6 God requireth the body to worship him as well as the soul, and therefore let him that hath an ear to hear, heir: he that hath a tongue to speak, let him speak; he that hath hands to lift up, let him lift them up: and he that hath knees to bow, let him bow them. There are strange speeches to this end in the scripture that not only they that have tongues should praise the Lord, but every thing that hath breath; yea, he requireth to be praised of every bone in the body. The right & title whereby God challengeth this service of our members, is because we are his, and when we were not his, he redeemed us with a price. First, the clay whereof we are made was his, by creation of right he may claim us: he findeth1 us here at his own charge, cost, and expenses, and so by the testimony of the book of his providence we are his. The LORD by bleeding from his heart by the spear, from his hands & feet by the nails, from his head by the Thorns purchased us to his service, and therefore his title to the body is good: wherefore against the Anabaptists & Familists we say, that as God is the God of the spirit, so he is the God of all flesh; and though he will be worshipped in spirit, yet not in spirit only, but in truth also, which truth (being his word) requireth the service of the body. So many then as refusing the congregation, making the corners of their chambers only witnesses of their religion, detract from the Lord his worship. But they excuse themselves with fearing the suspicion of hypocrites, an easy slander, a thing that none can purge himself of, a case therefore to be referred to the Lord himself. But these men of all other do evil in speaking against hypocrisy: for if they be no more inward than they are outward, if their Chamber-holiness, be no more than their Chapel godliness, then are they of all men most miserable. Read Psal. 122. and 84. and 68. and we shall see the Prophet David highly to magnify that which they smally account of.
6 God requireth the body to worship him as well as the soule, and therfore let him that hath an eare to heare, heire: he that hath a tongue to speake, let him speake; hee that hath hands to lifte vp, let him lift them vp: and hee that hath knees to bow, let him bow them. There are strāge speeches to this end in the scripture that not only they that haue tongues should praise the Lord, but euery thing that hath breath; yea, hee requireth to be praised of euery bone in the bodie. The right & title whereby God chalengeth this seruice of our members, is because wee are his, and when we were not his, hee redeemed vs with a price. First, the clay whereof we are made was his, by creation of right he may claime vs: he findeth1 vs here at his own charge, cost, and expences, and so by the testimony of the booke of his prouidence we are his. The LORD by bleeding from his heart by the speare, from his hands & feete by the nailes, from his head by the Thornes purchased vs to his seruice, and therefore his title to the bodie is good: wherefore against the Anabaptists & Familists we say, that as God is the God of the spirit, so he is the God of all flesh; and though he will be worshipped in spirit, yet not in spirit only, but in truth also, which truth (being his word) requireth the seruice of the bodie. So many then as refusing the congregation, making the corners of their chambers only witnesses of their religion, detract from the Lord his worship. But they excuse themselues with fearing the suspition of hypocrites, an easie slander, a thing that none can purge himselfe of, a case therfore to be referred to the Lord himself. But these men of all other do euill in speaking against hypocrisie: for if they be no more inward than they are outward, if their Chamber-holines, be no more than their Chappellgodlines, then are they of all men most miserable. Reade Psal. 122. and 84. and 68. and we shall see the Prophet Dauid highly to magnifie that which they smally account of.
- 1How justly God may challenge of us to serve him in body and soul.How iustly God may challenge of vs to serue him in bodie and soule.
