The sheep's clothing will soon
be stripped from the wolf's back by William Secker. Having a form
of godliness, but denying its power. 2 Timothy 3.5 Formality
frequently takes its dwelling near the chambers of integrity,
and so assumes its name. The soul not suspecting that
hell should make so near an approach to heaven. A rotten post, though
covered with gold, is more fit to be burnt in the fire than
for the building of a house. Where there is a pure conscious,
there will be a pure conversation. The dial of our faces does not
infallibly show the time of day in our hearts. The humblest looks
may enamel the face, while unbounded pride governs the heart. A hypocrite
may be both the fairest creature and the foulest creature in the
world. He may be the fairest outwardly
in the eyes of man, and foulest inwardly in the sight of God. How commonly do such unclean
swans cover their black flesh with their white feathers! Those
such wear the mantle of Samuel, they should bear the name of
Satan. Many appear righteous, who are
only righteous in appearance. But while they are deceiving
others with the false shows of holiness, they are also deceiving
themselves with the false hopes of happiness. The hypocrite would
not willingly appear evil and yet would inwardly be evil. He would gladly be accounted
godly, and yet would not be godly. Man, either appear what you are,
or be what you appear. What will the form of godliness
do for you, if you deny the power thereof? those who have the power
of godliness cannot deny the form, while those who have the
form of godliness may deny the power. Oh, how desirous are men
to put the fairest gloves upon the foulest hands, and the finest
paint upon the rottenest posts! Hypocrites are better in show
than in substance. They are like painted tombs which
enclose decayed bones. That is a sad charge which the
God of truth brings against certain false professors. I know the
blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are
the synagogue of Satan. A false friend is worse than
an open enemy. A painted harlot is less dangerous
than a painted hypocrite. A treacherous Judas is more abhorred
by God than a bloody pilot. Professors, remember, the sheep's
clothing will soon be stripped from the wolf's back. The velvet
plaster of profession shall not always conceal the offensive
ulcer of corruption. Neither the ship of formality
nor hypocrisy will carry a person to the harbor of felicity. The
blazing lamps of foolish virgins may light them to the bridegroom's
gate, but not into his chamber. Either get the nature of Christ
within you, or take the name of Christ away from you. A bad man is certainly the worst,
when he is seemingly the best. We must not account everyone
a soldier who swaggers with a sword. A rusty sword may frequently
be found in a highly decorated scabbard. What good is it to
have our hands as white as snow, if our hearts are as black as
the bottomless pit? Such professors resemble soap-bubbles,
smooth and pretty without, yet only filled with air. A man may
wear the Saviour's livery, and yet be busied in Satan's drudgery. The skin of an apple may be fair,
when it is rotten at the core. Though all gold may glitter,
yet all is not gold that glitters. The worst hypocrite may have
the color of gold, but not the value of gold.