to God in general, p. 114. 3, *. 116, 5, 6, 7. V. Public Assemblies, p. 156, &c. e V. p. 92, 5. 211, 5. V. Con- n V. Oppression, p. 174. THE CHRISTIAN INSTITUTES; OK, THE SINCERE WORD OF GOD. CHAPTER I. Showing what religion is, and how the knowledge of it is to be obtained. UNDER the name of religion is comprehended all that worship and service, which is due from men to God: whatever we ought or are bound to do in obedience to him: whatever he will reward us for doing, or punish us for not doing. 1 In order, therefore, to worship and serve God as we ought to do; we must, first, believe that he is; that he hath given us laws and commandments to keep; that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him, and of such as do according to all that he hath commanded them: and, that he taketh vengeance on them that obey him not. 2 And for the better understanding the nature and extent of our duty in all respects, together with the John xiii. 34. Exod. xvi. 28. Exod. xxiv. 12. 1 Heb. xi. 6. Heb. xi. 6. 1 Kings ix. 4. 2 Exod. v. 2. Joshua xxiv. 15. John ix. 36. grounds and reasons of our obligation, it behoves us, in the next place, to inform ourselves, as truly and particularly as we can, who the Lord is whom we are to serve: what attributes and perfections belong to him, and what works he hath wrought: as also what manner of beings we ourselves are, who are commanded to serve him; what capacities and inclinations we have; what state and condition we are in; and in what relation we stand to God. After which it will be necessary for us to inquire, how and in what manner God is to be worshipped, and what those laws and ordinances are which he hath commanded us to observe. 1 And then, for our greater encouragement to serve God, in all such things as we shall find to be enjoined us, and to persevere in our obedience to him; it is requisite for us to know what happiness God hath prepared for them that love and obey him, and what misery he hath provided for such as transgress his commandments: how great, how certain, and of what continuance both the joy and the terror of the Lord are. 2 THE NECESSITY OF SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES. These are the things which every man is concerned to be well instructed in; and the truest and shortest way of attaining such knowledge as this, is, by searching the Scriptures. 3 For they are they which testify of God; which show us what is good, and what the Lord doth require of us; which set before us the way of life, 1 1 Cor. ii. 9. 2 John v. 39. 2 Chron. xxiv. 20. Neh. viii. 40. 2 Cor. v. 11. 3 John v. 39. Micah vi. 8. Jer. xxi. 8, Acts xvi. 30. 1 Thess i. 10. Mark x. 17, |