114 NECESSITY OF DILIGENTLY vent in secret prayer and meditation ; conscientious in self - examination ; heavenly - minded ; to watch over their hearts, words and ways ; to mortify the flesh, and not make provision to fulfil its lust ; to love and heartily, forgive an enemy, and prefer their brethren before themselves; to lay all they have or do, at the feet of Christ, and prize his service and favour before all; to prepare to die, and willingly leave all to go to Christ. Hypocrites will never be persuaded to any of these. If any hypocrite entertains the gospel with joy, it is only in the surface of his soul; he never gives the seed any depth of earth : it changes bis opinion, but never melts and new- moulds his heart, nor sets up _Christ there in full power and au- thority. As his religion lies most in opinion, so does his chief business and conversation. He is usually an ignorant, bold, conceited dealer in controversies, ra- ther than an humble embracer of known truth, with love and obedience. By bis slighting the judgments and persons of others, and seldom talking with seri- ousness and humility of the great things of Christ, he shows his religion dwells in the brain, and not in his heart. The wind of temptation carries him away as a feather, because his heart is not established with Christ and grace. He never in private conversation humbly bewails his soul's imperfections, or tenderly acknow- ledges his unkindness to Christ; but gathers his great- est comforts from his being of such a judgment or party. The like may be said of the worldly hypo - crite, who chokes the gospel with the thorns of worldly cares and desires. He is convinced that he must be religious, or he cannot be saved; and there- fore he reads and hears, and prays, and forsakes his former company and courses ; but he resolves to keep his hold of present things,. His judgment may say, God is the chief good; but his heart and affections never said so. The world hath more of his affections than God, and therefore it is his god. Though he does not run after opinions and novelties, like -the former, yet he will be of that opinion which will best serve
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