Heaven taken

1. It is a means to keep up men• credit in the world. Should they be visibly profane, such as are sober would not ⟨p. 97⟩come near them; they would be looked upon no better than baptized Heathens: therefore they must make a •ew of devotion, out of policy to gain some repute and esteem among others.

1. It is a means to keep up men• credit in the world. Should they be visibly prophane, such as are sober would not ⟨p. 97⟩come near them; they would be looked upon no better than baptized Heathens: therefore they must make a •ew of devotion, out of policy to gain some repute and esteem among others.

2. A form serves to stop the mouth of conscience: had not they some kind of outward devotion, their conscience would fly in their face, and they would be a terror to themselves: therefore they think it expedient to have a form of Godliness. But alas, what is all this? The Text speaks of offering violence to Heaven. What violence is there in a form? Here is no taking pains with the heart; a form, but no power, 2. Tim. 3. 5. ^*Formalists are like the Tombs in the Church, which have their eyes and hands lift up to Heaven, but no soul. The Formalists devotion runs out most in punctilioes, and niceties: he neglects the weightier matters of the Law, Faith and Mercy, Matth. 23. 23. He scruples superstitious fancies, but makes no reckoning of sin: he is more afraid of an Hare crossing his way, than of an Harlot in his bed. He haes sanctity. Christ had no such bitter enemies as the formal Pharisees. The