3. *We may learn from hence, in the _third_ place, what is the proper nature of religion, of the religion of Jesus Christ. It is Θεραπεία ψυχῆς· God’s method of healing a soul which is _thus diseased_. Hereby the great Physician of souls applies medicines to heal _this sickness_; to restore human nature, totally corrupted in all its faculties. God heals all our Atheism, by the knowledge of himself, and of Jesus Christ whom he hath sent; by giving us faith, a divine evidence and conviction of God and of the things of God: in particular, of this important truth, Christ loved _me_, and gave himself for _me_. By repentance and lowliness of heart, the deadly disease of pride is healed: that of self-will by resignation, a meek and thankful submission to the will of God. And for the love of the world in all its branches, the love of God is the sovereign remedy. Now this is properly religion, _faith_ thus _working by love_, working the genuine, meek humility, entire deadness of the world, with a loving, thankful acquiescence in and conformity to the whole will and word of God.
4. Indeed if man were not thus fallen, there would be no need of all this. There would be no occasion for this work of the heart, this _renewal in the spirit of our mind_. The _superfluity of godliness_ would then be a more proper expression than the _superfluity of naughtiness_. For an outside religion without any godliness at all, would suffice to all rational intents and purposes. It does accordingly suffice, in the judgment of those who deny this corruption of our nature. They make very little more of religion than the famous Mr. _Hobbes_ did of reason. According to him, reason is only, “A well-ordered train of words:” according to them, religion is only a well-ordered train of words and actions. And they speak consistently with themselves: for if the inside be not _full of wickedness_, if this be clean already, what remains, but to _cleanse the outside of the cup_? Outward reformation, if their supposition be just, is indeed the one thing needful.
5. But ye have not so learned the oracles of God. Ye know, that he who seeth what is in man, gives a far different account both of nature and grace, of our fall and our recovery. Ye know that the great end of religion is, to renew our hearts in the image of God, to repair that total loss of righteousness and true holiness, which we sustained by the sin of our first parent. Ye know that all religion which does not answer this end, all that stops short of this, the renewal of our soul in the image of God, after the likeness of him that created it, is no other than a poor farce, and a mere mockery of God, to the destruction of our own soul. O beware of all those teachers of lies, who would palm this upon you for Christianity! Regard them not, altho’ they should come unto you with _all the deceivableness of unrighteousness_, with all smoothness of language, all decency, yea beauty and elegance of expression, all professions of earnest good will to you, and reverence for the holy scriptures. Keep to the plain, old _faith, once delivered to the saints_, and delivered by the Spirit of God to our hearts. Know your disease! Know your cure! Ye were born in sin: therefore _ye must be born again_, born of God. By nature ye are wholly corrupted: by grace ye shall be wholly renewed. _In_ Adam ye _all died_: in the second _Adam, in_ Christ ye _all are made alive_. You _that are dead in sins hath he quickened_: he hath already given you a principle of life, even _faith in_ him _who loved_ you, and _gave himself for_ you! Now _go on from faith to faith_, until your whole sickness be healed, and all that _mind be in you, which was also in_ Christ Jesus!