You sometimes say of a man, "he is friendly, or
courteous, or respectful, or considerate, or communicative; but, after all,
there is something, perhaps without his knowing it, in the background. He
professes to be agreed with me; he almost displays his agreement; he says he
pursues the same objects as I; but still I do not know him, I do not make
progress with him, I have no confidence in him, I do not know him better than
the first time I saw him." Such is the way in which the double-minded
approach the Most High,—they have a something private, a hidden self at bottom.
They look on themselves, as it were, as independent parties, treating with
Almighty God as one of their fellows. Hence, so far from seeking God, they
hardly like to be sought by Him. They would rather keep their position and
stand where they are,—on earth, and so make terms with God in heaven; whereas,
"he that doeth truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made
manifest that they are wrought in God." [John iii. 21.]
--Blessed John Henry Newman, “Sincerity and Hypocrisy”, Parochial and Plain Sermons, Volume 5.
