Having already seen that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted the first day of the week as the one day in seven to be set aside specifically for worship, and that his Apostles maintained this practice after him—another question may be raised: When does the Lord’s Day begin? Does it begin sometime the night before, as… Read More Three Reasons the Lord’s Day Begins at Midnight
It seems most consonant to the Law and Light of Nature, and Scripture reason, that (unless God otherwise determine it himself) the beginning of the Day should be in the morning, that is, after midnight, rather than the evening before. If we consider the evening before, or the evening after, there will be perpetual danger of encroachment either upon the religious time, or the worldly time, to the prejudice of one of them; but especially of religion in most men.… Read More Midnight Sabbath and the Light of Nature
“Let all things be done decently and in order.” (1 Cor. 14:40). “…there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the Church…” (WCF 1.6). James Bannerman The Church of Christ III.ii.i.2.4, pp. 368-379. Although the Church has no power in regard to the ceremonies and institutions of Divine service, except to… Read More What are Circumstances of Worship?
William Perkins Commentary on Hebrews 11:6 “…he that cometh to God must believe that he is…“ He that will have any fellowship with God in Christ must first believe that God is. That is, not so much that there is a God—for that we are taught by the very light of nature—but that this God whom… Read More Natural Idolatry
William Ames Marrow of Sacred Divinity, Book 2, ch. 5 § 1-8 & ch. 13 Natural Worship. 1. The parts of religion are two; natural worship, and voluntary or instituted worship. 2. This distinction is grounded on Exodus 20:6, those words of the second commandment: “who love me, and keep my commandments.” 3. Natural worship is that… Read More Natural Worship and Instituted Worship
Samuel Willard Complete Body of Divinity, pp. 652-654. Question 3. Wherein does the morality of [the Sabbath] consist? That we may take up a right conception of this matter, we must call to mind, what it is for a command to be moral, according as it has already been stated; namely, not merely as it… Read More Sabbath in the Light of Nature
Objection: “Natural law cannot contradict the Bible. So why depend on a vague concept of natural law when we can trust in the perspicuous revelation of God’s Law?“ Answer: First, what is Natural Law? Natural Law is the reflection of God’s moral character and the moral order of creation, as designed by God, which is… Read More The Propriety of Natural Law
Herman Witsius Economy of the Covenants Vol. 1, pp. 345-351. VII. But this [effectual] calling is given, partly externally, by a persuasive power, called moral suasion; partly internally, by a real supernatural efficacy, which changes the heart. The external call is, in some measure, published by the word of nature, but more fully by that… Read More Natural Theology | Herman Witsius
Natural law is the reflection of God’s moral character and the moral order of creation, as designed by God, which is written on the human heart and evident through the light of nature (Rom. 2:14-15; Rom. 1:19; 1 Cor. 5:1), but held in unrighteousness (Rom. 1:18; Jer. 17:9; Prov. 14:12), whose substance is no different than… Read More Natural Law and Divine Positive Law
It can be known from nature that we must worship God how he pleases rather than how we please (Acts 17:24-29), but we cannot know how God desires to be worshiped unless he reveals it to us through special revelation. Being the root of the second commandment, the Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW) itself is discernable from the light of nature as flowing from “that which may be known of God” (Rom. 1:19), while the parts and acts of God’s instituted worship is of divine positive law.… Read More The Second Commandment and the Light of Nature
Purely Presbyterian 