dissemble, did he believe he were discovered, and this is just the case of every hypocrite; all the disagreement between his tongue and his thoughts, his actions and his heart, is open to that eye from which nothing can be hid: for the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he seeth all his goings. There is no darkness nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. 4. Truth and sincerity have all the advantages of appearance, and many more. If the show of any thing be good, I am sure that the reality of it is better; and the readiest way for a man to seem to be any thing, is really to be what he would seem to be. Besides, it is many times as troublesome to make good the pretence of a good quality as to have it and if a man has it not, it is ten to one but he is discovered to want it, and then all his labour to seem to have it, is lost. There is something unnatural in painting, which a skilful eye easily distinguishes from the true complexion. It is hard to act a part long; a dissembler must be always upon his guard, must watch himself carefully that he do not contradict his own pretence; for, as he acts an unnatural part, he must put a continual force and restraint upon himself. Insincerity is a very troublesome things to manage; it finds so many things to attend to, so many ends to bring together, as makes life a very perplexed and intricate thing. A liar had need of a good memory, lest he contradict at one time what he said at another. But truth is always consistent with itself, and needs nothing to help it out. He that acts sincerely hath the easiest task in the world; he follows nature, and therefore is put to no trouble and care about his words and actions: he needs not invent any pretences before hand, nor make excuses afterwards for any thing he hath said or done. Add to all this, that sincerity is the most compendious wisdom, and an excellent instrument for the speedy dispatch of business: it creates confidence in those we have to deal with, whereas falsehood brings a man under an everlasting suspicion, so that he is not believed when he speaks truth, nor trusted when perhaps he means honestly; he who hath once forfeited the reputation of his integrity, is set fast, and nothing will then serve his turn; neither truth, nor falsehood. God seems in great wisdom to have hid from men of false and dishonest minds the wonderful advantages of truth and integrity to the prosperity even of our worldly affairs. Were such persons wise enough to discern this, they would be honest out of very knavery; and therefore the justice of the divine Providence hath hid this truest point of wisdom, that bad men might not be upon equal terms with the just and upright, and serve their designs by honest and lawful means. Indeed, if a man were only to deal in the world for a day, it were then no great matter (as to the concernments of this world,) if he spent his reputation at once, and ventured it at one throw: but if he be to continue in the world, and would prosper in it, let him use truth and sincerity in all his words and actions. It is the observation of Solomon, Prov. xii. 19. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. That man hath profited much in the school of wisdom, who valueth truth and sincerity according to their worth. Every one readily grants them to be great virtues, and arguments of a generous mind; but the generality of men can hardly believe that there is so much of true wisdom in them; and that they so much promote our interest in this world, as I doubt not they will by experience be generally found to do. 5. Lastly, It cannot appear worth our while to dissemble, if we will but consider the shortness, and especially the uncertainty of our lives. Why should any man by dissembling his judgment, or acting contrary to it, incur at once the displeasure of God, and the discontent of his own mind? especially if we reflect that all our dissimulation shall one day be made manifest, and published on the open theatre of the world, before God, angels, and men, to our everlasting shame and confusion; all disguises and vizards will then be plucked off, and every man shall appear in his true colours. For then the secrets of men shall be judged; and God will bring every work into judgment, and every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. Nothing is now covered which shall not then be revealed; nor hid, which shall not then be known. Let us therefore be now what we would be glad to be found in that day, when all pretences shall be examined, and the closest hypocrisy of all men shall be laid open; when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, and all the hidden works of darkness be revealed, and all our thoughts, words, and actions be brought to a strict and severe trial, and censured by that impartial and infallible judgment of God, which is according to truth; in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ. To whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be glory now and for ever. Amen. FINIS. C. Whittingham, College House, Chiswick. |