sometimes by some accident or distemper all the motions and symptomes of life as sight hearing breathing and the like seemes to be stopped and nothing of the natural life appeareth So it is in this spiritual body little or nothing of spirituall life may appeare for the present in it and yet it may bee alive And ordinarily where this spiritual life is it doth appear more or less by all or some of the signs and manifestations thereof we have before layd down See for these things Psal 88. 1 2. c. v. 16 17. Ps 51. 9 10 11. Ps 77. 1 2 7. Ps 38. 1 2 5 6. Job 1 2 c. and 30. 15 16 17. We have done with the tryal of persons and have dispatcht the differences we have thought upon to be between the sincere Christian Hypocrite in their inside outside apart in their inside and outside together And now it remaineth we say a word as to the trial of their works and services and to lay downe what is requisite to the making of a work good CHAP. X. The trial of the sinceritie of works And what is requisite to make a work good ANd now from the tryal of the sincerity of Persons and hearts we come to the tryal of the sinceritie of Workes and Services And for this we are to know That there are many things required whereunto the sincere Christian hath respect for the making of a service and worke good or a suffering acceptable There is some thing repuired in the person doing or suffering And some things there are required in the thing to be done and suffered 1 In the person doing or suffering it is requisite that he be rightly qualified 2 In the thing to be done or suffered 1 It is requisite it be done by a right rule or warrant 2 In a right manner 3 And to right ends For the qualification of the person doing or suffering it is requisite that hee be in Christ by faith and so one with him and thereby become a new creature a childe of God John 1. 12 13. and so accepted in his person for otherwise his worke cannot be accepted For God must first have respect to him ere he will have respect to his offering or service Dent. 33. 10 11. They shall teach Iacob c and accept the works of his hands Gen. 4. 4 5. And the Lord had respect to Abel and to his offering But God heareth not sinners Iohn 9. 31. Prov. 15. 8. 21. 27. And of all sinners the Hypocrite is the greatest sinner Mat. 22. 11 12. one not having on a wedding garment And he said Friend how comest thou in here Rev. 19. 8. Zach. 3. 1. Psal 45. 13 14. 2 For the thing to bee done and suffered 1 It must come from a right principle from the Spirit of God in this new man and from his renewed nature 2 As a consequent of the former it must be done by him out of a pure heart that is a conscience that doth not know of any guilt or of wilfull wickedness towards God or man upon it but that it doth in al things desire to live according to the Word of God Acts 23. 1. 24. 16. Heb. 13. 18. 1 Tim. 1. 5. Now the end of the commandement is love out of a pure heart and good conscience c. And there is no work that any prophane man doth that therefore can bee good because it comes from an evil heart and the fountain and tree being corrupt the streames and fruit must be so also Mat. 12. 34 35. Iames 3. 11. Prov. 15. 8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abhomination to the Lord. Prov. 28. 9. And hee must be moved and carried forth in his doing and suffering by and from right and true considerations and motives As from a love and respect to God that commandeth the work arising from the sense of Gods love to his person a love to the command it self a love to the thing commanded 2 Cor. 5. 14. For the love of Christ constraineth us c. 1 Iohn 5. 13. For this is the love of God that we keep his Commandements And by and from a sense and apprehension of Gods Greatness Mercy Goodness Iustice Holyness and Wisdome and his royal command upon him his Soveraignty over him as his Creator Lord and King and the Conscience of his obedience due to God and the danger of disobedience Iob 31. 1 2 c. I made a covenant c. Is not destruction to the workers of iniquity c. Doth hee not see my waies c. What then shall I doe when he riseth c. By reason of his highness I could not endure Heb. 11. 7. By Faith Noah being warned of God c. moved with reverence Rom. 7. 12. The Commandement is holy just and good Psal 19. 7 8. The Law of God is perfect c. From the fear of God a desire to please and feare to offend him Exod. 1. 15 16 17. The Midwives feared God Gen. 42. 18. this doe and live for I fear God From a sense of the wrong he hath done to God by his sin and the plyableness of his heart therein to make what amends to God it can and from the great reward there is promised to the obedient The work I say and service to be done and thing to be suffered when well and acceptable must bee undertaken upon these or some such like motives and considerations Ps 44. 21. Eph. 5. 14. Col. 3. 22. Heb. 11. 4 5 c. But the miscarriage herein is when one is moved or carried forth herein out of self-love only for fear that he may have hurt by the not doing or suffering or out of hope that he may have good by the doing or suffering or when it comes from some erroneous conceite or opinion of God and his owne service to God that he cannot be without his service or is much beholding to him for what hee doth or that it is accepted with God for it selfe however it be done or the like Is 66. 1. 2 c. The heaven is my throne c. i. e. doe you think that I so much care for your Temple service But to this man wil I look i. e. that is him and his service shall I favour and accept that is poor and of a contrite spirit that trembleth at my word that is him that is sensible of his emptinesse of grace and guiltiness of sin and hath his heart broken for and from sin This is the soul which is the temple wherin I wil dwel and these are the sacrifices in such a soule that I shall accept He that killeth an oxe is as if he slew a man that is all these outward performances and services without these inward dispositions and affections of soul are no better than the services and sacrifices of an heathen than the most vile and horrible crimes committed against my Law when he that doth them is moved and carried forth
is sincere is perfect 2 Kings 20. 3. Iob 1. 8. and 2. 3. Ps 125. 4. Gen. 6. 9. 12 God himself is most upright and doth in uprightness all that he doth and so is Christ and so is all that he doth faith If. 26. 7. Thou most upright doest weigh the paths of the just Jer. 32. 41. I will rejoice over them to doe them good c. with my whole heart and whole soul Psal 25. 8. Good and upright is the Lord c. And it is said of Christ 1 Pet. 2. 22. There was no guile found in his mouth 13 There is and will be nothing but up rightness in heaven Ps 143. 10. Lead me into the land of uprightness 14 The Saints in all times have been and the Saints now are all of them upright and they have been carefull to be and continue so and to decline hypocrisie Is 26. 7. The way of the just is uprightness Cant. 1. 4. the upright love thee John 1. 47. Ps 32. 2. and in whose spirit there is no guile Rev. 14. 5. and in their mouths was found no guile Prov. 13. 5. a righteous man hateth lying c. Zeph. 3. 13. 15 All that a man hath let him have what he can And all that a man doth let him doe what he can without Sincerity is nothing This is the Christians master peece and makes him to excel amongst men For God esteems every man and he is accepted in what he doth and hath within him and without him as he is sincere 1 Cor. 13. 1 2. And though I have all knowledge c. and have not love c. I am nothing c. it profiteth me nothing c. Gen 4. 4. Heb. 11. 4. God had respect to Abel and his offering by faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain c. God testifying of his gifts c. Prov. 15. 8. The praier of the upright is his delight And if a man be sincere notwithstanding he hath many weaknesses and his services be but mean and defective for the matter and manner thereof yet he is accepted and shall be rewarded for the good is in him and done by him So Asa 2 Chron. 14. 2. compared with chapter 16. 1 2 3 7. 10. and 1 Kings 15. 11 14 15. and 15. 5 6 c. compared with 2 Chron. 30. 15 18 19. But on the other side if hee be an Hypocrite albeit he have many singular gifts and doe many glorious things he is no body hee is not regarded nor shall bee rewarded And no work that the Hypocrite doth though never so glorious pleaseth God but his most glorious workers though of Gods own Institution are abominable to him for the Hypocrites sake that doth them Therefore of the most glorious workes that Hypocrites ever did or can doe the Lord speaketh after this manner Who hath required these things of you Isa 1. 11. Psalm 50. 16 17. To what purpose are they Isaiah 1. 11. Your labours are but in vain in it Mat. 15. 8 9. I am not pleased with them I shall not accept or regard them Micah 6. 7. Psalm 66. 18. Malach. 1. 10. Hosea 8. 13. Nor shall I reward them Mat. 7. 21 22 23 c. 1 Cor. 13. 3. They are to mee sinfull Isaiah 1. 11. Psalm 109. 7. Isaiah 66. 1 2 12 13. Grievous abhominable and hatefull Amos 5. 21. Hosea 9. 4. Isaiah 62. 1 2 12 13. Prov. 15. 8. See 2 Kings 10 1 2 3 c. 16 17 c. compared with Hosea 1. 4. 1 Sam. 15 16 17. and 14. 35. and 13. 12 13. 2 Chron. 25. 2 4 7 8 9. 16 God seeth knoweth and judgeth of every man what he is and as he is not as he seems or thinks himself to be or as men do see him And every man shall be made known and seem to the world as he is And shall receive of God according to what he is in Gods acccount whether it be good or evil Isa 26. 7. Thou most upright doest weigh the paths of the just Prov. 21. 2. Every way of a man is upright in his own eyes but the Lord pondereth the hearts 1 Chron. 28. 9. And thou Solomon know the Lord God c. for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts c. 1 Cor. 3. 13. Every mans work shall be manifest for the day shall declare it Prov. 16. 2 and 21. 2. The waies of a man are clean in his own eyes but the Lord weigheth the spirits 2 Cor. 5. 9 10. Wherefore we lobour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him For wee must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Rev. 2. 2. Luke 12. 3. Therefore whatsoever yee have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light and that which yee have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the house-tops Mat. 10. 26. there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed Job 31 4. doth not he see my waies and count all my steps Rev. 2. 23. Ps 7. 10. and 26. 2. 17 Sincerity is that onely that can and will in this world distinguish us from Hypocrites and devils who may and can as we have shewed at large make a fair shew in the flesh and do and suffer as much therein as the best Christian in the world Numb 22. 40. Luke 8. 28. 1 Cor. 13. 1 2 c. Job 2. 1. Mat. 13. 29. 18 If a man be an Hypocrite he is still unregenerate and in his naturall estate and so long all that is in him and comes from him is evil in Gods eye he cannot doe a good work That he doth as to God is as the breath of one that hath an unsavory breath let him speak never so good words his breath is notwithstanding unsavory still His thoughts Gen. 6. 5. Ps 50. 16. All his actions civill Prov. 21. 4. Titus 1. 15. Religious Prov. 15. 8 9. and 28. 9. Is 58. 1. c. Hosea 1. 4. albeit it may be materially good and so rewarded of God as Iehu's work yet is it Theologically evill And so they are but glorious sins And so it is of al his moral actions works of Charity Mercy and Justice Mat. 6. 5. So his words he may speak and think of good things but cannot have good speeches nor good thoughts As on the other side a good man may think of evil things and yet his thoughts thereof be good yea this very wisdom of the Hypocrite is sin Rom 8 7. Col 2. 18 19. How can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit Mat 7 18 He wants love to God and seeks not God but himslfe in what he doth and therefore cannot be accepted 1 Cor 13. 1 2 c. No more than a woman in all her observances of her Husband when she loves another man better
