OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP AND THE SABBATH REST

1.  The light of nature shows that there is a God, who has lordship and sovereignty over all; that He 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 might.  But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by Himself, 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 Scriptures.[1] 

2.  Religious worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to Him alone; not to angels, saints, or any other creatures; and since the fall, not without a mediator, nor in the mediation of any other but Christ alone.[2]

3.  Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one part of natural worship, is by God required of all men.  But to be accepted, it must be made in the name of the Son, by the help of the Spirit, according to His will; with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and when with others, in a known language.[3]

4.  Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living who are alive  or live in the future; but not for the dead, nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.[4]

5.  The reading of the Scriptures, preaching and hearing the Word of God, the teaching and admonishing of one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord; as well as the administration of baptism, and the Lord’s Supper, are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to Him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover, solemn humiliation, with fastings, and thanksgivings, upon special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner.[5]

6.  Under the Gospel, neither prayer nor any other part of religious worship is tied to, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed; but God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and in truth; as in private families daily, and in secret each individual by himself; so more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly nor willfully neglected or forsaken, when God by His Word or providence calls us to them.[6]

7.  Under the Gospel, Christ our King has come and fulfilled the law, therefore, we need to continue to rely upon Him for our Sabbath rest.  The perfect, finished work of Jesus Christ upon Calvary's tree, not only provides salvation, sanctification, and security, but also provides for and fulfills the Sabbath itself.  Therefore, our worship of God is not attached to a singular day as such, recognizing one particular day over another, but every day has now become a Sabbath in Christ Jesus, and considered as holy.[7]

8.  Though Christ is our Sabbath rest, and every day holy in Him, we recognize our need to gather together as believers, to encourage one another as the return of the Lord approaches, and challenge and stir up one another unto love and good works.  Therefore, we have chosen to assemble as disciples on the first day of the week in order to pray, to break bread at the Lord's table, to hear the preaching of God's Word, and to set aside a portion of our finances unto God, according as the Lord has prospered us.[8]