Secondly, This also they are lead to an apprehension of, by the same light whereby they are a Law unto themselves, Rom. 2.14. that God would be worshipped in the way, and by the means that he himself appointed and approved, whence none among the Heathen themselves undertook to appoint ways and Ceremonies of Worship, but still they pretended to derive the knowledge of them from the Gods themselves, of whom they reckoned that every one would be worshipped in ⟨p. 7⟩his own way. And because notwithstanding this pretence, being left of God, and deluded of Satan, they did invent false and foolish ways of worship, not only not appointed of God, but such as were unsuited unto those inbred notions which they had of his nature and excellencies, the Apostle convinces and disproves them, as men acting against the light of nature, and principles of reason, Rom. 1.21. they might have seen, that, in their Idolatry they answered not their own inbred conceptions of the Divine power and Godhead, so as to glorify him as God. And in the like manner doth he argue at large, Acts 17.23. but beyond this, the inbred light of nature could not conduct any of the Sons of Men▪ This alone is contained in the first Precept, that God was to be worshipped they knew, and that he was to be worshipped by ways and means of his own appointment they knew; but what those ways and means were, they knew not. These always depended on Gods Sovereign will and pleasure, and he made them known to whom he pleased, Psalm 147.19, 20. And although some of the ⟨p. 8⟩ways which he doth appoint, may seem to have a great compliance in them unto the light of nature, yet in his worship he accepts them not on that account; but merely on that of his own institution; and this as he hath declared his will about in the second Commandment; so he hath severely forbidden the addition of our own inventions unto what he hath appointed: sending us for instruction unto him alone, whom he hath endowed with Sovereign Authority to reveal his will, and ordain his worship, John 1.18. Matth. 17.5. 1 Chron. 16.13.
Secondly, This also they are lead to an apprehension of, by the same light whereby they are a Law unto themselves, Rom. 2.14. that God would be worshipped in the way, and by the means that he himself appointed and approved, whence none among the Heathen themselves undertook to appoint wayes and Ceromonies of Worship, but still they pretended to derive the knowledge of them from the Gods themselves, of whom they reckoned that every one would be worshipped in ⟨p. 7⟩his own way. And because notwitstanding this pretence, being left of God, and deluded of Satan, they did invent false and foolish wayes of worship, not only not appointed of God, but such as were unsuited unto those inbred notions which they had of his nature and excellencie•, the Apostle convinces and disproves them, as men acting against the light of nature, and principles of reason, Rom. 1.21. they might have seen, that, in their Idolatry they answered not their own inbred conceptions of the Divine power and Godhead, so as to glorifie him as God. And in the like manner doth he argue at large, Acts 17.23. but beyond this, the inbred light of nature could not conduct any of the Sons of Men▪ This alone is contained in the first Precept, that God was to be worshipped they knew, and that he was to be worshipped by wayes and means of his own appointment they knew; but what those wayes and means were, they knew not. These alwayes depended on Gods Soveraign will and pleasure, and he made them known to whom he pleased, Psalm 147.19, 20. And although some of the ⟨p. 8⟩wayes which he doth appoint, may seem to have a great compliance in them unto the light of nature, yet in his worship he accepts them not on that account; but meerly on that of his own institution; and this as he hath declared his will about in the second Commandment; so he hath severely forbidden the addition of our own inventions unto what he hath appointed: sending us for instruction unto him alone, whom he hath endowed with Soveraign Authority to reveal his will, and ordain his worship, John 1.18. Matth. 17.5
