A discourse concerning liturgies, and their imposition

Besides the Regulation of all our proceedings and actions in the Worship of God, by the command and prohibitions insisted on, in the fore-going Chapter, there are two things indispensably ⟨p. 51⟩necessary to render the prescription of any thing in religious Worship allowable, or lawful to be observed, both pointed unto by the Testimonies produced. And these are, First, An Authority to enjoin; And Secondly, A certain Rule to try the injunction by.

BEsides the Regulation of all our proceedings and actions in the Worship of God, by the command and prohibitions insisted on, in the fore-going Chapter, there are two things indispensably ⟨p. 51⟩necessary to render the prescription of any thing in religious Worship allowable, or lawful to be observed, both pointed unto by the Testimonies produced. And these are, First, An Authority to enjoyn; And Secondly, A certain Rule to try the injunction by.

The Worship of God is of that nature, that whatsoever is performed in it, is an act of Religious Obedience. That any thing may be esteemed such, it is necessary that the Conscience be in it subject to the immediate Authority of God. His Authority alone renders any act of Obedience, Religious. All Authority is originally in God, and there are two ways whereby he is pleased to exert it. First, By a Delegation of Authority unto some Persons for some ends and purposes, which they being invested withal, may command in their own Names an Observance of the things about which by Gods appointment their Authority is to be exercised. Thus is it with Kings and Rulers of the Earth. They are powers ordained of God, having Authority given them by him. And being invested with power, they give out their commands for the doing or performing of such or such things, whereunto their Authority doth extend. That they ought to be obeyed in things good and lawful, doth not arise from the Authority vested in themselves, but from the immediate command of God, that in such things they ought to be obeyed. Hence Obedience in general unto Magistrates, is a part of our Moral and Religious Obedience unto God, as it respects his Command, whatever the nature and object of it be. But the performance of particular actions, wherein by their determination our Obedience exerts it self, being resolved into that Authority which is vested in them, is not Religious but Civil Obedience, any otherwise then as in respect of its general nature it relates to the Command of God in general. No act I say, that we perform, whereof this is the formal Reason, that it is appointed and commanded by man, though that man be entrusted with power from God, to appoint and require acts of that nature, is an act of Religious Obedience unto God in its self; because it relates not immediately to his divine Authority requiring that act.