1. 2. and dangerous Errors under glorious pretences Rom. 16. 18. These things are considerable as to workes And this not only whether it be a work really done from his heart that doth it but that it be such a work as is good and ought to be done And so Hypocrisie and Sincerity are considerable in relation to all the actings of a mans whole life as that of Amaziah 2 Chron. 25 2. Scribes and Pharises Mat. 23. and others 1 Kings 8. 62. Or to some particular actings of a mans life as that Gal. 2. 10. 2 Chron. 29. 34. 1 Kings 8. 48. 1 Chron 12. 38. 2 Chron 19. 10. Hypocrisy also as to the work may be said to be either expresse which is either where the thing done is being a good thing and commanded by God is done either against the heart or not with the whole heart or to a good but to a sinister end So Jer. 3. 10. Phill. 6. 5 6 7. Coll. 3. 23 22. Hosea 7. 16. Or it is Implicite and interpretative And so are all the glorious works of Piety Mercy Charity and Justice done by the Professor of Religion by men out of Christ and without Faith though done with never so much seeming integrity seeing they are not of faith without which it is impossible to please God For as the works are but Splendida peccata glorious sinnes so are they in some degree more or lesse done in Hypocrisie and they Hypocrites that doe them 1 King 21. 27 28 29 Acts 26. 29. And all these things thus done in Hypocrisie as before in any sort are opposed to the sincere obedience of the Faithfull Deut. 30. 10. 2 Kings 23. 25. 2 Jo. 4. Jer 24. 7. Esay 29. 13. Of such Hypocrites as we have spoken of that are rotten at heart there are diverse sorts There are Hypocriticall Nations that is such Nations as live not up to their Profession Such was the Jewish Nation Isa 10. 6. And such is any Nation now professing the Christian Religion that live not becoming Christians And there are Hypocriticall persons And amongst these Hypocriticall The Grosse Hypocritie Persons There are Grosse Hypocrites and Refined Hypocrites The Grosse Hypocrite is also either more Grosse or lesse Grosse yet both of them are very grosse The more grosse is one that either doth notoriously dissemble against his own light in what he doth of purpose to cheat and deceive others The lesse Grosse is one who doth maintain some grosse Errors or live in some grosse practise of Sinne. There are Hypocrites in Opinion The Nature of his Hypocrisie and Hypocrites in Action The Hypocrite in Opinion we call him that pretendeth to Truth of opinion to hold forth the very truths of God out of love unto them and yet maintaineth Error and Heresie And the Hypocrite in Action we call him that pretendeth to holinesse of life and reall cōformity to Gods will without in his conversation where he hath no inward and hearty affection thereunto And both these are either more grosse or more refined The more grosse Hypocrite in Opinion is one who maketh a great shew outwardly of holding forth Gods Truth where he is inwardly in his heart such an enemy to it that he spreadeth abroad his errors and this he doth knowingly and of purpose to deceive So it is more then probable did the Pharises in some of their opinions which they could not but know to be Erroneous So some of the Gnosticks of old taught a lawfulnesse in Christians to commit Fornication by a Gospell liberty and to deny Christ in case of persecution to save themselves from death So Papists and other Hereticks now who teach unlawfulnes of marriages of meats and other such like things contrary to the clear evidence of the word These no doubt many of them did and doe know that they did and doe maintain Errors and Heresies and yet they did and doe continue to maintain them for some advantage to themselves 1 Tim. 4. 2. Speaking lyes in Hypocrisie The more Grosse Hypocrite in Action or practise is he that assumeeth a forme of Godlinesse and pretends to a forsaking of sinne and infidelity by Faith and Repentance within him when he hath only the shew and appearance thereof And he neither hath nor intendeth or desireth to have or doe any such thing and knoweth he doth dissemble and doth it of purpose to deceive others thereby This indeed is an Hypocrite in graine or an Hypocrite in the highest degree when a man shall pretend to the Truth of Religion and doth make it his whole designe trade or work therein to act Hypocrisie only Such a one is said to be a Cheator or Juglor that sheweth tricks and maketh appearances of things that really are not so as they appeare the same word in the originall it is said serveth for both And he is compared to a person disguised or a Stage-player who in the sight of others may act the part of a King or honest man but when he is in his tyring house is but a base varlet and he knowes himselfe to be so And such an Hypocrite the Devill is that sometimes appears like an Angell of light that he may doe the more mischief we call him so that Saints may not be ignorant of his wiles and the Scripture warrants it 2 Cor. 11. 14. Mark 1. 24. And so when he appears most innocently and piously he acts most wickedly and dangerously so Joab covered his perfidiousnesse to Abner and Amasa with friendly words and Syren like salutations when he murthered them 2 Sam. 2. 27. and 20. 9. And Ismael covered his bloody purpose to kill the eighty men Crocodile-like with Teares Jer 41. 6. Such were the Scribes and Pharisees who Viper-like covered their venemous teeth under their gumms of glorious shews and pretences Mat. 22. 15 16 Jo. 8. 3 6. Luke 10. 25 26. Such were Cain Saul and others mentioned in Scripture who made their Religion and profession a cloak only for the wickednesse And such a one is Antichrist the Arch-hypocrite of the World who covereth his Lyons teeth and Serpents taile with Womans haire a Mans face and the hornes of a Lamb Rev. 9. 8. 13. 1. So false teachers do cover themselves and their Wolfish cruelty with sheeps cloathing Mat. 7. 15. and these Scribes and Pharises made their Religion but a colour and cloak for their wickednesse Mat. 23. 14. Woe unto you Scribes Pharises Hypocrites for you devoure Widdowes Houses and for a pretence make long prayers c. So Absalom pretended the worship of God Zeale to Justice and love to the people of God when he intended nothing but the advancement of himselfe to the Crown with the death of his Father 2 Sam. 15. 2. to the 11. so Iehu pretends to a zealous Reformation in Religion and execution of Gods command when he intended nothing but his own advancement to the Throne 2 King 10. 15 16 17 18 30 31. So those named in Rev. 2. 9.
was with S. Paul Acts 23. 1. where he saith I have lived in all good Conscience before God untill this day His meaning is though he had fiercely persecuted the Servants of Jesus Christ yet he thought he did well his conscience though erring concurring with him so that he sinned not against his conscience but acted according to that light which was in him even then when he sinned against the Law of God and the Gospell 3. A thing may be done truly as to the reallity of it but not truly as to the formality of it Hypocrisie therefore is said to lye in two things or to be considered two wayes 1. As it stands in opposition to the truth and reality of a thing 2. As it stands in opposition to the Sincerity of a mans intention in the thing A man out of Christ is not a Christian indeed no more then a dead corps without a Soule is a man And that he doth let him doe it never so really and cordially cannot be good because he that dot it is evill Gen 4. 4. Mat 12. 33. And if the thing to be done be evill let it be done never so cordially and really it cannot be good And the thing done albeit it be for the manner well done as to the reality and intention yet if the thing done be in the matter and in its own nature evill it cannot be good a thing also that in its own nature is good may yet for the manner and forme of doing it be evill And to this therefore we are to know That the thing that the thing that is said of done is for the matter of it good or evill If good yet it may be done amisse in the manner In 2 Chron 25 2. It is said of Amaziah that he did that which was right that is that which was according to his will and pleased him well but not with a perfect heart though the thing he did as also the greatest part of that which Iehu did was according to Gods command and that which for the matter of it God approved when done yet they did it with an eye to themselves only out of selfe-love and for their selfe interest and advantage only and not of any love to God or care or desire to please or glorify him in it Esay 10. 6 7. But if the thing for the matter of it be it opinion or practice be evill the doing or saying thereof from the heart will not make it good or better then it is For if by this the opinion or Action may be justified or absolutely excused then must the most horrid opinions and practises that ever were held or done by this be so farre countenanced such as the opinions against Christs Divinity and that to eat flesh is as bad as to eate Soules and the practice of the killing of the Saints of God and the sacrificing of mens children to Idolls and the worshipping of the Hoast of Heaven For all this those that did maintaine and act them at least some of them were perswaded of the lawfulnesse of And if no men of any Judgement or perswasion amongst us shall judge themselves only to be the true Christians and all others Antichristians and shall take up this perswasion and perhaps from those Scriptures Rev. 16. 6. Psal 137. 8 9. That as they are able they may and must destroy all the rest Or being of a levelling judgement that they may take away as they are able from others that have much to make an equality May they therefore doe it or is the thing ever the better because they are perswaded they may nay it may be that they must doe it and is not the thing being sinfull and against Gods law sinfull still notwithstanding their perswasion This poynt and case of Conscience is cleared and determined to our hands by the Apostle Paul himselfe in his own case who tells us in 1 Tim. 1. 