Of worshipping the Holy Ghost expressly, as a person equal to, and distinct from the Father

Of Worshipping the HOLY GHOST expresly , as a Person equal to , and distinct from the FATHER .

SInce the Doctrine of the Trinity , or of three equal Persons in one God , is not ( as all confess ) a Dictate of Nature or Reason , but is knowable or credible by means of Revelation only : and since all authentick Revelations acknowledged by Protestants are contained in Holy Scripture ; and since the Proofs from Scripture of the Godhead of the Holy Ghost , are not direct and express , but consequential , it follows , that even upon supposition that he is in some sense God , yet he is not to be worshipped any otherwise , than in the one Person of God , or the Father , because there is neither Precept nor Example of any other Worship of him in Holy Scripture . But the whole Current of Scripture is for the Worship of God under that one Person of the Father , or God of Israel . Concerning the Worship of our Lord Christ I shall speak afterward .

For if the Holy Scripture does not teach us , both under what Names and Notions , Appellations and Attributes , to worship God , then it is not a sufficient and clear Rule of Faith and Worship in all things necessary , ( as those Names , Notions , Appellations and Attributes are ) as all Protestants hold it is : And if there be neither Precept nor Example of worshipping God under the express Name , Notion or Appellation of Holy Ghost or Spirit , as a Person distinct from God the Father ; but all Instances run in a contrary Stream , then such Worship is a humane Invention , introduced into the Worship of God , derogatory to his Honour , ( whose Prerogative it is to appoint his own Worship ) and to the Sufficiency and Clearness of Scripture .

For since the Holy Scripture is ( as I have said ) the only Revelation we have , that there is a Holy Ghost , and what he is , it 's altogether necessary that we ascribe nothing to him , but what is ascribed to him in that Revelation .

But here perhaps it will be asserted , contrary to what I deny , That though there is no Precept for worshipping God , under the Name and Notion of Holy Ghost , as distinct from the Father , yet there are some Texts of Scripture whence an Example of such Worship or Invocation may be drawn . For this they alledg , Matth . 28.19 . and 2 Cor . 13 , 14. In the first of these Texts , the Apostles are sent forth to baptize in [ or into ] the Name of the Holy Ghost , as well as of the Father and the Son .

Answ . I can see no shew of Adoration in that Scripture : forasmuch as to be baptized in , or into the Name of any One , and to be baptized into One , is the same thing , as the Learned agree ; and is manifest by comparing Rom. 6.3 . ( where we read , Baptized into [ or unto ] Jesus Christ ) with Acts 2.38 . Be Baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ . See the like use of these Phrases , Gal. 3.27 . with Acts 8.16 . But the Israelites ( as the Apostle Paul says , 1 Cor . 10.2 . ) were all Baptized into [ or unto ] Moses , in the Cloud , and in the Sea . By which is not to be understood , that they worshipped Moses with Divine Worship , but they were oblig'd to give heed to what he taught and commanded them in the Name of God the Lord . So to be Baptized into the Name of the Father , and of the Son , and of the Holy Ghost , is , as it 's explain'd in the next words , to be taught , and obliged solemnly to observe all things whatsoever the Father hath commanded by the Son , whom he anointed with the Holy Ghost and Power , or by those on whom the Son poured out the Holy Spirit , the Comforter or Advocate , and imports nothing of Adoration or Invocation .

Besides , it 's not unusual in Scripture to join other Persons with God , as one Object of the Action that respects them , when yet that Action respects God in one manner as Supream , and those other Persons in another manner as Subordinate . Thus the Israelites believed the Lord , and his Servant Moses , [ Marg . Heb . In the Lord , and in Moses his Servant ] , Exod . 14.31 . The People greatly feared the Lord , and Samuel , 1 Sam . 12.18 . — they cried , The Sword [ not Swords ] of the Lord , and of Gideon , Judg . 7.20 . So being baptized into the Name of the Father , of the Son , and of the Holy Ghost , does not respect each of them equally and in the same manner . For it 's manifest , Believers were Baptized , that they might receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost ; see Acts 2.38 .

The other Text in 2 Cor . 13. runs thus , The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ , the Love of God , and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all . Amen .

