his love in Christ in an especiall manner in some Ordinances So doth Christ also exhibit himself thereunto Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will supp with him and he with me Faith therefore directed by the word to rest in God to receive the Lord Christ in the observation of his Ordinances is excited increased strengthened and that in answer unto the appointment and promises of God Qu. 11. How are mutuall love and communion among Believers testified and confirmed in their Observation Answ. In that they are appointed by the Lord Christ for that end and in their own nature as attended unto in their Assemblies are in an especiall manner suited unto that purpose John 13.35 1 Cor. 10.16 17. 1 Cor. 11.18 19. Ephes. 4.4 5 6. Explication The principles of mutual spirituall love among Believers arise from their relation unto one Father Matth. 23.9 One is your Father which is in Heaven who giveth unto all them that believe in Christ Power to become the sons of God John 1.12 And their being all Children of the same Family that family in Heaven and Earth which is called after the name of God the Father of it as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Ephes. 3.14 15. and unto Christ Jesus as their elder Brother who
sending out and is referred unto the same series of miracles which they wrought in pursuit and by vertue thereof they cast out many Devils and anointed with Oyle many that were sick and healed them And by what is there recorded the subsequent mention of it James 5.14 is to be regulated but now unto a reall evangelical institution of worship it is required 1. That it be a command of Christ manifested by his Word or Example proposed unto our imitation Matth. 28.20 2. That it be given and enjoyned unto the whole Church with the limitation of its administration expressed in the Word 1 Cor. 11.25 3. That unto the due performance of it Gospel grace be required in them that attend unto it 4. That it teach or represent or seal or improve some grace of the Covenant and have a promise of acceptation annexed unto it and whatever is thus appointed the Church is indispensably to continue in the observation of unto the end of the World Quest. 14. May not the Church find out and appoint to be observed such religious rites as being adjoyned unto the celebration of Gods instituted worship may farther the devotion of the Worshipers and render the worship it self in its performance more decent beautiful and orderly as the appointing of Images and the like Answ. All acceptable devotion in them that worship God is the effect of faith which respects the precepts and promises of God alone And the comeliness and beauty of Gospel worship consisteth in its relation unto God by Iesus Christ as the merciful high-Priest over his house with the glorious administration of the spirit therein The order also of it lyeth in the due and regular observation of all that Christ hath appointed and therefore all such inventions are in themselves needless and useless and because forbidden unlawful to be observed Rom. 1.21 Chap. 14.23 Heb. 4.2 Chap. 11.6 Deut. 13.4 Chap. 27.10 Chap. 30.2.8 20. Chap. 11.27 Matth. 27.5 Isa. 29.13 Heb. 11.4 6. Ephes. 2.18 2 Cor. 3.8 9 10 11. Heb. 10.19 20 21 22. John 4.21 23. 1 Cor. 14.20 Matth. 28.20 Exod. 20.4 Deut. 4.2 Matth. 15.13 Isa. 29.13 Deut. 12.32 Chap. 17.3 Explication Three things are usually pleaded in the Justification of the observance of such rites and ceremonies in the worship of God 1. That they tend unto the furtherance of the devotion of the Worshipers 2. That they render the Worship it self comely and beautiful 3. That they are the great preservers of order in the celebration thereof And therefore on these accounts they may be instituted or appointed by some and observed by all But things are indeed quite otherwise God is a spirit and will be worshiped in spirit and in truth John 4.24 And no devotion is acceptable unto him but what proceedeth from and is an effect of faith for without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 and faith in all things respects the commands and authority of God for saith he in vain do they worship me who teach for doctrines the commandments of men Matth. 15.9 and he rejecteth all that honour which is given him by those whose fear towards him or worship of him is taught by the precepts of men Isa. 29.13 These things therefore being utterly destitute of divine Authority they can no way farther or promote the devotion of the Worshipers What natural or carnal affections may be excited by them as men may inflame themselves with Idols Isa. 57.5 or what outward outside devotion they may direct unto or excite is uncertain but that they are no means of stirring up the grace of God in the hearts of Believers or of the increase or strengthening of their faith which things alone God accepts in Gospel Worship seeing they are not appointed by him for any such purpose is most certain for to say that any thing will effectually stir up devotion that is excite strengthen or increase grace in the heart towards God that is not of his own appointment is on the one hand to reflect on his wisdome and care towards his Church as if he had been wanting towards it in things so necessary which he declares against Isa. 5.4 what saith he could have been done more to my Vineyard that I have not done in it so on the other it extolls the wisdom of men above what is meet to ascribe unto it Shall men find out that which God would not or could not in matters of so great importance unto his glory and the souls of them that obey him yea and it cannot be but that attendance unto them and their effects must needs divert the mind from those proper spiritual actings of faith and grace which is its duty to attend unto And this is evidently seen in them who indulging to themselves in their observation in multiplyed instances as in the Church of Rome have changed the whole spiritual worship of the Church into a Theatrical pompeous shew of carnal devotion Secondly The comelyness and beauty of Gospel worship doth not in the least depend upon them nor their observation The Apostle doth in sundry places expresly compare the spiritual worship of the Gosple with that of the Law whilest the Church had a worldly Sanctuary and carnal Ordinances Heb. 9.1 and although it be most evident that the worship of the Old Testament did for the glory and ornaments of outward ceremonies and the splendour of their observation far exceed and excell that worship which God commands now as suitable unto the simplicity of the Gospel yet doth the Apostle prefer this for glory comelyness and beauty unspeakably above the other which manifests that these things can have no respect unto outward Rites and Ceremonies wherein the chief admirers of them can no way vye for glory with the old worship of the Temple So the Apostle 2 Cor. 3.7 8 9 10 11. if the ministration of death written and engraven in stones was glorious so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance which glory was to be done away how shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious for if the ministration of condemnation be glory much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory for even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect by reason of the glory that excelleth for if that which was done away is glorious much more that which remaineth is glorious He compareth the two ministrations and the several worships of the Law and Gospel preferring this unspeakably above the other sufficiently manifesting that the glory of it consisteth not in any pompeous observance of outward Ceremonies And elsewhere He declareth that indeed it doth consist in its relation to God in Christ with the liberty and boldness of the worshipers to enter into the holy place unto the Throne of Grace under the Ministry of their merciful and faithful High-Priest being enabled thereunto by the spirit of adoption and supplications