13 14. that he in what he did was a blaspheamer a persecutor and injurious but that he obtained mercy And we doe not find that the opinions or practises of those Hereticks in Jude and 2 Pe. 2. and 2 Tim 3. are said to be ever the lesse sinfull or dangerous to some because they did probably believe them to be Truth We grant it to be true that it doth somewhat lessen the offence because it is of Ignorance in them that are misled and yet we affirme that it is so much the greater again as there is more of the will in it 5. But there is much of Hypocrisie also in these persons in these cases For they pretend to be indeed the only enlightned men and Saints to have the spirit That the truth is with them and that their way is Gods way and the true and the right way Whereas they are in truth but Hypocrites False Teachers Devills in the appearance of Angells of Light understand not what they say not having the Spirit and going themselves and leading others with them to destruction Jude 2 Pe. 2. Acts 20. 30. Prov 2. 10 11. We shall in the next place lay down some particular instances of the Hypocrisie Sincerity we are treating of and wherein they doe each of them consist CAP. III. Wherein Sincerity doth especially consist And some particulars thereof And wherein Hypocrisie doth especially consist And some particulars thereof IT will much make towards the clearing of our matter in hand that we lay downe some things more particularly wherein Sincerity and Hypocrisie in men professing Religion or pretending to any way or forme of Godlinesse do consist And for the doing hereof we shall offer these considerations following for the things in such Persons wherein they doe especially appeare and consist That he that thus makes a profession of Religion that is of the Christian Religion Faith in God by Jesus Christ That cryeth Lord Lord Mat. 7. 21. that shall make an open confession of Christ and his hope in him That nameth the name of Christ 2 Tim 2. 19. Luk. 9. 20. Psal 50. 1. that is a hearer of his word That hath a forme of Godlinesse 2 Tim. 2. 1 5. That professeth he knows God Tit. 1. 16. That is a Christian in shew or outwardly Ro. 2 28 29. Jo. 1 47. Rev. 3. 1 9. Ro. 9. 6. That calls himselfe or is called or reputed by others to be a Christian Rev. 2. 9. Jer. 14 9. A Disciple of Christ Luke 6. 40. Jos 8. 31. Of the holy Seed of Gods Children Esay 7. 13. Of the holy City the Church of God Esay 48. 2. Acts 11. 26. That layeth claime to and boasteth of the Gospell and the rest of the priviledges of the Church of Believers Ma. 3. 8. Rom. 2. 23. Io. 8. 37 38 39. SECT I. As he is a Christian indeed The Sincerity or Hypocrisy of such a Professor will appeare and lye much in this as he hath or hath not within him a Principle and Foundation for what is acted and doth appeare without him That
it but what is in it selfe and therefore cannot burne long or as a Tree that hath no Root or as a branch of a tree cut or broken off the tree and put into the ground or as the Cions of a Tree grafted into another stock that doth not grow into and up with it kindly These and such as these will never bear fruit kindly and lastingly So that then the Christian which is not in Christ by Faith and in whom Christ dwells not by his Spirit cannot bear good fruit at all much lesse can he bear good fruit long Ioh. 15. 1 2. c. As the branch cannot bear fruit of it selfe except it abide in the vine no more can ye except ye abide in me And as a stone not well put into the building but hanging loose by it will fall out and the building that hath a bad foundation will never stand long So will it be with the Hypocrite Mat 7. 24. Luke 8. 13. Rom 8. 9 10. SECT II. In the exercise and proceed of true and counterfeit Grace in them If it be asked how this Indwelling of Christ by his Spirit in the soule and the union of the Christian thereby to Christ may be known We answer That this is not known so much by it selfe as by some fruits and effects as also by some reflect acts of the soule upon these fruits Io. 3. 2 3 8 9. Marvaile not that I said unto thee ye must be borne againe The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth So is every one that is borne of the Spirit but it may be known by the fruits of it Gal 5. 20. The fruit of the Spirit is Love joy Peace Long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith mecknesse temperance Rom. 14. 17. The Kingdome of God is not c. But Righteousnesse peace and joy in the Holy Ghost This is one thing that doth ever accompany or follow this work in the soule that it makes a very great and a generall change therein there is a new light and a new life in the soule and this is discovered by such like effects and works as discover the life of the body such as are constant breathing the use of the Spirituall senses Hunger thirst walking talking and the like The soule doth long and breath after God and Christ and the things of God it can heare see and relish divine things it doth hunger and thirst after righteousnesse and the meanes of grace Gods word and the like it can walk with some strength in Gods waies talk of good things And this change is very great so that of a Lyon the man is made a Lamb Esay 11. 6. Of darknes he is become light Ephes 5. 8. Ye were sometimes darknesse but now are light in the Lord Ephes 2. 1 2. c. You that were dead hath he quickned c. All things are become new in him and therefore is he said to be a new Creature 2 Cor 5. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are past away behold all things are become new He hath a new Name Rev. 3. 12. A new life Psal 51. 10. He hath a new Heart a new understanding judgement will and affections new principles new motions new qualities his Heart of stone is become a heart of flesh E zech 36. 26. A new heart will I give you c. Ezek 11. 19 20. And I will put a new Spirit within you And I will take the stony heart out of them and give them a heart of flesh that they shall walk in my statutes So that when by reflect acts of Faith upon this Change wrought in him and upon these fruits of the spirit he looketh upon himselfe he may now say with Paul Gal. 2. 20. I am Crucified with Christ Neverthelesse I live yet not 〈◊〉 but Christ in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the saith of the Sonne of God who loved me and gave himselfe for me Now he seeth God as he is and judgeth of God and Christ and the things of God and the world as they are and finding himselfe beloved of God and Christ he loves them againe more then the world more then himselfe he delights himselfe much in God willeth him as his last end and his chiefe good and willeth Gods will and being now made partaker of the divine nature 2 Pe. 1. 4. and having Gods Image of Righteousnesse and holinesse reinstamped upon him he hath the same mind in him that is in Christ and he doth walk in this World as Christ walked in this world his words works and life are clean changed Ephes 4. 24. And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in Righteousnesse and true holinesse 1 Cor. 15. 49. Coll. 3. 10. And instead of the Fruits of Adultery Fornication uncleanesse lasciviousnesse wantonnesse Idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulation wrath strife sedition Heresies which are the works of the flesh Gal. 5. 24 25. and were the fruits he brought forth before Now his work is and the fruits he bringeth forth are Love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance which are the fruits of the Spirit And by reflecting upon them he knoweth them But these reflect acts and operations of Christs spirit are not to be found in the heart of an Hypocrite his heart is still the same or worse then ever it was as full or more full of Pride malice coveteousnesse and all manner of secret wickednesse then ever it was Mat. 23. 25 27. within they are full of Extortion and excesse and of all uncleannesse Acts 8. 23. thou art in the gall of bitternesse c. Psal 58. 2. In heart ye work wickednesse c. Mat. 12. 34. Prov. 26. 24 25 26. And it must of necessity be so with him for he hath no Faith which doth purify the heart Acts 15. 9. 1 Jo. 3. 3. And hence it is that the Hypocrite is still called upon to repent and wash his heart Esay 1. 10. Jer. 4. 14. If it be objected that there is in the heart of an Hypocrite some work of the spirit much like to the work that is wrought in the heart of the true Christian To this we Answer That there is some likenesse between the common and the speciall work of the spirit in the hearts of good and bad And yet if these workings be well observed these differences may be found between them 1. In the heart of the true Christian as the heart it self is rooted in Christ So is grace by Christs Spirit rooted in the heart springs from the spirituall life that is within it which is Christ who dwelleth in it Ephes 3. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith Coll. 2. 7. Rooted and built up in him c. Rom. 6. 5. For if wee have been planted together c. But that which is in
For if there bee first a willing minde it is accepted according to that a man hath c.. VVe are here also to adde this caution further in reference to all that wee have spoken to this head that the faigned Graces of the Hypocrites and their gifts are in some hearts so like to true Grace that it is hard to distinguish them And in the hearts of the most sincere corrupt affections and motions stirre so much that it is hard to conclude any thing certainly and definitively herein more or further than this That the more we find of the motions and operations of Sinceritie the more cause we have to judge our selves sincere And the more we see of the motions and operatious of Hypocrisie the more cause wee have to suspect our selves thereof All these things therefore are cautiously to be heeded and used But for this see more in the beginning of the next Chapter If yet you shall desire to see some more certain signes of the sincere man and of the Hypocrite we shall endeavour to give you some of them in the nevt Chapter CHAP. VIII How Sinceritie and Hypocrisie are manifested Or The signs of Sinceritie and of Hypocrisie This question is partly answered before in Chapter 3. where wee have set forth wherein Sinceritie and Hypocrisie doe consist And again in Chap. 7. wherein we have shewed in what the sincere Christian doth differ from and goe beyond the Hypocrite But wee shall now in this place adde further some particulars wherein Sincerity and Hypocrisie doe most eminently shew themselves in the Professors of Religion and these also may serve for signs and markes thereof And these wee shall also lay down the one aghinst the other in way of opposition But herein wee must premise four things by way of caution 1 That amongst these signs of Hypocrisie some are more grosse and palpable than others 2 That neither the one nor the other on the one or on the other side albeit they bee certaine and infallible in themselves yet may they not be so to us whose hearts are deceitful above all things and wee are so apt to bee deceived by them Wee doe not propose them therefore as aosolutely certaine and infallible as to us For many of the things wee give and lay downe through this whole worke as signes or markes of the sincere Christian some appearance of the same things may be found in and upon the Hypocrite As for example Hee may seem to have some delight in God Job 27. 10. Hee may have some delight in good things Matth. 13. 20. Marke 6. 20. Isaiah 58. 2. and good men and their company Mat. 25. 1 2 3 c. So the foolish seemed to delight in the company of the wise Virgins Hee may have an appearance of all the graces of the Spirit within him and seem to grow in them for a long time perhaps to his dying day Mat. 13. 