Men who knew inward religion
Yet the number of those who abused the ordinances of God was far greater than the number of those who despised them, until certain men arose. They were men not only of great understanding, sometimes joined with considerable learning, but men who likewise appeared to be men of love, acquainted by experience with true inward religion.
Some of these were burning and shining lights, persons famous in their generations, and such as had well deserved of the church of Christ, for standing in the gap against the overflowings of ungodliness.
It cannot be supposed that these holy and venerable men intended, at first, any more than to show that outward religion is worth nothing without the religion of the heart. God is a spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Therefore external worship is lost labor without a heart devoted to God.
The outward ordinances of God profit much when they advance inward holiness. But when they do not advance it, they are unprofitable and void. They are lighter than vanity. Yes, when they are used, as it were, in the place of this inward holiness, they are an utter abomination to the Lord.
1771 text
4. Yet the number of those who abused the ordinances of God, was far greater than of those who despised them, till certain men arose, not only of great understanding, (sometimes joined with considerable learning) but who likewise appeared to be men of love, experimentally acquainted with true, inward religion. Some of these were burning and shining lights, persons famous in their generations, and such as had well deserved of the church of Christ, for standing in the gap against the overflowings of ungodliness.
It cannot be supposed, that these holy and venerable men, intended any more at first, than to shew that outward religion is nothing worth, without the religion of the heart: that God is a spirit, and they who worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth: that therefore external worship is lost labour, without a heart devoted to God: that the outward ordinances of God then profit much, when they advance inward holiness, but when they advance it not, are unprofitable and void, are lighter than vanity: yea, that when they are used, as it were, in the place of this, they are an utter abomination to the Lord.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 16 in the 1771 Works. Malachi 3:7.
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