the young.  I do not say that, in order to make this a charity, there should be a positive provision for the teaching of Christianity, although, as I have already observed, I take that to be the rule in an English court of equity.  But I need not, in this case, claim the whole benefit of that rule.  I say it is derogatory, because there is a positive rejection of Christianity; because it rejects the ordinary means and agencies of Christianity.  He who rejects the ordinary means of accomplishing an end, means to defeat that end itself, or else he has no meaning.  And this is true, although the means originally be means of human appointment, and not attaching to or resting on any higher authority.

For example, if the New Testament had contained a set of principles of morality and religion, without reference to the means by which those principles were to be established, and if in the course of time a system of means had sprung up, become identified with the history of the world, become general, sanctioned by continued use and custom, then he who should reject those means would design to reject, and would reject, that morality and religion themselves.

This would be true in a case where the end rested on divine authority, and human agency devised and used the means.  But if the means themselves be of divine authority also, then the rejection of them is a direct rejection of that authority.

Now, I suppose there is nothing in the New Testament more clearly established by the Author of Christianity, than the appointment of a Christian ministry.  The world was to be evangelized, was to be brought out of darkness into light, by the influences of the Christian religion, spread and propagated by the instrumentality of man.  A Christian ministry was therefore appointed by the Author of the Christian religion himself, and it stands on the same authority as any other part of his religion.  When the lost sheep of the house of Israel were to be brought to the knowledge of Christianity, the disciples were commanded to go forth into all the cities, and to preach “that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  It was added, that whosoever would not receive them, nor hear their words, it should be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha than for them.  And after his resurrection, in the appointment of the great mission to the whole human race, the Author of Christianity commanded his disciples that they should “go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.”  This was one of his last commands; and one of his last promises was the assurance, “Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world!” I say, therefore, there is nothing set forth more authentically in the New Testament than the appointment of a Christian ministry; and he who does not believe this does not and cannot believe the rest.