4 5 6. 20 21 22. Luke 6. 46. Hee may bee a constant Hearer of the VVord of GOD and yeeld some obedience thereunto as Herod Amaziah and others 2 Chronicl 25. 2 9 15 16. Luke 6 46 47. Mark 6. 18 19 20. Hee may deny himself in many things avoyd evill and repent of sinne as Ahab Saul Judas others and doe many other things as we have before layd down at large And on the other side many of the things wee have observed or shall here further observe to be the signes or marks or workings of Hypocrisie The likeness or resemblance or at the least some degrees thereof or the thing it self at some iime may be found in the sincere Christian As for example we read of them in Scripture or of some of them at some time or in some case unbelieving Mat. 14. 31. Rom. 14. 23. Mat. 6. 30. Despising God and the commandement of God 2 Sam. 12. 9 10. Hypocritical Gal. 2. 12 13. Unthankful 2 Chron 32 25. Barren and unfruitful under the means of Grace Heb. 6. 1 2 3. Iohn 14. 9. Negligent about holy duties 1 Cor. 11 20 21 c. Falling off from Christ in case of persecution John 18. 15 16 c. John 17. 13. and 9. 22. Fearing of an open profession of the Gospel because of persecution John 19. 38. Impatient and discontented at Gods works Ionah 4. 1 2 3. Iob 3. 1 c. Impatient and wrathful against man 2 Chron. 16. 10. Covetous or loving the world 1 Iohn 2. 15. 1 Cor. 5. 10. Iame. 4. 1 2 3 4. Lifted up with pride 2 Sam. 24. 10. Mark 9. 34. 2 Chron. 32. 24 25 26 31. 2 Kings 20. 12. Injurious 2 Chron. 16 10. 2 Sam. 16. 3 4. and 19. 24 25 26 27 29 Not enduring the reproof of sin 2 Chron. 16. 10. Contentious Acts 15. 39. Using unlawful guile to doe evil or obtain good Gen. 20. 2. Gen. 27. 18 19 36. Secure Psalm 32. 1 2 c. Unthankful Isa 51. 13. Ps 78. 11. Censorious Iames 3. 1 2. Hee may curse or swear Mat. 26. 75. Iames 3. 9 10 Forswear Mat. 26. 75. Lye Gen. 20. 2. and 26. 7. Raile and revile 1 Cor. 5. 11. 1 Pet. 3. 9. and 2. 23. Hee may also commit or fall into Idolatry Adultery Fornication Incest Murder Drunkenness Extortion Injustice Oppression Dangerous Errors or Heresies Iohn 1. 46. 2 Sam. 11. 3 4 13 14 15. 2 Sam. 19. 28 29 30. Gen. 19. 30 31 32 c. 1 Kings 11 7 8 9 c. 1 Cor. 10. 4 5 6 7 c. 1 Cor. 11. 1. 2 3 c. 1 Cor. 15. 12. So now we finde it by sad expirience That these and such like evils are to be found too often stirring in the hearts and lives of the best Christians And the differences of their being in the true Christian and the Hypocrite wee have opened in another place 3 That we doe not presently judge a man to be an Hypocrite in his state because he hath som Hypocrisie in him For there is not a man that lives but hath Hypocrisie in him more or lesse Besides that every man is born an Hypocrite For of this sinne as of all others wee have the seeds in our natures But no man is to bee accounted a Hypocrite in his state but such a one as is under the reign and power of Hypocrisie and that yeelds himselfe up to it to obey it an obstinate and wilful Hypocrite And not such a one as doth see it in himselfe detest disavow bewaile it and labour against it all hee can he is not an Hypocrite albeit he have hypocrisie in him 4 And therefore in the next place this is especially the conclusion which wee draw from all these things as I have formerly intimated That rhe more of all the signes or marks of sinceritie are to be found in or upon any one man the more evidence hee in whom they are found may have for his sinceritie And the more of the signes of Hypocrisie are to bee found in any one man the more
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
obedience to Gods commands and that he doe it in a due manner that he doth preferre the greater before the lesser the first Table before the second c. Fundamentals in Faith and Practice and things absolutely necessary to salvation before lesser things substantial before circumstantial things And it savours of Hypocrisie where a man is preposterous herein Mat. 23. 23. You tythe Mint and Annis and have omitted the weightier matters c. If yet you would see further the signs of such things as accompany sinceritie you shall have them in the next place CHAP. IX The signes of some other things that doe alwaies goe along with or are necessary to make up sinceritie WE are now come to the last sort of signs which are the signs of such things as do accompany or are constitutive of sinceritie and without which there cannot be sinceritie in the heart Such are Christs indwelling in our hearts by his spirit by meanes whereof we are made partakers of sinceritie for there is none in us but what floweth and is fetcht out of this fountain of grace and truth and Regeneration the first work of Christs Spirit which necessarily implyeth Faith and Love Wee have already laid downe the principal signs of Faith and Love It remains onely tha◠we give you the principal signs or effects of our union with Christ and the indwelling of his Spirit in us which are both at once For he that is one with Christ is one in whom Christ dwelleth and hath Christ in him by faith through the spirit 1 John 4. 15. And to have Christ in us and his Spirit dwelling in us is all one or at least goe alwaies together and are never apart The signs of the Spirit will be signs of this union 1 John 4. 13. By this we know that we dwell in him and he in us that he hath given to us of his Spirit Eph. 3. 17. That Christ may dwel in your hearts by faith Rom. 8. 9 10 11. But ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit if the Spirit of God dwel in you Phil. 2. 1. These signs of the indwelling of Christ by his Spirit and of Regeneration wee shall give you with relation both to the external conversion of those sincere Christians in whom Christ is and who are truly born again as also to the inward frame of their hearts SECT I. Signs of our union with Christ and of his Spirit dwelling in us Our being in Christ and his Spirit abiding in us may be known by such like signs as these 1 By the death of sin and life of grace in us by holyness in heart and life opinion and practise Rom. 8. 9 10 11. Ye are not in the flesh c. if so be that the Spirit of God dwel in you Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his And if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin But the Spirit is life because of Righteousnes But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwel in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Gal. 5. 24. 1 Joh. 3. 6. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not Whosoever sinneth hath not seen him nor known him Ephes 2. 21 22. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Jude v. 19. 2 By the fruits of the Spirit The tree is known by his fruit Mat. 12. 33. The fruit of the Spirit is Love Ioy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance c. Gal. 5. 5. 22. Eph. 5. 9. 3 By our Regeneration he that is in Christ is a new creature hath a new soul and doth manifest it by a new life 2 Cor. 5. 17. He that is in Christ is a new creature Gal. 6. 15. For in Christ Iesus neirher Circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a new creature 4 By the spirit of Prayer an essential part of the work of Grace he that is in Christ hath this in him Gal. 4. 6. And because ye are sonnes God hath sent the Spirit of his Son crying Abba father Eph. 2. 18. Zach. 12. 10. Rom 8. 15. 5 By a rooted and grounded love to God and his people Eph. 3. 16 17 18. That he would grant to you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the Inner man that Christ may dwel in your hearts by Faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love may be able c. 1 John 4. 12. If we love one another God dwelleth in us 6 By having of the same mind in us as was in Iesus Christ Phil. 2. 5. Let this mind be in you which also was in Christ Iesus and 3. 9. I account all things but loss that I may win Christ that I may know him c. and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death c. 1 Pet. 4. 1. 7 By a walking and living after the example of Christ 1 Iohn 2. 5 6. Hereby we know that we are in him He that saith he abideth in him ought himselfe also to walk as he walked 8 By a care to keep the Commandments of God and Christ 1 Ioh 3. 24. And he that keepeth his Cōmandments dwelleth in him he in him And hereby we know he abideth in us by the Spirit he hath given us 9 By growth and increase in grace Eph. 4. 15. That we henceforth be no more children c. But speaking the truth c. may grow up into him in all thines which is the head even Christ Eph. 2. 21. 2 Thes 1. 3. Your faith groweth exceedingly c. SECT II. The signs of our Regeneration may be these 1 An understanding heart to know God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent 1 John 5. 18 20. And we know that whosoever is born of God c. And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us understanding that wee may know him that is true c. Joh. 5. 24. Iohn 17. 3. 2 Faith in Christ 1 Iohn 5. 1. Whosoever beleeveth that Iesus is the Christ is born of God John 1. 12. 3 Holyness and Righteousnesse of life without and puritie of heart within 1 John 2. 29. Every one that doth righteousnesse is born of him 1 Joh. 3. 9 10. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God Whosoever doth not righteousnesse is not of God 1 John 3. 3. He that hath this hope purifieth himself as he is pure 1 Iohn 5. 18 20. 4 Love of God it is as natural for the new born children of God to love God as for children to love their parents Iohn 1. 12 13. 5 Love to the godly 2 Iohn 4. 7. Every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God 1 Iohn 3. 9 10. Whosoever doth not righteousnesse is not of God neither he that loveth
