Torulebywordsrequiresthatsuchwordsbemanifestlymadeknown；forelsetheyarenolaws：fortothenatureoflawsbelongethasufficientandclearpromulgation，suchasmaytakeawaytheexcuseofignorance；whichinthelawsofmenisbutofoneonlykind，andthatis，proclamationorpromulgationbythevoiceofman。
ButGoddeclarethhislawsthreeways；bythedictatesofnaturalreason，byrevelation，andbythevoiceofsomemantowhom，bytheoperationofmiracles，heprocurethcreditwiththerest。FromhencetherearisethatriplewordofGod，rational，sensible，andprophetic；
towhichcorrespondethatriplehearing：rightreason，sensesupernatural，andfaith。Asforsensesupernatural，whichconsistethinrevelationorinspiration，therehavenotbeenanyuniversallawssogiven，becauseGodspeakethnotinthatmannerbuttoparticularpersons，andtodiversemendiversethings。
FromthedifferencebetweentheothertwokindsofGod’sword，rationalandprophetic，theremaybeattributedtoGodatwofoldkingdom，naturalandprophetic：natural，whereinHegovernethasmanyofmankindasacknowledgeHisprovidence，bythenaturaldictatesofrightreason；andprophetic，whereinhavingchosenoutonepeculiarnation，theJews，forHissubjects，Hegovernedthem，andnonebutthem，notonlybynaturalreason，butbypositivelaws，whichHegavethembythemouthsofHisholyprophets。OfthenaturalkingdomofGodIintendtospeakinthischapter。
TherightofnaturewherebyGodreignethovermen，andpunisheththosethatbreakhislaws，istobederived，notfromHiscreatingthem，asifHerequiredobedienceasofgratitudeforHisbenefits，butfromHisirresistiblepower。Ihaveformerlyshownhowthesovereignrightarisethfrompact：toshowhowthesamerightmayarisefromnaturerequiresnomorebuttoshowinwhatcaseitisnevertakenaway。Seeingallmenbynaturehadrighttoallthings，theyhadrighteveryonetoreignoveralltherest。Butbecausethisrightcouldnotbeobtainedbyforce，itconcernedthesafetyofeveryone，layingbythatright，tosetupmen，withsovereignauthority，bycommonconsent，toruleanddefendthem：whereasiftherehadbeenanymanofpowerirresistible，therehadbeennoreasonwhyheshouldnotbythatpowerhaveruledanddefendedbothhimselfandthem，accordingtohisowndiscretion。Tothosethereforewhosepowerisirresistible，thedominionofallmenadherethnaturallybytheirexcellenceofpower；andconsequentlyitisfromthatpowerthatthekingdomovermen，andtherightofafflictingmenathispleasure，belongethnaturallytoGodAlmighty；notasCreatorandgracious，butasomnipotent。Andthoughpunishmentbedueforsinonly，becausebythatwordisunderstoodafflictionforsin；yettherightofafflictingisnotalwaysderivedfrommen’ssin，butfromGod’spower。
Thisquestion：whyevilmenoftenprosper；andgoodmensufferadversity，hasbeenmuchdisputedbytheancient，andisthesamewiththisofours：bywhatrightGoddispenseththeprosperitiesandadversitiesofthislife；andisofthatdifficulty，asithathshakenthefaith，notonlyofthevulgar，butofphilosophersand，whichismore，ofthesaints，concerningtheDivineProvidence。“Howgood，“
saithDavid，“istheGodofIsraeltothosethatareuprightinheart；
andyetmyfeetwerealmostgone，mytreadingshadwell-nighslipped；forIwasgrievedatthewicked，whenIsawtheungodlyinsuchprosperity。“*AndJob，howearnestlydoesheexpostulatewithGodforthemanyafflictionshesuffered，notwithstandinghisrighteousness？ThisquestioninthecaseofJobisdecidedbyGodHimself，notbyargumentsderivedfromJob’ssin，butHisownpower。
