Section 13: Of the Excellency of Christian Precepts; and 1. about the Worship of God.

Book 1 Section 13 (p. 21-22):
Of the Excellency of Christian Precepts; and 1. about the Worship of God.

The next thing wherein Christian Religion excels all other, that are, or have been, is the exceeding sanctity of Precepts, both in things pertaining to the Worship of God, and the rest. The Pagan Rites almost all the World over, as Porphiry shews at large, and the Sea-Voyages of our Time to confirm, were full of Cruelty: For in most places the custom was, to appease their Gods with humane Blood; a custom which neither the Grecian Learning, nor the Roman Laws took away. And their most Sacred Mysteries (as they suppose them) either of Ceres, or Liber Pater, were most full of all obscenity, as appeared after the Veil of their secrecy was taken away. Which Clement Alexandrinus, and other, largely declare. Moreover, the days consecrate to the honour of their Gods, were celebrated with such spectacles, as Cato was ashamed to be present at.

Now though the Judiack Religion had in it nothing unlawful or undecent, yet to keep the People, who were prone to Idolatry, from departing from the Truth, it was encumbred with many Precepts of such things as of themselves were neither good nor evil, namely, slaying of Beasts, Circumcision, the exact Rest of the Sabbath, and the interdiction of sundry sorts of Meats. Some whereof the Mahumetans have borrowed, adding to them the prohibition of Wine.

But the Christian Religion teacheth to worship God, the purest Spirit, with Spiritual Purity, and with such Works, as of their own Nature, without any Command, are most fit to be done, John 4.24. Rom 12.1. And yet containeth a few solemn Rites by command from Heaven, to commemorate the Love of God in the Gift of his Son; and for Christians to express their Unity and Communion in the Mystery of the Gospel. It commandeth not the Flesh to be Circumcised, but the Lusts of the Flesh. Rom. 2.28, 29. Phil. 3.3. Not to cease from all Work, but that which is unlawful, and yet to employ much time in the Worship of God. Not to offer unto God the Blood or Fat of Beasts; but if need be, to sacrifice our own Blood for a Testimony to his Truth; and to believe what we give of our Estates to the Poor, to be given to God, Matth. 6.4. Not to abstain from certain kinds of Meats and Drinks, but to use both with that moderation, which is convenient for our Health; And somewhat by Fasting, to subdue the Body to the Soul, that it may be better raised to things above. But the Chief part of Christian Religion is placed in a pious Confidence, whereby we being composed to faithful Obedience, rely wholly upon God, and without doubting believe his Promises; whence also Hope springs, and sincere Love, both to God and our Neighbour, so that we observe his Laws not servilely, for fear of punishment, but to please him, and to have him according to his infinite Goodness our Father and Rewarder. Moreover, we are commanded to pray, not that we may obtain Riches, or Honours, or other secular things, that have proved hurtful to those that have desired them; but first, to pray for such things as more immediately relate to the Glory of God, as that his Name may not be prophaned, but hallowed or sanctified; that his Kingdom may be advanced in Righteousness, and perfected in its Glory; That his Will may be done, and not ours, but that we in all things may be subject to him. And for ourselves, we are allowed to pray for so much of this Worlds goods as Nature wants, leaving the rest to Divine Providence, not over-much caring which way God shall dispose them. But the things which lead to Eternity, those we are taught to ask with all ferventness, that is, pardon of our Sins past, the aid of the Spirit for time to come, whereby fortified against all Errors and Temptations, we may persevere in the way of Piety to the end. This is briefly the Worship of God in Christian Religion, than which certainly nothing can be devised more worthy of God.