named particulars within this Section See Numb 23. 10. Let me dye the death of the Righteous Numb 24. 2 3 c. 1 Cor 11. 30 31 32. For this cause many are weake c. If we would judge our selves c. but when we are judged we are chastned of the Lord that we be not condemned c. which would seem to have this intimation that notwithstanding all your gifts Parts and progresse in Christianity if you have secret evills and do not labour to find them out and judge your selves for them you may be condemned with the world 1 Cor 15. 19. If in this life only we have hope in Christ c. which words seem to imply thus much That if all our Parts gifts desires works c. reach and look no farther and last no longer then for this present life that our Faith Hope c. be but temporary moved from and carried to something that is not beyond this life we are in a sad case it will doe us no more good then the wealth glory and good things which Dives had Luke 16. 25. Io. 6. 27. 1 Cor 13. 8 13. 1 Pet. 1. 22 24 25. Seeing ye have purified c. Being borne again not of Corruptible seed c. By which words are intimated thus much That unlesse you manifest the work of the spirit within you in obedience to the truth by having your hearts purifyed and by an unfeyned pure and fervent love of the Saints beyond that work which is wrought in the hearts of Hypocrites you will not have the evidence within you of that Regeneration which is true and effectually wrought of God by his spirit through the word by which there is effected an immortall seed of Grace that abideth for ever But if it be only some morall vertues or common gifts be they never so excellent and glorious that have the face of the new Creature and he in whom they are be not a new Creature indeed they are reckoned with God but as flesh which is as grâ—sse and the flower of the field they will doe a man no more good nor last any longer then riches honours and such like things which are but for this life only Phil. 3. 4 5. 2 Pe. 3. 4 It is said Psal 106. 11 12. then believed they his words that is when they had seen such signall manifestations of Gods power and working for them against their enemies they were for the present as full of Faith in God his promise and joy as a bladder of wind they soon forgat c. it had no root nor well grounded principle they fell back But lusted exceedingly c. Mat. 13. 21 22. Phill 3. 4 5 19. 1 Tim 6. 5. 2 Pe. 3 4. Exod 14. 31. compared with 15. 23 24. Numb 13. 26 27. c. 14. 1. 27. c. And thus he may strive in his inward as well as in his outward man to enter into heaven and not be able Luke 13. 24. SECT IV. What it is that doth carry the Hypocrite thus farre And why he goeth no farther If it be asked how it comes to passe that an Hypocrite doth goe so farre We answer 1. That he may be drawn or driven to it by some or all of these following means 1. He may be drawn hereunto by the work of his naturall Conscience Rom 2. 15. Rom. 1. 32. For when the Gentiles that have not the law doe by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law to themselves which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts their Consciences also bearing witnesse c. Prov. 20. 27. The spirit of a man is the Candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the belly Or by occasion and reason of some eminent and miraculous work of God done before their eyes Io. 4. 41 44 45 46. c. Except ye see signes and wonders ye will not believe or by occasion of some eminent work of Gods Providence done for his people or against their enemies or by the feare of death or some great affliction upon him Psal 78. 34. When he flew them then they sought him c. Psal 106. 11 12. And the waters covered their enemies c. then believed they his words they sang his praise they soon forgat his works c. Or by occasion of some light breaking in and some powerfull conviction upon the Conscience by the word and Spirit of God whereby it is pressed and moved to doe what it doth Perhaps it cannot otherwise be in peace It may be it is convinced there are some good and desireable things to be had and duties to be done in the profession of the Christian Faith and happily it may find more temporall good in such a life then in a wicked loose life 2. He may be moved or brought hereunto by Education discipline or example of Parents or such like persons under whom he hath been brought up So by Education many Creatures have been brought to be quite contrary to their nature and so doe many strange things And by this means he hath perhaps taken in some truths and taken up a profession or customary practise of doing some good And by custome herein he hath as it were gotten another nature and now doth act almost as freely as he that acts Naturally by grace and so he doth continue till by strength of temptation he be taken off and so discovered Luke 8. 12 13 14. This seems to be the case of Joash who continued good all the dayes of Jehoiadah 2 Kings 12. 2. This being that which moved him when this was gone his Action ceased 3. But there are many carnall and corrupt ends that draw in and bring on so many into a profession of Religion and that doth make them to engage so farre as to follow Christ a great way and a great while therein For some enter into a profession of Religion out of a designe and desire to doe mischiefe in it And this sometimes doth make men act vigorously as if Religion were their principall aime So some â—â—ve joyned themselves to the Church of Christ and preached and made profession of the Gospell of purpose to destroy the Gospell and overthrow the Church of Christ Gal. 2. 