A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…

Ninthly, No hypocrite will long hold out in the work and ways of the Lord, in the want of outward encouragements, and in the face of outward discouragements. An hypocrite is an Apostate cased, and an Apostate is an hypocrite uncased, Job 27. ver. 8. For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God shall take away his soul? Ver. 10. Will he delight himself in the Almighty? Will he always call upon God? Or, as the Hebrew runs, Will he in every time call upon God? It may be he may formally call on God in time of prosperity; but can he seriously do it in time of adversity? Sometimes when the rod is upon them, then they will pour out a prayer to God;¹ In their affliction they will seek me earthly. When he slew them, then they sought him, and they returned and enquired after God. ²But this was not the standing frame of their hearts. Ver. 36. Nevertheless, they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. Ver. 47. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his Covenant. When Pharaoh was upon the wrack, he could roar out a confession,³ and earnestly cry out for a prayer; but when the judgment was removed, Pharaoh was ⟨p. 313⟩as proud, and hard, and blind as ever.⁴ When Adonijah was in danger of death, then he could hang on the horns of the Altar. When Ahab was threatened with utter desolation, then he could fast and lye in sackcloth; and so did the Minivites: ⁵But all this was but like Ephraim and Judah's goodness, that as a morning cloud, and as the early dew passeth away. Will the hypocrite always, or in every time call upon God? will the hypocrite call upon God as often as providence calls him to call upon God? will he call upon God as often as judgments call him to call upon God? will he call upon God as often as conscience calls him to call upon God? will he call upon God as often as 'tis his duty to call upon God? will he call upon God as often as others call upon him to call upon God? Oh no. The hypocrite will not always call upon God, he will not persevere in prayer, he will not hold on, nor hold out in prayer, he is short spirited, he can't always pray and not faint, or shrink back as sluggards do in work, or cowards in war, as the original word in Luke imports.