before Ans The Author 's terming of bodily bowing as the most proper worship is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ Joh. 4. 23. 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 Here Christ preferreth worship in Spirit and Truth to all other worship Name and thing as the most proper and principal worship without which bodily worship is often performed And that bowing of the body doth naturally signifie the submission of the mind besides what is said let the Reader observe Mark 15 19. And they smote him on the Head with a reed and did spit upon him and bowing their knees worshiped Him Here was bodily worshiping but no submission of mind how then doth bowing of the head naturally signifie it these profane Souldiers were smiting and spitting on Christ and yet bowing their knees to him natural signes are not fallacious but this is Ibid. In the Old Testament the words rendered worship signifies properly and Originaly to bow down or prostrate the body Ans What then do we deny bodily Adoration doth the Author consider that he disputeth against no opponent it all this be Lybelled against dissenters 2ly The Author sayeth again and again that bowing of the head is properly worshiping If these Original words signifying bowing of the head do alwayes signifie worship then let him resolve me of the reason why we have so often bowing of the head expressed by one word in the Original and worshiping by another word in the same place if this bowing be properly worship why is it said they bowed and worshiped for according to the Author in all these places it must be thus they worshiped and they worshiped for instance Gen. 24. 26. And the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord there is one word here for bowing and another sor worshiping in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to bow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to adore So Psal 95. 5. There is one word for bowing and another for Adoring and Gen. 24. 52. quoted by the Author where there is but one word yet it s that which commonly signifieth Adoration incurvare adorandi causa Buxtorf and it 's express in the Text it was to the Lord the object specifying the Act for otherwise a man may bow the head intending no manner of worship to any object therefore bowing the head of it self cannot immediatly and naturally signifie worship or submission of the Soul as is asserted by the Author Page 111. so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly signifies a bodily action which is translated worship Ans Yet our Saviour himself Transferreth this word to signifie Spiritual worship Joh. 4. 23. which may be performed without any bodily Action SECT 2. FIrst then when we come into the publick Assemblies we believe our selves to come into Christ's presence because he hath promised Matth. 18. 20. Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the midst of them And therefore in obedience to the Commands of God in Scripture it 's our custom to lift up our hearts to him in prayer and bow our bodies before him Ans Here the ground of the Quarrel that we bow not when we enter the Church yielding some religious sign of Reverence or rather that we do not religiously bow to the Church as shall be made appear the foundation that he layeth for this invention is Matth. 18. 21. Christs promised presence let us therefore consider the Text wherein first we have the promise it self I will be in the midst of them that is to protect favour and assist them without any extraordinary appearing of his Glory which is not here promised thus he may so appear also if he will and when he will and after what manner he will 2. This Promise is made to such as are gathered in his name that is at his command for his service and worship with dependence upon him 3. They must be gathered the promise is not to the place but to the assembly 4. The promise is made to the very fewest that can meet together on the foresaid account Observe That external Adoration is due two ways 1. When we approach God in immediat acts of Worship as Prayer and Praises 2. When it pleaseth God in an extraordinary manner to appear in his Glory the due season then for external signs of inward homage and reverence is when we perform these immediat acts of Worship in our Assemblies or if God shall please to give glorious signs of his extraordinary presence as he did to Moses when the Bush was burning but not consumed or as the Lord appeared after Solomon had made an end of Praying when the fire came down from Heaven and the Glory of the Lord filled the house then all the Children of Israel beholding the fire and glory of the Lord bowed themselves and worshipped whensoever the Lord doth thus appear external adoration is due But it cannot be said that the Lords ordinary presence with his people requireth this bodily reverence for there is a peculiar presence of Christ promised to the Ministers of the Gospel who bear his Commission Lo I am with you to the end of the world yet this doth not oblige them always ad semper to external acts of adoration otherways they should be alwayes in these acts he being always with them So there is a peculiar promise that Christ will make his abode with Believers Joh. 14. 23. And we will make our abode with him this is also a peculiar promise of his presence for it s appropriated unto sound believers who love him and keep his words yet this doth not oblige unto a constant bodily worship Observe also That this promise is made to the Assembly gathered together but not to the place where they assemble How is it then that religious reverence is payed to the House Church or Fabrick before the assembly be gathered for if there were but one in the Church he who cometh in must perform some religious external reverence yea if there be none in the House he who cometh first in must do the like otherwise he is a Transgressour and guilty of profane contempt yea if a man enter that House upon any other occasion when no publick Worship is to be performed yet he must do the like which doth undenyably prove that it s not Christs presence but the house that 's honoured with this religious reverence which will yet further appear if it be considered that if a few persons meet together to ask any thing of God and for his Worship the promised presence of Christ is there no less than in the publick Church yet religious reverence is not testified by any external sign in that privat place as in the other therefore this religious honour is not rendered to Christ as present in the assemblies of his people but to the Altar or Fabrick of the
