ld he seek you, who can have no advantage from you? Should he go
about so earnest a search for true worshippers, who can have no profit by
them? And why do ye not seek him, since to you all the gain and profit
redounds? Shall he seek you to make you happy? And why do ye not seek him
and happiness in him? It is your own service, I may truly say, and not his
so much; for in serving him thou dost rather serve thyself; for all the
benefit redounds to thyself, though thou must not intend such an end, to
serve him for thyself, but for his name's sake; else thou shalt neither
honour him, nor advantage thyself. I pray you let him not seek in vain,
for in these afflictions he is seeking worshippers; and if he find you,
you are found and saved indeed. Do not then forsake your own mercy, to run
from him who follows you with salvation.

As none can be ignorant that God is, and must be worshipped, so it is
unknown to the world in what manner he must be worshipped. The most part
of men have some form in worshipping God, and please themselves in it so
well that they think God is well pleased with it; but few there are who
know indeed what it is to worship him in a manner acceptable to his
Majesty. Now you know it is all one not to worship him at all, as not to
worship him in that way he likes to be worshipped. Therefore, the most
part of men are but self-worshippers, because they please none but
themselves in it. It is not the worship his soul hath chosen, but their
own invention; for you must take this as an undeniable ground, that God
must be worshipped according to his own will and pleasure, and not
according to your humour or intention. Therefore, his soul abhors
will-worship, devised by men out of ignorant zeal or superstition, though
there might seem much devotion in it, and much affection to God. As in the
Israelites sacrificing their children, what more seeming self-denial,--and
yet what more real self-idolatry? God owns not such a service, for it is
not service and obedience to his will and pleasure, but to men's own will
and humour. Therefore, a man must not look for a reward but from himself.
Now, it is not only will-worship, when the matter and substance of the
worship is not commanded of God, but also when a commanded worship is not
discharged in the appointed manner. Therefore, O how few true worshippers
will the Father find! True worship must have truth for the substance, and
spirit for the manner of it; else it is not su