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.

1. The Mystery of this sin working in∣to the heart, this I will lay down in these following particulars.

1. This sin it works altogether with the nature of every man. Here is a great deal of policy in this, sin carries on its de∣sign apace, when nature it self (I mean corrupt nature) works for it and with it; it always sail with wind and tide, and therefore so prosperously. For the better understanding of this, you must know what the heart of man is when he comes into the World, and the Prophet will tell

us, in the 4. Jer. 3. 'tis fallow ground, and what doth fallow ground bring forth, why the latter part of the verse tells you thorns; what are these thorns? sins are thorns, and afflictions are thorns, but here 'tis meant of sin; and why doth fallow ground bring forth thorns, every one will tell us, 'tis the nature of it so to do; so that you see, 'tis as natural for a corrupt heart to breed sin, as for fallow ground to bring forth thorns. Now as every piece of ground brings forth those thorns, or briars, or bushes; which are most proper to the nature of the soil, so every man's heart naturally brings forth those sins, which are most proper to its nature; hence it is, that one man is by nature inclined to lust, another to covetousness, another to prodigality, another to malice, &c. here's the Mystery of this sin, it breeds in our very natures, and that's the reason it grows up so fast in us, terra spinarum mater fru∣menti noverca; let ground lye fallow, you shall have a greater crop of thorns, than with all your labour of corn, so it is with the heart; nay their be many, that will be hardly perswaded, that this is any sin at all, but reprove them for it, O they

will say it is my nature, I cannot help it, nay sinner know that 'tis thine Iniquity, and that which if it abide still in thee will ruin thee. This is the first piece of poli∣cy, sin it works altogether with our natu∣ral inclinations, and that makes us so wil∣ling and ready to embrace it, and so loath to part with it.

2. Sin speaks us very fair at first, as if it came to us to be our servant only, and to do us good, and by this trick it gets into our hearts; this is a great piece of policy, 1 Kings 12. 6, 7. so doth sin come to us at the first with sugured words, with gol∣den promises, with the fairest pretences that can be. O saith sin, if you will but entertain me, I will make you happy, you shall live after a better rate then ever you have done. Thus Solomon describeth sin to us by an Harlot, 7. Prov. 15, 16, 17. v. what is the event of it, read the 21, 22. v. be sure sin will never loose any thing for want of good words, a thousand fair pre∣tences will it make to get into our hearts.

3. Sin will bribe the senses to get into the heart, this was the first piece of poli∣cy, that the Devil used to make Eve sin,

3. Gen. 6. and as he prevailed over the first Adam with this, so he thought to have overcome the second Adam likewise, by the very same policy, 4. Mat. 8, 9. cer∣tainly the Devil made the World to look very beautiful to the eye, that the glorious view of it might have inticed our Saviour, so sin that gets in either by the casements of the eyes, or by the gates of the lips, or the back doors of the ears, or through the sink of the throat, by one sense or another that is bribed or corrupted by sin, and we in the mean time to please our senses en∣tertain sin in our hearts; this is another great policy and mystery of sin; like cun∣ning suiters when they go a wooing, give largely to the Maids, that so they may get the Mistress, so sin pleaseth the senses, that it may gain the heart; the Saints of old, they knew well and found out this Myste∣ry of sin, and therefore they stopt its pas∣sage, 31. Job. 1. So David was as careful of his mouth, as Job of his eyes, therefore he prays thus, 141. Ps. 3. and the Reason of it, he gives in the 4. v. O saith David, sin often creeps in at the mouth, and so gets into the heart; sinners dainties often makes us to think daintily of sin. O how

few are their that do take notice of this Mystery of sins policy, but prostitute their eyes, their ears, their mouths to the al∣lurements of sin, and so at last come to give their hearts to sin. O remember that Eve looked on the Apple, and sin got into her heart, Solomon he hearkned to his Wives, and Idolatry crept into his heart, the Drunkard he tasts of the Wine, the lascivious wanton doth but touch the Har∣lot, and both are drawn into sin. Solomon hath a strange exhortation, in the 23. Pro. 31. why is it such a matter to look on it, yes, read v. 32. and he sheweth how soon sin gets through the eyes into the heart in the 33. verse.

