Secondly, this may move us to embrace integrity and sincerity, because the Lord so highly esteemeth it, that he accepteth of our obedience as perfect which springeth from it, though it be stained with much corruption, and joined with many imperfections. Whereof it is, that in the Scriptures integrity and perfection are promiscuously put the one for the other; and those are said to have been perfect before God, who in simplicity and uprightness of heart laboured after perfection, and served God in sincerity and truth; as Noah, Abraham, Job, David, Asa, Zechariah and Elizabeth, though they had many corruptions and imperfections, which in the Scriptures are recorded of them. And contrariwise the best graces, or rather the most glorious shows of them, and the most resplendent and formal actions which are not joined with it, are no better at the best then glorious sins in Gods sight: whereof it is that the Lord specially 1requireth in all our graces and virtuous actions, that they be in sincerity and truth, without dissimulation and hypocrisy. So that wisdom which is from above, is without hypocrisy and dissimulation, though carnal men think them most wise who most excel in it. Our faith must be unfeigned, and so must our repentance also, and with our whole heart; and not like Ahab's, in outward show only, dissembled and disguised. Our love must not be in speech and tongue only, but in deed and truth: we must call 2upon God in truth and sincerity, or else our prayers will be but mere liplabour, which God will not hear or regard. And therefore David useth his sincerity in praying, as an argument to persuade the Lord to give him ⟨p. 406⟩audience; Give ear (saith he) unto my prayers, which go not out of feigned lips. And Hezekiah his integrity of life, as a reason to move him for the repealing 3of the sentence of death, and prolonging of his days. Remember now, O Lord, (saith he) I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, &c. Finally, our preaching must not be deceitful, like those which make Merchandise of the Word; but as of sincerity, of God, and 4in the sight of God. And our hearing likewise of the Word, must be in sincerity, as in Gods presence, and as those that hear the Word, not of man, but of God.
Secondly, this may mooue vs to imbrace integrity and sincerity, because the Lord so highly esteemeth it, that he accepteth of our obedience as perfect which springeth from it, though it bee stained with much corruption, and ioyned with many imperfections. Whereof it is, that in the Scriptures integrity and perfection are promiscuously put the one for the other; and those are said to haue been perfect before God, who in simplicity and vprightnesse of heart laboured after perfection, and serued God in sincerity and truth; as Noah, Abraham, Iob, Dauid, Asa, Zachary and Elizabeth, though they had many corruptions and imperfections, which in the Scriptures are recorded of them. And contrariwise the best graces, or rather the most glorious shewes of them, and the most resplendent and formall actions which are not ioyned with it, are no better at the best then glorious sinnes in Gods sight: whereof it is that the Lord specially 1requireth in all our graces and vertuous actions, that they bee in sincerity and truth, without dissimulation and hypocrisie. So that wisedome which is from aboue, is without hypocrisie and dissimulation, though carnall men thinke them most wise who most excell in it. Our faith must bee vnfained, and so must our repentance also, and with our whole heart; and not like Ahabs, in outward shew onely, dissembled and disguized. Our loue must not be in speech and tongue onely, but in deed and truth: we must call 2vpon God in truth and sincerity, or else our prayers will be but meere liplabour, which God will not heare or regard. And therefore Dauid vseth his sincerity in praying, as an argument to perswade the Lord to giue him ⟨p. 406⟩audience; Giue eare (saith he) vnto my prayers, which goe not out of fained lips. And Ezechias his integrity of life, as a reason to moue him for therepealing 3of the sentence of death, and prolonging of his dayes. Remember now, O Lord, (saith he) I beseech thee, how I haue walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, &c. Finally, our preaching must not bee deceitfull, like those which make Marchandize of the Word; but as of sincerity, of God, and 4in the sight of God. And our hearing likewise of the Word, must be in sincerity, as in Gods presence, and as those that heare the Word, not of man, but of God.
- 1Jam. 3. 17. 1. Tim. 1. 5. Joel 2. 12, 13.Iam. 3. 17. 1. Tim. 1. 5. Joel 2. 12, 13.
- 21. John 3. 18.1. Iohn 3. 18.
- 3Psalm. 145. Esa. 29. 13.
- 42. Cor. 2. 17. Act. 10. 33. 1. Thes. 2. 13.