To which I answer ; 1. That this Passage has the Form of a Wish , and not of a Prayer . It 's too obscurely form'd to bear the weight of an Instance of praying to the Holy Ghost : that Passage in Rev. 1.4 . is far clearer for praying to the seven Spirits that are before the Throne , which yet Protestants deny to be any firm ground for our so doing . As for the Amen here read , Grotius says , It is not in that old Manuscript which he makes much use of ; and that it was added by the Church of Corinth . 2. The Holy Ghost is not here considered as God , for he is expresly distinguish'd from him . 3. Dr. Hammond would read it Communication , as the same word in 1 Cor . 10.16 . The Communication of the Blood of Christ , that is , the Blood of Christ communicated ; and so the Communication of the Holy Spirit is , the Holy Spirit communicated be , or abide with you all . I know not how it consists with Reverence to the one God or his Word , to ground the Worship of another Person as the most High God , besides and distinct from him that undoubtedly is so , upon so obscure an Expression as this is : considering also that it has been in all Ages of Christianity the Custom of the Church to pray to the Father for the Communication of the Holy Spirit .

There is another Text alledg'd by some , as an Instance of praying to the Holy Ghost , viz. Cant . 4.16 . Awake thou North Wind , and come thou South , blow upon my Garden , &c. which is so frivolous , that I shall not think it worthy of any Answer . I find also that the 6th of Isaiah , compar'd with Acts 28.25 . is urged to the same purpose . Whence they collect , first , that the same Person who spake to Isaiah in Vision , v. 8. is the Lord ; and v. 3. the Lord of Hosts ; the same is by the Apostle Paul said to be the Holy Ghost : and then it follows , that the same Holy Ghost is celebrated by the Seraphims , saying , Holy , Holy , Holy , &c. But the Answer is easy , for Paul saith , Well spake the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the Prophet to our Fathers , [ to wit , when he inspir'd him in speaking or writing that Vision to the People ] whereas God spake to Isaiah in the Vision : and so for different Reasons the same words are attributed both to God and to the Holy Ghost .

But now it will be vehemently urg'd against me , That the Holy Scripture revealing the Holy Ghost to be God , and that he is one of those three Persons , who are each of them distinctly God , and all of them one God , it 's necessary in Reason , and by natural Consequence , that he ought to be worshipped under that Name , Notion and Distinction .

I answer , and deny that Consequence , for these Reasons . 1. Because we ought not to carry a pure Revelation by our Reasonings , ( which are very fallacious ) beyond the Extent of that Revelation ; and we ought to measure the Extent of it by the Revelation it self , for otherwise we should readily run into many and great Errors , Superstitions and Contests , as by lamentable Experience is too too manifest by the Controversies among Christians , especially with Papists . But to go no further than the Case in hand : If all the Worship due to God upon any Account , and which we give to the Father because he is so , by the Name of the Father , be also due to the Holy Ghost expresly , because he is God , by the Name and Notion of Holy Ghost , as well as the Father , because , as the Athanasian Creed says , We must give them equal Glory ; we shall be obliged to transprose , add to , and alter Scripture , and make it contradict it self in a thousand places ; particularly , every time we use the Lord's Prayer , and in all Prayers , Praises and Adorations we make after that Pattern , instead of OUR Father which art in Heaven , we must say , Our Father , Son , and Holy Ghost , which are in Heaven ; and instead of Hallowed be THY Name , Hallowed be YOUR Name ; THY Kingdom come , we must say , in consequence of our reasoning , YOUR Kingdom come ; and so not THY Will , but YOUR Will be done ; not THINE is the Kingdom , but YOURS is the Kingdom , &c. So when we worship , as the Apostle Paul , Ephes . 1.3 . we must not say , Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , but , Blessed be God , the Father , Son and Holy Ghost , the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . And so every where we must turn the Names of Father , God , Lord , &c. into Father , Son , and Holy Ghost ; Thou and Thee into Ye and You , Thine into Your , &c. Thus making Holy Scripture a most unintelligible and absurd Book , or at least such as the Papists would have it , and nothing less than what Protestants hold it , the clear and certain Revelation of the Mind of God ; and the New Covenant , wherein is promised — all shall know me , from the least to the greatest , infinitely more difficult than the old .

