The Life of Faith, Part 3 · Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI. How to live by Faith in the Publick Worſhipping of God.
I May not be ſo tedious (nor do that which is done elſewhere) as to direct you in the ſeveral parts of Worſhip diſtinctly; but ſhall only give you ſome brief Directions about Publick Worſhip in the general.
Direct. 1. Come not before God with Phariſaical conceits of the worthineſs of your ſelves, or Worſhip, as if you offered him ſomething which did oblige him: But come as humble receivers, that need him and his grace, who needeth not you; and as learners that hope to be wiſer and better by drawing neer to God.
You know Chriſts inſtance of the prayers of the Phariſee and the Publican: And remember that many a ones heart ſaith, I thank thee Lord that I am not as other men, or as this Publican, whoſe tongue can ſpend an hour or more in ſad confeſſions; yea and that it is thoſe very copious confeſſions of their badneſs, that puff them up as if they were ſo good.
Yea many a one that in opinion is moſt vehement againſt all our works in our Juſtification, or looking at any thing in our ſelves at all, to make us acceptable with God, as being againſt free grace in Chriſt, do yet look ſo much at that which is (or is conceited to be) in themſelves, that fe… Churches on earth are thought worthy of t…r communion.
Note alſo that it is ſacrificing which is commonly the Hypocrites Worſhip in the Old Teſtament, and hearing and obeying which he neglecteth, and God calls him to: As you may ſee at large in Iſa. 1. throughout; and many other places, Pſal. 40.6. Sacrifice and offering thou didſt no… require: Mine ears haſt thou opened, &c. So Pſal. 50.8, 9, &c. I will not reprove thee for thy ſacrifices and burnt offerings, to have been continually before me; I will take no bullock out of thy houſe — For every beaſt of the Foreſt is mine, &c. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee, for …he world is mine, and the fulneſs thereof —Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay thy vows to the moſt High. And call upon me in the day of trouble—But to the wicked, ſaith God, What haſt thou to do to declare my Statutes, or that thou ſhouldeſt take my Covenant in thy mouth, ſeeing thou hateſt inſtruction, and caſteſt my words behind thee —
1 Sam. 15.22, 23. Hath the Lord delight in burnt-offerings, and ſacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than ſacrifice, and to hearken, than the fat of Rams.
Pſal. 4.3, 4, 5. Know, that the Lord hath choſen the man that is godly for himſelf— Stand in awe and ſin not— Offer the ſacrifices of righteouſneſs—
Pſal. 51.17. The ſacrifices of God are a broken ſpirit.
Matth. 9.13. & 12.7. Learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not ſacrifice—
Eccleſ. 5.1. Keep thy foot when thou goeſt to the houſe of God, and be more ready to hear, than to offer the ſacrifice of fools, for they know not that they do evil.
All this telleth us, that fools and hypocrites, while they diſobey Gods Law, do think to make up all with ſacrifice, or to appeaſe God with offering him ſomething that is excellent: But the acceptable Worſhipper cometh to God as a penitent, a learner, reſolving to obey; as a Receiver of mercy, and not a meriter.
Direct. 2. Over-value not therefore the manner of your own Worſhip, and over-vilifie not other mens, of a different mode: And make not men believe that God is of your childiſh humour, and valueth or vilifieth words, and orders, and forms, and ceremonies, as much as ſelf-conceited people do.
If one man hear another pray only from the habits of his mind, and preſent deſires, he reproacheth him as a raſh preſumptuous ſpeaker, that talketh that to God which he never fore-conſidered. As if a beggar did raſhly ask an alms, or a corrected child, or a malefactor did inconſiderately beg for pardon, unleſs they learn firſt the words by rote: or as if all mens converſe, and the words of Judges on the Bench were all raſh; or the counſel of a Phyſician to his Patient, becauſe they uſe not books and forms, or ſet not down their words long before.
And if another man hear a form of prayer, eſpecially if it be read out of a Book; and eſpecially if it have any diſorder or defect, he ſticketh not to reviſe it, and call it falſe Worſhip, and mans Inventions, and perhaps Idolatry, and to fly from it, and make the world believe, that it is an odious thing which God abhorreth. And why ſo? Are your words ſo much more excellent than the words of others? Or doth the Book, or Preſs, or Pen, make them odious to God? Or are all words ba… which are reſolved on before-hand? Is the Lords Prayer and the Pſalms all odious, becauſe they are book-forms? Or doth the command of other men make God hate them? Let Parents take heed then of commanding their children preſcribed words. (Nay rather let them take heed leſt they omit ſuch preſcripts:) Or, is it the diſorder or defects that makes them odious? Such are not to be juſtified indeed where-ever we find them: But woe to us all, if God will not pardon diſorders and defects, and accept the prayers that are guilty of them.
