"_Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof._"--2 Tim. iii. 5.
"_He is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh_:
"_But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God._"--Rom. ii. 28, 29.
The texts which head this page deserve serious attention at any time. But they deserve especial notice in this age of the Church and world. Never since the Lord Jesus Christ left the earth, was there so much formality and false profession as there is at the present day. Now, if ever, we ought to examine ourselves, and search our religion, that we may know of what sort it is. Let us try to find out whether our Christianity is a thing of form or a thing of heart.
I know no better way of unfolding the subject than by turning to a plain passage of the Word of God. Let us hear what St. Paul says about it. He lays down the following great principles in his Epistle to the Romans: "He is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." (Rom. ii. 28, 29.) Three most instructive lessons appear to me to stand out on the face of that passage. Let us see what they are.
I. We learn, firstly, that formal religion is not religion, and a formal Christian is not a Christian in God's sight.
II. We learn, secondly, that the heart is the seat of true religion, and that the true Christian is the Christian in heart.
III. We learn, thirdly, that true religion must never expect to be popular. It will not have the "praise of man, but of God."
Let us thoroughly consider these great principles. Two hundred years have passed away since a mighty Puritan divine said, "Formality, formality, formality is the great sin of England at this day, under which the land groans.--There is more light than there was, but less life; more shadow, but less substance; more profession, but less sanctification." (_Thomas Hall, on 2 Tim. iii. 5, 1658._) What would this good man have said if he had lived in our times?
I. We learn first, that _formal religion is not religion, and a formal Christian is not a Christian in God's sight_.
What do I mean when I speak of formal religion? This is a point that must be made clear. Thousands, I suspect, know nothing about it. Without a distinct understanding of this point my whole paper will be useless. My first step shall be to paint, describe, and define.
When a man is a Christian in name only, and not in reality,--in outward things only, and not in his inward feelings,--in profession only, and not in practice,--when his Christianity in short is a mere matter of form, or fashion, or custom, without any influence on his heart or life,--in such a case as this the man has what I call a "formal religion." He possesses indeed the _form_, or husk, or skin of religion, but he does not possess its substance or its _power_.
Look for example at those thousands of people whose whole religion seems to consist in keeping religious ceremonies and ordinances. They attend regularly on public worship. They go regularly to the Lord's table. But they never get any further. They know nothing of experimental Christianity. They are not familiar with the Scriptures, and take no delight in reading them. They do not separate themselves from the ways of the world. They draw no distinction between godliness and ungodliness in their friendships, or matrimonial alliances. They care little or nothing about the distinctive doctrines of the Gospel. They appear utterly indifferent as to what they hear preached. You may be in their company for weeks, and for anything you may hear or see on a week day you might suppose they were infidels or deists. What can be said about these people? They are Christians undoubtedly, by profession; and yet there is neither heart nor life in their Christianity. There is but one thing to be said about them.--They are formal Christians. Their religion is a FORM.