The temple A sermon preached at Pauls Cross the fifth of August. 1624. By…The temple A sermon preached at Pauls Crosse the fifth of August. 1624. By…

To make this useful to our selves; let us take heed of fancying an other service of God, then he hath prescribed us. Every Master in his own family, appoints the manner how he will be served. He that requires our service, requires it his own way; or else he holds us to serve our ⟨p. 45⟩selves, not him. Shall we make our selves wiser then our Maker, as if he did not best know what would best please him? Shall heaven give a blessing to that, which was devised against the will of heaven? Doth not God threaten them with the addition of plagues, that shall add to his precepts? If such devices be good and necessary, why did not God command them? Did he want wisdom? If they be not necessary, why do we use them? Is it not our presumptuous folly? The Lords Jealousy is stirred up by the rivality, not only of a false God, but of a false worship. Nothing is more dangerous, then to mint his services in our own brains. In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines, ¹the commandments of men. Is it not grievous for men to lose all their labour, and that in the main business of their life? That so many hundred oblations, so many thousand prayers, so much cost of their purses, so much affliction to their bodies, so much anguish of their souls, should be all forceless, fruitless? Like a dog that hunts counter, and takes great pains to no purpose.

To make this vsefull to our selues; let vs take heed of fancying an other seruice of God, then hee hath prescribed vs. Euery Master in his owne family, appoints the manner how he will be serued. He that requires our seruice, requires it his owne way; or else he holds vs to serue our ⟨p. 45⟩selues, not him. Shall we make our selues wiser then our Maker, as if he did not best know what would best please him? Shall heauen giue a blessing to that, which was deuised against the will of heauen? Doth not God threaten them with the addition of plagues, that shall adde to his precepts? If such deuices be good and necessary, why did not God command them? Did he want wisdome? If they bee not necessary, why doe wee vse them? Is it not our presumptuous folly? The Lords Ielousie is stirred vp by the rivalitie, not onely of a false God, but of a false worship. Nothing is more dangerous, then to mint his seruices in our owne braines. In vaine doe they worship mee, teaching for doctrines,