DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3689#0015
a Devout and Holy Life. 13
course of life ? Does one seem to be of this world, looking at
the things that are temporal, and the other to be of another
world, looking wholly at the things that are eternal ? Does the
one live in pleasure, delighting herself in show or dress, and the
other live in self-denial and mortification, renouncing everything
that looks like vanity, either of person, dress, or carriage?
Does the one follow public diversions, and trifle away her time in
idle visits, and corrupt conversation, and does the other study all
the arts of improving her time, living in Prayer and Watching,
and such good works, as may make all her time turn to her
advantage, and be placed to her account at the last day ? Is
the one careless of expense, and glad to be able to adorn herself
with every costly ornament of dress, and does the other consider
her fortune as a talent given her by God, which is to be improved
religiously, and no more to be spent in vain and needless orna-
ments, than it is to be buried in the earth ?
Where must you look, to find one Person of Religion differing
in this manner, from another that has none ? And yet if they
do not differ in these things which are here related, can it with
any sense be said, the one is a good Christian, and the other
not?
Take another instance amongst the men. Leo has a great
deal of good nature, has kept what they call good company,
hates everything that is false and base, is very generous and
brave to his friends, but has concerned himself so little with
Religion, that he hardly knows the difference betwixt a few and
a Christian.
Eusebius on the other hand, has had early impressions of
Religion, and buys books of Devotion. He can talk of all the
feasts and fasts of the Church, and knows the names of most
men that have been eminent for piety. You never hear him
swear, or make a loose jest, and when he talks of Religion, he
talks of it, as of a matter of the last concern.
Here you see, that one person has Religion enough, according
to the way of the world, to be reckoned a pious Christian, and
the other is so far from all appearance of Religion, that he may
fairly be reckoned a Heathen ; and yet if you look into their
common life, if you examine their chief and ruling tempers in
the greatest articles of life, or the greatest doctrines of Chris-
tianity, you will find the least difference imaginable.
Consider them with regard to the use of the world, because
that is what everybody can see.
Now to have right notions and tempers with relation to this
world, is as essential to religion, as to have right notions of
God. And it is as possible for a man to worship a Crocodile,
course of life ? Does one seem to be of this world, looking at
the things that are temporal, and the other to be of another
world, looking wholly at the things that are eternal ? Does the
one live in pleasure, delighting herself in show or dress, and the
other live in self-denial and mortification, renouncing everything
that looks like vanity, either of person, dress, or carriage?
Does the one follow public diversions, and trifle away her time in
idle visits, and corrupt conversation, and does the other study all
the arts of improving her time, living in Prayer and Watching,
and such good works, as may make all her time turn to her
advantage, and be placed to her account at the last day ? Is
the one careless of expense, and glad to be able to adorn herself
with every costly ornament of dress, and does the other consider
her fortune as a talent given her by God, which is to be improved
religiously, and no more to be spent in vain and needless orna-
ments, than it is to be buried in the earth ?
Where must you look, to find one Person of Religion differing
in this manner, from another that has none ? And yet if they
do not differ in these things which are here related, can it with
any sense be said, the one is a good Christian, and the other
not?
Take another instance amongst the men. Leo has a great
deal of good nature, has kept what they call good company,
hates everything that is false and base, is very generous and
brave to his friends, but has concerned himself so little with
Religion, that he hardly knows the difference betwixt a few and
a Christian.
Eusebius on the other hand, has had early impressions of
Religion, and buys books of Devotion. He can talk of all the
feasts and fasts of the Church, and knows the names of most
men that have been eminent for piety. You never hear him
swear, or make a loose jest, and when he talks of Religion, he
talks of it, as of a matter of the last concern.
Here you see, that one person has Religion enough, according
to the way of the world, to be reckoned a pious Christian, and
the other is so far from all appearance of Religion, that he may
fairly be reckoned a Heathen ; and yet if you look into their
common life, if you examine their chief and ruling tempers in
the greatest articles of life, or the greatest doctrines of Chris-
tianity, you will find the least difference imaginable.
Consider them with regard to the use of the world, because
that is what everybody can see.
Now to have right notions and tempers with relation to this
world, is as essential to religion, as to have right notions of
God. And it is as possible for a man to worship a Crocodile,