A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 159 (Question 50 cont.)
SERMON CLIX.
Conclu. 3. THAT it is the Divine Prerogative, to make or appoint Inſtitutions in Worſhip. This Power belongs to God alone, and to no other, neither Angel nor Man. It is true, theſe may be the Inſtruments of diſcovering to us the Will of God in this regard. But to appoint any Ordinance of Worſhip, is beyond their Liberty. The Reaſon whereof may be afterwards conſidered, under the Neg…tive part of this Command. Here only I ſhall offer a few Aſſertions for the Demmonſtration of this Conluſion viz.
1. THAT God alone is the Immediate Object of all Worſhip. The Object of Obedience in general, it either Immediate or ultimate. That God is the Ultimate Object of all Obedience is certain. We are to do all with acknowledging him to be the firſt Cauſe of all things, and conſequently to eye his Command in it, and with ſeeking his Glory as our laſt end, in all that we do. And except we thus perfrom all Duty, it will not amount to Obedience to God, let it be never ſo conformable to the Rule, as to the matter of it. But ſtill, there are Two …ables in the moral Law, the Second whereof contains Duty to Man, or Love to our Neighbour, and in theſe, the Creature is the immediate Object of our Duty; whereas, the Firſt Table e…j…y…s us, in Duties which have God for the next Object, as well as the laſt End of them: So that we are to be carried forth in them, directly to God. Such are all the Duties of Worſhip. According to, Mat. 4.10. Thou ſhalt worſhip the Lord thy God, and him only ſha…t thou ſerve. So that we may not pay any Worſhip, to any other but God, ſo much as intermediately. Hence that, Iſai. 42 8. I am the Lord, that is my Name, and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praiſe to graven images.
2. THAT the Inſtitutions in Worſhip, are properly Media to help us in our Natural Worſhip. They are not ordained for their own ſake, but with a reſpect to former. How far, and in what reſpect they are ſo, we obſerved under the firſt Concluſion. And it is here to be remarked again, to lead us in our preſent ſearch. What is contained in this Natural Worſhip, was conſidered under the former Command. In…ſum, it is to Know God, to Acknowledge him to be God, and gloriſy him as God. Now Man, as a dependent Creature, ſtands in need of help in this Concern; much more fallen Man, who hath no natural Light leſt in him, to direct him how to Worſhip God acceptably. And therefore God hath pleaſed to ſhew him a way, wherein he may do it; and to this way belong all the Inſtitutions, appointed to Man ſince the Fall.
3. THAT all Institution as ſuch, are Poſitive and Arbitrary. I ſay, as ſuch, for we before obſerved, that there are Duties, which in themſelves belong to Natural Worſhip tha… God hath appointed be performed in Inſtituted Worſhip: But that this Duty is to be performed under this Inſtitution, and th… under another, is an Arbitrary thing, and depends, on the will of the Inſtituter. But beſides, there are Inſtitutio…s, which who… and int…ely are Poſitive. There is no Natural Connection between the Duties themſels and the End for which they were appoin…d, Such are all the Ceremonies appointed, either under the Old, or New Teſtament: And the ſupream reaſon that we can give of the Appointment of theſe is, that it was the plea… of him that ordained them, to enjoy… them. They did not proceed from his Nature, … were they in themſelves neceſſary, for the … honouring him, by the reaſonable Creatu… … only he ſaw good to appoint them. Tho… ſtill it muſt be acknowledged, that he had a … ſign in them, which was his own Glory, And … Be…efit. However, the Seal of them is … this, I am the L…rd. And he might have … pointed others, as well as th…ſe, had …e … pleaſed.
