“It is true that outward religion is worth nothing without the religion of the heart. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24 KJV) Therefore, external worship is lost labor without a heart devoted to God. The outward ordinance of God profit much when they advance inward holiness. But when they do not advance it, they are unprofitable and void. And when they are used in the place of inward religion, they are an utter abomination to the Lord.
All outward means whatever, if separate from the Spirit of God , cannot profit at all, cannot lead in any degree either to the knowledge of the love of God. Without controversy, the help that is done upon earth, He doeth it Himself. It is He alone who by His own almighty power, works in us what is pleasing in His sight.
All outward things, unless He works in them and by them, are mere weak and beggarly elements. We know there is no inherit power in the words spoken in prayer, in the letter or the sound of the scripture read, or in the bread and wine received in the Lord’s Supper. It is God alone who is the giver of every good gift, the author of all grace. The whole power is of Him, whereby, through any of these, there is any blessing conveyed to our souls.”
Underline is mine.
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