meekness or not which is rather desirable than discernable in his Book The Author cometh more closs to his Work Page 3 and there placeth two sound Positions first in these words That it belongeth only to God to give Rules how he will be worshipped The 2d That the Holy Scriptures contain the Revelations of God's will concerning his Worship Ans I can desire no more of the Author but that the Superstructure be fitted to these Foundations they are so sure that God willing I shall stand by them to the end of this Discourse But if he who asserteth them be found going off or building Hay or Stuble upon them let him not take it ill if I help his memory as occasion offereth 3ly His Inference from these two viz. That from these two we may reasonably infer that it concerns us to keep as close as we can to those directions which God hath afforded us in his word without adding to omiting or altering any thing he hath there laid down for since God hath vouchafed us a certain direction for his worship in the holy Scriptures It 's to be supposed that all wayes of worship are displeasing to him that are not either expresly contained or warranted by Examples of holy men mentioned therein Ans This also is found provided alwayes that what is said of the examples of holy-men be duely cautioned for all the examples of holy-men mentioned in Scripture are not obligatory Some of them being â—ad even in the matters of God as Peter's dissembling for fear of the Jews here was a hurteful example of an holy man for Barnabas was carried away with this dissimulation Some of them affected Preheminency disputing who should be greatest these are no warrands for us to do the like seeing we are to follow them but as they were followers of Christ again some of their practices were by extraordinary gifts wherein they are above our Imitation Some of them were by special direction hic nunc for avoiding offence as Paul's circumcising Timothy such was his purifying of himself in the Temple according to the Ceremonial law these practices were not patterns for other holymen tho' contemporary with themselves nor do the practices of any men oblidge others without either some antecedent or concomitant evidence that it 's the revealed will of God such practices should be followed otherways men should be Idols to us making them Fathers of our Religion in which respect we are to call no man Father Page 3d. The Author distinguisheth worship into either inward or outward Ans The subject in hand requireth more distinctions of worship as into civil and Religious for many worshiped Christ on earth with civil worship only as a great Prophet and fame in the world intending no Divine Adoration next Ceremonial worship should have also been distinguished from Evangelical for by Levitical worship Sacrifices the observation of feasts divers washings were required which by the coming of Christ are abrogated these being carnal Ordinances and some better things provided for us our Saviour principally requiring such worship as is in Spirit and Truth not excluding external Adoration as it 's required Page 4. We have a Description of inward and outward Worship The inward Worship of God consists in the inward Homage and Subjection of our minds to him the outward consisteth of such acts and duties as serve to express this inward subjection of our Souls or that promote increase or contribute towards it Ans I pass the Description of the inward but the Description of the outward Worship is unsound and of dangerous consequence and had been easily helped if the Author had said it consisteth of such Acts and Duties as God hath appointed for his Worship but according to his Assertion there is an open Gap made for all the Humane Inventions that the fertile imagination of man can devise providing he but think they will serve to promote or contribute to inward Homage thus the Papists have brought in most of all their Idolatry and Superstitions and others may do the like if they but apprehend what they do may promote inward Worship Here my Author goeth off his Foundation that the Scriptures contain the Revelations of God's Will how He will be Worshipped and if I were of the Author's Judgment declared by this Description I would never have put Pen to Paper against the Inventions of Men in the Worship of God for it 's vain to open a wide Door for them and then forbid men to come in Page 4. We must remember that it 's in these outward Acts that we are more immediatly concerned as publick Worshippers Ans I do not take the Authors meaning to be so bad as his words in what is here asserted supposing the sense of his Words to be that men disputing of Worship they are more immediatly concerned in outward Worship than inward for certainly as acting Worship we are most concerned in the inward Adoration of the Soul as Christ hath taught that the Father seeketh such to worship as worship him in Spirit and Truth The last thing in the Introduction is the Distribution of Worship into its parts Praises Prayers Hearing Bodily Worship and Celebration of the Holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of CHRIST Ans This Enumeration is not sufficient for why the Sacrament of Baptism is omitted no reason is given but the Author intending to Treat on no other Heads but such as he hath named I shall pass it though other substantial parts of Worship are also left out CHAP. I. Of Praises PAge 6. The Author doth forthwith fall upon the offering up of Praises to God by the use of Psalms and for its Authority quoteth 2 Chron. 29. 30. Hezekiah the King and the Princes commanded the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and Asaph and they sang with gladness and Ephes 5. 19. and Col. 3. 16. Ans To all this we agree knowing it our duty to praise God by singing the Psalms of David But Page 7. Though the Scriptures recommend to us singing of Psalms yet in some cases they allow us to say them Ans 1. Who doubteth but we may Read or Say Psalms either in publick or privat But 2ly This saying Psalms is not to turn out singing of Psalms which is the ordinance of God I often read of singing but no where in Scripture of saying Psalms what induceth the Author to make so great a trouble to himself and his Reader I understand not only I know Papists have a way of Singing and muttering Psalms and Songs in their Worship But I find our Author resolved to prosecute this Saying instead of Singing for Page 8. 'T is certain the Word of God recommends to us Psalms and Hyms in prose c. and as to the Hebrew Psalms it's evident they are Poetical but the Poetry of them consists rather in the stile and manner of expression than in any certain measures or Verses And afterward we cannot find that