4. THAT the Uſefulneſs and Eſ…cacy of … Inſtitutions in Worſhip, depends on the … ſure of the Inſtituter. Their uſefulneſs … … ſiſts in their ſerviceableneſs to the … which they were appointed. For we of … that they themſelves are not an end, … Medium to it; and in this reſpect are, Th… a Medium, viz. as they may advantage … promove the great End of all Worſhip, … is to glorily God, and enjoy Communicabi… him, which is our true Bleſſedneſſ: … they miſs of this end in us, they do era… become vain Oblations, and in no reſp… … fitable to us. And this is their uſefulneſs … they help forward the Graces of Holineſſ … us, a…d ſo lead us to Eternal Life. Now … Efficacy depends upon the Inſtituter. We cannot give it to them, not make them … powerful to us, it muſt therefore come … him who ordains them; nor can our … derce for it, be rasionally placed on any … And it hence neceſſarily follows, that … elſe can, with any reaſon, pretend to make … Inſtitutions, but he who can put vertue … them, to cauſe them to advance this … For any to appoint a Religious Ordina… cannot command a Bleſſing to accom… the uſing of it, it is both egregious folly… … gance, and the very light of Nature … it.
5. THAT God, and he only can give … and Succeſs to any Inſtitution. He can … let the Medium he what it will, and … eye of humane reaſon never ſo impro… … as having no natural Connexion with the and for which it is ordained; yet if he Comm… it, he is able to make it certainly to acts … end. He therefore often chuſeth ſuch … as Men count fooliſhneſs, that therein he … illuſtrate the glory of his Wiſdom & … The Preaching of Chriſt Crucified … eſteemed, by the Jew and Greek, 1 Cor. … … Chriſt … unto this the Jews a … Greeks fooliſhneſs. …d yer he tells us, ver. … But unto there which … called, both …s & Greeks Chriſt the … of God, and the … of God. And … …cla…es ver, 26, 17. Not many wiſe … the flest im… many mig…ry, not mary … are called. But God … the fooliſneſs of the world, to con…un… the wiſe, and … choſen the weak thin…s of the world to … the things this … mighty. And he …eth this to himſelf Iſai 48.17 Thus … the body one of Iſrael, … thy God … …each…th thee to …. And that no …ther but he can do is … …rt…in. And there ne…s nothing … …onſtrate this, than to co…ſider, … …ſt able & faithful Miniſters, whom … uſe of in the diſpenſation of his …, do utterly diſclaim a…y Ability …, to make any …e of theſe Ordi… effectual to the ſaving good of thoſe … they diſ…ſe them; but refer that … im him. Which Argument … …eth, … off his Corinthians, fr…m pl…g an … upon the bell of Miniſters, 1 Cor. …
1. THAT God hath eng…ged his Bl…ſſing to … …titutio…, but thoſe of his owen …. He hath e…cour…ged his Peo… … upon fils own, by promiſi…g his … and bleſſing with them, in their …e …nce on them, Exod 20.24. in all pla… …ec…rd my Name, I will come unto … I will bleſs thee. Bee the hath not ſo … regard of any other. He threa…ned … with his Anger, as will afterwards app… …d for this reaſon, they that attend … he ſaid to Worſhip him in vain, Mat. … in vain they do worſhip me, teaching … the commandments of men. It Men … …ollge God, to ſucceed all their inven… w…it… they pretend to be for his Glory, …ght have a Plea for them; but it is … but the contrary, and the reaſon of … conſidered in its pr…per Place. Here … it be obſerved, that it no Inſtitutions … or benefit, but ſuch as are under … approbation and bleſſing, it muſt … …low, that it is an abuſe to Mankind … to ſay ſuch an Injunction on Men, … they can ſecure no Benefit to their at… on them.
THAT all Inſtitutions of Worſhip bind …ſcience, which is ſubject to God only. Worſhip that is lawful is due to God, for … only Object of it, and all the Service … is due to him, muſt have a Divine … it; for no leſs an Authority can … it. And all Divine Laws as ſuch, … the Conſcience, for he is the Lord of it, … himſelf hath aſſured us, that he will … them that violate his Ordinances, tho' …. Now he that pays Conſcientious …tice to any Inſtitutious, doth therein … that his Conſcience is ſubject to that …ority, by which they are enjoyned; and becauſe God only knows and can jud…e the Conſ…i… … it muſt either have that …ood hath himſelf appointed, or A…th … another … in his Name; but God hath reſe…red this to himſelf, and hath limited … to this Rule, in Deut. 12.32. W… thing … ever I …d you. …ſerve to …: thou ſ… not add there… not …miniſh from it.