4. False brethren c. who came in privily c. that they might bring us into bondage Phil 1. 16 17. Some preach Christ of envy c. supposing to add afflictions to my bonds that is by drawing away the more to the Profession of the Gospell and so enraging the enemy the more against mee or by exalting and preferring of themselves before me so as to hinder the fruit of my Ministry Some engage in a profession of Religion that thereby they might cover some wickednesse they are intending to doe or in doing Prov. 7. 14. 1 Kings 21. 9 12. But most commonly and most men herein are carried forth in their profession of Religion from selfe love to and for selfe-ends as
sea and land to make a proselite c. SECT III. 2 In their zeale The Hipocrite may have and hath as wee have shevved a zeale and this zeale may bee upon religious grounds as is and must bee the zeale of the true Christian and according to the dictates of his Conscience But vve shall find a vvidc difference betvvene the zeale of the one and of the other in these things 1. The true Christians zeale is after knovvledge received from the Word of God and it is for Christ and his truth Isa 8. 16. Rev. 3. 19. Tit. 2. 14. Numb 25. 11 13 But the zeal of the Hypocrite is nofter the knowledge of Gods Word but after his own or other mens opinions and inventions Rom 10 2. They have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge Mat. 15. 9 Gal. 4. 17 18. and against Christ as that of Paul was at first Phil. 3. 6 9. 2. The true Christians zeal is and springs from the work of Gods Spirit and his own faith in Gods word Jer 20. 9. Acts 19 19 20. But the Hypocrites zeal ariseth from some humane Motive Tradition Custom Education or some such like thing without and the corruption of his own heart within Act. 22. 3. I was zealous toward God as ye all are this day Mat. 15. 9. Teaching for doctrines the coÌ„mandments of men Joh. 4. 20. 3. The true Christians zeal is accompanyed with a deep sense of his original and internal wickedness which the Hypocrite mindeth not Luke 18. 10 11 12. The Publican went up to pray c. He stood afar off c. 4. The true Christian being sensible of his own heart-empâ—iness of Grace and the insufficiency of all things without Christ to fill it sets a low value upon all other things in comparison of Christ and longs after and looks for all from Christ Phil. 3. 8. Luke 1. 53. But the Hypocrite hath with his zeal a heartfulness and self-confidence of his own sufficiency Luke 1. 53. Mat. 5. 6. Rom. 10 2 3. For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness c. SECT IV. 3 In their love to God And the properties of true love to God The true Christian loveth God and so he must for this is the whole duty of man Mat. 22. 37. And so perhaps the Hypocrite may doe But there is a wide difference betwixt the one love and the other love thus The sincere love of the true Christian is 1 A rational and understanding love it ariseth from the knowledge of God his excellencies loveliness goodness beautie and works and especially as he is revealed in Christ by the Gospel Psal 63. 2 3. O God thou art my God early will I seek thee my sonl thirsteth for thee c. to see thy power and thy glory c. For thy loving kindness is better than life c. Psal 9. 10. Heb 1. 3. Joh. 14 9. 2 It ariseth from Gods love and the sense thereof to him and the apprehension he hath that God is a reconciled Father to him 1 Joh. 4 10. We love him because he first loved us Joh. 3. 16. Luke 7. 47 2 Thes 2. 16. 3 It is a natural love as the love of a childe to the father arising from his new nature as he is born and brought forth a childe of God And so he loveth God as in the relation of a Father to him Gal. 4. 6. And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Rom. 8. 15. 4. It is a pure love he loves God for his own sake and for the good he seeth to be in him and for the good he doth to others as well as for the good he doth to him And in this it is like to the true love of a man to a woman when he loves her only for her person and qualities sake and not for her portion Psal 34 8. Cant. 1. 4 15. Psal 63. 1 2 3. 5 It is an open and ingenuous love it moves the heart towards God as the heart of one faithful friend to another James 2 23. Ioh 3. 29. Ioh. 15. 14 15. 1 Cor. 13. 4. 6 It is a strong transcendent and supernaturall love And more and greater than his love is to his Father Mother Brother Sister Wife Children Self or any thing else in the world for he looks on God as his chief good and cannot be satisfied with any thing else in the world without him can acquiâ—sce in and be satisfied with him without all things else and for his sake he can and will do or suffer any thing and for the enjoyment of him he can and will part with his right eye right hand or any thing else whatsoever never so near or dear to him and in him is all his delight Mat. 10. 37. Heb. 11. 24 25 26 27 28 35. Rev. 12. 11. Cant. 8 6 7. Luke 18. 28. Psal 63. 1. 116. 7 8 4. 2. 5 7. Psal 37. 25. Luke 14. 27. 7 It labours to improve it self by all advantages and thaâ— it may love more Psal 116. 1. 8 It is a laborious and working love Gal. 5. 6. 1 Thess 1. 3. 