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Vnto which testimonies diuers reasons might bee added, which eui∣dently prooue, that we can no otherwise please God by our liues, then by framing them according to his will, and doing such seruice as in his Word he requireth, both in respect of the matter, and also the manner. As first, because heereby wee shall preferre our owne wisedome before the
wisedome of God, neglecting that worship which he hath appointed, ei∣ther in respect of the matter or manner, because in our foolish conceit we suppose that wee can deuise a better; which is such an indignity offered vnto his Maiestie, that no earthly Prince would indure it at the hand of his greatest subiects. Secondly, we shall hereby disgrace Gods Law and Word, which he hath appointed to be the rule of all our liues and actions, as though it were insufficient to that end for which God hath ordained it; whereas the Apostle telleth vs, that they are profitable for doctrine, reproofe, * 1.1 correction, instruction in righteousnesse, that the man of God may bee perfect, thorowly furnished vnto all good workes. And the Lord himselfe hath inioy∣ned vs to goe vnto them as vnto the onely Iudge and counseller, to be re∣solued in all our doubts, and directed in all our actions. To the Law and * 1.2 to the Testimonie. And our Sauiour to the same purpose hath exhorted vs * 1.3 to search the Scriptures, because our ignorance of them, is the maine cause * 1.4 of all our errours both in doctrine and manners. Thirdly, whilest we neg∣lect Gods Word in seruing him, and follow our owne inuentions, wee shall not doe Gods will, but our owne, and in stead of doing him seruice, we shall serue our owne lusts which are most opposite vnto him, commit∣ting heerein a grosse absurditie, in thinking to please God, by offering vn∣to him a seruice, not which he in his wisedome hath prescribed as most fit, but that which is deuised and appointed by our owne fleshly wisedome, * 1.5 which is enmitie against him, and our naturall imaginations, which are only and continually euill. Fourthly, if we neglect the direction of Gods Word, in performing seruice vnto him, though it bee, not in the matter, but the manner onely, God will neglect our seruice, as being meere will-worship, and not that which he hath appointed, according to his saying to the Iewes by the Prophet Esay, Who hath required these things at your hands? yea he will reiect it as odious and abominable, as he did the sacri∣fices * 1.6 of the Iewes, who in seruing him, chose their owne wayes, and in their hearts and soules still delighted in their abominations, when in outward appearance they seemed deuout in offering vnto him sacrifices and obla∣tions, * 1.7 as elsewhere he protesteth by the same Prophet. Neither will our good meanings, blind zeale, and superstitious deuotion, make our will-worship accepted of God, seeing they are in themselues sinfull, and one sinne will not excuse another. Yea if we haue no better guides to direct vs, we shall for Gods true seruice, imbrace, and euen tire our selues in the seruice of the deuill, as we see in the example of the Iewes, whose blinde zeale misled them out of the way of saluation, into the way of destruction, whilest neglecting the righteousnesse of faith in Iesus Christ, they indeuou∣red to establish their owne righteousnesse. And of the Apostle Paul, who by * 1.8 an ignorant zeale was made (as hee confesseth) euen mad against the * 1.9 Saints, and with all raging crueltie, set himselfe to destroy the Church of God. And finally, of those honourable women spoken of in the Acts of the Apostles, who out of their blinde deuotion, raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. Fifthly, if wee serue * 1.10 not God according to his will and Word, but according to our owne good meanings and blinde deuotions, it will not be pleasing to God, as not being done in faith, but doubtingly, not knowing whether the duties
