Reformed Religion, Part 5
Of Right Chriſtian Worſhip.
I Call it Chriſtian, to diſtinguiſh it from Jewiſh, Mahometan, Pagan, or any falſe Worſhip. That Worſhip which Chriſt hath appointed for his Church under the New Teſtament; …his I call Chriſtian, which I touch'd upon before; this Worſhip is either External, or In…ernal. External conſiſts in the Ordinances appointed by him, wherein the outward man is concerned.
As all Nations have ſome outward Rites, Modes and Forms, which they uſe in their Worſhip, beſides the Worſhip of the inward Man.
God appointed ſuch for the Church of the Old Teſtament, and Chriſt hath appointed ſome for the Church of the New: But hath laid aſide thoſe many Figures and Shadows, and ſignificant Ceremonies, which clouded the Old Teſtament-Worſhip; intending a more ſpiritual Worſhip for his Church in its adul… State, converſing more immediately with the… heavenly things themſelves, and ſo nearer reſembling the Worſhip of Heaven. And intending to give more of the help of his Spirit, hath provided fewer ſenſible helps in his Worſhip:
And becauſe he went out of the World before the Goſpel Church and Worſhip wer… fully eſtabliſht, he ſent forth his Spirit to direct his Apoſtles herein. And we may obſerve,
1. How they make no mention of the Bloo… or Fleſh of any Beaſts or Fowls to be offere… in Sacrifice; or of Flower, Wine, Oyl, Incenſe, &c. as were uſed under the Law, to be uſed in the New Teſtament-Church.
2. Neither do they mention any Altar o… Earth, Wood, or Stone, to which the Miniſters of the New Teſtament, are to approac… in the Service of God, as the Prieſts were appointed under the Law.
3. Neither have they given notice of an… one general Place that is appointed for hi… People to aſſemble in, as the Jews did at Jeruſalem.
4. Neither do they mention any particular Times, or ſtated Days, Months or Years, to be obſerved for ſolemn Faſts, or Feſtivals, as God appointed under the Law: Or any of the Jewiſh Sabbaths, but only that of the Moral Law, changed from the Seventh to the Firſt day.
5. Neither did the Apoſtles give Order about Conſecrating of Temples, and Worſhip therein; whereby it might be the more acceptable to God, for the Places ſake, as it was under the Law, or preſcribed the Forms or Dimenſions of any ſuch Temple, or Temples, as it was then.
6. Neither have the Apoſtles mentioned any thing about Muſicians, and Choriſters by Office, or Singers, or Players upon Inſtruments of Muſick, as the Law required.
7. Neither have they left any thing upon Record about the Confining of the Inſtituted Worſhip of God to any particular Family, Seed, Countrey, or Nation, as it was under the Old Teſtament; when the Ordinances of Gods Worſhip were the Inheritance of the Houſe of Jacob, Pſal. 47. 4.
8. Neither have they told us of any High-Prieſt, or Prieſts on Earth, for the Goſpel-Church, to whom the People are to preſent their Services, or Goſpel-Sacrifices, that through them they may be preſented with acceptance to God, as under the Law. Neither have they appointed Saints or Angels, or the Virgin Mother in Heaven for ſuch a Work.
9. Neither have the Apoſtles left any Directions about Garments and Veſtures, that the Miniſters of the Goſpel are to wear in their publick Miniſtry and Service of God, as God appointed to the Prieſts under the Law.
10. Neither have they left any Order about outward Waſhings, Cleanſings, and Purifyings, to fit Men to approach to him in his ſolemn Worſhip, as was required under the Old Teſtament. Theſe things, and many more hath our Saviour left out in the New Teſtament-Worſhip, that were required under the Law; ſo that to return to theſe, is to go back to Judaiſm, and to the Bondage and Yoke of the Law, and not to ſtand faſt in the Liberty wherein Chriſt hath ſet us free: And can any imagine that Chriſt laid theſe aſide to make Room for Men to introduce others in their ſtead? But for his Goſpel Worſhip and Worſhippers,
1. He hath appointed publick Aſſemblies for his Diſciples, to meet together for Worſhip, in all Places and Nations where they do reſide, and not to ſatisfie themſelves in their private Devotions, or Family-Worſhip, Heb. 10. 25.
