The counterfeit Christian, or, The danger of hypocrisy opened in two sermons

2. Their Blindness and Ignorance consisteth, in that they cannot discern nor distinguish between a changed Heart and a changed Life, or between legal Reformation and true Regeneration. They think, because their State seems so much better than it was before, in their own apprehension, and in the apprehension of others also, their Condition is good enough, they comparing themselves with themselves,¹ beholding what a vast difference there is, or seems to be in respect of what they once were, when Swearers, Drunkards, Whoremongers, &c. cannot but commend themselves to themselves: once they saw themselves Sinners, and called themselves so, and were ashamed of their own sinful and wicked Lives; but now they are Righteous in their own conceit, and so have no need of any further work, being arrived to that State of Holiness, (as they think) to that degree of Piety, to that Change, to that Conversion, that they conclude they need not seek for any other, and yet are deceived, and in the Gall of Bitterness. And hereby they seem to put themselves out of the Call of Jesus Christ,² who came to seek and to save that which was lost: not to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Repentance. Let Men think what they please, certainly there is no Devil like this Devil: If he can persuade a Man that he is whole, and not sick at all, and so needs no Physician; and that when the Gospel ⟨p. 20⟩is preached to Sinners, and the danger of Unbelief is opened, yet it doth not affect him, nor concern him, he being become a righteous Person; what hopes can there be of such a one? Alas, the Ministers of Christ have received no Commission to offer Christ to any but to Sinners. Now these are not the Persons a precious Saviour is tendered unto, they see no want nor need of him, and therefore these are passed by as such who need no Repentance.

2. Their Blindness and Ignorance consisteth, in that they cannot discern nor distinguish between a changed Heart and a changed Life, or between legal Reformation and true Regeneration. They think, because their State seems so much better than it was before, in their own apprehension, and in the apprehension of others also, their Condition is good enough, they comparing themselves with themselves,¹