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.

5. Take not up a profession of Religion at large, but enter into a more strict way of holiness. 'Tis the Devil that hath taught men this damnable art of being pro∣fessors at large; that is, to profess Christ and serve sin; 'tis not enough for a man to have a smack of Religion, no if ever we would be free from this sin from the pow∣er of it, we must be Christians in good earnest. Those Birds that fly abroad tho' some of them can sing well yet 'tis but their wild notes, but the Birds that are kept up in cages these learn to warble out pleasant tunes. A profession at large will never make a man leave his wild notes, 2. Rom. 28, 29. O do not content your selves only with being Baptized, with hearing Sermons, receiving the Sacrament, saying over your •…•…ers, living honestly, all this is only a pro•…•…n at large, and will never kill the power of sin; but learn the power of Godliness, get a true Faith in Christ, a

true love to Christ, a care to please him, be much in Communion with God, be much in searching your hearts, in hum∣bling your selves for sin, in bewailing your weakness, in striving against lusts, in de∣nying your selves, &c. this is the way to kill sin.