The Image Not the Man

^’’ As Michal laid a statue 17i David’s bed, a7td, covering it with Davids apparel, made Saul’s 7nessengers believe it was David Mmself sick 17i bed; so, 7na7iy perso7ts cover themselves with certain exter7ial actio7is belo7iging to religion, and the world believeth ihe7n irtcly sanctified and spiritual, whereas indeed, llicy are btit statues and apparitions of devotion to God.” Formalism is a vain show, and will, in the end, be discovered, and the cheat will cease to impose upon any one. Of all matters, religion is the very worst to play with. It maybe easy to mimic it, but the price to be paid for such fooling will be terrible. If men must act a borrowed part let them ape the princes of this world, but let them not put such an affront upon the princes of the blood royal of heaven. Let them go to their theatres if they would wear a mask; to do so in the house of God is an insult which the Lord will not brook. The best imitation of religion will make its possessor wail for ever when the hand of eternal truth shall lay bare its falsehood.

O thou who art “the truth,” deliver me from all seeming, and let me be in truth that which I profess to be.