Not the ordinances of Christ
I shall mention but one objection more, which indeed does not properly belong to this head. Nevertheless, because it has been so frequently urged, I may not wholly pass it by.
Does not Saint Paul say, If you are dead with Christ, why are you subject to ordinances? Colossians 2:20. Therefore a Christian, one who is dead with Christ, need not use the ordinances any more.
So you say, If I am a Christian, I am not subject to the ordinances of Christ. Surely, by the absurdity of this, you must see at the first glance that the ordinances mentioned here cannot be the ordinances of Christ. They must be the Jewish ordinances, to which it is certain a Christian is no longer subject.
And the same undeniably appears from the words immediately following. Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle. All of these evidently refer to the ancient ordinances of the Jewish law.
So this objection is the weakest of all. And in spite of all, that great truth must stand unshaken, that all who desire the grace of God are to wait for it in the means which he has ordained.
1771 text
6. I shall mention but one objection more, which indeed does not properly belong to this head. Nevertheless, because it has been so frequently urged, I may not wholly pass it by.
“Does not St. Paul say, If ye be dead with Christ, why are ye subject to ordinances? Col. ii. 20. Therefore a Christian, one that is dead with Christ, need not use the ordinances any more.”
So you say, “If I am a Christian, I am not subject to the ordinances of Christ!” Surely, by the absurdity of this, you must see at the first glance, that the ordinances here mentioned cannot be the ordinances of Christ! That they must needs be the Jewish ordinances, to which it is certain, a Christian is no longer subject.
And the same undeniably appears from the words immediately following, Touch not, taste not, handle not――all evidently referring to the antient ordinances of the Jewish law.
So that this objection is the weakest of all. And in spight of all, that great truth must stand unshaken, that all who desire the grace of God, are to wait for it, in the means which he hath ordained.
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.