A discourse concerning liturgies, and their imposition

CHAP. II.

The Disciples of Christ taken into his own disposal. General things to be observed about Gospel Institutions. Their number small. Excess of mens Inventions. Things instituted brought into a Religious Relation by the Authority of Christ. That Authority is none other. Suitableness in the matter of Institutions to be designed to their proper significancy. That discoverable only by infinite Wisdom. Abilities given by Christ for the Administration of all his Institutions. The way whereby it was done, Eph. 9. 7, 8. Several Postulata laid down. The sum of the whole state of our Question in general.

The Disciples of Christ taken into his own disposal. General things to be observed about Gospel Institutions. Their number small. Excess of mens Inventions. Things instituted brought into a Religious Relation by the Authority of Christ. That Authority is none other. Suitableness in the matter of Institutions to be designed to their proper significancy. That discoverable onely by infinite Wisdome. Abilities given by Christ for the Administration of all his Institutions. The way whereby it was done, Eph. 9. 7, 8. Several Postulata laid down. The sum of the whole state of our Question in general.

WE have brought unto, and left the Disciples of Jesus Christ in the hand and sole disposal of him their Lord and Master, as to all things which concern the Worship of God, and how he hath disposed of them we are in the next place to ⟨p. 10⟩consider. Now he being the Head, Lord, and only Law-giver of his Church, coming from the bosom of his Father, to make the last Revelation of his Mind and Will, was to determine and appoint that Worship of God in and by himself, which was to continue to the end of the world. It belongeth not unto our purpose to consider distinctly and apart all the several Institutions which by him were ordained. We shall only observe some things concerning them in General that will be of use in our progress, and so proceed to the Consideration of that Particular about which we are in Disquisition of his Mind and Will, The Worship of God is either Moral and Internal, or External and of Sovereign or arbitrary Institution. The former we do not now consider, nor was the ancient original fundamental Obligation unto it altered or dissolved in the least by the Lord Christ. It was as unto superadded Institutions, of outward Worship, which have their foundation and reason in Sovereign Will and Pleasure, that he took his Disciples into his own disposal, discharging them from all Obligations to ought else whatever, but only what he should appoint. Concerning these, some few considerations will lead us to what in this Discourse we principally intend. And the First is, That they were few, and easy to be observed. It was his Will and pleasure, that the Faith and Love of his Disciples should in some few Instances be exercised in a willing ready subjection to the impositions of his Wisdom and Authority. And their service herein he doth fully recompense, by rendering those his Institutions blessedly useful to their spiritual advantage. But he would not burden them with Observances either for nature or number, like or comparable unto them from which he purchased them Liberty. And herein hath the practise of succeeding Ages put an excellent lustre upon bis Love and Tenderness. For whereas he is the Lord of his Church, to whom the Consciences of his Disciples are in an unquestionable subjection, and who can give Power and Efficacy to his Institutions to make them useful to their Souls?