which wee performe, bee agreeable to his will or no: or rather without doubting we may know, that our seruice is not according to Gods will; and therefore displeasing vnto him, seeing he hath prefectly reuealed his will in his Word, both concerning that which he would haue vs doe, and * 1.11 that which he would haue vs leaue vndone; and consequently, such ser∣uice is not only without, but contrary to faith, and most odious vnto God. Sixthly, all our paines taken in this seruice, which is not warranted by Gods Word, but done according to our own inuentions, good meanings, and traditions of men, are in vaine, and all our labour lost, which is thus spent in will-worship and blinde superstition; according to that of our Sauiour, In vaine they worship me, teaching for doctrines mens precepts. Yea * 1.12 they are not onely vaine, and as the Apostle speaketh, perish in the vsing, * 1.13 but euil, both simply and by accident: for who can bring good out of euill? that which is cleane, out of that which is vncleane? or spirituall seruice vnto * 1.14 God, out of the forge of our carnall reason and euill imaginations? seeing * 1.15 our Sauiour hath taught vs, that, that which is of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is borne of the Spirit, is Spirit. And as it is simply euill in respect of the euill fountaine from which it springeth, so also accidentally, in that it is preferred before the Word and will of God, and by taking place of it, doth cause it to be cleane thrust out of dores, as we see in the example of the superstitious Pharises, who in setting vp their owne traditions, made * 1.16 Gods Commandements voyd and of none effect; and of the Papists, who by making roome for their blinde deuotions, haue quite exiled all the parts and meanes of the true seruice of God. In which regard, all the la∣bour which is thus spent, doth not only not please God, and so lose all re∣ward, but much displease him and prouoke his wrath, and pull downe his heauie iudgements vpon all such as tender such seruice vnto him, both in this life and the life to come. Of the former we haue an example in Nadab * 1.17 and Abihu, who were consumed with fire from heauen, because they offred strange fire vnto God, and did not vse that fire which he had sent downe from heauen to this purpose. In Saul, whose kingdome was rent from him, either for offering sacrifice himselfe which did not belong vnto him (for which sinne also Vzziah was smitten with leprosie) or for not staying the time appointed by God and his Prophet Samuel. And in Vzzah, who * 1.18 was smitten with present death, because being but a Leuite, he tooke vpon * 1.19 him to touch the Arke, which none might doe but the Priests, and suffered it to be carried in a cart, which should haue beene borne vpon their shoul∣ders. * 1.20 Vnto which punishments (and the like) of this life, God will adde those eternall punishments in the life to come, vpon those that adde vnto, or detract from his will, which the Apostle Iohn threatneth against those who adde vnto, or detract from his Prophecie, namely, losse of heauenly * 1.21 happinesse, and all the plagues written in that booke, among which are the torments of hell fire, & euerlasting condemnation of body and soule. And therefore when we come thus farre, as to haue feruent desires and great de∣uotion to serue God, let vs take heed that the deuill doe not delude vs, by perswading vs through his instruments, to spend all our labour, not onely in vaine, but also to losse, nor to lay out our good intentions (as it were) good coyne, vpon the base trifles of humane traditions, will-worship, and
our owne inuentions, as worshipping of Saints and Angels, Masses, Pil∣grimages, Popish Fasts, Penances, and punishing of our bodies, mum∣bling of Latine Prayers without vnderstanding, satisfactions, and such like; seeing these are not onely not commanded, but expresly contrary to Gods will and Word. And the Apostle also hath giuen vs warning to take heed of, and auoid them, as hauing only a shew of wisedome, in will-worship, and humilitie, and not sparing of the body, and in truth are meerefolly, be∣ing * 1.22 flatly opposite to the wisedome of God. But resoluing to please God by leading a godly life, let vs make his will reuealed in his Word, the rule and squyre of all our actions, resoluing and indeuouring to do that which in this Word is commanded and inioyned, and to leaue vndone what in it is forbidden and condemned.
2. Tim. 3. 16, 17.
Esa. 8. 20.
Joh. 5. 39.
Matth. 22. 29.
Rom. 8. 6, 7, 8. Gen. 6. 5.
Esa. 1. 12.
Esa. 66. 3.
Rom. 10. 3.
Act. 26. 11.
Act. 13. 50.
Rom. 6. 23.
Matth. 15. 8, 9.
Col. 2. 22.
Iob 14 4.
Gen. 6. 5. John 3. 6.
Math. 15. 4, 5, 6.
Leuit. 10. 2. & 9. 24.
2. Chro. 26. 19.
2. Sam. 6. 6.
Num. 4. 15.
Apoc. 22. 18.
Col. 2. 23.