A brief instruction in the worship of God, and discipline of the churches of…

Farthermore, God hath appointed our duty in the observation of his instituted worship, to be the means of our glorifying him in the world. Nor can we otherwise give glory to God, but as we own his authority over us, and yield obedience to what he requires at ⟨p. 74⟩our hands. And what we do herein, is principally evident in those duties which lye under the eye and observation of Men. Some duties of obedience there are, which the world neither doth, nor can discern in Believers. Such are their faith, inward holiness, purity of heart, heavenly mindedness, sincere mortification of indwelling sin, some whose performance ought to be hid from them, as personal prayer, and alms. Matth. 6.2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Some there are, which are very liable to misconstruction amongst Men, as Zeal in many of the actings of it. But this conscientious observation of instituted worship, and therein avowing our subjection unto the authority of God in Christ, is that which the World may see, and take notice of, and that, which unless in case of persecution▪ ought not to be hid from them; and that which they can have no pretence of scandal at. And therefore hath God appointed that by this means and way, we shall honour and glorify him in the World, which if we neglect, we do evidently cast off all regard unto his ⟨p. 75⟩concernments in this World. Herein it is, that we manifest our selves not to be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, of him and his words, which he so indispensably requireth at our hands, Mark 8.38. For, saith he, whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the son of Man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy Angels. Hereby▪ do we keep the commandments of Christ, as his friends▪ John 13.35. for these peculiarly are his commands, and if we suffer for them, then we do most properly suffer as Christians, which is our glory, that