of the legal forms of Worship Sacrifice and Oblations which were by Gods appointment yet because their Hearts were defiled and polluted with Sin and Iniquity and that they presented not their Offerings and Sacrifices in a right frame of Spirit nor under that disposition of Soul that was required therefore they incurred the wrath and displeasure of God against themselves and with great aggravation he declared against them and terribly renounced their Worship as appears in Isa 1. and 66.3 Amos 5.21 22 23. If it was so then that the Jews under that Dispensation displeased the Lord in appearing before him with Offerings and Sacrifices whilst their Hearts were polluted and unprepared as aforesaid it may be a caution unto all those that make profession of the pure and undefiled Religion of our Lord Jesus Christ and of that Worship which was instituted by him that they be not found attempting the performance thereof in a spiriritual unpreparedness and whilst their Hearts and Souls are polluted with Sin and Iniquity lest it be said unto them as it was unto the Jews Who hath required this at your Hands to tread my Courts Isa 1.12 Again if the Jewish Sacrifices in the time of the Law were Sprinkled before they were offered and the People were Consecrated that offered them before they presented themselves before the Lord and that the touching of a dead or nuclear Beas then made People unfit for the Temple or Sacrifice yea society with the Clean until they were first Sprinkled and Sanctified as the Scriptures hold out Numb 8. and chap. 19 2 Chron. 29.36 and 30. 16 17. How car any think so meanly of the worship instituted by Christ in Gospel times as that it should admit of unprepared and unsanctified Offerings or allow that those who are spiritually defiled with Sin and Iniquity and in Words or Deeds do daily touch that which is unclean can in that state well and acceptably worship the pure God until their Consciences be sprinkled from dead works by the blood of Jesus and that they be inwardly prepared and consecrated by his divine Spirit and Power in order to serve him It is also observable that when the Temple at Jerusalem was built before the glory of the Lord descended to fill the same it was purified and cleansed and all polluted stuff removed out of it yea and the place for the Tabernacle was overlaid with Gold the most pretious clean and purest of Mettals 1 Kings 6 7 8 chapters So also before God be truly worshipped in the inward Temple of the Heart it must also be purged of the filth and pollutions that are therein that so it may be fit to receive the Spirit of God so as to be acted by it And yet further let it be considered how it can be available to the High and Lofty in Mind and Spirit the Rich and Full in the Pomp and Grandure of the World the Proud Covetous and Self-conceited and such as go on in a road of Unrighteousness Ungodliness and Vanity to utter a multitude of unseasoned Words before the Almighty God or to cry Lord Lord whilst they have neither received nor are subject unto that Blessed Spirit which has right to call him so 1 Cor. 12.3 Or how any can rationally suppose that he who is clothed with divine Honour and Majesty who covers himself with Light as with a Garment who stretches forth the Heavens like a Curtain and walks upon the Wings of the Wind who maketh his Angels Spirits and his Ministers a flame of Fire and is of purer Eyes then to behold Iniquity can be truly and acceptably Served and Worshipped by such as do not only resist and rebel against that which brings into acceptance with God but also remain and delight in that which is an abomination unto him Section III. Concerning the necessity of receiving the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ in order to quicken and renew to God and so to prepare and qualifie People for his Worship and Service SInce then it appears that the Worship instituted by Christ is spiritual and that no man in his natural and unconverted state is capable of performing the same acceptably we may conclude and that upon sure grounds that the preparation of the holy Spirit is that which is absolutely necessary for men to know in the first place before they go about to perform their Devotions before the Lord Such as desire to worship God acceptably must believe in him whom God hath sent to redeem lost man unto him self viz. the Lord Jesus Christ who by his Light Grace and Spirit doth manifest Sir and Evil in the Hearts and Souls of People and reproveth for the same and also lead them that truly own and receive him unto Repentance and converteth them unto God he by his Power revealed in man doth Crucifie the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts he cleanses from Sin and Iniquity and quickens the Soul unto God raising up the same unto newness of Life so that those who in their natural and unconverted state have been Aliens unto God and Strangers to the Covenant of Promise through Faith in Christ and the work of his Grace and Spirit in their Hearts such come to be delivered from the Power of Darkness and translated into the Kingdom of Gods dear and wel-beloved Son to be made Heirs of Glory Fellow-Citizens with the Saints of the Houshold of God Col. 1.13 Ephes 2.19 and so are rendered capable of Worshipping and Serving God acceptably according to divine institution Being born again as the Apostle said not of corruptible Seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever 1 Pet. 1.23 As to the quickening and renewing Vertue of this divine Spirit and Light of Christ the Saints and Children of God have not only a living and blessed Experience thereof in this our day but also the Scriptures do afford us divers Testimonies concerning