Note, That sincerity doth not only cover all our other infirmities, but is ex- cellent, yea, necessary to establish the soul in, and strengthen it for its whole Christian warfare. * The integrity of the vipright shall guide them, but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them,' Prov. xi. 3. The hypocrite falls shamefully, and comes to naught, with all his shifts and stratagems to save himself; whereas sincerity carries that soul safe, that dares follow its conduct above all dangers, though in the midst of them. But to open the point, there is a threefold strength sincerity brings with it, which the false, hypocritical heart wants. 1. A preserving strength. 2. A recovering strength. 3. A comforting strength.
First, Sincerity hath a preserving strength to keep the soul from the defile- ments of sin : when temptation comes on furiously, and chargeth the sov\ home, a false heart is put to the i"un, it cannot possibly stand. We are told of Israel's hypocrisy, Psa.lxviii. 8 ; they were a generation that ' set not their heart aright :' and what follows ? ' whose spirit was not stedfast with God.' Stones that are not set i-ight on the foundation cannot stand strong or long : you may see more of this bitter fruit growing on the hypocrite's branches in the same Psalm, ver. 56, 57 : ' They timied back, and dealt unfaithfully ; they were turned aside like a deceitful bow;' when the bow is unbent, the I'ift it hath may be imdiscerned, but go to use it by drawing the arrow to the head, and it flies in pieces ; thus doth a false heart, when put to the trial. As the ape in the fable, drest like a man, when nuts are thrown before her, cannot then dissemble her nature any longer, but shews herself an ape indeed ; a false heart betrays itself befoi'e it is aware, when a fair occasion is presented for its lust ; whereas sincerity keeps the soul pure in the face of temptation, Prov. x. 8 : ' He that walketh uprightly walketh surely ;' that is, he treads strong on the ground, like one whose feet are sound ; though stones lie in his way, he goes over them safely ; ' but he that perverteth his way shall be known;' like one that hath some corn or other ail about his feet, though in green, smooth way, he may make a shift to go, yet when he meets with hobbling, stony way, he presently comes down and falters. Now that this preserving strength, which sincerity girds the soul with, may better appeal', it will be requisite to instance in some of those seasons wherein sin- cerity keeps the soul from the power of temptation ; as on the contrary, when hypocrisy cowardly and tamely yields the soul up into its hands.
First, A false heart usually starts aside, and yields to sin, when it can hide itself in a crowd, and have store of company, under which it may shroud itself. The hypocrite sets his watch, not by the sun, the word, I mean, but by the town-clock ; what most do, that he will be easily persuaded to do ; vox popiili is his vox Dei : therefore you seldom have him swim against the tide of corrupt times ; light things are carried by the stream, and light spirits by the multi- tude. But the sincere Christian is massy and weighty ; he will sooner sink to the bottom, and yield to the fury of a multitude by suffering from them, than float after their example in sinning with them. The hypocrite hath no inward principle to act him, and therefore, like the dead fish, must drive with the current ; but sincerity, being a principle of divine life, directs the soul to its way, and improves it to walk in it, without the help of company to lean on, yea, against ajiy opposition it meets. Joshua spake what was in his heart, when ten or twelve that were sent with him, perceiving on which side the wind lay, accommodated themselves to the humour of the people, Numb. xiv. 7. The false pi'ophets' pleasing words, with which they clawed Ahab's proud hu- mour, could by no means be brought to fit good Micaiah's mouth, though he should make himself very ridiculous by choosing to stand alone, rather than fall in with so goodly a company, ' four hundred prophets,' who were all agreed of their verdict, 1 Kings xx.
Secondly, A false heart yields when sin comes with a bribe in its hand : none but Christ, and such as know the truth as it is in Jesus, can scorn the devil's oflTer, Omnia Ikbc daho, ' All these will I give to thee.' The hypocrite, let him be got a pinnacle-high in his profession, yet will make haste down to his prey, if it lies fair before him ; one that carries not his reward in his bosom, that counts it not portion enough to have God and enjoy him, may be bought and sold by any huckster, to betray his soul, God, and all. The hypocrite, when he seems }nost devout, waits but for a better market, and then he will play the merchant
GIRT ABOUT WITH TRUTH. O79