For this you must know that the service of God is not a natural action, wherein the doing of the work is all that is required. As nothing is required of the fire, but to burn, because it is a natural action. But it is an action of Religion, wherein the manner of doing is the chief half of the duty, and that which makes our serving of God to be a sweet perfume is not the serving, but the right serving of God. Now the right serving of God is to serve him according to his own Direction, both for the matter and the manner of his service. It is a maxim in nature, Every master is to be served according as himself commands, and if the servant prescribe to his master, how he will serve ⟨p. 6⟩him, he becomes his Masters Master. In the civill Law a servant is said to be [Greek or Hebrew], such a one that sustains no person, but is a dependant and adjunct to his Master, to accommodate his will to the will of his Master. It is a saying of Socrates, If there be a God he must be worshipped, and if he be worshipped, he must be worshipped according to his own will, or else we do not worship him at all. Moses built the Tabernacle according to the pattern in the Mount.1 And David when he built the Temple, received a pattern of it from the Spirit of God in writing. The nature of man is prone to worship God by Crucifixes and Images, and by ways of our own devising. But this is not to serve God, but to go a whoring after our own inventions, as the phrase is, Psalm. 106. 37.2 For indeed it is spiritual whoredom, and it is an exalting of our wisdom above Gods. It is vain-service, and therefore cannot please God.3 It is will-worship and of no account with God. It is a service that is so far from bringing us to Heaven, that it will beguile us of Heaven. 4This then is to serve God, to serve him according to his own way, both for matter and manner.
For this you must know that the service of God is not a naturall action, wherein the doing of the worke is all that is required. As nothing is required of the fire, but to burn, because it is a naturall action. But it is an action of Religion, wherein the manner of doing is the chiefe halfe of the duty, and that which makes our serving of God to be a sweet perfume is not the serving, but the right serving of God. Now the right serving of God is to serve him according to his owne Direction, both for the matter and the manner of his service. It is a maxime in nature, Every master is to be served according as himselfe commands, and if the servant prescribe to his master, how he will serve ⟨p. 6⟩him, he becomes his Masters Master. In the civill Law a servant is said to be 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, such a one that sustaines no person, but is a dependant and adjunct to his Master, to accommodate his will to the will of his Master. It is a saying of Socrates, If there be a God he must be worshipped, and if he be worshipped, he must be worshipped according to his owne will, or else we doe not worship him at all. Moses built the Tabernacle according to the patterne in the Mount.1 And David when he built the Temple, received a patterne of it from the Spirit of God in writing. The nature of man is prone to worship God by Crucifixes and Images, and by wayes of our owne devising. But this is not to serve God, but to goe a whoring after our owne inventions, as the phrase is, Psalm. 106. 37.2 For indeed it is spirituall whoredome, and it is an exalting of our wisedome above Gods. It is vaine-service, and therefore cannot please God.3 It is will-worship and of no account with God. It is a service that is so farre from bringing us to Heaven, that it will beguile us of Heaven. 4This then is to serve God, to serve him according to his own way, both for matter and manner.
- 11 Chro. 28 12, 19.
- 2Mat. 15 9.
- 3Col. 2 23.
- 4Col. 2. 18.
