DISSERTATION III. 237 has written, both in his "-first, and second defence of the que- ries," perhaps he may find, that he has well vindicated the sole right of the supreme God to all religious worship ; therefore I shall refer to his writings, rather than rehearse them here: That learned author stands in no need of my assistance to defend his arguments., The appellant gives us another idea of religious worship, for it seems to him, that " religious worship imports our expres- sing á tlependende.ois, or making acknowledgment to some other being as superior to man. There might be the same outward signs of this worship, as of civil respect,suçh as bowing, kneel. jog,. &c. And there might be the same immediate acts, as ask- ing favours, returning thanks, &c. which, no doubt, are allow- able between man and man ; but all direct expressions of respect and homage toother beings, as of a superior nature, and having power over us; ,whether visible or invisible, I take to be properly religious worship. And this was forbidden absolutely under the Old Testament : This would have been accounted the worship- ping.another god, though they did not acknowledge the being they worshipped to be supreme, eternal, immutable, &c. which indeed, in most instances, could never be supposed." Appeal. I cannot say I am fully satisfied with this account ofreli- gious worship ; for if an angel should bring me a message, or command from heaven, would it be unlawful to ask him to ex- plain it by hissuperior knowledge ? Or, to desire him toreturn again, and give me some help toward the performance of it ? Or to make a thankful acknowledgment to him for his angelical service and condescension to converse with me ? I confess these, things do not express a direct dependence on this angel in dis- tinction from God, nor any acknowledgment of such dependence on him, any further than merely as as a divine messenger, and therefore these, perhaps, may not arise to this author's idea of religious worship*. But however let us now take this idea of worship which the appellaït himself has proposed, and state it thus more at large, andI think according to his meaning. Religious worship is " honour more than human, paid to some beingon the account of some supposed excellencies, or. * I acknowledge it is a more difficult, and a more important thing, than I heretofore imagined, to ascertain the precise idea of religious worship. And since it seems manifest in scripture, that it is appropriate to God, I take the liberty with my ownwritings, to r.:tract that sentence in my book of the Trinity. " IF there be any msrecreature t,, whom I can communicate the knowledge of roy wants, &-. the light of reason and scripture leadme to address him." And that sentence also, " The very reason of things leads an to adore him." Aod I give thanks to the"appellant, wile' has convinced me that these expressions are uncautious and unguarded. Though according to the method of controversial writers, who mein. renounce all retractions, 1 might have pretence to colour them over s But I chuse'to stand corrected.
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