4. This sin will pretend a reformation that so it may get into the heart. O here is the very marrow of Devilish policy, this was Jehu's policy to get into the Throne of Israel, he pretended that he would pull down Idolatry, and yet he was still as great an Idolater as any. Mark him in all his passages, 2 Kings 10. 16, 26, 27, 28, 29. v. so this sin comes like a Jehu, drives on furiously, will do strange things, thou must leave such and such idle courses, as Covetousness will not let men be Drunk∣ards,

Whoremongers, Prodigal, Proud in their Apparel; so Hypocrisie will not let men be Swearers, or Proud, or intem∣perate; and thus poor silly men are de∣ceived by sin, and take this for a reforma∣tion, 2 Kings 5. 17, 18. so saith the sinner, if God would but pardon me this one sin, I will never be guilty of other sins; why don't you know, that 'tis for no good to your Souls, that this your sin will not suffer other sins in you? Did you never hear that sins will quarrel among them∣selves? Herod and Pilate were enemies one to another, yet neither of them friends to Christ. This one sin though thou cast out all others, will be enough to damn thy Soul; and therefore have a care of it when it puts on an holy dress; if you be never better reformed than sin can reform you, you may be damned for all such a reformation, 2 Cor. 11. 14, 15. sin is one of the Devils Ministers, his Servants that doth exactly follow his steps for to de∣ceive us.

5. Sin endeavours to work God out of the heart, that so it may work into the heart, fills a man's thoughts with preju∣dices against God, and seeks wonderfully

to discredit God. This was the first piece of the Devils policy, 3. Gen. 1. as much as if the Devil had said, what is this your God that you make so much of, and will he not let you eat an Apple? what mean you to obey such a God, as will be so strict with you for such small and petty trifles? so sin fills the heart with hard thoughts of God, 25. Mat. 24, 25. And this is the great argument that sin puts into the mouths of wicked Persons, do but hear what they say, 3. Mal. 14, 15. O say they, what a madness is it to be the Ser∣vant of God, a sinner fares better and lives merrier, and is far more happy than a Saint, sin perswades the Soul that God is hardest to his best Servants. O Brethren, take notice of this, this is wonderful and deep policy, and many thousand Souls have perished by this deceit. This is the com∣mon course of the World, that he that will give most shall be Master. Thus sin brings the Soul out of dislike of God and his Government, and wrests God out of his own Throne, and gets into the Throne it self. This was the policy whereby Ab∣salom won the Kingdom away from David his Father, 2 Sam. 15. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. vers.

Thus sin by this very kind of policy, wins away mens hearts from God; as wicked Persons intice Servants from their Masters, by telling them that they are hard Ma∣sters, so do sin intice away the heart from God.

6. Sin will always out-bid God in his promises, doth God promise to make us happy hereafter; sin will promise to make us happy both here and hereafter too, sin will perswade us, that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush; sin like the Devil is very large in its promises, and mark the policy, it promiseth always those things, that are most suitable to our cor∣rupt natures; like Fishermen, that put on such baits on their hooks, that the fish likes best, 1. Prov. 10, 11. mark the pro∣mise v. 13. so in our Saviours Temptation 4. Mat. 8, 9. what no less than the whole World? Brethren, the Devil and sin if you will but listen to them, will tell you of strange things, will promise you what∣ever you can desire of them, you shall have all things as you list, you shall never want. O how many are there in the World, that prefer sin before God upon this account, because the Promises of sin are far greater,

as to the things of this World, and such things as will best please carnal hearts than the promises of God, and the reason is this, because sin promiseth more than ever it can perform, but God promiseth no more than he will perform, and therefore upon this very account have we that ca∣veat of the Apostle in 3. Heb. 13. Now sin is never more deceitful than in its promi∣ses; O, therefore have a care of trusting to what sin promiseth; you shall see what you shall get by taking sins word, in the 7 Prov. 15.—18. well what follows ver. 21.—23. 7. Sin will urge us very much with the common practice of most men; that the generality of men do so and so, and will charge us with singularity if we yield not to it, hereby it deceives many a Soul. As the Danites inticed away Mi∣cha's Priests from him with this policy, 18. Judg. 19, 20. So saith sin, what wilt thou be alone by thy self, come with us we are many. As the Devil told Christ, my name is Legion, for we are many, so ma•…•… sin∣ners say we are Legion, we are many, sin∣ners have the major part, the stronger part, and the highest part of the World.