My second Reason why I deny that the Holy Ghost , supposing him to be God , is to be worshipped expresly as the Father , by virtue of our reasoning upon that Supposition , is drawn from the Reflection thereby cast upon all Holy Worshippers we read of in the Bible . For if the Holy Ghost be a Person of the most High God , he was so from Eternity , and had from the beginning of the Creation an equal right of being worshipped in as express a manner as the Father or Jehavah ; but we find no Footsteps of any such Worship , wherein the Holy Ghost was distinctly worshipped , but Jehovah is always worshipp'd under such Names , Descriptions , Appellations and Pronouns , as import expresly one singular Person or personal God . And by him the Patriarchs , Prophets and Jews did understand and signify the Creator of Heaven and Earth alone , the God of Abraham , Isaac and Jacob ; and Christians understood the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , and not the Person of the Holy Ghost , any otherwise than as implied . Yea and our Lord Jesus himself , whenever he pray'd or worshipp'd God , did it under the Names , Notions and Descriptions which signify the Father , and in the singular Number ; consequently all the Patriarchs , Prophets and Jews until Christ , and all the Believers in Christ , and Christ himself too , ( which is Blasphemy to suppose ) erred in their worshipping God , making no express mention of the Holy Ghost , if it be a good Consequence from the Holy Ghost his being revealed to be a Person of God , that we ought to worship him distinctly under that Name , or some other peculiar to him . For it infers , not only that we may , but that we must so worship him ; for he that is equally God as the Father , has , according to our Reasoning , as much right as he to be worshipp'd and invocated expresly , and cannot be denied it by us without Transgression . But the Holy Ghost himself , the Inspirer of Holy Scripture , doth never dictate any such express Worship of himself ; and therefore the Argument in the Objection reflects highly upon him , as negligent of the Glory of God , even his own Self , and the greatest , not only Defectiveness , but Impiousness ( pardon the word ) upon the Holy Writings , which never teach the due and whole Worship of God , but only a part of it .

It is therefore to be held , that supposing the Holy Ghost to be a Person of God , he was always worshipp'd and invocated under the Name of Jehovah , the Lord , the Lord God of Hosts , and the like : And in the Times of the New Covenant , under the Name of the Father , The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , The Father of Mercies , &c. but never , either under the Old or New-Covenant-Times , by the Name of the Holy Ghost , or God the Holy Ghost , or blessed Spirit of God , or any such Name as distinguishes him expresly from God the Father : Therefore such worshipping of him now is utterly unlawful , as reflecting Imperfection and Obscurity upon Holy Scripture , Error or Negligence upon all the Holy Men , Patriarchs , Prophets & Apostles we read of in Scripture ; yea ( which is not to be thought or said , did not the detection of a great Error enforce it ) upon our Lord Jesus the Pattern of Perfection , and upon the Holy Ghost himself , by whose Inspiration the Scriptures were written , and holy Men moved .

3. The Worship of the Holy Ghost , in such an express manner as distinguish'd from the Father , does naturally beget in us the Notion or Idea of two Persons with two Essences , as fully as Peter and Paul are two Essences : neither do I think it possible to avoid it , for I cannot make either the Father , or the Holy Ghost , an Object of Worship as the most High God , but I must notion each of them distinctly as a Person and Essence compleat , and then of necessity I form in my Mind two Essences as well as two Persons , or else I worship the Essence twice under two different Persons : But whether the one or the other , I do expresly worship two most High Gods equal one to the other , whilst I have two such Objects under two different Names and Appellations , which signify as differently as Father and not Father , but one equal to him .

And now that I have shew'd , there is no Example , as well as no Precept , of worshipping or praying to the Holy Ghost by that Name , or any other Name or Appellation , signifying him as a Person distinct from the Father ; and that such Worship is not to be justified by any Consequence drawn by our Reasoning from the Revelation of his being a Person of God ; Yea , that it is unlawful so to do , I first turn my self to the Dissenters , and charge them with great Inconsistency to themselves and their own Principles ; for whilst they refuse to join in the Liturgy and Ceremonies of the Church of England , because ( say they ) there is neither Precept nor Example in Scripture for such a Liturgy or Ceremonies , and reject all the Reasons the Church-men draw from Order and Decency , the Command of Superiours in Matters of Indifferency , &c. they themselves do daily worship , and that expresly by Names and Appellations , which infer different Idea's and Notions , a Person distinct from the Father , the only true God , without any Warrant of Scripture , either by Precept , or so much as one Example ; nay , against the full current of Scripture-worship , with heinous reflection upon all holy Worshippers , yea , upon our Lord Christ and the Holy Ghost himself , and the unavoidable danger ( in all the common People at least ) of worshipping two Gods . Thus you can no longer plead the Protestant Principle , that the Scriptures are a perfect , clear , and our only Rule of Faith and Worship ; and that nothing is lawful in the Worship of God , but what he hath either commanded or exemplified . You must not call the Liturgy and Ceremonies , &c. Will-worship , whilst your selves are Will-worshippers in the very Essence , Object and Form of Worship . Instead of one Person which God commands you to worship , saying , Thou shalt have no other Gods before ME , you have in daily practice chang'd ME into US , one into two Persons expresly . You must not henceforth draw a Parallel between Jeroboam's worshipping the God of Israel by Calves , and the Church of England worshipping God in consecrated Churches , Chappels , Cathedrals , Priests Garments , by Altars , Liturgies , singing Service , Litanies , Bowings , Crossings , Holidays , Fasts , Feasts , &c. because all these , and a great deal more , may be justified better than you can justify worshipping God by those express Names and Descriptions that make him plural , and not the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ only ; and that without any Authority , but merely of your own Heads . And this unscriptural Worship is so frequent with you , that you seldom make two Prayers , but one or both of them is concluded with the Worship of the Holy Ghost expresly , together with the Father and the Son . Nay , you are so addicted to this Worship of your own Invention , or rather Custom , that though there are many Forms of Worship and Doxology in Scripture , especially in the New Testament , for New-Covenant Worshippers , yet you seldom make use of any of them , but neglect them all , preferring your Popish Invention before them .

