engage in any thing that appears humiliating and self-denying. In a word, the hypocrite is neither uniform nor unreserved in any part of his obedience ; but betrays his insincerity, whenever his interests, his habits, or his passions are to be sacrificed to God.]
Seeing then that hypocrisy is so extensive an evil, and that our Lord judged it necessary to caution his own immediate Disciples against it, we proceed, II. To enforce his caution —
But what words can be sufficient for this purpose ? What arguments can we use to impress upon your minds the necessity of being ever on your guard against so great an evil ? Consider,
1. Its subtile nature —
[We are told that " Satan can transform himself into an angel of light, and his ministers appear as ministers of right- eousness'1 :" from whence we may infer, that there is no person in whom hypocrisy may not find an asylum, nor any act wherein it may not have scope for exercise. It is the continual aim of Satan to infuse it into us, and by means of it to defile our very best actions. The pretexts too under which it can hide itself are innumerable. There is not any form which it cannot assume : and sanctity itself is its appropriate garb. What need have we then to watch against a principle which finds so easy admission into the heart, yet is so hard to be detected, and so difficult to be expelled ! Let not any of us imagine that we are out of its reach ; nor be too confident that we are free from its influence. Surely we should have a godly jealousy over our- selves in relation to it, and not only " search and try ourselves," but pray that " God himself would search and try us, in order to see if there be any wicked way in us, and to lead us in the way everlasting'." Let us never forget that " there is a gene- ration that are pure in their own eyes, whilst yet they are not washed from their filthinessk ;" and that there are many who " have a name to live, but are really dead" before God1.]
2. Its defiling influence —
[As " leaven," a very small measure of it will soon " leaven the whole lump." It not only debases the act with which it is more immediately connected, but renders the whole soul abominable in the sight of God. We may profess ourselves the Lord's people™ and take delight in his ways"
h 2 Cor. xi. 13, 15. » Ps. cxxxix. 23, 24. k Prov. xxx. 12. 1 Rev. iii. 1. m Isai. xlviii. 1, 2.
n Ezek. xxxiii. 31, 32.