Serf .CL. Of the Form, andthePower, &c. 325 that he does not command us impoflibilities, and feeing we are weak and infuffi- cient of our felves to do what he requires of us, that he is ready to afford us his GGrace to enable us to do it SERMON C;L. Of the Form, and the Power ofGodlinefs. TIM. III.5. Having a Form ofGodlinefs, but denying the Power thereof. eirHE Apoftle in thefe words, diftinguifhes two things in Religion, whichdone Pit IL not, but ought always to go together, viz. the thew and pretence of Reli- tg, Text. gion, and the life and power of ir. He condemns neither, but blames the fepa- rating ofthem. The latter indeed cannot be without the firfl; for wherever Re- ligion really is, there will be fome appearance of it : But the former may be, and often is, without the latter. Men may make a great £hew of Religion, and yet be very deftitute of the power of it. And fuch were thofe Perfons the Apoftle defcribes here in the Text; they were guilty of the greatett faults and vices in their lives, but thought to cloak all thefe by an outward £hew and appearance,of godlinefs. Having a formofgodlinefs, but denying the power thereof. The word ,ctgprpooms, which is here tranflated Form, lignifies the thew or image of a thing, which is dead and ineffeftual: In oppoftion to the reality and life, which is quick and powerful. And, I think, this word is but once more us'd in the New Teftament, and much in the fame fenfe, viz. for an empty and inffe- dual knowledge of Religion without the pradice of it. Rom. 2. rj, 20, 21. The Apoftle there fpeaks of thine pharifaical yews, who gloried in their knowledge of the Law, but violated it in their practice. Behold, thou art calleda Jew, and relle(t in the law, and half the form of' knowledge, and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore that teache/l another, teache thou not thy frlf? Thou that preach, a man fhould net flea!, dolt thouheal ? So that a Form ofGodlinefs lignifies an empty thew and profeffionof Religion, without the real effe&s of it. And they who are deftitute of thefe, are faid to deny the Power ofReligion. It is ufual in feveral Languages to draw Metaphors from words to actions; and Men are faid to contradid or deny any thing, when they do contrary to what they pretend; and fo this Phrafe is elfewhere ufed, Tit. r. ro. They profefs to knowGod, but in their works they deny him, r Tim. 5. 8. If any man provide not fir his own, efpecially for thofe of his own houfe, he bath denied the faith. The Apoftle does not mean that fuch an one denies the Faith by an exprefs declaration in words, but by allions fo coutradi&ory to the Chriftian Faith, as an Infidel would hardly do. He bath denied the faith, and is worfe than an Infidel. In the handling ofthefe words, I (hall do thefe/bur things. Firff, Shew wherein a FormofGodlinefs confifts. Secondly, Wherein the Power of it lies. Thirdly, Give fome Marks and Charaders whereby wemay knowwhen thefe are feparated, when the Form ofGodlinefs is deftitute ofthe Power, Fourthly,
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