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{The Application
Application for the Godly
Advantages of Holy Duties
Holy Duties are the Exercise of Grace}
Holy duties are the exercise of grace.245 Grace that is not exercised quickly becomes feeble. Idleness breeds illnesses and diseases in the body, and no less so in the soul. Moving around keeps us warm and healthful; similarly, duties are the movements and exercises of the soul. Reading the Word is not an exercise of the eyes alone, but of the understanding. Prayer is not an exercise of the tongue alone, but of the heart. It sets all of the faculties of the soul to work. It sets the various graces to work; it sets faith to work; it sets hope and holy desires to work. Grace kept in action will be much more active and powerful in the whole course of life.
245Modern theologians use the term “means of grace” in reference to holy duties; they are means by which God confers grace to the believer as well as other benefits, spiritual and material. Alleine teaches the same thing with different words and manner of speaking.
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