did eat or not for they are the words of the Holy Ghost 2ly Nor is it to be conceived that they continued eating while he was blessing this would been altogether unaccountable 3ly Tho' not eating yet they continued sitting in a Table posture for we must not add to the Text and say they arose 4ly How much time interveen'd between his taking the bread and blessing who can tell the ensuing Action being so solemn no doubt Christ would take care to have his disciples minds in some due composure for it 5ly That which the Author cannot digest is that the Apostles should be sitting when Christ was blessing but there is no cause why this should be so surprizing if some other of our Saviours ptactices be duely pondered as Mat. 14. 19. when there is a great miracle to be wrought Christ commandeth the multitude to sit down and then blesseth and he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass and took the five loaves and the two fishes and looking up to Heaven he blessed and brake and this not once but again Mat. 15. 35. And he Commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground and he took the seven loaves and the fishes and gave thanks and brake c. In both these scriptures there is most solemn worship and yet the people commanded to sit down it were worse than trifling to say they might rise again when Christ gave thanks seing he commanded them to sit down therefore the Author's anxitie for this is groundless and no use for such shifts as in probabilitie it was done in a thanksgiving and praying posture And as in the next Page 126. And so he might rise to bless and distribute the Holy Sacrament These may be 's are not convincing but the plain words of so many Texts for sitting are most cogent and irrefragable Page 126. Lastly we find the Apostle severly reproving the Corinthians for their irreverence in receiving this Sacrament c. Ans They are severly reproved it's granted but not for sitting at the Lords Supper and except the reproofs reach this the Author can find no argument from that Scripture what a torment is it to be managing a bad cause I need not say a man hath need of clear eyes that can see an argument in that Scripture but he must put out his own eyes and implicitly believe Dictates in place of arguments And what Reader will not be surprized at the reading of his following discourse wherewith he concluds this Section Upon the whole I think we do nothing in this or any other sacred action as to bodily Worship but what is warranded and grounded on the holy Scriptures and particularly as to what we do at the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper Ans All is even as firmly warranded as the judicious Reader will observe by the Authors Arguments men are readily perswaded as they affect but there is no danger of the Readers being argumented unto kneeling at the Lords Table by any thing that yet hath occurred SECT 3. PAge 127. And first as to your principles I need not tell you that you do not allow Bodily Adoration to be any part of Gods Worship Ans That we do not allow Bodily Adoration is a known injurious imputation Hath not the Author himself from his infancy seen his Friends bowing their knees daily to God Doth he not know of thousands about him at this day who do the like Is not this bodily Adoration doth he not know that in our publick Worship our people commonly stand in time of Prayer and are exhorted so to do and except in case of bodily infirmity ordinarly practise it as also signs of external reverence always in our songs of praises to God and when we hear the Word of God read to us as part of his Worship all are uncovered With what truth then can it be asserted we do not allow of bodily worship Page 128. Your Directory doth not only leave it out but excludes it by requiring all to enter the Assembly and to take their seats and places without adoration or bowing Ans Tho the words of the Directory be not fairly represented yet as the Author quoteth them I will espouse them and let the Author try his strength in answering my Arguments against religious bowing to any place or fabrick on Earth Ibid The Scriptures say O come let us worship let us bow down let us kneel before the Lord our Maker Ans Who denyeth this the Author can instance none of our perswasion who doth not practise kneeling before God if some Physical impediments do not obstruct it 2ly The Command Let us worship and bow is not when we come first to the Walls of a House but when we engage in acts of Worship then either to kneel or stand as conveniency will allow but this hath been cleared already and I am not fond of repeating and therefore must pass over much of what remaineth of this Chapter as being generally answered already Page 129. You sit generally at your publick Prayers This also hath been confuted already and all that is said Page 130. For the time of Thanksgiving before Receving being solemn Prayer our people generally stand excepting such as are set down at Table who continue sitting as at the first giving of Thanks by our Saviour they did sit But the Author in this Page 130 engageth himself in another useless labour of Collecting pretences against Bodily Worship and exposing of Dissenters as formers of these pretences which we solemnly detest as contrary to our common practice such Discourse might have been directed to Atheists and Quakers but to impress strangers so invidiously against all protestant Dissenters as enemies to the Adoration of God by any visible sign is most injurious 2ly In all the following Discourse to the end of this Chapter the Reader is egregiously imposed on the Author making no distinction between the Bodily Worship commanded of God and the Bodily Worship commanded only by men and so condemneth all as despisers of the Glory of God who will not bow down to Houses or Altars and would have his Reader take it for granted that its our principle to be against all external Adoration of God for no other reason but because we observe the second Command better than some of our Neighbours rendring that homage to Creatures which is only due to God wherein we cannot and by the grace of God will not comply with them Pages 130 131 132 133 134 Have nothing but a Confutation of pretences from Joh 4. 24. God is a Spirit and they that Worship him must worship him in Spirit and truth Ans Christ by this Scripture doth recommend and prefer Spiritual Worship to that which is only bodily God being a Spirit and all bodily worship separat from this is naught the external part is easie and separable from the internal and of it self is but bodily exercise that profiteth little nevertheless we constantly assert it our duty to glorifie
