Part 35

I answer, _First_, This cannot be objected by any Sort of _Christians_ that I know, because there are none who use not other Prayers, or that limit their Worship to this. _Secondly_, This was commanded to the Disciples, while yet weak, before they had received the Dispensation of the Gospel; not that they should only use it in praying, but that he might shew them by one Example how that their Prayers ought to be short, and not like the long Prayers of the Pharisees. And that this was the Use of it, appears by all their Prayers, which divers Saints afterwards made use of, whereof the Scripture makes mention; for none made use of this, neither repeated it, but used other Words, according as the Thing required, and as the Spirit gave Utterance. _Thirdly_, That this ought to be so understood, appears from _Rom._ viii. 26. of which afterwards Mention shall be made at greater Length, where the Apostle saith, _We know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh Intercession for us_, &c. But if this Prayer had been such a prescribed Form of Prayer to the _Church_, that had not been true, neither had they been ignorant what to pray, nor should they have needed the Help of the Spirit to teach them.

§. XI. [Sidenote: _Whatever Man does act without the Power of God, is not accepted._] For there are _two contrary Powers_ or _Spirits_, to wit, the _Power_ and _Spirit of this World_, in which the Prince of Darkness bears Rule, and over as many as are acted by it, and work from it; and the _Power_ or _Spirit of God_, in which God worketh and beareth Rule, and over as many as act in and from it. So whatever be the Things that a Man thinketh of, or acteth in, however _spiritual_ or _religious_ as to the Notion or Form of them, so long as he acteth and moveth in the natural and corrupt Spirit and Will, and not from, in, and by the Power of God, he sinneth in all, and is not accepted of God. For hence both the [103]_Plowing_ and Praying _of the Wicked is Sin_; as also whatever a Man acts in and from the Spirit and Power of God, having his Understanding and Will influenced and moved by it, whether it be Actions _religious_, _civil_, or even _natural_, he is accepted in so doing in the Sight of God, and is [104]_blessed in them_. From what is said it doth appear how frivolous and impertinent their _Objection_ is, that say they _wait upon God in Praying and Preaching_, since _Waiting_ doth of itself imply a _passive Dependence_, rather than an _acting_. [Sidenote: _To pray and preach without the Spirit is Offence to God._] And since it is, and shall yet be more shewn, that _Preaching_ and _Praying_ without the Spirit is an Offending of God, not a Waiting upon him, and that _Praying_ and _Preaching_ by the Spirit pre-supposes necessarily a _silent Waiting_ to feel the Motions and Influence of the Spirit to lead thereunto; and _Lastly_, that in several of these Places where Praying is commanded, as _Matt._ xxvi. 41. _Mark_ xiii. 33. _Luke_ xxi. 36. 1 _Peter_ iv. 7. Watching is specially prefixed as a previous Preparation thereunto; we do well and certainly conclude, that since _Waiting_ and _Watching_ are so particularly commanded and recommended, and cannot be truly performed but in this _inward Silence_ of the Mind from Men’s own Thoughts and Imaginations, this _Silence_ is and must necessarily be a special and principal Part of _God’s Worship_.

[103] Prov. 21. 4.

[104] Ja. 1. 25.

