Use 2. Secondly, This shews of what importance it is to labour for sincerity : without it we can neitJier stand against, nor rise wlien we fall into temptation. Whatever thou beggest of God, forget not a sincere heart. David saw need of more of this grace than he had, Psa. li. 10: ' Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew in nie a right spirit;' and happy was it for him he had so much as to make him desire more of it. What folly is it to build a house with beams on fire ! The hypocrite's building must needs come to nought. There is a fire unquenched, the power of hypocrisy unmortified, that will consinne all his goodly pi-ofession. He cai-ries into the field a heart that will deliver him up into his enemies' hands ; and he is sure to be overcome to whom his own side is not true.
Use 3. Thirdly, Bless God, O sincere Christian, for this grace : it is a bless- ing invaluable : crowns and diadems are not to be compared with it. In this thou hast ' a heart after God's own heart ;' a heart to his liking ; yea, a heart to his likeness. Nothing makes thee more like God in the simplicity and purity of his nature, than sincerity. Truth is that God glories in ; he is a God of truth. When Haman was bid to say what should be done to the man that the king delighted to honour, he, thinking the king meant no other than himself, would fly as high as his ambition could carry him ; and what doth he choose, but to be clothed with the king's own apparel royal? When God gives thee sin- cerity, he clothes thy soul with that which he wears himself: 'Who clothes himself with truth and righteousness as a garment.' By this thou art made a conqueror, greater than even Alexander was : he overcame a world of men, but thou a world of lusts and devils. Did one bless God at the sight of a toad, that God made him a man, and not a toad, how much more thankful oughtest thou to be to God who hath made thee, that wert a hypocrite by nature, which is far worse, an upright Christian ! It is a notable saying of Lactantius, Si nemo est, quin emori ma/ii, quam converti in aliquam besties jiguram, quamvis hominis nientem sit habiturus ; quanta miserius est in hominis figwra animo esse efferalo ? If, saith he, a man would choose death rather than to have the face and shape of a beast, though he might withal keep the soul of a man, how much more miserable is it under the shape of a man to carry the heart of a beast ! Yet such a one is the hypocrite, yea, worse ; he not only, under the shape of man, but in the disguise of a saint, carries a beastly, filthy heart within him.
Use 4. Fourthly, Let this encourage thee who art sincere against the fears of final apostasy. Though sincerity doth not privilege thee from falling, yet thy covenant state which thou art in, if sincere, secures thee from final apos- tasy. Because thy stock of grace in hand is small, thou questionest thy per- severing. Can these weak legs, thinkest thou, bring me to my journey's end ; the few pence in my purse, little grace in my heart, bear my charges all the way to heaven, through so many expenses of trials and temptations? Truly no, if thou wert to receive no more than thou hast at present. The bread thou hast in the cupboard will not maintain thee all thy life ; but, soul, thou hast a covenant will help thee to more when that grows low. Hath not God taught thee to pray for thy daily bread, and dost thou not find that the blessing of God in thy calling, diligently followed, supplies thee from day to day ? And hast thou not the same bond to sue for thy spiritual daily bread ? Hast thou not a Father in heaven, that knows what thou needest for thy soul as well as body? Hast thou not a dear Brother, yea. Husband, that is gone to heaven, where plenty of all grace is to be had, and that on purpose on his children's errand, that he might keep their souls' graces and comforts alive in this necessitous world? All power is in his hands ; he may go to the heap, and send what he please for your succour; and can you starve while he hath fidness of grace by him, that hath undertaken to provide for you? Luke x. 35.. The two pence which the Samaritan left were not enough to pay for cure and board of the wounded man ; therefore he passed his word ' for all that he should need besides.' Christ doth not only give a little grace in hand, but his bond for more to the sincere soul, even as much as will bring it to heaven, Psa. Ixxxiv. 11 : ' Grace and glory he will give, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.'
Use 5. Fifthly, Take heed of resting on, or glorying in thy sincerity. It is true it will enable thee to resist temptations, and to escape when in tempta- tion ; but who enables thee ? Where grows the root that feeds thy grace ? Not in
2rfQ HAVING YOUR LOINS, ETC.