The sinfulness of worshipping God with men's institutions as it was delivered in a…

3. When its being so made depends wholly upon Humane Authority. Natural Worship is such as the nature of the object to whom, & of the subject by whom it is to be performed, doth require, and is therefore taught by the light of nature: such is Prayer to God, fearing and reverencing him, &c. But Instituted Worship, is something that is positive, and must needs therefore depend upon some Authority: it is for that reason a duty, because it is enjoined, and must suppose a power in him who doth enjoin it, so to do: Now a thing may be said to be made by ⟨p. 9⟩the Institutions of men, when not only the injunction, but also the devising of it proceeds from them. In this respect Jeroboam is said to offer Sacrifice in a month which he devised in his own heart, I Kings 12. ult. not only the imposition, but the thing imposed derives from men; they first invent, and then they command it: and it may be said thus to be commanded, not only when lawful authority do pass it into an Ordinance, and give it a Sanction, by affixing penalties to the neglect of it; but also, when by Custom or Tradition, it is so brought into practice of a people, that it becometh a scandal to any that shall omit it, and they are looked upon to be irreligious for not carefully complying with it; and such was the present case in our Context;

3. When its being so made depends wholly upon Humane Authority. Natural Worship is such as the nature of the object to whom, & of the subject by whom it is to be performed, doth require, and is therefore taught by the light of nature: such is Prayer to God, fearing and reverencing him, &c. But Instituted Worship, is something that is positive, and must needs therefore depend upon some Authority: it is for that reason a duty, because it is enjoyned, and must suppose a power in him who doth enjoyn it, so to do: Now a thing may be said to be made by ⟨p. 9⟩the Institutions of men, when not only the injunction, but also the devising of it proceeds from them. In this respect Jeroboam is said to offer Sacrifice in a month which he devised in his own heart, I Kings 12. ult. not only the imposition, but the thing imposed derives from men; they first invent, and then they command it: and it may be said thus to be commanded, not only when lawful authority do pass it into an Ordinance, and give it a Sanction, by affixing penalties to the neglect of it; but also, when by Custom or Tradition, it is so brought into practice of a people, that it becometh a scandal to any that shall omit it, and they are looked upon to be irreligious for not carefully complying with it; and such was the present case in our Context;