J. Church

“ I have often been grieved in reading the lives of good men, written in such a strain as if they were truly perfect in thought, word and deed, quite holy and unblameable in every thing. This is not the method the Holy Spirit has adopted—in the word, the graces, and the failings, the falls and the renewings, the sighs, and the songs of his people are well drawn by the pencil of truth. ”

“ Nearly twenty times in the New Testament our Saviour accused the Pharisees of hypocrisy, because they were really hypocrites, and nothing else. The word, according to the learned, comes from the Greek, hypocrisis, it is counterfeiting religion and virtue—an affectation of the name and hatred to the thing—the having the form of godliness but denying the power. Thus, he is an hypocrite who pretends to be what he is not—who puts on a false person like the actor in tragedy or comedy—as a beggar may act a king, or a coward an hero. ”

“ To such as these the gospel invitation is given, even to the poor, who are convinced that they are not able to pay the demands of the law halt, who through temptation, unbelief, and erroneous characters, waver in their minds about some of the great truths of God—lame and maimed feel their own weakness, helplessness, wounded in spirit, nor can they get on in the divine life—blind about their interest in Christ for a season. Such are those who sincerely know themselves to be what God declares have a right to all the precious privileges of the gospel. ”

“ Setting out in the ministry with sound truth, but sound truth becoming unpopular, and with a view to avoid reproach, as an Antinomian in principle, mingling grace and works, law and gospel, Calvinism and Arminianism, to keep up the name of being reputable, is Hypocrisy.
Persons coming into a profession, taking up religion for connection, trade, or for any other profit in temporal things, is an Hypocrite.
Pleading for holiness, morality, duty and consistency; yet living in secret sin, as his real element, though unknown to others, is an Hypocrite. ”

“ I will love thee, O Lord my strength—I love the Lord because he hath heard the voice of my supplication—she loved much because much was forgiven, and here repentance flows as divine love is felt—repentance is the tear of love dropping from the eye of faith ”

“ Having stated what the scripture says of hypocrites and hypocrisy, I only appeal to any humbly enlightened believer—what has such a definition of character to do with one is in any degree taught of God, is blessed with the fear of God, has fled for refuge to the atonement and righteousness of Christ, and who is most sincerely seeking, longing, looking, and waiting for the manifestation of his love, favour and goodwill. ”

“ And the apostle also exhorts the Lord’s people to keep the gospel feast in sincerity, and to remember the Lord’s poor, as a proof their love was sincere towards the Lord; to whom also he wishes much grace and peace, even to all them that love our Lord Jesus in sincerity. And as an ornament, yea, a principal qualification of an elder, he mentions in doctrine shewing gravity, sincerity, and as new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby—not only the word but the milk of the word, that they may grow in knowledge, faith and love. ”

“ A fine painting is seldom finished at once. Successive sittings are usually required, and repeated touches of the artist. Grace rarely does its work all at once. The thief indeed, on the cross, received the divine image at a single sitting; and in others, whom God may call at the eleventh or even the twelfth hour, the work may be cut short in righteousness. But, generally speaking, our consummation in grace resembles the progress of a building, which is gradually raised, and carried up from the foundation, part by part. ”

“ When a church clergyman swears to the doctrinal articles of that church, and declares he is moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon him that office, and yet hates some of the leading doctrines, and ridicules the work of God, the Holy Spirit, upon the hearts of men as enthusiasm, he is an hypocrite. ”

“ It is also a divine persuasion the soul is persuaded of the love, grace, and faithfulness of God—it rests on what God says, and is seen in its actings, which we sometimes call exercises—it flies to Christ in danger, sin, trouble and threatenings—it leans upon Christ amidst all weakness and sore darkness—it trusts in the person and work of Christ for pardon, justification, and holiness, for comfort, knowledge, support, help and deliverance—it pleads with Christ upon the ground of his promises, and appears before God only in Christ ”

“ Conscience can bear witness when the blessed spirit gives fresh light, that these things which I have written have been and now are carrying on in the souls of those who are called by the grace of God ”

“ All pictures do not bear an equally strong resemblance of their original. Nor are all Christians equally conformed, at present, to Christ. In some, the canvass is but preparing; they are only under the first drawings of the Spirit. In others there are rude outlines, or a mere sketch, not yet filled up: but the colours are preparing, and, in due time, they will be laid on. Others are so far advanced, that a few touches more will fit them for the skies. And others, which are completely finished, are in heaven, to be part of the living furniture of God’s palace to all eternity. ”

“ When persons unhumbled, unrenewed by grace, suddenly leap up into full assurance of faith, without any chastening from the law or tenderness of conscience, a few scraps of divinity in the head, and at the same time treat with contempt the meek, the dejected, the broken-hearted seeker, thinking lightly of contrition, godly sorrow and repentance, unto life or obedience of faith, such are Hypocrites. ”

“ When persons boast and are proud of their own holy motives, sincerity of heart, holiness of life, purity of conduct, and a good name in the world, while destitute of the pardon of their sins, destitute of the faith of God’s elect, whereby the righteousness of Christ is received, destitute of the sanctifying teaching of the Holy Spirit, such are Hypocrites. ”

“ Yet for our own personal comfort and for the honour of that grace that has made us sincere it is our business to search for scriptural evidences of that sincerity, that we may rejoice in that super-abounding which has made us to differ from those who are awfully denominated hypocrites in Zion. The best way to decide a character is by the word of God. Many good men have written upon the subject, but some of them have carried the subject too far and distressed the Lord’s tempted people. ”

