A brief instruction in the worship of God, and discipline of the churches of the New Testament, by way of question and answer with an explication and confirmation of those answers.

Qu. 12. What is principally to be at∣tended unto by us in the manner of the cele∣bration of the worship of God, and obser∣vation of the institutions and Ordinances of the Gospel?

Answ. That we observe and do all whatsoever the Lord Christ hath com∣manded

us to observe, in the way that he hath prescribed; and that we add nothing unto, or in the observation of them, that is of mans invention or appointment. Deut. 4.2. chap. 12.32. Jer. 7.27. Ma••. 15.9, 13. Mat. 17.5. Coloss. 2.3. Mat. 28.20. Heb. 3.3, 4, 5, 6. 1 Cor. 11.23. Rev. 22.18. 1 Chron. 16.13. Isa. 29.13.

Explication.

This was in part spoken to before on the third Question, where it was shewed that the Scripture is the only way and means, whereby God hath revealed what that worship is, which he will accept in and of the Church. Here, moreover, as to the duty of the Church in this matter, three things are asserted.

First, That we are to observe and do all whatsoever the Lord Christ hath com∣manded us to observe. This lyes plain in the command, Mat. 28.20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And we are dire∣cted unto it in the injunction given us from Heaven, to hear, that is obey him

in all things, Mat. 17.5. he being the Prophet to whose teachings and instructi∣ons, we owe obedience on pain of exter∣mination from among the people of God, Deut. 18.15. Act. 3.22, 23. Whatever he hath appointed, commanded, revealed as the will of God to be observed in or about the worship of God, that is to be kept and observed by the Church invio∣lably. For if we are his Friends and Disciples, we will keep his commandments. No disuse of what continuance soever, can discharge us from the observation of institutions. After the Feast of Ta∣bernacles had been disused from the times of Joshua, unto the return from the cap∣tivity, the restoration of it was required of God and accepted with him, Neh. 8.17. No abuse of how high a nature soever can absolve us from obedience unto an institution, 1 Cor. 18.19, 20, 21, 22, 23. After the great abuse of the Lords Sup∣per in that Church, the Apostle recalls them again unto the observation of it, according to the institution of Christ. And after the defilement of all the Ordi∣nances of the Gospel, under the Anti-Christian apostacy, yet the Temple and

the Altar are to be measured again, Rev. 11.1. and the Tabernacle of God was again to be raised amongst men. Rev. 21.3. No opposition, no persecution, can give the Church a dispensation wholly to omit, and lay aside the use of any thing that the Lord Christ hath commanded to be observed in the worship of God, whilest we are under the obligation of that great rule, Acts 4.19. Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. It is true in the observation of positive instituti∣ons, we may have regard unto rules and prescriptions of prudence, as to times, places, and seasons; that by no inadver∣tency or miscarriage of ours, or advan∣tage taken by the adversaries of the truth, the edification of the Church be hindred. So the Disciples met with the doors shut for fear of the Jewes, John 20.19. and Paul met with the Disciples in the night, in an upper chamber, for the celebration of all the Ordinances of the Church, Acts 20.7, 8. yet as to the ob∣ligation unto their observation, it indi∣spensably binds us, and that alwayes, and that as to all the institutions of Christ

whatever, Heb. 10.25. Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one ano∣ther, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching. To dispence with Christs commands practically is unlaw∣full; much more doctrinally; most of all authoritatively as the Pope takes on himself to do. This then is the Churches duty, to search out all the commands of Christ recorded in the Gospel, and to yield obedience unto them. We are not in this matter, to take up meerly with what we find in practice amongst others, no, though they be men good or holy. The duty of the Church, and consequent∣ly of every member of it in his place and station, is to search the Scriptures, to inquire into the mind of Christ, and to find out whatever is appointed by him, or required of his Disciples; and that with hearts and minds prepared un∣to a due observation of whatever shall be discovered to be his will.

Secondly, Whatever belongs unto the worship of God in the way or manner whereby any of the Ordinances of Christ is to be performed, comes also under

the command of Christ which is duly to be attended unto, and observed. Indeed whatever is of this nature appoin••ed by Christ, it doth therefore belong to the worship of God. And what is not so appointed, neither doth, nor can be any part thereof. Of this nature are the celebration of all other Ordinances with prayer; for every thing is sanctified by the word of God and prayer, 1 Tim. 4.5. of some of them indispensably in the assemblies of the Church, 1 Cor. 10.16, 17. Chap. 11.20, 24, 25, 33. With care, in the observation of the general rules of love, modesty, condescention and prudence, doing all things decently and in order, 1 Cor. 11.33. Chap. 14.40. Gestures in some sacred actions, Mat. 26.20, 26. John 13.23. All which the Church is diligently to inquire into, as things that belong to the pattern of the house of God, the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, the forms thereof, and the Ordinances thereof, with the Laws thereof, promised to be shewed unto it, Ezek. 43.11. to attend carefully to their observation is its duty, being left at liberty as to all other cir∣cumstances

which no authority of man can give any real relation to the wor∣ship of God unto. Therein lyes the exer∣cise of that Spirit of wisdom, and revela∣tion in the knowledge of the mysterie of the Gospel, which is given unto the Church, Ephes. 1.17, 18. It was the wisdom of the antient Church to do and observe all that God appointed in the way and manner that he had prescribed for their observance, Deut. 4.5, 6. Be∣hold I have taught you statutes and judge∣ments even as the Lord my God commanded me; keep therefore and do them, for this is your wisdom and understanding. And herein is the command of Christ kept inviolate and unblameable. The perswa∣sion of some, that the Lord hath not prescribed all things wherein his worship is concerned, seems to proceed from a negligence in inquiring after what he hath so prescribed: and when once that perswasion is entertained, all farther in∣quiry is superseded, and despised. For to what end should any one seek after that which he is satisfied cannot be found? as that which is not cannot be. But this mistake will be elsewhere more fully discovered.

Thirdly, A principal part of the duty of the Church in this matter is, to take care that nothing be admitted or pra∣ctised in the Worship of God, or as be∣longing thereunto, which is not institu∣ted and appointed by the Lord Christ. In its care, faithfulness and watchfulness herein, consists the principal part of its loyalty unto the Lord Jesus as the Head, King and Law-giver of his Church; and which to stir us up unto, he hath left so many severe interdictions and prohibiti∣ons in his word against all additions to his commands upon any pretence whatever; of which afterwards.