1. Opera Cultûs, Acts of Worship, both Internal and External; External, to Pray, Hear, Read, Meditate; to be much in Communion with God. So for Internal Acts, as Faith, and Repentance, and Love. All these are good Works, and fitly placed in the first Rank; of these we must be chiefly zealous, because our Happiness lies in Communion with God. It is notable, Daniel would not omit Prayer for one Day, though he was forbidden by the King, and in danger of Death; Dan. 6.11. Now when Daniel knew that the Writing was signed, he went to his House; and his Windows being open in his Chamber towards Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his Knees three times a Day, and prayed, and gave Thanks before his God, as he did afore-time. Certainly they have little Zeal in them, that care not to be frequent in Communion with God, and call not upon his Name. These are the chiefest parts of those good Works we must press and exhort you to, where we are to be the more punctual, because the Offence is immediately done to God. If we do not Works of Mercy and Justice, there the Offence is done to Men; but neglecting the Works of Piety and Godliness, the Offence is done immediately to God, who is very jealous of being defrauded of his Worship: and a failing in the least Circumstance, is a Sin of a high Nature; witness Uzzah slain for touching of the Ark, and the fifty thousand slain at Bethshemesh, for looking into the Ark. And there is a notable Instance of Daniel, as he would not omit Prayer, so neither the opening of his Casement. A Man would have thought, being in imminent danger of his Life, he might have dispensed with that Circumstance. Why would he open his Casement? I answer, Because Solomon, at the Dedication of the Temple, required this Ceremony as an Act of Faith, they were to pray towards the place where the House of God was, which was a Type of Christ; to show their Eye and Heart should be to Christ when-ever they call on God: therefore would he not dispense with opening his Casement. Danger of Life should not diminish our Zeal here. These good Works must be done with all exactness and care, God very precisely requires them. It is notable, that Will-worship is only in the Duties of the First Table; in love to our Neighbours, there is no place for Superstition and Will-worship. That may be done at one time, that is not to be done at another.
1. Opera Cultûs, Acts of Worship, both Internal and External; External, to Pray, Hear, Read, Meditate; to be much in Communion with God. So for Internal Acts, as Faith, and Repentance, and Love. All these are good Works, and fitly placed in the first Rank; of these we must be chiefly zealous, because our Happiness lies in Communion with God. It is notable, Daniel would not omit Prayer for one Day, though he was forbidden by the King, and in danger of Death; Dan. 6.11. Now when Daniel knew that the Writing was signed, he went to his House; and his Windows being open in his Chamber towards Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his Knees three times a Day, and prayed, and gave Thanks before his God, as he did afore-time. Certainly they have little Zeal in them, that care not to be frequent in Communion with God, and call not upon his Name. These are the chiefest parts of those good Works we must press and exhort you to, where we are to be the more punctual, because the Offence is immediately done to God. If we do not Works of Mercy and Justice, there the Offence is done to Men; but neglecting the Works of Piety and Godliness, the Offence is done immediately to God, who is very jealous of being defrauded of his Worship: and a failing in the least Circumstance, is a Sin of a high Nature; witness Vzzah slain for touching of the Ark, and the fifty thousand slain at Bethshemesh, for looking into the Ark. And there is a notable Instance of Daniel, as he would not omit Prayer, so neither the opening of his Casement. A Man would have thought, being in imminent danger of his Life, he might have dispensed with that Circumstance. Why would he open his Casement? I answer, Because Solomon, at the Dedication of the Temple, required this Ceremony as an Act of Faith, they were to pray towards the place where the House of God was, which was a Type of Christ; to shew their Eye and Heart should be to Christ when-ever they call on God: therefore would he not dispense with opening his Casement. Danger of Life should not diminish our Zeal here. These good Works must be done with all exactness and care, God very precisely requires them. It is notable, that Will-worship is only in the Duties of the First Table; in love to our Neighbours, there is no place for Superstition and Will-worship. That may be done at one time, that is not to be done at another.