hinder them by Responses for the whole that is to be sung Publickly is the part of each worshiper and none of them should be interrupted by the answering of another but all to sing Joyntly with one accord There is no more in this Section that requireth answer The Author concludeth joyfully that their Praises are agreeable to holy Scriptures and yet just now he told us of no other warrand for some part of their Worship But our Church has thought sit to require if that be as good as Holy Scripture let the Reader judge for at this rate they may bring any thing to be Worship if they but think it fit SECT 3. PAge 18. We are desired to compare our practice in our Assemblies with our Bibles Ans What so great need of our Bibles for publick Worship seing if the Church think fit we me may Worship without Bible authority 2ly It 's at our Bibles we would be but the Author is driving us to that manner of Worship that we cannot find in our Bibles I leave it to any judicious un-byassed Reader if any Scripture Proof be for singing Prose singing by Responses or for the use of Instruments in the Gospel-Church What he saith Page 18. of our Directory to sing Psalms and Read Line by Line is that which we both practise and avow And 2ly To Sing so many Verses as publick Edification and opportunity require Page 18. The Author desires to observe that he doth not condemn the singing of Psalms in Metre as unlawful Ans If not unlawful Why then so many Arguments such as they are against it 2ly How can the Author say its not unlawful seing in the very next page he saith it appears purely of Humane Invention and the following page again the singing of Psalms in metre is not the Scripture way of using them And page 24 It's purely and immediatly the invention of men Is it so even as to acts of Worship and yet not unlawful Then it followeth according to our Author that some pure immediat Inventions of men are not unlawful in the Worship of God to what purpose should he emit a Book pretended against the inventions of men in the Worship of God and yet that which himself calleth purely and immediatly the invention of men is not unlawful by the Author 's own words Page 20. And I question whether all of them were ever yet sung through in one meeting place perhaps not in all the meetings of the Kingdom Ans Is this the Spirit of meekness we heard of a little ago if he would not have his Reader believe it why doth he write and publish it and if he would have the World to believe it then they shall believe that which is not Truth for I know Meeting-houses not far from him where the Book of Psalms is sung every Lords Day in order some portion of them I say every Lords Day from the beginning to the end of that Book tho some others use their liberty in singing such Psalms as are most agreeable to the Doctrine then Preached As to what he saith of the Dr. Manton's calling the Debate of singing Prose or Metre a vain Cavil It had been good for our Author he had been of the same mind I will take no further notice of this Page 21. The Author complaineth heavily of the Translation of Psalms into Metre saying We have a Command to Translate the Psalms but none to turn them into Metre and again in the same page he saith it seems to give Humane wit too great a liberty of treating the Word of God as men please Ans The Psalms are Translated into Metre because God gave them to his Church in metre sufficient hath been said of this already and I will not repeat 2ly What the Author saith of the danger of Translating into Metre doth militate against all Translations for often many words must of necessity be used for Translating so concise a Language as the Hebrew and yet no wrong done to the Text Let the Author also remember what himself hath said page 14. That if there be any mistake through humane frailty not contrary to Faith this ought to be no exception against the use of the Translation the same serveth also for Translating into metre they cannot cease to be the words of God because they are Translated into metre for the reasons already adduced 3ly The Author appeareth under some Grievance as to the Translation of Hebrew Psalms into metre some of them as he saith hardly doing justice to the sense of the Text. If he be concerned in any such Version of Psalms he would do well to endeavour a rectification for it hath been said by judicious persons of his own perswasion there is need for it 4ly And if the Author will lay aside prejudice and be so humble as to accept of Relief from his Grievance I would recommend unto him a Version of the Psalms into Metre practised by us exact to the Hebrew Text and so exact that the Author may spend time worse than peruse and compare it with the Hebrew wherein he shall not find varying from the Original nor unintelligible nauseating Expressions 5ly The Author is so disgusted with the Psalms in Metre that he saith Page 21. We ought to use them as Humane Composures only and not as Gods Word and so they are used by our people in our Assemblies not as any main substantial part of the Worship of God but rather as a voluntarie entertainment of Devotion and a refreshment to the people between the parts of the Service c. Ans This is odd confusion concerning Worship as ever I heard for by the Author's words singing praises to God in metre is Worship yet 't is not Worship I prove both from what he saith First he acknowledgeth it to be Worship but it 's not a main substantial part of Worship then its Worship but not main Worship was ever such lame Worship heard of before Yet 2ly It s not Worship but a voluntarie entertainment and refreshment that is it s a voluntar Service but not posted as commanded Worship 2ly Will the Author say that a necessary Translation of the Original into words intelligible by us and in metre according to the Original doth devest it from the dignity of being still the Word of God he may as well say our Bible is not the Word of God because it s not Hebrew and Greek but only English 3ly If the Author be satisfied that singing Psalms in metre is not Worship then why doth he obtrude it on God on any accompt for he saith page 22. That this singing in Metre is at present in use both with you and us why doth he not bring forth his strong reasons to convince the Church of England that they are all in Errour and himself only in the Right 4. Shall mens recreations and diversions he made stated worship to God and why should the poor people be imposed on for they take it for
