A Way to Zion Sought out and Found for Believers, Treatise · Objection 4 – Objection 5
Objection from John 4.
But God will be worshipped in Spirit and Truth, Objection from John 4. God will be worshipped in Spirit and Truth, answeredand not in any outward Ordinance.
I answer, Our Saviour there opposeth Spirit, and Truth, not to outward Ordinances; but to tying the worship of God to this or that place; which sheweth that God accepteth a Spirituall worship now in any place, as well as at Jerusal…m.
2 He doth not say, within in Spirit onelyonly, neither doth he tye them from worshipping at Jerusalem; for they did worship there after, Act. 2. Act. 12.And those that prayed for Peter, it was at Jerusalem; much lesse doth he here intend to tye them from Gospell Ordinances; for saith he, Ver. 23.The houre commeth, and now is, …hen the true worshippers, shall worship the Father in Spirit, and in Truth. Now is; And yet he himself worshipped God afterward in Ordinances; for he preached afterward, and instituted the Supper with his Disciples; did not he worship the Father in Spirit and Truth, now?
3 Then why doe these men offer to speake any sound of words, to instruct, or pray, or preach, or declare, or deliver their judgements, or exhort, or confesse Gods goodnesse, or declare Christs love, &c. by word? Is their word Spirit, and Truth? Then why may not another mans word be Spirit and Truth also? and so any outward Ordinance of the Gospel, by the same rule.
4 I would aske, what is meant by SPIRIT and TRUTH; whether a mans own spirit, or Gods Spirit?
If a mans owne spirit; Then this was a sinne in time of Jerusalems worship, to worship God in their owne spirits, as well as now, 1 King. 12. ult.
If any say, the Spirit of God within a man, or that his spirit should be with God when he worshippeth: I say, that was required then as well as now, 1 Sam, 12.24. Josh. 24.13. There is Spirit and Truth required, yet that tooke them not off from observing legall Ordinances then; No more doth worshipping God in Spirit and Truth, take the Saints off from observing Gospell Ordinances now: as Paul saith, Rom. 1.9. He served God in his Spirit, in the Gospell of his Son; and yet this man preached, and conferred, and prayed by word, and brake bread, Act. 20. And was baptised with water.
If it be in Spirit, (i.e.) the Spirit of God; Then I would ask, whether the Spirit of God doe not speak in Scripture, as well as in these mens hearts, and tongues; seeing they say, They are not infallible? Did not holy men of God speak as they were moved by the Holy Ghost? 2 Pet. 1.21, Doth not Christ say, The words that I speake unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life, John 6. And Stephen calleth this the Holy Ghost, Act. 7.51, 52. And Peter calleth the word in the Ministery of Noah, the Spirit of Christ, 1 Pet. 3.19. Now then, those that worship God according to his word in the New Testament, in such Ordinances as the word holdeth forth; worship God in Spirit, in regard of the matter of worship: And such the Father seeketh to worship him.
And so he worshippeth God in Truth, that worshippeth not onelyonly from true principles of Christ, who is Truth; In that Truth: But worshippeth according to his word. For saith he, Prov. 8. My mouth shall speake Truth; Truth, in opposition to perversnesse.
But if they mean, by worshipping God in Spirit and Truth, to worship in heart, privately and secretly onelyonly.
1 I say, 1 Cor. 6.20.this is contrary to the tenour of the Scripture; which calleth for glorifying God with our bodies, as well as with our spirits.
2 Then that which some of them cast upon us, may be retorted upon them, out of Mat. 24.26. Mr. Hassal, Page 27. †Gods designe in man.saith, The Spirituall man cannot be seduced by false Prophets, that say, Loe Christ is in this form, or that form *Some beams, &c.And Mr. Salim. Page 294 saith, That to wait in any way of seeking or expectation, as the SEEKERS do, is Antichristian, because there is no Scripture to warrant any such restauration, or expectation of any such Administration, &c. and chargeth Mat. 24. upon them, or Independents, or Baptisme; Lo here or lo there; in secret chambers, (i.e.) in single fellowships (saith he) chambers signifying upper rooms; These professing to be in higher rooms as to Presbytery, Independency, Baptisme, &c. But you must take these mens Expositions to be infallible; for they prove it not by any Scripture.
But see how the whole sentence agreeth to them.
1 He is in, the Desart: The Church (say they) is in the wildernesse, And not yet made Visible; And we are to be fed from inspirations and spirit from Christ alone, and no Ordinance to be made use of. What is this, but to be in the Desart where Israel was, where was no outward fruits to sustaine them in a way of ordinary providence, but extraordinary; Manna from Heaven, &c. God is not seen, nor enjoyed in any Ordinance, but immediately from himselfe; his Church is in the Wildernesse, or Desart; and he is in his Church, and there you must have him. But saith Christ, Goe not forth, Mat. 24.26. (i.e.) forth of your Order, and Ordinances, and Obedience; neither to the Seekers; nor those others, to seek Christ in the Desart.
2 In the Secret Chambers; that is, saith Mr. Salt. Single fellowships. See how contrary to Scripture this is, was not Christ in the Single fellowships of particular Churches in the Apostles times? Did he not say he would dwell in the Corinthians, and yet a Single fellowship, called out from the world, and Idolaters? And was in the middest of the seven Churches of Asia, Single fellowships. 2. Apply this to others which say, Christ is in the Chambers; 2 Cor. 6.16. Rev. 1.13.All within in heart and spirit secretly; he is not openly seen in Ordinances now, but privately enjoyed between God and a mans owne soul, in spirit onelyonly. Is not this to have him in the Secret Chambers? But saith Christ, Beleeve it not. And the next words, Ver. 27. shew, that Christs comming (if it be in Spirit) is made apparent, visible, like the lightening that shineth; and is not kept close within, as they say. And so Ver. 28. maketh for gathering together into Visible fellowships. And marke it, He bringeth no Scripture to prove that by Secret Chambers, are meant Single fellowships; But the Scripture calleth the inward parts of man Chambers. The words of a Tale bearer are as wounds, Prov. 18.8and go down into the Chambers of the belly. So that, he is in the CHAMBERS (i.e.) he is all within in heart, and spirit; Beleeve it not, saith Christ. To that, that he saith, Chambers is an upper room, and the Seekers conceive their fellowship an upper room to Presbytery, &c. I answer, I am sure THEY themselves doe so for the generall, cry out, that those that use Ordinances, are low, and weake, they are not yet come to those high enjoyments as they are; So that by their owne, description, they are the men that cry, he is in the Secret Chambers private; as a Chamber in a Chamber, according to Scripture.