IV. And because the powers which God hath ordained, and the liberty which Christ hath purchased, are not intended by God to destroy, but mutually to uphold and preserve one another; they who, upon pretence of Christian liberty, shall oppose any lawful power, or the lawful exercise of it, whether it be civil or ecclesiastical, resist the ordinance of God. And for their publishing of such opinions, or maintaining of such practices, as are contrary to the light of nature, or to the known principles of Christianity, whether concerning faith, worship, or conversation; or to the power of godliness; or such erroneous opinions or practices, as either in their own nature, or in the manner of publishing or maintaining them, are destructive to the external peace and order which Christ hath established in the church; they may lawfully be called to account, and proceeded have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 1 Pet. ii. 16. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 2 Pet. ii. 19. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. John viii. 34. Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. Luke i. 74. That he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, Ver. 75. In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. IV. P Matt. xii. 25. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. 1 Pet. ii. 13. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Ver. 14. Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well. Ver. 16. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. [Rom, xiii. 1. to the 8th Verse.] Heb. xiii. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account; that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Rom. i. 32. Who, knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. With 1 Cor. v. 1. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. Ver. 5. To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Ver. 11. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. Ver. 13. But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. 2 John, ver. 10. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: Ver. 11. For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. And 2 Thess. iii. 14. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. And 1 Tim. vi. 3. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; Ver. 4. He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Ver. 5. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. And Tit. i. 10. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Ver. 11. Whose mouths must against by the censures of the church, and by the power of the civil magistrate. CHAP. XXI.—Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath-day. I. THE light of nature sheweth that there is a God, who hath lordTHE ship and sovereignty over all; is good, and doeth good unto all; be stopped; who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. Ver. 13. This witness is true: wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. And Tit. iii. 10. A man that is an heretick, after the first and second admonition, reject. With Matt. xviii. 15. Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Ver. 16. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. Ver. 17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 1 Tim. i. 19. Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck: Ver. 20. Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. Rev. ii. 2. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars. Ver. 14. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. Ver. 15. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. Ver. 20. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. Rev. iii. 9. Be hold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that 1 have loved thee. [Deut. xiii. 6. to the 12th.] Rom. xiii. 3. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. Ver. 4. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. With 2 John, versés 10, 11. [See in letter 9] Ezra vii. 23. Whatsoever is com manded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? Ver. 25. And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. Ver. 26. And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judg ment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods. or to imprisonment. Ver. 27. Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem; Ver. 28. And hath extended mercy unto me before the king and his counsellors and before all the king's mighty prin ces: and I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me; and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.. Rev. xvii. 12. And the ten horns which and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the thou sawest are ten kings, which have brook Kidron, and burnt it at the received no kingdom as yet; but re- brook Kidron, and stamped it small ceive power as kings one hour with the to powder, and cast the powder thereof beast. Ver. 16. And the ten horns which upon the graves of the children of the thou sawest upon the beast, these shall people. Ver. 9. Nevertheless the priests hate the whore, and shall make her of the high places came not up to the desolate and naked, and shall eat her altar of the Lord in Jerusalem, but flesh, and burn her with fire. Ver. they did eat of the unleavened bread 17. For God hath put in their hearts among their brethren. Ver. 20. And to fulfil his will, and to agree, and he slew all the priests of the high give their kingdom unto the beast, places that were there upon the altars, until the words of God shall be ful- and burnt men's bones upon them, filled. Neh. xiii. 15. In those days and returned to Jerusalem. Ver. 21. saw I in Judah some treading wine- And the king commanded all the presses on the sabbath, and bringing people, saying, Keep the passover unin sheaves, and lading asses; as also to the Lord your God, as it is written wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner in the book of this covenant. 2 Chron. of burdens, which they brought into xxxiv. 33. And Josiah took away all Jerusalem on the sabbath-day: and the abominations out of all the counI testified against them in the day tries that pertained to the children of wherein they sold victuals. Ver. 17. Israel, and made all that were present Then I contended with the nobles of in Israel to serve, even to serve the Judah, and said unto them, What evil Lord their God. And all his days thing is this that ye do, and profane they departed not from following the the sabbath-day? Ver. 21. Then I Lord, the God of their fathers. 2 testified against them, and said unto Chron. xv. 12. And they entered into them, Why lodge ye about the wall? a covenant to seek the Lord God of if ye do so again, I will lay hands on their fathers with all their heart, and you. From that time forth came they with all their soul; Ver. 13. That no more on the sabbath. Ver. 22. And whosoever would not seek the Lord I commanded the Levites, that they God of Israel should be put to death, should cleanse themselves, and that whether small or great, whether man they should come and keep the gates, or woman. Ver. 16. And also conto sanctify the sabbath-day. Remem- cerning Maachah, the mother of Asa ber me, my God, concerning this the king, he removed her from being also, and spare me according to the queen, because she had made an idol greatness of thy mercy. Ver. 25. And in a grove: and Asa cut down her I contended with them, and cursed idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at them, and smote certain of them, and the brook Kidron. Dan. iii. 29. Thereplucked off their hair, and made them fore I make a decree, That every peoswear by God, saying, Ye shall not ple, nation, and language, which speak give your daughters unto their sons, any thing amiss against the God of nor take their daughters unto your Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, sons, or for yourselves. Ver. 30. Thus shall be cut in pieces, and their houses cleansed I them from all strangers, shall be made a dunghill; because and appointed the wards of the priests there is no other God that can deliver and the Levites, every one in his busi- after this sort. 1 Tim. ii. 2. For kings, ness. 2 Kings xxiii. 5. And he put down and for all that are in authority; that the idolatrous priests, whom the kings we may lead a quiet and peaceable of Judah had ordained to burn incense life in all godliness and honesty. Isa. in the high places in the cities of Ju- xlix. 23. And kings shall be thy nursdah, and in the places round about Je- ing-fathers, and their queens thy rusalem; them also that burnt incense nursing-mothers: they shall bow down unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, to thee with their face toward the and to the planets, and to all the earth, and lick up the dust of thy host of heaven. Ver. 6. And he brought feet; and thou shalt know that I am out the grove from the house of the the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed Lord, without Jerusalem, unto the that wait for me. Zech. xiii. 2. And might. But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the holy scripture.b with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices. II. Religious worship is to be given to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and to him alone: not to angels, saints, or any other creature: it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered; and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. Ver. 3. And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the Lord: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. I. Rom. i. 20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. Acts xvii. 24. God, that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Ps. exix. 68. Thou art good, and doest good: teach me thy statutes. Jer. x. 7. Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. Ps. xxxi. 23. O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Ps. xviii. 3. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. Rom. x. 12. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Ps. lxii. 8. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Josh. xxiv. 14. Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. Mark xii. 33. And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and b Deut. xii. 32. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. Matt. xv. 9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Acts xvii. 25. Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. Matt. iv. 9. And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Ver. 10. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. [Deut. xv. to the 20th Verse.] Exod. xx. 4. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Ver. 5. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; Ver. 6. And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Col. ii. 23. Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will-worship, and hu mility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. II. Matt. iv. 10. [See before in letter b.] With John v. 23. That all men should honcur the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. And 2 Cor. xiii. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. d Col. ii. 18. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility, and worshipping of angels, and, since the fall, not without a Mediator; nor in the mediation of any other but of Christ alone." III. Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one special part of religious worship, is by God required of all men; and, that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son," by the help of his Spirit, according to his will, with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance;1 and, if vocal, in a known tongue." intruding into those things which he Ps. xlvii. 7. For God is the King hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind. Rev. xix. 10. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not; I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rom. i. 25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. e John xiv. 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 1 Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Eph. ii. 18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Col. iii. 17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. III.Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. 8 Ps. lxv. 2. 0 thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. John xiv. 13. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Ver. 14. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. 1 Pet. ii. 5. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. i Rom. viii. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. k1 John v. 14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. Eccl. v. 1. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. Ver. 2. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few. Heb. xii. 28. Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Gen. xviii. 27. And Abra, ham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes. James v. 16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James i. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Ver. 7. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. Mark xi. 24. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Matt. vi. 12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Ver. 14. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: Ver. 15. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Col. iv. 2. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. in m 1 Cor. xiv. 14. For if I pray an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. |