Many a time I have heard ſuch forms of prayers, whoſe diſorders and defects I have much lamented (and done my part to have cured) and yet I durſt not ſo reproach them as to ſay, God will not accept and hear them: Or that it is unlawful to joyn in communion with them. And many a time I have heard as ſad diſorder in extemporate prayers ſometimes by wrong methods, or no method at all; ſometimes by vain repetitions; ſometimes by omitting the chiefeſt parts of prayer, and ſometimes in the whole ſtrein, by turning a prayer into a Sermon to the hearers, or a meer talk or narrative to God, that had little of a prayer in it, ſave very good matter, and honeſt zeal. And though this prayer was more diſorderly than the forms which (perhaps in that prayer) were accuſed of diſorder; yet durſt I not run away from this neither, nor ſay, it is ſo bad, that God will not hear it, nor good men ſhould have no comunion in it.
It is eaſie (but abominable) to fall in love with our own, and to vilifie that which is againſt our opinion, and to think that God is of our mind, and is as fond of our mode and way as we are, and as exceptious againſt the way or words of other men, as childiſh, pieviſh Chriſtians are. Look on your Book, and read, or learn your prayer in words, ſaith one, or elſe duplicate page duplicate page God will not hear you: Look off your Book, and read not or learn not the words, ſaith another, or God will not hear you. But oh lamentable, that both of them tremble, not thus to abuſe God, and add unto his Word, and to propheſie or ſpeak falſly againſt their brethren in his Name; nor to reproach the prayers which Chriſt preſenteth from his ſervants to the Father, and which (notwithſtanding their defects) are his delight!
Direct. 3. Offer God nothing as worſhip, which is contrary to the perfection of his Nature, as far as you can avoid it: And yet feign not that to be contrary to his nature which he commandeth. For then it is certain that you miſunderſtand either his nature or command.
Direct. 4. Never come to the Father but by the Son; and dream not of any immediate acceſs of a ſinner unto God, but wholly truſt in Chriſts mediation. Receive the Fathers will from Chriſt your Teacher, and his commands from Chriſt your King, and all his mercies from Chriſt your Head, and the Treaſury of the Church, and your continual Interceſſor with God in Heaven. And put all your prayers, praiſes, duties, alms, into his hand; that through him alone they may be accepted of God.
Direct. 5. Underſtand well how far the Scripture is a particular Rule (as to the ſubſtance of Gods Worſhip) and how far it is only a general Rule (as to the circumſtances) that ſo you may neither offer God a Worſhip which he will not accept; nor yet reject or oppoſe all thoſe circumſtances as unlawful, which are warranted by his general commands: (Of which I have ſaid enough elſewhere.)
Direct. 6. Look firſt and moſt to the exerciſe of inward grace, and to the ſpiritual part of Worſhip (for God will be worſhiped in ſpirit, and in truth, and hateth the Hypocrite, who offereth him a carkaſs, or empty ſhell, and ceremony, and pomp, or length of words, inſtead of ſubſtance; and draweth neer him with the lips, without the heart:) And yet in the ſecond place, look carefully alſo to your words, and order, and outward behaviour of the body: For God muſt be honoured with ſoul and body. And order and reverend ſolemnity is both a help to the affections of the ſoul, and a fit expreſſion of them.
Never forget that hypocritical dead formality, and ignorant, ſelf-conceited, fanatical extravagancies, are the two extreams by which the Devil hath laboured in all ages, to turn Chriſts Worſhip againſt him, and to deſtroy the Church and Religion by ſuch falſe Religiouſneſs.
The poor Popiſh Formaliſts on one ſide, mortifie Religion, and turn it into a carkaſs, and a comely Image that hath any thing ſave life. And the Fanaticks on the other ſide, do call all the enormities of their proud and bluſtering fancies by the name of ſpiritual devotion; and do their worſt to make Chriſtianity to ſeem a ridiculous fancy to the world: Eſcape both theſe extreams, as ever you will eſcape the diſhonouring of God, the dividing, and diſturbing, and corrupting of the Church, the deluding of others, and the diſappointing and deceiving of your ſelves.