§. XII. [Sidenote: II.] [Sidenote: _This _silent Waiting_ the Devil cannot counterfeit._] But _Secondly_, The _Excellency_ of this _silent Waiting upon God_ doth appear, in that it is impossible for the _Enemy_, viz. the _Devil_, to counterfeit it, so as for any Soul to be deceived or deluded by him in the Exercise thereof. Now in all other Matters he may mix himself with the natural Mind of Man, and so by _transforming_ himself he may deceive the Soul, by busying it about Things perhaps innocent in themselves, while yet he keeps them from beholding the _pure Light of Christ_, and so from knowing distinctly their Duty, and doing of it. For that envious Spirit of Man’s eternal Happiness knoweth well how to accommodate himself, and fit his Snares for all the several Dispositions and Inclinations of Men; if he find one not fit to be engaged with gross Sins, or worldly Lusts, but rather averse from them, and religiously inclined, he can fit himself to beguile such a one, by suffering his Thoughts and Imaginations to run upon _spiritual Matters_, and so hurry him to work, act, and meditate in his own Will. For he well knoweth that so long as _Self_ bears Rule, and the _Spirit of God_ is not the principal and chief Actor, Man is not put out of his Reach; [Sidenote: _Altar, Prayers, Pulpit, Study, cannot shut the Devil out._] so therefore he can accompany the _Priest_ to the _Altar_, the _Preacher_ to the _Pulpit_, the _Zealot_ to his _Prayers_, yea, the _Doctor_ and _Professor of Divinity_ to his _Study_, and there he can chearfully suffer him to labour and work among his Books, yea, and help him to find out and invent subtile Distinctions and Quiddities, by which both his Mind, and others through him, may be kept from heeding _God’s Light in the Conscience_, and waiting upon him. There is not any Exercise whatsoever, wherein he cannot enter, and have a chief Place, so as the Soul many Times cannot discern it, except in this alone: For he can only work in and by the natural Man, and his Faculties, by secretly acting upon his Imaginations and Desires, _&c._ and therefore, when he (to wit, the natural Man) is silent, there he must also stand. And therefore when the Soul comes to this _Silence_, and as it were is brought to Nothingness, as to her own Workings, then the Devil is shut out; for the _pure Presence of God_ and _Shining_ of his _Light_ he cannot abide, because so long as a Man is thinking and meditating as of himself, he cannot be sure, but the Devil is influencing him therein; but when he comes wholly to be silent, as the _pure Light of God_ shines in upon him, then he is sure that the Devil is shut out; for beyond the Imaginations he cannot go, which we often find by sensible Experience. For he that of old is said to have come to the _Gathering together_ of the _Children of God_, is not wanting to come to our _Assemblies_. And indeed he can well enter and work in a Meeting, that is silent only as to Words, either by keeping the Minds in various Thoughts and Imaginations, or by stupifying them, so as to overwhelm them with a Spirit of Heaviness and Slothfulness: But when we retire out of all, and are turned in, both by being _diligent_ and _watchful_ upon the one Hand, and also _silent_ and _retired_ out of all our Thoughts upon the other, as we abide in this sure Place, we feel ourselves out of his Reach. Yea, oftentimes the _Power_ and _Glory_ of God will break forth and appear, just as the bright Sun through many Clouds and Mists, to the Dispelling of that Power of Darkness; which will also be sensibly felt, seeking to cloud and darken the Mind, and wholly to keep it from _purely waiting_ upon God.

