entangled therein and overcome; so that "their latter end is worse than
the beginning;" see 2 Peter ii. 20, 21, 22. Knowledge, I grant, is good,
but it is not Christ, and so it is not the way to the Father; and many,
alas! lean to it, and are deceived at last.

7. A kind of seeming seriousness in the performance of duties, and in
seeking of God, deceiveth many. They think, because they are not
conscious to their own dissembling, but they look upon themselves as
earnest in what they do, that therefore all is well. Sayeth not Christ,
that not "every one that saith, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
of God?" Matth. vii. 21; that is, not every one that reneweth their
suits, and ingeminateth their desires, cry, and cry over again, and, as
it were, will not give it over; and yet they come short of their
expectation. Did not the foolish virgins seem earnest and serious, when
they continued waiting with the rest, and at length cried "Lord, Lord,
open unto us;" and yet they are kept at the door. Many consider not that
there is a secret and close hypocrisy, that some may be under and not
know it, as well as a gross hypocrisy and dissimulation, which may be
easily observed; "Will not many seek to enter in that shall not be
able?" Matth. vii. 13. Luke xiii. 24.

8. Many deceive themselves with this, that they are looked on by other
godly, discerning persons and ministers, as good serious Christians, and
that they carry so handsomely and so fair, that no man can judge
otherways of them, than that they are good serious seekers of God. But,
alas! the day is coming which will discover many things, and many one
will be deceived both of themselves and of others. "Not he who
commendeth himself is approved, but whom God approveth," 2 Cor. x. 18.
Therefore, Paul exhorts Timothy, "to study to show himself approved
unto God," 2 Tim. ii. 15. Men look only on the outside, and cannot see