be highly offended if their claim to that title were disputed? Yet have they in reality as little of Christianity in their hearts and lives as the very heathen : and there is reason to believe, that they would have lived precisely as they have, if they had all the while known Christianity to be a fable ; and that they would continue to live in the very same state, if now for the first time they should learn that our religion were founded in imposture. To them we may safely apply those words of the Apostle, " They profess that they know God, but in works deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate V
It is precisely the same with many also who profess a high regard for religion. They are strenuous advocates for decorum, and are very observant of outward forms ; but are as far from
any thing like vital godliness as the most profane
They may impose upon a few ignorant people, who have not an idea what religion is : but persons of the least education, who think at all for themselves, see that all those forms are a mere farce, if unaccompanied with the affections of the heart ; and these formalists themselves know, and feel, and, amongst each other, will acknowledge them to be so. Of such persons St. Paul says, that " they have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof; that, like Jannes and Jambres, (two great opposers of Moses,) they resist the truth, being men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith ; and that their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also wasc."
Thus is the hypocrisy of many covered with so thin a veil, that every one of the smallest penetration may discover it : and if their professions be treated with respect, it is merely from a desire which every one feels to make the way to heaven as easy as possible, and to lower the standard of religion to his own attainments.]
2. That which, though hid from others, is known to ourselves —
[It is no uncommon thing for persons to embrace certain religious principles, without ever attending to their sanctifying efficacy. Such were Judas, and Ananias, and Sapphira: these did actually impose on others ; they were considered by all as sound converts : but could Judas be ignorant that he was a thief? or Ananias and Sapphira that they were liars? So it is then with many professors of religion, who pass for real Christians at this time : their exterior appearance is that of sanctity ; but one is dishonest, another is addicted to falsehood, another gives way to lewd desires and practices, another is under the dominion of his evil tempers. Now, notwithstanding
»> Tit. i. 10. c 2 Tim. iii. 5—9.