Particularly you Baptists , or Anabaptists , do worthily labour in the vindicating of Baptism to those that are capable of it , from those that are uncapable of it , whilst in the mean time you follow the most corrupt Tradition , of giving the Glory due to the one Person of God only , to another Person as his Equal .

On the other hand , I crave leave to address my self to the Church-men , ( who are so frequently bragging of the purity of their Faith and Worship ) and put them also in mind of their dishonouring God in this Point , whilst every Morning they read their Liturgy , they repeat Pope Damasus's Doxology , at least seven , for the most part eight or nine times , sometimes fourteen or fifteen times , viz. Glory be to the Father , and to the Son , and to the Holy Ghost : As it was in the Beginning , &c. For the Learned in Antiquities tell us , that this Doxology was first devis'd to be the Cognizance of a Faction , and did produce tragical Riots and Tumults ; then in the Year 376 , it was taken into the Church-Service by Bishop Damasus , who was brought into that Office at Rome , by Tumult and Slaughter of above one hundred Roman Citizens . Now is not this a high Pedigree of a Form of Worship , that must thrust out , and be preferr'd before all those excellent Doxologies and Thanksgivings in Holy Scripture , inspir'd by the Holy Ghost . Such are these ;

To the King Eternal , Immortal , Invisible , the only wise God , be Honour and Glory for ever and ever . Amen . 1 Tim . 1.17 .

THere is a like Description of God , 1 Tim . 6.15 , 16. — the blessed and only Potentate , the King of Kings , and Lord of Lords ; Who only hath Immortality , dwelling in the Light which no Man can approach unto , whom no Man hath seen , nor can see ; to whom be Honour and Power everlasting . Amen .

Another in Jude , ver . 25. To the only wise God our Saviour , be Glory and Majesty , Dominion and Power , both now and for ever . Amen .

So Rom. 16.27 . To God only Wise , be Glory , through Jesus Christ for ever .

See Gal. 1.5 . To whom [ God and our Father ] be Glory for ever and ever . Amen .

And Ephes . 3.20 , 21. Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think , according to the Power that worketh in us ; unto him be Glory in the Church by Christ Jesus , throughout all Ages , World without end . Amen .

Phil . 4.20 . Now unto God and our Father be Glory for ever and ever . Amen .

1 Pet . 5.10 , 11. To — the God of all Grace , who hath called us to his eternal Glory by Christ Jesus — to him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever . Amen .

2 Pet . 3.18 . To our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ , be Glory both now and for ever . Amen .

Rev. 4.11 . 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 .

Rev. 5.12 . Worthy is the Lamb that was slain , to receive Power , and Riches , and Wisdon , and Strength , and Honour , and Glory , and Blessing . Ver . 13. Blessing , and Honour , and Glory , and Power , be to him that sitteth upon the Throne , and to the Lamb for ever and ever .

See also 2 Cor . 1.3 . Blessed be God , even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , the Father of Mercies , and the God of all Comfort .

So 1 Pet . 1.3 . Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . So also Ephes . 1.3 . Thanksgivings are commonly rendred to God through Jesus Christ .