not his brother 2 Cor. 6. 6. 1 Iohn 2. 10. 6 Victory over the world 1 Iohn 5. 4. Whosoever is born of GOD overcometh the world 7 A strong love to and desire after the Word of God and a conformity of heart and life to it Psalm 119. 97. Oh how I love thy Law c. I have esteemed the words of his mouth better than my necessary food Iob 23. 12. Luke 8. 15. 1 Pet. 2. 3. SECT III The summe of all this Head Now of all that wee have spoken as to this point in hand and head of tryal this is then the summe That a man may enjoy all outward Gospel Priviledges such as the manifestations of Gods presence c. all Gospel Ordinances and means of Grace as Word Sacraments Sabbaths all advantages imaginable by parents education society c. Have great gifts and parts and doe much with them as Preach Pray and the like That he may in appearance be converted from the world be changed in his outward conversation cast off all his outward pollutions be so much reformed that hee may appear unblameable in the sight of men have much light from the Word of God be clearely convinced of the truth of it have such a taste of perswasion that the good thereby promised and offered doth belong to him as thereby to bee drawn to come to Christ in an open profession and some inward affections close with his Church be a Church-member bee taken of others and take himselfe to bee a true member ' seemingly own Iesus Christ for his Lord and submit to his Law live orderly with Christians in Church-fellowship and there make a glorious profession of the Gospel proceed to have many singular gifts and seeming graces do many excellent things and so live and dye yea live and dye a Martyr in the defence of the Gospel hee professeth yea he may have such a discovery of the Grace of God in Christ by the Gospel and such a seeming worke of Faith and Love in his soul as that he may bee perswaded that Christ and Heaven is his And upon this have a little love or shew of love to God and his people and live in a kinde of hope joy and expectation of Heaven to his dying day and yet be in his corrupt and unregenerate estate and perish And that he onely that is regenerate renewed by the Holy Ghost and VVord of God in his nature to be like Christ shall bee reputed sincere and so saved at last But to give a shorter account hereof let the summe of all bee this That the most certaine and infallible character of the true and living Christian and one that is a Christian indeed John 1. 47. And that whereby he may bee best known and distinguished from the counterfeit and painted Christian the Hypocrite is by that which is within him where the Kingdome of God is Luke 17. 20 21. Hee is the sincere Christian that is so inwardly Rom. 2. 29. And in him these things following are to bee found The Spirit of God and Christ is given unto him 1 Iohn 3. 24. 1 Iohn 4. 3. Rom. 8. 10 11 15. Galat. 4. 6. Rom. 8. 9. 1 Cor. 2 12. 1 Iohn 4. 13. And according to the new Covenant Isaiah 44 3. and 32. 15. Ezek 39. 29. Ioel 2. 29. Zachar. 12. 10. compared with Acts 2. 17. This spirit hee receives in the Preaching of the Gospel Galat. 3. 2. By this spirit in the Gospel hee is convinced of his own desperate and helplesse case out of Christ and that his help is in Christ alone Iohn 26. 8. And thereupon is drawne to Christ whom hee doth embrace by Faith Iohn 6. 44. Hebrews 11 13. Philip. 3. 12. Ephes 3. 16 17. Iohn 6. 56. 2 Corinth 4. 13. This Spirit and GOD the Father in it abideth and dwelleth in him 1 Corinth 3. 24. 1 Iohn 4. 13. Iohn 6. 56. Ephes 2. 22. And hee in whom this Spirit is abideth and dwelleth in GOD. 1 Corinth 3. 24. 1 John 4. 13. John 6. 56. By this Holy Spirit Christ and the soule are firmely united together and doe become even as Husband and VVife Romans 7. 4. Canticles 1 2 c. and are so joyned as the Tree and Branches Iohn 15. 1 c. Head and Body 1 Cor. 11. 3. Eph. 5. 23. Body and Soul Ephes 2. 5. Hence followeth presently a very great an universal change of the soul within appearing in the life without The change is from darkness to light from bondage to liberty from sinne to grace from death to life c. and is called Regeneration by which here is produced a new creature the soul whereof is this Spirit of God abiding in him compared to the natural generation conception and birth Iohn 3. 6. Iohn 12. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 22. Tit. 3. 5. Galat. 4. 19. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Galat. 5. 15. This Spirit of God being as the soul in the body in this new creature doth animate it Ephes 2. 5 6. Rom. 8. 11. And by it the old man is changed into a new man there is a new nature hee partakes of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. a new life Gal. 2. 20. Col. 3. 21. 1 Iohn 5. 12. This change is from the state of nature to the state of grace from the likeness of the old to the likenesse of the new Adam he hath now in him the minde of Christ Ephes 4. 24. Phil. 2. 5. 1 Cor. 15. 46 47. Phil. 3. 9. Hee now lives the life of Christ 1 Pet. 4. 6. 1 Iohn 2. 5 6. 1 Iohn 3. 24. and according to the Gospel of Christ 2 Cor. 3. 18. The Holy Spirit thus dwelling and animating in and acting of this new creature and being in it self a spirit of light life and grace Zach. 12. 10. Rom. 1. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 4. It governs him in whom it is and hee is led by it and walks after it according to the Word of God 1 Pet. 1. 22. 2 Cor. 3. 18. And as the lively pure spring doth worke out the mire and mudde out of it self so this spirit doth work out of the heart the ignorance and corruption thereof and make and keep it pure Acts 15. 9. It killeth sin Rom. 8. 10 13. Destroyeth the workes of the Devil and Flesh 1 Iohn 3. 8. Such as are Adultery Uncleannesse Lasciviousnesse Idolatry Witchcraft Hatred Variance Emulation VVrath Strife Sedition Heresies Envyings Murder Drunkenness and such like Gal. 5. 17. And quickneth inclineth and disposeth the whole heart and consequently the whole man to grace and goodnesse Rom. 8. 10. And such like fruits as these following Righteousnesse Joy Love Long suffering Gentlenesse Faith Goodnesse Meeknesse Temperance and the like Gal. 5. 19. Rom. 14. 17. and the manifestation and exercise thereof in the life are the natural and proper works fruits effects of this spirit Gal. 5. 22 23. Rom. 14. 17. 2 Cor. 5. 13. Rom. 8. 26. 2 Cor. 8. 17. Acts 2. 4. Gal. 4. 6. And
therein from some corrupt or sinister respect and not by or from any love or fear of God at all 1 Cor. 13. 1. 2. Though I speak with the tongue of men and Angels and have not Charity I am become as sounding brasse or a tinkling cymbal And though I have the gift of Prophesie and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have no charity I am nothing See more for this Ps 33. 18. 34. 18. 138. 6. 147. 6 51. 16 17. 1 Cor. 3. 16. 3 That there bee a warrant or rule for the thing to bee done and suffered And for this 1 That the thing to be done or suffered be commanded or at the least not forbidden 2 That it be known too and beleeved by him that doth or suffereth it 3 That it bee done according to this rule or command by him known and beleeved For the first The thing to be done must be good either it must be commanded or at least it must not be forbidden by Gods Word For if so it be that the thing be forbidden be it don never so cordially or that a man be pressed never so much to it by his conscience yet is the thing nevertheless evill And therefore their sin in offering their children to Molech Lev. 20. 2. Jer. 32. 35 36. and in the killing of Christs Disciples was nevertheless sinful for this nor will a good intention or meaning in this case help And therefore we finde in 1 Sam. 13. 8 9 11. Saul and 1 Chron. 13. 8 9 10 11. Vzzah both of them severely punished for the doing and probably with a good intention of that which was good in it self to have been done by another but evill in them because it was a thing prohibited to them And of this nature is their Popish whipping of themselves pilgrimage fasting and such like things amongst them and the imitation of them by others Col. 2. 18. 23. Touch not taste not c. which things indeed have a shew of wisdom in will-worship and humilitie c. And God will say of this as Isa 1. 12. who hath required these things at your hands and as Jer. 32. 35. which I commanded them not neither came it into my mind Deut. 12. 8. 2 The thing done must bee knowingly and beleevingly done that is hee must know it to be commanded allowed or warranted by Gods Word for otherwise be it never so lawful as the eating of flesh yet if a man doubt of the lawfulness of it it is not lawful to him so long as he doubteth For whatsoever is not of Faith is sinne Rom. 14. 1 2 3. c. 23. And it must bee done with a perswasion that God will accept it being so done Gen. 4. 4. Heb. 11. 4 6. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain c. But without faith it is impossible to please God c. For he that cometh to God must beleeve that God is c And for the third It must be done for matter and manner according to the rule of the Word laid down for the doing thereof Gal 6. 16. And to as many as walk according to this rule peace be on them c. Acts 13. 36. But David after he had served his own generation by the will of God c. But the error in this principally is when a man in that he doth and suffereth hath his eye altogether or chiefly upon his own fancy or upon humane Traditions Commands and Inventions Iohn 4. 21 22. Ye worship ye know not what Mat. 15. 9. In vain they doe worship me teaching for doctrines the commandements of men Acts 17. 23. Mat. 23 16 17. And for the manner of that which is done and suffered it ought to be done with Love and Faith and in the feare of God It must bee done in love 1 Cor. 13. 1 2. otherwise i◠is nothing worth In faith 1 to God Heb. 11. 4. For he that cometh to him must beleeve c. 2 In Christ Col. 3 17. and with the whole heart It must bee also willingly and chearfully 1 Pet. 5. 2. Feed the flock of GOD which is amongst you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready minde Ephes 6. 6. Not with eye-service c. doing the will of GOD from the heart with good will doing service c. Heb. 10. 34. Yee took joyfully the spoyling of your goods c. Psalm 110. 3. Deut. 30. 10. Ierem. 31. 33. Gen. 9. 27. 5 The next great thing to bee looked unto and required in the workes we do and things wee suffer to make our work therein acceptable is the end and designe of the heart in it For as a man may speake good words to an evil end Luke 10. 25. Matth. 22. 15. so one may doe good works to an evill end The great and maine end and designe of the heart in every thing a man doth and suffereth ought to bee to and for God that is to please and glorifie GOD and advance the Name of the Lord Iesus by what hee doth and suffereth and by his chearefull service therein to testifie his love to God For this is primarily commanded Exod. 20. 2 3. I am the Lōrd c. Thon shalt have no other Gods before me And this is primarily to be prayed and laboured for Mat. 6. 9. Hallowed be thy Name that is grant us by thy VVord and VVorkes as thou hast manifested thereby especially by the work of Redemption by Iesus Christ rightly to know thee in thy wonderful nature and incomprehensible Attributes and be brought every way in heart word and deed to acknowledge and by a right inward and outward worship of thee to exalt thee VVhence we may thus argue That which is of God chiefly required and of man chiefly to be desired to this must every work of man bee chiefly intended and directed But that already named is that very thing 1 Cor. 6. 20. Yee are bought with a price wherefore glorifie him 1 Cor. 10. 31. Do all to the glory of God John 7. 18. But he that seeketh his glory that sent him the same is true 1 Cor. 13. 1 2. 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. John 17. 4. Phil. 1. 21. Cant. 7. 13. Luke 2. 14 20. Col. 3. 23 24 Eph. 6 67. And in the next place his aym and design must bee to do good to the people especially the Saints amongst whom he doth live 1 Cor. 10 31 32 33. Even as I please all men in all things not seeking mine own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved 1 Cor. 9. 19 20. 1 Cor 8. 8 9 10. Luke 7. 5 6. Gal 6. 10. Let us do good to all men especially to them who are of the houshold of Faith But that which maketh the service Hypocritical and unacceptable in this is when he that doth it mindeth himself onely in it
