Mistaking the means for the end
But in process of time, when the love of many grew cold (Matthew 24:12), 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 unfeigned faith (1 Timothy 1:5): loving the Lord their God with all their heart, and their neighbor as themselves (Mark 12:30-31), and being purified from pride, anger, and evil desire, by a faith of the operation of God (Colossians 2:12).
Others seemed to imagine that, though religion did not principally consist in these outward means, yet there was something in them with which 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.
It is evident that, in those who abused them in this way, the means did not lead 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 in them that they only drew down a curse upon their head. They were 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.
1771 text
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.”
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.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.