“ Many deluded ones may fancy their sinful nature is getting better, but while such rise in awful pride, the sincere believer sinks lower and lower in his own estimation in proportion as his spiritual knowledge increases. Knowledge and humility are twins in the believer’s mind, and those who are thus favoured can never be barren—Song iv. 2. In a state of nature God’s elect in general differ nothing from the greatest reprobate neither in principle nor conduct—they are enemies, ungodly, proud, boasters, haters, malicious and slaves to Satan, the flesh, the world and sin. ”

“ Those who pretend much love to God, while he is pleased to bless them in providence, but leave their profession when God is pleased to cross them, such are like children won with an apple and lost with a nut, such love is soon kindled and soon quenched, turn enemies to God and his truths when their expectations fail, such are Hypocrites. ”

“ Such are not real members, but mere excressences of the Church like falling hair or the parings of the nail. When Satan suggests to a believer, he is nothing but an hypocrite, his only remedy is by prayer and supplication to God, to make him sincere—and as to the world charging him with being an hypocrite, because they have fallen out with him, they are no judges neither of sincerity nor hypocrisy, only let us before God, the Church and the world, walk as consistently as possible, and let dogs bark on nor heed their howlings, the love of Christ in the heart will suffer that ”

“ Did not David know that he was not mad, when he pretended to be so to save his life? Every person can tell, whether they most sincerely desire, from a feeling sense of need, a sense of pardoning mercy, and the enjoyment of God’s favour; or whether they profess religion for any other purpose, let it be what it will. It is to be lamented that many sincere characters have been guilty of hypocritical actions, and yet be sincere. Witness Abraham, Jacob, David and others. ”

“ But while this is the case with the hypocrite, God has blest his own children as they are regenerated with sincerity of principle, sincerity of pursuit, and in their general deportment sincerity of action. ”

“ I determined, by the Lord’s assistance, in as clear and scriptural a manner as I possibly could, to point out the sincere believer, with all his feelings, frames, corruptions, infirmities, and temptations, his falls, recoveries and conflicts, in direct opposition to an hypocrite, in his attainment, confidence, hardness, deceit and pride, that my reader may be able in looking on these pictures to decide to which of these he belongs—that the poor in spirit may be comforted, and the hypocrite may, by divine light, discover himself and be made sincere, is my humble aim. ”

“ For as he is an hypocrite in profession, in heart and in life, so also in the church and in the world; for if a man is not sound in heart, towards God and truth, he cannot be very sincere towards his neighbour ”

“ The old man of sin and Satan working upon it, will often cause the sad outcry of—Oh, wretched man that I am, for the good I would I do not, and the evil in thought word or deed I would not, that at times do I. Blessed be God however, in our worst moments Satan cannot rob us of this will to do that which is good ”

“ When Dissenters, Independents, or Baptists profess Calvinism, yet are shy of the doctrines of truth, and swerve to the system of Arminianism, they are hypocrites. When such profest Calvinists sneeringly treat the grand doctrines of truth, as high doctrines, and thereby raise prejudices in the minds of their hearers against the truth as mere high notions, and those that preach it, they are hypocrites. ”

“ When persons shun those sins that would bring on them public scandal, and at the same time in love with secret sins, and spare these, because no one knows it, thinking small sins, if not known, will do no harm, yet making a sad outcry against sin, especially the sins of their neighbours, such are Hypocrites. ”

“ The word sincerity signifies uprightness and truth. Sincerity is opposed to double mindfulness, when the sentiments of the heart are contrary to the language of the month. The language of Baalam in blessing the Israelites was quite the reverse of his heart—he would most gladly have cursed them for the wages of iniquity ”

“ When ministers accommodate their sermons to different sects and parties, to please men contrary to conscience, they are hypocrites. This reminds me of an anecdote, too true it is to be feared, when a minister came to a certain town to preach, one of the managers of the chapel visited him, and told him, he hoped he would not be very high in his sentiments; because, added he, you will see an old gentlemen in such a seat with a gold headed cane—he cannot bear the doctrine of the Trinity. ”

“ The ground-work of a picture undergoes a preparation before the colours are superinduced. It is washed, or cleared, or boiled in oil, according to the nature of the material. ’Ere we are susceptible of the image of the heavenly, the soul must experience a preparatory work of conviction. Prejudices must be cleared away ”

“ But this we know also, that a daily cross dead weights, powerful besetting sins, heaviness and despondency, a tempting devil, many cares and snares, losses and crossed darkness, weakness, stupefaction, and reluctance to all that is good—stormy days and dismal nights must be the lot of all who are taught of God. ”

“ When a person, whether a public or private character, scandalizes another on account, or rather envying his fame, usefulness or popularity, taking every opportunity to degrade his person, actions, or reputation, although unknown to the calumniator, he is an Hypocrite. ”

“ And as expressed in the Litany of the Church of England—“and from all hypocrisy, good Lord deliver us.” The hypocrite thus painted to the life, we cannot err in the description; many have been painted by others very differently, and many have painted themselves, and sat down to admire their likenesses ”

“ So God chooses and selects the persons, on whom his uncreated spirit shall, with the pencil of effectual grace, re-delineate that holy likeness which Adam lost. Among these are some, whose natural capacities, and acquired improvements, are not of the first-rate: there the image of God is painted on wood. Others of God’s people have not those quick sensibilities, and poignant feelings, by which many are distinguished: there the Holy Spirit’s painting is on marble. Others are permitted to p. ”

“ Persons who would almost starve a wife, children, p. 15servants, and apprentices at home, to gain money, that they may have a good name by subscribing liberally to religious or civil society, are Hypocrites. ”