Gospel-worship, or, The right manner of sanctifying the name of God in general. And…

They should have reasoned thus with themselves, What hath God let fire come down from Heaven upon the Altar, and hath He Commanded that that should be preserved on the Altar for His Service? Surely this must be Gods mind then, that we should make use of this fire rather than any other fire: God expects that they should have reasoned thus, but because they did not pick out Gods mind by reasoning after this manner, therefore the Hand of God came out upon them. They offended, and it may be it was through ignorance, but it was at their peril, if they were ignorant of the mind of God when it might be known, though it were but darkly revealed, and were to be picked out from several places compared together, it was at their peril. It is a Point that we have a great deal of need of: for this is the vain heart of man, That if there be any thing that God would have that is not suitable to his own ends, he will stand wrangling against it, and cavilling at it; How doth it appear (will he say) can you bring express Scripture for it? Bring me express Scripture in words for to prove it, and then I will believe it; and so stands out till you bring so many words of Scripture that forbids such a thing, or commands such a duty. Now my brethren if you be of this temper, That you will forbear nothing, nor set up any thing but what you have directly express ⟨p. 15⟩words of Scripture for, you may run at your own peril into woeful dangers, into woeful sins: know that God hath so revealed a great part of his mind as it is only to be known by gathering one thing from another, and by comparing one thing with another. And God expects this from you, That if upon examination of Scripture that one thing appear more likely to be His mind and will than another; you are bound to go that way that is more likely. I told you before, That in matters of Worship we must have warrant from the Word; but it doth not follow, That we must have a direct express warrant in every thing: As it is many times in some kind of picture, the great art it is in the cast of the looks; you cannot say, it's in the drawing of this line, or the other line, but altogether, it is the cast of the looks that causes the beauty of the picture:

They should have reasoned thus with themselves, What hath God let fire come down from Heaven upon the Altar, and hath He Commanded that that should be preserved on the Altar for His Service? Surely this must be Gods mind then, that we should make use of this fire rather than any other fire: God expects that they should have reasoned thus, but because they did not pick out Gods mind by reasoning after this manner, therefore the Hand of God came out upon them. They offended, and it may be it was through ignorance, but it was at their peril, if they were ignorant of the minde of God when it might be known, though it were but darkly revealed, and were to be pick't out from several places compared together, it was at their peril. It is a Point that we have a great deal of need of: for this is the vain heart of man, That if there be any thing that God would have that is not sutable to his own ends, he will stand wrangling against it, and cavelling at it; How doth it appear (will he say) can you bring express Scripture for it? Bring me express Scripture in words for to prove it, and then I wil beleeve it; and so stands out til you bring so many words of Scripture that forbids such a thing, or commands such a duty. Now my brethren if you be of this temper, That you will forbear nothing, nor set up any thing but what you have directly express