Chr. They are two things, indeed, and are as diverse as are the
soul and the body; for as the body without the soul is but a
dead carcass, so saying, if it be alone, is but a dead carcass
also. The soul of religion is the practical part: Pure religion
and undefiled, before God and the Father, is this, To visit the
fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself
unspotted from the world. This Talkative is not aware of; he
thinks that hearing and saying will make a good Christian, and
thus he deceiveth his own soul. Hearing is but as the sowing of
the seed; talking is not sufficient to prove that fruit is
indeed
in the heart and life; and let us assure ourselves, that at the
day of doom men shall be judged according to their fruits. It
will not be said then, Did you believe? but, Were you doers, or
talkers only? and accordingly shall they be judged. The end of
the world is compared to our harvest; and you know men at
harvest regard nothing but fruit. Not that anything can be
accepted that is not of faith, but I speak this to shew you how
insignificant the profession of Talkative will be at that day.
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