Q. But how then shall tee conceive of God, being a spirit, if we may make no image or resemblance of him ?
, A. We must conceive of him spiritually: viz. (1.) In his attributes, — liis holiness; justice, goodness, which are the beams by which his divine nature shines forth. (2.) We must conceive of him as he is in Christ,
Christ " is the image of the invisible God." Col i. 15. Set the eyes of your faith on Christ, God-man. In Christ we see some sparklings of the divine glory ; in him there is the exact resemblance of all his Father's excellencies. The wisdom, love, and holi- ness of God the Father shine forth in Christ, John xiv. 9., " He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father."
Use 3. If God be a spirit, it shows us, that the more spiritual we grow, the more we grow like to God. How do earth and spirit agree ? Phil. iii. 9. Earthly ones may give for their crest, the mole or tortoise that live in the earth. What resemblance is there between an earthly heart, and him who is a spirit ? The more spiritual any one is, the more like God.
Q. What is it to he spiritual ?
A. To be refined and sublimated, to have the heart still in heaven, to be thinking of God and glory, and to be carried up in a fiery chariot of love to God, — this is to be spiritual : Ps. Ixxiii. 25 , " Whom have I in heaven but thee :" on which Bcza paraphras- ed thus, Apaga terra, vtinam tecwu in ccelo essem ! " O that I were in heaven with thee !" A Christian, who is taken off these earthly things, as the spirits are taken oflT from the lees, hath a noble spiritual soul, and doth most resemble him who is a spi- rit.
Use 4. It shows what that worship is God requires of us, and is most acceptable to him, viz. such a worship as is suitable to his nature, ' s])iritual worship.' John iv. 2 k, " They which worship him, must wor- ship him in spirit and in truth." Spiritual worship is the virgin worship. Though God will have the service of our bodies, — our eyes and hands lifted up, to testify to othere what reverence we have of God's glory and majesty, —yet chiefly he will have the wor- ship of the soul, 1 Cor. vi. 20., " Glorify God in yoxvc body and in your sj)irit." Spirit worship God ])rizeth, because it comes so near to his own nature who is a spirit
Q. What is it to worship God in spirit ?
A. 1. To worship him without ceremo- nies. The ceremonies of the law, which God himself ordained, are now abrogated, and out of date ; Christ the substance being come, the shadows fly away ; and therefore
GOD IS A SPIRIT.
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the apostle calls the leg^al ceremonies 'carnal rites,' Heb. x. 10.; and if vvc may not use those Jewish ceremonies which God did ' once appoint, then not those which he did never appoint.
A. 2. To worship God in spirit, is to wor- ship him, 1 . With faitli in the blood of the Messiah, Heb. xi. 9. ; and, >\ To worship him with the utmost zeal and intenseness of soul, Acts xxvi. 7., " Our twelve tribes instantly serving God day and night," — with intenseness of spirit, — not only con- stantly, but instantly. This is to worship God in sj)irit. The more spiritual any ser- vice is, the nearer it comes to God, who is a s])irit, and the more excellent it is; the spiritual part of duty is the fat of the sacri- fice,— it is the soul and quintessence of re- ligion. The richest cordials are made of spirits, and the best duties are such as are of a spiritual nature. God is a spirit, and will be worshipped in spirit ; it is not pomp of worship, but purity, which God accepts. Repentance is not in the outward severities used to the body, penance, fasting, and chas- tising the body, but it consists in the sacri- fice of a broken heart; thanksgiving doth not stand in church music, the melodv of an organ, but rather in making melody in the heart to the Lord, Eph. v. 19. Prayer is not the tuning the voice into an heartless confession, or telling over a few beads, but it consists in sighs and groans, Rom. viii. 2G. Wlien the fire of fervency is put to the in- cense of prayer, then it ascends as a sweet odour ; that is the true holy M'ater, not that which the pope sprinkles, but what is distilled from the limbeck of a penitent eye. Spirit-worship best pleaseth that God who is a spirit : John iv. 23., " The Father scck- eth such to worship him ;" to shew the great acceptance of such, and how God is delight- ed witJi spiritual worship. This is the sa- voury meat God loves. How few mind this ! Worshipping him who is a spirit, in the spirit, they give him more dregs tlian spirits ; they think it enough to bring their duties, but not their hearts, which hath made God disclaim these very ser\'ices he himself appointed, Isa. i. 12. Ezek. xxxiii. 31. Let us then give God spirit-worship, this best suits with his nature ; a sovereign elixir full of viitue may be given in a few diops ; a