distinctly what is maintained by the Author and what is denyed by Dissenters but he abruptly ingageth in Probations before his Reader can know what it is that must be proved whereby its impossible for him rationally or convincingly to place a Censure as for instance in this same Chapter he beginneth off hand with his Proofs of Bodily Worship which Dissenters deny not and so goeth on imposing on his Reader as if we were all stated Enemies to Bodily Adoration which is an injust Imputation 2ly The Authors stating of Bodily Worship as bodily without internal Adoration as one of the distinct grand parts of Worship by its self is not safe because Bodily Worship separated from internal adoration can be no acceptable Worship to God which is the rather to be adverted because in the following Discourse it will appear that the Author will have it Worship yea accepted Worship where not only there was a privation and want of inward homage but a fixt hatred of the Object externally worshiped Before I proceed to examine the Authors Arguments it will not be amiss to take notice of his Concession on this Head Page 133. saying But that in whatsoever place or whatever time in whatsoever posture we offer up our Spirits and hearts to God we are accepted of him This must be whether we pray sitting lying standing or kneeling c. This breaketh the bones of all his arguments seing praying with grace in the heart will be acceptable to God in any posture All the Author hath on this first Section until Page 106. are probations for bodily worship or external Adoration and the Scriptures quoted we accept without dispute knowing we should glorifie God in body and Spirit according to his command But here he beginneth a retreat from his concession as too ample and to say truth it was too large being so ill cautioned his words now are It being a contempt of God and contrary to his Commands to pray to him for instance without some posture of adoration when we can do it Ans This is an unwarrantable censure besides it 's being contradictory to his Concession for Elijah so far as we can understand by his circumstances might have choosed another posture when he sat and spake to God 1 Kings 19. 6. whom we cannot charge with contempt of God being a Prophet so zealous for his glory When our Saviour gave the miracle of feeding so many thousands with a few loaves Matth. 14. 19. he commanded the people to sit down on the grass and looking up to Heaven he blessed and brake c. Here was sitting at most Divine and Solemn worship and yet no contempt on the peoples part for they were Commanded to sit down Godly men who are acquainted with continual resorting into God and making their requests known to him in every thing praying alwayes may often in a day yea possibly in one hour direct their prayers unto God The Artificer in his Shop the Merchant in a publick Exchange the Souldier at his Post may find it necessary to send from their hearts many ejaculatory prayers in the posture they are in without contempt of God tho' they could alter their posture knowing they might have moe than one of these short usual prayers before they could get the posture of their bodies altered and fitted for external adoration so that the Author should have better cautioned his censures Page 107. 108. Are only proofs that bodily worship is due and therefore no answer necessary seing we are as much for it as the Author in the season God requireth it but in this last Page he giveth instance of bodily worship from devils our Saviour looked on this bodily worship to be so indispensably his due that he accepted of it from the very Devils Mark 3. 11. And unclean spirits when they saw him fell down before him and cried thou art the son of God Ans The Author is proving the duty of bodily worship and how Devils who are spirits can perform bodily worship I know not seing they have no bodies but what they assume or possess It 's certainly the duty of Angels good and bad to Adore the Son of God but an example from their manner of worship to bodily worship is not rational when we seek examples of that which is to be performed bodily we must seek it from such as have bodies and Devils possessing bodies are but miserable examples and to say the worship of Devils was accepted by Christ is a piece of new Divinity for accepting a performance imports approbation approbation of an Act imports it's conformity to the Rule God hath prescribed how then any actions of Devils can be accepted approved and conformed to the rule given by God whatever that rule was let the Author make out Christ came to destroy their works this should the rather be observed because of what the Author sayeth Page 110th But bending or bowing of the body is that which is properly in Scripture called worship as signifying immediatly and naturally the bending and submission of our Souls and nothing else How the external worshiping of Devils will naturally signifie the submission of the minds in Devils who hate Christ and his Dominion let the Author see to it I shall have occasion for farther Reflection on this hereafter and so pass it now and that our Saviour accepted their service is against the Text for he rejected it not liking such preachers withal it 's most probable these Devils designed a publick affront to our Saviour in giving him a testimony as his friends that so Christs malicious enemies might have their blasphemy fortified that he did cast out Devils by the prince of Devils as followeth in the same Chap. verse 22. by the prince c. Page 110. If we look into the Scriptures we shall not find praying praising c. Termed worship they are indeed duties which we ought to perform to the honour of God but not immediat direct Acts of worship properly so called and in a few lines after praises immediatly signifie the sense we have of Gods Excellencies Ans Why then did the Author in his distribution of worship into its parts set down praises in the front as the primary worship if it be not a direct Act of worship 2ly Praise is more then a sense of Gods Excellencies having Emanant Acts towards God the object and is not only a Religious impression 3ly With the Author 's good leave the Scriptures speak very properly and there we find praising and glorifying God allowed the name of worship Psal 86. 9. All Nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee O Lord and shall glorifie thy Name Praise is the most direct and immediate glorifying of God and the most proper Act of Adoration Psal 66. 4. All the Earth shall worship thee and shall sing unto thee they shall sing to thy Name Ibid. But bending or bowing the body is that which is properly in Scripture called worship See this
