Servi. CLII. thePower ofGodlinefs. 3 41 what Marks and Chara&ers we may know when there are feparated ; and that ei Form of Religion without the Power of it, is infignificantro all the great ends and purpofes of Religion ; and not only fo, but it is greatly to mens difadvantage tó alfume h Form of Godlinefs, if they be deftitute of the Power of it. All that now remains is to draw fo Qe Inferences from this Difcourfe by way of Application; and they íhá11 be thefe three. Firfl, To take heed ofiniftaking the Formof Religion, for the Power of it. Secondy, To take heed of being captivated and feduced by thofe who have only a Form of Godlinefs. Thirdly, To perfuade Men to mind the Life, and Power, and Subftance of Re- ligion. Firfl, To take heed of miftaking the Form ofReligion, for the Power of it. The Papifts have almoft confined the words Religion and to Cloifters and Monks; and they make a religious life to conlift in Ma/fes and Ave-Máries, and Pater-Noflers, in the obfervation of canonical hours, and the diftin&ions of Meats and Habits, in courfe Cloaths, and a diffembled Poverty, and feveral bodily ri- gours and feverities. As if to make a Man a religious and good Man, it were ne- ceffary that he fhould be dreft fantaftically, and in a great many indifferent things be different from other Men. Nay, fo far doth this fuperftition prevail, that a great many think that they íhhould hardly get to Heaven without it, or that it will be very much for their advantage, if they be buried in the habit of a religious Man. As if to be put in a Monk's Coul, would give a Man the ftart of other People at the Refurre&ion. But what reafon is there that the name and Title of Religion íhould be appropriated to theft ufages ? Does the Scripture any where conftituteReligion in thefe things, or confine it to them ? Are not thefe volunta- ry things, which God ties no Man to ? Whence then come they to fwallow up the Name of Religion, and to engrofs it to themfelves, as if they were the very life and foul of Chriftianity; when the great Author of our Religion jefes Chr f, and his bleffed Apoftles, never fpake one word of them? What an abufe of Lan- guage is this, to confine the name of Religion to that which is not fo much as any part of it I But the Church of Rome is not alone guilty of this ; amongour felves it is very ordinary to miftake the Form of Godlinefs for thePower, tho' the miftake is not fo grofs, as in thofe particulars I have mentioned. How many are there, who talk as if the Power of Godlinefs confuted in nothing elfe but a daily talk of Devoti- on, in frequent hearing of Sermons, and a ftri& obfervation of the Lord's day. Thefe are very good things; but they are but a Form of Godlinefs, and may be, and often are without the Power of it; they are but the Means and Inffruntents of Religion, but not the great End and Defign of it that confifts in the renewing of our Natures, and the reformation of our Lives; in Righteoufnefs and trueHolinefs; in ofrtifÿing thefefh with the agedions and lulls of it, fuch as are adultery, forni- cation, hatred, variance, wrath, fedition, envying, murder, drunkennefs: for they which do fuel) things, cannot inherit the kingdom of God; and in thefruits of the Spirit, fuch as are love, joy, peace, longfuffering, gentlenefs, goodnefs, fidelity, meek- nefs, temperance, as the Apoítle reckons them up, Gal. 5. 22. Theft are real and fenfible effe&s of Religion; and themeans of Religion, if they be fincerely ufed, do all tend to the begetting and increafing of there in us. So that it is a grofs miftake to talk of the Power of Religion without thefe. Whoever is deftitute of theft, whatever attainments in Religion he may pretend to, is got no farther than a Formof Godlinefs, he is not yet under the Power of it. This is the firfl, Secondly, Let us be cautioned againít being captivated and feduced by thofe, who have only a Form of Godlinefs. This is the Apoftle's exhortation here in the Text, From fuch turn away : for of thin fort are they which creep into boufes, and lead captive filly zz omen. To the faine purpofe is our Saviour's caution, Matth. 7. 15, 16. Beware offalpprophets, which come to you in fheeps cloathing, but inward- ly they are raveningwolves. And that we may know how to avoid them, our Sa- viour bids us to obferve their lives, Te 'hall know them by their fruits. He does not
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