*What then can you do? How can you employ the time that lies so heavy upon your hands? This very thing which you seek, declare we unto you. The thing _you_ want, is the religion _we_ preach. That alone leaves no time upon our hands. It fills up all the blank spaces of life. It exactly takes up all the time we have to spare, be it more or less: so that _he that hath much, hath nothing over, and he that has little, has no lack_.
46. Once more. Can you (or any man of reason) think, you was made for the life you now lead? You cannot possibly think so, at least, not till you tread the bible under foot. The oracles of God bear thee witness in every page, (and thine own heart agreeth thereto) that thou wast made in the image of God, an incorruptible picture of the God of glory. And what art thou even in thy present state? An everlasting spirit, going to God. For what end then did he create thee, but to dwell with him, above this perishable world, to know him, to love him, to do his will, to enjoy him for ever and ever! O look more deeply into thyself! And into that scripture, which thou professest to receive as the _word of God_, as _right concerning all things_. There thou wilt find a nobler, happier state described, than it ever yet entered into thy heart to conceive. But God hath now revealed it to all those who _rejoice evermore_, and _pray without ceasing_, and _in every thing give thanks_, and _do his will on earth as it is done in heaven_. For this thou wast made. Hereunto also thou art called. O be not disobedient to the heavenly calling! At least, be not angry with those who would fain bring thee to be a living witness of that religion, _whose ways are indeed ways of pleasantness, and all her paths peace_.
47. Do you say in your heart, “I know all this already. I am not barely a man of reason. I am a religious man; for I not only avoid evil and do good, but use all the means of grace. I am constantly at church, and at the sacrament too. I say my prayers every day. I read many good books. I fast――――every _thirtieth of January, and Good-friday_.” Do you indeed? Do you do all this! This you may do; you may go thus far, and yet have _no religion_ at all; _no such religion_ as avails before God: nay, much farther than this, than you have ever gone yet, or so much as thought of going. For you may _give all your goods to feed the poor_, yea, _your body to be burned_, and yet very possibly, if St. _Paul_ be a judge, _have no charity_, no true religion.
48. This religion, which alone is of value before God, is the very thing you want. You want (and in wanting this, you want all) the religion of love. You do not love your neighbour as yourself, no more than you love God with all your heart. Ask your own heart now, if it be not so? ’Tis plain you do not love God. If you did, you would be happy in him. But you know, you are not happy. Your _formal_ religion no more makes you happy, than your neighbour’s _gay_ religion does him. O how much have you suffered for want of plain-dealing! Can you now bear to hear the naked truth? You have _the form of godliness_, but not _the power_. You are a mere whited wall. Before the Lord your God I ask you, are you not? Too sure. For your _inward parts are very wickedness_. You love _the creature more than the Creator_. You are _a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God_. A lover of God! You do not love God at all, no more than you love a stone. You love the world; therefore the love of the Father is not in you.
49. You are on the brink of the pit, ready to be plunged into everlasting perdition. Indeed you have a zeal for God: but not according to knowledge. O how terribly have you been deceived! Posting to hell, and fancying it was heaven. See, at length, that _outward religion_ without _inward_, is nothing; is far worse than nothing, being indeed no other than a solemn mockery of God. And _inward religion you have not_. You have not the faith _that worketh by love_. Your _faith_ (so called) is no living, saving principle. It is not the apostle’s faith, _the substance_ (or subsistence) _of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen_. So far from it, that _this_ faith is the very thing which you call _enthusiasm_. You are not content with being without it, unless you blaspheme it too. You even revile that _life which is hid with_ Christ _in_ God; all seeing, tasting, hearing, feeling God. These things are _foolishness unto_ you. No marvel; _for they are spiritually discerned_.