good and wise men declare it to be the safest and best or that you have long professed it but see with your own eyes give it heart and time when no mortal eye can be witness as you have a value for these immortal substances that are yet breathing in your bodies for the retaining whereof you have no price to give and for the annihilation whereof you have no price to give but must endure an eternity whether we will or not what can we think of but is a very trifle when this eternity and what concerneth it is considered The necessity therefore of establishment in that religion which the eternal God hath appointed as the way to lead us to a blessed Eternity is great if we consider First the innat Atheism of our depraved natures whereby there is not only a privation of that primaeve knowledge God honoured man with but many perverse and erroneous apprehensions of God of happiness in him and the way to it Atheistical doubts concerning God Christ Heaven and Eternity These seeds of Atheism not only lurk undiscerned by many but often make horrid eruptions shaking yea overturning all the religion some have professed for many years because they have made it no part of their religion to be fixed in it then they are ready to cry out is there a God is there a Christ is there an Eternity can there be a Resurrection is there a Heaven or Hell Yet some are tormented with the fears of that the very being whereof they doubt orhers again forsaken of God speak blasphemously of the God of Heaven avow Atheism and tempt others to it while people are not established and their house never built on the rock they are obnoxious ro the worst of these Wo's nor hath religion power upon their Souls not knowing whether it be true or false many living as unconcerned with the religion they profess as if they had none being uncertain but all may prove otherwayes in the end and this uncertainty is an argument in reserve that the Devil improveth against seriousnes in religion labour therefore to have your feet fix'd on the rock that cannot sink under you that so your goings may be established knowing in whom ye have believed And that you may be established believe the Scriptures to be the very word of God the Scripture of Truth that cannot be broken trust fully the testimony and Veracity of God for if you fluctuate and waver in this every wind of temptation will be ready to shâ—ke you at the very Root and build what you will all will be overturned if this foundation be not firmly laid that all Scripture is by Divine inspiration And because I had known many poor Souls oppressed with temptations to doubt of all that is wâ—itten their hope and comfort burn'd up and almost consumed with such fiery darts before they would utter them to any and some such at this day fainting under such suggestions as they are ashamed to make known to their dearest Friends for the establishment and help of such to believe the Scripture of Truth First observe what you have by nature of the Image of God yet remaining what awfull indelible impressions you have of a God over you which you cannot shake fully off it 's written on your heart that there is a God that he is infinitely great and Omnipotent that he is just Holy wise and good now that which you yet find written on your heart you find the same in the written word of God whether would you go What can you betake your selves to but to the Testimony of God written both in your hearts and in the word of God revealed to us If you should reject the Scriptures you reject also the witness of God in your Souls this meditation God hath made very conducive for quieting and fixing some Souls Consider also that what the word of God publisheth of the depravation of our nature you find even as it 's written natural enmity against God which inclineth us if we could to hide our selves from him as Adam to say depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways we are informed by the word of God that the heart is deceitful above all things that every imagination of the thoughts of our heart are only evil continually that we rebell and are disobedient to God that we are slow of heart to believe and bent to backsliding c. All these things and many moe we find by nature and wofull experience What is predicted and promised in the word of God concerning the salvation of sinners by a Redeemer his death Resurrection conquest and Kingdom c. Are exactly found as the written word of God hath revealed them what God hath promised of pouring out his Spirit in the latter days is found as it 's written the power of God still appearing in converting sinners making many new creatures and all things new with them making them love what they hated and hate what they loved making a warfare against sin daily where sin was committed with greediness c. This Sanctifying grace of the Spirit is a continued witness multitudes of miracles both under Old and New Testaments were wrought for confirmation of Gods Holy Word and promise which without violence to our very reason cannot be denied either to be wrought or the finger of God being wrought these are blessed helps which our merciful God hath provided for confirming unstable Souls and to secure us that the Scriptures are the word of God our maker and judge and above all to depend on the Spirit of Christ which leadeth into all Truth When God in his mercy hath determined and fixed your judgements that the Scriptures are Gods word and Truth so as you can with confidence adventure Soul and Eternity according to the doctrine there delivered then make choise of the Truth receive it in love and gratitude blessing God for so great a benefit that many millions of Souls are deprived of be diligent in reading of it labouring and praying to understand it make Gods Testimonies the men of your counsel let it dwell richly in you seek the law of God written in your hearts sell not the Truth at any rate be not ashamed of any of his words lest he be ashamed of you let no flatteries or threats of men make you wander from the commandments of your God Search out especially for the great Salvation recorded in the word of God and published by a Gospel Ministry search until you find the sent Saviour of the world accept of him subject and devout your selves to him joyn and give your own selves to the Lord do this personally distinctly and deliberatly and leave it no longer as a duty you hope will be done but while it 's called to day allow it heart and time as the most enriching work you ever were or shall be about under the Sun blessing God that he allows and requires to subscribe our selves the Lords and to
