CHAPTER XXVI.

Worship.

Q. 1. What is meant by Divine worship? A. The paying unto God that homage or veneration, which is due to His perfect and adorable nature.(a)

Q. 2. Is worship a moral or positive duty, or both?

A. Worship, considered in itself, is a moral duty, and is, therefore, taught by the light of nature; but the manner and time of worshipping God are in some respects of a positive nature, and as such are taught by the Scriptures only.

Q. 3. What kinds of worship does God require of man?

A. Public, private or family, and secret worship. These kinds of worship are taught by the light of nature and the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and are congenial to the feelings of good people.(b)

(a) Rev. 4.9-11. And when those beasts give glory and honour, and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth forever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

(b) Ps. 84. 4. Blessed are thev, that dwell in thy house; they will be still praising thee. Ps. 132.7. We will go into his tabernacles; we will worship at his footstool. Jer. 10.

Q. 4. When is public worship to be observed? A. On the Sabbath, and at other times, as circumstances may require and dictate.(c)

Q. 5. What are the services of publick worship? A. They are reading the Sacred Scriptures, preaching the Gospel, prayer, psalmody, the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper.* These services are always to be performed in a known language. The practice, therefore, of the Greek and Latin Churches, in this respect, is not to be justified, but condemned decidedly.(d)

Q. 6. Are all people bound to support publick worship?

A. They are by the most indispensable obligations. Their happiness and prosperity in time, and

25. Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name. Joshua 24. 15. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Matt. 6. 6. But thou when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

(c) Lev. 19. 30. Ye shall keep my sabbath, and reverence my sanctuary; I am the Lord. Joel 1.14. Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders, and all the inhabitants of the land, into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord. Ps. 100. 4. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise, be thankful unto him and bless his name.

their well being in eternity, require it. No people were ever virtuous, happy, and successful, who, for any length of time, did not maintain the worship of God. Besides, God has made it the duty of all men to support, by their contributions, the regular ministrations of the Gospel.(*)

Q. 7. Can persons needlessly absent themselves from the house of God, or publick religious services, without criminality?

A. Certainly not; and they do it at their peril. (f) Q. 8. When is family worship to be observed? A. Morning and evening. This, reason and Revelation teach. In addition, it should be observed, that it is a duty to acknowledge God in a short prayer at the table, before and after refreshments.(5)

(e) 1 Cor. 9. 11, 14. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap of your carnal things? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. Matt. 10.9, 10. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass, in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves, for the workman is worthy of his meat. 1 Tim. 5. 18. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And the labourer is worthy of his reward. Gal. 6. 6. Let him, that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Rom. 15.27. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. 2 Cor. 8. 13, 14. For I mean not that other men be eased, and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their wants, that their abundance also may be a supply for your wants, that there may be equality.

(f) Heb. 10. 25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is.

(g) Ps. 92. 1, 2. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High; to show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night. 1 Tim. 4.3-5. Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them, which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Q. 9. What are the services proper to be performed at the time of family worship, morning and evening?

A. Reading the Scriptures, religious instruction, psalmody, and prayer.(h)

Q. 10. When is secret worship to be observed? A. Certainly, at least, daily. Perhaps the best time is immediately after rising in the morning, and just before retiring in the evening. Uniformity in this religious exercise is very desirable.

Q. 11. What are the reasons for secret worship? A. In secret worship, persons can approach God with more freedom, and unbosom themselves to Him more fully, than in any other way. Besides, there are private personal interests between them and God, sins to confess, woes to bewail, and wants to be supplied, which it would be improper to disclose to the world around them. This service is greatly conducive to a devotional state of mind, and to growth in grace.

Q. 12. What is prayer?

A. It is a suppliant religious address, and implies indigence, desire, and expectation in the person offering it.(i)

Q. 13. What are the obligations to prayer? A. The reasonableness of the duty, the personal good derived from the exercise, the efficacy of

(h) Acts 17 11. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Deut. 6. 6, 7. And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. See Ps. 92. 1,2, in note (g.) Philip. 4. 6. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.

(i) Luke 18. 13. And the Publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

prayer in procuring the blessings desired, and the command of God. It is, therefore, great folly and sin, to neglect this important and imperious duty.(i) Q. 14. To whom should prayer be offered?

A. To God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Prayer may not be offered to the Virgin Mary, nor to any of the canonized saints, nor to angels, nor to any created being whatever, for this would be idolatry; nor may prayer be offered to God, through them as mediators.(k)

Q. 15. In whose name should prayer be offered? A. In the name of Christ. He alone is the medium of intercourse with Heaven. Since the fall, there is no way of access to the throne of mercy, but by a Mediator.(1)

Q. 16. In what manner should God be addressed in prayer?

A. With understanding, solemnity, and reverence, with deep sense of sinfulness and unworthiness, with love, penitence, humility, faith, gratitude, perseverance, and submission to the will of God.(m)

(j) Luke 11. 9. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

(k) Luke 11.2. And he said unto them, when ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 2 Cor. 13. 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Acts 7.59. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Col. 2. 18. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind. Rev. 19. 10. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not. I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus; worship God; for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

(1) 1 Tim. 2. 5. For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Eph. 2. 18. For through him we both have an access by one spirit unto the Father,

(m) Ps. 47.7. For God is the King of all the earth; sing ye praises with understanding. Heb. 12. 28. Wherefore,