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It is exprefsly declared, that Judgments are prepared for Scorners, and Stripes for the Back of Fools. Prov. xix. 29. and there have been Inftances of God's Indignation against fuch Offenders For (as it is faid, in Ifa. xxix. 30.) The terrible One is brought to nought, and the Scorner is confumed, and all that watch for Iniquity are cut off. God will magnify his Word above all his Name.

If there is any Error or Mistake in these Letters, it is mine; and thofe Things which are true and ufeful in them, I collected from the Holy Scriptures: And I earnestly pray that God, the God of all Grace, who delighteth not in the Death of the Wicked, and has demonftrated his Willingnefs to be reconciled to finful Men, and difplayed his amazing Love, by fending his only begotten and beloved Son into the World, that whofoever believeth in him, fhould not perish, but have everlasting Life: I earneftly pray that he will blefs, and profper these Endeavours to the faving Benefit, and great Comfort of thofe, who fhall read them; Amen, for the Sake of Jefus Chrift who is worthy, Amen.

Pfal. viii. 1, 2. O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy Name in all the Earth! Who haft thy Glory above the Heavens.

Out of the Mouth of Babes, and Sucklings haft thou ordained Strength, because of thine Enemies, that thou mightest ftill the Enemy, and the Avenger.

Therefore bleffed and praised be thy Name, O LORD; because in fo doing the more illustrious is thy Power, and the greater is thy Glory.

Luke ii. 14. Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth Peace, Good-will towards Men.

LET

LETTER X.

Containing an Answer to the Question, viz. Whether the publick Reading the Holy Scriptures on the Lord's Days, is an Ordinance of divine Appointment, and a Part of the Worship, which God requires from his People?

HE Question being about a Cus tom, or Practice ufed in the publick Worship of God in many Congregations of Chriflians, and in many others not ufed; it is of great Moment to enquire what is

the Will of God concerning it.

There are two divine Laws, which will lead us to a right Determination, viz.

1. The Firft is in Deut. iv. 2. where God the fupreme Lawgiver, faid, YE SHALL NOT ADD TO THE WORD WHICH I COMMAND YOU, NEITHER SHALL YOU DIMINISH OUGHT FROM IT; THAT YE MAY KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD YOUR GOD.

As

As if it had been faid, that ye may keep them pure, and intire, without any Addition to, or Diminution from them.

II. The other is in Deut. xii. 32. where our holy God faid, WHAT THING SOEVER I COMMAND YOU, OBSERVE TO DO IT: THOU SHALT NOT ADD THERETO, NOR DIMINISH FROM IT.

Thefe Laws have never been repealed: No; but they are obligatory, in all Ages, and in all Places The Reafons of them are always the fame; and no Creatures, neither Men, nor Angels, have a Power paramount, or fuperior to that of the glorious Creator, nor Authority to alter, to add to, or take away any Thing from what the most high God has commanded, who can crush Angels, and Men into nothing, as eafily as he made thein: And therefore the moft wife, the most potent, and the most exalted among Angels or Men, fhould never dare to change, or prefume to mend the Ordinances he has appointed.

O my Soul! Dread the being a Tranfgreffor of the mentioned Laws! If I fhould make any Addition to the Things which the LORD hath commanded; would it not fignify, that I think them defective? And if I lay afide the Ufe of any one of his Ordinances, does it not denote, that I think it needlefs; that I think it would have been better if it had not been enjoined ? And as to both thefe Ways of Acting, are they not an Impeachment of the divine Wisdom, and an Ufurpation of the divine Authority? Dreadful Imagination! to think of mending any of the Inftitutions of the infinitely wife, and holy God!

Horrid Thoughts! Horrid Thoughts! LORD evermore preserve me from them, and keep me

from

from complying with any Alteration of thine Ordinances! And enable me always to keep them pure, and intire! Amen, for the Sake of Jefus Christ, and for the Sake of thy great Name.

If the publick Reading the Holy Scriptures in the Affemblies of Chriftians for the Worship of God, be an Addition to the Things, which the Lord hath commanded; if it is a Thing, he would not have to be done, it should be laid afide in every Congregation of his People:

But, if on fearching the Holy Scriptures, it fhall appear, that the Reading them in the worshiping Affemblies of Chriftians on the Lord's Days, is an Ordinance which God has appointed, and what he will have to be done, then it ought to be done in every Congregation of Chriftians on thofe holy Days; and the Neglect of it, is a manifeft Tranfgreffion of the Laws mentioned.

I may further obferve, that if this Practice of publick Reading the Sacred Scriptures is an Ordinance of God, and Part of the Worship he requires from his People, then Sermons and the other Parts of the holy Service should be so shortned, as to allow Time for a fufficient Ufe of it.

Now in Answer to the QUESTION, although the publick Worship of God confifts of feveral Parts; it will be fufficient, in regard to our Subject, if I take Notice of the two following, viz.

1. That the publick Worship, confifts in folemn Addreffes to God: When Chriftians join together in offering up at the Throne of Grace in the Name of Chrift, our glorious Mediator, Petitions, and Supplications for Grace, Mercies and Bleffings, for themselves and others: These Prayers fignify a Senfe of God's Knowledge of all the Wants of his People, and of his Power and Goodness to fupply them.

Thus

Thus Thanksgivings for Benefits received by us, and by others, are Acts of Worship, as they fignify and express to God, grateful Acknowledgments of his Mercy manifefted by his bestowing

them.

And thus all Expreffions to God, which denote a ferious Sense of his glorious Attributes, and those which are expreffive of a filial Fear of him, and of our Love to him, our Trust and Hope in him, and our Refolution (by the Help of his holy Spirit) to ferve and obey him, are Acts of religious Worship: There is no Doubt of all this.

2. The Worship of God confifts in a serious Attention and Regard to what He Speaketh unto

us.

The great God fpeaketh unto Men by the Holy Scriptures, by his Word read, and by his Word preached.

God gives us leave to speak unto him, as in the fore-mentioned Part of his Worship, and we fhould rejoice that he condefcends to fpeak unto us; and we should know, that he commands us to hear him.

A serious attentive Hearing his Word, that is, his Holy Scriptures, is expreffive of Reverence to him, and of our Regard to his Authority, and to the Doctrines, the Precepts, the Promises and Threatnings of his Word, and to the Records of his Providence, contained in the hiftorical Parts of it.

This is a very important Part of the Worship we owe to God, the Good of our Salvation, as will appear from the Revelation he has made of his Will.

In Exod. xxxiv. 7. We are informed that, Mofes took the Book of the Covenant, and read it

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