§. XIII. [Sidenote: III.] [Sidenote: _The Worship of the_ Quakers _not stopt or interrupted by Men or Devils._] _Thirdly_, The _Excellency_ of this _Worship_ doth appear, in that it can neither be stopt nor interrupted by the Malice of Men or Devils, as all others can. Now Interruptions and Stoppings of Worship may be understood in a twofold Respect, either as we are hindered from _meeting_, as being outwardly by Violence separated one from another; or when permitted to _meet together_, as we are interrupted by the Tumult, Noise, and Confusion which such as are malicious may use to molest or distract us. Now in both these Respects, this Worship doth greatly surpass all others: For how far soever People be separate or hindered from coming together, yet as every one is inwardly gathered to the Measure of _Life_ in himself, there is a secret Unity and Fellowship enjoyed, which the Devil and all his Instruments can never break or hinder. But, _Secondly_, It doth as well appear, as to those Molestations which occur, when we are met together, what Advantage this _true_ and _spiritual Worship_ gives us beyond all others; seeing in Despite of a thousand Interruptions and Abuses, one of which were sufficient to have stopt all other Sorts of _Christians_, we have been able, through the Nature of this _Worship_, to keep it uninterrupted as to God, and also at the same Time to shew forth an Example of our _Christian Patience_ towards all, even oftentimes to the Reaching and Convincing of our Opposers. For there is no Sort of Worship used by others which can subsist (though they be permitted to meet) unless they be either authorized and protected by the Magistrate, or defend themselves with the Arm of Flesh: But we at the same Time exercise Worship towards God, and also patiently bear the Reproaches and Ignominies which _Christ prophesied_ should be so incident and frequent to Christians. [Sidenote: _The _Worship_ of the Papists soon interrupted._] For how can the _Papists_ say their _Mass_, if there be any there to disturb and interrupt them? Do but take away the _Mass-book_, the _Chalice_, the _Host_, or the _Priest’s Garments_, yea, do but spill the _Water_, or the _Wine_, or blow out the _Candles_ (a Thing quickly done) and the whole Business is marred, and no Sacrifice can be offered. [Sidenote: _The _Protestants_ the like, and _Anabaptists.] Take from the _Lutherans_ or _Episcopalians_ their _Liturgy_ or _Common-Prayer-Book_, and no Service can be said. Remove from the _Calvinists_, _Arminians_, _Socinians_, _Independents_, or _Anabaptists_, the _Pulpit_, the _Bible_, and the _Hour-glass_, or make but such a Noise as the Voice of the _Preacher_ cannot be heard, or disturb him but so before he come, or strip him of his _Bible_ or his _Books_, and he must be dumb: For they all think it an Heresy to wait to speak as the Spirit of God giveth Utterance; and thus easily their whole Worship may be marred. But when People meet together, and their Worship consisteth not in such outward Acts, and they depend not upon any one’s Speaking, but merely sit down to wait upon God, and to be gathered out of all Visibles, and to feel the Lord in Spirit, none of these Things can hinder them, of which we may say of a Truth, _We are sensible Witnesses_. [Sidenote: _The Sufferings of the _Quakers_ for their religious Meetings._] For when the _Magistrates_, stirred up by the Malice and Envy of our Opposers, have used all Means possible (and yet in vain) to deter us from meeting together, and that openly and publickly in our own hired Houses for that Purpose, both Death, Banishments, Imprisonments, Finings, Beatings, Whippings, and other such devilish Inventions, have proved ineffectual to terrify us from our _holy Assemblies_. And we having, I say, thus oftentimes purchased our Liberty to meet, by _deep Sufferings_, our Opposers have then taken another Way, by turning in upon us the worst and wickedest People, yea, the very Off-scourings of Men, who by all manner of _inhuman, beastly_, and _brutish Behaviour_, have sought to provoke us, weary us, and molest us, but in vain. It would be almost incredible to declare, and indeed a Shame, that among Men pretending to be _Christians_, it should be mentioned, what Things of this Kind Men’s Eyes have seen, and I myself, with others, have shared of in Suffering! There they have often beaten us, and cast Water and Dirt upon us; there they have danced, leaped, sung, and spoken all manner of profane and ungodly Words; offered Violence and shameful Behaviour to grave Women and Virgins; jeered, mocked and scoffed, asking us, _If the Spirit was not yet come?_ And much more, which were tedious here to relate: And all this while we have been seriously and silently sitting together, and waiting upon the Lord. So that by these Things our inward and spiritual Fellowship with God, and one with another, in the _pure Life of Righteousness_, hath not been hindered. But on the contrary, the Lord knowing our Sufferings and Reproaches for his Testimony’s Sake, hath caused his Power and Glory more to abound among us, and hath mightily refreshed us by the Sense of his Love, which hath filled our Souls; and so much the rather, as we found ourselves gathered into the _Name of the Lord_, which is the [105]_strong Tower of the Righteous_; whereby we felt ourselves sheltered from receiving any inward Hurt through their Malice: And also that he had delivered us from that vain Name and Profession of _Christianity_, under which our Opposers were not ashamed to bring forth those bitter and cursed Fruits. Yea, sometimes in the Midst of this Tumult and Opposition, God would _powerfully move_ some or other of us by his Spirit, both to testify of that _Joy_, which notwithstanding their Malice we enjoyed, and powerfully to declare, in the Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit, against their _Folly_ and _Wickedness_; so as the Power of Truth hath brought them to some Measure of Quietness and Stillness, and stopt the impetuous Streams of their _Fury_ and _Madness_: [Sidenote: The _Rod_ of _Moses_ divided the _Sea: The Spirit maketh Way through the raging Waves._] That even as of old _Moses_ by his Rod divided the Waves of the Red Sea, that the _Israelites_ might pass; so God hath thus by his _Spirit_ made a Way for us in the Midst of this _raging Wickedness_, peaceably to enjoy and possess him, and accomplish our _Worship_ to him: So that sometimes upon such Occasions several of our _Opposers_ and _Interrupters_ have hereby been convinced of the _Truth_, and gathered from being _Persecutors_ to be _Sufferers_ with us. [Sidenote: _What brutish Pranks did not that _young Fry_ of the _Clergy_ commit?_] And let it not be forgotten, but let it be inscribed and abide for a constant Remembrance of the Thing, that in these beastly and brutish Pranks, used to molest us in our _spiritual Meetings_, none have been more busy than the _young Students_ of the _Universities_, who were learning _Philosophy_ and _Divinity_ (so called) and many of them preparing themselves for the _Ministry_. Should we commit to Writing all the _Abominations_ committed in this Respect by the _young Fry_ of the _Clergy_, it would make no small Volume; as the _Churches of Christ_, gathered into his pure Worship in _Oxford_ and _Cambridge_ in _England_, and _Edinburgh_ and _Aberdeen_ in _Scotland_, where the _Universities_ are, can well bear Witness.

