The Folly of Making a Hypocritical Profession of Religion

And five ofthemwere wise., and five were foolish. — Matthew xxv: 2.

The parable from which the text is taken was designed to illustrate the state of the visible church on earth.

All professors of religion are divided into two classes, which our Saviour denominates the wise and the foolish.

It is proposed to inquire I. What is required in a wise profession of religion? II. Why some profess religion without possessing it.

III. Why they are called foolish?

I. That something is required is evident from the distinction made by our Saviour. Though various shades of character may be found among professors of religion, yet all are included in these two classes, the wise and the foolish.

There is peculiar propriety in the employment of these terms. Proper attention to the concerns of the soul is a mark of superior wisdom, because an interest in Christ is of the highest importance. ‘’ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” So on the other hand, a neglect of the concerns of the soul, is a mark of supreme folly. Sinners, in the Scriptures, are denominated ^00/5. And religion is denominated wisdom, and sin, folly. The distinction between the wise and the foolish may, to our limited view, appear small; and in some instances, it may not appear at all in this world; but in the sight of God, there is a distinction as wide as that between light and darkness.

The distinction does not consist in the fact that one has been baptized, and the other not. Nor

In the fact that one belongs to the true church, and the other not, for the characters described in the parable, are all represented as belonging to the true church — “the kingdom of heaven.” Nor

In the fact, that the foolish had been once wise and had become foolish. They were foolish from the beginning.

In a wise profession of religion is implied

1. A strong attachment to the cause of Christ. Supreme love is required. ‘’ For he that is not with

me,” says Christ, “is against me.” God requires the heart, and without that, no offering can be accepted.

2. A willingness to leave all for Christ.

“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself,” &c.

“If any man come after me, and hate not his
father,” &c.

He must be willing to make any sacrifices, which the cause of Christ may demand.

3. A willingness to sufTcr in the cause of Christ. “If any man will live godly in Clnist Jesus he shall

sufTer persecution.”

He must be willing to endure shame and reproach, &c.

4. A willingness to engage in all the duties of religion.

Without this there can be no evidence of love to Christ, or attachment to his cause.

5. Faith in Christ.

Not a mere empty, speculative faith. With the heart manbelieveth unto righteousness.” “Faith worketh by love, and purifieth the heart.” It follows

6. That regeneration is required. For without regeneration there can be no evangelical faith. “He that believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God.” Hence it is evident that without regeneration, there can be no wise profession of religion; because without it there can be no evangelical faith. Nor can there be any love to God. For “every one that loveth is born of God.” Those only who are born again, are children of God, and heirs of God; — and they only can do any thing which is acceptable to him. For ‘’they that are in the flesh, cannot please God.”

Those whose hearts are renewed; in whom ‘’old things are passed away, and all things are become new,” may be said to take oil in their vessels. Their hearts are established with grace. They are children of light, and are prepared to shine as lights in the world.

Let us inquire

II. Why many profess religion without possessing it?

The reasons by which persons are influenced to make a profession of religion, may be various. In the primitive ages of Christianity, persecution operated powerfully to guard against a hypocritical profession of religion. But even then the church was not exempt from false professors. Much less can we expect it will be at the present day.

The judgments and consciences of men are on the side of religion, even while the heart is opposed. It was thus in the time of Cinist. “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the phaiisccs, they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.’’ Had it not been for the fear of being put out of the synagogue, it is intimated, many would have professed Christ, although they ‘Moved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” Though such a speculative belief as theirs, with such hearts, would avail nothing, yet for the sake of quieting conscience, many with the same belief, and the same hearts, will profess religion.

One reason why many profess religion without possessing it, may be the influence of example. In churches wlieie experimental religion is not required, many make a profession because it is fashionable. The form of godliness is assumed, without even a thought of its power.

Some have been influenced by the advice of injudicious friends.

Some have made a profession through entire ignorance, not realizing the import of the vows which they have taken upon themselves.

Some have denied the necessity of a change of heart, and have gone so far as to ridicule the idea of any such change; and yet have taken the vo s of God upon them.

Some who believe in the necessity of regeneration, having long been under concern for their souls, and finding no relief, begin to inquire whether this change may not take place, and yet they be ignorant of it. Being informed that the thing is possible, they flatter themselves that it is so in their case, and are induced to make a profession of religion, although they are conscious of no important change in their views and feelings in relation to divine objects.

Some mistake spurious religious afifections for those which are genuine, and presume that they have been converted while they are still in the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. Like the stony-ground hearers, they receive the word with joy, and for a season are very active and zealous; and in this state make a profession of religion.

Sometimes the sinner having long been anxious, and finding no relief, is prevailed on to believe that the most probable method to find relief is to profess religion. But the relief which is obtained in this way, is usually that which results from being given over to a hard heart, and a reprobate mind.

‘’ The wise,” it is said, ‘’ took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” This was their wisdom. The state of the heart, was the great thing to which they looked. They were convinced that there must be something in the heart which was not there by nature. They dared not go forth to meet their Lord, unless their hearts were replenished with the Christian graces. Like the wise man who built his house on a rock, they dug deep, that their foundation might be sure. They searched their own hearts, and were willing to be searched, that they might not be deceived in a matter of such infinite moment.

Not so with the foolish. When they professed religion, they never attended thoroughly to their hearts.

They flattered themselves, and were willing to be flattered by others, and commenced their journey without any grace in their hearts. “They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them.”

III. Why are they called foolish?

Because they are wicked and not essentially diflferent from other sinners. And they are both foolish and wicked for professing religion without possessing it.

They are both foolish and wicked, because unto the wicked God says, ‘’What hast ihou to do, to declare my statutes, and that thou should take my covenant into thy mouth?”

^’ Whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.”

An empty profession is both foolish and wicked, because God hath commanded, ‘’ When thou vowest a vow unto the Lord, defer not to pay it, for he hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou vowest.” He hath also said, “Better is it that thou shonldestnot vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.”

It is foolish and wicked to make a profession of religion without possessing it, because those who do so, usually settle down into a state of great security and hardness of heart. There is an awful familiarity contracted with the most solemn subjects. Repetition hardens, and it proves a savor of death unto death. They are far less likely to become Christians than others under the same means.

But these means will not be used. Ministers who are set to watch for souls, find it difficult to converse with them in the most profitable manner. They do not like to call in question the piety of their brethren.

They choose to receive them as becometh saints. And this tends greatly to strengthen their delusion.

The warnings from the pulpit too, are all evaded. Their profession is a shield which the arrows of the Almighty seldom penetrate.

“What think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, son, go work to-day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not. But afterwards he repented and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go sir, and went not. Whether of the twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, the first. Jesus saith unto them, verily I say unto you, publicans and harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.”

Such a profession is both foolish and wicked, because it is offensive to God.

‘’ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

Such a profession is foolish, because the person has begun to build without a foundation, and all his labor is lost.

“And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon his house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

It is both foolish and wicked, because though the person has entered the church on earth, he cannot, without a change of character, enter heaven.

“Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, open unto us. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you. Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” “Afterward came the other virgins, saying Lord, Lord, open unto us. But he answered and said, verily I say unto you I know you not.”

Therefore, my brethren, ^’ Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.”