Section 13: The Godly Man's Picture by Thomas Watson | AskReformation

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:410p. 138–139§1

7. The vileness of hypocrisy: The Lord would have no leaven offered up in Sacrifice; leaven did typify hypocrisy, Luke 12. 1. The hypocrite doth the devil double service, under the Visor of Piety, he can sin more, and be less^† suspected, Mat. 23. 14. W• unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye devour Widows houses, and for a pretence, make long prayers: Who would think they were guilty of Extortion, that would pray so many hours together? Who would suspect him of false weights, that hath the Bible so often in his hand? Who would think he would slander, that seems to fear an oath? Hypocrites are the worst sort of sinners, they reflect infinite dishonour upon Religion; hypocrisy for the most part ends in scandal, and that brings an evil report upon the ways of God; one man breaking, makes such as are honest suspected; one scandalous hypocrite, makes the world suspect that all Professors ⟨p. 139⟩are so; the hypocrite was born to do Religion a spite, and to bring it into an odium.

7. The vileness of hypocrisie: The Lord would have no leven offered up in Sacrifice; leven did typifie hypocrisie, Luke 12. 1. The hypocrite doth the devil double service, under the Vizor of Piety, he can sin more, and be less^† suspected, Mat. 23. 14. W• unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye devoure Widows houses, and for a pretence, make long prayers: Who would think they were guilty of Extortion, that would pray so many hours together? Who would suspect him of false weights, that hath the Bible so often in his hand? Who would think he would slander, that seems to fear an oath? Hypocrites are the worst sort of sinners, they reflect infinite dishonor upon Religion; hypocrisie for the most part ends in scandal, and that brings an evil report upon the ways of God; one man breaking, makes such as are honest suspected; one scandalous hypocrite, makes the world suspect that all Professors ⟨p. 139⟩are so; the hypocrite was born to do Religion a spite, and to bring it into an odium.

†[Greek or Hebrew]. Euseb.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Euseb.

:413p. 139–140§1

8. If the heart be sincere, God will wink at many failings, Numb. 23. 21. He hath not seen iniquity in Jacob. Gods love doth not make him blind, he can see infirmities, but how? not with an eye of revenge, but pity, as a Physician sees a disease in his Patient to heal him: God doth not see iniquity in Jacob, so as to destroy him, but to heal him, Isa. 57. 18. He went on frowardly, I have seen his ways, and I will heal him: How much pride, vanity, passion, doth the Lord pass by in his ⟨p. 140⟩sincere ones! He sees the integrity, and pardons the infirmity: How much did God overlook in Asa! the high-places were not removed: Yet it is said, 2 Chron. 15. 17. The heart of Asa was perfect all his days. We esteem of a picture, though it be not drawn at the full length: So though the graces of Gods people are not drawn at their full length, nay, have many scars and spots, yet having something of God in sincerity, they shall find mercy; God loves the sincere, and 'tis the nature of love to cover ^*infirmity.

8. If the heart be sincere, God will wink at many failings, Numb. 23. 21. He hath not seen iniquity in Iacob. Gods love doth not make him blind, he can see infirmities, but how? not with an eye of revenge, but pitty, as a Physitian sees a disease in his Patient to heal him: God doth not see iniquity in Iacob, so as to destroy him, but to heal him, Isa. 57. 18. He went on frowardly, I have seen his ways, and I will heal him: How much pride, vanity, passion, doth the Lord pass by in his ⟨p. 140⟩sincere ones! He sees the integrity, and pardons the infirmity: How much did God overlook in Asa! the high-places were not removed: Yet it is said, 2 Chron. 15. 17. The heart of Asa was perfect all his days. We esteem of a picture, though it be not drawn at the full length: So though the graces of Gods people are not drawn at their full length, nay, have many scars and spots, yet having something of God in sincerity, they shall find mercy; God loves the sincere, and 'tis the nature of love to cover ^*infirmity.

*Pro. 12. 10.