The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

¹Fourthly, There is a necessity of laying a good foundation, Because our hearts do in nothing more presumptuously work then in the worship of God. There is a secret delight and pleasure men have to make a worship of their own, as Children have to make Babies. The Scripture fore seeth this, and therefore doth so often bid men take heed; and they must not follow their own hearts, and they must not go in the way they shall choose, and they must not do what seemeth good in their own eyes. These strict Prohibitions do suppose an itching inclination in men to make a worship of their own, and the several ages of the Church have given sad experiences of this sin. The Church which had at first a simple, plain, and spiritual worship of God, became to abound more in external Ceremonies then the Jews, as Austin in his time complained. If then it be so dangerous to err about the worship of God, What is that sure and steadfast Foundation which both Ministers and people must build upon? And that is, Only the Command and Divine Institution of God himself. I do not speak of natural and necessary circumstances, as time and place, but whatsoever is the essence or part of the worship of God; or the means thereof, that must have a positive Command, and a divine Institution. The second Commandment, which forbids all kinds, or parts, or means of worship, which any man shall make to himself, doth thereby command that only which God hath appointed. So that as all that money is to be rejected as not currant, which hath not the legal superscription on it; so also all that worship is to be refused, of which you cannot say, This the Lord requireth; This the Lord hath Commanded. Austin doth to this purpose, apply a sentence of Socrates: God (saith he) is to be worshipped only in that manner as he himself willeth and appointeth. Oh, the purity of Ordinances that we should have enjoyed! And how beautiful would the Tabernacle of the Lord have been, if this Foundation ⟨p. 131⟩had been always laid? Now that no other foundation may be laid, but a Divine Command, and Gods Institution, will appear by several Reasons.

¹Fourthly, There is a necessity of laying a good foundation, Because our hearts do in nothing more presumptuously work then in the worship of God. There is a secret delight and pleasure men have to make a worship of their own, as Children have to make Babies. The Scripture fore seeth this, and therefore doth so often bid men take heed; and they must not follow their own hearts, and they must not go in the way they shall choose, and they must not do what seemeth good in their own eyes. These strict Prohibitions do suppose an itching inclination in men to make a worship of their own, and the several ages of the Church have given sad experiences of this sinne. The Church which had at first a simple, plain, and spiritual worship of God, became to abound more in external Ceremonies then the Jews, as Austin in his time complained. If then it be so dangerous to erre about the worship of God, What is that sure and stedfast Foundation which both Ministers and people must build upon? And that is, Only the Command and Divine Institution of God himself. I do not speak of natural and necessary circumstances, as time and place, but whatsoever is the essence or part of the worship of God; or the meanes thereof, that must have a positive Command, and a divine Institution. The second Commandement, which forbids all kinds, or parts, or meanes of worship, which any man shall make to himself, doth thereby command that only which God hath appointed. So that as all that money is to be rejected as not currant, which hath not the legall superscription on it; so also all that worship is to be refused, of which you cannot say, This the Lord requireth; This the Lord hath Commanded. Austin doth to this purpose, apply a sentence of Socrates: God (saith he) is to be worshiped only in that manner as he himself willeth and appointeth. Oh, the purity of Ordinances that we should have enjoyed! And how beautifull would the Tabernacle of the Lord have been, if this Foundation