The practical divinity of the papists discovered to be destructive of Christianity and mens…

CHAP. I.

BY the Doctrine of the Romanists it is not needful to worship God really, in public or private. True Religion will have God to be worshipped really. Real worship requires the concurrence of mind and heart. In their Divine Service they require no act of the Will, but an Intention beforehand to attend their service is enough, though they be not Attentive when they are at it. An in tentionto worship God there is scarce needful. Their intention may be effectual, though they act contrary to it. They may employ both Soul and Body about other things when they are at their Prayers. The act of the mind which they seem to require is Attention; but this need not be either Spiritual or Rational; So that they need not mind God in their Prayers, nor the things to be prayed for, nor the sense of the words they use; but only the pronouncing of them, nor need they actually mind that. The Churches holiness supplies their Defects, and makes those pass as such that pray devoutly, who pray not at all. All due Attention in Worship is not only unnecessary, but impossible in their way. As Attention, so inward Reverence and Devotion likewise is not necessary in their Service. Hereby their Worship is no better than a Profane irreligious exercise; They seem satisfied with less Worship for God, than for their Images, Sect. 1. to page 27.

BY the Doctrine of the Romanists it is not needful to worship God really, in publick or private. True Religion will have God to be worshipped really. Real worship requires the concurrence of mind and heart. In their Divine Service they require no act of the Will, but an Intention beforehand to attend their service is enough, though they be not Attentive when they are at it. An in tentionto worship God there is scarce needful. Their intention may be effectual, though they act contrary to it. They may imploy both Soul and Body about other things when they are at their Prayers. The act of the mind which they seem to require is Attention; but this need not be either Spiritual or Rational; So that they need not mind God in their Prayers, nor the things to be prayed for, nor the sense of the words they use; but only the pronouncing of them, nor need they actually mind that. The Churches holiness supplyes their Defects, and makes those pass as such that pray devoutly, who pray not at all. All due Attention in Worship is not only unnecessary, but impossible in their way. As Attention, so inward Reverence and Devotion likewise is not necessary in their Service. Hereby their Worship is no better than a Prophane irreligious exercise; They seem satisfied with less Worship for God, than for their Images, Sect. 1. to page 27.