ForwhereasthefriendsofJobdrewtheirargumentsfromhisafflictiontohissin，andhedefendedhimselfbytheconscienceofhisinnocence，GodHimselftakethupthematter，andhavingjustifiedtheafflictionbyargumentsdrawnfromHispower，suchasthis，“WherewastthouwhenIlaidthefoundationsoftheearth，“*2andthelike，bothapprovedJob’sinnocenceandreprovedtheerroneousdoctrineofhisfriends。ConformabletothisdoctrineisthesentenceofourSaviourconcerningthemanthatwasbornblind，inthesewords，“Neitherhaththismansinned，norhisfathers；butthattheworksofGodmightbemademanifestinhim。“Andthoughitbesaid，“thatdeathenteredintotheworldbysin，“bywhichismeantthatifAdamhadneversinned，hehadneverdied，thatis，neversufferedanyseparationofhissoulfromhisbody，itfollowsnotthencethatGodcouldnotjustlyhaveafflictedhim，thoughhehadnotsinned，aswellasHeafflictethotherlivingcreaturesthatcannotsin。
HavingspokenoftherightofGod’ssovereigntyasgroundedonlyonnature，wearetoconsidernextwhatarethedivinelaws，ordictatesofnaturalreason；whichlawsconcerneitherthenaturaldutiesofonemantoanother，orthehonournaturallyduetoourDivineSovereign。Thefirstarethesamelawsofnature，ofwhichI
havespokenalreadyinthefourteenthandfifteenthChaptersofthistreatise；namely，equity，justice，mercy，humility，andtherestofthemoralvirtues。Itremaineththereforethatweconsiderwhatpreceptsaredictatedtomenbytheirnaturalreasononly，withoutotherwordofGod，touchingthehonourandworshipoftheDivineMajesty。
Honourconsistethintheinwardthoughtandopinionofthepowerandgoodnessofanother：andthereforetohonourGodistothinkashighlyofHispowerandgoodnessasispossible。Andofthatopinion，theexternalsignsappearinginthewordsandactionsofmenarecalledworship；whichisonepartofthatwhichtheLatinsunderstandbythewordcultus：forcultussignifiethproperly，andconstantly，thatlabourwhichamanbestowsonanythingwithapurposetomakebenefitbyit。Nowthosethingswhereofwemakebenefitareeithersubjecttous，andtheprofittheyyieldfolloweththelabourwebestowuponthemasanaturaleffect；ortheyarenotsubjecttous，butanswerourlabouraccordingtotheirownwills。Inthefirstsensethelabourbestowedontheearthiscalledculture；andtheeducationofchildren，acultureoftheirminds。Inthesecondsense，wheremen’swillsaretobewroughttoourpurpose，notbyforce，butbycomplaisance，itsignifiethasmuchascourting，thatis，winningoffavourbygoodoffices；asbypraises，byacknowledgingtheirpower，andbywhatsoeverispleasingtothemfromwhomwelookforanybenefit。Andthisisproperlyworship：inwhichsensepublicolaisunderstoodforaworshipperofthepeople；andcultusDei，fortheworshipofGod。
Frominternalhonour，consistingintheopinionofpowerandgoodness，arisethreepassions；love，whichhathreferencetogoodness；andhope，andfear，thatrelatetopower：andthreepartsofexternalworship；praise，magnifying，andblessing：thesubjectofpraisebeinggoodness；thesubjectofmagnifyingandblessingbeingpower，andtheeffectthereoffelicity。Praiseandmagnifyingaresignifiedbothbywordsandactions：bywords，whenwesayamanisgoodorgreat；byactions，whenwethankhimforhisbounty，andobeyhispower。Theopinionofthehappinessofanothercanonlybeexpressedbywords。
Therebesomesignsofhonour，bothinattributesandactions，thatbenaturallyso；asamongstattributes，good，just，liberal，andthelike；andamongstactions，prayers，thanks，andobedience。
Othersaresobyinstitution，orcustomofmen；andinsometimesandplacesarehonourable；inothers，dishonourable；inothers，indifferent：suchasarethegesturesinsalutation，prayer，andthanksgiving，indifferenttimesandplaces，differentlyused。Theformerisnatural；thelatterarbitraryworship。
Andofarbitraryworship，therebetwodifferences：forsometimesitiscommanded，sometimesvoluntaryworship：commanded，whenitissuchasherequirethwhoisworshipped：free，whenitissuchastheworshipperthinksfit。Whenitiscommanded，notthewordsorgesture，buttheobedienceistheworship。Butwhenfree，theworshipconsistsintheopinionofthebeholders：foriftothemthewordsoractionsbywhichweintendhonourseemridiculous，andtendingtocontumely；theyarenoworship，becausenosignsofhonour；andnosignsofhonour，becauseasignisnotasigntohimthatgivethit，buttohimtowhomitismade，thatis，tothespectator。