no where prescribed to us such a rule Therefore mens reading much cannot be the reason why they are nearest the rule if there be any such rule make it appear and if there be no rule prescribing how much with what colour can it be said you come nearest the rule for it 's yet under debate but that less reading and expounding what is read to edification will be found nearer the rule than much reading where no help is given for peoples understanding the Scriptures 6ly These come not nearest the rule who read too much and more than God hath given direction to read as any part of his Service or Worship but you know who read Apocrypha in God's publick Service which he hath given no rule for therefore such come not nearest the rule 7ly These cannot be said to come nearest the rule who read too little or may be never that which God hath prescribed to be read but you know who lay aside a considerable part of the Scriptures from their publick Service Worship and then those who do so are not nearest the rule If it be said that no Scriptures are left out but such as are less proper and profitable for ordinary Assemblies yet the word of God saith all Scripture is given by inspiration and is profitable for Doctrine reproof c. Again if it be said that Ministers are allowed to read all the Scriptures in publick and yet if men be tasked every Lords day and Holy day they must hold by their Task Page 78 For the more Solemnity of these readings our Church joyns with each of them Praises Thanksgivings or Confessiones according to what we find practiced in the Holy Scriptures Ans If what they joyn to these readings be not Instituted of God then let the Author conscientiously mind his second position Page 3. That the Holy Scriptures contain the Revelations of God's Will concerning his Worship and beware of adding or joyning what is not prescribed by these Scriptures Page 79 It 's ordered in our Church that the Ministers shall explain some part of the Holy Scriptures every Lords day and exhort their Congregations in a Sermon Ans If there be no more Scripture explained but the Text before a Sermon your hearers are at a great loss tho' you should read twenty Chapters every Lords day and explain nothing but a Text. SECT 3. Page 82. The Author chargeth dissenters with the neglect of teaching the principles of Religion saying That tho' a man frequent your meetings all his life yet he has no security or hardly possibility of Learning from your publick teachings all the great mysteries of his Religion or the necessary principles of his Faith And hence it happens that hardly any one man in his life ever goes through the necessary articles of Faith or of practice in his publick Sermons and for the truth of this I appeal to your selves Ans The Reader who is a stranger to us may readily think how can this be false being asserted by a person of such Note and with such confidence appealing also to our selves for it's truth and seing he hath appealed to our selves I declare upon certain knowledge that what he hath asserted is a most unjust imputation for which he hath cause to ask forgiveness of God and I do appeal to many thousand now living who are ordinarly witnessess to the contrary and many of the Authors own perswasion know the contrair with what peace of conscience can any man thus impose upon strangers And impress future generations with that which is so far from truth it being publickly known that we ordinarly and orderly go through all the Heads of our Christian Faith in our publick Sermons Page 82. You have no Summary of principles injoyned either to be read or taught in your publick Assemblies tâ— aâ— Catechism you have but neither your directory nor practice make it any part of your Lords-days-Service and besides your Catechism is such that it no wayes answers the design of a Form of sound words I have already shewed that such a Form should contain only the first and necessary principles of the Oracles of God in such words and methods as may make it easily apprehended and retained by the weak and unlearned which make up the bulk of the people but your Catechism is full of hard words School Terms and abstruse notions no wise necessary to be known by the generality of Christians c. Ans Our Catechism is above the Authors censure and men of as great Authority and abilities as he of his own perswasion have still spoken of that Book with regard and recommended it to others as sound and profitable he doth but lessen himself by his Reflections against that Composure let the Reader judge what mean arguments he hath against it only he sheweth what Spirit he is of 2ly Whereas it 's not injoyned as any part of our Lords-days-Service Ans Tho' our Catechism be a sound and full Summary of Christian principles yet we know it to be but a humane Composure and therefore make it no part of our worship if by Service he understandeth worship as he frequently useth these words Service and worship Promiscuously we must have Institution for what we offer to God in his Service yet these principles are frequently explained on the Lords day and that not only occasionally but in order according to the method of our Catechism 3ly But the Author hath shewed that such a Catechism should contain only c. Ans The Author hath said but not shewed to his Reader that it should be as he saith except all he saith must be taken for demonstration 4. But our Catechism is full of hard words Ans It s good the Author hath no worse to say otherways we should hear of it 2. But why doth he not give instances of these hard words Some who have read our Catechism say They find not such a hard word in it all as god father and god-mother nor such words as God the Son hath redeemed me and all mankind 3. It was necessary our Catechism should have words significant and expressive of the matter and if any of these words be less obvious to the capacity of young or ignorant people we are at pains to explain such words 5ly But our Catechism is too long Ans And what if the Catechism of some others be too short give instances of what is redundant or superfluous we would think our Catechism very defective if it wanted the Doctrine of the Creation and of Mans Fall from God the Attributes of God the Natures of Christ and his Offices the nature of Justifying Faith and Sanctification c. Page 83. Besides all this it is so long and intricat even the shorter that not one Child in ten ever gets it by heart nor one in five hundred retains it as I have found by experience Ans I would gladly be acted by the Spirit of meekness but the Author's words are so provocking even in
