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CHAP. XXII.

Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day.

1. The light of Nature shews that there is a God, who hath Lordship, and Soveraigntye over all; is just, good, and doth good unto all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the Heart, and all the Soul, 360360 Jer. 10.7. Mar. 12.33.and with all the Might. But the acceptable way of Worshipping the true God, is 361361 Deut. 12 32.instituted by himself; and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be Worshipped according to the imaginations, and devices of Men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or 362362 Exo 20.4,5,6.any other way, not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.

2. Religious Worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to him 363363 Mat. 4.9,10. Joh 6.23. Mat. 28.19.alone; not to Angels, Saints, or any other 364364Rom. 1.25. Col. 2.18. Revel. 19.10.Creatures; and since the fall, not without a 365365Joh. 14.6.Mediator, nor in the Mediation of any other but 366366 1 Tim. 2.5.Christ alone.

3. Prayer with thanksgiving, being one special part of natural worship, is by God required of 367367Psal. 95 1-7. Psal. 65.2.all men. But that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the 368368 Joh. 14.13,14.Name of the Son, by the help 369369 Rom. 8.26.of the Spirit, according to 3703701 Joh. 5.14.his Will; with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and when with others, in a 3713711 Cor. 14.16,17.known tongue.

4. Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living, 3723721 Tim. 2.1,2. 2 Sam. 7.29.or that shall live hereafter; but not 3733732 Sam. 12.21,22.23.for the dead, nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned 374374 1 Joh. 5.16.the sin unto death.

5. The 3753751 Tim. 4.13.reading of the Scriptures, Preaching, and 3763762 Tim. 4.2. Luk. 8.18.hearing the word of God, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual songs, singing with grace in our Hearts to 377377 Col. 3.16. Eph. 5.19.the Lord; as also the Administration 378378Mat. 28, 19,20.of Baptism, and 379379 1 Cor. 11 26.the Lords Supper are all parts of Religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover solemn humiliation 380380 Esth. 4.16. Joel. 2.12.with fastings; and thanksgiving upon 381381Exo. 15.1. &c. Ps. 107.special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner.

6. Neither Prayer, nor any other part of Religious worship, is now under the Gospel tied unto, or made more acceptable by, any place in which it is 382382Joh. 4.21. Mal. 1.11. 1 Tim 2.8.performed, or towards which it is directed; but God is to be worshipped every where in Spirit, and in truth; as in 383383 Act. 10.2.private families 384384Mat. 6.11. Ps. 55.17.daily, and 385385 Mat. 6.6.in secret each one by himself, so more solemnly in the publick Assemblies, which are not carelessely, nor wilfuly, to be 386386 Heb. 10.25. Act. 2.42.neglected, or forsaken, when God by his word, or providence calleth thereunto.

7. As it is of the Law of nature, that in general a proportion of time by Gods appointment, be set a part for the Worship of God; so by his Word in a positive-moral, and perpetual Commandement, binding all men, in all Ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a 387387 Exo. 20.8.Sabbath to be kept holy unto him, which from the beginning of the World to the Resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week 3883881 Cor. 16.1,2. Act. 20.7. Rev. 1.10.which is called the Lords day; and is to be continued to the end of the World, as the Christian Sabbath; the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.

8. The Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe an holy 389389 Isa. 58.13. Neh 13.15-23.rest all the day, from their own works, words, and thoughts, about their worldly employment, and recreations, but also are taken up the whole time in the publick and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties 390390 Mat. 12.1-13.of necessity and mercy.


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