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 root of Repentance, and that's humiliation, now the deeper the root the stronger the tree, the deeper our humilia∣tion, the stronger are we in grace and ho∣liness; what's the reason that bulrushes bow, and bend, and turn backwards and forwards with every wind, but because they have no good root, 2. Col. 6, 7. root∣ed and stablished both go together, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Now humiliation lay a deep sure foundation, being well root∣ed makes him firm and strong; this is twofold.

1. In respect of what is past; O he is much humbled and cast down for what is past, though God will forget what he hath done, yet he will never forget it, though God will never cast it in his dish, yet he will be always hitting himself in the teeth with it ever now and then. Thus did Paul, he was ever now and then telling what a Persecutor he was, O that trou∣bled him and vexed him, that ever he

should Persecute Christ. O true humilia∣tion will make us do so, we shall never be well pleased with our corrupt nature as long as we live, we shall be always speak∣ing against our selves what we were here∣tofore.

2. There is another branch of this root, and that respects the time to come, when we are throughly humbled for what is past, we shall be very fearful for the future 2. Philip. 12. cum timore & tremore. O he is like a fearful man that dares not climb up any high steep place, dares not walk aloft for fear of falling, therefore he keeps the lowest ground; so the Apostle directs 11. Rom. 20. 2. The fruits of Re∣pentance; what is a tree good for if it bears no fruit, away with it, so what is Repentance good for, I mean that Repen∣tance that hath no fruits, 3. Mat. 8. do not saith John Baptist think your selves to be Saints, because you come to hear me Preach or be Baptized, no bring forth your fruits, and such fruits as are meet for Re∣pentance, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, worthy the name of Repentance.