A serious examination of the independent's catechism and therein of the chief principles of non-conformity to, and separation from the Church of England / by Benjamin Camfield ... ; in two parts, the first general, the second more particular.

CHAP. III.

The Catechist's opinion, as to this point, set down at large in his own words, from above twenty places of his Book; and then summed up toge∣ther, to be viewed at once.

LEt the Catechist novv speak his own opini∣on in his own words.

Pag. 8.

[The wayes and means of the vvorship of God are made knovvn unto us in and by the written Word only, vvhich con∣tains a full and perfect revelation of the will of God, as to his whole worship, and all the concernments of it.]

Pag. 9. 10. [to the end that vve might expect instruction from the written Word alone, in his Worship, and act therein ac∣cordingly, he sends us, and directs us there∣to, expresly for that purpose, and not once intimates in the least any other way or means of instruction to the end. He frequently af∣firms,

that it is sufficient, able, and perfect to guide us therein. He hath commanded us not to make any addition thereunto, and peculiarly interdicted us the use of any such things as are of the institution or appointment of men.]

[Pag. 22.

The Lord Christ is the absolute Lord over his own house, and He hath given out the Laws whereby he will have it guided and ruled, whilst it is in this world.]

[Pag. 26.

If we observe any thing in God's worship, but what he hath appointed, we cannot submit our souls and consciences to his authority therein.]

[Pag, 27.

This is the first thing that Faith regards in Divine Worship; it resteth not in any thing, closeth not with any thing but what it discerns that God hath commanded, and therein it eyes his authority as He hath re∣quired it.]

[Pag. 28.

Christ is to be consider'd in all our obedience, as the great, and only Law∣giver of his Church.]

[Pag. 34.

The outward manner of ob∣servance is to be kept entire, according to the primitive institution of Christ, not ad∣mitting of any corruptions in it to avoid the greatest trouble.]

[Pag. 35. 36.

He is the Head and King of the Church, the next immediate and spe∣cial Law-giver of it, appointing unto it all his ordinances, and its whole worship, as it becomes him who is Lord of the house.]

[Pag. 42.43.

The thing principally to be attended to in the manner of the celebration of the Worship of God, and observation of the institutions and ordinances of the Go∣spel, is, That we observe, and do all what∣soever the Lord Christ hath commanded us to observe in the way that he hath prescribed, and that we add nothing unto, or in the ob∣servation of them, that is of mans invention or appointment.]

[Pag. 46. 47, 48.

Whatsoever belongs un∣to to the Worship of God, in the way or man∣ner, whereby any of the Ordinances of Christ is to be performed, comes also under the command of Christ, which is duly to be at∣tended to, and observed.

Indeed, whatever is of this nature appointed 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. —11.20, 24, 25, 33. with care in the observation of the general rules of Love, Modesty, Condescen∣tion, and Prudence, doing all things decently and in order, 1 Cor. 11.33.—14.40. Gestures in some sacred actions, Matt. 26.20, 26. John 13.23. all which the Church is diligently to enquire 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, promi∣sed to be shewed unto it, Ezek. 43.11. To attend carefully to their observation, is its duty, being left at liberty to all other circum∣stances, which no authority of man can give any real relation to the Worship of God unto.]

[Pag. 48.

The perswasion of some, that the Lord hath not prescribed all things wherein his worship is concern'd, seems to proceed from a negligence in enquiring after what he hath so prescribed.]

[Pag. 49.

A principal part of the duty of the Church in this matter, is, to take care that nothing be admitted or practised in the worship of God, or as belonging thereunto, which is not instituted and appointed by the Lord Christ.]

[In its care, faithfulness, and watchfulness herein, consists the principal part of its Loy∣alty 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 prohibitions in his Word, against all additions to his commands, upon any pretence whatever.]

[Pag. 54. 55.

All such inventions (he speaks expresly of Religious Rites, appointed by the Church to farther Devotion, Decency, and Order) are in themselves needless, and, because forbidden, unlawful to be obser∣ved.]

[Pag. 62.

Although they are not in par∣ticular, and expresly in the Scripture forbid∣den,

for it was† simply impossible, that all in∣stances wherein the wit of man might exer∣cise its invention in such things, should be reckoned up, and condemned, yet they fall directly under those severe prohibitions, which God hath recorded to secure his wor∣ship from all such additions unto it, of what sort soever.]

[Pag. 62. 63.

Yea, the main design of the second Precept, is, to forbid all making un∣to our selves any such things in the wor∣ship of God, to add unto what he hath ap∣pointed; whereof an instance is given, in that of making, and worshipping of Images, the most common way that the sons of men were then prone to transgress by, against the institutions of God.]

Pag. 64.

And there is yet further evidence contributed unto this intention of the Com∣mand, from those places where such evils and corruptions as were particularly forbid∣den in the worship of God, are condemned; not on the special account of their being so forbidden, but on that more general, of be∣ing introduced without any warrant from Gods Institutions and Commands, Jer. 7.31. 19, 5.]

Pag. 64. 65.

