Spiritual Per[eflion. crite without his knowledge, by Ignorance and Error. He may think his inclinatior. to fame Venues, and his averlion from fame Vices, to be Divine Grace: But fyrn p3 thics and antipathies proceed often from Natural Temper, and not from the ren,wed M ind and Will, from Judgment and Choice. A tame Dog is as rruly_ a bcall: ~s a :v.. Id Wolf. A Man tha t performs only Come good things, and abftams from fame bvil, from natural Confctencc, ts as rruly Jn the flare of polluted Narure, as one that is wholly carelefs of his Duty , and freely indulges every carnal Lull. One may bo exaa in light matters, as the Plwifees in tything Mint and Cummin , and ncglea fubllantial Duties; he may be zealous in the outward parrs of ReJi. gious Woril1ip, and neglea Righteoufnefs and Mercy, and thin!< to compenfate his defeas in the Dmics of one Table, by /lria obfervi ng the Duties of the other: This is pernicious 1-lypocrifie. The fubtilty and llrength of Satan arc imployed to .deceive Men by an airy Religion, by an opinionative Goodncfs, to prevem their being awa. kened from their drowry ar.d deadly llate. 'Tis worthy of notice, The Tempter has a double oper.ation in the M1nds of Men: He deceives the hypocritical with falfe hopes, by concealmg or extenuatmg the1r fins, tO mduce them to prefume of the Favour of God, and to ft!cure his quiet poffeffion of them: He troubles rhe fincere with vain Terrors, by concealing the~r Graces, to difcourage their progrcfs in the way to Heaven: He i:i an envious Explorator, and fcarches to find our their defeas, to accufe them to God; and he defames God to them, as if he would not !pare his Sons that ferve him: He is triumphant in the unfanCl:ified, and miliram in rile )aims. J· Some hide their cry ing Sins under the colourable appearance of Venues; and pre tend ·to 1-lolincfs, that they may fin with lc!s furpicion, and more fecuriry. He will Jpoak of thorc Sins in others with feverity, which .he frocly indulges in himfelf. The CharaCters of Re!jgion are drawn in his Countenance, but his Lulls arc deeplv in.. graven in bis Heart. Thefe our Saviour compares to painted Sepulchres, that w"irhin contain fordid dull and rottennefs. This is perfea Hypocrifie; a deadly pollution, that wounds rhe Yitals, fcars the Confcience, quenches all Goodnefs in the \Vill; for this Hypocrite is voluntarily fo. Hypocrifie in the Hean is like Poyfon in a Spring, that fpreads ir felf through all the veins of the Convcrfation. This Sm our Saviour never rpeaks of but wi th detetlation; For this he dcnounc'd fuch a hoavy Woe againfl: the P!Jarifus, th~t ufed Religion as a masking habit to appear glorious in the Eyes of Men, and difgmfed their \Vorldly Aims in DevOtions; and made long Prayers to he efl«m'd of !rf<n. This is fo odious to God, that he forbids all the emblems and re. femblances of it to the 'Jews, Linfy-woolfey Garments, and mircelain Corn, Our DefeCls acknowledged with ingenuity , excite his Compaffion; but counterfeit Venues excite his Indignation: For \\!hat can be more provoking, than to appear to be like God in HolineG, the Glory of the Deity, for this end, to be fecretly wicked, and to af!i-ont his Omnifcience, as if he could not dilcern them through all their clofe and dark concealments. A Hypocrite is fearful of Men, but faces God. Pride mix'd with Hypocrifie was the Devil's original Sm, he abode not in tht Tr11th; and Religious Hypocrites arc his Natural Children. The hottell climate in Hell will be their habitation: For our Saviour threatens fame Sinners their portion with Hypocrites ; that is, aggravated Damw nation. This Sin is difficultly cured, in that 'tis not cafily difcovered by Men, and does not expofe to Hlame ; but is fubfervient to many carna l ends. Men cannot dive into the Hearts of others, and cannot difcern between the Paint of Hypocrifie, and the Life of Holinefs. The mixture ofbeauciful Colours in the Countenance, may be fo artificial, that at a diflancc it may be thought to be natural. Befides, Hypocri6e turns the Remedy into Poyfon: For the frequent exercife of Religious Duty, which is the means to fanCl:ifie us, confirms and hardens Hypocrites. The elfeaual means to cure it, is a tledfatl belief of the pure and flaming Eye of God ; who fees Sin where-ever it is, and will bring it into 'judgment. A Hypocrite may hide his Sin from the Eyes of others, and fomedmes from his own Confcience, but can never impore upon God. And as nothing Co confounds Men with Jbame, as to be found falre and perfidious in their dealings; how much more will the Hypocrites be cover'd with confuGon at the great day, when they !hall appear naked, with their loath Come Ulcers, before innumerable Angels and Saints ? ThfJ w10 defire the Rocks to hide them from that gloriotM Affimbly. . The /led fall belief of this great Truth will caufe frequent and folemn thoughts of God, as our lnfpeaor and Judge: I have f<t the Lord ail•ays br[ore me; he iut mJ rigbt-hand, I fha/1 not be moved: This was the ef!Ca of David's buh. This will prO · duct: Sincerity in Religion unrefpeaive to the Eyes of Men ; and pre!erve us from ~cret Luk Ju,~,J. Sins. 'Tis the prefcription of our Saviour; BtiVAre 7e of the /(a·ven of the Ph'"ft::;,
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