2. He hath appointed them not only to meet together, but to incorporate themſelves into an orderly Body, and Society, for their mutual Edification, Comfort, and Eſtabliſhment, as was practiſed in the firſt Goſpel-Converts, by the Appointment and Aſſiſtance of the Apoſtles.
3. He hath appointed in theſe Aſſemblies his Word to be Read, Expounded and Preached; Baptiſm and the Lords Supper to be adminiſtred, Prayers and Thankſgiving for all Men, and Pſalms to be ſung for the Praiſing of God, and Collections to be made for the Poor, as there is occaſion; that they might be Nurſeries of Charity, as well as Piety; and Diſcipline to be Adminiſtred for the preſerving the Churches Peace and Purity; as it was in the Church of Corinth, againſt the Inceſtuous Perſon; which makes it neceſſary that Churches ſhould be fixed, organized Bodies, and not looſe Aſſemblies.
4. He hath alſo appointed a Miniſtry for his Goſpel-Church, to adminiſter the Ordinances of his Worſhip, and to preſide in all their Aſſemblies, to be choſen and approved of by themſelves, and to be ſet apart to their Office by ſolemn Ordination. And hath left upon Record their Qualifications neceſſary to their Office, and the Proviſion that is to be …ade for their outward Maintenance, and …any Motives and Encouragements to their Work and Labour.
5. He hath reſerved to himſelf the ſole Head…ip in all theſe Goſpel Churches, and not ap…ointed any one viſible Head under himſelf; that ſo all Ordinances may be adminiſtred, and all Church Power executed immediately in his own Name: having left his Promiſe with his Churches to be with them to the end of the World, and that Wherever two or or three meet together in his Name, he will be in the midſt of them. The High-Prieſt under the Law, Head of the Church of Iſrael, being a Type of this Headſhip of Chriſt over the Goſpel Church; which the Apoſtle ſpeaks of, Eph. 4. 5. One Lord, &c.
6. He hath left with his Goſpel Churches his Rule in the New Teſtament, to be obſerved by them for the way of Worſhip; which therefore they ought to ſearch out, and cleave unto; and hath not left the ordering or altering it to the Will of Men; ſo as to make any thing the Worſhip of God, or any part of Worſhip, which is not appointed by him. Neither do we find appointed by him any one Church, to be as a Mother-Church to others, and to which they are ſubordinated, and to receive Rules and Directions from, in their Faith, Worſhip, and Practice, or to make their Appeals unto.
Neither do we find that he left any ſtated Liturgy for the Goſpel Church, or appointed his Apoſtles to frame one; only general Directions for Prayer in the Lords Prayer, when his Diſciples deſired him to teach them how to pray.
And as for ſuch things in Goſpel Worſhip▪ wherein he hath left no particular Rule, there are general Rules laid down by the Apoſtle to be obſerved in it.
1. That all things be done Decently and in Order, 1 Cor. 14. ult. For the Goſpel-Worſhip being to be ſet up in all Nations, no particular Rule can agree to all herein: For that is Decent in one place that is not ſo in another, and orderly in one Church that is not ſo in another, and at one time that is not at another; And the Light of Nature, which is part of Chriſts Law, and the Cuſtom of the Place, and the Chriſtian Wiſdom of each Church, eſpecially of their Paſtors, and Teachers, are to guide them herein: In which things nothing is to be impoſed as an Act of meer Dominion, but upon grounds of Reaſon and Judgment: And nothing that may ſavour of Pride, Pomp, and Vanity, not becoming the ſimplicity of the Goſpel.
2. That all things be done to Edification; 1 Cor. 14. 26. So that whatſoever is introduced into the Worſhip of God that tends not to this, is forbidden by this General Rule; whereby all ſuch Ceremonies that are meerly Arbitrary, and ſuch Practices which hinder Edification, are to be excluded.
And each particular Church is beſt able to judge in this Caſe, what may be beſt for their own Edification: And what is thus judged, is no longer to be accounted as a thing meerly indifferent. And the Apoſtle himſelf conformed to this Rule, ſaying, All things are lawful for Me, but all things edifie not. 1 Cor. 10. 23. And adviſed all Churches to manage all their Church-Miniſtrations to this End.