9 It is a true love that runs through the whole man inward and outward The Thoughts 1 It will make them be all upon him Ps 113. 13. and 63. 6. ubi amor ibi oculus ibi animus 2 The Judgement it will cause it to set a great value on him Lam. 3 24. 3 The Desires it will make them to goe much after him Isa 26. 9. 4 It will make him content to wait for him Isa 26. 8 9. Psal 40. 1. 5 It will make him to be patient under delay and suffering till he come Psal 40. 1. 6 It will make the Will to close with him hold him fast and not to let him go Cant. 3. 4. Psal 18. 21. 7 It will make him rejoice in his presence and mourn for his absence c. Ps â—2 1. 11. 19. 8 It will make his tongue to be still talking of him Psal 119. 27. and 63. 3. and 145. 21. 9 It will make his hands still ready to be working for him 10 It will make the whole man to be ready to doe or suffer any thing for his sake Psal 119. 168. And not be satisfied but mourn that he can do no more for him 10 It is a lasting constant unchangeable and never dying love Cant. 8. 6 7. 11 It cannot be quenched and it doth manifest it self by these and such like signs and effects 1 By the hatred of evill Psal 97. 10. Yee that love the Lord hate evill 2 By the love of the godly 1 Ioh. 5. 1. Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him that is begotten of him 1 Pet. 1. 8. 1 Joh. 3. 13 14. 3 By pittying of and yeelding help to them in time of misery 1 Ioh. 3. 17. 4. By care to keep the Commandements of God Ioh.
24. and have omitted the weighty matters of the Law judgement mercy and truth c. Hosea 7. 7. 8 c. Ephraim hath mixed himself amonâ—st the people c. he is a cake half baked c. Mat. 15. 2. Ye transgressed the commandements of God by your traditions But the sincere Christian hee is compleat in all the will of God he hath somewhat of every Grace Col. 2. 10. You are compleat in him Heb. 13. 21. He is careful to perform all duties to God and man to other men to himself To other men to good men to bad men to friends to enemies to acquaintance to strangers In relation as Magistrate Minister People Husband Wife Parent Child Master Servant c. Duties of Word of Work greater lesser publick private of more and less advantage as Cornelius Acts 10. 2. who was a devout man one that gave much alms to the people and prayed to God alwayes Luke 1 6. And he doth also suffer all that God shall call him to suffer Acts 21. 12. 13. And all this for the leaving of evil and the doing of good The sincere Christian doth his duty 1 In all places The Hypocrite he is not so carefull and exact in some as he is in other places at home and in private as he is abroad and in publick Mat. 6. 5. The Pharisees were in appearance very devout and did much in the Sinagogues and in the streets but did nothing at all in their closets But the sincere Christian having his eye upon God who is in all places alike is alike carefull and exact in all places in private as in publick at home as abroad in his closet as in his house secretly as openly So Joseph Gen. 39. 9 10. when tempted by his wanton Mistris to commit secret wickedness with her answereth her How can I doe this great wickedness and sin against God Psalm 101. 2. I will walk within my house with a perfect heart 2 In all times cases and conditions The Hypocrite he is good at some times and in some cases as in times of peace and prosperitie and times wherein he may gain and not lose by his goodness or whiles he is a wed by the presence of good men Parents Magistrates or Ministees and the like and no longer And so it seems it was with Joash 2 Chron. 24. 2. Who did tho which was right in the sight of the Lord all the daies of Jehoiadah the Priest And such are those servants Ephes 6. 6. That serve their masters with eye service as men pleasers c. Job 27. 10. Will he alwaies call upon God But the true Christian is alike good and carefull in all times cases changes and conditions in time of health as time of sicknes in time of peace as in time of trouble Phil. 4. 11. I have learned in whatsoever estate I am therewith to be content Job 1. 8. 12 21 22. And he is the same in the presence of God onely and when no other eye is upon him Phil. 2. 12. As ye have alwaies obeyed not in my presence onely but much more in my absence c. Ephes 6. 5 6 7. Servants be obedient c. in singleness of heart as unto Christ c. Col. 3. 22. And he is the same in time of the persecuted as he is in the time of the flouring state of the Gospel He can if need be leave all for Christ and the Gospels sake 2 Cor. 6. 4 5. But in all things approving our selves c. in afflictions c. 2 Cor. 8. 9. We had the sentence of death in our selves c. v. 12. in simplicitie and godly sinceritie wee have had our conversation c. Mark 10. 28. We have left all and followed thee Acts 21. 12 13. I am ready not only to be bound but also to dye at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Iesus 2 Cor. 11. 26 27. Psalm 119. 157 161. 3 In all company The Hypocrite he is commonly better in some than he is in other company 2 Chron. 24. 2. But the true Christian he is alike in all company in the company of good of bad men of friends of enemies Psalm 119. 46. I will speak of thy testimonies before Kings Phil. 2. 12. as ye have obeyed not onely in my presence c. 4 The true Christian holds out to the end The Hypocrite he is at the best unstable in all his waies James 1. 8. as a cloud without water carried by the wind Iude v. 12. apt to start aside like a deceitful bow Hosea 7. 