account that the people might fear that glorious and dreadfull name the Lord thy God Deut. 28.58 which name he had so often engaged in his commands saying thou shalt do it I am the Lord. And in the New Testament our Lord Jesus Christ proposeth his authority as the foundation of his commanding and our observation of all the institutions of the Gospel Mat. 28.18 19 20. Jesus came and spake unto them saying all power is given me in heaven and earth go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you And he is to be considered in all our obedience as the great and only Law-giver of his Church as the one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy James 4.12 the Soveraign Lord over his house Heb. 3.4 5 6. unto whom every knee is to bow and every conscience to be in subjection and he who heareth not his voice is to be cut off from the people of God Acts 3.23 It shall come to pass that every soul which will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people Secondly God hath frequently promised his speciall presence in and with his instituted Ordinances Of old both unto the things themselves and the places wherein they were according to his appointment to be celebrated those of places being also of his speciall institution Under the New Testament all difference of and respect unto place is taken away John 4.21 The hour cometh when ye shall neither in this Mountain nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father but the hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him And we are commanded in all places equally to make our prayers and supplications but his presence is promised and continued with the due celebration of the things themselves by him appointed for his service Maâ— 28.20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and loe I am with you even to the end of the world In them is the Tabernacle of God with men and he dwells among them and they are his people Rev. 21.3 the promise of Christ being that where two or three are assembled in his name there he will be in midst of them Mat. 8.18 20. And this promised presence of God or Christ consisteth 1. In the power and efficacy which he by his Spirit implants upon his Ordinances to communicate his Grace and mercy unto his Church it being his Covenant that his Spirit shall accompany his word for ever unto that purpose Isa. 59.21 2. In the special blessing which he gives his people in those duties both in the acceptance of them and testifying his good will unto them Exod. 29.42 43 45. At the Tabernacle of the Congregation will I meet with the People saith the Lord there will I meet with the children of Israel And the Tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory and I will dwell amongst the children of Israel and will be their God Zech. 2.10 11. Ezek. 20.40 41. I will accept you with your sweet savour Ezek. 43.27 in both giving them intimate communion with himself by Jesus Christ John 1.3 By all these he gives that special presence which he requires an especiall reverence and regard of faith unto whereby his name is yet farther sanctified 3. God hath given special promises or promises of his speciall grace unto them that attend upon him in his worship in a due manner and hereunto also belongs that sacred Relation which by vertue of divine institution is between the sacramentall elements and the especial Graces of the Covenant which they exhibit and confirm and the mixing of these promises with faith according as they are appropriated unto any particular institution belongs also to the right sanctification of the name of God So also 4. doth our delight in them now this delight in the worship of God so much commended in the Scripture and proposed unto our example consists not in any carnall self-pleasing or satisfaction in the outward modes or manner of the performance of Divine Worship but it is an holy soul-refreshing contemplation on the will Wisdom Grace and Condescention of God in that he is pleased of his own Soveraign meer will and grace so to manifest himself unto such poor sinfull creatures as we are so to condescend unto out weakness so to communicate himself unto us so to excite and draw forth our souls unto himself and to give us such pledges of his gracious intercourse with us by Jesus Christ by the contemplation of these things is the soul drawn forth to delight in God Lastly Whereas great opposition lyes oftentimes against the Churches obedience unto God in this matter and much persecution befalls it on that account great weariness also being apt from the remainders of unbelief carnall wisdom indwelling sin weakness of the flesh in Believers themselves to arise in the course thereof and many temptations also beset them on every hand to turn them aside from the way of truth and holiness constancy and perseverance in the due and orderly celebration of all the Ordinances of the Gospel belongs unto this duty And this perseverance respecteth both the things themselves and the manner of their performance both which are of the highest concernment for us diligently to attend unto First As to the things themselves herein do we principally glorifie God and give due honour unto Jesus Christ when we abide in our professed subjection unto him and observance of his commands against difficulties oppositions and persecutions This he taketh notice of Rev. 2.13 Thou holdest fast my name and hast not denyed my faith even in those dayes wherein Antipas was my faithfull Martyr who was slain among you where Satan dwelleth And this he requireth of us indispensably if we will be his Disciples or ever hope to obtain the reward Mat. 10.38 39. He that taketh not his Cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me and it is he who endureth unto the end that shall be saved Matth. 24.13 And unto them who are faithfull unto the death and them alone doth he give the Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 giving us caution not to lose those things which we have wrought that we may receive a full reward 2 John 8. And as to the manner of their performance two things are to be regarded in this duty of perseverance and the sanctification of the name of God therein First The inward principle of our obedience our faith and love which are to be preserved from decay Rev 2. 4 5. I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do thy first works Chap. 3.3 Remember how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent Secondly The outward manner of
