“As I have observed before, God is the only Lord of Conscience. He has left no Authority upon Earth, to make any Laws for his Subjects, in the immediate Affairs of his Kingdom: But has directed in what Way he will be worshipped. Who then has any Business to set their Thresholds by Gods Thresholds, and their Posts by his Posts? It’s enough therefore, to render our Worship vain, if it can be said of it as of Jereboam’s Feast, that it was devised out of our own Hearts. Whatever Appearances of Sanctity and Devotion there may be in any Rites, Ceremonies, or Modes of Worship of human Institution; yet since they are of human Original, they are therefore but a shew of Wisdom in Will-Worship, as the Apostle instructs. Col. ii.22, 23. Which all are to perish with the using, after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men, which Things have indeed a shew of Wisdom in Will-Worship and Humility.

No Pretences of Decency and Order will serve in this Case; for God himself is the best Judge of what is decent and orderly in his immediate Service; and cannot be pleased with what is not agreeable to his own Will: And how can we conclude any Thing agreeable to his Will, but what he has appointed.” — Jonathan Dickinson, The Vanity of Human Institutions in the Worship of God (1736) [not yet available on Log College Press], p. 13