[105] Prov. 18. 10.

§. XIV. [Sidenote: _How the _Old Covenant-worship_ doth differ from the_ New.] Moreover, in this we know, that we are Partakers of the _New Covenant’s Dispensation_, and _Disciples of Christ_ indeed, sharing with him in that _spiritual Worship_, which is performed in the _Spirit_ and in _Truth_; because as he was, so are we in this World. For the _Old Covenant-worship_ had an outward _Glory, Temple_ and _Ceremonies_, and was full of outward _Splendor_ and _Majesty_, having an outward _Tabernacle_ and _Altar_, beautified with _Gold, Silver_, and _precious Stones_; and their _Sacrifices_ were confined to a particular Place, even the outward _Mount Sion_; and those that prayed, were to pray with their Faces towards that outward _Temple_: And therefore all this was to be protected by an outward Arm. Nor could the _Jews_ peaceably have enjoyed it, but when they were secured from the _Violence_ of their outward _Enemies_: And therefore when at any Time their _Enemies_ prevailed over them, their _Glory_ was darkened, and their _Sacrifices_ stopt; and the _Face_ of their _Worship_ marred: Hence they complain, lament, and bewail the Destroying of the _Temple_, as a Loss irreparable. [Sidenote: _The New Covenant-worship is inward._] But _Jesus Christ_, the Author and Institutor of the _New Covenant-worship_, testifies, that _God_ is neither to be _worshiped_ in this nor that Place, but in the _Spirit_ and in _Truth_: [106]And forasmuch as his _Kingdom is not of this World_, neither doth his _Worship_ consist in it, or need either the _Wisdom_, _Glory_, _Riches_ or _Splendor_ of this World to beautify or adorn it; nor yet the outward _Power_ or _Arm_ of _Flesh_ to maintain, uphold, or protect it; but it is and may be performed by those that are _spiritually-minded_, notwithstanding all the _Opposition_, _Violence_, and _Malice_ of Men; because being purely _spiritual_, it is out of the Reach of natural Men to interrupt or obstruct it. Even as _Jesus Christ_, the Author thereof, did enjoy and possess his _spiritual Kingdom_, while oppressed, persecuted, and rejected of _Men_; and as, in despite of the Malice and Rage of the _Devil_, [107]_he spoiled Principalities and Powers, triumphing over them, and through Death destroyed him that had the Power of Death, that is, the Devil_; so also all his Followers both can and do _worship_ him, not only without the Arm of Flesh to protect them, but even when oppressed. For their _Worship_ being _spiritual_, is by the Power of the Spirit defended and maintained; [Sidenote: _Carnal Worships cannot stand without the Arm of Flesh._] but such _Worships_ as are _carnal_, and consist in _carnal_ and _outward Ceremonies_ and _Observations_, need a carnal and outward Arm to protect and defend them, else they cannot stand and subsist. And therefore it appears, that the several _Worships_ of our _Opposers_, both _Papists_ and _Protestants_, are of this Kind, and not the true _spiritual_ and _New Covenant-worship_ of _Christ_; because, as hath been observed, they cannot stand without the Protection or Countenance of the outward _Magistrate_, neither can be performed, if there be the least Opposition: For they are not in the Patience of _Jesus_, to serve and worship him with _Sufferings_, _Ignominies_, _Calumnies_, and _Reproaches_. And from hence have sprung all those _Wars_, _Fightings_, and _Bloodshed_ among _Christians_, while each by the Arm of Flesh endeavoured to defend and protect their own _Way_ and _Worship_: And from this also sprung up that monstrous Opinion of _Persecution_; of which we shall speak more at length hereafter.

[106] John 18. 36.

[107] Col. 2. 15.

