written in great letters, piuned at his back, sent about, that wherever he came he might carry his shame with him, till in the end he was sent to act the last part of his play at the gallows. But what is all this to the hypocrite's portion? who for abusing others here with a seeming sanctity, as if indeed he was of heavenly extraction, a child of God and heir of glory, shall be brought at the great day to be hissed and hooted at by men and angels, and after he hath been put to this open shame, be thrown. into the deepest Hell. Of all sinners he doth most mischief in this world, and therefore shall have most torment in the other. There is a double mischief which none stand at like advantage to do as the hypocrite by his seeming saintship. The one he doth while his credit holds, and he passeth for a child of God in the opinion of his neighbours; the other when his reputation is cracked, and he discovered to be what he is, a hypocrite. The mischief he doth when his mask is on is as a deceiver: Machiavel knew what he did in commending to princes a semblance of religion, though he forbade any more; it hath been found the most taking bait to decoy people into their snare, who come in apace when religion is the flag that is set up. Ehnd could not have thought on a surer key to open all doors, and procure him admittance into king Eglon's presence, than to give out he had a message from the Lord to him; this raised such an expectation, and bred such a confidence, that room is made for him presently, all depart, and he left alone with the king, yea; the king will rise to hear this message that comes from the Lord, and so gives him a greater advantage to run him through; had not some in our days pretended highly to saintship, I doubt not but they would have found the door shut, where now they have too much welcome, and find it easy to procure belief to their errors. Even the elect are in some danger, when one cried up for a saint is the messenger that brings the error to town, and that under the notion of a message from God. I confess the hypocrite acts his part so handsomely, that he may do some good accidentally; his glistering profession, heavenly discourse, excellent gifts in prayer or preaching, may affect much the sincere soul, and be

an occasion of real good to his soul; as the stageplayer, though his tears be counterfeit, may stir up by his seeming passion real sorrow in his spectators, so as to make them weep in earnest; thus the hypocrite, acting his part with false affections, may be a means to draw forth and excite the Christian's true graces; but then is such a one much more in danger to be ensnared by his error, because he will not be readily suspicious of any thing that he brings whom he hath found really helpful to his grace or comfort; and thus the good the hypocrite doth makes him but able to do the greater hurt in the end. Sisera had better have gone without Jael's butter and milk, than by them to be laid asleep against she came. with her nail; and it had been far happier for many in our days, not to have tasted of the gifts and seeming graces of some, than to have been so taken with this sweet wine as to drink themselves drunk into an admiration of their persons, which hath laid them asleep, and thereby given them whom they have applauded so much but advantage the more easily to fasten their nail to their heads; errors I mean to their judgments. The other mischief the hypocrite doth is when discovered, and that is as he is a scandal to the ways of God, and servants of God. It is said of Sampson, "the dead which he slew at his death, were more than they which he slew in his life." Judg. xvi. 30. Truly the hypocrite doth more hurt when he is discovered, which is the death of his profession, than when he seemed to be alive. The wicked world, that are not long seeking a staff to beat the saints with, have now one put into their hand by the hypocrite. O how they can run division upon this harsh note, and besmear the face of all professors, with the dirt they see upon one false brother's coat, as if they could take the length of all their feet by the measure of one hypocrite; hence comes such base language as this: They are all of a pack, not one better than another. Indeed this is very absurd reasoning, as if one should say, no coin were current, and right silver, because now and then a brass shilling is found among the rest. But this language fits the mouth of the ungodly world; and woe be to the man that makes these arrows for them by his hypocrisy, which they shoot

against the saints; better he had been thrown with a millstone about his neck into the sea, than have lived to give such an occasion for the enemy to blasphemy.

CHAP. X.

WHERE ALL ARE STIRRED UP TO PUT THEMSELVES UPON THE TRIAL, WHEther sincere or not; THREE ARGUMENTS USED TO PROVOKE TO THE WORK; AND FOUR FALSE CHARACTERS, BY WHICH THE HYPOCRITE FLATTERS HIMSELF INTO A CONCEIT OF BEING UPRIGHT.

USE 2. Secondly, doth sincerity cover all a saint's infirmities? this shews how needful it is for every one to try his ways and search narrowly his heart, whether he be sincere or hypocritical.

SECT. I.

