A careful and strict enquiry into the modern prevailing notions of that freedom of…

In the former Sense, a Man is said to be sincere, in Opposition to a mere Pretence, and Show of the particular Thing to be done or exhibited, without any real Desire or Endeavour at all. In the latter Sense, a Man is said to be sincere, in Opposition to that Show of Virtue there is in merely doing the Matter of Duty, without the Reality of the Virtue it self in the Soul, and the Essence of it, which there is a Show of. A Man may be sincere in the former Sense, and yet in the latter be in the Sight of God, who searches the Heart, a vile Hypocrite.

In the former Sense, a Man is said to be sincere, in Opposition to a meer Pretence, and Shew of the particular Thing to be done or exhibited, without any real Desire or Endeavour at all. In the latter Sense, a Man is said to be sincere, in Opposition to that Shew of Vertue there is in meerly doing the Matter of Duty, without the Reality of the Vertue it self in the Soul, and the Essence of it, which there is a Shew of. A Man may be sincere in the former Sense, and yet in the latter be in the Sight of God, who searches the Heart, a vile Hypocrite.

In the latter Kind of Sincerity, only, is there any Thing truly valuable or acceptable in the Sight of God. And this is the Thing which in Scripture is called Sincerity, Uprightness, Integrity, Truth in the inward Parts, and a being of a perfect Heart. And if there be such a Sincerity, and such a Degree of it as there ought to be, and there be any Thing further that the Man is not able to perform, or which don't prove to be connected with his sincere Desires and Endeavours, the Man is wholly excused and acquitted in the Sight of God; His Will shall surely be accepted for his Deed: And such a sincere Will and Endeavour is all that in Strictness is required of him, by any Command of God. But as to the other Kind of Sincerity of Desires and Endeavours, it having no Virtue in it, (as was observed before) can be of no Avail before God, in any Case, to recommend, satisfy, or excuse, and has no positive moral Weight or Influence whatsoever.

In the latter Kind of Sincerity, only, is there any Thing truly valuable or acceptable in the Sight of God. And this is the Thing which in Scripture is called Sincerity, Uprightness, Integrity, Truth in the inward Parts, and a being of a perfect Heart. And if there be such a Sincerity, and such a Degree of it as there ought to be, and there be any Thing further that the Man is not able to perform, or which don't prove to be connected with his sincere Desires and Endeavours, the Man is wholly excused and acquitted in the Sight of God; His Will shall surely be accepted for his Deed: And such a sincere Will and Endeavour is all that in Strictness is required of him, by any Command of God. But as to the other Kind of Sincerity of Desires and Endeavours, it having no Vertue in it, (as was observed before) can be of no Avail before God, in any Case, to recommend, satisfy, or excuse, and has no positive moral Weight or Influence whatsoever.