290 MatZy+2. Chap. 6. Mac 15.4576. John 6. After fome even have made a long and high profefli- on, forne one he- loved lull or o- ther, which they would never let go, parts atilt and them for e. Ver. A Box of precious Ointment Or, Ither ; as he is not willing to fall out with every fin, fo he is not wiling to fall in with every duty. An Hypocrites obe- dience is alwayes partial, 'tis never univerfal, he Rill bauks or boggles with thofe commands that crofs his Inns. The Pharifees failed, prayed, gave alms, and paid tythes 0, but they omitted the weightier matters of the Law, judgment, mercy and'faith, and they were, unnatural to parents, and under a p:-etence of praying, they made a .prey of widows houfes ; under a pretence of piety, they exercifed the greaten covetoufnefs, unrighteoufnefs and,cruelty, and that upon wi- dows, who are (ufually the greaten objeds of pity and cha- rity ; they made no bones of robbing the widow, under a pre- tence of honouring of GodiSo Taidaii,under a pretence of lay- ing up for the poor, robbed the poor he pretended to lay up for the poor,but he intended only to lay up for himfelf,ancl to provide againn a rainy day ; it isprobable that he had no great mind to flay long with his Lord, and therefore he was refolved to make the, ben market he could fOr himfelf. Judas being willing to fet up for himfelf, under a cloak of holinefs, he pradifes the greaten unfaithfulnefF: Though the Eagle foars high, yet Hill her eye is upon her prey ; fo though .114- da4 did foar high in profeifion, yet his eye was Will upon his prey, upon his bags ; and fo he might have it, he cared not who went without it ; fo he might be rich, he did, not care. though-his Lord and his retinue grew. never fo poor, Jas under all his chews of fandity, had not fo much as common honefly in him ; counterfeit holinefs is often made a 'talking horfe to much unrighteoufnefs; but Clertainly, it were better, with the Philofopher, to have honeftywithout Religion, than to have Religion without homily. An Hypocrite may exer- t cife himfelf in fome outward, ,eafie, ordinary duties of Reli- gion,; but when (hall you fee an Hypocrite laving the ax to the root of the Tree, or a fearching and trying his own heart, or feverefy judging his borom fins, or humbly mourning and lamenting over fecret corruptions, or doubling his guards a- bOut his own foul, or rejoycing in the graces, fervices or ex cellencies of others, or firiving, or prelTing after the high& pitches of grace,sholinefs and communion with God, or en- deavour-
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