1. The light of nature sheweth that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all, is good, and doth good unto all, and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might. (Rom. 1:20Acts 17:24Ps. 119:68Jer. 10:7Ps. 31:23Ps. 18:3Rom. 10:12Ps. 62:8Josh. 24:14Mark 12:33) 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 imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture. (Deut. 12:32Matt. 15:9Acts 17:25Matt. 4:9–10Deut. 15:1–20Exod. 20:4–6Col. 2:23)

2. Religious worship is to be given to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and to Him alone; (Matt. 4:10John 5:232 Cor. 13:14) not to angels, saints, or any other creature: (Col. 2:18Rev. 19:10Rom. 1:25) and, since the fall, not without a Mediator; nor in the mediation of any other but of Christ alone. (John 14:61 Tim. 2:5Eph. 2:18Col. 3:17)

3. Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one special part of religious worship, (Phil. 4:6) is by God required of all men: (Ps. 65;2) and, that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son, (John 14:13–141 Pet. 2:5) by the help of His Spirit, (Rom. 8:26) according to His will, (1 John 5:14) with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; (Ps. 47:7Eccl. 5:1–2Heb. 12:28Gen. 18:27James 5:16James 1:6–7Mark 11:24Matt. 6:1214–15Col. 4:2Eph. 6:18) and, if vocal, in a known tongue. (1 Cor. 14:14)

4. Prayer is to be made for things lawful; (1 John 5:14) and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter: (1 Tim. 2:1–2John 17:202 Sam. 7:29Ruth 4:12) but not for the dead, (2 Sam. 12:21–23Luke 16:25–26Rev. 14:13) nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death. (1 John 5:16)

5. The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear, (Acts 15:21Rev. 1:3) the sound preaching (2 Tim. 4:2) and conscionable hearing of the Word, in obedience unto God, with understanding, faith and reverence, (James 1:22Acts 10:33Matt. 13:19Heb. 4:2Isa. 66:2) singing of psalms with grace in the heart; (Col. 3:16Eph. 5:1913James 5:13) as also, the due administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments instituted by Christ, are all parts of the ordinary religious worship of God: (Matt. 28:191 Cor. 11:23–29Acts 2:42) beside religious oaths, (Deut. 6:13Neh. 10:29) vows, (Isa. 19:21Eccl. 5:4–5) solemn fastings, (Joel 2:12Esth. 4:16Matt. 9:151 Cor. 7:5) and thanksgivings upon special occasions, (Ps. 107Esth. 9:22) which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in an holy and religious manner. (Heb. 12:28)

6. Neither prayer, nor any other part of religious worship, is now, under the Gospel, either tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed: (John 4:21) but God is to be worshipped everywhere, (Mal. 1:111 Tim. 2:8) in spirit and truth; (John 4:23–24) as, in private families (Jer. 10:25Deut. 6:6–7Job 1:52 Sam. 6:18201 Pet. 3:7Acts 10:2) daily, (Matt. 6:11) and in secret, each one by himself; (Matt. 6:6Eph. 6:18) so, more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly or willfully to be neglected, or forsaken, when God, by His Word or providence, calleth thereunto. (Isa. 56:6–7Heb. 10:25Prov. 1:20–2124Prov. 8:34Acts 13:42Luke 4:16Acts 2:42)

7. As it is the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in His Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment binding all men in all ages, He hath particularly appointed one day in seven, for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him: (Exod. 20:810–11Isa. 56:246–7) which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and, from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week, (Gen. 2:2–31 Cor. 16:1Acts 20:7) which, in Scripture, is called the Lord’s Day, (Rev. 1:10) and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath. (Exod. 20:810Matt. 5:17–18)

8. This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs before-hand, do not only observe an holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldly employments and recreations, (Exod. 20:8Exod. 16;2325–2629–30Exod. 31:15–17Isa. 58:13Neh. 13:15–1921–22) but also are taken up, the whole time, in the public and private exercises of His worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy. (Isa. 63:13Matt. 12:1–13)