cations of the free Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of.i

II. God alone is lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in any thing contrary to his Word, or beside it, in matters of faith or worship.' So that to believe such doctrines, or to obey such commandments out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience; m and the

profession. Let us therefore come boidly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. x. 19-22. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh; And having a high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

* John vii. 38, 39. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) Rom. v. 5. And hopeth make not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. See 2 Cor. iii. 13, 17, 18.

II. Rom. xiv. 4, 10. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth; yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.-But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. James iv. 12. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy; who art thou that judgest another?

'Acts iv. 19. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. Acts v. 29. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Matt. xxviii. 8-10. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. See 1 Cor. vii. 23; 2 Cor. i. 24; Matt. xv. 9.

m Col. ii. 20, 22, 23. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,-(Which all are to perish with the using ;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have in

requiring of an implicit faith, and an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience, and reason also.n

III. They who, upon pretence of Christian liberty, do practice any sin, or cherish any lust, do thereby destroy the end of Christian liberty; which is, that, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.o

deed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh. Gal. i. 10. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Gal. ii. 4, 5. And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage. To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. Gal. iv. 9, 10. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. Gal. v. 1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

" Rom. xiv. 23. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Isa. viii. 20. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Acts xvii. 11. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. John iv. 22. Ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship; for salvation is of the Jews. Jer. viii. 9. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them? 1 Pet. iii. 15. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. III. Luke i. 74, 75. That he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. Rom. vi. 15. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Gal. v. 13. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 1 Pet. ii. 16. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 2 Pet. iii. 15. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also

IV. And because the powers which God hath ordained, and the liberty which Christ hath purchased, are not intended by God to destroy, but mutually to uphold and preserve one another; they who, upon pretence of Christian liberty, shall oppose any lawful power, or the lawful exercise of it, whether it be civil or ecclesiastical, resist the ordinance of God. P And for their publishing of such opinions, or maintaining of such practices, as are contrary to the light of nature; or to the known principles of Christianity, whether concerning faith, worship, or conversation; or to the power of godliness: or such 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 Christ hath established in the Church: they may lawfully be called to account, and proceeded against by the censures of the Church.9

according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you. See 2 Pet. ii. 19; John viii. 34.

IV. 1 Pet. ii. 13, 14, 16. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well.-As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Heb. xiii. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. See Rom. xiii. 1-8.

9 Matt. xviii. 15-17. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. 2 Thess. iii. 14. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Tit. iii. 10. A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject. 1 Cor. v. 11-13. 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 such a one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put

CHAPTER XXI.

OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP AND THE SABBATH-DAY.

I. THE light of nature showeth that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all; is good, and doeth good unto all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might. a But the acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshiped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture.b

away from among yourselves that wicked person. Rom. xvi. 17. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 2 Thess. iii. 6. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

excuse.

I. a Rom. i. 20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without Psa. cxix. 68. Thou art good, and doest good: teach me thy statutes. Jer. x. 7. Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. Psa. xxxi. 23. O love the LORD, all ye his saints; for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Acts xiv. 17. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. See Psa. xviii. 3; Rom. x. 12; Psa. lxii. 8; Josh. xxiv. 14; Mark xii. 33.

Deut. xii. 32. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. Matt. xv. 9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Matt. iv. 9, 10. And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. John iv. 8, 24. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers

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

III. Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one special part of religious worship, is by God required of all men ; and,

shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Ex. xx. 4-6. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

II. John v. 23. That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son, honoreth not the Father which hath sent him. Matt. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. See Matt. iv. 10; Rev. v. 11-14. d Col. ii. 18. Let no man beguile you of your reward, in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels. Rev. xix. 10. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus worship God. Rom. i. 25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

• John xiv. 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 1 Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Eph. ii. 18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Col. iii. 17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

III. f Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. Col. iv. 2. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.

Psa. lxv. 2. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Psa. lxvii. 3. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the