Fifth Argument.— That which is a means humanly invented for the attaining of an end in divine worship which Christ hath ordained a means for, unto the exclusion of the means so appointed by Christ, is false worship, and not to be complied withal.
The end intended is the edification of the church in the adminis- tration of all its holy ordinances. This the Service-book is ordained and appointed by men for, or it hath no end or use at all. But the Lord Christ hath appointed other means for the attaining the end, as is expressly declared, " He hath given gifts unto men, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body," Eph, iv. 8, 12; that is, in all gospel administrations: but the means ordained by Christ, — namely, the exercise of spiritual gifts in gospel administra- tions, unto the edification of the church, — are excluded, yea, expressly prohibited, in the prescription of this liturgical worship. The pre- tence of men's liberty to use their gifts in prayer before their ser- mons, and in preaching, is ridiculed; they are excluded in all the solemn worship of the church.
Sixth Argument. — That which hath been and is obstructive of
252 TWELVE ARGUMENTS AGAINST ANY CONFORMITY.
the edification of the church, if it be in religious worship, it is false worship, for the end of all true worship is edification; but such hath been and is this liturgical worship; for, —
1. It putteth an utter stop to the progress of the reformation in this nation, fixing bounds to it that it could never pass.
2. It hath kept multitudes in ignorance.
3. It hath countenanced and encouraged many in reviling and re- proaching the Holy Spirit and his work.
4. It hath set up and warranted an ungifted ministry.
5. It hath made great desolations in the church: — (1.) In the silencing of faithful and painful ministers ; (2.) In the ruin of fami- lies innumerable; (3.) In the destruction of souls!
It is not lawful to be participant in these things, yea, the glory of our profession lies in our testimony against them.
Seventh Argument. — That practice whereby we condemn the suffering saints of the present age, rendering them false witnesses for God, and the only blamable cause of their own sufferings, is not to be approved ; but such is this practice. And where this is done on a pretence of liberty, without any plea of necessary duty on our part, it is utterly unlawful.
Eighth Argument. — That practice which is accompanied with unavoidable scandal, engaged in only on pretence of liberty, is con- trary to the gospel; but such is our joining in the present public worship.
It were endless to reckon up all the scandals which will ensue hereon. That which respecteth our enemies must not be omitted. Will they not think, will they not say, that we have only falsely and hypocritically pretended conscience for what we do, when we can, on outward considerations, comply with that which is required of us ? Woe to the world because of such offences! — but woe to them also by whom they are given !
Ninth Argument. — That worship which is unsuited to the spirit- ual relish of the new creature, which is inconsistent with the con- duct of the Spirit of God in prayer, is unlawful ; for the nature, use, and benefit of prayer are overthrown hereby in a great measure.
Now, let any one consider what are the promised aids of the Holy Spirit with respect unto the prayers of the church, whether as to the matter of them, or as to the ability for their performance, or as to the manner of it, and he shall find that they are all rejected and excluded by this form of worship, comprising (as is pretended) the whole matter, limiting the whole manner, and giving all the abilities for prayer that are needful or required ; and this hath been proved at laj"ge.
Tenth Argument. — That which overthrows and dissolves our
TWELVE ARGUMENTS AGAINST ANY CONFORMITY. 253
churcli-covenant, as unto the principal end of it, is, as unto us, unlawful.
This end is, the professed joint subjection of our souls and con- sciences unto the authority of Christ, in the observation of all what- ever he commands, and nothing else, in the worship of God. But by this practice this end of the church-covenant is destroyed, and there- by the church-covenant itself is broken, for we do and observe that which Christ hath not commanded ; and while some stand unto the terms of the covenant which others relinquish, it will fill the church with confusion and disorder.
Eleventh Argument. — That which contains a virtual renuncia- tion of our church-state, and of the lawfulness of our ministry and ordinances therein, is not to be admitted or allowed.
But this also is done by the practice inquired into, for it is a pro- fessed conjunction with them in church communion and worship by whom our church state and ordinances are condemned as null. And this judgment they make of what we do, affirming that we are gi'oss dissemblers if, after such a conjunction with them, we return any more into our own assemblies. In this condemnation we do outwardly and visibly join.
Twelfth Argument. — That which depriveth us of the principal plea for the justification of our separation from the church of Eng- land in its present state ought not justly to be received or admitted; but this is certainly done by a supposition of the lawfvilness of this worshij:), and a practice suitable thereunto, as is known to all who are exercised in this case. Many other heads of arguments might be added to the same purpose, if there were occasion.