The Severe Punishment, Character, and Incapacity of Hypocrites (Puritan Writings Series)

Hypocrisy, a topic no one wants, desires, or yearns to hear about; an issue that is, at its core, harsh, difficult, and hard to receive and digest; something no one has escaped falling into, but which almost no one is willing to accept.

Hypocrisy, an evil that afflicts our society in all different spheres: hypocritical governments, hypocritical inhabitants, hypocritical families, etc.; and even more sadly, an evil that has crept into God's church: hypocritical pastors, hypocritical deacons, hypocritical members, and, in the end, entire hypocritical congregations.

There are evils that some may abhor but others find pleasant. One might abhor lust, but another will love and delight in it. But hypocrisy is one of those evils that everyone finds abhorrent. Among the ungodly, hypocrisy is abhorrent; among Christians, hypocrisy is abominable. Both good and bad agree in their contempt for this evil. And this only shows the terrible character of this evil.

But how does God view this sin? His abhorrence for this sin is seen very clearly in His Word. Because of hypocrisy, He has brought terrible judgments upon men, both earthly and spiritual. And, because of hypocrisy, God gives men a deeper place in the torments of hell as a just reward. How terrible it is to be in this sin!

Therefore, how necessary it is to address this topic, so that we may be warned, rebuked, led to repentance, urged to seek Christian sincerity, and urged to fight against this sin. Interestingly, among the Puritans, this was a topic from which their congregations did not escape, preaching and writing against this sin. Gurnall, Sedgwick, Baxter, Bolton, Adams, etc., are just some of the many authors who spoke on this topic. And here we have Brooks, one of the most beloved Puritans, treating it in the clearest, most concise, strong, convincing, and incisive way possible.

In this treatise, we are shown the reasons why God's severity falls upon the wicked, we are told about the characteristics of those who are hypocrites, and finally, we are declared how far hypocrites cannot go, differentiating them from those who are sincere. The usefulness of this treatise is indescribable. It helps us to discover those who are hypocrites, it helps us to lead us to repentance for our hypocrisy, it helps us to lead us to Christ for salvation, it helps us to humble ourselves greatly for this sin, it helps us to exercise our duty of self-examination with greater zeal, it helps us to abhor this sin with even greater fury, being aware of how much this sin contaminates. Therefore, it is our prayer and desire that these utilities may be a reality for both non-believers and believers when reading this writing. It is a harsh, strong, and bitter book, but the spiritual benefit it brings is something blessed, pleasant, and sweet.