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

Again it enableth us to resist. When a temptation cometh a weak man is not able to stand out, the banks are too weak for the stream, they are not able to resist the billows, the tempest; but godliness makes a man powerful to do all this. The form is but weak, it makes you able to desire, or to purpose, and resolve it may be, but it doth not bring the thing to act, it doth not overcome, ⟨p. 267⟩and overmaster your unruly lusts, it brings not all things into subjection. It enableth you to take good purposes to your selves, but you have not ability to perform those good purposes. They are in a weak heart, like new wine in old vessels, they are weak they last not, they continue not there. So it is where there is this form only, and no more, men purpose well; but have no strength to bring them forth. And so again where there is but a form you are weak in resistance, you are not able to stand out against temptations, but when you are assaulted with suitable temptations agreeing with your own lusts, when the occasion is present, and the temptation is strong, you are able to do nothing by way of resistance when there is but a form. But where there is true godliness, there is a power, and ability. You see these two things then, It is true, and not counterfeit, whereas the form is counterfeit. Secondly, where there is godliness indeed there is a power; but where there is a form only there is weakness, and no power. I will but name the rest.

Again it enableth us to resist. When a temptation cometh a weak man is not able to stand out, the bankes are too weak for the stream, they are not able to resist the billowes, the tempest; but godliness makes a man powerful to do all this. The form is but weak, it makes you able to desire, or to purpose, and resolve it may be, but it doth not bring the thing to act, it doth not overcome, ⟨p. 267⟩and overmaster your unruly lusts, it brings not all things into subjection. It enableth you to take good purposes to your selves, but you have not ability to perform those good purposes. They are in a weak heart, like new wine in old vessels, they are weak they last not, they continue not there. So it is where there is this form onely, and no more, men purpose well; but have no strength to bring them forth. And so again where there is but a form you are weak in resistance, you are not able to stand out against temptations, but when you are assaulted with sutable temptations agreeing with your own lusts, when the occasion is present, and the temptation is strong, you are able to do nothing by way of resistance when there is but a form. But where there is true godliness, there is a power, and ability. You see these two things then, It is true, and not counterfeit, whereas the form is counterfeit. Secondly, where there is godliness indeed there is a power; but where there is a form onely there is weakness, and no power. I will but name the rest.