"without hypocrisy ;" in true wisdom there is much light, but no guile. The greatest care of a Christian is to be what he seemeth to be, and to account godliness the chiefest cunning. Carnal men count them wise that can manage their matters with most craft and guile, and gratify their interests by a plausible dissimulation; but this the Lord hateth. The hypocrite is the greatest fool, and putteth the greatest cheat upon himself in the issue; all that he gaineth by his designers but the fee of hell: "He shall give him his portion with hypocrites" (Matt. xxiv. 51). Well then, reckon sincerity as the highest point of wisdom: " Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we had our conversation in the world," &c. (2 Cor. i. 12.) Avoid hypocrisy in all the actions of your life ; not only in addresses to God, but your respects to men. The Scriptures that require "faith unfeigned" (1 Tim. i. 5 ; 2 Tim. i. 5), do also require "love unfeigned" (1 Pet. i. 22; 2 Cor. vi. 6; Rom. xii. 9). "Let us not love in word and tongue, but in deed and in truth" (1 John iii. 18). We should be as willing to do them good, as to proffer it; to reprove, as to flatter; to pray to God for them in secret, as to make professions of respect to themselves.
—Thomas Manton