the same Jesus saith As the Father raiseth up the Dead and quickeneth them even so the Son quickeneth whom he will John 5.21 Again It is the Spirit that quickeneth the Flesh profiteth nothing John 6.63 And also the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans saith If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his and if Christ he in you the Body is Dead because of Sin but the Spirit is Life because of Righteousness but if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the Dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the Dead shall also quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you therefore Brethren we are Debtors not to the Flesh to live after the Flesh for if ye live after the Flesh ye shall Dye but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the Body ye shall Live for as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God Rom. 8.9 10 11 12 13 14. And again the same Apostle in his Epistle
to the Ephesians says And you hath he quickened who were dead in Trespasses and Sins yea God who is rich in Mercy for his great Love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in Sins hath quickned us together with Christ by Grace are ye saved and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus Ephes 2.1 4 5 6. From whence it is very clear and plain that it is the Spirit of Christ that quickeneth the Souls of those who have been dead in Trespasses and Sins and that if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his and if he be none of Christs he is none of the true Church and consequently no true Worshipper Again he says That as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God and if Sons then Heirs and Members of the true Church who worship God in the Spirit Moreover as the Lord Jesus Christ by his divine Spirit and Power doth thus work upon the Hearts and Souls of those that receive him in order to cleanse from Sin and Iniquity and to raise up into newness of Life so also it is he only by his holy Light and Spirit that truly prepared and disposes the Hearts of People for the service of God and opens the Mysteries of Truth unto the Sons and Daughters of Men He it is that hath the Key of David that opens and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth Rev. 3.9 And without him the vision of divine things are as a Book that is Sealed and hid from the wisdom of man in the Fall and no man is worthy to open the Seals thereof for which cause it seems John Wept as we read in the Revelation And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the Throne a Book written within and on the back-side sealed with seven Seals and I saw a strong Angel proclaiming with a loud voice Who is worthy to open the Book and to loose the Seales thereof and no man in Heaven nor in Earth neither under the Earth was able to open the Book neither to look thereon and I wept much because none was found worthy to open the Book neither to look thereon and one of the Elders said unto me Weep not behold the Lion of the Tribe of Judah the Root of David hath prevailed to open the Book and to loose the seven Seals thereof Rev. 5.1 2 3 4 5. By the Lion of the tribe of Juda is to be understood the Lord Jesus Christ who prevailed with the Father to open the Book of Truth and to loose the Seals thereof without whom no man is able to open the same be he never so Wise in worldly Wisdom and never so Learned in natural Arts and Sciences as may hereafter in its due and proper place more fully and at large appear Section IV. Concerning the Gospel Church and Evangelical Temple AS it is the Light Spirit and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ that truely quickens and renews People unto God and renders them capable of performing that Spiritual Worship which is acceptable unto him so also it is by the vertue and influence of the same Spirit and Power that the Lords People have been and are stated in a joynt Fellowship and Communion and are drawn into an outward and visible Society and so come under the name of a Church yet for a better understanding of the word Church or what is meant thereby it may be considered in a two fold respect First As it comprehends all whatsoever of every Nation Kindred Tongue and People whom the Lord God by his universal Spirit and Power revealed and made manifest in and through our Lord Jesus Christ doth truly call and gather out of the Life and Spirit of the World and the Pollutions and Defilements thereof into that Pure Holy and Righteous State of Faith and Life wherein they are cccepted of God and owned by him as his Children and People which make up that one true Universal or Catholic Church out of which indeed there is no Salvation Secondly The word Chuch may be taken for a certain number of Persons who being Members of this Universal Church are gathered into an outward and visible Society and do Meet and Assemble themselves together really to wait upon and Worship the Living God and to bear a Testimony for the Truth against Error The Church in the first sence in Scripture terms is called The New Holy and Heavenly Jerusalem the general Assembly and Church of the First-Born the Lambs Bride and the City of the Living God Heb. 12.22 23. Rev. 19.7 and 21.2 9 10. The Church in the latter sence we have it often mentioned in the Scriptures as appears Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 1.2 Gal. 1.2 1 Thes 1.1 also Rev. 1.4 John writteth to the seven Churches in Asia Thus it is not the outward House Frabrick or Building of Wood or Stone that is or can be truly term'd the Church or House of God in this Gospel day as some vainly do conceive and therefore do ascribe some imaginary Sanctity or Holiness thereunto but it is the Assembly of Believers in this sence gather'd together as aforesaid who are the Evangelical Temple Gospel Church and House of God the Ornaments whereof are not the Embroideries and Furnitures of wordly Art and Wealth but the Gifts and Graces of the holy Spirit Love Meekness Faith Patience Long-suffering Humility Self-denial and Charity with other Christian Vertues 'T is true the Jews under the old Covenant and Dispensation of the Law had an outward Temple where they were to Worship as in 1 Kings 9. and 2 Chron. 7. and because the Lord was pleased to Hollow it for his Name and honour it with his Presence as also to cause an outward Glory and Majesty to appear there by causing Fire from Heaven to consume their Sacrifices c. therefore it was called the House of God as is manifest in the writings of the old Testament And also the Lord Jesus before he was offered up gives it that Name Mat. 21.13 Joh. 2.16 But then after Christ was offered up and the pure spiritual Worship and Service came to be Exalted and born Testimony unto by the Apostles and Servants of Christ that outward Temple being left desolate of the Glory and Presence of God it came to Ruin according to the saying of the Lord Jesus and the true Ministers of the Gospel plainly testified That the most high dwelt not in Teinples made with Hands Acts 7.48 and 17.24 25. Neither was he Worshipped with mens hands as though he needed any thing seeing he giveth to all Life and Breath and all things but he is Worshipped in Spirit John 4.24 His Tabernacle is with men he will dwell with them and they shall be his People Rev. 21.3 Therefore the Apostle thus writes to the Church at Corinth Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit
when they were at Salamis they Preached the Word of God in the Synagogues of the Jews Acts 13.1 2 3 4 5. From whence its observable First That the Elders of the Church at Ephesus were made Overseers there by the Holy Ghost Secondly That it was the Holy Ghost that called Barnabas and Saul unto the Work and Service of the Gospel and that it was the Holy Ghost that sent them By which it appears that the power of Calling and Ordaining Gospel Ministers resides in the Holy Spirit and that those who are Called and Ordained thereby are approved by the Church being set apart by God for the Service they are called unto which thing doth very well agree with the saying of the Apostle Paul to the Church at Corinth God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets Teachers c. 1 Cor. 12.28 And likewise to the Ephesians he faith When he ascended up on high he led Captivity Captive and gave gifts unto Men and he gave some Apostles and some Prophets some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ Ephes 4.8 11 12. By which it also appears that it was not Man but God that set Apostles Prophets and Teachers in the Church and that it was through the gift of God that they were made Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastours and Teachers and thereby were they rendered capable of perfecting the Saints of the work of the Ministry and of edifying the Body of Christ Furthermore it is observable that when the Apostle Paul was giving an account before King Agrippa how the Lord met with him in his way to Damascus he says that Jesus told him For that purpose he appeared unto him to make him a Minister and a Witness both of those things which he had seen and of those things he would appear unto him in Acts 26.16 And also the same Apostle in his Epistle to the Galatians says When it pleased God who seperâ—â—â—d me from my Mothers Womb and called me by his Grace to reveal his Son in me that I might preach him among the Heathen immediatly I conferred not with Flesh and Blood neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were Apostles before me but I went into Arabia and returned again unto Damascus Gal. 1.15 16 17. And again in his Epistle to Timothy he says I thank Jesus Christ our Lord who hath enabled me for that he counted me faithful putting me into the Ministry 1 Tim. 1.12 All which doth yet further set forth that it was the Lord Jesus Christ that made Paul a Minister and that it was by his Grace Spirit and Power that he was enabled and put into the Ministry neither does it appear that he went up to Jerusalem at that time to be ordain'd by them who were Apostles before him but he went into Arabia and returned again unto Damascus as is before set forth Objection It s probable some may object and say That though the Apostles and Ministers of Christ in the primitive times were immediately called to that Work and Service by the Spirit of God yet it was for an extraordinary Work and if any now do pretend to an immediate call they ought to confirm it by Miracles Answ Unto which I Answer That although it was an extraordinary Work which they were sent to do yet the degree does not change the kind They were to preach Christ Crucified and risen again and were to preach Repentance and remission of Sins through his Name They were to turn People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God that so they might receive forgiveness of Sins and an Inheritance among them which were Sanctified by Faith in Christ Acts 26.18 Even so are the Ministers of Christ in this our day to hold out the same Doctrine according to the Dispensation of the Gospel committed unto them nor is there any necessity for Miracles to be wrought by those who are called of God in this our day to the Work of the Ministry for the confirmation of their Testimony when as they preach no new Gospel but what was preacht by the Servants of Christ in the primitive times and is already confirmed by the Miracles of Christ and of his Apostles and when nothing is offered but what is answerable to Truth and agreeable to the Testimony of the Scriptures and besides that we do not find that either John the Baptist or several others of the Prophets did any Miracles and yet they were both Immediatly Extraordinarily sent Section VII Concerning Women Preaching AS this Divine Spirit hath been and is extended universally unto all People at certain times and seasons during the day of their Visitation according to the Good-will and Pleasure of our God and that in order to call gather and renew them unto himself so it hath been the good Pleasure of our God to call and qualifie whom he thinks convenient for the Work and Service of the Gospel and upon this account it may please him sometimes to make use of Women as well as Men according to his Promise by the Prophet Joel And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophesie your old Men shall dream Dreams your young Men shall see Visions and also upon the Servants and upon the Hand Maids in those dayes will I pour out my Spirit This Prophesie had a respect to the Gospel Day and related to the more plentiful effusion of the Holy Spirit under that Dispensation both upon Male and Female as was witnessed at the day of Penticost When the Apostles with the Women and Mary the Mother of Jesus with his Brethren were gathered together it s said They were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other Tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance Acts 1.13 14. and 2.4 And if All were filled with the Holy Ghost and Spoke then Women as well as Men forasmuch as Women were there present with the Men as the Text holds out Object Now so it is that many are enclined to object against Women Speaking or Preaching and upon that account do alledge the words of the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 14.34 35. 1 Tim. 2.11 12. Answ In answer whereunto I say that although these Texts may be mystically understood as some have observed yet if we take them literally and withal consider the scope and tendency of the Apostles Words both before and after and compare other Expressions of his with those which will be one way to give satisfaction concerning his meaning and also observe the Practice of the Church upon those accounts it will appear that Women as Women or of that Sex and for no other reason are not prohibited to Preach It s observable that the Apostle Paul in that Chapter 1 Cor. 14. was not treating who or what Sex
deep things of God for what man knoweth the things of a man save the Spirit of a man which is in him even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God further adding That the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Moreover if the Lord had intended human Learning and Arts and Sciences to have been absolutely necessary for the Qualification of a Gospel Minister its probable he would not only have recommended the same the necessity thereof in those respects by some of his Servants but also would have chosen more of the Learned Doctors Rabbies of the times to have been publishers of his Mind Will unto the People in times past but on the contrary we find very few of those great Doctors that went upon that Errand neither under the Prophetical nor Evangelical Dispensation but rather the Lord was pleased to make use of Honest Plain often times Illiterate People upon these accompts to call several from their Vocations and Callings as the Scriptures bear witness to bear Testimony for him his Name and Truth unto the Sons and Daughters of Men that so the Glory of God and the excellency of his Wisdom and Power might more appear in and through such weak Instruments Object Now if any shall object That although several of the Apostles were unlearned when Jesus called them yet the Lord made them Learned by a Miracle before they went abroad to teach all Nations and from thence would argue That Illiterate People are not fit to preach the Gospel nor any but such who by the help of human Learning can understand divers Tongues and Languages Answ In answer thereunto I say That forasmuch as the Apostles were commanded to go and Teach all Nations the gift of Tongues was requisit at that time and upon that occasion to enable them to express themselves in every Nations proper Dialect that so those People to whom they spake might the better understand what was spoken to them yet it does not follow that because the gift of Tongues was expedient for them at that time in order to render them capable of speaking to the understanding of other Nations that therefore they must be Learned in other Tongues who speak only to People of their own Language Yet nevertheless it is not denied but that human Learning and Art and Sciences are very useful good and servicable in their places as a right use is made thereof for that People are thereby made more capable of managing temporal Affairs both in respect of Merchandize Trading and other matters as also it may so fall out that human Learning and the knowledg of Tongues and Languages may be useful upon some accounts unto such as are or may be called unto the Work and Service of the Gospel but then it is in a blessed Subordination and Conformity to the Teachings of the Divine Spirit which is that Golden-Key that opens the Mysteries of Truth and inspires the Soul with a right understanding of Spiritual matters and those People whose understandings are not opened thereby be they never so Learned or Wise in the Learning or Wisdom of the World yet by reason of the blindness of their Hearts Luk. 8.10 Ephes 4.18 Seeing they see not and Hearing they understand not the Mysteries of Gods Kingdom Yet so it is that when many People have by natural Education and Study acquired unto some knowledg in human Learning Arts and Sciences they grow puft up in Mind wise in their own Conceit and impatient of Contradiction and so are not willing that the use of natural Arts and Sciences should be so kept within their proper Sphere as to be limitted unto natural things and held in a subserviency to the holy Spirit but such will needs fall a meddling in things of a higher nature and by the help of human Learning and wordly Wisdom without the Revelation and Influence of the Divine Spirit they will put their meanings upon the Scriptures and give Expositions and Constructions upon Divine and Spiritual matters and which is yet worse they will oftentimes attempt the imposing of their Notions upon others and when the Lord is pleased to raise up any to oppose them then they fall into Passion Wrath Cruelty and Persecution the fruits of the Spirit of Error and upon this occasion it is that so many Contests Disagreements Jarrs and Controversies have risen among the Professors of the Christian Religion even because Poople have over-valued worldly Wisdom which is servicable in its place and under-valued sleighted opposed and disregarded the Teaching Direction Counsel Evidence and Revelation of the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ in themselves which alone can truly open and discover the meaning of that which hath proceeded from the same Spirit in others Luke 24.45 and so instead of the gracious Influence of the Divine Spirit they betake themselves unto human Literature Arts and Sciences and by their Dark Suggestions Quaint Distinctions and Logical Terms do render things more Obscure Intricate and Mysterious then of themselves they are so that the World is even burdened with the Voluminous Tractates long tedious and uncertain Discourses about Religious matters therefore hath it pleased God in his infinite Wisdom and Counsel in a great measure to lay aside the Wise and Prudent in the Wisdom of this World and by his Eternal Spirit to fit and qualifie many weak mean and contemptible Instruments in the Eyes of men and make use of them for the publishing of his pure and naked Truth that so it might be freed of those Mists and Foggs wherewith those Linguists have clouded it and that People might be directed to wait for that universal Spirit which as it is received doth opperate in the Hearts and Souls of People in order to work out Sin and Iniquity raise up into newness of Life and to give People an understanding in Divine and Spiritual matters that so they may be thereby fitted prepared and qualified for performing that Pure and Spiritual Worship which is acceptable unto God in this Gospel day And further such hath been the good pleasure of our God in times past as also in this our day not only in a great measure to lay aside the Wise and Prudent of the World upon these accounts but also to set aside as unnecessary for the Gospel Ministry those long tedious Books Discourses and Comments which have been and are the product of worldly Wisdom and the fruit of mans natural and unrenewed Mind and Spirit and the Lord by his own Wisdom Spirit and Power doth aid furnish assist and supply every true Gospel Minister in the performance of his Duty and Service both as to matter what the time when and the Persons to whom thus doth he in his heavenly Counsel order and dispose the Spirits of his People suitable for every Occasion and
is abomination to the Lord Prov. 15.8 And again He that turneth his Ear from the Law even his Prayer shall be abomination Also the Lord by the Prophet Isaiah saith to the People of Israel that had forsaken the Lord and rebelled against his Spirit and so become a sinful Nation 〈◊〉 2 3.13 When ye spread forth your Hands I will hide mine Eyes from you yea when you make many Prayers I will not hear your Hands are full of Blood. Again we read John 9.31 We know that God heareth not Sinners but of any be a worshipper of God and doth his will him heareth And also 1. Pet. 3.12 The Eyes of the Lord are over the Righteous and his Ears are open to their Prayers but the Face of the Lord is against 〈◊〉 that do Evil. Thus it is plain that the Prayers and Sacrifices of Wicked and Sinful men have not been acceptable unto God which they remain'd in that state but rather an abomination unto him being not offered in sincerity of Heart nor under a right disposition of Soul and Spirit The Jews of old thought it sufficient for them if they did but pay their daily Sacrifices and offer their customary Oblations c. from thence concluding all was well but it prov'd not so for the Lord by the Prophet asks them To what purpose was the multitude of their Sacrifices and bids them bring no more vain Oblations Incense says he is an abomination unto me the new Moons and Sabbaths the calling of Assemblies is Iniquity even the solemn Meeting And again by the Prophet Amos he says Though you offer me Burnt Offerings and Meat Offerings I will not accept them neither will I regard the Peace Offerings of your fat Beasts And what was the reason of all this dislike Even because the People were Wicked and Sinful Therefore he says Wash ye make ye Clean put away the evil of your doings from before my Eyes cease to do Evil learn to do Well seek Judgment relieve the Oppressed judge the Fatherless and plead for the Widow And then no question but they might be accepted As it was with the Jews in that state so its probable the case may be with many of those call'd Christians now who think is sufficient for them to be present at the reading over of Morning and Evening Prayers c. according to the common Form and Custom and yet do not rightly consider that their Hearts are polluted and deiled with Sin and Iniquity which no question will block up their way from Divine acceptance as well as it did unto Israel of old As for Sin it is a thing that cannot be Christen'd neither will the Righteous God own it in any let their pretence be what it will. It has always been the cause of mans Wo and Misery and of his Separation from God in all Ages and it s the same now where People remain in it and continue Impenitent and in Rebellion against the Reproofs and Counsel of the Light and Spirit of Christ in themselves Your Iniquities saith the Prophet have separated between you and your God and your Sins have hid his Face from you that he will not hear Isa 59.2 They shall call upon me saith Wisdom but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me Prov. 1.28 It is not simply the calling upon God or making mention of his blessed Name that gains acceptance with him or draws down his blessings upon men but it is a calling upon him in Faith and in a rightly ordered and well-disposed Mind and Spirit For unto this mâ—n will I look saith the Lord even to him 〈◊〉 is Poor and of a contrite Spirit and trembleth at my Word Isa 66.2 Again The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him in Truth he will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and will save them the Lord preserveth all them that Love him but the Wicked will he Destroy Psal 145 18 19 20. Howbeit still although the Prayers of Wicked and Sinfull Men whilst they remain in Impenitency and Rebellion against God are not acceptable unto him yet nevertheless such as are polluted with Sin and Iniquity and do come to be secretly touch awaken'd by the Light and Spirit of Christ and are bowed down under the sence of their own Sinfulness unworthiness Misery Weakness for Inability such looking up to God and inwardly breathing forth secret Desires and Aspirations or uttering Words in Prayer and Supplication unto him for help and deliverance from under the bondage of Sin and Corruption the Lord God in his own due time will undoubtedly hear and answer the desires of such But still this does no way admit that wicked and ungodly men are capable of praying acceptably any otherwise then as they are toucht awakened and helpt by the Spirit of Christ and being truly bowed down under the sence of God goodness and their own unworthness are led to Repentance and so by the grace of God are drawn to supplicate his Name for Help and Deliverance We read that when the Apostle Peter exhorted Simon the Sorcerer unto Prayer hâ—â— places Repentance before it saying Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of thy Heart may be forgiven thee Acts 8.22 Again Repent ye therefore and be Converted that your Sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Acts 3.19 From whence it is observable That as Repentance doth go before Prayer so also doth Repentance and Conversion go before blotting out of Sin. Now as to the Prayers of those who are high and lofty in Mind and Spirit and take delight in Sin and Ungodliness and to spend their precious time in Vanity Folly and Madness and also of those who may seem outwardly to be more demure yet spiritually rest in the gall of Bitterness against the Truth and in the bond of Iniquity there may seem to be little defference of their Devotions in the ground as to Divine acceptance so long as both sorts of People remain in Impenitency for the first can turn out of their vain Conversation or however suspend the outward act thereof for a little season and the other their worldly Discourse and so fall to repeat some few words of Prayer in a formal and customary way and immediately again even as soon as ever the words to God are out of their Mouths without any true regard to the Greatness and Majesty of him to whom they have even been making Supplication they 'l fall on again upon their former Discourse and many times as hath been observ'd upon Vain Idle and Prophane Talk so that without any distinction or waiting for divine help to perform their Duties to God they appear to be acted by one and the same Spirit upon both accounts Certainly If there be any such thing as vain Oblations and Prayers that God regardeth not
in them before he mentions Singing or making Melody to the Lord and also the same Apostle gives an account what he himself will do upon this account saying I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the Vnderstanding also 1 Cor. 14.15 As for the Songs of wicked vain and ungodly People who daily rebel against the Light and Spirit of the Lord and the pure motions and conceptions thereof in themselves we do no where find that such have ever obtain'd divine acceptance in their excercise therein whilst they have continued in Vanity and Wickedness for the Lord by his Servants hath still testified against them Concerning Israel he saith Take thou away from me the noise of thy Songs for I will not hear the melody of thy Viols Amos 5.23 Also I will turn your Feasts into Mourning and all your Songs into Lamentation Amos 8.10 And of Tyrus he saith I will cause the noise of thy Songs to cease and the sound of thy Harps shall no more be heard Ezek. 26.13 And what was the reason of all this Even Sin and Iniquity for that has always been the cause of Dis-union and Separation between God and man. Object It s probable some may alledge the saying of the Apostle James Is any among you Afflicted let him Pray Is any Merry let him sing Psalmes And would infer from thence That if any be inclin'd to Mirth they may Sing by the Apostles Directions Answ In answer thereunto I say That there are two sorts of Mirth The one is a Mirth or Joy that springs up in the Hearts and Souls of Gods People being touch't and overcome with the Love and Presence of God as David said In thy Presence is fullness of Joy at thy right hand are Pleasures for evermore Psal 16.11 Also in Isaiah Behold my Servants shall sing for joy of Heart Isa 65.14 And Christ saith I will see you again and your Hearts shall rejoyce and your Joy no man taketh from you John 16.22 The other sort of Mirth or Joy is the Joy of wicked and sinful Men or that Mirth which arises from a vain foolish and wanton Mind The Apostle James is so far from directing such to sing Psalms that in the same Epistle he tells them of Mourning and Heaviness saying Cleanse your Hands ye Sinners and purifie your Hearts ye double minded be Afflisted and Mourn let your Laughter be turned into Mourning and your Joy into Heaviness James 4.8 9. Also Solomon spoke of this Mirth and said In Laughter the Heart is sorrowfull and the end of that Mirth is heaviness Prov. 14.13 Again he saith The Heart of Fools is in the House of Mirth Eccles 7.4 Also the Prophet speaking concerning Israel that was Apostatized and gone from the Lord and the counsel of his Spirit amongst other things says I will also cause her mirth to cease Hosea 2.11 Thus then as it is manifest that there is two sorts of Mirth or Joy and that the Mirth or Joy of the Wicked is but Vanity therefore we may conclude that the Mirth spoken of by the Apostle was that true Mirth or Joy that arises in the Hearts of Gods People being secretly toucht and overcome with the Love and Goodness of God and those who are witnesses of this true Mirth and Joy may sing Psalms according to the Apostles directions upon that account Object Some may object and say That although the Lord disowns vain Mirth yet David 's Psalmes are very good and useful and may be sung by those professing Christianity Answ Although David's Psalmes are very good and useful yet it does not therefore follow that any can sing them acceptably unless they be in some measure endued with that Spirit of God David was endued with and be under the fence and exercise of what they speak It is not only the repeating or singing over of good Words that the Lord looks at as hath been before observ'd but it is the frame and disposition of their Souls and Spirits from whom those words do actually proceed There 's no question but the Singers of Israel could express themselves with great Curiosity and draw out their Notes very exactly but what signified all that so long as it was not real but only formal and that their Hearts were adulterated from the Lord To what purpose can any rationally suppose it to be for People to sing David's Psalmes in Saul's Spirit or for those who spend their precious time in Wickedness Folly and Vanity and do very seldom think of Divine and Spiritual matters or of the Eternal and Irrevocable decree that must in one day be past upon them to sing thus I am weary with my Groanings All the Night make I my Bed to Swim I water my Couch with Tears My Heart is like Wax it is melted in the midst of my Bowels My Heart is not haughty nor my Eyes lofty My Soul is even as a weaned Child I have hated the Congregation of Ev l-Doers and will not sit with the Wicked I have set the Lord always before me My Heart is endicting a good matter I have remembered thy Name O Lord and have kept thy Law. Thy Statutes have been my Songs in the House of my Pilgrimage Thy Testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my Heart Lord I have loved the habitation of thy House and the place where thine Honour dwelleth These were David's Words and it s very likely that he was a Witness of what he spoke in these respects but then for any to undertake to sing them before the Lord because David spoke them and not because they are witnesses of such things in themselves nor of the Work and Influence of the Grace and Spirit of Christ by which these things are effected such Singers will not meet with divine acceptance in such performances nor is Singing in the least suitable to their State and Condition but rather Mourning and Lamentation because of Sin and Transgression Howbeit still although the Songs of the Wicked shall be turn'd into Lamentation and their Mirth into Heaviness in one day if they report not yet the Righteous shall Rejoyce and be exceeding Glad in the Lord and shall sing to his Praise and Glory in the Congregations of his People as David said Sing unto the Lord O ye Saints of his and give thanks at the remembrance of his Holiness Psal 30.4 Again Sing unto the Lord a new Song and his Praise in the Congregation of Saints Psal 149. 1. It s only those who by the Power and Spirit of Christ are gathered and redeemed out of the Defilements and Vanities of this World that can truly sing this new Song as John said No man could learn that Song but the hundred and fourty four thousand which were redeemed from the Earth Rev. 14.3 Such can sing the Songs of Sion and the Songs of Deliverance in the Land of the Living and can truly Magnifie and Extol that great and powerful