Now , Reverend Sirs , is it not unaccountable , that a Person equal to this God and Father , and who has an equal Right to all Glory and Honour , should never be mentioned ? And , is it not as unaccountable , that a Church professing a most exact Reformation from Popish Traditions , in Faith and Worship , by the only Rule of Holy Scripture , should thus palpably derogate from Scripture , to the high dishonour of all sacred Persons and Things ; and give your Adversaries the Romanists an Argument and Advantage , whereby they are able to defend the very worst of their Superstitions and Idolatries , and subvert your only Rule of Faith ? If these Doxologies had not been found in Scripture , but devised by some eminent Bishop or Patriarch , you would certainly have counted it a great disrespect to that Bishop to pass them by , and take one devised by an ordinary weak Man of no Reputation , ( supposing the Matter of it to have been lawful ) ; But what is Pope Damasus in compare with the Holy Ghost , or even with the Apostles and Holy Penmen ? You must no longer reject the Popish Worship of Saints and Angels , the Images of Christ and his Mother , and other Saints ; the Bread in Transubstantiation , &c. because not found in Scripture , our only Rule of Faith and Worship ; neither a thousand more of their Doctrines , Ceremonies and Usages , whilst you constantly every day , and often in every day repeat the Worship of another Person expresly , besides and in distinction from him that is the supream God , and together with him , whereby you cast great Contempt upon Holy Scripture , as an imperfect and defective Rule of Faith and Worship , even in the most Fundamental Point , the highest Object of Worship . The Papists are not wanting of Reasonings , Arguments , Consequences , for what they believe and practise in Religion : but you reject them because not found in Scripture . See what your most learned Defender says , in his Discourse of the Idolatry of the Church of Rome , pag . 175. § . 16. And so ( saith be ) for all particular Doctrines rejected by us — We therefore refuse the belief of them , because not contained IN OUR ONLY RULE OF FAITH : on this account we reject the Pope's Supremacy , Transubstantiation , Infallibility of the present Church in delivering Points of Faith , Purgatory , and other Fopperies , impos'd upon the Belief of Christians . Thus far he .

But in contradiction to this Principle , you believe it acceptable to God the Father , to worship expresly another equal to him : you can profess to believe that unscriptural , unintelligible and damning Creed of your Saint Athanasius , whereby you damn all that do not give equal Glory to the Holy Ghost as to the Father ; and consequently your selves , for ye often pray to , and worship the Father expresly without mention of the Holy Ghost , nay , ye pray to the Father that he would give you the Holy Ghost .

Thus far I have discoursed mostly upon that Protestant Principle named above ; but now I will shew you that that your Faith and Worship is directly contrary to the Precepts of Worship in holy Scripture , and that not one only , but all of them . For all the Precepts as well as Examples concerning the Worship of God , respect him as one singular Person , both in Essence and Person ; for there can be no Person without an Essence , and one Almighty and most wise Person is one most High God : All Precepts of worshipping that God speak in the singular number o● one such Person , and exclude every other Person whatsoever ; and therefore even the Person of the Holy Ghost , considered as a distinct Person from the Father , and so exprest ; for being exprest with the Father , they make two Gods , and then our Blessed Saviour could not with Congruity to Truth and Grammar , have expounded that Precept of God by Moses [ Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God , and serve him ] thus ; It is written , Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God , and HIM only shalt thou serve , Mat . 4.10 . for he that worships the Father alone expresly , worships the Lord his God ; and he that worships expresly another Person besides him with equal Worship , worships no longer the Lord his God , and serves him only , but he worships the Lord his God and another , and serves THEM together ; so our Lord's Precept and Form of Prayer directs to one singular Person , as I have shewed above , p. 3. And being asked , which is the first Commandment of all ? Jesus answered him , The first of all the Commandments is , Hear O Israel , the Lord our God is one Lord , [ or the Lord our God the Lord is one . ] And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart , and with all thy Soul , and with all thy Mind , and with all thy Strength : Where he makes the Oneness of the Person of God the very ground of all that Love , Worship and Service which we are able to perform , and which we can perform to one Person only ; Mar. 12.29 , 30. with Deut. 6.4 , 5. I think I need not instance in any more . But you elude all Divine Precepts of Worship , and make them of none effect by your Tradition ; for you have received a Litany from Pope Gregory I. which teaches you to pray , O holy , and blessed , and glorious Trinity , three Persons and one God , have Mercy upon us . O God the Father of Heaven , O God the Son , O God the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son , have Mercy upon us . So you change the Lord our God his great Commandment , repeated by the Mouth of our Saviour , into the quite contrary , him only into them , and the God that is one you make three , and serve them with equal Worship . And instead of that Doxology which our Lord taught us to form our Doxologies by , you have introduced this or the like Conclusion of Gregory and other Popes in above twenty Collects and Prayers , namely , — him [ Jesus Christ ] who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost now and ever ; first Collect in Advent , and in the third Collect thus — O Lord Jesus Christ — who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit , ever one God , World without end . Amen .

