A discourse concerning liturgies, and their imposition

nor are any Circumstances in the Worship of God, much less circumstantial parts of his Worship, but only circumstances of those Actions as actions, whereby it is performed. And whatever is Instituted of God, in and about those Circumstances, is a Substantial part of his Worship.

nor are any Circumstances in the VVorship of God, much less circumstantial parts of his VVorship, but onely circumstances of those Actions as actions, whereby it is performed. And whatever is Instituted of God, in and about those Circumstances, is a Substantial part of his VVorship.

Nor is the prescribing of such a Form of Prayer a regulation of those circumstances of Public Prayer; for Decency, Order, and Uniformity, which attend it as a public Action, but the superaddition of an adjunct condition, with which it is to be performed, and without which it is not to be performed as it is Prayer, the Worship of God. On this nature was Sacrificing of old on the Altar at the Tabernacle or Temple, and there alone. And many more instances of the like nature may be given. Praising of God, and blessing of the People were ⟨p. 44⟩parts of the Worship of God, appointed by himself to be performed by the Priests under the Law. In the doing thereof at certain Seasons, they were commanded to use some Forms of words prescribed unto them for that purpose. Not only hereby the praising and blessing of God, but the use of those Forms in so doing, became necessary part of the Worship of God. And so was the use of Organs and the like Instruments of Music, which respect that manner of Praising him which God then required. The Case is here no otherwise. Prayers and Thanksgivings in the Administration of the Ordinances of the Gospel are of the Instituted Worship of God. Unto these, as to the manner of their Performance, is the Imposition of the Liturgical Forms spoken of, superadded; and their use made a necessary adjunct of the duty it self, so as that it may not be performed without them; which makes them a no less necessary part of the Worship of God, then any of his Institutions of old were, which related to the Circumstances and the manner of his Worship, as the Temple, Tabernacle, Altar, Forms of Thanksgiving, and Confession, composed and prescribed by the Holy Ghost himself.