discovered for disordered p. 30. l. 11. r. right c. p. 31. l. 8. r. Now for No. p. 48. l. 28. r. or for and p. 66. l. 10. r. leave for fear p. 94. 1. 5. r. his for their p. 106. l. 7. r in the fruit p. 117. l. 24. r. â—0 14. 9. p. 11 8. l. 27. r. 10. p. 125. l. 12. r. clear p. 129. l. 29. r. not after p. 134. l. 24. r. Pro. 22. 9. p. 136. l. r. or suspension p. 137. l. 9. r. â—â— 6. 69. p. 145. l. 14. r. gestures p. 146. l. 17. r. beleeved for beloved p. 147. l. 21. r. 1 13. p. 149. l. 17. r. Luke 3. 19. p. 154. l. 15. r. were born p. 155. l 3 r. Acts 16. p. 161. l. 11. r. wickedness p. 166. l. 3. r. degrees p. 173. l. 20 r. Christ for Chist p. 178. l. 9. r Ps 19 12 13. p 179. l. 17. dele customary l. 18 r. leave it p. 184. l. 5. dele not p. 193. l 10. r. flourishing l. 13. r. from p. 202. l. 21. adde Phill. 1. 17. p 203. l. 24. r. further then p. 207. l. 6. r. Bride for Bridegroom p. 211. l. 6. r. Mat. 23. p. 217. l. 21. r. word for wod p. 225. l. 13 r. 2 4. p. 225. l. 22 r. the power of p. 233. l. 16. r. other side p. 214. l. 9. r. 1. 12. p. 247 l. 16. r. 16. 8. p. 250. l. 20 r own case p. 288. l. 11. r. 25 p. 289. l. 28. r. do not name p. 302 l. 4. r. seene for seem p. 303. l. 23. r. yea his for this p. 326. l. 15. r. univocally p. 340. l. 20. r. Grotium for Grotius p. 344 l. 22. r. affore for affari p. 369. in marg l. 9. r. Martinez p. 376. l. 13 in marg for altj r. alios p. 380. l. 24. for tame r. some p. 395 l. 12 in marg for vides is r. videsis p. 406. l. 9 for for r far p. 407. l. 17. for assent r. assents CHAP. 1. What Sincerity is and what Hypocrisy is The Nature of them OUr work being to shew to man his uprightnesse towards God Job 33. 23. And therein to shew the right way to Salvation and to unmark the Hypocrite we shall for the doing hereof observe this method We shall first of all for a ground-work or Foundation lay downe what sincerity and what hypocrisy in men professing Religion are the nature of them and who is the sincere Man and who is the Hypocrite and the severall kinds of Hypocrisy and Hypocrites and wherein Sincerity and Hypocrisy consist and this in a way of Explication And then in the second place we shall make some kind of inferences thereupon In which we shall set forth these things 1. How far the Hypocrite may goe in the way with the true Christian towards Heaven 2. What is lacking in the Hypocrite wherein he and the true Christian differ the Hypocrite doth come short the true Christian doth goe beyond him 3. The signes or degrees of Sincerity 4. Motives or Encouragements to it 5. The signes or degrees of Hypocrisie 6. Arguments to perswade against it 7. And in the last place we shall adde some other things And all this in a way of Application We shall begin with the first and open the nature of Sincerity and Hypocrisy together Sincerity what Sincere man who Sincerity is that holy Frame of soule wrought in it by Gods spirit whereby the soule stands right to God in its purpose and endeavour to understand his mind from his word that thereby it may exactly please him in all things which he requireth therein And such a heart wherein this Sincerity is is called a right heart Acts 8. 21. Psal 51. 10. a whole heart Psal 9. 1. 119. 2. a perfect heart 1 Kings 11. 4. 15. 14. c. A pure heart Psal 24. 4. Mat. 5. 8. and a single heart Ephes 6. 5. And he that hath such a heart we call the true or Sincere Christian or the Christian indeed Ioh. 1. 47. The Nature of Sincerity To open this a little This Sincerity lieth within it is a heart work or businesse in the Soule wherein the spirit of God doth dwell And therefore it is set forth in Scripture by the Metaphor of the Root of a Tree Mat. 13. 21. or Foundation of a building Mat. 7. 24. It is a frame of the heart it spreads it selfe through the whole heart or Soule understanding conscience will and affections And there is an habitualnesse and constant tenor and temper in it And it is such a thing as like a spring that runs it streams makes them relish of it doth run into all the motions and operations of the Soule and body called by one the proper quality of our obedience if it may be said to be a grace of it selfe and not a thing that doth mingle it selfe with all graces and as one calls it the Spirituall tune of all the graces in the Soule it is then certainly a grace made up of many spirituall and choyce graces like as was the holy oyle powred on the head and garments of the High-Priests compounded and made up of many precious Ingredients For it must spring from the new life of the new Creature the Soule whereof is Christ which hath within it and must include Faith love and the rest of the Graces that accompany salvation For it must flow from the pure and even workings of the internall Principles towards their ends And therefore if a man act never so much in duties and have not a divine Spirituall Spring a heart impulsed and moved by Gods spirit acting in it If there be not an acting of all the graces together in a harmony purely and really towards God this Sincerity is not there 1 Cor. 13. 1 2. c. We call it the work of the Spirit and so it must needs be for as the naturall life of the body springs from the Soule within so all the life of grace in the Soule springs from the spirit of Christ within the Soule Ioh. 6. 63. We say the work begins with a mind savingly enlightned by the Word and Spirit of God Iames 3. 17. Prov. 17. 2. Ephes 1. 18 19. Psal 36. 10. Mat. 11. 25. For without knowledge the heart cannot be good and without this there can be no Faith no foundation of any Sincerity nor any thing wherein or whereby it may shew it selfe And therefore when the Apostle Phil. 1. 9. 10. prayeth for the Philippians that they might be sincere he begins with this And thus I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement that ye may approve things that are excellent that ye may be sincere c. So that the Sincere Christian is not only true cordiall and reall in what he thinketh saith and doth but that which he thinketh saith and doth is generally according to the truth of the Gospell Gal. 6. 16. And as
many as walk according to this rule c. 3 Ioh. 4. 2 Ioh. 3. 4. I rejoyced greatly that I found of thy Children walking in truth as we have received a commandement c. Coll. 1. 13 2 3 4. 5. For otherwise let what will be done and let a man act in what he doth never so much ex animo from his very heart and sincerely according to the light he hath received as many doe upon false Principles yet may he be called an Hypocrite Who were such By the Sincere Christian therefore throughout this Work we understand such a one as the Scripture noteth Nathaniel to be Io. 1. 47. Behold a true Israelite indeed in whom is no guile And such were David 1 Kings 11. 4. Ps 78. 72 Iosiah 2 Kings 23 25. Hezekia 2 Chron. 29 2. Abraham Gen. 17. 1. and 24. 40. 2 Kings 22. 2. Asa 2 Chron. 20. 32. 1 Kings â—1 14. Iob Iob. 1. 1. and 2. 3. Noah Gen. 6 9. Iehosaphat 2 Chron. 20 32. Paul after his conversion and the rest of the Apostles 2 Cor. 1. 12. 6. 20. Acts 24. 16. Abâ—l Gen. 4. 4. 5. Heb 11. 4. and others whose Sincerity is thus described of some of them That their hearts were perfect with the Lord of others that they did that which was right in the sight of the Lord of others That they walked with God of others that they walked before God of others that they did turne to the Lord with all their heart with all their Soule and with all their might of others That they laboured to keep their Consciences voyd of offence c. And these kind of men in Scripture language are some-times called Holy men or Saints Psal 37. 14 28. Sometimes wise men Mat. 25. 1. 2. Mat. 7. Sometimes perfect men Gen. 6 9. Sometimes upright men Psal 37. 14 18 37. Sometimes righteous Men Psal 37. 14 16. Sometimes just Men Gen. 6. 9. Sometimes plaine men Gen. 25. 27. 11. 14. Sometimes innocent men Mat. 10. 16. Sometimes the true worshippers that worship God in Spirit and Truth Io. 4. 23. Sometimes such as love the Lord Jesus in Sincerity Ephes 6. 24. Sometimes the pure in heart Math. 5. 8. Psal 24. 4. Sometimes the undefiled Psal 119. 1 3. Sometimes the poore and needy Mat. 5. 3. 7. Psal 37. 14. Sometimes good men Psal 37. 14 23. For the Sincere Christian is a compleat Christian Coll 2. 10. 4. 12. A perfect and entire Christian James 1. 4. Heb. 13. 21. And he that wants one grace or one grace in truth wants all grace That known position in Ethiques Quod virtutes sunt connexae is as true in Divinity as Morality so that he that hath not all hath indeed none at all and hence it is that true blessednesse is annexed to one of them Mat. 5. 3. Bles-sed are the poor in spirit c. And the sincere Christian is more or lesse all this Holy Wise Just Righteous c. So that by this work we shall see as in a glasse as well who is the Holy Just and Righteous man as who is the Sincere man This Sincerity now and the Sincere man are opposed to Hypocrisie and the Hypocrite And that they may more lively appeare in their colours we shall set them the one beside the other and in the next place give a description of Hypocrisy and the Hypocrite Hypocrisie What. Hypocrite Who. Hypocrisie is an evill frame of Spirit whereby a man would seem to be right towards God and to be carried to act really for him but in truth it is not so Or where a man pretends to more good towards God or Men without then is within him or whereby he would seem to himselfe or others to be better then he is He that hath this heart is said to have a heart and a heart or a double heart Psal 12. 2. Iames 1. 8. A crooked heart or perverse heart Prov. 12 8. and a divided heart Hosea 10. 2. 7. 14. And he that hath such a heart is he we intend by and call the Hypocrite The Nature of Hypocrisie But to open this Hypocrisie and the nature of it and to shew who we mean by this Hypocrite we are to know first of all that Hypocrisy stands in opposition to the Truth and reality of a thing and it stands also in opposition to the Sincerity of a mans intention in the thing and so Hypocrisy may be with reference to either of these 2. By the Hypocrite in generall we doe not intend one that appears worse then he is indeed as Peter did when he denied his Lord ' which yet he did not without Hypocrisy being so well acquainted with him Nor by the Hypocrite doe we intend one that acts this part for once or is deceitfull in one thing as Peter and some others with him were Gal. 2. 3 14. And as the best men sometimes may be and are unfainedly sorry for the same afterwards Nor doe we intend by the Hypocrite in generall such a man as by humane frailty only falleth into lesser sinnes Rom. 7. 17 19 For in many things we offend all Iames 3. 2. And there is not a man that liveth and sinneth not 1 Kings 8. 47. 1 Io. 1. 7 8. Deut. 32. 5. Nor doe we hereby intend him that by strength of Temptation may fall into greater sinnes against his purpose whereof he doth afterwards repent as David Solomon Peter and others did and the best of Gods own people may doe For as a man may be in some Acts without Hypocrisie and yet be an Hypocrite so a man may be Hypocriticall in some Acts and yet be sincere and there is some Hypocrisie in the best who at one time or other or in some things may appeare better then they are 3. But by the Hypocrite we meane him that is an Hypocritie through his heart and life one that for holinesse and goodnesse seems to others and perhaps also to himselfe to be what he is not but yet ought to be or one that desires to make a faire shew without of that goodnesse and holinesse which he hath not nor any root or foundation of within him He is one that seems to be and to act the part of a true Christian but is none he appears in the shape of a living Christian but is dead Rev. 3. 1. Thou hast a name to live but art dead Rom. 2. 28. He is not a Iew that is one outwardly He doth seem to be a Saint or Angell of Light and is a Devill Io. 6. 70. 2 Cor. 11. 14. Hence it is that Hypocrites are compared to Tares which are like to Wheat Matth 13. 25. As Hypocrisie is compared to Leaven Luke 12. 1. which cannot be known by sight so the Hypocrite is compared to a wolfe in a sheeps skin Mat. 7. 15. For the likenes and agreement that is in appearance between him and the true Christian for they are indeed very hardly to be known the one from the other And the
