He must not regard iniquity: "Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy commandments." "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." I grant men may be ignorant of many commands and many sins, and may imagine, in some cases, that some sins are not hateful to God: but supposing that they are instructed in these things, there can be no agreement between righteousness and unrighteousness.

3. Men must point towards all the law of God in their honest resolutions; for this is nothing else than to give up the heart unto God, to put his law in it without exception, which is a part of the covenant we are to make with God: "This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel-I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts." I grant many know not how to point towards God's law in all their ways; but if it be made manifest to them how that should be done, they will point at it. And it is true, they will many times fail of their resolutions in their practice; yet when they have failed, they can say, they did resolve otherwise, and will yet honestly, and without guile, resolve to do otherwise, and it will prove their affliction to have failed of their resolution, when the Lord discovers it to them, which he will do in due time.

4. When we are to judge of our state by the new creature, we must do it at a convenient time, when we are in good case, at least, not when we are in the worst case; for "the flesh and spirit do lust and fight against each other;" and sometimes the one and

sometimes the other doth prevail. Now, I say, we must choose a convenient time, when the spiritual part is not by some temptation worsted and overpowered by the flesh; for in that case the new creature is driven back in its streams, and much returned to the fountain and the habits, except in some small things not easily discernible, by which it makes opposition to the flesh, according to the above scripture. For, now is it the time of winter in the soul, and we may not expect fruit, yea, not leaves, as in some other season: only here, lest profane Atheists should take advantage of this, we will say, that the spirit often prevails over the flesh in a godly man, and yet the scope, aim, tenor, and main drift of his way is "in the law of the Lord," that is his walk ; whereas, the path-way and ordinary course of the wicked is sin, as is often hinted in the book of the Proverbs of Solomon. And if it happen that a godly man be overmastered by any transgression, it is usually his sad exercise; and we suppose he keeps it still in dependency before God to have it rectified, as David speaketh," Wilt thou not deliver my feet from falling!"

CHAP. V.

The Difference between a truly renewed Man who is in Christ, and Hypocrites.

Object. ATHEISTS and hypocrites may have great changes and renovations wrought upon them, and in them, and I fear mine may be such.

Answ. I grant that Atheists and hypocrites have many things in them which do look like the new

creature.

I. In regard of the parts of the man, they may, 1. Come to much knowledge-they are enlightened. 2. There may be a stir amongst their affections: "They receive the word with joy, as he that received the seed into stony places." 3. They may reach a great deal of outward reformation in the outward man, both concerning freedom from sin, and engagement to positive duty, as the Pharisee did: "God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this Publican; I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." Yea, 4. In regard of their practical understanding, they may judge some things of God to be excellent-the officers said, that " never man spake as Christ."

II. Hypocrites may have a great deal of professions. 1. They may talk of the law and gospel, and of the covenant, as the wicked do-" What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldst

take my covenant in thy mouth?" 2. They may confess sin openly to their own shame, as King Saul did: "Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly." 3. They may humble themselves in sackcloth with Ahab: "And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sack-cloth, and went softly." 4. They may inquire busily after ́duty, and come cheerfully to receive it: "Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask me of the ordinances of justice: they take delight in approaching to God." 5. They may join with God's interest in a hard and difficult time, as Demas and other hypocrites, in the book of the Acts of the Apostles, who afterwards fell off. 6. They may give much of their goods to God and to the saints, as Ananias, if not all their goods: "Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." Yea, 7. It is not impossible for some such, being straitly engaged in their credit, to "give their bodies to be burned," as in the last cited place.

III. Hypocrites may advance far in the common and ordinary steps of a Christian work; such as the elect have when God leads them captive. As, 1. They may be under great convictions of sin, as Judas was: "Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented him

self, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they

said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. So was King Saul often. 2. They may tremble at the word of God, and be under much terror, as Felix was: "And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season I will call for thee. 3. They may "rejoice in receiving of the truth, as he that received the seed into stony places." 4. They may be in some peace and quiet, in expectation of salvation by Christ, as the foolish virgins were. 5. All this may be backed and followed with some good measure of reformation, as the Pharisee: "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." spirit may go out of them." 6. This work may seem to be confirmed by some special experiences and "tastings of the good word of God."

"The unclean

IV. Hypocrites may have some things very like the saving graces of the Spirit; as, 1. They may have a sort of faith with Simon Magus: "Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done." 2. They may have a sort of repentance, and may