3.32 Ofthe .Form, a;<ad- Vol.Iia II. A fincere and diligent ufe of the Means and Inftruments of Religion, fuch as Prayer, reading, and hearing theWord of God, and receiving the Sacraments. Thefe are themeans which God bath appointed for the improving of us in Holinefs and Goodnefs ; and we fincerely ufe thefe means, when we really aim at this end ; when we pray, and read, and hear, and meditate on God'sWord, and receive the Sacraments, that we may truly becomebetter, more holy and virtuous in all manner of Converfation; and do not refit in the ufe of thefe means, as if a Ìvlan were a religious and good Man,becaufe he prays often, and everyday reads theBible, and goes to all the Sermons he can hear of, and takes all occafions to receive the Sacrament. The life of Religion does not confift in the bare ufe of thefe, but in the real efficacy of them upon our lives. It is a very good caution which St.fohn gives us, Be not deceived, he that doth righteoufnefs is righteous, evenasbe is righte- ous, 7: John 3. 6. Men are apt to impofe upon themfelves, as if they could be righteous, and approve themfelvesto God, upon fome other terms, whereas only they that fear God, and work righteoufnefs, areacceptedwith him. I do not fpeak this to undervalue the exercifes of Religion, but to inform Men of the true nature and defign of them. Be as . diligent as thou wilt in the exerci- fes of Piety and Devotion, but be fincere in the ufe of thofe means ; do not fatis- fie thy feif in the performance of thofe duties, unlefs thou find the effeft of them upon thy heart and life, always remembring that not the bearers of the word, but the doers ofit are bleged, that theprayer, andall the facrifices of the wicked are an ahomination to the Lord. III. A firm and fteady refolution ofwell-doing. This is the refult of atrueand fincere Repentance, and the great principleof a new.Life; and if it be firm and ftedfaft, it will derive its influence into all our aftions : but ifit be wavering and inconftant, it is only the occafion of a religious mood and fit, but not the princi- ple of.a religious Rate. Therefore it concerns us to ftrengthen thisprinciple, and to be true. to it, when we have once taken it up ; for whenever we quit it, we break loofe from God and Religion at once, and caft our felves back into a much more dangerous ftate than we were in before. There is no doubt, but that the Devil and our own corrupt hearts will make many affaults upon fucha refolution, and raife all their batteries againft it, becaufe it is our main fort, and the great fecurity of our Souls, and fo long as we main- tain that, we arefife ; and therefore it had need be a mighty refolution that is able to ftand out againft fuch oppofition. But whatare we that we fhould take up fuch a Refolution, and what is our ftrength? Weare weak andunfledfaff as water, reedsfliaken with the wind ; we are notfulflcieut of our(elves, asofour (elves, for any thing that isgood; the way of man is not in himfelf, nor is it in man that walks to direft his (less::but we have a greater ftrength.thanour own to rely upon,and greater than that ofany adverfe power that can fet it felfagainft us ; we haveGod onour fide, and theAffiance of his grace to backand fortifie.thefe holy Refolutions; fo that we have no reafon to defpair of fuccefs and vi&ory, if we be not wanting to our felves; for God's grace is fufficient for us; greater is he that is in us, thanhe that is in the World. IV. And lafily,. Which is the proper and genuine effe& of all thefe, the pra&ice ofa holy andvirtuous life in all the parts and inftances of it. And unlefs this ef- feft beproduced, wewant the foreft evidence of the former : for it is not credible, that that Man bath a due fenfe ofGod, and pious affeftions towards him, or does fincerely exercife himfelf in the duties of Religion, or is firmly refolved in well- doing, : who does not Phew forth the effefts of all this in a good Converfation. Thus St. fames reafons, Chap. 3. r 3. Who is ci wife man, and enduedwith know- ledge amongfl you? that is inftru&ed in theChriftian knowledge, in theheavenly wifdom ; let him fliesforth out ofagoodConverfation his works. So that herein thepower of godlinefs doth vifiblyappear, in the courfe ofa good life; and'tis the very defign of the Apoftle in this Chapter to declare this to us, as will appear to any one that confiders the defcription here given of thofe Per- funs, who under a pew of Religion denyed. tkepower of it:5.they were fuch as 4 notwith-
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