Is This Your Likeness? A Scriptural Definition of Hypocrisy and Sincerity

by J. Church

I bless God it is not left to the opinions of men; and should I attempt it, no doubt it would meet with severe criticisms from some, and mere cant from others; for a writer observes—“of all the cants which are canted in this canting world, the cant of hypocrisy is the worst.” Yet the cant of criticism is the most tormenting. I say not this because I am afraid of advancing any truth for fear of censure; no, I consider censure to be the tax that every public character has to pay to the public if he is in any way useful. 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. What they are in Adam the first, and what they are in Christ is clearly delineated. But with all the infirmities they possess it is a mercy the Holy Spirit has made them truly sincere; and this the apostle prays for—“that ye may be sincere and without offence in the day of Christ.” And under this divine influence he rejoices that in all simplicity and godly sincerity he had his conversation in the world; and hence that important exhortation of pious Joshua, “only fear the Lord in sincerity and truth.” 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.

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; and, like Joab who took Abner aside to speak quietly to him but smote him under the fifth rib that he died; and like Judas, with “Hail master,” and kissed him and betrayed him into the hands of his enemies. 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. This is the genuine work of the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who is well acquainted with the persons of God’s elect, who were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, and predestinated to the adoption of sons—to know their sonship in this world, and to be publicly owned by their ever adorable Father before assembled worlds—eternally united to Christ as the Great Head of the Church, viewed in him complete; and according to the well ordered covenant of grace, brought into a state of pardon, a state of peace and reconciliation, a state of justification and acceptance with God in Christ, by Christ, through Christ, and for Christ. The ever-adorable most holy God the Spirit graciously undertook to be their teacher, to take eternal possession of them, to be in them as a well of water springing up to eternal life—illuminating their minds, quickening their souls with a principle of life, subduing their sins, shewing them the salvation that there is in Christ, and at times giving them power to enjoy it—this holy principle which makes its possessor sincere is sometimes denominated faith, and it is faith unfeigned—sometimes it is called love, and it is love without dissimulation; and let the believer be in whatever frame he may, he is still blessed with these in their degree—these produce humble fear, holy desires, great anxiety, godly sorrow, fervent breathings, self abasement, spiritual meekness, holy obedience, love to all the truth and to those that love it—and if a person is in possession of these, he is truly made by grace sincere. What he is as a sinner he well knows, nor will ever alter his opinion of himself. 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. Of this the Holy Spirit convinces them—of this they are ashamed—for this they feel condemned by the holy law of God—from this they are turned, and being convinced they feel their need of a Saviour, a surety, a better righteousness than their own, this makes them sincere in their pursuits. To such as these the Lord speaks—“Hearken unto me ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord.” And as they follow after righteousness so they are said to follow holiness, to follow the Lamb who is both the righteousness and the holiness of his church, and are made sincere by grace. In this pursuit they will not rest. 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. And it is such as these the Lord has pronounced blessed in his sermon on the mount in eight particulars; as the poor in spirit emptied of all supposed goodness in themselves, mourning in mind on account of sin and abused goodness—meek, humble, docile, teachable, hungry and thirsty, which includes sensations of pain, desire and pursuit—merciful to the souls, bodies, and names of others—pure in heart by receiving the atonement and by the indwelling of the spirit—and the word peace-makers in the church—loving to those who belong to God—hating variance, strife, and pride, persecuted for imputed and imparted righteousness-sake, for decidedness in the cause of Christ—though reviled, yet falsely, such have their reward in heavenly smiles now and to all eternity in a better world—these are those who are sincere—chastened, tempted, tossed, dejected, broken in nature by the fall, and in heart by grace, sorrowing on account of sin and over a suffering Saviour. To those who are so sincerely tried the Saviour opened his commission in the synagogue, taking his sweet text from Isaiah—“The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to captives and the opening of the prison doors to those that are bound, to set at liberty those that are bruised, to comfort all that mourn.” These are characters to whom Christ can only be precious—the whole in their own estimation need him not. I came not to call such but sinners to repentance; and being called into a state of repentance, that grace will flow sweetly when love, mercy and goodness is felt. This is the Holy Spirit’s description of those that are sincere. He has condescended to exhibit their likeness, that we may see our own. This is an act of stupendous condescension; and taking this scriptural view, we can bless the grace that has made us to differ from the Pharisee and the hypocrite. Oh, to grace how great a debtor! Daily I rejoice to be—and in the fine language of the communion of the church of England, would daily pray—

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly (sincerely) love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Every one that God has made honest in heart can say amen to this prayer.

I remark once more, that the Lord’s people are in scripture called believers, because they are blessed with the faith of God’s elect. Here they are made sincere. Faith is a giving credit to what God says in his word, and is perfectly satisfied with his truth, with the record God has given of his Son. 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; and this faith is the work of God upon the soul—it evidences a person’s salvation, and sooner or later such persons shall most sensibly enjoy the smiles of a covenant God, the light of his countenance, and the fullest persuasion of his love. When these are seen and felt it is sense—but when they are not, then it is the business of faith to be looking out of self to Jesus, to be waiting on him and for him; and here also hope is engaged—it is expecting the fulfilment of God’s promises, nor shall such wait, look or hope in vain. We find even hope blessed in this exercise.

For Lord if thou ne’er had’st design’d
No covenant blessing for me,
Ah, tell me how is it I find
Such sweetness in waiting for thee.

And as faith and hope are thus engaged as soon as the Lord appears, to our joy so love and rapturous joy and thankfulness follow. We love him because he first loved us. 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; and in these feelings how sweet is obedience—we can run the way of his commandments when his love enlarges the heart, but when it does not, then, wait I say on the Lord, till power is felt again rising and falling, ebbing and flowing, running and waiting in the spirit of our minds, is the road the Lord leads his people in a time state; and it is a mercy to know that the Lord has fulfilled that precious truth in us—thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, for this evidences us to be his chosen people according to his word, and we need no clearer testimony. 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; and surely he that hath begun the good work will carry it on till it is consummated in glory. 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. 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; and most sincerely

I would believe unceasingly,

I would hope always firmly,

I would confide steadily,

I would love the sacred Trinity supremely,