But after all , it will be urg'd against me , that our Lord Jesus is often worshipp'd exprelly together with the Father ; and if he , why not also the Holy Ghost ? To which I answer : 1. That there is a far different Consideration of Christ and of the Holy Ghost ; for the Holy Ghost has no other Consideration in the Worship done to him , but that of God , or a Person that is God ; but Jesus Christ has the Consideration of the well-beloved Son of God , whom he has appointed Heir of all things , by whom also he made the Worlds , whom he sanctified and sent into the World ; whom , because he humbled himself , and became obedient unto Death , even the Death of the Cross , God hath highly exalted , and given him a Name above every Name , that at [ or in ] the Name of Jesus every Knee should bow , and that every Tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord , to the Glory of God the Father ; but no such thing can be said or thought of the Holy Ghost , who whatsoever Worship is paid to him , it redounds ultimately to his own Glory in Distinction from God the Father , and in Equality with him . All the express Worship to be exhibited to Christ , has this Ground and Foundation , namely , that the Father , even God , has given him that Power , Authority and Dominion which makes him a fit Object of that Worship , and the Glory thereof is not terminated in him as in its utmost scope , but passes by and through him to the Father . Both these Considerations are clear and apparent in that Passage to the Philippians , which I have mentioned , and so in the Discourse of our Lord himself , John 5. for when the Jews who sought to kill him , v. 18. did maliciously interpret his saying , that God was his Father , to be a making himself equal with God , he denies with a solemn Asseveration , saying , Verily , verily , the Son can do nothing of himself , but what he seeth the Father do ; for what things soever he doth , these also doth the Son likewise . And how comes that to pass ? For the Father loveth the Son , and sheweth him all things that himself doth , ( ver . 20. ) and he will shew him greater Works than these , that ye may marvel . It was such a shewing which proceeded from the Love of the Father ; and it was partly present , and partly future . For as the Father raiseth the Dead , and quickneth them , even so the Son quickneth whom he will , ver . 21. This is one of those Works which the Father shews him . For the Father judgeth no Man , but hath committed all Judgment to the Son , that all Men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father : To wit , as they honour the Father upon the account of his judging ; but doth this Honour terminate in the Son ? No , he that honoureth not the Son , honoureth not the Father that sent him . That Honour which is given to the Son , ascends by him as sent to the Father that sent him , ver . 26. For as the Father hath Life in himself , so hath he given to the Son to have Life in himself ; and hath given him Authority to execute Judgment also , because he is the Son of Man , that is , he that was prophesied of in the Visions of Daniel , where we read , that one like the Son of Man — came to the Ancient of Days , and they brought him near before him , and there was given him Dominion , and Glory , and a Kingdom , that all People , Nations and Languages should serve him , &c. Dan . 7.9 , 10 , 13 , 14. or because he is such a Son of Man as humbles himself to the meanest and hardest Condition of the most ordinary Man : See Phil . 2.7 , 8. Again , in ver . 30. of this of Joh . 5. I can of my self do nothing ; as I hear , I judg , and my Judgment is just . Why , because he is the most High God ? No , but because I seek not mine own Will , but the Will of the Father which hath sent me . These Reasons of Worship agree to a Man exalted by God , but by no means to him that is himself God already . Can he that is God the most high be made Higher than he is ? God may and ought to be celebrated and praised for those Excellencies that are in him ; but he can have no Addition to his natural and inherent Power , Authority and Glory . But the Apostle Peter also tells the People in that famous Sermon , Acts 2.36 . — Let all the House of Israel know assuredly , that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ . And the Apostle Paul tells us , Rom. 14.9 . For to this end Christ both died , and rose , and revived , that he might be Lord both of the dead and living . Hence it is that in the Visions of the Revelations , chap. 5. where the twenty four Elders fall down before the Lamb , and sing a new Song , they exhibit that Worship to him , they do it not upon the account of his being the most High God , but upon account of his Worthiness as a Man , saying , Thou art worthy — because thou wast slain , and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood out of every Tribe , and Tongue , and People , and Nation , and hast made us to our God Kings and Priests , ver . 9 , 10. So by the Angels , Animals , Elders , even thousands of thousands , Christ is celebrated upon the same account of his being the Lamb that was slain , saying , Worthy is the Lamb that was slain , to receive Power , and Riches , and Wisdom , and Strength , and Honour , and Glory , and Blessing , ver . 12 , 13.

