3 26 OftheForm, and VotIL Fourthly; Shew-that a meer-FarmofGodlinefs- without the-Power of it,- is tnfigni- ficant to all the great'ends and purpofes of Religion Firfl, To thew wherein a Form ofGodlinefs does confift. ? In general it confifts in an external Phew and profeflioü of Religion, or'of-any eminent part of it, or of that which is reptited to be fo ; and aForm of Religion is more or lefs cornpleat, according to the extent of it. Some pitch upon one part -of Religion, and fet themfelves chiefly to make a flew of that ; otherstake in more partsof it, and en- deavour to exprefs andcounterfeit them; fo that the Forms of Religion are various and different, and not to be reduced to any fixt and conftant ftandard ; but they commonlyappear in fome one or more of thefe fhapes. I. An external Devotion. II. An orthodox Profeffion of the Chriftian Faith. III. Enthufiafm and pretence to Infpiration. IV. A great external fhewof+Mortification: V. An impeded repentance and partial reformation. VI. The appearance and oftentation of fome particular Grace andVirtue. VII. A great zeal for fome Party, or Opinions, or Circumftances of Religion. VIII. Sillinefs and freakifhnefs, and either a pretended or real ignorance in the common affairs and concernments of human life. IX. Much noife and talk about Religion. Thefe are the feveral Forms of Religion which Men are wont to afíuine. Not that thefe do always go fingly; but fometimes Men put on one, fometimes more of them, as may beft ferve their feveral turns and interefts. Nor would I beun- derftood to condemn all thefe; for feveral of thefe particulars which I have men- tion'd are good in themfelves, and neceffaryparts of Religion ; but being deftitute of other things wherein the lifeof Religion doch confift, they are but a Form of Godlinefs. I. External Devotion. This is the moltcommon formofReligion, and eafieft to be affum'd, and therefore it is that fo many take it up. And this is good in it felf, and a neceffary part of Religion : but if there be no more than this, it is a weer image and picture of Religion, abominable to God, and fulfome and odious to dif- cerning Men. Now this external Devotion thews it felf more efpecially thefe two ways. s. In a frequent and diligent ufe of the Means and Inftruments of Religion. 2. In a curious and nice regard to theModes and Circumftances of performing thefe. r. In a frequent and diligent ufe of theMeans and Inftruments of Religion, fuck as Prayer, Reading, and Hearing the Word of God, and receiving of the bleffed Sacrament. Thefe are not the life of Religion, the great end and defign of it, but the means and inftruments whichGod bath appointed for the begetting and in- creatingof Holinefs and Virtue in us. Many exercife themfelves in thefe with great conftancy and Devotion, pray to God, and read the Bible frequently, go to Church duly, and hear God's Word attentively, and receive the Sacrament reve- rently, and behave themfelves devoutly in all parts of publick Worfhip: and yet all this maybe but a meer Form, and certainly is no more, where the great end of all this is negle ted, and Men do not fincerely endeavour to do what God's Word direéts them to, and what they daily pray to God to enable them to do. For all thefe means are in order to fome farther effect and defign. We read . and hear the Word of God, that we may know hisWill, and that we may do it; that by the Precepts and Counfels of theHoly Scriptures, we may learn and under- ftand our Duty; and by the motives andArguments which are there offer'd to us, we may effeftually be perfuaded to the pra Lice of it. We pray to God not only for the forgivenefsof our fins,but for his Grace and Affiftance,to enable us to mortifie and fubdue them, and to proceed in all Virtue and Godlinefs of living. We receive theSacratnent, to enflame our love to God and our blefl'ed Saviour, to excite in us a greater hatred of fìn,and to confirm us in the purpofe and refolutionofwell-doing. Thefe are the great ends for which Godbath appointed all thefe, helps and means, 2 and
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