First, All depends on it, even all thou art worth, in another world; it is thy making or marring for ever: "Do good, O Lord, to them that are upright in heart; as for such as turn aside to crooked ways, the Lord will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity;" Psalm cxxv. 5. that is the end the hypocrite is sure to come to. He would indeed then fain pass for a saint, and crowd in among the godly; but God "shall lead him forth with workers of iniquity," company that better befits him; it is sincerity shall carry it in that day. "I will come (saith Paul) to you shortly, and will know, not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power; for the kingdom of God is not in word, but power; what will ye, shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love?" 1 Cor. iv. 19. Oh friends, not Paul but Christ will shortly come unto us, and he

will know, not the speech and soothing language of such as are puffed up with an empty name of profession, but will know the power, gage the heart and see what is in it now will ye that he come with a rod, or in love? to judge you, as hypocrites; or to give you the Euge of a faithful servant? Doth not he spend his time ill, that takes pains in his trade, and lays out all his stock, upon such a commodity, which when he opens his stall, will be seized for false ware, and he clapped up for abusing the country? All that ever the hypocrite did will in the great day of Christ be found counterfeit, and he sure to be laid by the heels in Hell, for going about to cheat God and mau; every man's works shall then be manifest, that day shall declare it. Even the sincere Christian, where he hath tampered with hypocrisy, shall lose that his work; but the hypocrite with his work his soul also.

Secondly, Consider hypocrisy lies close in the heart; if thou art not very careful, thou mayest easily pass a false judgment on thyself. They who were sent to search the cellar under the Parliament-house, at first saw nothing but coals and winter provision; but upon a review, when they came to throw away that stuff, they found all but provision for the devil's kitchen; then the mystery of iniquity was uncased, and the barrels of gunpowder appeared. How many are there, that from some duties of piety they perform, some seeming zeal they express in profession, presently cry omnia benè, and are so kind to themselves as to vote themselves good Christians, who, did they but take the pains to throw these aside, might find a foul hypocrite at the bottom of them all: hypocrisy often takes up her lodging next door to sincerity, and so she passes unfound, the soul not suspecting Hell can be so near Heaven. And as hypocrisy, so sincerity is hard to be discovered: this grace often lies low in the heart (like the sweet violet in some valley, or near some brook) hid with thorns and nettles, infirmities I mean; so that there requires both care and wisdom, that we neither let the weed of hypocrisy stand, nor pluck up the herb of grace in its stead.

Thirdly, It is practicable: I do not set you about an endless work. The heart of man I confess is as a ruffled

skein of silk, not easily unravelled; yet, with a faithful use of the means, it may be disentangled and wound up on the right bottom of sincerity or hypocrisy. Job, when Satan and his cruel friends laboured to disturb his spirit most, and muddy the stream of his former course and condition, by throwing their objections as so many stones into it, yet he could see, this precious gem at the bottom, sparkling most brightly; yea Hezekiah, on the very brink of the grave, recreates his spirit with it. Indeed, friends, this is a soul's encouragement, that it shall not want God's help in this search, if it goes about it with honest desires. A justice will not only give his warrant to search a suspicious house, but, if need be, will command others to be aiding to him in the business. Word, ministers, Spirit, all, thou shalt have for thy assistance in this work; only have a care thou dost not mock God in the business: that soul deserves to be damned to this sin, who in the search for hypocrisy plays the hypocrite, like a naughty dishonest constable, that willingly overlooks him whom he searcheth for, and then says he cannot find him.

Now, for the fuller satisfaction in this point, and help in the trial, because it is that which both good and bad are mistaken in; the carnal wretch flattering himself his heart is good and honest, the sincere soul kept under fear of being a hypocrite, Satan abusing them both: I shall therefore first lay down the grounds of a hypocrite, with which he shores up his rotten house, and shew the falsities of them. Secondly, I will lay down the grounds of the weak Christian's fear of his being a hypocrite, and the weakness of them. Thirdly, shew positive discoveries of sincerity, which no hypocrite ever did or can reach to.

SECT. II.

First, For the hypocrite, he will stand upon his defence; his heart is sincere. Well, how will he prove it? First, The hypocrite will say, Sure I am no hypocrite, for I cannot endure it in another.

Answ. This is not enough to clear thee from being a hypocrite, except thou canst shew thou dost this from a