Various ways of worship
But even among men of an upright heart, men who desire to have a conscience void of offense (Acts 24:16), it must needs be that as long as there are various opinions, there will be various ways of worshipping God, seeing a variety of opinion necessarily implies a variety of practice. And as in all ages men have differed in nothing more than in their opinions concerning the supreme Being, so in nothing have they differed more from each other than in the manner of worshipping him. Had this been only in the Heathen world, it would not have been at all surprising. For we know these by their wisdom knew not God (1 Corinthians 1:21), nor therefore could they know how to worship him. But is it not strange that even in the Christian world, although they all agree in the general that God is a Spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), yet the particular modes of worshipping God are almost as various as among the Heathens?
1771 text
8. But even among men of an upright heart, men who desire to have a conscience void of offence, it must needs be, that as long as there are various opinions, there will be various ways of worshipping God: seeing a variety of opinion necessarily implies a variety of practice. And as in all ages, men have differed in nothing more than in their opinions concerning the supreme Being, so in nothing have they more differed from each other, than in the manner of worshipping him. Had this been only in the Heathen world, it would not have been at all surprising. For we know these by their wisdom knew not God; nor therefore could they know how to worship him. But is it not strange, That even in the Christian world, altho’ they all agree in the general, God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth: yet the particular modes of worshipping God, are almost as various as among the Heathens?
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 39 in the 1771 Works. 2 Kings 10:15.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.