3. That all things be done without Offence, 1 Cor. 10. 32. Which Rule reſpects things Circumſtantial, and not Eſſential in Worſhip: And juſt occaſions of Offence, and not groundleſs Exceptions, and things diſputable rather than ſuch as are clear and plain, and the direct Commandments of God. About theſe things the Apoſtle requires Chriſtians to be tender in giving Offence one to another, and hereby to walk charitably; for to offend againſt the Law of Charity, is to offend againſt one of the greateſt Laws of Chriſts Kingdom: And hereby, by giving offence, a Brother may ſtumble, fall, and periſh, for whom Chriſt died, Rom. 14. 15.
Though no Offence to Man can ſuperſede our Obedience to the expreſs Command of God; yet we ought to forbear ſinning againſt a Brother, whenever it may be done without ſinning againſt God: Though one Mans Liberty is not to be judged by anothers Conſcience; yet in things not neceſſary, we are to have reſpect to anothers Conſcience as well as our own.
4. Let every Man be fully ſatisfied in his own Mind. Rom. 14. 5. Which General Rule forbids practice in Religion with a doubting Conſcience; whereby, that may be lawful to one which is not to another, and ſinful to one that is not to another: As to eat Fleſh might be ſinful to one, and not to another; and ſo keeping of days, as the Apoſtle argues, Rom. 14. whereby Chriſtians ſhould be tender of forcing their own Sentiments, eſpecially in doubtful things, upon anothers Conſcience.
5. Abſtain from all Appearance of Evil, 1 Theſ. 5. 22. Many things may in themſelves be lawful, yet not to be practis'd when they carry an Appearance of Evil. Religion may be ſcandaliz'd, and real Evil encouraged, by that which is not a real Evil, but only hath an Appearance of it: As to ſit at meat in an Idols Temple, was not evil in it ſelf (for an Idol is nothing, and the Sacrifice offered is properly nothing, that is, no Sacrifice) but it had an Appearance of Evil, to him that had not that Knowledge; and therefore the Apoſtle doth forbid that practice, 1 Cor. 8. 1 Cor. 10. 14. and requires them to flee from Idolatry in that Shew and Appearence of it; and ſo thoſe Ceremonies in Worſhip that are abuſed to Idolatry, ſhould be laid aſide rather than others, becauſe they have an Appearance of Evil: I know what is anſwered, that they may be uſed where the Superſtition or Idolatry of them are declared againſt. But I am confident that the Primitive Chriſtians would not have put Incenſe into the Fire of the Sacrifice offered to an Idol, thô they might have had Liberty to declare againſt the Idolatry of it: Nor the three Children bow to Nebuchadnezzor's Image, tho they might have declared againſt the Idol. And the Apoſtle forbids eating meat in the Idols Temple, thô it was not thought that they were Idolaters who ſat there, or practiſed Idolatry. God forbad the Iſraelites when they came into Canaan, to ſymbolize with the Cuſtoms of the Heathen, tho in themſelves not evil, becauſe they had an Appearance of Evil; and their minds thereby might be the ſooner reconciled to the Evil it ſelf. Superſtition is very catching, and therefore the occaſions of it are dangerous; which made Hezekiah break in pieces the brazen Serpent, when abuſed to Superſtition, 2 King. 18. 4.
6. The laſt General Rule is: Let all things be done to the Glory of God; which though it be a General Rule to all the Actions of Mens Life, yet the Apoſtle applies it to things in themſelves indifferent in Religion, and the Worſhip of God; as about eating things offered to an Idol; 1 Cor. 10. 31. ſo that nothing ſhould be practis'd herein, but what may tend to this General End: And hereupon forbids the uſing of that Liberty that may offend anothers Conſcience, and cauſe him to fall, as that which would not be to the Glory of God, v. 32. yea, whatever it is that offends againſt any of the forementioned Rules, is not for his Glory. And this General Rule well obſerved, would direct Chriſtians much in the managing ſuch Circumſtances in Religion, where there is no expreſs Rule or Inſtitution; and limit all Governours from impoſing ſuch things in Worſhip, which tend not at all to the Glory of God.
