Paul says, "The Gospel is the power of God." Rom. 1: 16 –and" Christ is the power of God." 1 Cor. 1:24 –and "our faith standeth in the power of God." I Cor. 2:5. Hence it is plain that godliness is powerful upon the soul: it consists not in form and shadow, not in notion and speculation, but in the real enjoyment of Christ in the heart; and in an experimental knowledge of the grace of the Gospel through faith: it is the grand concern of every living member of Christ, to enjoy more of the light, life, liberty, and power of Christ and his Gospel.
While those who have only the form of godliness are content if their heads are clear in the notions of divine truth; if they can but see a harmony and consistency in the plan of salvation, give a good account of the doctrines of grace, talk fluently about them, and contend earnestly for them, they are content, and seek nothing more. They place all religion in head knowledge, while they are careless about real heart experience: such persons are visible and manifest by their life and walk; they talk high, but live low; they soar aloft in notion, but live in earthly pleasures and sensual delights. O they have the form of godliness in their heads, but their hearts are devoid of the power of the Spirit, the warm influences of the love of God, and the grace of Christ: they deny all this; if not in word, yet in life and action.
What does the apostle advise concerning such persons? To aim to convince them, and strive to convert their hearts to the power of the truth? No: they are so fortified with head knowledge that you cannot reach their hearts; it would be but lost labor to attempt it; therefore, from such turn away: leave them; you can do them no good: they may do you much harm.
You may imbibe their spirit and temper: it is contagious. We may say of such as Solon, on says of the furious man, "Make no friendship with him, with him thou shalt not go, lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul." Prov. 22:24, 25. Such professors greatly damp the zeal of faith, the joy of hope, and the comfort of love, which are enjoyed in communion and fellowship with God and his Son Jesus Christ. As they have no heart to it, nor relish for it, their conversation will not savor of it; so that you will get no help forward, but rather be driven backward. You will he in danger of supposing that you can enjoy God and the world; have fellowship with both in your heart, if you but have knowledge in your head; and of learning many specious, but carnal reasons, for throwing off all self-denial, and indulging a light, trifling, worldly spirit.