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
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
is not ashamed to call them Brethren Heb. 2.11 being by him born of God and from their participation of one and the self same Spirit which dwelleth in them as they are the Temple of God and the Spirit of God dwelleth in them 1 Cor. 3.16 as also in all the fruits of that one Spirit 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6 7 8. and in that one faith and hope whereunto they are called Eph. 4.4 5 6. endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace there is one body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all And that love which is not built on these principles and foundations is not Evangelical whatever other ground it may have or occasion it may pretend unto Communion of Saints consists in their mutuall love duly exercised according to rule and all communion is an effect of Union In Union therefore must lye the springs of love and this consists in a joynt incorporation of Believers into Christ for as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ for by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body and this they have by the means before mentioned namely their adoption faith and inhabitation of the Spirit Now in the joint celebration of the Ordinances of Gods worship they altogether make profession of these principles and act that one faith hope and love jointly whereof they are made partakers and thereby grow up more and more into the head by that which every joint supplieth Eph. 4.16 and some of them are peculiarly designed by the Lord Christ for the testification of their love and union among themselves 1 Cor. 10.16 17. the cup of blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ the bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ as we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread Qu. 12. What is principally to be attended unto by us in the manner of the celebration of the worship of God and observation of the institutions and Ordinances of the Gospel Answ. That we observe and do all whatsoever the Lord Christ hath commanded us to observe in the way that he hath prescribed and that we add nothing unto or in the observation of them that is of mans invention or appointment Deut. 4.2 chap. 12.32 Jer. 7.27 Maâ— 15.9 13. Mat. 17.5 Coloss. 2.3 Mat. 28.20 Heb. 3.3 4 5 6. 1 Cor. 11.23 Rev. 22.18 1 Chron. 16.13 Isa. 29.13 Explication This was in part spoken to before on the third Question where it was shewed that the Scripture is the only way and means whereby God hath revealed what that worship is which he will accept in and of the Church Here moreover as to the duty of the Church in this matter three things are asserted First That we are to observe and do all whatsoever the Lord Christ hath commanded us to observe This lyes plain in the command Mat. 28.20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you And we are directed unto it in the injunction given us from Heaven to hear that is obey him in all things Mat. 17.5 he being the Prophet to whose teachings and instructions we owe obedience on pain of extermination from among the people of God Deut. 18.15 Act. 3.22 23. Whatever he hath appointed commanded revealed as the will of God to be observed in or about the worship of God that is to be kept and observed by the Church inviolably For if we are his Friends and Disciples we will keep his commandments No disuse of what continuance soever can discharge us from the observation of institutions After the Feast of Tabernacles had been disused from the times of Joshua unto the return from the captivity the restoration of it was required of God and accepted with him Neh. 8.17 No abuse of how high a nature soever can absolve us from obedience unto an institution 1 Cor. 18.19 20 21 22 23. After the great abuse of the Lords Supper in that Church the Apostle recalls them again unto the observation of it according to the institution of Christ. And after the defilement of all the Ordinances of the Gospel under the Anti-Christian apostacy yet the Temple and the Altar are to be measured again Rev. 11.1 and the Tabernacle of God was again to be raised amongst men Rev. 21.3 No opposition no persecution can give the Church a dispensation wholly to omit and lay aside the use of any thing that the Lord Christ hath commanded to be observed in the worship of God whilest we are under the obligation of that great rule Acts 4.19 Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God judge ye It is true in the observation of positive institutions we may have regard unto rules and prescriptions of prudence as to times places and seasons that by no inadvertency or miscarriage of ours or advantage taken by the adversaries of the truth the edification of the Church be hindred So the Disciples met with the doors shut for fear of the Jewes John 20.19 and Paul met with the Disciples in the night in an upper chamber for the celebration of all the Ordinances of the Church Acts 20.7 8. yet as to the obligation unto their observation it indispensably binds us and that alwayes and that as to all the institutions of Christ whatever Heb. 10.25 Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching To dispence with Christs commands practically is unlawfull much more doctrinally most of all authoritatively as the Pope takes on himself to do This then is the Churches duty to search out all the commands of Christ recorded in the Gospel and to yield obedience unto them We are not in this matter to take up meerly with what we find in practice amongst others no though they be men good or holy The duty of the Church and consequently of every member of it in his place and station is to search the Scriptures to inquire into the mind of Christ and to find out whatever is appointed by him or required of his Disciples and that with hearts and minds prepared unto a due observation of whatever shall be discovered to be his will Secondly Whatever belongs unto the worship of God in the way or manner whereby any of the Ordinances of Christ is to be performed comes also under the command of Christ which is duly to be attended unto and observed Indeed whatever is of this nature appoinâ—ed by Christ it doth therefore belong to the worship of God And what is not so appointed neither doth nor can