In this sermon, the preacher expresses his heartbreak over the state of the world and the church. He emphasizes the importance of having a strong testimony and warns against giving a weak or uncertain sound. The preacher urges listeners to face their sin and calls for a revival of confession, heart searching, and agonizing prayer. He shares a story about a soldier who died holding onto a handbill from a meeting nine years prior, highlighting the power of a lasting testimony.

In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of following God's commandments and avoiding sinful behavior. He warns against being lovers of self and money, and highlights the consequences of disobedience to parents and other actions that break God's love. The preacher urges the congregation to recognize their need for instruction and discipline, and to avoid being deceived by pastors who entertain and seek idolatry. He references various passages from the Bible, including Proverbs, Galatians, Matthew, and Deuteronomy, to support his teachings on wisdom, the law of God, and the commandment to love one's neighbor.

Thomas Brooks emphasizes the importance of recognizing and detesting vain thoughts, which are often hidden from others but significant in the eyes of God. He illustrates that a holy man is aware of the dangers of secret sins, understanding that they require repentance just as openly visible sins do. Brooks points out that these hidden sins can be more perilous and that they grieve the Holy Spirit, urging believers to confront and humble themselves regarding their inner struggles. He draws on the example of Hezekiah, who humbled himself for the pride of his heart, highlighting the need for self-examination and accountability in one's spiritual life.

In his sermon, Harmon A. Baldwin addresses objections to holiness based on the inconsistencies seen in the lives of believers. He compares the existence of counterfeit money to counterfeit holiness, emphasizing that the presence of fake holiness does not diminish the value of true holiness but rather highlights its beauty and grace. Baldwin challenges the notion that inconsistencies in some believers' lives discredit the doctrine of holiness, pointing out that good doctrines serve as a restraint against evil deeds. He also questions the authority of unsanctified individuals to judge the holiness of others, highlighting the importance of God as the ultimate judge of sanctification.

Edward Payson preaches on the difficulty of understanding our own errors and sins, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's cleansing from hidden faults. He explains that acquiring knowledge of our sinfulness is challenging due to human ignorance of the divine law, the nature of the human mind, the prevalence of self-love, the deceitfulness of sin, and the effects of sin on our understanding and conscience. Payson urges his listeners to examine their hearts honestly, considering the possibility of self-deception and the need for repentance and reliance on God's grace for true transformation.

H. P. Barker delivers a sermon on the importance of examining our motives in our actions and service to God. Using the story of the architect Cnidius who sought fame by subtly inscribing his name on a tower meant to warn mariners, Barker highlights the significance of pure motives in the eyes of God. He emphasizes that at the judgment seat of Christ, our motives will be weighed heavily, and the quality of our works will be evaluated based on the purity of our intentions, not just the quantity of our deeds.

Thomas Brooks emphasizes the danger of being outwardly holy while lacking true inner holiness, comparing such individuals to Halifax nuts, which are all shell and no kernel. He warns that many present a glorious facade to the world but are abominable in God's sight, highlighting the hypocrisy of those who appear righteous externally but are filled with wickedness internally. Brooks draws parallels to the Scribes and Pharisees, who were outwardly religious yet inwardly corrupt, and cautions that God despises those who masquerade their sins with a guise of holiness. The sermon serves as a stark reminder that true holiness must come from within, lest one face severe consequences in the afterlife.

Zac Poonen warns about the danger of hypocrisy, comparing it to the leaven of the Pharisees. He explains that the term 'hypocrite' originates from the Greek word for 'actor', highlighting how some people put on a show of holiness in public but live differently in private. Poonen emphasizes that many hypocrites can be found in churches, where they act pious on Sundays but lead ungodly lives during the week, engaging in negative behaviors like complaining, grumbling, gossiping, and quarreling.