Againthereisapublicanprivateworship。PublicistheworshipthataCommonwealthperformeth，asoneperson。Privateisthatwhichaprivatepersonexhibiteth。Public，inrespectofthewholeCommonwealth，isfree；butinrespectofparticularmenitisnotso。Privateisinsecretfree；butinthesightofthemultitudeitisneverwithoutsomerestraint，eitherfromthelawsorfromtheopinionofmen；whichiscontrarytothenatureofliberty。
Theendofworshipamongstmenispower。Forwhereamanseethanotherworshipped，hesupposethhimpowerful，andisthereadiertoobeyhim；whichmakeshispowergreater。ButGodhasnoends：theworshipwedohimproceedsfromourdutyandisdirectedaccordingtoourcapacitybythoserulesofhonourthatreasondictatethtobedonebytheweaktothemorepotentmen，inhopeofbenefit，forfearofdamage，orinthankfulnessforgoodalreadyreceivedfromthem。
ThatwemayknowwhatworshipofGodistaughtusbythelightofnature，IwillbeginwithHisattributes。Where，first，itismanifest，weoughttoattributetoHimexistence：fornomancanhavethewilltohonourthatwhichhethinksnottohaveanybeing。
Secondly，thatthosephilosopherswhosaidtheworld，orthesouloftheworld，wasGodspakeunworthilyofHim，anddeniedHisexistence：forbyGodisunderstoodthecauseoftheworld；andtosaytheworldisGodistosaythereisnocauseofit，thatis，noGod。
Thirdly，tosaytheworldwasnotcreated，buteternal，seeingthatwhichiseternalhasnocause，istodenythereisaGod。
Fourthly，thattheywho，attributing，astheythink，easetoGod，takefromHimthecareofmankind，takefromHimhishonour：forittakesawaymen’sloveandfearofHim，whichistherootofhonour。
Fifthly，inthosethingsthatsignifygreatnessandpower，tosayHeisfiniteisnottohonourHim：foritisnotasignofthewilltohonourGodtoattributetoHimlessthanwecan；andfiniteislessthanwecan，becausetofiniteitiseasytoaddmore。
ThereforetoattributefiguretoHimisnothonour；forallfigureisfinite：
Nortosayweconceive，andimagine，orhaveanideaofHiminourmind；forwhatsoeverweconceiveisfinite：
NortoattributetoHimpartsortotality；whicharetheattributesonlyofthingsfinite：
NortosayHeisinthisorthatplace；forwhatsoeverisinplaceisboundedandfinite：
NorthatHeismovedorresteth；forboththeseattributesascribetoHimplace：
Northattherebemoregodsthanone，becauseitimpliesthemallfinite；fortherecannotbemorethanoneinfinite：
NortoascribetoHimunlessmetaphorically，meaningnotthepassion，buttheeffectpassionsthatpartakeofgrief；asrepentance，anger，mercy：orofwant；asappetite，hope，desire；orofanypassivefaculty：forpassionispowerlimitedbysomewhatelse。
AndthereforewhenweascribetoGodawill，itisnottobeunderstood，asthatofman，forarationalappetite；butasthepowerbywhichHeeffectetheverything。
LikewisewhenweattributetoHimsight，andotheractsofsense；asalsoknowledgeandunderstanding；whichinusisnothingelsebutatumultofthemind，raisedbyexternalthingsthatpresstheorganicalpartsofman’sbody：forthereisnosuchthinginGod，and，beingthingsthatdependonnaturalcauses，cannotbeattributedtoHim。
HethatwillattributetoGodnothingbutwhatiswarrantedbynaturalreasonmusteitherusesuchnegativeattributesasinfinite，eternal，incomprehensible；orsuperlatives，asmosthigh，mostgreat，andthelike；orindefinite，asgood，just，holy，creator；
andinsuchsenseasifHemeantnottodeclarewhatHeisforthatweretocircumscribeHimwithinthelimitsofourfancy，buthowmuchweadmireHim，andhowreadywewouldbetoobeyHim；whichisasignofhumility，andofawilltohonourHimasmuchaswecan：forthereisbutonenametosignifyourconceptionofHisnature，andthatisIAM；andbutonenameofHisrelationtous，andthatisGod，inwhichiscontainedfather，king，andlord。