This Observation of mine , touching the different Ground of the Worship of Christ from that of the Worship of the Father , or of the Holy Ghost ( who are alway worshipp'd as Persons of the most High God ) is so firm , that I am perswaded there is no place of Scripture can be alledged of any Divine Excellency attributed to Christ , but it will plainly appear to have been given him by the Father , out of his free Love , or as a Reward of his Obedience . Thus in Col. 1.16 . where all things in Heaven and in Earth [ not Heaven and Earth ] are said to be created by Christ ; he is said there to be , The Image of the Invisible God , the First-born of every Creature , vers . 15. He forgave Sins , but as the Son of Man empowred by God so to do , Mat . 9.6 , 7. And the Apostles tell the High Priest and Council , saying , The God of our Fathers has raised up Jesus , whom ye slew and hanged on a Tree : Him hath God exalted with his right Hand , to be a Prince and a Saviour , to give Repentance to Israel , and forgiveness of Sins , Acts 5.30 , 31. Christ is to be believed on , but so , as that he who believeth on him , believeth not on him , but on another ; to wit , on him that sent him , John 12.44 . And so , that by and through him we believe in God , who raised him from the Dead , and gave him Glory , 1 Pet . 1.21 . He hath the Name of Emmanuel ( God with us ) given to him ; yet he is so a God , that when he is so called , he also is said to have a God who anointed him , Heb . 1.8 , 9. He is said to be the First and the Last , Rev. 1.17 . but so as he that liveth and was dead , ver . 18. He hath the Name of The Lord our Righteousness , Jer . 23.5 , 6. ( if at least that Appellation doth not agree to Israel mentioned before ) but however it is common to him with Israel , Jer . 33.16 . God only searcheth the Heart primarily , and of himself ; but he can give to others an Ability to search the Heart , as to Elisha , 2 Kings 8.12 . So Christ saith , I am he which searcheth the Reins and Heart : But he speaketh there of a Revelation which God gave unto him , and of himself as executing Judgment upon Adulterers , and giving to every one a Reward according to his Works . But it is certain that Christ as a Man is Judg , as I observ'd before from John 5.27 . And the Apostle Paul saith , That God shall judg the World in Righteousness , by that MAN whom he hath ordained , Acts 17.31 .

My Conclusion from all is , That all the Worship that is or ought to be exhibited to Christ , according to Holy Scripture , is conferr'd upon him as a Man , Mediator between God and Men ; and that neither to Him nor to the Holy Ghost , there ever was any Worship given under any express Names , Appellations or Descriptions , as Persons of God distinct from God the Father . But , supposing them to have been from Eternity such Persons , they were always worshipp'd as implied in God the Father ; and consequently the Argument in the Objection , for the Worship of the Holy Spirit expresly , because Christ is worshipp'd expresly , is of no force .

My second Answer to the same Objection is this : I observed above , that other Persons are sometimes joined with God the Father , as Objects of some great Work ascribed , or some Honour given by Men , when yet that Work or Honour respects Almighty God in one manner , and those other Persons in another manner ; as in the Israelites believing in the Lord and in Moses ; the People fearing the Lord and Samuel ; Gideon's Army , crying , The Sword of the Lord , and of Gideon . I now add 1 Cor . 29.20 . where it is said , All the Congregation blessed the Lord God of their Fathers , and bowed down their Heads , and worshipped the Lord and the King . So it is when Christ is worshipped with the Father , as Rev. 5.13 . he is differenced ( as I shewed ) from him that sitteth upon the Throne , by the Appellation of the Lamb that was slain , and had redeemed us to God by his Blood . But as for the Holy Ghost , as he is not considered in the Adoration given to him under any other Notion than of God , or a Person of God , so your Liturgy respects him in the same manner , and in coequality with God the Father ; not as Christ , who received from the Bounty of his Father , that Power for which he is to be honoured and obeyed . Thus the eleven Disciples , after his Resurrection , and at his departure from them , worshipped him . Matth . 28.17 . And Jesus came , and spake unto them , saying , All Power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth : Go ye THEREFORE and teach all Nations , baptizing them in the Name of the Father , and of the Son , and of the Holy Ghost . This Scripture is chiefly urged as a Proof of three equal Almighty and Adorable Persons in God : But the inequality of the Son to the Father is most evident , in that the Son saith immediately before , That all Power was given to him ; and lays the Authority of this great and extensive Commission of so making Disciples , baptizing them , upon that Donation : which is the more observable , because it is the custom of all Princes , built upon most weighty Reason , that when they send out extraordinary Embassadors , they enforce their Authority with the best and highest of their Titles and Powers : consequently this , of having all Power given to him , was our Lord Jesus's highest Title . And then it 's preposterous to imagine , that the Holy Ghost who is mention'd after him , should have a higher Title , to wit , of a personal God : But if he have not that , you will acknowledg that no Adoration is due to him .

