The young man spoken to another essay, to recommend & inculcate the maxims of…

First, Ordinances of a more Public Celebration, wherein Young Persons may have Communion with God; Such Ordinances as are Celebrated in the Assemblies of Zion. The End why the All-wise God, has Instituted these things, is not merely, that there may be the Work done; Tis not merely to impose a Task upon us; No, They are Ways and Means; and His End in them, is, That He may hold Communion with His People in them. [See, Psal. XXVII. 4. And, 2 Cor. III. 18.] Yea, and He has Engaged Himself to hold Communion with His People in them. He hath said; Mat. XVIII. 20. Where Two or Three are Gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them. Concerning these Ordinances of the Lord, I shall advise our Children, with this Nurture & Admonition of the Lord.

First, Ordinances of a more Publick Celebration, wherein Young Persons may have Communion with God; Such Ordinances as are Celebrated in the Assemblies of Zion. The End why the All-wise God, has Instituted these things, is not meerly, that there may be the Work done; Tis not meerly to impose a Task upon us; No, They are Wayes and Means; and His End in them, is, That He may hold Communion with His People in them. [See, Psal. XXVII. 4. And, 2 Cor. III. 18.] Yea, and He has Engaged Himself to hold Communion with His People in them. He hath said; Mat. XVIII. 20. Where Two or Three are Gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them. Concerning these Ordinances of the Lord, I shall advise our Children, with this Nurture & Admonition of the Lord.

First; You can't Reasonably Expect such Communion with God, in any other Ways and Means, as you may in those which Himself has Appointed. It is true; Such is the Compassion of GOD, that He has had Respect unto the Sincere Designs of some Good Men, when they used Indirect Ways and Means for Communion with Him. He has regarded their Sincerity, and overlooked their Superstition, and Visited their Souls, in the use of Liturgies, and of Holidays, which yet He has not approved. But men have no ground for any such Expectation, That God should Own them, when they go to put upon Him their own Ways and Means of Communion with Him; That God should Own and Bless Humane Inventions; That God should come to us in the Modes wherewith we go to Prescribe unto the Holy One of Israel. The Second Commandment binds us up, to such Ways and Means of Communion with Him, as He Himself hath appointed. Now in that Commandment there is that awful Clause;