Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

Secondly, Another cause, why the form is found every ¹where, but not the power, it is because the form of godliness is very easy, but the power and life of it is very hard and difficult. It is an easy thing to do the things wherein the show, and the form consists. It is an easy thing to come to Church, to hear the word, to here prayers; it is an easy thing to read a prayer every day in private, it is an easy thing to have such a formality in serving of God, these are things that are done with facility. But come now to the power and life of godliness, that mortifieth thy lusts, that subdueth thee and keeps in thy affections, that searcheth thy heart, and thine inward intentions, that requireth other aims, and ends. It is another thing to do this; it is a very hard thing, for a man to cross himself, to deny himself. Let any man examine himself in those things to which he is strongly inclined, when he shall find in himself that he hath such, and such opportunities, in such, and such companies, in such, and such occasions, how hard a thing it is for him now to stick to the rule, and to subdue, and mortify his sinful lusts. I say the power of godliness doth this.

Secondly, Another cause, why the form is found every ¹where, but not the power, it is because the form of godliness is very easie, but the power and life of it is very hard and difficult. It is an easie thing to do the things wherein the shew, and the form consists. It is an easie thing to come to Church, to hear the word, to here prayers; it is an easie thing to read a prayer every day in private, it is an easie thing to have such a formality in serving of God, these are things that are done with facility. But come now to the power and life of godliness, that mortifieth thy lusts, that subdueth thee and keeps in thy affections, that searcheth thy heart, and thine inward intentions, that requireth other aims, and ends. It is another thing to do this; it is a very hard thing, for a man to cross himself, to deny himself. Let any man examine himself in those things to which he is strongly enclined, when he shall find in himself that he hath such, and such opportunities, in such, and such companies, in such, and such occasions, how hard a thing it is for him now to stick to the rule, and to subdue, and mortifie his sinful lusts. I say the power of godliness doth this.