The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…

So much for the things forbidden in this commandment, namely, idolatry and superstition. Now as this false worship is forbidden in this commandment, so the contrary, namely the pure and holy worship of God is enjoined, and we are commanded here to stand for, and to practise all the good means whereby God hath commanded himself to be worshipped. These are either more ordinary as prayer, hearing, & reading the word, and receiving of the sacraments and discipline. The less ordinary, are fasting, which is to be used to the intent that we may the more soundly humble our souls before God, and be reconciled unto him, and is then specially to be practised, when that we would be freed from some judgement of God, that we either feel or fear, or else when we would obtain some special blessing that we do earnestly desire. It was commanded in the law once a year, that they might be acquainted with it, and have a perfect reconciliation with God. A second less ordinary means of Gods worship is vows, which are to be used on special occasions, when to strengthen our selves against some sin, or in performing some duty, we do bind our conscience, to avoid all occasions that may draw us into the one, and to use all good means, that may further us in the other. The third is lots, which is apart of gods worship, to be used in matters of weight, to the deciding of controversies to the ending of strife and contention: an example of which we have in the Acts. 1. Where being to choose an Apostle in Judas stead, and not knowing the fittest they committed the matter to Gods special providence, in casting lots. So in choosing of a King, which was a matter of great importance: because no strife and contention should arise of any tribe, towards other, therefore they cast lots and so chose him, whom God pointed out as it were by the finger. And the like they did in dividing the land of Canaan, least any emulation or envy should arise among them, they used Gods own hand as it were in giving every tribe his inheritance. In such matters ⟨image 44⟩of weight and moment, then these lots must be used for these ends, as a good service of God. The last less ordinary part of Gods worship is an oath, which is in like matters of weight to be used.

So much for the things forbidden in this commandement, namely, idolatrie and superstition. Now as this false worship is forbidden in this commandement, so the contrary, namely the pure and holy worship of God is enjoyned, and wee are commanded heere to stand for, and to practise all the good meanes whereby God hath commanded himselfe to bee worshipped. These are either more ordinary as prayer, hearing, & reading the word, and receiuing of the sacraments and discipline. The lesse ordinary, are fasting, which is to be vsed to the intent that we may the more soundly humble our soules before God, and be reconciled vnto him, and is then specially to be practised, when that we would be freed from some iudgement of God, that we either feele or feare, or else when wee would obtaine some special blessing that we doe earnestly desire. It was commanded in the law once a yeere, that they might be acquainted with it, and haue a perfect reconciliation with God. A second lesse ordinarie meanes of Gods worship is vowes, which are to be vsed on speciall occasions, when to strēgthen our selues against some sinne, or in performing some dutie, vve doe binde our conscience, to auoide all occasions that may draw vs into the one, and to vse all good meanes, that may further vs in the other. The third is lots, which is apart of gods worship, to bee vsed in matters of waight, to the deciding of controuersies to the ending of strife and contention: an example of which we haue in the