Direct. 7. Neglect not any helps which you can have, by the excellent gifts of any of Chriſts Miniſters or flocks; and yet take heed that through prejudice, or for the faults of either, you vilifie or reject nothing which is of God. But carefully diſtinguiſh between Chriſts and theirs.
Communion with the holieſt and pureſt Aſſemblies, is more deſirable than with the leſs pure. But yet all that is leſs deſirable comparatively, is not ſimply unlawful, nor to be rejected: The labours of an abler and more faithful Miniſter, are much to be preferred before theirs that are leſs able and faithful: For God worketh uſually according to the aptitude of the means, and of the receiver. To the recovery and ſalvation of a ſoul it is neceſſary, 1. That the Ʋnderſtanding be made wiſe: 2. That the Heart or Will be ſanctified by Love. 3. That the Life be holy and obedient.
To the firſt of theſe there are three things needful; 1. That the Ʋnderſtanding be awakened: 2. That it be illuminated: 3. That it be preſerved from the ſeduction of temptations to deceit.
Now an able and faithful Paſtor is ſuited to all theſe effects: 1. He is a lively Preacher to awaken the underſtanding: He is a clear, intelligent, methodical and convincing Teacher, to illuminate it: 3. He can confute gainſayers, and refute objections, and ſhame the cavils of tempters and deceivers to preſerve it.
And 2 He ſpeaketh all from the unfeigned Love of God and men; and as all his words do breathe forth Love; ſo they art apt to kindle ſuch love in the hearers: For every active nature tendeth to propagation.
3. And the holineſs of his life, as well as doctrine, tendeth to win the people to a holy life: So that he that loveth his own ſoul, muſt not be indifferent what Paſtor he chuſeth for the help and conduct of his ſoul; but ſhould moſt carefully ſeek to get the beſt or fitteſt for ſuch neceſſary ends.
But yet it followeth not that a weaker or worſe may not be heard, or may not be accepted or ſubmitted to, in a caſe of neceſſity; when a better cannot be had, without more diſturbance and hurt than the benefits are like to recompence. And when we live under ſuch a weak, or cold, or faulty Paſtor, our care muſt be ſo much the greater, that we may make up that in the diligence of our attention, which is wanting in his manner of expreſſion; and that we make up that in a care of our own ſouls, which is wanting in his care: And that our knowledge of his failings tempt us not to ſlight the truth which he delivereth; and that we reject not the matter for the manner: The Sheep of Chriſt do know his voice, and they know his words, and reverence and love them, from what mou…h ſoever they proceed. A Religious z…alous man that preacheth falſe doctrine, is more to be avoided, than a cold or ſcandalous man who preacheth the truth. If you doubt of this, obſerve theſe texts.
Matth. 23.2, 3. The Scribes and Phariſees ſit in Moſes ſeat; All therefore whatſoever they bid you obſerve, that obſerve and do: but do not ye after their works, for they ſay and do not.
Acts 1.17. For he (Judas) was numbred with us, and had obtained part of this Miniſtry. Judas the thief and traitor was an Apoſtle, called and ſent out by Jeſus Chriſt.
Phil. 1.15, &c. Some indeed preach Chriſt even of envy and ſtrife, and ſome alſo of good will. The one preach Chriſt of contention, not ſincerely, ſuppoſing to add affl…ction to my bonds—what then? Notwithſtanding every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Chriſt is preached, and I do therein rejoyce, yea and will rejoyce—
Rom. 16.17. Now I beſeech you brethren, Mark them which cauſe diviſions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them—
Acts 20.30. Of your own ſelves ſhall men ariſe, ſpeaking perverſe things, to draw away Diſciples after them.
Gal. 1.7, 8. If we or an Angel from Heaven bring another Goſpel, let him be accurſed—
Is not all this a plain deciſion of the caſe?
Direct. 8. While you prefer local communion with the pureſt Churches, and …eſt taught and ordered, for your own edification, take heed that you diſown not a diſtant and mental communion with any part of the Church of Chriſt on earth, which Chriſt himſelf diſowneth not. But firſt remember that you are members of the Ʋniverſal Church, and as ſuch in mental communion with the whole, preſent your ſelves and ſervices to Chriſt; and next as members of your Particular Church.
