Apparently L.E.L. never met anyone with severe O.C.D.
Probably not. Anyway, I was being quizzical and meant no disrespect. On reflection, I sure that Karl can see that anyone who takes things so literally will find poetry a closed book, so I don't believe he does. Miss Landon was primarily a poet and prone to writing poetically.
I will now answer the question: in those days the word of God was very much alive for most people.
Incidentally, she was also a critic and thus examined language externally. As a novelist, she explored the purpose of the novel and in so doing examined language internally.
She could equally have said 'People speak of consistency but cannot but it into action'. However, her meaning is quite clear.