16. He is very like to start aside in times of trial Iob 27. 10. Will he alwaies call upon God And he doth very often fall clean away to prophaness in life heresie and opinion or to both 1 Iohn 2. 19. they went out from us but they were not of us 2 Pet. 2 22. It is happened to them according to the Proverb The Dog is turned to the vomit again and the low that was washed to her wallowing in the mire 2 Tim. 4. 10. 1 Sam. 13. 8. and 28. 7. Mat. 13. 21 22. But this the sincere Christian connot doe Mat. 24. 14. They shall deceive if it were possible the very elect For this new obedience of his is both a growing and increasing obedience Rev. 2. 19. His last works are better than his first And it is a lasting persevering and continuing obedience Psal 119. 112. I have enclined my heart to perform thy statutes alwaies even to the end v. 24. continnally for ever and ever Luke 2. 37. Yea and he doth commonly grow better better Ephes 2. 21. 2 Thes 1. 3. But the Hypocrite hee doth commonly grow worse and worse 2 Tim. 3. 13. But Seducers wox worse and worse deceiving and being deceived c. 2 Pet. 2. 20. This new obedience therefore of the new creature is such as it breaks through and gets over all impediments Acts 2. 42. Such as these i. mens commands and threats Acts 4. 19. Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken to you more than unto God judge ye and 5. 29. We ought to obey God rather than men Dan. 3. 12. 16. 2 Mens examples of all sorts Iosh 24. 15. Choose you this day whom you will serve c. But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Gen. 6. 9. and 7. 1. 3 Worldly profits and advantages such as honour pleasure riches and the like Heb. 11. 8. By faith Abraham when he was called to goe out c. went c. and Moses v. 24 25. when he came to years he refused c. choosing rather c. 4 Carnal reasonings Heb. 11. 7. By faith Noah being warned of God in a dream Gal. 1. 16 17. I conferred not with flesh and blood c. 5 Relations and natural affections dependant upon them Heb. 11. 17. By faith Abraham when he was tried offered up c. his sonne his only sonne Deut. 33. 9. But 2. the obedience of
Good is the word of the Lord. Job 1. 21. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken c. 6 He doth it diligently where the Hypocrite is commonly in his obedience especially in Gods service careless and negligent Mal. 1. 14. Which hath in his flock a male and sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing c. Mat. 25. 24. He that had but one talent The sincere Christian is usuually very diligent and exact herein 2 Pet. 1. 12. I will not be negligent c. 2 Cor. 8. 22. 1 Tim. 4. 14. 7 Hee doth it humbly where the Hypocrite doth his work proudly and conceitedly as the Pharisee Luke 18. 11. The sincere Christian doth it with the sense of his sinne and with a broken and contrite heart Luke 18. 13. 8 He doth it fervently where the Hypocrite is cold and perfunctory in his service Rev. 3. 15. The sincere Christian is fervent in spirit and doth what hee doth fervently Coll. 4. 12. James 5 16. Rom. 12. 14. 9 He doth it lovingly where the Hypocrite doth it often with corrupt affections James 15. 16. amd 1. 19 20. The sincere Christian doth it with love to God and man 1 Tim. 2. 8. 1 Cor. 13. 1. 1 Cor. 5. 8. Hee doth it not with the leaven of malice tnd wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sinceritie and truth 10 He doth it purely and holily The obedience of the sincere Christian is not onely pure for the manner but it flows from pure principles and motives and is done by a pure rule and â—o pure ends 2 It comes from a pure heart That of the Hypocrite comes from a filthy heart Acts 8. 21 22. Mat. 23. 25. But this of the sincere Christian comes from a pure heart a heart purified by the blood of Christ and by the Spirit of Christ 1 Tim. 1. 5 2 It is pure in the motives by and from which it is moved and carried That which doth move and carry the Hypocrite in his obedience is his self-love and self-ends and not any thing at all of God he loveth not the commander the command nor the thing commanded for themselves Or if there be any thing of God in it it is so much only as may serve his own ends therein Mat. 6 1 2 c. Mat. 23. throughout So Jehu Saul Judas and the rest Hee may sometimes bee kept from the doing of evil perhaps by the fear of men but very seldom by the fear of God Mark 12. 12. Luke 20. 19 22. 2 John 9. 22. and 7. 17. and 19. 38. Mat. 14. 5. Mark 11. 32. Gen. 39. 9. But that especially which doth move the sincere Christian in his obedience is the love and fear of God And from thence his desire to please and his feare to offend God the goodness of the thing to bee done or suffered the conscience of his duty therein and of his obligation thereunto by the love of God Hee beleeves the promises because God saith and obeyes the commands because God gives them He loves the Law maker that commands the Law or command it self and the thing commanded These and such like things as these doe especially stir up and carry on the sincere Christian to his obedience So Heb. 11. 7. By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen moved with fear prepared an Ark c. Psalm 119. 161. My heart standeth in awe of thy word 2 Cor. 5. 14. For the love of Christ constraineth us c. 1. 17. Some out of love Psalm 116. 1. I love the Lord c. John 21 15. and 16 17. Ps 119. 