they lyed to him with their tongues for their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant Psal 50. 16. But to the wicked God saith What hast thou to doe to declare my statutes or that thou shouldest take my Covenant in thy mouth seeing thou hatest instruction Esay 1. 10 11. c. To what purpose the multitude of your Sacrifices c. Hosea 7. 14 15 16. They have not cryed to me with their heart when they howled on their beds c. they return but not to the most high they are like a deceitfull bow c. Tit. 1. 16. They professe that they know God but in workes they deny him Esay 41. 1 2 3. c. Heare ye ô howse of Iacob which are called by the name of Israell which came forth of the waters of Judah which sweare by the name of the Lord and make mention of the God of Israell but not in truth they call thēselves of the holy City c. thou art obstinate c. 2 Tim. 1. 2. 5. Having a forme of Godlinesse but denying the power thereof 1 Tim. 4. 2. Speaking lyes in Hypocrisie Tit. 1. 10. Deceivers c. Teaching for lucres sake Esay 58. 1 2 3. They seek me daily c. Esay 65. 5 8. Which say stand by thy selfe come not neare to me for I am holier then thou Mich. 3. 11. They leane upon the Lord and say c. Psal 106. 12. Then believed they his words They sang his praise they soon forgat his workes c. Mat. 7. 22. Luke 13. 27. Not every one that saith Lord Lord c. In thy name have we prophecied cast out Devills and done wonderfull things We have eaten and dranke in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets c. I know you not c. Such were the whole Nation of the Jewes that professed themselves to be Gods people and did not live like his people that gloryed in their having of the Law of God and kept it not that they were the Children of Abraham but did not walk in his steps that boasted of the Temple and worship but were unholy in their lives that came of Israel but were not the Israel of God nor true Israelites indeed Esay 10. 6. Rom 9. 6 7 8. Gal 6. 10. Io. 1. 46 47. Rom 2. 23 29. Esay 41. 1. Io 8. 33. Mat 3. 9. Such were the Scribes and Pharisees Mat. 23. 13. c. and 15. 7 8 9. The five foolish Virgins Mat. 25. 1 2. c. The three sorts of bad Hearers Luke 8. 12 13 14. And such are they that are spoken of in Psal 69. called the enemies of David and Christ and his Church v. 4. under the name of his Brethren and Mothers Children v. 8. and in Psal 139. throughout So in Psal 58. throughout 2 Pe. 2. 3. Col 2. 22. Iob 27. 8 9 10. Iosh 1. 16. Deut. 5. 20. And such are Intended by the Tares and bad fish in Mat 13. 25 38 48. And the house built upon the sand Mat 7. 23 24 25. Of such is it spoken Amos 5. 21. Micha 6. 7. Hosea 9. 4. and 8. 13. Ier 5. 1 2 3. and 9. 10. and 7. 21. Phil 1. 18. Psal 58. 1 2. Ezek. 1. 2. c. Ier. 11. 15. Mat. 7. 15. Rom. 16. 17 18. Acts 20. 30. Esay 66. 1 2 3 c. Esay 42. 1 2 3. c. 43. 24. Ezech 14 1 2. Psal 35. 16. compared with Psal 41. 6. And in divers other places of Scripture And all these in Scripture sense and in some degree are to be accounted Hypocrites And these Hypocrites in Scripture Language are How called called and said to be fooles Mat. 23. 17. Sinners evill doers Esay 1 4. Wicked and ungodly Jude 4. Psal 50. 16. Prov 15. 8. The children of the Divell Jo 8. 44. 1 Jo 3. 12. Devils Jo 6. 70. A generation of vipers Mat 3. 7. and 12. 34. The perverse Pro 12. 8. Such as are without the Spirit of Christ Jude ver 19. Such as forget God Psal 50. 16 22. Reprobates 2 Tim 3. 8. Out of Christ for he knoweth them not Mat. 7. 23. Treacherous Jer. 12. 1 2. Deceitfull Psal 109. 2. Unbelievers Jo 6. 64. 70. Workers of Iniquity Matth. 7. 23. And all this is true of them and therefore hereby also we may see who is not a child of God or in Christ but a Reprobate a wicked person or a Child of the Divell We will now passe to the sorts or kinds of Hypocrisie and Sincerity CHAP. II. Of the severall kinds of Hypocrisy and Sincerity And of the Severall sorts of Hypocrites HYpocrisie and so Sincerity also as to the kinds thereof are considerable in men diverse wayes 1. In reference to the man in whom it is in generall as it respects his heart in what he doth whether he be rotten or sound therein So Christ calleth the Pharises Hypocrites in Mat. 23. often 2. With reference to the matter wherein it is acted and sheweth it selfe And so it is considerable also Either in relation to the inward affections and motions of the heart or the words of the mouth or the works of the hands It is considerable as to the affections and motions of the heart within whether they be indeed as they seem to be in shew by the words and works without For a man may pretend to true Faith Love Repentance and other Graces and works of the Spirit whereof there may be some appearance or likenesse upon him and which he may think he hath in truth within him but hath it not indeed nor any thing but the picture and Image thereof only For there are some things like to that are not saving Graces and there is no saving Grace in truth in a Saint but there may be and is the likenesse of it in an Hypocrite There are naturall gifts and works arising from the naturall constitution and temper of a man And so a man may be naturally meeke loving kind mercifull curteous and peaceable There may be and are many very commendable qualities wrought in a man by Education reading example and the like And hereby some have attained to virtues like to saving Graces And there are Spirituall Gifts or common operations of the spirit of God distinct from saving grace which is called unfeighned grace 1 Tim. 1. 5. Acts 8 37. The grace of Gods Elect and Grace which doth accompany Salvation Tit. 1. 1. Heb. 6. 9. And so a man may have the appearance of any saving Grace and yet not have the Grace it selfe Mat. 23. 27 28. Jo. 2. 24. Psal 78. 36 7. Acts 8. 21 23. Psal 136. 11 12 13. Exod 14. 31. Rom. 12. 9. 2. Hypocrisie and Sincerity also are considerable as to the words whether they be so in the intention of the Speaker in themselves and may produce the effect they doe prima facie seeme to be and to produce Or they be not lyes spoken in Hypocrisie 1 Tim.
and 3. 9. Which say they are Jewes and are not but the Synagogue of Satan 2 Cor. 11. 13 14. False Apostles deceitfull workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ c. Rom 16. 18. By good words and faire speeches deceive the hearts of the simple to serve their bellies c. So many Papists and others at this day keep their formes and wayes of worship and pretend they are in the right way to salvation when they themselves know the contrary And that they doe so of purpose for some advantage to themselves The lesse Grosse Hypocrite we call him that is a grosse Heretick or Idolater as a Papist Arrian and the like or one that together with his profession is very loose in his conversation as those Hypocrites Isa 1. 1 2. c. and 2 Tim. 2. 3 4 5. The Refined Hypocrite is also more refined or lesse refined The Refined Hypocrite The more Refined Hypocrite is he that pretends to any thing of Grace and true Godlinesse without the which is in part only or he taketh to be altogether within The Nature of his Hypocrisie him So many a man in the profession of the Gospell and his carriage with-out pretends to truth of Grace within where there is something like it and he doth judge it to be there in Truth and that he is not an Hypocrite but upright And it is not to be doubted but that a man may be an Hypocrite and not know it He may doe all things according to the letter of the word right in appearance and as to the reality of what he doth in Truth and be hereupon perswaded that he hath grace in his heart in uprightnesse is in the favour of God and in a happy and safe estate and so continue to his dying day and yet be damned at last Prov. 14. 12. There is a way that seemeth right to a man but the end thereof are the wayes of death Prov. 30 12. There is a generation that are Pure in their own eyes and yet not washed from their filthinesse So Paul 1 Tim. 1. 13. The foolish Virgins Matt. 25 and the young Man Matt. 29. Were all of them reall in what they made shew of and pretended to And yet they were Hypocrites and so are all such as shall doe likewise as many doe at this day who pretend to be true Christians and Saints c. And doe make a profession of that and doe appeare to others and themselves to be such as they are not for they would be thought to be true Christians and yet have not the Soule of a true Christian within them Rom. 2. 28. For he is not a Iew that is one outwardly neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the flesh But he is a Iew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God Rev. 2. 2. Thou hast tryed them that say they are Apostles and are not and hast found them lyars The lesse refined Hypocrite we call him that possibly may either hold some more grosse opinions as some Superstitious Persons that are only Popish in some points or some worse practises or are not so exact in their lives as the former sort And yet perhaps may be secure and judge themselves in an estate good enough Ia. 1. 25. 26 So that we call them more or lesse Grosse as there is more of their wills and purposes by designe in their Profession and painted outside of good to device Or as their evill opinions and practises they hold or doe are more or lesse evill And more or lesse Refined as they are more or lesse privy to their own mistake and deceit or as the opinions or practises they hold or act are more or lesse dangerous This difference of Hypocrites the Apostle seems to hold forth 1 Tim. 1. 13. Acts 3. 17. I did it ignorantly so that there is a simple ignorant as well as a willfull knowing Hypocrite The first sort of these Hypocrites deceive others only But the latter sort deceive themselves also Iames 1. 21 26. If any seem to be Religious c. that deceiveth his own heart c. So the foolish virgins that were never disordered by the wise nor themselves till the gate of grace was shut upon them Some make a third sort of Hypocrite between the two forenamed ones and make him such a one that doth somewhat suspect himselfe and yet for some selfe ends continues and bears up in his profession as long as he can And amongst these diverse sorts of Hypocrites there are found these differences Or they may be distinguished thus 1. There is a malitious or spitefull Hypocrite and he is such a one as doth hate and maligne the true Christian and will doe to him all the mischiefe he can And this is such a one as for this is compared to a Viper or Serpent for his venome and mischiefe against and danger to the true Church And such were the Scribes and Pharises Matt. 12. 24. and 23. 33. Io. 6. 70. and 8. 44. called therefore Gods enemies Psal 109. 4 29. and 79. 26. 14. Esay 56. 6. your Brethren that hate you c. 2. There is a loose or carelesse Hypocrite one that together with his profession of Religion is very licentious and loose in his conversation Such were those in Esay 1. 1 10 11 12. c. and those in 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 3 4 5. 3. There is a strict or an exact Hypocrite one that for his outward conversation is as faire and looks as beautifull as the most Sincere Christian but is rotten within Such were the Foolish Virgins Mat. 25. 1 2. c. Hosea 7. 11. Mat 22. 17. Ob But it may be objected That we call him an Hypocrite that doth what he doth really and from his heart which is no Hypocrite Ans 1. We grant that men may be and are in their hearts within oft times in that which is evill in opinion and practise the same as they are in their profession and appearance without So we find in Pauls case Acts 28. 9. I verily thought with myselfe that I ought to doe many things against the name of Iesus c Christ tells his Disciples Io. 16. 2. that the time was coming that whosoever should kill them should think they did God service in it And we are perswaded that most of the Common people under the various formes of Religion in these times as Papists Quakers and the like are cordiall and doe take themselves to be in the right But 2. If we say to this farther that a man may doe many things well and in his own judgement and opinion according to the Law and Gospell of Jesus Christ and yet the person so doing be so farre from being a Sincere good Christian that he is all the while a desperate sinner and in that sense we now speak of an Hypocrite So it
