The gospel affords scope for the healthful and vigorous exercise of the human understanding, and it is itself the highest and the purest wisdom.  It likewise supplies a test for ascertaining the state of the heart.  Those who receive it with faith unfeigned will delight to meditate on its wonderful discoveries; but those who are unrenewed in the spirit of their minds will render to it only a doubtful submission, and will pervert its plainest announcements.  The apostle therefore says—­“There must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” [208:5] The heretic is made manifest alike by his deviations from the doctrines and the precepts of revelation.  His creed does not exhibit the consistency of truth, and his life fails to display the beauty of holiness.  Bible Christianity is neither superstitious nor sceptical, neither austere nor sensual.  “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” [209:1]

SECTION III.

     THE WORSHIP AND CONSTITUTION OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH.

CHAPTER I.

THE LORD’S DAY—­THE WORSHIP OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH—­ITS SYMBOLIC ORDINANCES AND ITS DISCIPLINE.

To the primitive disciples the day on which our Lord rose from the grave was a crisis of intense excitement.  The crucifixion had cast a dismal cloud over their prospects; for, immediately before, when He entered Jerusalem amidst the hosannahs of the multitude, they had probably anticipated that He was about to assert His sovereignty as the Messiah:  yet, when His body was committed to the tomb, they did not at once sink into despair; and, though filled with anxiety, they ventured to indulge a hope that the third day after His demise would be signalised by some new revelation. [210:1] The report of those who were early at the sepulchre at first inspired the residue of the disciples with wonder and perplexity; [210:2] but, as the proofs of His resurrection multiplied, they became confident and joyful.  Ever afterwards the first day of the week was observed by them as the season of holy convocation. [211:1] Those members of the Apostolic Church who had been originally Jews, continued for some time to meet together also on the Saturday; but, what was called “The Lord’s Day,” [211:2] was regarded by all as sacred to Christ.

It has often been asserted that, during His own ministry, our Saviour encouraged His disciples to violate the Sabbath, and thus prepared the way for its abolition.  But this theory is as destitute of foundation as it is dangerous to morality.  Even the ceremonial law continued to be binding until Jesus expired upon the cross; and meanwhile He no doubt felt it to be His duty to attend to every jot and tittle of its appointments. [211:3] Thus, it became Him “to