97. 127. I loae thy Law Psalm 40. 8. I delight to doe thy will O God Gen 39. 9. Job 31. 4. 14. 23. 2 Chron. 19. 6 7. Ephes 6. 6 7. And this fear of God makes him careless of the commands and threats of men Exod. 1. 17. The Midwives feared God c. Heb. 11. 27. By Faith be forsook Aegypt not fearing the wrath of the King 2 It is pure in the Rule by which his obedience is governed The Hypocrite he makes his own fancie and the commands and inventions of other men his rule and warrant for what he doth therein Mat. 15. 2. Why doe thy disciples transgress the traditions of the Elders c. Gal. 1. 14. John 4. 21 22. Acts 17. 22. Mat. 23. 16 17. But the sincere Christian he makes the pure Word of God alone his rul e and warrant for whatsoever he beleeveth doth and suffereth Col. 3. 10. The new man is said to be renewed in knowledge Gal. 1. 9. Gal. 6. 16. Acts 13. 36. 3 It is also pure for the manner of it as is already shewed 4 This new obedience is pure in the ends of it The Hypocrites end in all that he doth and suffereth is himself as he is moved in his obedience from self-love so is he carried to self-ends He seeks himself not God and Christ his main design and intention in all that hee doth and suffereth from the beginning to the end thereof is especially if not only his own glory or praise his own profit or pleasure or some way or other to satisfie his own lusts He lookes no furthan at earthly pleasures comforts and advantages in this world God is not in al his thoughts or if hee be it is onely to thinke how hee may serve himself upon him And if God be in his eye yet he lookes at something beyond above above or before him In shew he seeks God but in truth he seeks himself He seems to follow God and Christ but it is not for God and Christ but for his own sake He follows Christ for the loaves as the nine Leapers to be healed onely Iohn 6. 26. Luke 17. 12. And as the sheep doe follow the shepheard as long as the bottle of hay is in his hand and no longer and not as a childe that follows the father out of love who wil follow him every where The Pharisees did pray and give almes to be seen of men Mat. 6. 2. They made long praiers to the end they might devoure widowes houses Hosea 7. 14. Ye assemble for wine and corn Zach 7. 5. Did ye at all fast unto me c. Micah 3. 11. They judge for ieward and divine for money and yet lean upon me c. Acts 20 30. Phil. 1. 17. Preached Christ out of envy But the sincere Christian in all his active and passive obedience as hee is carryed forth therein especially from the love and feare of God and Christ so doth he act therein for God and Christ as well as for himself And indeed God is his great object motive end and all in all He followeth them as wel for their owne sakes as for his owne sake They are his principal and ultimate end and the center to which he tends in all that he doth and suffereth His main scope and special aim therein to which all is in his intention referred is to glorifie God and advance
and with a loud voice glorified God Psalm 26. 7. 2 Sam. 7. 18. But the Hypocriee having high thoughts of himself and his own worth and works as if God were beholding to him for his service to him he is commonly very unthankful for what he receives from God Luke 17. 14 15. As in nine of the ten Leapers Isa 58. 3. We have fasted and thou regardest it not 7 The sincere Christian hee is careful to submit to Gods means and goe Gods waies for the attainment and accomplishment of Gods ends But the Hypocrite hee wil not stick at the use of any unlawful meanes to bring to passe Gods end when it may also sute with his own end therein Hab. 2. 3 4. 8 The sincere Christian hee doth much more labour against the sins of his own family and relations But the Hypocrite he looks al abroad and takes no care at home hee is bitter against the sinnes of others and seems very active many times in the reformation of the evil that is abroad but doth nothing at hom Mat. 7. 1 3. Mat. 23. 15. Why seest thou the mote c. 9 The sincere Christian is commonly of a more composed spirit and behaviour in prosperitie and adversitie than the Hypocrite is Phil. 4. 11. I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to bee content Job 2. 9 10 and 21. The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken c. But the Hypocrite in such times is commonly more discomposed and disturbed in time of adversitie he doth despair 2 Kings 6. 33. What should I waite for the Lord any longer And in time of prosperity hee is lifted up to forget the Lord and himself both Psal 106 throughout 10 Hee is and doth shew himselfe to bee really more merciful just true loving meek humble and peaceable in heart word and work than the Hypocrite is who is and very often shews himself more fraudulent unjust ambitious cruel envious contentious John 1. 30. and 3. 28. 1 Cor. 4. 6. Micah 6 8 Mat. 33. 5 6 12 13. 3 Joh. 9. Luke 18. 10 12. Isa 65 5. Job 31 throughout 11 And lastly some sincere Christians are by the witnesse of the Spirit of God in them some more some lesse assured of their interest in Christ and their part in eternal life 1 Io. 5. 6 7 8 9 10. Hee that beleeveeth c. hath the witness in himself c. Heb. 10. 15. 1 Iohn 4. 13. Hereby know we that wee dwel in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit it self beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God Ephes 1. 