Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BV4526 .B35 1675

114 e Pao? Maiofamilp 'Book. more. But which of us is the Hypocrite our Confcì- ences and lives muff tell. I hope you will not renounce God and Chrift, for fear of being an Hypocrite. 3. But alas, Sir, too many people fearing God are fo far from being pure in their own eyes, that the greatnefs of, their fins overwhelmeth them : And we can hardly keep them from concluding that they have no grace at all, and art as ready to call themfelves Hy- pocrites in their fears, as you are in your fpleen againfl them. And why do you at once accufeus for over-ter- rifying them , and driving them to defpair, and yet of puffing them up with a conceit of Godlinefs ? 4. But how is it that you come to know our Hypo - crifie, and what we are in fecret ? If you know ir, it is no fecret : If it be fecret, you know it not. If our Lives be vicious, prove it and reprove us : If they be not, how know you that our hearts are fo ? Is not God only the fearcher of hearts ? 5. I am glad if indeed you hate Hypocrifie. The Hypocrite is he that profefl'eth to be that which indeed e is not. You and I do both profefs the fame Chri- ianity : Now theglueftion is, which of us is the Hypo- crite ? If one man live according to his profeffion , and be ferious in his Religion, and hate all known fin, great and fmall, and Peck God diligently, and ufe all the means that God commandeth him; And if another making the fame profeflïon of Chriflianity , do liven open worldlinefs and fenfuality, in gluttony, nefs , gaming , idlenefs , fornication , and deride holy living, and all that are ferious in the Religion which he him felf profeffeth, and counteth the practice of Chrifts own Commands to be needlefs precifenefs ; Do I need to ask you, which of aide is like to be the Hypocrite? I have admired to hear debauched perfons, call e gnu,

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