Sincerity and hypocricy. Or, the sincere Christian, and hypocrite in their lively colours, standing one by the other.: Very profitable for this religion professing time. / By W.S. Serjeant at Law. Together with a tract annexed to prove; that true grace doth not lye so much in the degree as in the nature of it.

SECT. I.

In his esteem of God and Christ.

1 It savoureth much of sinceritie, and it is very much a sign of a sincere man, That he do esteem, value, and preferre God and Christ a∣bove all, and that he do in all things seek God and Christ above himselfe, and above all men and things. Psalm 24. 6. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, &c. Hee doth greatly love and delight in God and Christ. Ps. 97. 10. Yee that love the Lord. Ps. 18. 1. I will love thee, O Lord, &c. Io. 21. 15. Lord thou know∣est

that I love thee. Revel. 12. 11, And can, and will leave all for their sakes. Philip. 7. 8. Mark 10. 28, We have left all and followed thee. Hee cares not how little bee given to him, so that much be given to God, for whom he thinkes nothing too good, or too much. Psalm 115. 1. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to thy Name give glory, &c. So John the Baptist, he confessed, and denied not, I am not the Christ. Hee is preferred before me, whose shooes latchet I am not worthy to unloose, &c. John 1. 19, 20, 27. John 3. 28. Hee trusts in God. 1 Pet. 3. 5. Holy women that trusted in God, &c. And hee doth more fear to offend, and la∣bour to please God than all the world besides. Exod. 1. 15. 16. But the Midwives feared God, and did not as the King commanded them. Job 31. 4. 14. 23. Doth not hee see my waies, &c. What shall I doe when God ariseth? &c. 1 Kings 18. 3. Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly. Isaiah 29. 13. 1 Pet. 3. 14. And on the other side it savour∣eth much of Hypocrisie, and is very much a sign of an Hypocrite, That a man as hee loves other things more than God and Christ, so in all things hee doth preferre and seek himself more than God and Christ, his owne interest more than Gods. Hosea 2. 13. She went af∣ter her lovers, and forgat mee. John 5. 41, 42. I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

Phil. 3. 9. Whose belly is their God. Rom. 1. 25. Who changed, &c. and worshipped the creature more than the crearor, &c. 2 Tim. 3. 4. Lovers of pleasures more than God. He is ready to assume the glory due to God to himself. Acts 12. 22, 23. And the people gave a shout saying, the voice of God, &c. And immediately the Angel of the Lord smote him because he gave not God the glory, And therefore in the forbearing or do∣ing of good, or evil, hee is more moved by his desire to please, and feare to offend men than God. Iohn. 9. 22. Mat. 14. 5. Luke 20, 19. and 22. 2. Iohn 7. 13. Mark 23. 5. Iohn 12. 42. He doth in Gods service think any thing good enough for God. Mal. 1. 6. 8. O Priests that de∣spise my Name, &c. offer it now to thy Governour, will he accept it? &c. The love of God is not in him. Iohn 5. 42. Hee hath low and undervaluing thoughts of God and Christ, and the ordinances and institutions of Christ. Mal. 1. 1, 2, 3, &c. Ye despise my Name, &c. ye offer polluted bread, &c. Yee say the Table of the Lord is contemptible, &c. He doth more eye the praise and applause, honour and esteem, favour and good will of men than of God. Mat. 6. 1. to the 12. You do your almes before men to be seen of them, &c. Gal. 1. 10. Or doe I seeke to please men? for if I ••et pleased men I should not bee the servant of Christ. John 7. 18. John 8, 50. 1 Sam. 15. 30. I have sinned, yet honour me now I pray

thee before the Elders of my people, &c. He trusts more in other things than in God, Isa. 30. 2, 3. They cover with a covering, &c. That walk to goe into E∣gypt. Hosea 7. 14. Hee gives more respect to the Traditions and Inventions of men than to the Word and Command of God. Mat. 15. 1, 2, &c. Thus have you made the commandements of God of none effect by your tradition. Isa. 65. 4. Isa. 29. 30. Mark 7. 3, 4, &c. And to save himself he can be con∣tented to lose Christ.