And tho I know 'tis not well poſſible to anſwer all Scruples particularly, which may be made about Chriſtian-Worſhip; yet I believe theſe General Rules well obſerved, would make Peace with all judicious, and ſober Chriſtians. And I eaſily grant, that the Goſpel Church is left more at Liberty in Circumſtances of Worſhip, than the Jewiſh Church, as about Times and Places, and Poſtures, &c. Chriſt intending a more ſpiritual Worſhip in theſe dayes, hath not tyed us up to the Obſervation of every minute Circumſtance belonging to it, or appointed any outward Pomp and Splendor therein, as in the Temple-Worſhip of the Jews, ſeeking now a true ſpiritual Worſhip.
And as for that General Rule which ſome aſſert in this Caſe, that what Chriſt hath not forbidden in his Worſhip, humane Authority may Command, and what he hath left Indifferent, may by Men be made neceſſary, I would wiſh all Proteſtants to take heed of urging it; for we know the evil uſe the Papiſts have made of it. Where, ſay they, are the uſe of Oyl, Cream, Spittle, Exorciſms, &c. forbidden in Baptizing? where is the uſe of Holy Water, when they enter their Temples, forbidden? where is Sprinkling the Head with Aſhes forbidden? where is the uſe of Pictures and Images, as helps to Devotion, forbidden? And where is the Croſſing themſelves, as they do upon ſeveral occaſions, forbidden? And much more of this kind is uſed by them. But we know our Saviour excuſed his Diſciples from obſerving the Traditions which the Phariſees urged upon the People, though they were commanded by the Authority of the Jewiſh Church: Such as waſhing of Hands, Cups, Platters, which ſeem to be very innocent Ceremonies: And were ſuch things as theſe only recommended, and not enjoyned, if they did no good, they might do no hurt; but when they are made neceſſary to Church Communion, and for not obſerving them, People are ſhut out of the Church, and the ordinary means of Salvation, the miſchief is unſpeakable. And let it be conſidered, when God under the Law required in Sacrifice either two Turtle Doves, or two young Pidgeons, whether any Authority in the Jewiſh Church or State might determine that which God left indifferent; but herein let the former Rules be obſerved.
And I ſhall conclude this Diſcourſe, with adding a few Paſſages out of the late Author of The Diſcourſe of an Infallible Judge: A Learned Divine of the Church of England.
There is, (ſaith he) an eaſie and effectual way of Curing Church Diviſions, without having a Judge of Controverſies, nay without making all Men of a mind in every thing, which muſt never be expected in this World. And that is, not to make the neceſſary terms of Communion ſtraighter and narrower than Chriſt hath made them; nothing but what is plainly revealed in Scripture, and is Eſſential to Chriſtian Faith and Worſhip: For ſuch matters moſt Chriſtians agree in, and tho they may have ſome private Opinions of their own, this ought not to divide Communions, while they do not impoſe them upon the Faith of others, nor introduce any new and ſtrange Worſhip unto the Chriſtian Church. P. 55.
Again, If Catholick Communion be the Communion of the whole Catholick Church from the time of Chriſt and his Apoſtles, to the end of the World, which is but one Church, and the Apoſtolick Churches are the true meaſure and Standard of true Catholick Communion, then thoſe Churches which are to this day in Communion with the Apoſtles, are in true Catholick Communion: And this Teſt we will ſtand by, &c. p. 78.
Again, In the ſame Page, The Communion of particular Churches doth not conſiſt in uſing the ſame Liturgies, or External Rites of Worſhip, if their Worſhip be a Right Chriſtian-Worſhip, and agreeable to the General Rules of the Goſpel. For every Church hath Authority within her ſelf to direct, and Model her own Worſhip.
And therefore thoſe that keep to the Apoſtolick Terms of Communion, cannot juſtly be charged with Schiſm. And theſe Rules obſerved would have prevented thoſe Perſecutions, which have bin in the Chriſtian World, upon the account of Rites and Ceremonies, or ſome little difference in Religion. And this is all I ſhall ſpeak about Chriſtian-Worſhip in the External part of it.
