ßrò Of CommvNIÓN with by him Appointed, that is fo feverely forbidden. Believers know what en- tertainment all will worfhip finds with Gad. Who bath requiredthole things atyour hands ? And, In vain do you warfhhip me, teaching for dofirínes the traditions ófdxen, is the bed it meets with ; I 111111 take leave to fay what is upon my heart, and what, the Lord aflifling, I fhall willingly endeavour to make good againft all the world, namely, that that principle, that the church hath power to inftitute and appoint any thing, or ceremony be- longing to the worfhip of God, either as to matter or to mariner, beyond the orderlyobfervance of fuch circumstances as neceiTarily attend fuch or- dinances as Chrift himfelf bath inflituted, lies at the bottom of all the horrible fuperstition and idolatry, of all the confufion, blood, perfecution and wars that have for fo long a feafon fpread themfelves over the face of the chriflian world ; and that it is the defign of a great part of the revela- tion, to make a difcovery of this truth. And I doubt not but that the great conrroverfy which God bath hadwith this nation for fo many years, and which he bath purfued with fo much anger and indignation, was up- oh this account, that contrary to that glorious light of the Gofpel which lhone among us, thewills and fancies of men, under the naineof order, de- cency, and the authorityof the church (a chimera that none knew what it was, nor wherein the power of it did confift, nor in whom reticle) were ïntpofed on tien, in the ways and worfhip of God. Neither was all that pretence of glory, beauty, coinelinefs, and conformity, that thenwas plead- ed, any thing more or lefs, than what God loth fo defcribe in the church òf Ificri, Ezek. xvi. v. z§. and forwards. Hence was the fpirit of God In prayer derided, hence was the powerful preachingof the Gofpel defpifed, hence was the fabbatlt decried, hence was holieefs stigmatized and perfe- cuted ; to what end ? That Jefus Chrift might he depofed from the foie .privilege and power of law-making in his church ; that the true husband might be thrust afide, and adulterers of his fpoufe embraced ! that task mailers alight be appointed in and over his houfe, which he never gave to his church, Pphef. iv. ta. that a ceremonious, pompous, outward-thew worfhip, drawn from pagan, judaictl and antichriftian obfervationsmight be introduced ; of all which there is not one word, tittle or iota in the whole book of God. This then they who hold communion with Chrift are careful of ; they will admit of nothing, praftife nothing in the worship of God, private or publick, but what they have his warrant for; unlefs it comes in his naine, with Thus faith the Lord Jefus, they will not hear an angel from heaven. They know the apoflles themfelveswere to teach the faints only what Chrift commanded them, Match. xxviii. so. You know how many in this very nation in the days not long fine puffed, yea, how many thoufands left their native foil, and went into a waft and howling wildernefs in the utmost parts of the world, to keep their fouls undefiled and chaste to their dear Lord Jefus, as to this of his worfhip and infti- tutions. [a.] They readily embrace, receive, and 'praftife every thing that the Lord Chrift hath appointed. They enquire diligently into his mind and will, that they may know it. They go to him for direiions, and beg of him to lead them in the way they have not known. The rrgth Pfahn may he a pattern for this. How doth the good, holy foul breath after in- fru&ion in the ways and ordinances, the flames and judgments of God? This I fay they are tender in. Whatever is of Christ, they willingly fob- !nit unto, accept elf and give up themfelves to the conflant praftife hereof. Whatever comes on any other account they refufe. (a.) Cltrift
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=