Concl…. 4. THAT the is …ord of God is the … Ra…. by whith we are to …torm o…t ſelves, what are the Ordin…ces of Divine Inſtitution. If we would know what are thoſe Poſitive Precepts of his, which concern this Affair, and not be miſtaken about these, the muſt repa…r to this Oracle for our irfor…i… tion. And that we may rightly take up …is C…uſion and the reaſon of …t, let theſe things be obſerved.
1. THAT the …gh… of Nature cannot o… … ſ… d…j…v…r to us. What is a Divine Inſtitution. It may ſometimes be able, to give us s convinecing reaſon of the equi…y and …itableneſs of the Inſtitution, yet, that th…t or that is an Ordinance, it can gire us no information. And the reaſon of this is evident, becauſe, as was before intimated, they are the Arbitrary Declarations of his Sovereign…, Will. They therefore who allow ſuch a por… to huma…e Reaſon, or the light of Na…e, in ſome things, have taken up a more lax and large No… of and I…titution, than I intend, and …ſound things which ought to be diſtinguiſhed. For indeed that which … immed…ately from the S…vereig…ty of God, and hath no foundation neceſſary in the nature of the thing, cannot be inferred and concluded from our way of …ſo…ing. And in regard of this, may tha… demand be well made. Rom. 11.24. F…r …i… …th known the …i…d of the Lord, or … …uth been his c…anſeller.
2. HENCE we muſt receive this diſcovery from God by a particular Revel…ti…. The light of Nature in a more large ſenſe may be called a Revol…tion; but that which is more ſtrictly ſo called, is thar which God hath made kn…wn of his mind after an ex…raordinary manner, in the firſt diſcovery of it to Men, tho' ir hath afterwards bee… diſcovered to others by thoſe to whom it was firſt ſo communicated. And if it had not firſtly beeth ſo manifeſted, Mankind muſt forever have remained ignorant of it. Now there are but theſe two ways, in which Men are capable of coming by the knowledge of any thing, viz. by Reaſon and Revelation. It therefore the former is defective in this regaid, we muſt be beholden to the latter for it. Hence we have our Saviour C…riſt making ſuch a disjunction, in his animadverſion upon Peter's Confeſſion, Math. 16.17. Fleſh and blood h…h not re… it unto thee, but my Father which is in heavent
3. THAT God hath plenas;ed to reveal his Will to ſome extraordinari…y, in the giving of theſe Inſt…tions. As theſe O…dinances have been g…ve… to the Church, not all at once, but ſucceſſively, and with additions & al…erations, ſo all theſe, things were by Men …ſpired, and who did all as commanded by God. And this they had, ſometimes by Dreams and Viſions, ſometimes by Meſſages received from Angels, and frequently by the Son of God. who is called the Angel of the Covenant: but ſtill, it was from God, that they had the injunction; they came not on their own heads. And they had thoſe inſallible tokens, by which they knew that it was a Divine Revelation, that was made to them, that enabled them without h…ſitancy to prefix it with. Thus ſorth she land. And thus P… introduceth the Inſtitution of the Lord's Supper, I Cor. 11.22. For I have received of the Lord, that which alſo I delive…t unto you.
4. THAT God hath ordered theſe Statutes of his to be recorded in the Holy Scriptures. Tree, theſe were for a long time, handed from one Generation to another, and received from Fathers to Children, by Tradition; but it was God's Pleaſure, when He ſaw meet, to command the Writing of theſe things, that ſo they might be preſerved, for the help & direction of his People at all times. Thus we find, that when M…ſes had received the Ordinances in the Mount, he recorded them, Exod. 24.4. A… M…ſes wrote all the words of the Lord, and r…ſe up early in the morning, and bui…d on a…ar under the hill, and …clos pill…rs according to the twelve tribes of Iſreal. And we are told of ſuch a Command, Exod 34.27. Write then theſe …as. And Moſes wrote the whole Law in a Book, De…t. 31.24. We are therefore told, both how the Seriptures were written, and for what …nd and uſefulneſs they were ſo, a Tim. 2.16, 17. All ſcrip… is given by inſpiratien of God, and is preſs … for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inſtruction in righteouſneſs: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly ſurniſhed unto every good word. And God's People were directed to regulate themſelv…s by this, when Deceivers were ready to impoſe upon them, Iſai. 8.20. To the low and to the teſtimony: if they ſpeak not according to this word, it in becauſe there is no truth in them.
