I. 1. BUT 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 _all that believed were together, and had all things common_, (Acts ii. 44.) _they continued stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles, and in the breaking of bread and in prayers_, ver. 44. 2. But in process of time, when _the love of many waxed cold_, 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 _the end of_ every _commandment is love, out of a pure heart, with faith unfeigned_: 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 _faith of the operation of God_. 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. 3. It is evident, in those who abused them thus, they did not conduce to the end for which they were ordained. Rather, the things which should have been for their health, were to them an occasion of falling. They were so far from receiving any blessing therein, that they only drew down a curse upon their head: so far from growing more heavenly in heart and life, that they were twofold more the children of hell than before. Others clearly perceiving, that these means did not convey the grace of God to those children of the devil, began from this particular case to draw a general conclusion. “That they were not means of conveying the grace of God.” 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.