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.

Question.

1. What are the sins thou art re∣formed from? Answer truly to this Que∣stion.

1. Are they not only some small pet∣ty sins that thou never madest any great matter of, thou never tookest any great delight in; but still retainest thy great and best beloved and delightful sins. This is to do just like Saul, 1 Sam. 15. 3. God bids him destroy all the Ama∣lekites, spare none of them saith God, well what doth Saul, see verse the 9th. he spareth Agag and the best of the Cattel notwithstanding; just so thou servest God, God bids thee part with e∣very sin, no thou wilt spare the best.

2. Are they not only those sins, that cross thy designs or hinder thy prefer∣ment in the World, 2 Kings 12. 2. Je∣hoash

could willingly have set up Idola∣try, as appears by what he did after∣wards, O but he was but young, and he durst not anger Jehoiada the Priest, for fear of loosing his Kingdom; so when Religion is in fashion, O many a man will leave his sins if he see they hin∣der his preferment. A Godly Man hath a Wicked Son, he tells him, if he leave not his idle courses, he will disinherit him, for fear of loosing an Estate, have many left their sinful cour∣ses.

3. Are they not such sins, gross Ini∣quities, that all the Country would cry shame upon thee if thou didst not leave them. O how many are there that leave their sins, just as they leave their old cloaths, because they are out of fashi∣on? sinners love to be singular in nothing, no not in sinning, if they have not com∣panions in their sins, they will leave them.

4. Are they not such sins as have first left you; just as some are fain to leave off their cloaths, because they have out grown them, so many have out grown their sins; the Drunkard is taken sick

and lame, he cannot go to the Ale house as formerly, and so he hath left that sin, 'tis time, the Adulterer his body is quite worn out, he cannot do as for∣merly, and so he hath left that sin be∣cause he cannot commit it. Alas Bre∣thren, if this be all your reformation it is altogether unsound and good for no∣thing.