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Q. 1. WHat doth God require of us in our dependance on him, that he may be glori∣fied by us, and we ac∣cepted with him?
Answ. That we (a) Worship him (b) in and by the wayes of his own appointment. (a) Matth. 4.10. Rev. 14.7. Deut. 6.13. chap. 10.20. (b) Lev. 10.1, 2, 3. Exod. 24.3. Gen. 18.19. Joshua 23.6, 8. Zach. 14.16.
By the Worship of God inquired after, not that which is naturall on morall,
which is required in the first Command∣ment is intended. Such is our faith and confidence in him, our fear of him, our subjection of soul and conscience unto him, as the great Soveraign Lord, first cause, last end, Judge and Rewarder of all men; the Law whereof was originally written in the heart of Man, and hath been variously improved and directed by new Revelations and Institutions. And this Worship is called naturall, upon a double Account.
First, Because it depends on the nature of God, a due perception and understand∣ing whereof, makes all this Worship in∣dispensibly necessary: for none can know God, but it is his duty to glorifie him as God, that is, to believe in him, love him, trust him, and call upon him, which all are therefore cursed that do not, Psalm 79.6. 2 Thes. 1.8.
And Secondly, Because it was in the principle of it concreated with the nature of man, as that which suited, directed, and enabled him to answer the Law of his Creation, requiring this obedience of him in his dependance on God. And this Worship is invariable: but it concerneth
those outward wayes and means whereby God hath appointed that faith, and love, and fear of him to be exercised and expressed unto his glory. And this kind of Worship▪ though it depend not upon the nature of God, but upon his free and arbitrary disposal, and so was of old liable unto alterations; yet God did ever strictly require in the several states and conditi∣ons that his Church hath gone through in the World. And this is that, which most commonly in the Scripture is called by the name of the worship of God; as that whereby all the acceptable actings of the souls of men towards him are expressed, and the only way of owning and ac∣knowledging him in the World, as also of entertaining a visible intercourse with him. This therefore he calls for, and re∣quires indispensibly of all that draw nigh to him, and that because he is the Lord our God, Rev. 14.6, 7. Mat. 4.10. Deut. 10.12, 13. For his observance hereof, doth he so approve of Abraham, Gen. 18.19. And sets it down as an ever∣lasting Law unto all others, that in a holy observation thereof, he will be sanctified in all that draw nigh unto him, Lev. 10.
1, 2, 3. his commands also concerning it, are multiplyed in the Scripture, with the approbation of all those that attend unto them. We may not think to find acceptance with God, or to inherit the promises, if supposing our selves to ad∣here unto him in Worship internall and naturall, we neglect that which is exter∣nall and of his free appointment: for besides, that we renounce thereby our inward dependance on him also, in not observing his commands, as Adam did in transgressing an Institution, we become wholly useless unto all the ends of his Glory in the World, which is not the way to come to an enjoyment of him. Neither, do we only express and profess our inward morall naturall worship of God hereby, by which means it becomes the principall way and instrument of faith and trust exerting themselves in our obedience, but also it is a most effectual help and assistance unto the principle of that natural worship, strengthening the habit of it, and exciting it unto all su∣table actings, unto its increase and growth.