It is true, that you muſt not own the corruptions of any Church, or of any of their Worſhip; but you muſt own the Church it ſelf, and own all the ſubſtance of the Worſhip which is good, and which God owneth. God doth not reject the matter for the manner, nor the whole, for a faulty part, where the heart is ſincere that offereth it: nor no more muſt you. And if they force you not to any actual ſin (as by falſe ſpeaking, ſubſcribing, or the like) you muſt ſometimes alſo locally joyn with ſuch Churches, when occaſion requireth it: (As when you have no better to go to, or when it is neceſſary to ſhew your mental communion, or to avoid ſchiſm, ſcandal or offence) As you muſt not approve of your own failings in Gods Worſhip (as in the manner of praying, preaching, &c.) and yet muſt not give over worſhipping God, though you are alwaies ſure to fail; even ſo muſt you do by your communion with others.
And here I would earneſtly intreat all thoſe that are inclinable to ſinful ſeparation, to think but of theſe few things.
1. What is more contrary to Chriſtianity than Pride? and what is a plainer ſign of Pride, than to ſeparate from whole Churches (and perhaps from moſt part of the Chriſtian world, for ſuch faults as are no greater than others of our own? and to ſay, They are too bad for ſuch as you to communicate with?
2. Whether it be not much contrary to that clemency of Jeſus Chriſt, by which he pardoneth the failings of Believers? and which we have need of our ſelves as well as others? And whether it be not an horrid injury to our Lord, to aſcribe his inheritance to the Devil, and to caſt thoſe out of his Church whom he himſelf receiveth, and to deny ſo many of his ſervants to be his?
3. How great a loſs is it, to loſe your part in all thoſe prayers of the Churches (how weak ſoever) which you diſown? And how can you juſtly expect the benefit of ſuch prayers?
I would not take all their riches for my part of the benefit of thoſe prayers of the Churches of Church, which ſome reject becauſe they are extemporate, and others becauſe they are forms, or book-prayers, or impoſed; nor would I take all their wealth and honour, for my part in all the prayers of the Ʋniverſal Church, which are guilty of more diſorders, tautologies, unmeet expreſſions, and manifold defects, than any that I ever yet heard from thoſe Miniſters that pray either by habit or book.
Direct. 9. Take heed both of careleſneſs and curioſity in the worſhipping of God. Avoid careleſneſs, becauſe it is prophaneneſs and contempt: Therefore watch againſt idleneſs of mind, and wandering thoughts, and remember how great a work it is, to ſpeak to God, or to hear from him about your everlaſting ſtate.
And yet curioſity is a heinous ſin: When men are ſo nice, that unleſs there be quaint phraſes, and fine cadencies and jingles, or at leaſt a very laudable ſtyle, they nauſeate all, and are weary of hearing a homely ſtyle, or common things: when every unmeet expreſſion, or tautology of the ſpeaker, doth turn their ſtomachs againſt the wholeſomeſt food. This curioſity cometh from a weak and an unhealthful ſtate of ſoul.
Direct. 10. Laſtly, Let your eye of Faith be all the while upon the heavenly Hoſt, or Church triumphant: I remember how they worſhip God: with what wiſdom, and purity, and fervour of Love, and ſacred pleaſure, and with what unity, and peace, and concord? And let your Worſhip be as much compoſed to the imitation of them, as is agreeable to the likeneſs of our condition unto theirs.
There is no hypocriſie, dulneſs, darkneſs, errours, ſelf-conceitedneſs, pride, diviſion, ſection, or uncharitable contention: Oh how they burn in Love to God? and how ſweet that Love is to themſelves? and how thoſe ſouls work up in heavenly Joyes to the face of God, in all his praiſes. Labour as it were to joyn your ſelves by faith with them, and as far as ſtandeth with your different caſe, to imitate them. They are more imitable and amiable, than the pureſt Churches upon earth. Their love and bleſſed concord is more lovely, than our uncharitable animoſities, and odious factions and diviſions are.
And remember alſo the time when you muſt meet all thoſe upright ſouls in Heaven, whoſe manner of Worſhip you vilified, and ſpake reproachfully of on earth, and from whoſe communion you turned away: And only conſider how far they ſhould be diſowned, who muſt be dear to Chriſt and you for ever.
The open diſowning and avoiding the ungodly and ſcandalous, is a great duty in due ſeaſon, when it is regularly done, and is neceſſary to caſt ſhame on ſin and ſinners, and to vindicate the honour of Chriſtianity before the world. But otherwiſe it is but made an inſtrument of pernicious pride, and of diviſions in the Church, and of hindering the ſucceſſes of the Goſpel of Chriſt.