Sincerity, or, The upright mans walk to heaven in two parts shewing I. that sincerity is the true way to happiness, II. that the keeping of our selves from our own iniquity is the true way to sincerity / delivered in several sermons in the parish church of St. Michael in Long-Stratton Norfolk by James Oldfield, late minister there.

6. This one sin will damn thy Soul as well as Thousands, though we should leave all other sins but this, yet this will carry us to Hell. We do not read of Ju∣das that ever he was guilty of any sin but one, and that was Covetousness, it was his Master sin, and yet that one sin brought both Hell into his Soul, and also carried his Soul to Hell. O how happy might Judas have been, had he but kept himself from this his own Iniquity. Friends do not de∣ceive your Souls, you have but a few days to live before you shall go either to Heaven or Hell, do not boast that you are not Drunkards, or Swearers, or Lyers, &c. as others, if there be but one sin that you love, it will make God to hate you for e∣ver; cries the Pharisee: in the 18th of Luke 11, 12. God I thank thee, that I am not

as other men are, Extortioners, Unjust, Adulterers, &c. O, but this Pharisee had a sin for all this, that would carry him to Hell. A Prisoner that is Arraigned for murder, may plead that he never cut a purse, broke open an house, robbed on the High way, committed Treason against his Prince, but all this will not serve his turn, Murder will hang him. O think of this, and this one sin will bring you to Torments enough, 2 James 10, 11, 12. A seventh Reason we have in this very Psal. and 'tis this, when afflictions and tribu∣lations come upon us, this will be our great comfort, that we have kept our selves from our own Iniquities. David tells us his own experience in this Psalm, that God was with him to stand by him in all his troubles, because he kept himself from his Iniquity, read but v. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. and the Reason in the 21, 22, and 23. verses. Beloved, would you have God to stand by you in all your troubles, then cast away your sin, 55. Psal. 22. a man under afflictions that hath this sin a∣bout him, is like a man cast into the Sea with a Milstone about his neck, he is sure to sink to the bottom; sin venom's the

wound of every affliction. O Brethren, cast out this sin, that God may not cast you off in the day of your adversity, Sum∣mer will not always last, Winter must come, and what will you do if God will not own you; let me tell you further, when under afflictions you would be wil∣ling to be rid of this sin, but then you shall not; as you have kept it in spight of God, it shall then be always with you to tor∣ment you. O think upon it, before God lays troubles and afflictions upon you, you cannot but expect them, for your sins have deserved them, therefore I say think upon it before hand which you will chuse, God to be your comforter in your miseries, or keep this sin to add sorrows to all your afflictions, 5. Lam. 15, 16. the joy of our heart is ceased, our dance is turned into mourning, the Crown is fallen from our head, wo unto us that we have sinned: But every true Saint may rejoyce with Da∣vid under his afflictions, I have kept my self from my sin, and now will my God keep me under all my sorrows.