And therefore ſhall next ſpeak of it in the Internal part of it: Of which our Saviour ſpeaks. John 4. 23. The hour cometh, and now is, when the true Worſhippers ſhall worſhip the Father in Spirit and in Truth: But this is General; but more Particularly, he that worſhips as a Chriſtian,
1. He Worſhips in the Faith of the New Teſtament, which is a Faith reſpecting Chriſt as already come; and not as yet to come, as the Faith of the Old Teſtament did. And he worſhips in greater aſſurance of Faith alſo; which the Apoſtle ſpeaks of as proper to the New Teſtament; Heb. 10. 22. Chriſt having now actually Suffered, and the New Covenant ſealed with his Blood, and aſcended Heaven to make Interceſſion, as our great High-Prieſt. The Faith of the New Teſtament hath more aſſurance in it, wherein the Saints do worſhip and draw nigh to God. Let us draw nigh with full aſſurance of Faith, &c. Heb. 10. 22. Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace. Heb. 4. 16. Having therefore boldneſs to enter the Holieſt, Heb. 10. 19.
2. He Worſhips, not in the Oldneſs of the Letter, but in the Newneſs of the Spirit. This oldneſs of the Letter referrs either to the Ceremonial, or Moral Law. The true Chriſtian worſhips not in the oldneſs of the firſt Covenant: He worſhips not in the Ordinances of the Ceremonial Law, but only in what was ſpiritually ſignified in them: His Incenſe is fervent Prayer aſcending to Heaven, in the Fire of the Holy Ghoſt: His Peace-offering is hearty Thankſgiving: His Heave-offering is an Heart lifted up to Heaven: His Wine-offering, Joy in God: His Sin-offering is Repentance, Confeſſion of Sin, and a Broken Heart: His Burnt-offering is his whole Body of Sin offered up to be deſtroyed: He keeps the Feaſt of Tabernacles by living as a Stranger upon Earth, and Travelling towards the Heavenly Countrey: He keeps the Feaſt of Paſsover in his worſhipping and living without the Leaven of Hypocriſie and Malice in his Heart all his Days: His Waſhings and Purifyings, are the Sanctifyings of his Heart and Conſcience: And his looking towards the Temple in Worſhip, is his looking to Chriſt herein. And this is one part of his worſhipping God in Spirit and in Truth, and not in the Letter of the Ceremonial Law.
So alſo he Worſhips not God in the outward Letter of the Moral Law; that is, meerly by the force of an outward Letter without the inward Principle of a renewed mind: when the outward Letter of the Law ſtriking upon the natural Conſcience, carries a Man ſorth to Worſhip, without any love to the Duty, any life or delight in it, this is to worſhip in the oldneſs of the Letter, Rom. 7. 6. The Letter is ſaid to kill, but the Spirit giveth life; 2 Cor. 3. 6. So that all Worſhip in the outward Letter, without the Spirit, is dead Worſhip, and not truly Chriſtian.
3. The true Chriſtian Worſhip is, not to Worſhip in a Spirit of Bondage, but in a Spirit of Adoption: As the Apoſtle ſpeaks of Chriſtian Believers, Gal. 4. 6, 7. that They were no more Servants but Sons; ſo they ſerve not God in the Spirit of Servants, but of Sons: Not ſo much for fear of Wrath and Puniſhment, as love to pleaſe God, honour him, and enjoy him; which is the Principle that they act from. Perfect love caſts out fear, for fear hath Torment, 1 Joh. 4. 18. And God hath not given us the Spirit of fear, but of power, love and a ſound mind. 2 Tim. 1. 7. And to the ſame purpoſe, Rom. 8. 15. Chriſtianity brings not Men to Mount Sinai, where are Thunders and Earthquakes, Blackneſs, and Darkneſs, and Tempeſts; which made not only the People, but Moſes himſelf to fear and quake: And in this Principle of ſervile fear, did the Jews for the moſt part ſerve and worſhip God, which is not the proper principle of true Chriſtian Worſhip. Though this Worſhip excludes not all fear of God, but requires it; Let us have Grace to ſerve God with Reverence, …nd Godly Fear, ſaith the Apoſtle, Heb. 12. 28. A Reverential Fear of God, at…ended with an holy Modeſty foreign.and Caution, as the Greek words import, ought to be found in all Chriſtian Worſhip. He worſhips God as a Father, and with a filial fear ſuited to that Relation, but not with ſervile fear.
