The light of Nature shews that there is a God, who hath Lordship, and Soveraigntye over all; is just, good, and doth good unto all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the Heart, and all the Soul, and with all the Might. But the acceptable way of Worshipping the true God, isa instituted by himself; and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be Worshipped according to the imaginations, and devices of Men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, orb any other way, not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.c
Religious Worship is to be given to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and to him alone; not to Angels, Saints, or any othera Creatures; and since the fall, not without ab Mediator, nor in the Mediation of any other butc Christ alone.d
Prayer with thanksgiving, being one special par of natural worship, is by God required of all men. But that it may be accepted, it is to be made in thea Name of the Son, by the helpb of the Spirit, according toc his Will; with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and when with others, in ad known tongue.e
Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter; but nota for the dead, nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinnedb the sin unto death.c
The reading of the Scriptures, Preaching, anda hearing the word of God, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual songs, singing with grace in our Hearts tob the Lord; as also the Administrationc of Baptism, andd the Lords Supper are all parts of Religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover solemn humiliatione with fastings; and thanksgiving uponf special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner.g
Neither Prayer, nor any other part of Religious worship, is now under the Gospel tied unto, or made more acceptable by, any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed; but God is to be worshipped every where in Spirit, and in truth; as ina private familiesb daily, andc in secret each one by himself, so more solemnly in the publick Assemblies, which are not carelessely, nor willfully, to bed neglected, or forsaken, when God by his word, or providence calleth thereunto.e
As it is of the Law of nature, that in general a proportion of time by Gods appointment, be set a part for the Worship of God; so by his Word in a positive-moral, and perpetual Commandement, binding all men, in all Ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a Sabbath to be kept holy unto him, which from the beginning of the World to the Resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the weeka which is called the Lords day; and is to be continued to the end of the World, as the Christian Sabbath; the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.b
a. Exodus 20:8
Exodus 20:8
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
b. 1 Corinthians 16:1–2; Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10
The Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all the day, from their own works, words, and thoughts, about their wordly employment, and recreations, but also are taken up the whole time in the publick and private exercises of his worship, and in the dutiesa of necessity and mercy.b