matters of Fact that its hard to discover the Truth without irritation and yet if I conceal the Truth I shall suffer strangers to be imposed upon to their hurt let the Reader therefore consider that we who have better occasion to understand the knowledge of younger and older of our own Communion than the Author we know him to be in a mistake and the mistake so gross that I can upon knowledge affirm that few Children amongst us of competent age want the Shorter Catechism by heart especially where Ministers are to examine them some yea many of them can give the Answers to many Questions of the Larger Catechism 2ly Nor one in five hundred retains it Ans Hath the Author examined five hundred of our Communion for he saith he hath found it by experience but it may be justly questioned if ever the Author was so officious or these of our Communion so obsequious as to give him occasion for examining one hundred of them 2. Albeit I am not obliged to gratifie the humour of such as slander us yet for undeceiving of strangers I do ingage to find within the Parish of Derry some hundreds of persons come to age able to give account of all our Shorter Catechism from the beginning to the end Page 83. Lastly after all it is imperfect of some of the principles of the Apostles Catechism being quit left out of it I mean laying on of hands Heb 6 2. Ans By what authority the Author calleth that Scripture the Apostles Catechism I understand not there are principles and foundations named there but that therefore it was the Apostles Catechism cannot be instructed and that a form of sound words should have no more or other words than these cannot be made appear and that which you call the Apostles Creed differeth far from these words 2. The Rite of laying on of hands was no foundation but the Doctrine signified by it therefore it s said in the Text The Doctrine of Baptism and of laying on of hands and tho the Rite be not named yet the doctrine is contained in our Catechism and the Rite it self mentioned in its due place of the Ordination of Ministers 3. Whatever this Foundation be yet it s not to be found in some other Catechisms which you prefer to ours since your own wants it condemn not others Page 83. But the most sad and deplorable defect of your performance of this Duty is your casting out the reading of the Word of God from most of your publick Assemblies directly contrary to Gods Institution and Ordinance for the Instruction of his Church insomuch that setting aside a verse or two for a text or quotation at the discretion of the Teacher the voyce of God is never publickly heard amongst Them this is a matter of Fact and undeniable and in all the Meetings of the North of Jreland in a whole Year perhaps there is not so much Scripture read as in one day in our Church by the strictest enquiry I could make Ans If this Libel were made out I admire he should ever call any of us his Brethren and Christians but hold to his old Opinion that Presbiterians belong not to the Catholick Church The remembrance of this maketh the Author's aspersions the more easie but I would willingly know from the Author 's mature thoughts what answer himself thinketh should be given to such Words would he have us to belie our selves and take with it or will he take it patiently if we say it 's false for he may as warrantably say that we have no Assemblies as that we have cast the Word of God out of them 2. In this also we appeal to thousands who for many years have been ear witnesses to the contrary 3. It s ordinary for Ministers of our Communion to Lecture on the Lords day before they preach and many of them to my certain knowledge read either a whole Chapter or a Psalm some others if a Chapter be long or have textual difficulties will divide a Chapter as they think fit for publick Edification We commonly every Lords-day sing the Words of God three or four times and ordinarly twice the number of verses that the Author nameth at each time Besides our text we quote and explain many Scriptures in our Sermons and for this we are condemned by some of another Perswasion who I can instruct have said you may know men have little matter to Preach when they quote many Scriptures and on that very account have disrelished our preaching Tho many Scriptures especially when they are explained are the very sinews of Preaching and one of the Proper means for convincing the Consciences of hearers as the Apostles Sermons do testifie which we find every where fortified with Scriptures tho they had the immediat assistance of God's Spirit I say not much at this time of other mens Sermons how often they are destitute of Scripture evidence and the loss that hearers thereby sustain But now let the candid Reader judge having laid before him the many ways we read and improve Scriptures in our publick Assemblies and that by the mercy of God we have now many Meeting-Houses in the North of Ireland and compare this with what the Author hath said That in all the Meetings of the North of Ireland in a whole year perhaps there is not so much Scripture read as in one day in our Church I am peswaded that every thinking and ingenuous person of the Author 's own perswasion will be surprised at these words Nay I can warrantably say that often in one of our meeting Houses on the Lords day there is as much Scripture first read by it self in a Lecture then singing with the words of David in Psalms then many quotations with explanation that altogether will I say frequently amount to as much as the four Chapters mentioned by the Author And how his four Chapters will hold up with above fourty meeting Houses more let any man of common sense judge But the Author alledgeth our practice is contrary to Gods Institution because as he saith we make use but of a verse or two for a Text. Ans If we did cast the word of God out of our Assemblies as he saith then our practice were contrary to the Institution no doubt But seing the Author mentioneth Institution and thereupon immediatly chargeth us with reading too little in publick and thereby guilty of neglecting the Institution this giveth me occasion again to require the Author's shewing of that Institution how much to read at once or on one day I shall never dispute more against him or any man on that Head if this Institution can be made appear where shall we find it Shall this Institution for how much reading be gathered from that which Moses requireth Deut. 31 10. Which the Author quoteth but this was requird to be done at their Feasts of Tabernacles one of the Jews extraordinary Solemnities 2ly If the whole Law was then read is this the