In the “Doctrine of Original Sin” from the ‘Works of John Wesley’, Volume 9, Wesley shares the following story. This story illustrates how we can be religious but not holy. God’s desire for us is that we are holy far above being religious.
Wesley writes:
This was a man of honour among the Christians of the Romish Church! And many such are to be found all over Italy, whose trade it is to cut the throats; to stab for hire, in cool blood. They have men of conscience too. Such were two of the Catholic soldiers, under the Duke of Alva, who broke into the house of a poor countyrman in Flanders, butchered him and his wife, with five or six children; and after they had finished their work, sat down to enjoy the fruit of their labour. But in the midst of their meal conscience awaked. One of them started up in great emotion, and cried out, “Oh Lord! what have I done? As I hope for salvation, I have eaten flesh (meat) in Lent!”