5. THAT there are no new Inſtitutions ordained, and conſequently no new Revelation of any to be expected, ſince the Canon of the Scriptures was perfected. What extraordinary diſcoveries of the mind of God may be made to Men, in the day of Reformation, and Reſtitution of all things in the Church of God, which is hoped and waited for, I ſhall not inquire. That the Spirit ſhall then be poured forth abundantly, we are to believe, according to the Soriptures. Donbtleſs, God will then communicate a great deal of Light to his Choſen, whereby they ſhall have abundant ſatisfaction in thoſe great Truths of his Word, about which. Chriſtendom is at this Day, involved in endleſs Diſputes. For we are told, Hab, 2.14. For the earth ſhall be filled with the kn…ledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the ſea. But this is certain, that there will be no new Ordinances appointed. It pleaſed God to ſet up; legal Adminiſtration, to be and continue, till Chriſt had come in the fleſh: And He being the Sub… of thoſe ſhadows gave being to the thing th… in prefigured, and ſo put an …nd to them, till when, they were to be of force, according to Can…. 4.6. Heh. 9.10, But when Chriſt had accompliſhed his Work on Earth, … poſſeſſion of his Kingdom, he gave a … Diſpenſation of Ordinances to his …, which is to continue till the Conſu… or all things. And for this reaſon, it is ſaid … be a Kingdom, that cannot be mo…ed, … 28. When therefore the Apo…le … written his Book of Revelation, which … laſt of Canonical Scripture, he ſet ſ… … as that to it, Rev. 22.18, 19. For I … unto every one that bear…th the words of the … pheſie of this book, If any man ſhall old … things, God ſhall add unto him the pl… … ar… written in this book. And …f any … take away from the words of the book of … propheſie, God ſhall take away his part … book of life, and out of the holy …ny, and … the things which are written in this book …
6. HENCE it follows, that if we would … what are the Goſpel Inſtitutions, we and … our ſelves to the Word of God for them. … is the only unerring Rule for our di… Chriſt is the only Lawgiver of his Chriſt, and his Miniſters are to limit themſelves … teach Men no other injunctions, but … he hath preſcribed, Mat. 28.20. And … ſhall they know them, but by his …, wherein he hath given his whole C… this reſpect? And it is ſufficient for … reject any Ordinance of Worſhip, … impoſed on them, if it hath not his … for it. God therefore thought that … enough for their Conviction, Jer. 7.33…
Conclu. 5. THAT all the Inſtitution … vine App…intment, are equally our … the Duties of Natural Worſhip. This … be anderſtood with reſpect to ſuch as … the revelation of theſe Ordinances … who them by the Word of God. For we … obſerved, that none are under the … of them, but thoſe to whom they are … But Men greatly miſtake themſelver … that altho' they are under indiſpensable …, to perform Duties of Natural W… …e God, yet they may neglect thoſe … of Inſtitution without danger; but … error, and the occaſion of a great …. Not that every Inſtitution is to … without the Qualifications requi… … it is a Sin in Men to live u…qualified, … to plead that for their excuſe or … in their neglect; as if one Sin would … us from another. The Truth then … Concluſion, may 'ot demonſtrated … Things,
1 THEY are enjoyned by the ſame …. God is the Author of the Law of Name … well as of the Poſitive Law, and of … well as that. Now the firſt Obligation … upon a…y to obey a Law, is from the O… ration of the Power or Authonity of … giver. If it be his Prerogative to maks ſuch Stature, and bi…d it upon us, it muſt indiſ…ly be our Duty to ſubmit to it; and …tſoever difference there may be in the …gs themſelves, as without queſtion there … difference, yet in point of Obedience it …o…nts to one: the …ame Authority is deſ…ſed in the neglect of the one, as of the o…er, and there is as much Contempt caſt upon … by this as by that. That therefore is …reface to all the Commands. Exod. 20.2.
