A plain discourse upon uprightness showing the properties and privileges of an upright man…A plain discourse upon uprightness shewing the properties and priviledges of an upright man…

The vain hypocrite hopes to over-reach God, to carry his contrivance cleanly; but let him not be deceived, for God is not mocked: as a man sows, so shall he reap, Job 8. 14. His hope shall be cut off, and his trust shall be a spiders web. You see a spiders web to be a very curious work, but its original is from a spiders bowels, and its design to catch poor flies; and though she be as secure in it as in a castle, yet when the Broom comes, down they go. The thread that an hypocrite spins is very fine, but it hath no higher principle than Self, nor greater end than to deceive. And though he bless himself in his heart, and sit like a Queen in the web that he hath spun, yet when Gods besom comes, down he falls into Hell, and great is the fall of him.

The vain hypocrite hopes to over-reach God, to carry his contrivance cleanly; but let him not be deceived, for God is not mocked: as a man sows, so shall he reap, Job 8. 14. His hope shall be cut off, and his trust shall be a spiders web. You see a spiders web to be a very curious work, but its original is from a spiders bowels, and its design to catch poor flies; and though she be as secure in it as in a castle, yet when the Broom comes, down they go. The thread that an hypocrite spins is very fine, but it hath no higher principle than Self, nor greater end than to deceive. And though he bless himself in his heart, and sit like a Queen in the web that he hath spun, yet when Gods besome comes, down he falls into Hell, and great is the fall of him.

Quest. But you will say, who or what i• an hypocrite?

Answ. He is one that hath no Affection to the Nature of Religion, and yet hath an Affectation of the Name, and Reputation of Religion: That professes the hatred of sin, and yet cordially loves it: That pretends to love piety, and yet inwardly distastes it; this is an hypocrite and woe be to him. The keenest Scriptures, the sharpest Judgments, the hottest Torments are the portion of his cup. The very next verse is enough to overwhelm him, With the froward thou wilt show thy self froward. When infinite Patience grows froward, there will be infinite frowardness. None so true a Friend, and none so fierce an Enemy. Proud men, Atheists, and Hypocrites, God hath a peculiar quarrel with, and they shall feel the weight of his indignation. Alas! Sirs, you drive the maddest trade on earth: your Profession of piety hazards the losing of this World, and your Practise of hypocrisy loseth you the other; and thus you lose Two Worlds for want of One Upright heart. Repent therefore quickly of this your wickedness, & change your course. If holiness be bad, why do you pretend it? If it be good, why do you abhor it? What man of reason will put on the shape of one he hates, when thereby he