A systeme or body of divinity consisting of ten books : wherein the fundamentals and main grounds of religion are opened, the contrary errours refuted, most of the controversies between us, the papists, Arminians, and Socinians discussed and handled, several Scriptures explained and vindicated from corrupt glosses : a work seasonable for these times, wherein so many articles of our faith are questioned, and so many gross errours daily published / by Edward Leigh.

CHAP. I. Something general of the Ordinances.

HOw a Christian stands affected to the Ordinances of divine worship, the exercises of Religion in general.

• 1. He makes great account of them, and finds more good, benefit and comfort by them, then by any other thing, as Da∣vid saith, He loves the place where Gods honour dwelleth; and when he could not enjoy his Ordinances, his life was no life, he envied the Swallows. One thing have I desired, that I may live in the house of God all the dayes of my life, and enquire in his Temple, he loves them as the Babe the brest.
• 2. He findes God and the power of God in them, else he is not satisfied, he rests not in a bare outward performance of them, but looks for the efficacie of them to unite him to God, and to strengthen and confirm his soul, and to make him grow by them in godlinesse. David saith, That he may enquire in his Temple; and Peter, That he may grow thereby. His life is sweet and joyful when he feels the Or∣dinances of God in power, that they work on his heart to humble, reform him, beat down his flesh, edifie him in grace, then he is like a healthy man with a good stomack at a good meal.
• 3. This respect to Gods Ordinances is joined with a care of Righteousnesse, Mercy and Charity to men also, and the more forward he is in Religion, the more he abounds in all other parts of good conversation, Iam. 1. ult.

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Christ is present in his Ordinances:

• 1. In Majesty, Revel. 4. 2, 3.
• 2. In Beauty, Revel. 4. 6. David cals it the beauty of Gods house.
• 3. In Communion, Exod. 20. 24.
• 4. In waies of Bounty and Communication, Gods people are transformed into his Image, that place in Exodus proves this also.

Ordinances shall continue in the most flourishing times and most glorious estate of the Church, Matth. 20. 18, 19. I am with you,] not your persons but successours, with you] preaching and baptizing, Ephes. 4. 9, 10, 11. The Ministry is to continue till all the Saints be perfected, therefore till Christs second coming, 1 Cor. 11. 27. You shew the Lords death till he come, viz. to judgement, therefore the Ordinance of the Lords Supper must continue till Christs coming to judgement.

Some in these dayes cry down all Ordinances, as things carnal and unbecoming a spiritual and raised estate, they call them low administrations, and our walking by them to be a walking by Moon light. They say, these had their time, and may be of some use to some low sort of people, but it is but an abasement for seraphical and spiritual men to use them.

The Papists deny the prohibition of the second Commandment, they set up Image and Angel-worship; these the precept of it, it enjoyns instituted worship. Christ and the Apostles made use of the Ordinances, and pressed them upon the Churches. See Mat. 5. 19. Acts 2. and 3. ch.

They urge Isa. 60. 19. which speaks not of the Scripture but prosperity. See Ier. 15. 9. Amos 8. 9.

They also urge that place Rev. 21. 22. Brightman understands it not of the Church militant, but of the Jewish Synagogues, They shall not worship God after their own manner and worship, when the Jews are converted.

• 1. God hath chosen these to be Canales gratiae, the Conduit-pipes whereby he derives himself and his graces to his people, 1 Cor. 1. 24.
• 2. He hath commanded us to wait upon them, attend to reading, search the Scri∣ptures, Ioh. 5. 39. be baptized for remission of sins, do this in remembrance of me, pray continually, Despise not prophesying, 1 Thess. 5. 19. Paul there intimates an aptnesse in men under the notion of magnifying and advancing of the Spirit to despi••e pro∣phesying, and sheweth also that the means to quench and extinguish the illumina∣tions of the Spirit is to have low and unworthy thoughts of the word of God, and of prophesying according to the Analogy and proportion of that Word. We use the Ordinances not only for the enjoyment of God in them, but as a testimony of our obedience. God gave not the Spirit for this end to be the onely rule for man to live by, but to help him to understand the rule, and enable him to keep it.
• 3. God hath limited us so to them, that we have no warrant to expect the com∣munication of grace but by the Ordinances.
• 4. He hath threatned a curse to those that reject them, Heb. 10. 25, 39.

Observe the punishment both of Jews and Gentiles which slighted the Ordinan∣ces, 1 Cor. 1. 22, 23 compared with v. 24.

If these therefore be children which set so light by the Ordinances, they will not live long without bread. God hath given up the leaders of this errour to bor∣rid blasphemous opinions, they think they have no need of Christ: Some think that they are Christ: Others that they are God, and that they are glorified, and cry down Sanctification as an Idol.

This may suffice for the Ordinances in general, of the Ministry and preaching of the Word I have spoken already, the other particular Ordinances I shall handle and defend afterwards.

Others run into another extream, and make Idols of the Ordinances.

• 1. By resting in a bare formal attendance upon them, as the Harlot in the Pro∣verbs, I have had my peace-offerings to day. We must remember they are but means, the end is communion with God and Christ, and therefore we should not rest in the work done.
• 2. By leaning too much upon them, they are means to which we are limited, but

• we should not limit the Lord, when thou hast done all loathe thy self and all that thou hast done, and rest on free-grace. We should be careful of duty as if there were no grace to justifie us, and so rest upon grace as if no work were to be done ••y us.

The Ordinances are either

• 1. Ordinary, as Hearing the Word, Singing of Psalms, Prayer, Receiving the sacraments.
• 2. Extraordinary, Fasting, Feasting, Vows.

Notes

• Revel. 21. 3.
• See M^r Bridges Sermon entitu∣led, A vindica∣tion of Ordi∣nances on Deut. 18. 15. D Hill on Eph. 4. 15. p. 18, 19. M. Manton on Jam. 1. 19. pag. 153, 154. M. Symonds Christian plea at the end of sight & faith. The Familists talk of living in God and upon God immedi∣ately, they call Ordinances by way of scorn forms, they are so if they be re∣sted in, but o∣therwise they are means of serving, plea∣sing and obey∣ing God.
• M. Laurence his vindication of the Scriptures and Christian Ordinances. See his Plea for the use of Gospel-ordi∣nances.