Law which was delivered unto the Children of Israel by the Ministry of Moses it pleased him according to his determinate Will and everlasting Counsel to send his own Son the Lord Jesus Christ who was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judea of whom Moses and the Prophets did write and whom John testified of to be the Lamb of God who taketh away the Sins of the World John 1.29 He perfectly fulfilled the Law and the Righteousness thereof and gave witness unto the Dispensation of the Gospel drawing Religion into the secret of the Heart he made it to consist in a higher state of Righteousness then that of the Law called Evangelical he also approved himself and the excellency of his Doctrine by many great and wonderful Signes and Miracles and sealed it with his Blood for that after he had preach't that heavenly Doctrine and wrought many Miracles among the Jews he was apprehended and by wicked hands was Crucified and Slain yet God raised him up again so that he triumphed over Death of which it was impossible for him to be held and after he was so raised up from the Dead he appeared to his Disciples and Followers who had believed in him comforting them with the hope and assurance of the pouring forth attendance of his Spirit by which he was to be with them unto the end of the World and by which they and all such as afterwards should come to believe in his holy Name might be rendered capable of bearing and holding forth a true certain and faithful Testimony for him whom God hath appointed for Salvation unto the ends of the Earth and also of performing that Worship and Service which was instituted by him which Worship is Spiritual and cannot be truly performed by the Art Strength Wisdom and Policy of men in their natural and unconverted state but only by those who are spiritually quickened and renewed unto God in some measure and whose Hearts and Souls are fitted and prepared by the Light Grace Spirit Power of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ That the Worship instituted by Christ is Spiritual is very plain from his own Words unto the Woman of Samaria John 4.21 22 23 24. Jesus said unto her Woman believe me the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this Mountain nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship for Salvation is of the Jews 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 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth This is the chiefest and most ample Testimony that Christ gives of the Christian worship as different and contradistinguished from that under the Law he tyeth not his People to the Temple at Jerusalem nor unto any other place but plainly holds out that the season is now come wherein the worship must be in Spirit and in Truth he also gives the reason for it and excellently argues from the anology that ought to be betwixt the Object and the Worship directed thereunto viz. God is a Spirit therefore he must be worshipped in Spirit This Testimony of our Lord is so clear in the case that I need not enlarge much further upon it but only add the saying of the Apostle Paul to the Church at Philippi We are the Circumcision that worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus having no confidence in the Flesh Phil. 3.3 By which it appears that the Saints and People of God in those dayes were in the practice of that worship which was instituted by our Lord as aforesaid Section II. Concerning Mans incapacity of Worshipping and Serving God acceptably in his natural and unconverted State. THat Men in their natural and unconverted state are uncapable of performing this spiritual Worship is certainly true for that whilst they remain in that state they cannot do any thing that is really good and acceptable unto God being subject unto that depraved and ungodly Spirit which leads People into Iniquity and rules in all the Children of Disobedience it comes to pass that not only their Words and Deeds but also the Imaginations of their Hearts are evil continually their Thoughts Notions and Conceptions concerning Divine and Spiritual matters are unprofitable both to themselves and others which thing doth yet further appear from divers Testimonies in the Scriptures of Truth Moses said That God saw the Wickedness of man was great in the Earth and that every Imagination of the thoughts of his Heart was only evil continually and that it repented the Lord that he had made man on the Earth and it grieved him at his Heart Gen. 6.5 6. David saith The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the Children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God and says They are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Psal 14.2 3. And again But unto the Wicked God saith What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldst take my Covenant into thy Mouth Psal 50.16 Jeremiah saith The Heart is deceitful and desperately wicked who can know it Jer. 17.9 Our Lord saith An evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things Matth. 12.35 Also the Apostle Paul alluding to the saying of David says Thero is none Righteous no not one there is none that understandeth there is none that seeketh after God they are all gone out of the way they are altogether become unprofitable there is none that doth good no not one Rom. 3.10 11 12. Thus it is to be observed that what is thus spoken relates to men in their natural and unconverted State wherein their Souls are dead unto God and the things of his Kingdom and cannot live unto him nor do any such lively act as to serve him until they receive the Lord Jesus Christ and know the vertue and power of his Grace Spirit inwardly to quicken them unto God That so they may serve him in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the Letter Rom. 7.6 For alas it is not the bare performance of such things as are supposed to be religious duties that brings into acceptance with God unless the Heart Soul and Spirit of man be renewed fitted prepared and qualified by that which is holy and pure it s the rise of the performance that God looks at more then the outward act he that searches the Heart and tryes the Reins of men before whom all things are naked and bare looks not so much upon the external Fabrick as the internal frame of the Soul Vnto this man will I look saith the Lord even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit and trembleth at my Word Isa 66.2 We read that although the Jews were in the practice