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

And again, as it is discerned by this, so likewise there are some certain properties of it, which the form of godliness always wants. For as all graces have some peculiar properties, as effectual faith, diligent love, and patient hope, so hath godliness. Now it is too large a point to run through the properties of godliness, but a wise man that hath his senses rightly exercised, he needs not to stand to examine the truth of his godliness by the use and wearing of it, but he may examine it by that he hath learned, by that which he knoweth to be the true properties of it. As a skilful man needs not to try the drug he hath, by the operation and working of it, because he is skilful. Take a man that is accustomed to taste wine, a small taste serves his turn, by that he can presently discern of the quality and properties of that wine, whether it be strong or small, although he drink not much of it. You should learn to have this skill, and that is the thing we teach you to be accustomed to know the true from the false. It concerns you much, it concerns you above all other things. If you buy cloth that you take to be well wadded or dyed in grain, if afterward you find it to be but a washy colour, it is but the loss of that cloth. And so if counterfeit gold be put upon you, it is but the loss of that gold. But if it come to this, what do you lose by it? you lose the salvation of your souls. What if a man have a counterfeit deed of his Lands? he loseth but his Estate; but if a man have a counterfeit pardon, it costs him his life, he loseth that by it. Such is this godliness, your life and salvation depends ⟨p. 265⟩upon it. Therefore try it, not only by the use of it, but by those rules and properties that have been given you. This is one way to know it. It is true Godliness, and not counterfeit.

And again, as it is discerned by this, so likewise there are some certain properties of it, which the form of godliness always wants. For as all graces have some peculiar properties, as effectual faith, diligent love, and patient hope, so hath godliness. Now it is too large a point to run through the properties of godliness, but a wise man that hath his senses rightly exercised, he needs not to stand to examine the truth of his godliness by the use and wearing of it, but he may examine it by that he hath learned, by that which he knoweth to be the true properties of it. As a skilful man needs not to try the drug he hath, by the operation and working of it, because he is skilful. Take a man that is accustomed to taste wine, a small taste serves his turn, by that he can presently discern of the quality and properties of that wine, whether it be strong or small, although he drink not much of it. You should learn to have this skill, and that is the thing we teach you to be accustomed to know the true from the false. It concerns you much, it concerns you above all other things. If you buy cloth that you take to be well wadded or dyed in grain, if afterward you find it to be but a washy colour, it is but the loss of that cloth. And so if counterfeit gold be put upon you, it is but the loss of that gold. But if it come to this, what do you lose by it? you lose the salvation of your souls. What if a man have a counterfeit deed of his Lands? he loseth but his Estate; but if a man have a counterfeit pardon, it costs him his life, he loseth that by it. Such is this godliness, your life and salvation depends