4. The true Chriſtian Worſhips God as a Redeemer in Chriſt; and ſo it is diſtinguiſht from the worſhip of the Heathen, who worſhipt him only as the Creator of the World. They worſhipt and adored him, beholding the Characters of his Power, Wiſdom, and Goodneſs in the Works of his Creation; but the Chriſtian Worſhips and Adores him, beholding his Love, Mercy, and Grace, &c. manifeſted in the Work of Redemption: He worſhips God rather as he is in Chriſt, than in the Creatures. And the Heathen worſhipping God in the Creatures, did lead them at laſt to worſhip the Creatures themſelves, and ſo became Idolaters inſtead of true Worſhippers; yea, the Apoſtle ſaith, They worſhipt and ſerved the Creature more than the Creator; Rom. 1. 25. They did not worſhip God in his Creatures, but divided their worſhip betwixt God and his Creatures, and the Creatures got the greater ſhare of it. But none of this is Chriſtian worſhip: The Apoſtle gives account how he Worſhipt God, 2 Cor. 1. 3. Bleſſed be God the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, &c. And Eph. 3. 14. I bow my Knees to the Father of our Lord Jeſus: And the Worſhip performed by the Elders, and Angels, and all Creatures, that we read of Rev. 5. 13. is directed to him that Sits upon the Throne, and the Lamb, even that Lamb that hath Redeemed his People by his Blood.
So that the Right Chriſtian Worſhipper looks at God as in Chriſt, and as manifeſted in the Work of Redemption. And ſo beholding him, is inwardly acted and moved thereby to Adore and Worſhip him: The true Principle of a Chriſtian.
Laſtly, The true Chriſtian Worſhipper worſhips in Humility of Mind: The Chriſtian Religion ſo clearly ſhewing man, above all Religions, his loſt and wretched State in his Fall, and that he hath all his Righteouſneſs, Life, Strength and Hope in another, out of himſelf. It teacheth him to worſhip in Humility: As the twenty four Elders worſhip, falling upon their Faces, and caſting down their Crowns before the Throne, Rev. 4. 10. A Repreſentation of right Goſpel-worſhip; which Chriſt therefore would have dreſt up in a decent plainneſs, that it might be performed in Humility, and not in Oſtentation.
Thus we ſee what is the Internal part of Right Chriſtian-Worſhip: Not that it doth not require alſo the humble Geſtures and Adorations of the outward Man, which was practiſed in the Old Teſtament, and ought to be alſo in the New, and was practiſed by Chriſt himſelf; and the Light of Nature did lead the Heathens to it in their Worſhip: And the Chriſtian Religion excludes none of the Principles of the Light of Nature. But that worſhip which is more ſtrictly Chriſtian, is worſhip in Spirit, from an Evangelical Principle, and according to the Laws and Inſtitutions of the New Teſtament.
Neither doth this Religion exclude publick Oratories, Temples, or as we call them, Churches, for publick Worſhip, or any convenient places appropriate thereunto. The Light of Nature, and the forementioned Rules of doing all things Decently and to Edification, in the worſhip of God, doth direct to them; but to think that the Place makes the worſhip acceptable, is no Chriſtian Principle, as having no holineſs in it, like the Jewiſh Temple, and under no ſuch Inſtitution. For that Temple was figurative both of Chriſt and the Goſpel-Church: So that God hath his Temple ſtill, his Viſible Church, as the Apoſtle tells the Corinthians, Whoſe Temple you are: And as that Temple of Solomon had its outward and inward Court, ſo it is now: Some who worſhip in the outward Form only, which are the outward Court given up to the Gentiles or Paganizing Chriſtians, and are that Temple where the Man of Sin ſits, and which God regards not, and will not have it meaſured: And others who worſhip God in Spirit, and are the inward Court, and the true Temple and Altar, meaſured by the line of Gods Sanctuary, and where Chriſt doth ſit and walk. And was this Spiritual Worſhip more regarded, I believe we ſhould not contend ſo much about the Ceremonial part; which when it is forced upon Men by Fines and Penalties, it looks more like Antichriſtian than Chriſtian Worſhip.