An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Now because I have spoken much of this upon other occasions, I shall ¹briefly dispatch this subject at this time, laying down several Propositions, which will partly be descriptive of the nature of this sincerity, and partly manifestative of what are the effects of it. And

1. 1Propositions concerning godly sincerity.

First, This sincerity doth comprehend an Universality in it. Hypocrisy dealeth in pieces and parcels, it doth many things, and it omitteth many ¹things; whereas sincerity comprehendeth all the essential parts of Religion, it is not defective in necessaries; though it hath not perfection of degrees, yet it hath of parts: Therefore sincerity is the same with [Greek or Hebrew], completeness of all parts and limbs, when a man hath every part of the body, that is his [Greek or Hebrew], lot, or condition, or portion to have, 1 Thess. 5. 23. Hence Jam. 1. 4. it is called entire, that ye may be entire, wanting nothing. It was the fault that Christ found with the Church of Sardis, Revel. 3. 2. That he had not found her works perfect before God, [Greek or Hebrew], filled up. There were many empty hollow places and vacuities, as it were, wanting this grace, and that duty which would have made her complete. Now there are several kinds of Universalities, wherein this sincerity doth discover it self. There is an universality of the Object matter, about which it is exercised: It maketh a man careful to perform the greatest duties, and the less duties: It accounteth nothing little, wherein the command of God is concerned, that is a great God: It abstaineth from great sins and little sins: It accounteth no sin little, which cannot be purged away, but by the blood of Christ. Again, it doth faithfully respect all the Commandments of God, such as are terminated upon God himself, or such as relate to man. Paul expressed this sincerity, when he called it, A conscience void of offence both towards God and man,