§. XV. [Sidenote: IV. _True Worship in Spirit established by Christ._] But _Fourthly_, The Nature of this Worship, which is performed by the Operation of the _Spirit_, the natural Man being silent, doth appear from these Words of Christ, _John_ iv. 23, 24. _But the Hour cometh, and now is, when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth: For the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in Spirit and in Truth._ This Testimony is the more specially to be observed, for that it is both the _first_, _chiefest_, and _most ample Testimony_, which _Christ_ gives us of his _Christian Worship_, as different and contra-distinguished from that under the _Law_. For first, he sheweth that the Season is now come, wherein the _Worship must be in Spirit and in Truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him_: So then it is no more a Worship consisting in outward Observations, to be performed by Man at set _Times_ or _Opportunities_, which he can do in his own Will, and by his own natural Strength; for else it would not differ in Matter, but only in some Circumstances from that under the _Law_. [Sidenote: _The Reason Christ gives for a _Worship_ in _Spirit.] Next, as for a Reason of this _Worship_, we need not give any other, and indeed none can give a better than that which _Christ_ giveth, which I think should be sufficient to satisfy every _Christian_, to wit, GOD IS A SPIRIT, _and they that worship him, must worship him in Spirit and in Truth_. As this ought to be received, because it is the Words of _Christ_, so also it is founded upon so clear a Demonstration of Reason, as sufficiently evidenceth its _Verity_. For Christ excellently argues from the _Analogy_ that ought to be betwixt the _Object_, and the _Worship_ directed thereunto:

[Sidenote: Arg.] _God is a Spirit_:

Therefore _he must be worshipped in_ Spirit.

This is so certain, that it can suffer no Contradiction; yea, and this Analogy is so necessary to be minded, that under the _Law_, when God instituted and appointed that ceremonial Worship to the _Jews_, because that Worship was outward, that there might be an _Analogy_, he saw it necessary to condescend to them as in a special Manner, to dwell betwixt the _Cherubims_ within the _Tabernacle_, and afterwards to make the _Temple_ of _Jerusalem_ in a Sort his Habitation, and cause something of an _outward Glory_ and _Majesty_ to appear, by causing Fire from _Heaven_ to consume the _Sacrifices_, and filling the _Temple_ with a _Cloud_: [Sidenote: _The Glory of the outward Temple._] Through and by which _Mediums_, visible to the outward Eye, he manifested himself proportionably to that outward Worship which he had commanded them to perform. So now under the _New Covenant_, he seeing meet in his heavenly Wisdom to lead his Children in a Path more _heavenly_ and _spiritual_, and in a Way more easy and familiar, and also purposing to disappoint _carnal_ and _outward Observations_, that his may have an Eye more to an _inward Glory_ and _Kingdom_ than to an _outward_, he hath given us for an Example hereof the Appearance of his beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, [Sidenote: _As _Moses_ did from outward, so _Christ_ delivers us from inward Slavery._] who (as _Moses_ delivered the _Israelites_ out of their _outward Bondage_, and by _outwardly destroying_ their Enemies) hath delivered and doth deliver us by suffering, and dying by the Hands of his _Enemies_; thereby triumphing over the _Devil_, and his and our inward _Enemies_, and delivering us therefrom. He hath also instituted an _inward_ and _spiritual Worship_: So that God now tieth not his People to the _Temple_ of _Jerusalem_, nor yet unto outward _Ceremonies_ and _Observations_; but taketh the Heart of every _Christian_ for a _Temple_ to dwell in; and there immediately appeareth, and giveth him Directions how to serve him in any outward Acts. Since, as Christ argueth, _God is a Spirit_, he will now be worshipped in the Spirit, where he reveals himself, and dwelleth with the _contrite in Heart_. Now, since it is the _Heart of Man_ that now is become the _Temple of God_, in which he will be worshipped, and no more in particular outward Temples, (since, as blessed _Stephen_ said, out of the Prophet, to the professing _Jews_ of old, _The most High dwelleth not in Temples made with Hands_) as before the _Glory of the Lord_ descended to fill the outward Temple, it behoved to be purified and cleansed, and all polluted Stuff removed out of it; yea, and the Place for the Tabernacle was overlaid with Gold, the most precious and cleanest of Metals; so also before God be worshipped in the inward Temple of the Heart, it must also be purged of its own Filth, and all its own Thoughts and Imaginations, that so it may be fit to receive the Spirit of God, and to be actuated by it. And doth not this directly lead us to that _inward Silence_, of which we have spoken, and exactly pointed out? And further, This Worship must be _in Truth_; intimating, that this spiritual Worship, thus actuated, is only and properly a true Worship; as being that which, for the Reasons above observed, cannot be counterfeited by the Enemy, nor yet performed by the Hypocrite.