And now I know how strong a Prejudice both the Church-men and Dissenters in general have against this Discourse : So strong , that it may be doubted , whether many of them will give it the reading ; and of those that will , very few will take any consideration of the Reasons I have alledg'd against this inveterate practice of worshipping expresly the Holy Ghost : And of those few , it will be as hard to find one that will give my Arguments their due weight , as it is to find a Papist that will be convinced of the Absurdities of Transubstantiation , or the Dishonour done to God in worshipping the Virgin Mary , and other Saints , and their dead Images . So loth is every one to judg himself to have been in an Error , especially in so gross an one as is the religious Worship of a false Object ; and more yet , when we have the concurrence of the Multitude of Learned and Unlearned on our side . But those that will be sincere in the study of Religion , ( as all must that shall enter into Life ) ought to consider that many Corruptions crept into the Christian Church very early , as every one that is but a little acquainted with Antiquity , knows . And the fourth Council of Carthage , which was celebrated about the end of the fourth Century , seems to have judg'd this worshipping of the Holy Ghost an Innovation , when it decreed thus ; Cum ad altare assistitur , &c. Which may be Englished , In the Church let Prayer be made to God by only the Name of the Father . And there are not wanting Learned Authors who tell us , It was several hundreds of Years before the Publick Prayers had in them any Prayer to the Holy Ghost : Of which thing the Commentators on the Offices and Rituals of the Church ; give this remarkable Reason , Quia S. Spiritus , Because the Holy Spirit is the Gift , not the Giver . And Erasmus and others observe , that St. Hilary , who wrote twelve Books of the Trinity , never call'd the Holy Ghost God , never said that he was to be worshipped , but only to be obtain'd . And Dr. Sparks on the Liturgy acknowledges , that the Doxology so often reiterated in the Common Prayer ; did formerly run thus , Glory be to the Father , through the Son , and by the Holy Ghost . We worship ( says Origen , contra Celsum ) the one only God ; and his one only Son , and Word and Similitude , with our utmost Supplications and Honours , bringing our Prayers to the God of all things , through his only begotten Son . Here 's no mention of the Holy Ghost .

If Nadab and Abihu were devoured by Fire from the Lord , for offering strange Fire before him which he commanded them not ; who shall not dread to worship even another Almighty Person equal to him , which he has so strictly forbidden ? The Times of ignorance God winks at ; but when his Mind is clearly made known , then he commands all Men every where to repent .

I remember that a most eminent and pious Conformist Preacher of London , ( whose Funerals were worthily solemniz'd with Tears and Elegies ) about thirty Years ago , did , upon the account of the Reflection upon the Holy Scriptures , and the Scandal given to some of his Hearers , by that Doxology I have been speaking of , did , I say , forbear to use it as long as he lived . A rare Example ! But how contrary is the Spirit that now reigns among our Clergy , who make use of this Doxology as the very Mark of Orthodoxy ; and will at no time forbear it , especially if they find any Person in the Congregation that is offended with it .

You ought to remember , the Popish Errors had prevail'd long , when the Reformers began ; yea , some of them longer than your Adoration of the Holy Ghost : And it was esteem'd as horrid an Heresy to deny the Adoration of the Host , as of the Holy Ghost ; and those that reform'd in that Point , were as few in Number as we that reform in this . Why should you think you have reform'd all the Errors of so corrupt a Church , or that her Antichristianism consists only in those things that you have reform'd ? Remember , that the most High God proclaims himself jealous in no Commandment but that of his Worship ; and try again whether you give him no cause to be so : See if you can satisfy your Consciences in these Adorations ; be so kind and Christian , as to inform us how we may satisfy ours . If you cannot satisfy us who are ready to receive Satisfaction , then you ought to allow our Dissent and Separation from your Worship . In the mean time it will be our Duty to profess our Thankfulness to God through Christ , who has bestowed so great a Benefit upon us , as to deliver us from so great an Error , whereby we were confounded in the Worship of God , and in reading and understanding of the Holy Scriptures . O thou God and Father , strengthen us to walk worthy of so great a Blessing !