Particularly, as to the affairs of this world, integrity hath many advantages over all the fine and artificial ways of diffimulation and degeit. It is much the plainer and eafier, much the fafer and more fecure way of dealing in the world: it hath lefs of trouble and difficulty, of entanglement and perplexity, of danger and hazard in it: it is the fhortest and nearest way to our end, carrying us thither in a ftrait line, and will hold out and last longeft.

The arts of deceit and cunning do continually grow weaker and lefs effectual and ferviceable to them that use them; whereas integrity gains ftrength by use; and the more and longer any man practiseth it, the greater service it does him, by confirming his reputation, and encouraging those with whom he hath to do, to repose the greater truft and confidence in him, which is an unspeakable advantage in the business and affairs of life.

But a diffembler muft always be upon his guard, and watch himself carefully, that he do not contradict his own pretence; for he acts an unnatural part, and therefore must put a continual force and restraint upon himself.

Truth

Truth always lies uppermoft, and if a man do not carefully attend, he will be apt to bolt it out; whereas he that acts fincerely hath the easiest task in the world, because he follows nature, and fo is put to no trouble and care about his words and actions. He needs not invent any pretences beforehand, nor make excuses afterwards, for

he hath faid or done.

any thing

But infincerity is very troublesome to manage. A man hath so many things to attend to, so many ends to bring together, as make his life a very perplexed and intricate thing. A liar had need of a good memory, left he contradict at one time what he said at another.

But truth is always confiftent with itself, and needs nothing to help it out; it is always near at hand, and fits upon our lips, and is ready to drop out before we are aware; whereas a lie is troublesome, and fets a man's invention upon the rack, and one trick needs a great many more to make it good.

The crafty man is always in danger, and when he thinks he walks in the dark, all his pretences are so transparent, that he that runs may read them. He is the last man that finds himfelf to be found out; and whilst he takes it for granted

granted that he makes fools of others, he renders himself ridiculous.

Add to all this, that fincerity is the most compendious wifdom, and an excellent inftrument for the fpeedy dispatch of business; it creates confidence in those we have to deal with, faves the labour of many enquiries, and brings things to an iffue in few words. It is like travelling in a plain, beaten road, which commonly brings a man fooner to his journey's end than by-ways, in which men often lofe themselves.

In a word, whatsoever convenience may be thought to be in falfhood and diffimulation, it is foon over, but the inconvenience of it is perpetual; because it brings a man under an everlasting jealoufy and fufpicion; so that he is not believed when he speaks truth, nor trusted when perhaps he means honestly. When a man hath once forfeited the reputation of his integrity, he is set fast, and nothing will then serve his turn, neither truth nor falfhood.

Your artful, cunning tricksters are so blinded by their covetoufnefs and ambition, that they cannot look beyond a prefent advantage, nor forbear to feize upon it, though by ways never fo indirect. They cannot fee fo far as to the remote

confe

confequences of a steady integrity, and the vast benefit and advantages which it will bring a man at last.

Indeed if a man were to deal in the world only for a day, and should never have occasion to converfe more with mankind, never more need their good opinion, or good word; it were then no great matter (fpeaking as to the concernment of the world) if a man spent his reputation all at once, and ventured it at one throw: but if he be to continue in the world, and would have the advantage of converfation whilft he is in it, let him make use of truth and fincerity in all his .words and actions; for nothing but this will laft and hold out to the end. All other arts will fail, but truth and integrity will carry a man through, and bear him out to the laft. It is Solomon's obfervation, that the lip of truth is eftablished, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Every man will readily grant, that truth and fincerity are great virtues, and arguments of a generous mind; but that there is fo much of true wisdom in them, and that they really ferve to profit our intereft in this world, teems a great paradox to the generality of men, and yet I doubt not but it is undoubtedly true, and generally found to be so in the experience of mankind.

Laftly;

1

Laftly; To what purpose should one be fo cunning, when our abode in this world is fo fhort and uncertain? Why should any man, by diffembling his judgment, or acting contrary to it, incur at once the displeasure of God, and the difcontent of his own mind; especially, if we confider, that all our diffimulation fhall one day be made manifeft, and published on the open theatre of the world, before God, angels, and men, to our everlafting fhame and confufion?

Let us then be now what we would be glad to be found in that day, when all pretences shall be examined, and the closest hypocrify of men shall be laid open, and dashed out of countenance; when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, and all the hidden works of darkness fhall be revealed; and all our thoughts, words, and actions, shall be brought to a strict and severe trial, and be cenfured by that impartial and infallible judgment of God, which is according to truth, in the day when God fhall judge the fecrets of men by Jefus Chrift.