First. The major part, 7. Mat. 13, 14.

verses. O this takes with many, they love not to be singular they love to do as others do; secondly, the stronger part, 10. Luk. 3. the Wolves are the strongest side; there was only one Elijah a poor persecu∣ted Prophet on the Lords side, as you may read, 1 Kings 18. 22. when Baal had four hundred and above. And all those men of the times, they had not only the major but the stronger part; O this is a deceit to many a poor Soul, that loves to swim down with the stream of the times. Third∣ly, the highest part of the World, the great and mighty, and noble 7. John 48. have any of the Rulers of the World believed on him? O there are few else, but the poorer and meaner sort that close with Christ, O this encourageth many to sin, that they may joyn with the better sort as they call them, men of fashion, and quali∣ty, and estate in the World. O Brethren, take heed of this snare, many a poor Soul is insnared by it; look not who are the Persons that sin, but look what sin is; sin is not the less dangerous to our Souls, be∣cause of the multitudes that do embrace it, did Sodom fare ever the better, because they were all sinners except Lot; which

of you will drink a cup of poyson, because you see many are killed by it, O then why will you entertain sin, because you see o∣thers and many, nay multitudes that are damned by it.

8. Sins policy in getting into the heart, is its modesty at first, it seems to blush at great sins and to abhor them, O but saith sin, such or such a sin thou mayest commit, that's but a small matter. Thus sin inti∣ceth many first to their Faith and Troth, and then to common gross swearing. Ne∣mo repente fuit turpissimus, sin gets up by degrees, 1 Cor. 15. 33. be not deceived i. e. O Christians, look upon this as the great policy and deceit of sin, when it begins at first only with wicked words, and thence it will proceed to wicked works, 1 Cor. 5. 6. O Brethren, remember that stinking weeds grow fastest, and if you make but room for the Devil to get in his claw, he will soon get in his whole paw; if you begin but with a small sin, you will hardly end without greater sins. O Brethren, if sin ask you or would com∣pel you to go with it but one mile, go not, for you will hardly leave it before you have gone twain.

9. Sin hath another policy to work in∣to the heart, and that is by urging to mo∣deration. O how many amongst us are perverted themselves, by perverting that Text in the 7. Eccl. 16. what is the gene∣ral voice and cry among us, truly we love not to be precise, there be many are more scrupulous than they need to be. Brethren, in some things 'tis granted that a man may be righteous overmuch, that is in placing their Religion and devotion, in that which God never commanded: But in the duties of the Gospel, we can never be too right∣eous, we can never love God or hate sin, we can never fear God or be afraid of sin too much; see what the Gospel commands 5. Eph. 15. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, we must walk up to the very top of our Religion and Profession, and mark what our Savi∣our saith in the 5. Mat. 20. and they were the most precise Persons in all the World, and yet we must exceed them, and read but the verse before, verse the 19. there you see the very least command is to be of great concernment with us.

10. Sin is very importunate, it will take no denyal at our hands. O this is a winning way, it wearieth us out from day

to day, that we must either grant what she would have, or else never be quiet. This hath betrayed many Souls, this is old policy, as in Dalilah, 16. Judg. 16, 17. this is a mighty prevailing way, as 18. Luk. 2, 3, 4, 5. verses. O Brethren, this is the policy of sin and the Devil, to wea∣ry out our hearts with continual Tempta∣tions; therefore the Devil is called Beel∣zebub, which word signifyeth the Prince of the flies or gnats, look as gnats, beat them off, and they will fly on you again, an 100, or 1000 times, so will the Devil and Sin, when sin once begins to tempt, it will hardly give over till it hath pre∣vailed; and therefore the best remedy is to resist the very first Motions of it, and if it come again, be sure that you be prepa∣red for it again and again, do as the Ro∣mans did, if you would conquer sin as they did the World. Nunquam vincebant sed crastina bella timebant.

11. Sin oftimes gets into a man's heart insensibly, it slips in before he is aware of it; many a man commits a sin when he doth not intend to do so. O Brethren, here is a very great deceit; and when once 'tis got in, then it is hard to get it

out again: The reason of this is, because men do not keep a spiritual watch over their hearts as they ought to do, they are carnally secure. Peter, he little thought of denying Christ, when he entred into the High Priests Palace. David little thought of committing murder and adul∣tery, when he was walking upon the top of his house. Hazael little thought of his being so cruel a murderer before he was a King; is thy servant a dead dog to do so? O Brethren, sin it draws us insensibly ma∣ny times into the Temptation and Snare, before we are aware of it; and therefore let us always mind that of the Apostle in the first of the Thes. 5. 3, 6. sin hath ma∣ny a by-trap-door to get in at, which we know not of, O therefore, we had need be the more careful and fearful of our selves.

12. Sin hath another policy to get into the heart, and that is by telling us much of the mercy of God, and of the power of Repentance, that when the worst comes to the worst, yet we may repent and God hath then promised pardon. O Brethren, this is a great deceit, and that which hath

carried thousands of Souls to Hell, and therefore consider two or three things.

