The touchstone of sincerity, or, The signs of grace and symptoms of hypocrisy opened…The touchstone of sincerity, or, The signs of grace and symptomes of hypocrisie opened…

That which contents another, will no• content a Christian: if the King be absent▪ men will bow to the empty chair; but i• God be absent, an empty duty gives no satisfaction to a gracious spirit. The poore•• Christian is found panting after God by sincere desires, and labouring to get up that dead and vain heart to God in duty; though alas! it's many times but the rolling of the returning stone against the hill: yet the never expects advantage by that duty wherein the spirit of God is not; nor doth he expect the spirit of God should be, where hi• own spirit is not.

That which contents another, will no• content a Christian: if the King be absent▪ men will bow to the empty chair; but i• God be absent, an empty duty gives no satisfaction to a gracious spirit. The poore•• Chrictian is found panting after God by sincere desires, and labouring to get up that dead and vain heart to God in duty; though alas! it's many times but the rolling of the returning stone against the hill: yet the never expects advantage by that duty wherein the spirit of God is not; nor doth he expect the •pirit of God should be, where hi• own spirit is not.

5. Fifthly, Assiduity and constancy in duties of Religion makes a notable discovery o• the soundness or rottenness of mens heart• The Hypocrite may show some zeal and forwardness in duties for a time, but he will jade and give out at length: