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requiring of an implicit faith, and an abfolute and blind obedience, is to deflroy liberty of confcience, and reason also".

III. They who, upon pretence of Christian liberty, do practise any fin, or cherish any luft, do thereby destroy the end of Christian liberty; which is, that, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we might ferve the Lord without fear, in holinefs and righteoufnefs before him, all the days of our life".

IV. And because the powers which God hath ordained, and the liberty which Chrift hath purchafed, are not intended by God to deftroy, but mutually to uphold and preferve one another; they who, upon pretence of Chriftian liberty, fhall oppofe any lawful power, or the lawful ex

2. 4. And that because of falfe brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to fpy out our liberty, which we have in Christ Jefus, that they might bring us into bondage. Sce Gal. 5. I.

n ifa. 8, 20. To the law and to the teftimony: if they fpeak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Acts 17. II. These were more noble than thofe in Theffalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and fearched the fcriptures daily, whether thofe things were fo. John 4. 22. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship; for falva

tion is of the Jews. See also Hof, 5. 11. with Rev. 13. 12, 16, 17.

III. o Gal. 5. 13. For, brethren, ye have been called upto liberty; only ufe not liberty for an occafion to the flesh, but by love ferve one another. 1 Pet. 2. 16. As free, and not ufing your liberty for a cloke of malicioufnefs, but as the fervants of God. Luke 1. 74, 75. That he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might ferve him without fear,-in holinefs and righteoufnefs before him, all the days of our life, 2 Pet. 2. 19. John 8. 34.

ercife of it, whether it be civil or ecclefiaftical, refift the ordinance of God". And for their publishing of fuch opinions, or maintaining of fuch practices, as are contrary to the light of nature, or to the known principles of Chriftianity, whether concerning faith, worship or converfation; or to the power of godliness; or fuch erroneous opinions or practices, as, either in their own nature, or in the manner of publishing or maintaining them, are destructive to the external peace and order which Chrift hath eftablished in the church; they may lawfully be

IV. p 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14, 16. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's fake: Whether it be to the king, as supreme;or unto governors, as unto them that are fent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. As free, and not ufing your liberty for a cloke of malicioutnefs, but as the fervants of God. Heb. 13. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and fubmit yourfelves; for they watch for your fouls, as they that must give account: that they may do it with joy, and not with grief; for that is unprofitable for you. See alfo Rom. 13. 1. to the Eth verfe.

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things are worthy of death, not only do the fame, buc have pleasure in them that do them. 1 Cor. 5. I, 5, 11, 13. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and fuch fornication as is not fo much as named amongst the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.-To deliver fuch an one unto Satan for the deftruction of the ficfh, that the fpirit may be faved in the day of our Lord Jefus.-But now I have written unto you, not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with fuch an one, no not to cat. But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among your felves that wicked perfon,

called to account, and proceeded against by the cenfures of the church".

СНАР. XXI.

Of religious Worship, and the Sabbath-Day.

THE

light of nature fheweth that there is a God, who hath lordship and fovereignty over all; is good, and doeth good unto all; and is therefore to be upon, trufted in, and with all the

feared, loved, praifed, called and ferved with all the heart, foul, and with all the mighta.

r 2 Theff. 3. 14. And if any man obey not our word by this epiftle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be afhamed. Tit. 3. 10. A man that is an heretick, after the first and fecond admonition, reject.

1. a Rom. 1. 20. For the invifible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly feen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and godhead; fo that they are without excufe Pfal. 119. 68.

Thou art good, and doeft good; teach me thy ftatutes. Jer. 10.. 7.

Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain; forafmuch as among all the wife men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms there is none like unto thee. Pfal. 1. 23. O love the Lord, all ye his faints; for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Pfal. 18. 3. Rom. 10. 12. Pfal,. 62. 8. Josh. 24. 14. Mark 12. 38.

But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by himself, and fo limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the fuggestions of Satan, under any visible representation or any other way not prescribed in the holy fcripture".

II. Religious worship is to be given to God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost; and to him alone: not to angels, faints or any other creature": and fince the fall, not without a Mediator; nor in the mediation of any other but of Christ alone".

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b Deut. 12. 32. What thing foever I command you, obferve to do it thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. Mat. 15. 9. But in vain do they worship me, teach ing for doctrines the mandments of men. Mat. 4. 9, IO. And faith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.-Then faith Jefus unto him, Get thee hence Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only fhalt thou ferve. See alfo Deut. 15. to the 20th verfe, and Exod. 20. 4, 5, 6.

II. c John 5. 23. That all men fhould honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father which hath fent him. 2 Cor. 13. 14. The grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the

love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen. Mat. 4. 10. Rev. 5. 11, 12, 13.

d Col. 2. 18. I.et no man beguile you of your reward, in a voluntary humility, and worfhipping of angels. Rev. 19. IO. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he faid unto me, See thou do it not; I am thy fellow-fervant, and of thy brethren that have the teftimony of Jefus: worship God: Rom. I. 25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and ferved the creature more than the Creator, who is bleffed for ever. Amen.

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III. Prayer with thanksgiving, being one fpecial part of religious worship, is by God required of all men"; and that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son", by the help of his Spirit', according to his will, with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love and perfeverance'; and, if vocal, in a known tongue".

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IV. Prayer is to be made for things lawful", and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live

the man Chrift Jefus. Eph. 2. 18. For through him we both have accefs by one Spirit unto the Father.

III. f Phil. 4. 6. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and fupplication with thankfgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.

g Pfal. 65. 2. O thou that heareft prayer, unto thee fhall all flesh come.

h John 14. 13, 14. And whatfoever ye shall afk in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye fhall afk any thing in my name, I will do it.

i Rom. 8. 26. Likewife the Spirit alfo helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we fhould pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itfelf maketh interceffion for us, with groanings which cannot be utteréd.

k1 John 5. 14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we afk any thing

according to his will, he hea reth us.

1 Pfal. 47. 7. For God is the King of all the earth: fing ye praifes with understanding. Heb. 12. 28. Let us have grace whereby we may ferve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Gen. 18. 27.have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but duft and afhes. Jam, 5. 16.— The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Eph. 6. 18. Praying always with all prayer and fupplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perfeverance and fupplication for all faints. See allo Jam. 1. 6, 7. Mark II. 24. Mat. 6. 12, 14, 15. Col. 4.2.

m 1 Cor. 14. 14. For if I pray in an unknorun tongue, my fpirit prayeth, but my underftanding is unfruitful.

IV. n 1 John 5. 14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask

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