Q12. What to Attend to in Celebrating God's Worship

Qu. 12. What is principally to be attended to by us in the manner of the celebration of the worship of God, and observation of the institutions and ordinances of the Gospel?

Answ. That we observe and do all whatever the Lord Christ has commanded us to observe, in the way that he has prescribed; and that we add nothing to, or in the observation of them, that is of man's invention or appointment (Deuteronomy 4:2; chapter 12:32; Jeremiah 7:27; Matthew 15:9, 13; Matthew 17:5; Colossians 2:3; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 3:3, 4, 5, 6; 1 Corinthians 11:23; Revelation 22:18; 1 Chronicles 16:13; Isaiah 29:13).

Explication.

This was in part spoken to before on the third Question, where it was shewed that the Scripture is the only way and means, whereby God has revealed what that worship is, which he will accept in and of the Church. Here, moreover, as to the duty of the Church in this matter, three things are asserted.

First, That we are to observe and do all whatever the Lord Christ has commanded us to observe. This lyes plain in the command (Matthew 28:20): Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you. And we are directed to it in the injunction given us from Heaven, to hear, that is obey him in all things (Matthew 17:5), he being the Prophet to whose teachings and instructions, we owe obedience on pain of extermination from among the people of God (Deuteronomy 18:15; Acts 3:22, 23). Whatever he has appointed, commanded, revealed as the will of God to be observed in or about the worship of God, that is to be kept and observed by the Church inviolably. For if we are his friends and disciples, we will keep his commandments. No disuse of what continuance soever, can discharge us from the observation of institutions. After the Feast of Tabernacles had been disused from the times of Joshua, to the return from the captivity, the restoration of it was required of God and accepted with him (Nehemiah 8:17). No abuse of how high a nature soever can absolve us from obedience to an institution (1 Corinthians 18:19, 20, 21, 22, 23). After the great abuse of the Lord's Supper in that Church, the Apostle recalls them again to the observation of it, according to the institution of Christ. And after the defilement of all the ordinances of the Gospel, under the Anti-Christian apostacy, yet the Temple and the Altar are to be measured again (Revelation 11:1), and the Tabernacle of God was again to be raised among men (Revelation 21:3). No opposition, no persecution, can give the Church a dispensation wholly to omit, and lay aside the use of any thing that the Lord Christ has commanded to be observed in the worship of God, while we are under the obligation of that great rule (Acts 4:19): Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken to you more than to God, judge you. It is true in the observation of positive institutions, we may have regard to rules and prescriptions of prudence, as to times, places, and seasons; that by no inadvertency or miscarriage of ours, or advantage taken by the adversaries of the truth, the edification of the Church be hindered. So the Disciples met with the doors shut for fear of the Jews (John 20:19), and Paul met with the Disciples in the night, in an upper chamber, for the celebration of all the ordinances of the Church (Acts 20:7, 8); yet as to the obligation to their observation, it indispensably binds us, and that always, and that as to all the institutions of Christ whatever (Hebrews 10:25): Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching. To dispense with Christ's commands practically is unlawful; much more doctrinally; most of all authoritatively as the Pope takes on himself to do. This then is the Church's duty, to search out all the commands of Christ recorded in the Gospel, and to yield obedience to them. We are not in this matter, to take up merely with what we find in practice among others, no, though they be men good or holy. The duty of the Church, and consequently of every member of it in his place and station, is to search the Scriptures, to inquire into the mind of Christ, and to find out whatever is appointed by him, or required of his disciples; and that with hearts and minds prepared to a due observation of whatever shall be discovered to be his will.

Secondly, Whatever belongs to the worship of God in the way or manner whereby any of the ordinances of Christ is to be performed, comes also under the command of Christ which is duly to be attended to, and observed. Indeed whatever is of this nature appointed by Christ, it does therefore belong to the worship of God. And what is not so appointed, neither does, nor can be any part thereof. Of this nature are the celebration of all other ordinances with prayer; for every thing is sanctified by the word of God and prayer (1 Timothy 4:5); of some of them indispensably in the assemblies of the Church (1 Corinthians 10:16, 17; chapter 11:20, 24, 25, 33); with care, in the observation of the general rules of love, modesty, condescension and prudence, doing all things decently and in order (1 Corinthians 11:33; chapter 14:40); gestures in some sacred actions (Matthew 26:20, 26; John 13:23). All which the Church is diligently to inquire into, as things that belong to the pattern of the house of God, the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, the forms thereof, and the ordinances thereof, with the laws thereof, promised to be shewed to it (Ezekiel 43:11), to attend carefully to their observation is its duty, being left at liberty as to all other circumstances which no authority of man can give any real relation to the worship of God to. Therein lyes the exercise of that spirit of wisdom, and revelation in the knowledge of the mystery of the Gospel, which is given to the Church (Ephesians 1:17, 18). It was the wisdom of the ancient Church to do and observe all that God appointed in the way and manner that he had prescribed for their observance (Deuteronomy 4:5, 6): Behold I have taught you statutes and judgements even as the Lord my God commanded me; keep therefore and do them, for this is your wisdom and understanding. And herein is the command of Christ kept inviolate and unblameable. The persuasion of some, that the Lord has not prescribed all things wherein his worship is concerned, seems to proceed from a negligence in inquiring after what he has so prescribed: and when once that persuasion is entertained, all farther inquiry is superseded, and despised. For to what end should any one seek after that which he is satisfied cannot be found? As that which is not cannot be. But this mistake will be elsewhere more fully discovered.

Thirdly, A principal part of the duty of the Church in this matter is, to take care that nothing be admitted or practised in the worship of God, or as belonging thereunto, which is not instituted and appointed by the Lord Christ. In its care, faithfulness and watchfulness herein, consists the principal part of its loyalty to the Lord Jesus as the Head, King and Law-giver of his Church; and which to stir us up to, he has left so many severe interdictions and prohibitions in his word against all additions to his commands upon any pretence whatever; of which afterwards.