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. Consider that you may be deceived herein, you may think your sin is gone and hath left you, when 'tis nothing so; many a man may think sin hath left his heart, when yet sin is there still, 'tis hid in some

hole or corner. I will shew you this in a few particulars.

1. Some think that their sin is gon, be∣cause they have not been tempted to it as formerly. O Brethren, this is no sign, the reason of this may be for want of an ob∣ject, or by reason of many businesses that have drawn away your thoughts another ways, or perhaps you are now removed into such Places or Families, where you have not the liberty you had; when ever you meet with these circumstances, look then for the temptation again, 2 Chron. 24. 2, 17, 18. v.

2. Some think that their sin is gon, be∣cause they have not committed it for a great while. O Brethren, sin may be in your hearts for all that, sin is like a King, will keep its State, will not be seen every day abroad; many deal with sin as David with Absalom, 2 Sam. 13. 38, 39. And 2 of Sam. 14. 1. Absalom you see ran away out of his Fathers Kingdom, but still a∣broad in his Fathers heart; so sin may seem to be gon, and we have left commit∣ting it for a while, yet we love it as much as ever, and keep it in our hearts; see an example of this in Judas, what he was in

12. John. 6. O Judas might think this sin had left him all the while he followed Christ, but though he did not openly steal as others, yet for all this, the Text saith he was a Thief, that is a Thief in his heart, so is it with many, sin we think is gon, but it lies in the heart still.

3. Some think their sin is gon, because they are turned professors, and make a great profession, which formerly they did not; O sin will deceive you here, we have a clear example in Simon Magus, 8. Acts 13. yet sin was still in his heart, as you may read at the 21, 22, 23. v. O Brethren, sin will lurk and lye hid under an Holy Pro∣fession, like Goliah's Sword behind a Lin∣nen Ephod, 2 Tim. 3. 5. 'tis not a man's Baptism, receiving the Sacrament, being of a gathered Church, which People ac∣count so much of now-a-days, will clear the heart of sin, sin may deceive you for all that, I might instance in more particu∣lars, but these are enough to shew the truth of it.