Fifthly,it is a part of rational worship to speak considerately of God,for it argues a fear of Him,and fear is a confession of His power.Hence followeth,that the name of God is not to be used rashly and to no purpose;for that is as much as in vain:and it is to no purpose unless it be by way of oath,and by order of the Commonwealth,to make judgements certain;or between Commonwealths,to avoid war.And that disputing of God's nature is contrary to His honour,for it is supposed that in this natural kingdom of God,there is no other way to know anything but by natural reason;that is,from the principles of natural science;which are so far from teaching us anything of God's nature,as they cannot teach us our own nature,nor the nature of the smallest creature living.And therefore,when men out of the principles of natural reason dispute of the attributes of God,they but dishonour Him:for in the attributes which we give to God,we are not to consider the signification of philosophical truth,but the signification of pious intention to do Him the greatest honour we are able.From the want of which consideration have proceeded the volumes of disputation about the nature of God that tend not to His honour,but to the honour of our own wits and learning;and are nothing else but inconsiderate and vain abuses of His sacred name.
Sixthly,in prayers,thanksgiving,offerings and sacrifices,it is a dictate of natural reason that they be every one in his kind the best and most significant of honour.As,for example,that prayers and thanksgiving be made in words and phrases not sudden,nor light,nor plebeian,but beautiful and well composed;for else we do not God as much honour as we can.And therefore the heathens did absurdly to worship images for gods,but their doing it in verse,and with music,both of voice and instruments,was reasonable.Also that the beasts they offered in sacrifice,and the gifts they offered,and their actions in worshipping,were full of submission,and commemorative of benefits received,was according to reason,as proceeding from an intention to honour him.
Seventhly,reason directeth not only to worship God in secret,but also,and especially,in public,and in the sight of men:for without that,that which in honour is most acceptable,the procuring others to honour Him is lost.
Lastly,obedience to His laws (that is,in this case to the laws of nature)is the greatest worship of all.For as obedience is more acceptable to God than sacrifice;so also to set light by His commandments is the greatest of all contumelies.And these are the laws of that divine worship which natural reason dictateth to private men.
But seeing a Commonwealth is but one person,it ought also to exhibit to God but one worship;which then it doth when it commandeth it to be exhibited by private men,publicly.And this is public worship,the property whereof is to be uniform:for those actions that are done differently by different men cannot said to be a public worship.And therefore,where many sorts of worship be allowed,proceeding from the different religions of private men,it cannot be said there is any public worship,nor that the Commonwealth is of any religion at all.
