Tit. i. 16. They profess that they know God; hut in works they
deny him.
AT a time when the profession of godliness is everywhere abounding, it is of peculiar importance to lay down marks whereby the upright may be dis- tinguished, and the hypocritical be put to shame. There have ever been in the Church, many, whose characters would not bear investigation, and whose conduct was the very reverse of what their profession required. In the days of the Apostle there were *' many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, who subverted whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre sake*:" and of these he hesitated not to declare, that " whilst they professed that they knew God, they in works denied him."
Now, as such persons abound in all ages, I will enter into a fuller consideration of the character here delineated ; and observe respecting it, that it is, I. A common character —
[As all who were the natural descendants of Abraham were considered as professing the faith of Abraham, even whilst they were living altogether without God in the world ; so all who name the name of Christ are considered as Christians, though they never think of departing from any iniquity which
a ver. 10, 11.
their hearts affect. But it is not of such persons that I intend to speak. The persons mentioned in my text evidently wished to be regarded as religious : and therefore it is to persons of that description that my attention shall be confined. These, indeed, embrace a great variety of character : for, whilst some take up religion in a formal kind of way, as a means of gain- ing a reputation for sanctity, others vaunt themselves in an experience of its power upon their souls. Of the former class are those whom St. Paul speaks of, when he says, " Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law ; and art confident, that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the latv^." Of the latter class are they whose hearts have been impressed in a measure with divine truth, and brought in some degree under the power of religion, but who yet hold fast some secret lusts which they will not part with. Of such the Prophet Isaiah speaks : " They call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel"^." Of such also God speaks by the Prophet Ezekiel: "They come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words; but they will not do them : for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness ^."
Now, of both these classes there are very many in the pre- sent day. At a former period, the pharisaical class were the more numerous ; but at this time the hypocritical. In some respects they differ widely from each other, and hold each other in contempt : but, in the main point, they are agreed ; namely, in not walking agreeably to their profession. Neither the one nor the other give themselves up wholly to their God : some hidden abomination, like a worm at the root, im- pedes their fruitfulness in good works, and prevents them from " bringing forth any fruit to perfection." Were I to distinguish between them, I should say, the one profess reli- gion generally ; the others profess religion of a superior cast : but, when the whole of their spirit, and temper, and conduct, are compared with the Scripture-standard, they shew that their hearts are not right with God ; and that, whilst " they draw nigh to him with their lips, their hearts are far from him''."]