2. THEY are directed to the ſame End, and … performed to the ſame Object. They … both of them Worſhip, though diverſified … the diſtinction of Natural and Inſtituted. … are both for the ſame Deſign, viz. the car…ying on of the Religion wherein God is to be acknowledged and glorifyed by the Reaſonable …re. God is therefore to be ſerved in … both. And as it is our great Buſineſs to … him, ſo we are to take our directions … him, how to do it; and in theſe he hath … it us. And becauſe theſe Inſtitutions are the …edia found out by God's Wiſdom, and p…ed by his holy Will, to help us in our … Worſhip, we cannot neglect theſe, without hindring our ſelves in the other. They … will omit their attendance upon the ordinances, will ſoon grow remiſs in Natural Duties.
3. THEY are by the Precept made a neceſſary … to the great end of Worſhip. What that … is, we have already obſerved. Now a … may be ſaid to be neceſſary, either in … Nature, or by vertue of ſome Law …cept; the former Neceſſity is, when the thing cannot be without it; the latter …en it is the Will of God, that we ſhall … his Bleſſing in no other way. In the … reſpect, no particular Ordinance, is …ely neceſſary; tho' in general, the Nature of Man, and of Worſhip, require that … be ſome Ordinances about it. Though … Gods liberty, what he will enjoyn. … is the latter reſpect, theſe are neceſſary … obſerved and obeyed by us, becauſe God … ſaid, that this is the way in which he … Worſhipped by us, and accordingly … communicate himſelf to us. Hence the … of theſe is ſaid to be the ſpecial …ge of a People, Pſal. 147.19, 20.
4. THAT they are a Teſt, by which God proves … …dience to him. God's Sovereign Prero…, is in nothing more aſſerted, than in the … Command; as will afterwards be con…. Now God hath from the beginning … ſuch a Teſt. He did ſo with Adam in his … by the Tree of Knowledge, He did … his Ancient People, in the Laws of …ees given to them by Moſes; and he … done ſo by his Goſpel Church, in the j…ribed Appointments of it. On this re… therefore the Promiſe runs, Deut. 5.32. …. Now it is not what the thing is in it … but what it is to us, that puts weight …. And nothing can diſcover our Hearts … than a trial that is in a thing of it ſelf … and eaſy, and yet laid on us to be a proof of our Sincerity: As Adam's forbearing the fruit of one. Tree; Stul's tarrying ſeven Days, and many of like nature.
5. THAT they are urged upon us, by Reaſons ſe…hed from the ſame Topicks. Some have thought all thoſe Duties to be in themſelves Moral, which are inforced with Arguments that are ſo, but that is a miſtake: for altho' the Precepts themſelves are Poſitive, yet the Obligation to Obedience is Moral, and therefore the Motives may well be ſo too. Such us that, Lev. 10.44. and many of like import. God would hereby give us to underſtand, that tho' the thing were not a Duty, but at Liberty, before he commanded it; yet when once it hath his Seal upon it, we as truly pollute our ſelves with Sin, by tranſgreſſing of it, as by the breach of any of the meerly moral Commands.
6. THEY have equal Sanctions annexed to them. The Sanctions that are added to any Laws, are to give Solemnity to them, in or upon the Conſciences of Men. Now God hath made the ſame Promiſes to Obedience, and declared the ſame Threatnings againſt Diſobedience to his Inſtitutions, as unto the Precepts of Natural Worſhip. When God had given the Law to Iſrael, what greater in…o…cement could be added than that, Deut, 32.46, 47. And that in Chap. 30.19. And we find what a fearful Commination is uttered againſt thoſe that unworthily Communicate at the Lord's Table, 1 Cor. 11.29. Yea, and let us remember, that all the miſery that is fallen upon the whole race Mankind, was introduced by the tranſgreſſion of a Poſitive Precept or Ordinance, Gen. 3. Let us then fear God, and take heed that we neglect not nor deſpiſe any of his holy Ordinances.
[October 21. 1701.]