"
This is the reason of that evil-favoredness that you see attending
some men's lives and professions; they have been corrupted, as Adam
was, either by evil words or bad examples, even till the very face
of their lives and professions are disfigured as with the pox or
canker.
As the bramble said to the rest of the trees, so saith Christ to
feigned thanksgivers, who pretend to give thanks for liberty, but
rather use their liberty as an occasion for the flesh: If in truth
ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust under my
shadow; submit to my law, and be governed by my testament.
HYPOCRISY.
Hypocrisy is one of the most abominable of iniquities. It is a sin
that dares it with God. It is a sin that saith God is ignorant, or
that he delighteth in iniquity. It is a sin that flattereth, that
dissembleth, that offereth to hold God, as it were, fair in hand,
about that which is neither purposed nor intended. It is also a sin
that puts a man upon studying and contriving to beguile and deceive
his neighbor as to the bent and intent of the heart, and also as to
the cause and end of actions. It is a sin that persuadeth a man to
make a show of civility, morality, or religion, as a cloak, a
pretence, a guise to deceive withal.
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