13. Ye were sealeo by that holy Spirit of promise And in this the Hypocrite hath no share at all But many of them lye and dye under the feare of eternal vengeance from God as the just reward of his Hypocrisie and none of them ever had any true and well grounded assurance Ier. 33. 14. The sinners in Sion are afraid fearfulness hath surprithe Hypocrites Rev. 6. 16. SECT XXIII So that now upon the whole matter wee may perceive that the sincere Christian doth out strip and go beyond the Hypocrite throughout 1 Quoad principium gratiae as to his Foundation Root or Spring the immortal and incorruptible seed of Grace in the New Creature he is Regenerate But the Hypocrite is not so And therefore that which is wrought in him is a corruptible thing that will never come to good 2 Quoad incrementum gratiae as to the increase of Grace he doth more or less grow and increase in Grace But it is otherwise with the Hypocrite who commonly after a little while doth grow worse and worse 3 Quoad exercitium gratiae as he hath every grace so it is as true that his graces put him upon the exercise of them but the graces of hypocrites are but seemingly such their faith being but a dead Faith And as for that work of Grace in a sincere Christian which lyeth in the external actings hee doth excell also in these things 1 That which he doth he doth by the right rule of Gods Word which shews the wil of God and he doth all that But the Hypocrite he followeth his own and the will of other men and at the most he doth but a part of Gods wil only 2 Hee doth that which hee doth in a right manner with the whole heart But the Hypocrite otherwise 3 He doth that which he doth to the right end to Gods glory and not to the praise of himself as the hypocrite doth SECT XXIV But by all this we have spoken of the compleat and exact obedience of the sincere Christian we do not intend nor would be understood that the sincere Christians life is perfect and without sinne for that is to affirm contrary to what the Holy Ghost affirmeth and experience hath evidenced to us of the lives of all men and the best men that ever lived that they all had their faults and to assure us thereof some of them yea very many of them are recorded in Scripture and left us for our learning to let us know that there is not a man that liveth sineth not The phrases of speech therefore which we have used and that which we have affirmed of the obedience of the sincere Christian that hee leaveth all sinne and doth all duties at all times and in all places cases c. And the Phrases of the Scripture applyed to the Saints that they followed the Lord fully were in all the commandements of God blamelesse and were perfect they are to be understood not in a legal or in a litteral but in an Evangelical sense For doubtlesse the utteâ—most obedience that is expected or that can be performed by the most absolute and perfect Christian that is most sincere is That hee hath a real and unfained will and desire and a real intention and purpose and doth his endeavour with all his might to doe and fulfil the whole wil of God therein And he is grieved that he cannot doe it more perfectly And that which he doth of it he doth in sincerity And when he hath done all he thinketh himself to be but an unprofitable servant and to have done lesse than was his duty to doe And he doth not trust to himself therein but to the Righteousness of God in Christ And in this only or especially in this point doth the sincere Christian eminently excel and outstrip all the Hypocrites yea the most refined Hypocrites in the world who have not any such unfained wil desire purpose or intention but rather the contrary thereof in them Nor do they endeavour at all so to doe in all things as we have shewed elswhere at large And this progress towards the perfect doing in the sincere Christian is esteemed with God as the perfect doing of the thing it self Heb. 11. 17. By Faith Abraham when hee was tried offered up Isaac c. 1 Cor. 8. 12.
when the main study labour of a man is to make and keep cleane the outside onely and that he cares not to be but to seeme to bee holy when he takes no care at all of his thoughts and such faults as he can commit privately and conceale from the world when he hath a care to keep his flesh cleane and suffereth his inward vitals to bee corrupt and rotten Matth. 23. 14 25 27. Yee are like painted sepulchers c. Matth. 5. 6 10. that you may appeare c. Luke 18. 12 13. Psalm 56. 24. He flattereth himselfe untill c. he deviseth mischief on his bed c. he abhorreth not evill c. In heart ye work wickednesse you c. Acts 8. 13 20 21. Repent c. For thou art in the gall of bitternesse c. Psalm 52. 3. Thou lovest evil more than good c. Hosea 12. 7 8. John 13. 26 27. Heb. 12. 15. Acts 7. 51. SECT IV. In his desire and labour after holynesse 4 It savours much of Sinceritie â—nd it is very much a signe of a sincere Christian that hee loves and desires holinesse as much as happinesse and to live the life as dye the death of the Righteous Philip. 3. 11 12 13. If by any means I might attaine to the resurrection of the dead c. Not as though I had already attained c. or were perfect c. and reaching forth to the things before c. Luke 17. 5. The Apostles said to the Lord Increase our Faith Mark 9. 24. Lord I beleeve help thou mine unbeliefe Prov. 22. 12. 2 Cor. 5. 