Shepard - Houston-Packer Collection BV4500 .S43 1657

for a time o fLiberty. fore he is not a fufficient means ofguiding, and laving, and ruling his people. Nay, this I will adde ; let there be any invention added ro the worfhip of God, that's meetly the will of man ; nothing elfe, but only this I would have ye do it; they are Inch things as do neither make a man better nor worfe, but only ufe them, and ye are commanded to ufe them, and nothing but the will of man : This is to let up a new Chrift, and to pull down the power of Chrift Jefus, to fubmit herein to the autho- rity of man, meetly becaufe of the will ofman, that there is nothing teen but his will : There is ('it may be ) nei- ther good nor hurt in it; It is to make that man a God and Chrift; it is peculiar to Chrift to do ir, and this do's pull down the Lord Jefus Chrift from his throne ; when there is adding to the worfhip of the Lord. 1 need not I fuppofe fpeak any thing this way ; Only remember to be watchfull againft this ; when the Lord Both fend ten- cations this way into Churches, or into anyplace; be watchfull againft new inventions of men to be addedor made; they are very fimfull ; and if ye ask mewhen we (hall look for fuch times; I need not go far from my Test. It is laid, that Rehoboam and all thepeople walled in the worfhipof the Lord threeyears ; but in one year, Rehoboam and all the people fell off from the worfhip of the Lord. ' O therefore take heed of this, when the mutation comes: a. When the Lord bows the hearts of thofe in authority; menòt eminency to fall this way, then multitudes follow; as, verf. i . Rehoboam finned and Ifrael with him. 2.When petfecution arifeth for the truth, Gal. 5 12. They mull be circumcifed to avoidperfecution, 3. When mens hearts are furfetted with the Ordinances of God,and weary of them; when the Ordinances of the Lord Jefus Chrift, men find no benefit by them, the heart of man will then be ma. king out after fome thing of its own; then we muft lock for Apoftles,Prophets, and Evangelifts, and this curiofity, and the other nicity; then a conceit and imaginary picture ofa mans own, is more heautifull than all Gods Ordinan- ces befides, and all Religion is placed there; it may be in extending too far any Ordinance it felt, though is may teem little at fiat ; yet when it is thus, then look for evil times. 3. When as a people leek to abolifh and deftroy any Ordinance of Chrif}, but efpedally ifon this ground ; A 2 either 3S

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