A word to hypocrites.
Hypocrites, my last word is to you; the hypocrite would appear to be that in men's eyes that is nothing of in God's—thou hypocrite, that would be esteemed to love and that fears God, but does not; I have this to say to thee, thy condition is damnable, because thou art a hypocrite, and seek to deceive both God and man with guises, vizards, masks, shows, pretenses, and thy formal, carnal, feigned subjection to the outside of statutes, laws, and commandments; but within thou art full of rottenness and all excess.
Hypocrite, thou mayest by thy cunning shifts be veiled and hid from men, but thou art naked before the eyes of God, and he knoweth that his fear is not in thy heart (Luke 16:15).
Hypocrite, be admonished that there is no obedience accepted by God, where the heart is destitute of this grace of fear. Keeping the commandments is but one part of the duty of man, and Paul did that, even while he was a hypocrite (Phil 3). To "fear God and keep his commandments, this is the whole duty of man" (Eccl 12:13). This—fear God—the hypocrite, as a hypocrite, cannot do, and therefore, as such, cannot escape the damnation of hell.
Hypocrite, thou must fear God first, even before thou dost offer to meddle with the commandments, that is, as to their keeping. Indeed, thou shouldest read therein, that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord, yet "fear God" goes before the command to keep his commandments. And if thou dost not fear God first, thou transgresses, instead of holding of the commandments.
Hypocrite, this word, FEAR GOD, is that which the hypocrite entirely forgets, although it is that which sanctifies the whole duty of man. For this is that, and nothing without it, that can make a man sincere in his obedience; the hypocrite looks for applause abroad and forgets that he is condemned at home, and both these he does because he wants the fear of God.
Hypocrite, be admonished that none of the privileges that are spoken of in the former part of the book belongs to thee because thou art a hypocrite; and if thou hope, thy hope shall be cut off, and if thou lean upon thy house, both thou and it shall fall into hell-fire. Triumph then, thy triumph is but for awhile. Joy then, but the hypocrite's joy is only for a moment (Job 8:13,15, 20:4-6).
Perhaps thou wilt not let go now, what, as a hypocrite, thou hast got; but "what is the hope of the hypocrite, when God taketh away his soul?" (Job 27:8). Hypocrite, thou shouldest have chosen the fear of God, as thou hast chosen a profession without it, but thou hast cast off fear because thou art a hypocrite; and because thou art such, thou shalt have the same measure that thou mete; God will cast thee off because thou art a hypocrite. God hath prepared a fear for thee because thou didst not choose the fear of God, and that fear shall come upon thee like desolation, and like an armed man, and shall swallow thee up, thou and all that thou art (Prov 1:27).
Hypocrite, read this text and tremble—"The sinners in Zion are afraid, fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?" (Isa 33:13,14).
Hypocrite, thou art not under the fatherly protection of God because thou art a hypocrite and wants fear in thine heart. The eyes of the Lord are upon them, and they fear him to deliver them. But the fearless man or hypocrite is left to the snares and wiles of the devil, to be caught therein and overcome because he is destitute of the fear of God.
Hypocrite, thou art like to have no other reward of God for thy labor than that which the goats shall have; the hypocrite shall not stand in God's sight because he is a hypocrite. The gain of thy religion thou spend as thou get it. Thou wilt not have one farthing overplus at death and judgment.
Hypocrite, God hath not entrusted thee with the least dram of his saving grace, nor will he, because thou art a hypocrite: and as for what thou hast, thou hast stolen it, even every man of you from his neighbor; still pilfering out of their profession, even as Judas did out of the bag. Thou comes like a thief into thy profession; like a thief, thou shalt go out of the same. Jesus Christ hath not counted you faithful to commit to any of his jewels to keep because thou fear him not. He hath given his "banner to them that fear him, that it may be displayed because of the truth" (Psa 60:4).
Hypocrite, thou art not faithful to God nor man, nor thine own soul because thou art a hypocrite! How should the Lord put any trust in thee? Why should the saints look for any good from thee? Should God give thee his Word, thou wilt sell it. Should men commit their souls to thee, thou wilt destroy them by making merchandise of them for thy own hypocritical designs. Yea, if the sun waxes hot, thou wilt throw all away and not endure the heat because thou art a hypocrite!
