Are there any ordinances now, since life and immortality were brought to light by the gospel? Are there, under the Christian dispensation, any means ordained of God, as the usual channels of his grace? This question could never have been proposed in the apostolical church, unless by one who openly avowed himself to be a Heathen; the whole body of Christians being agreed, that Christ had ordained certain outward means, for conveying his grace into the souls of men. Their constant practice set this beyond all dispute; for so long as âall that believed were together, and had all things common,â (Acts 2:44,) âthey continued steadfastly in the teaching of the Apostles, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.â (Acts 2:42.)
But in process of time, when âthe love of many waxed cold,â some began to mistake the means for the end, and to place religion rather in doing those outward works, than in a heart renewed after the image of God. They forgot that âthe end ofâ every âcommandment is love, out of a pure heart,â with âfaith unfeigned;â the loving the Lord their God with all their heart, and their neighbour as themselves; and the being purified from pride, anger, and evil desire, by a âfaith of the operation of God.â Others seemed to imagine, that though religion did not principally consist in these outward means, yet there was something in them wherewith God was well pleased: something that would still make them acceptable in his sight, though they were not exact in the weightier matters of the law, in justice, mercy, and the love of God.