“Nothing ought to be added to public worship concerning which God has given no command.” John à Lasco (1551, Letter to Cranmer).
Q. 26. What! Is not whatever we do in his honor acceptable to God, since we were moved to it by good intentions and true piety? R. Not at all! God forbids, as if it were an idol, all religion which was neither established nor commanded by His Word. He further wills that we zealously shun and flee from it. (Deut. 12; Jer. 7; Mt. 15; Lk. 12; Is. 29).
Q. 27. Why? R. It is, in fact, a divine law that we worship and revere His great Majesty according to His will and Word and not according to our will and good pleasure, for apart from the Word of God our will is entirely blind and can offer nothing but evil. Indeed, neither wisdom nor ability can teach us of God, and of that which pertains to His true worship. Thus, it is not acceptable to God, since He forbids anyone to offer it in His honor. (1 Cor. 3; Gen. 6; Jn. 1, 9; Deut. 4). From John à Laco's Larger Catechism (Large Catechism of the Strangers' Church, London, 1551), James T. Dennison, editor, Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th centuries in English translation, 4 volumes, 1523–1593 (Reformation Heritage Books, 2008–2014) 1.595.
Q. 26. What! Is not whatever we do in his honor acceptable to God, since we were moved to it by good intentions and true piety? R. Not at all! God forbids, as if it were an idol, all religion which was neither established nor commanded by His Word. He further wills that we zealously shun and flee from it. (Deut. 12; Jer. 7; Mt. 15; Lk. 12; Is. 29).
Q. 27. Why? R. It is, in fact, a divine law that we worship and revere His great Majesty according to His will and Word and not according to our will and good pleasure, for apart from the Word of God our will is entirely blind and can offer nothing but evil. Indeed, neither wisdom nor ability can teach us of God, and of that which pertains to His true worship. Thus, it is not acceptable to God, since He forbids anyone to offer it in His honor. (1 Cor. 3; Gen. 6; Jn. 1, 9; Deut. 4). From John à Laco's Larger Catechism (Large Catechism of the Strangers' Church, London, 1551), James T. Dennison, editor, Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th centuries in English translation, 4 volumes, 1523–1593 (Reformation Heritage Books, 2008–2014) 1.595.