The Papists say indeed, that all additions corrupting the Worship of God, are forbidden: but such as further, adorn, and preserve it, are not so; which im∣plies a contradiction: for, whereas every ad∣dition is principally a corruption, because it is an addition, under which notion it is forbid∣den,

(and that in the worship of God, which is forbidden, is a corruption of it) there can be no such preserving, and adorning addition, unless we will allow a preser∣ving, and adorning corruption.

Neither is it of more force which is pleaded by them,

That the additions which they make, belong not unto the substance of the Worship of God, but unto the circumstan∣ces of it; for every circumstance observed religiously, or to be observed in the worship of God, is the substance of it; as were all those ceremonious observances of the Law, which had the same respect in the prohibi∣tions of adding, with the most weighty things whatsoever.]

[Pag 78.

God is jealous of our discharge of our Duty in this matter, accounting our neglect of his worship, or profanation of it, by inventions and additions of our own, to be spiritual disloyalty, whoredom, and a∣dultery, which his Soul abhorreth, for which he will cast off any Church or people, and that for ever.]

[Ibid.

which repudiated condition is the state of many Churches in the World; how∣ever they please, and boast themselves in their meretricious ornaments and practi∣ses.]

Pag. 79. 80.

God hath given many signal Instances of his severity against persons, who, by ignorance, neglect, or regardlesness, have miscarried, in not observing exactly his Will and Appointment, ìn, and about his

Worship; Nadab and Abihu; Korah, Da∣than, &c.]

[Pag. 82.

That by Fornication and Whoredom in the Church, the adultera∣ting of the Worship of God, and the ad∣mission of false, self-invented worship, in the room thereof, whereof God is jealous, is intended, the Scripture every where de∣clares.]

[Pag. 87.

Our Lord Jesus Christ being King and Head of his Church, the Lord over the house of God; nothing is to be done therein but with respect to his authority.]

[Pag. 88. 89.

In all things that are done, or to be done, vvith respect to the worship of God in the Church, the authority of Christ is alwaies principally to be considered; and every thing to be observed as command∣ed by him, without which consideration, it hath no place in the worship of God.]

[Pag. 88.

The suitableness of any thing to right reason, or the light of nature, is no ground for a Church-observation of it, unless it be also appointed and commanded in spe∣cial by Jesus Christ.]

[Pag. 54.

To a real Evangelical institution of Worship, 'tis required, that it be a com∣mand of Christ, manifested by his Word on Example, proposed to our imitation.]

[Pag. 135. To a question concerning law∣fulness, he answers,

Neither of these hath either Warrant, or President in Scripture.]

And again,

[Pag. 139.

It hath no Warrant in the Scri∣pture,

no Law nor Institution of Christ, or his Apostles, no Example to give it coun∣tenance.]

All which put together, amounts to thus much;

That all the concernments of God's Wor∣ship are prescribed in Scripture; from whence alone we are to receive instruction about them, being thereby interdicted the use of any thing appointed by man; That no∣thing must be there admitted, but vvhat Faith sees God to have commanded, or Christ to have instituted; no, not in the outward manner of observance; That Christ hath given out his Laws for the ordering of all things in the Church, and nothing is to be added unto, or in, or about his Institutions. That if any affirm, Christ hath not prescribed all things, wherein his Worship is concerned (viz. his outward worship, and the manner of it) he proclaims his own negligence in enquiring thereinto. That all Rites appointed by the Church, to further Devotion, Decency, and Order, are not only needless, but unlawful to be used, because forbidden; though not par∣ticularly and expresly, yet falling under those severe prohibitions, vvhich God hath re∣corded to secure His Worship from all such additions to it, of what sort soever. Yea, the second Command is mainly designed and intended against them. That all additi∣ons are therefore corruptions, because addi∣tions; and no circumstance so inconsiderable in this case, as not to become of the substance

of God's Worship, when appointed to be observed in it. That the admission of these inventions of men, in God's service, is Spiri∣tual disloyalty, adultery, and whoredom, which God is most jealous of, and his Soul ab∣horreth, and for which, He will cast off any Church or People for ever; and, This repu∣diated, divorced condition, many Churches are at present in, however they please them∣selves in their Whorish ornaments and pra∣ctices. That if they do, either by Ignorance, neglect, or Carelesness miscarry in this their Duty, of not practising any thing, in, or about Gods Worship, which Christ hath not appointed; they are to expect those signal instances of severity, to be made good upon themselves, which God de∣clared against Nadab and Abihu, Corah, Da∣than, &c. and the Whore of Babylon in the Revelations. Nor have they any way left to excuse themselves; for it is not any such low Principle, as Right Reason, or the Light of Nature, which will serve the turn for a Church-observance; no, not in circumstan∣tials, for the outward manner of perform∣ing Worship unto God; but there must be a command, and appointment in special from Christ, manifested by his Word or Example, a Scripture-warrant or President.

— And now, I think, he hath plainly enough delivered his mind.

Notes

• †

  A simple expression, as to omnisci∣ent omnipo∣tency. Mo∣rally impos∣sible might have passed.