Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

God did not require a worship from man, for any want he had, or any essential honour that could accrue to him; but that men might testify their gratitude to him, and dependence on him. 'Tis the most horrid ingratitude, not to have lively and deep sentiments of gratitude after such obligations, and not to make those due acknowledgements that are proper for a rational Creature. Religion is the highest and choicest act of a reasonable Creature: No Creature under Heaven is capable of it that wants reason. As it is a violation of reason not to worship God, so it is no less a violation of reason not to worship him with the Heart and Spirit: It is a high dishonour to God, and defeats him not only of the service due to him from Man, but that which is due to him from all the Creatures. Every Creature, as it is an effect of Gods Power and Wisdom, doth passively worship God; that is, it doth afford matter of adoration to man that hath, reason to collect it and return it where it is due: Without the exercise of the Soul we can no more hand it to God, than without such an exercise we can gather it from the Creature: So that by this neglect, the Creatures are restrained from answering their chief end; they cannot pay any service to God without man; nor can man without the employment of his rational faculties, render a homage to God, any more than beasts can. This engagement of our inward power stands firm and unviolable, let the modes of worship be what they will, or the changes of them by the Sovereign Authority of God never so frequent; this could not expire or be changed, as long as the nature of Man endured. As Man had not been capable of a Command for Worship, unless he had been endued with spiritual faculties; so he is not active in a true practice of Worship, unless they be employed by him in it. The constitution of Man makes this manner of worship perpetually obligatory; and the oblation can never cease, till man cease to be a Creature furnished with such faculties: In our worship therefore, if we would act like rational Creatures, we should extend all the powers of our Souls to the utmost pitch, and essay to have apprehensions of God, equal to the excellency of his Nature, which though we may attempt, we can never attain.

God did not require a worship from man, for any want he had, or any essential honour that could accrue to him; but that men might testifie their gratitude to him, and dependance on him. 'Tis the most horrid ingratitude, not to have lively and deep sentiments of gratitude after such obligations, and not to make those due acknowledgments that are proper for a rational Creature. Religion is the highest and choicest act of a reasonable Creature: No Creature under Heaven is capable of it that wants reason. As it is a violation of reason not to worship God, so it is no less a violation of reason not to worship him with the Heart and Spirit: It is a high dishonour to God, and defeats him not only of the service due to him from Man, but that which is due to him from all the Creatures. Every Creature, as it is an effect of Gods Power and Wisdom, doth passively worship God; that is, it doth afford matter of adoration to man that hath, reason to collect it and return it where it is due: Without the exercise of the Soul we can no more hand it to God, than without such an exercise we can gather it from the Creature: So that by this neglect, the Creatures are restrained from answering their chief end; they cannot pay any service to God without man; nor can man without the employment of his rational faculties, render a homage to God, any more than beasts can. This engagement of our inward power stands firm and unviolable, let the modes of worship be what they will, or the changes of them by the Soveraign Authority of God never so frequent; this could not expire or be changed, as long as the nature of Man endured. As Man had not been capable of a Command for Worship, unless he had been endued with spiritual faculties; so he is not active in a true practice of Worship, unless they be imployed by him in it. The constitution of Man makes this manner of worship perpetually obligatory; and the oblation can never cease, till man cease to be a Creature furnisht with such faculties: In our worship therefore, if we would act like rational Creatures, we should extend all the powers of our Souls to the utmost pitch, and essay to have apprehensions of God, equal to the excellency of his Nature, which though we may attempt, we can never attain.