_Direct._ XIX. Remember how hypocrisy is hated of God; and what punishment is appointed for hypocrites. They are joined in torment with unbelievers. And, as wicked men's punishment is aggravated by their being condemned to the fire prepared for the devil and his angels; so the punishment of ordinary ungodly persons, is aggravated by this, that their portion shall be with hypocrites and unbelievers. How oft find you the Lamb of God himself denouncing his thundering woes against the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees! How oft doth he inculcate to his disciples, "Be not as the hypocrites," Matt. vi. 2, 5, 16. And no wonder if hypocrites be hateful to God, when they and their services are lifeless images, and have nothing but the name and outside of christianity, and some antique dress to set them off, and human ornaments of wit and parts; as a corpse is more drest with flowers than the living, as needing those ceremonies for want of life to keep them sweet: and a carrion is not amiable to God. And the hypocrite puts a scorn on God; as if he thought that God were like the heathen's idols, that have eyes and see not, and could not discern the secret dissemblings of his heart; or as if he were like fools and children that are pleased with fair words and little toys. God must needs hate such abuse as this.
_Direct._ XX. Come into the light, that your hearts and lives may be thoroughly known to you. Love the most searching, faithful ministry and books; and be thankful to reprovers and plain-dealing friends. Darkness is it that cherisheth deceit: it is the office of the light to manifest. Justly do those wretches perish in their hypocrisy, who will not endure the light which would undeceive them; but fly from a plain and powerful ministry, and hate plain reproof, and set themselves by excuses and cavils to defend their own deceit.[154]
_Direct._ XXI. Be very diligent in the examining of your hearts and all your actions by the word of God, and call yourselves often to a strict account. Deceit and guilt will not endure strict examination. The word of God is quick and powerful, discovering the thoughts and imaginations of the heart. There is no hypocrite but might be delivered from his own deceits, if by the assistance of an able guide, he would faithfully go on in the work of self-trying, without partiality or sloth.
_Direct._ XXII. Live continually as one that is going to be judged at the bar of God, where all hypocrisy will be opened and shamed, and hypocrites condemned by the all-knowing God. One thought of our appearing before the Lord, and of the day of his impartial judgment, one would think should make men walk as in the light, and teach them to understand, that the sun is not eclipsed as often as they wink, nor is it night because they draw the curtains. What a shame will it be to have all your dissimulation laid open before all the world! Luke xii. 1-3, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy: for there is nothing covered, which shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets, shall be proclaimed on the house-tops."
_Direct._ XXIII. Think not that you avoid hypocrisy by changing the expressions of it; but see that you run not into a more subtle kind, while you avoid a grosser. There is no outward way of worshipping God, nor any opinion in religion, so sound, but a hypocrite can make a cloak of it. You see an ignorant, ridiculous hypocrite, such as Bishop Hall describeth in his character, that can pray up to a pillar, when his heart knoweth not what his tongue is doing; that babbleth over a few words to God while he is dressing or washing him, and talking between to the standers-by; who offereth to God the sacrifice of a fool, and knoweth not that he doth evil, Eccles. v. 2; that serveth God with toys and antic gestures, and saying over certain words which were never acquainted with the feeling of his heart, nor scarce with his understanding. And to avoid his hypocrisy, perhaps, you can merrily deride him, and make a formal popish hypocrite the subject of your jests; and you can yourselves, with good understanding, pour out yourselves many hours together in orderly and meet expressions of prayer: but remember that many a hypocrite maketh himself a cloak of as good stuff as this; and that as pride hath more advantage to work upon your greater knowledge and better parts, so hypocrisy is but the offspring of pride. All this, without a heart entirely devoted unto God, is but a carcass better dressed; as the rich have more curious monuments than the poor. There is no outside thing, in which a hypocrite may not seem excellent.