Difficulties Associated With Articles Of Religion Among Particular Baptists

58 2 LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION 1689 end of Christian liberty, which is, that being delivered out of the hands of all our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righeousness before Him, all the days of our lives364.

22. Of Religious Worship And The Sabbath Day 1. The light of nature shows that there is a God, who has lordship and sovereignty over all; is just, good and does good to all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart and all the soul, and with all the might365.1 But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by himself,2 and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imagination and devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures366.

2. Religious worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to him alone367; not to angels, saints, or any other creatures368; and since the fall, not without a mediator369, nor in the mediation of any other but Christ alone370.

3. Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one part of natural worship, is by God required of all men371. But that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son372, by the help of the Spirit373, according to his will374; with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and when with others, in a known tongue375.

4. Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter376; but not for the dead377,14 nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death378.

5. The reading of the Scriptures379, preaching, and hearing the Word 364 Gal. 5:13; 2 Pet. 2:18,21 365 Jer. 10:7; Mark 12:33 2 Deut. 12:32 366 Exod. 20:4-6 367 Matt. 4:9,10; John 6:23; Matt. 28:19 368 Rom. 1:25; Col. 2:18; Rev. 19:10 369 John 14:6 370 1 Tim. 2:5 371 Ps. 95:1-7, 65:2 372 John 14:13,14 373 Rom. 8:26 374 1 John 5:14 375 1 Cor. 14:16,17 376 1 Tim. 2:1,2; 2 Sam. 7:29 377 2 Sam. 12:21-23 378 1 John 5:16 379 1 Tim. 4:13