9 10. And on the other side it savours as much of Hypocrisie and is very much a sign of an Hypocrite when he doth not love nor desire holiness at all and hee doth onely desire and labour to seem like to godly men and not to be godly when a man shall hate to bee reformed Psalm 50. 16 17. And shall love evil more than good Psalm 52. 3. When a man shall desire onely to dye the death and not to live the life of the godly Numb 23. 10. 27. Matth 23. 27. We to you Scribes c. for ye are like unto sepulchers c. but arewithin ful of dead mens bones and all uncleannes Mat. 7. 21 22 23. For we take it to be a certain sign of an Hypocrite in a man professing Religion to live in the allowance and under the any known sin Mat. 23. 27 28. Mark 6. 17 18. Rom. 7. 15. Acts 8. 20 23. SECT V. In his self-opinion as to his own Righteousness It savours much of sincerity and it is very much the signe of a sincere Christian when a man is apt to look of and forget the good that is in him and hath been done by him and when he is apt to think of and doth look much upon the evil that is in him and hath been done by him when a man looking upon himselfe and his own vilenesse by nature and practise he is very much displeased with and despaires of himselfe and lookes to the grace of God in Christ onely for Righteousnesse He hath low thoughts of himself and of his own worth and works Rom. 7. 18 23. 24. In my flesh dwelleth no good thing 1 Tim. 1. 15. Sinners of whom I am chief Psalm 51. 3. my sinne is ever before me Luke 18. 11. Lord be merciful to me a sinner Psalm 49. 12. Innumerable evils have taken hold on me c. Phil. 3. 13. I forget the things that are behinde Ezek. 20. 43. And ye shall loath your selves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed And when hee is apt to judge of others better than himselfe and to speak the best of them and their actions and the worst of himself and his own actions He looketh upon and accounteth the moats in his own eye as a beam and the beam that is in another mans eye as a moate Mat. 7. 3. But on the other side it savours as much of Hypocrisie and is very much the signe of an Hypocrite when a mans eye is alwaies upon the better and not at all upon the worser part of his heart and life when he can see his virtues and not his vices when he shall brag as the proud Pharisee Luke 18. 9 10 11. I am I am not as other men c. or as this Publican c. and as in Isaiah 58. 3. when they said wherefore have we fasted and thou seest not c. and Isa 65. 5. Come not near mee I am holier than thou c. 1 Sam. 15. 13. And when a man out of a self conceit and opinion of his own excellency shall trust to himselfe that hee is righteous and thinks himself better than others and despise and censure them that perhaps are better than himself and without any cause at all Luke 18. 9. And he spake this parable unto certain men which trusted in themselves that they were righteous Two men went up into the Temple c. Luke 16. 5. Ye are they which justifie your selves Prov. 20. 6. Most men proclaim their own goodness Mat. 12. 2 3 c. Mat. 23. 30 31. c. Luke 7. 39. and 5. 30. John 7. 48 49. SECT VI. In the agreement between his sayings and doings 6 It is an universal and infallible sign of sinceritie when a mans practise sutes with his profession of the true Religion that a man is a doer as well as a hearer and speaker of the Word of God Rom. 6. 7. ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine Gen. 26. 5. Because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge c. 1 Tim. 2. 10. But which becometh women professing godliness with good works Acts 2. 41 42. Job 31. throughout And on the other side it is a bad sign and savoureth much of Hypocrisie for a man to be a great talker but a little doer of good a great hearer but a little doer of the Word hee makes a great flourish and fair protestations of his goodness but hath none he is nothing but leaves and shews Mat. 23. 3. They say and doe not Ezek. 33. 31. they hear thy words but will not doe them Luke 6. 46. Why call ye me Lord Lord and doe not the things I say Mat. 21. 30. And he answered and said I go Sir and went not SECT VII In the extent of his obedience 7 It savours much of Sinceritie and is a very good sign of a true Christian when a man is universal and uniform in his obedience hee is for all good commanded and against all evil forbidden Hee is careful to avoyd all sinnes and performe all duties And most of all carefull to performe the more weighty duties hee doth not pick and choose what will stand with his lusts but doth all be it never so cross to him as knowing that not to doe all is to do nothing at all to the purpose Iames 2. 10 11. For whosoever shall
keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point hee is guiltie of all And this hee doth in all places times company and cases as having God in his eye and seeing himself to be before God in all that hee doth Luke 1. 6. walked in all the Commandements and Ordinances of the Lord. Job 1. 8. feareth God and escheweth evil Psalm 101. 1 2. I will set no wicked thing c. Psalm 119 2 3. But on the other side it savours much of Hypocrisie is very much a signe of his Hypocrisie in a man when he is partial or local or temporal in his obedience when he doth onely forbear some evils and doe some duties or he is for lesser and not for greater duties or he doth all but at some times and in some places cases in some company and he is changeable and unconstant wher he is all for publick and not at all for private duties where he is better abroad than at home and â—n time of prosperity than in time of adversiâ—tie Mat. 23. 23. Ye have omitted the weighties matters of the Law Judgement c. these ought yee to have dune and not to have left the other undone c. Mark 7. 4. Mat. 27. 6 7 c. And such was the obedience of Saul Jehu Herod and others noted for Hypocrisie in Scripture Mat. 15. 2 3 c. Job 27. 10. Will he alwaies call upon God 2 Chron. 25. 9 10 16. 2 Chron. 24. 2. SECT VIII In his impositions upon others consciences 8 It is a good sign of Sinceritie to be tender and merciful as to impositions upon the consciences of others but rather to bee severe against a mans selfe A sincere Christian can spare others in that wherein hee will not spare himself He dareth not to impose hard things upon the conscience of others and such as he is not willing to bear himself Acts 15. 28. And it savours much of hypocrisie and is very much a sign of an hypocrite where a man is severe and rigid to presse and impose hard burdens either such as God imposeth otherwise than God imposeth them or Impositions of men that God never imposed when a man shall rigorously in his reproofs inveigh against other mens sins make every moaâ—e a beam and presâ— duties much upon others whereof he will not bear any part himself hee is very partial and favourable to himself his beam shall be but a moate and he can indulge and spare himself in the neglect or careless performance of duties Matth. 23. 4. Luke 11. 46. You binde heavy burdens c SECT IX In his acceptance of Reproof of his sin 9 It savours much of Sincerity and is very much a sign of a sincere Christian where a man is very glad to see his sins and to be reproved for his sinnes and can love the Reprover hee can like of a close Reproof and that faithful Ministerie which hee is at present under and when being shewed his sinne he is very ready to confesse and forsake it Iohn 3. 21. He that doth truth cometh to the light Psalm 141. 5. Let the righteous smite me 2 Cor. 7. 11. 2 Sam. 12. 7 8 13. Iob 31. 33. But on the other side it savours as much of Hypocrisie and is as much a signe of an Hypocrite when a man cannot endure to be faithfully dealt with in this thing and to have his his sinne detected and laboureth by all means to hide and retain it either he doth cloak it mince it shift it justifie or excuse it or impudently deny it and hates the reprover of him for it Hee cannot endure the faithful Ministery hee is under for the present Matth. 23. 30. And say if we had been in the dayes of our Fathers we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the Prophets So Herod for this distasted John the Baptist and tooke away his life as may appeare by Mark 6. 17 18 19 20. compared with 14 1 2 3 4 5 c. 1 Kings 22 8. There is another c. But I hate him c. Amos 5. 10. They hate him that rebuketh c. They abborre him that speaketh uprightly Mal. 1. 6. And yee say wherein have wee despised thy name Prov. 28. 13. 2 Cor. 7. 11. SECT X. In his esteem of true Christians 10 It is a good sign of Sinceritie in a Christian Professor that hee doth love them that appear to be true Christians because they are such and that he doth shew his love to them by word and deed and amongst the rest of the manifestations thereof doth shew it by delight in their company 2 Cor. 6. 4. 6. In all things approving our selves as the Ministers of GOD c. By love unfeigned 1 John 3. 14. Wee know that wee have passed from death to life because we love the brethren Hee that loveth not his Brother abideth in death Psalm 26. 1 4 5. I have not sate with vain persons c. 1 John 2. 10. He that loveth his brother abideth in light Psalm 119. 63. In whom is all my delight And on the side it is a very shrewd signe of Hypocrisie to hate them that appear to be sincere Christians to look upon them as signes and wonders Isa 8. 18. to deale hardly with them to decline their company and to keep the company of suspected Hypocrites Isa 66. 5. Your brethren that hated you that cast you out for my names sake c. John 17. 14. The world hath hated them c. 1 Iohn 3. 14. Hee that loveth not his brother abideth in death 2 Chron. 18. 7 But I hate him 1 John 3. 10. In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil whosoever loveth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother Mat. 23. 33. Psal 69. 9. Cant. 1. 5 7 James 3. 17. SECT XI In his desire after perfection of Grace 11 It savouâ—s much of Sinceritie and is much a sign of a sincere Christian in a man that hee still findes fault with himselfe for his defect in Grace and duty he never thinks he hath grace enough and hee mourns under his weaknesse therein and want thereof and findes dislike in his own performances albeit hee doe his best therein doth alwayes hunger and thirst after and labour for more grace and for perfection herein But he doth provoke others to goe beyond him and is glad that others doe God better service than himself Phil. 3. 14 15 c. I presse forward c. Mat. 5. 6. they that hunger and thirst after righteousnesse Rom. 7. 24 25. O wretched man who shall deliver me c. Psalm 84. 2. 7. My soul longeth c. for the Courts of the Lord c. they goe from strength c. 2 Cor. 7. 1. And it savours as much of hypocrisie to set a stint to a manâ— selfe in his grace and obedience and to thinke he hath enough and to care or labour for