1. What a folly is it, if a man be but himself rightly to consider of it, for a man to sin purposely that he may repent; there is none but a fool will break his leg wil∣lingly, because there is a good bone setter in the same Town.

2. Do you know what Repentance is, if you did, you would never make work for Repentance; true Repentance is a gr•…•…t work that is most tiresome to flesh and blood; the pleasure of sin will never half countervail the pains of true Repen∣tance; as a man that drinks himself into a feaver, the bitter potions and the rending tearing purges he takes, do far exceed the pleasure of the Wine he drank, ask Peter, Manassah, and Mary Magdalen what Re∣pentance is, and you will never sin, that so you may Repent.

3. 'Tis abominable wickedness to sin on this account, because God is merciful in pardoning sin. Nay, O sinner, whoe∣ver thou art that committest any sin upon this score, I dare say it unto thee for a truth that that sin shall never be pardoned, take

heed of tempting the Lord, and abusing mercy in this manner.

4. Though God hath promised pardon to those that repent, yet God never yet promised Repentance to willful sinners; know this, that Repentance 'tis Gods gift, and 'tis not in any man's power to repent when he will, and therefore if thou sin that so thou mayest repent hereafter for it, know this, that 'tis a very great hazard whether ever thou shalt repent or no. Mark that place the Apostle puts a perad∣venture to it, 2 Tim. 2. 25, 26. here you see is no more than a peradventure, O then do not hazard your Souls at perad∣ventures. I will only add this one word more, if it be a peradventure, whether ever God will give such Persons Repen∣tance, 'tis a greater peradventure, that they shall never repent, than that they shall repent.

Thus you see the great Mystery of sin in working into the heart, O how many ways hath sin to get into us, 'tis our wis∣dom and policy, to learn the policy and mystery of sin in this regard, this will help us much to the keeping of it out of our hearts; when we know all its by-passages

and secret trap-doors, and false pretences, and deceitful Arguments to get into our hearts, we may then be the better able to shut it out.

Instead of the application of this truth, I will commend two ways to you to keep out this sin from working into your hearts.

The first is to study more, and endea∣vour to learn all its plots and policies; I say all for sin hath several Keys to unlock our hearts, if we prevent it in one design, it presently makes use of another. Now how to compass this, there are these two directions.

1. Study much the Scriptures, the word of God that will discover all sins, plots and policies to us, the Scripture will do as much for us, as the Prophet Elisha for the King of Israel, 2 Kings 6. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. v. so the word of God will discover all sins policy. Doth sin consult to catch us at our pleasures, the Scripture sends us word of it, 21 Luk. 34. Doth sin think to give us a fall in our holy duties, the Scripture sends us word of that, 5. Eccl. 1. Doth sin think to catch us with small baites, I mean by tempting to small sins, the Scri∣pture

sends us word of that, 1 Thes. 5. 22. Doth sin think to steal away our hearts, the Scripture sends us word of it, 4. Prov. 23. in the word of God you shall find all dis∣closed. Do to sin when the Scripture hath discovered it to you, as you read at the 21 v. the King of Israel would have done to the Syrians, when the Prophet Elisha dis∣covered their plots to him; he was pre∣sently for smiting of them, but that the Prophet Elisha forbad him, as you may read in the 22 v. of that 6 Chap. of the 2 Book of the Kings.

2. Be much in Prayer, begging the spi∣rit of God, 5. Gal. 16. This is the way to keep sin out, by letting the spirit of God into our hearts; the spirit of God (as one speaks) is an Heavenly Antidote against the Poyson and Infection of Sin, 8. Rom. 2.

Secondly, labour to counterplot sin, be you as wise and subtle to keep sin out, as sin is wise and subtle to get in. To this end, use these Scripture stratagems. The first is that of Solomon, 23. Prov. 17. here is sins plot, by shewing us the prosperity of sinners, the counterplot, be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long, see the 8. Prov. 13. and 14. Prov. 27.

2ly. That of the Apostle 6. Eph. 13. 'tis sad for a naked man to meet with an arm∣ed Enemy, keep on your Armour.

3ly. That of our Saviour in 13. Ma•…•… 37. though a man be armed, yet if asleep, the enemy hath advantage; the Devil and sin gets most when we sleep, 13. Mat. 24, 25.

4ly. Avoid all occasions of sin, 4. Prov. 14, 15. 5. Prov. 8. 23. Prov. 20. and 31. verses.

5ly. Make the chief end of your life the glory of God, 1 Cor. 10. 31. be exact in following this Rule, and sin will never snap you.