he pretending to be a Christian be so indeed 1 Tim. 5. 3. Ioh. 1. 47. 8. 31. That he be by the immorrall seed of the word of God brought to be a believer in Christ and so in Christ by his Faith and Christ by his spirit in him For otherwise there is no being of a Christian no more then there is of a man that hath a Body and no Soule Gal 2. 20. Coll. 3. 12. and 1. 27. And if so then Christ is formed in him and he is thereby made at the same instant a new Creature like to Christ himselfe 1 Pe. 1. 23. Io. 1. 12. 13. Io 3. 4 5. Gal. 4. 19. That there be within him the foundation or root of Repentance from dead Works and Faith in God Heb. 4. 1. And thereby that Jesus Christ be laid in the heart for hereby only a man doth become a living and true Christian 1 Cor. 3. 11. Mat. 13. 21. herein lyeth a foundation for sincerity And Hypocrisie lyeth in the contrary hereof where a man shall pretend to be a Believer in Christ assume the body name and shape of a Christian and pretend to be a new Creature and true Christian and is not so indeed He is not as yet begotten againe 1 Pet 1. 3. He never saw his case by nature his need of Christ never was broken in heart went to Christ laden and as a sick man to his Physitian he never sought by Faith to have him into his heart but if he did look after Christ it was perhaps for some thing else Io. 5. 40. Esay 66 2. Mat 11. 28. Io. 3. 13 14 15. 16. Io. 6. 26 27. This man seemeth to be a living Christian but is dead Rev. 2. 1. as a building without any foundation Mat. 7. 24 25. c. A tree without a root Mat. 13. 21. Rev. 3. 9. That say they are Jews and are not Rom. 9. 6. They are not all Israel that are of Israell c. Nor are all they that appeare to be Christians and are so called Christians indeed Io. 1. 47. Rom. 2. 28 29. He is not a Jew that is one outwardly c. But he is a Jew that is one inwardly c. Esay 48. 1 2 3 c. and 41. 1. Rom. 2. 17. and 9. 6. Io 8. 33. Mat. 3. 9. And this may be the case of many professing Christians in the World at this day among Protestants of all sorts Lutherans Cal. vinists Presby erians Independents new Baptized men 5 Monarchie men Arminians Quakers and the rest and also amongst Papists SECT II. As he is taught of Christ 2. It lyeth much in this as the Professor is taught of Christ The true Christian he doth first of all come to Christ and is taught of him by his word and knows the Truth of the Gospell as it is in Jesus and carrieth the same with him to direct his way in his opinion and conversation For the first thing that the true convert doth at his conversion is to aske what he is to doe As did Paul Acts 9. 6. and the Gaylor Acts 16. 30. And the Converts Act. 2. 37 38. and to learne the knowledge of Gods ways Esay 22. Ephes 1. 18 19. Mat. 11. 25. 1 Cor. 2. 14. 2 Ioh. 1. 2 3. c. By this knowledge of the truth only are men regenerate 1 Cor. 4. 15. 1 Pet. 1. 3. And by this knowledge are men saved 1 Tim. 2. 4. Ephes 1 13. And therefore all the saved are said to be such as know the truth 2 Io. 1. 1. On the other side Hypocrisie lyeth in this That a man pretending to be a true Christian is ignorant and hath no ground or warrant for what he holdeth or practiseth but is led aside by his own or other Fancies into error in opinion or practise be he never so cordiall in it yet it is a peece of Insincerity 1 Tim 4. 2. Speaking lies in Hypocrisie Hence is that exhortation Eccles 5. 1. and 1 Chron. 28. 8. And so was Paul Hypocriticall in what he did before his conversion 1 Tim. 1. 13. Hence is that Phill. 1. 9. Io. 6. 45. Pro. 17. 2. Gal. 6. 16. 1 Cor 2. 13 14. SECT III. As he is obedient to what he is taught 3. It lyeth much in his Obedience to what he is taught The sincere Christian doth give himselfe up wholly to the obedience and practise of the will of Christ so revealed to him by his word that he is not only a hearer but a doer thereof and is made conformable to it and to bring forth the fruit of it his heart is so dissolved and melted by the work of the Spirit in it that it is become like wax made soft As this will take any impression of the Seale so that any Impression of the Spirit That he doth believe any thing which God doth promise and will doe any thing which God doth command especially the Gospell and doctrine of Salvation by Jesus Christ which he receiveth in the love thereof and resignes up himselfe to his obedience and is exact and circumspect in a holy walking with God according to the will of Christ Psal 119 1. 3. Phil 3. 17. 3 Io 4. Psal 26. 1. 6. Tit 2. 11 12. Act. 9. 6 7. Io. 1. 45 46 47. 2 Cor. 3 18. Acts 2. 37. 38 42. Acts 16. 31 32. c. Isa 2 2. Let us learne the knowledge of his ways and we will walk therein Rom 2. 13. Iames 1. 22. Mat. 3. 8. 9. Mat. 13. 22 23. the good hearer But otherwise for a man to heare Gods word never so much and so carefully and constantly to have or seem to have some love to and delight in it and to profit never so much in the knowledge of it and not at least in his desire and endeavour to live up and be made conformable â—o it but to be loose and carelesse in his conversation and life is but a piece of Hypocrisie And so are all that are enemies to or the false friends of Jesus Christ Mat. 7. 22 23. Many will say we have prophesied in thy name c. Luke 13. 26. We have eaten and drank in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets but he shall say I know ye not depart from me ye workers of Iniquity Notwithstanding all their faire pretences more then most have they were workers of iniquity even then when they wrought miracles For he saith I never knew you Mat 7. 23. that is I never loved you nor approved of you no not then when you eat in my presence preached in my name and by a faith of Miracles which Hypocrites may have cast out Devills The three sorts of bad hearers Herod Luke 6. the Pharises Luke 19. 14. Jo. 15. 18. 2 Thes 2. 10. Hosea 7. 8 14. Ezek. 33. 31. They heare thy words but doe them not Rom 16. 17. Amos 5. 10. Esay 1 13 2. c 48. 1 2. c. Psal 50. 16 17. thou hatest to be reformed c. 1
10. 1 Tim 1 5 2 Tim 1 5. And where a man doth pretend to a publick Reformation as a Magistrate his Sincerity or Hypocrisie therein will lye in this as he doth it not in part only as Jehu and others 1 King 10 28 29. but throughly to set up all that is good and take away all that is evill as did Josias Jehosaphat Nehemiah and others 2 Chron 34. 33. 2 Kings 23. 1 2. c. and 18. 5. 7. 1 Kings 10. 28 29. And where a man doth come pretending respect to God his word and Servants to heare c. It will lye in this as he doth or doth not intend any such thing or have the contrary in his heart as those Luke 10. 28 and 18. 18. Mat 22. 15 c. Io 8. 4. Prov 29. 5. Mark 1. 24. And where a man doth vow or promise to God his Sincerity or Hypocrisie therein will lye in this As he doth more or lesse mind and intend what he promiseth and take care to performe it Josh 1. 16. Mat 8. 19. Psal 22 25. and 60. 13. Eccles 5. 4 5. And where a man pretends acts of kindnes and friendship without to men His Sincerity or Hypocrisy therein will lye in this as he doth more or lesse intend it accordingly or intend the contrary to doe mischiefe Psal 35 16. compared with Psal 41. 6. 1 Sam 18. 21. Ier. 41 6 Psal 69 10. And where a man in his trouble shall repaire to Gods people and pretend a desire to have their prayers and advice his Sincerity or Hypocrisie herein will lye in this as he doth more or lesse really and indeed desire and esteeme and intend to make use of it Ezek. 14. 1 2. Iames 5. 13 14 16. Ier. 42. 1 2 3 19 20 21. and 43. 2 4. And where a man pretends to draw nigh to God in his service his Sincerity or Hypocrisie therein will lye in this As his heart is more or lesse present in and with or farre away and absent from the worke Ezech. 33. 31 32. Esay 29. 13. and 58. 1 2 3. Mark 7. 6. Mark 5. 1 2 3. Prov. 23. 26. Psal 9. 1. and 119. 10. And where a man pretends to be a Teacher and to goe himselfe and lead others to Salvation by the Truths of God His Sincerity or Hypocrisie will lye in this as he is more or lesse therein a true Teacher and goes himselfe and leads others in the Truth towards Salvation or by Error to destruction Esay 42. 18 19. Mat. 23. 13 15 24. SECT VII As his Intentions are more or lesse pure in his Actings Sincerity and Hypocrisy also doth lye much in the Purity or impurity of a mans Actings and his mind therein 2 Chron. 25. 2. 1 Cor. 5. 8. 1 Tim. 1. 5. The end of the Commandement is Love out of a pure heart c. 1. In his designe and aime in his first undertaking As the same is more or lesse at or for God and his Glory and the good of other men or at or for himselfe and his own ends Psal 101. 2. Io. 21. 15. Pro. 7. 14. Mat. 23. 6 7 13. Rom 15. 17 18. Mat 6. 6. Hosea 7. 7 8 9. Micha 3. 11 2. In his Principle and motive As he doth therein more or lesse look upon himselfe his selfe-Credit Selfe-ease Selfe-content Selfe-profit Selfe-praise or Selfe-safety and is carried forth therein out of love to himselfe Or looks upon God and is carried forth from the love of God the feare of God and his displeasure a desire to please him Love to the thing to be done and love of men and Conscience of his obedience to the command of God therein Or as he is carried forth with a love of and a desire after the praise of men Or is carried forth from the feare to displease or care to please men 1 Cor 13. 1. 1 Sam 15. 22 23 24 30. Mat. 14. 5. and 21. 46. Heb. 6. 10. 2 Cor. 11. 11. and 5. 14. 1 Pe. 1. 8. and 3. 14. Ephes 4 15. Psal 116. 1. Iob 31. 4 14 23. Io. 5. 41 42 c. 1 Kings 18. 3. Exod. 1. 16 17. Mat. 6. 6. Hosea 7. 7 8. Tit. 1. 10. Mark 11. 18. Acts 20. 30. Psal 78 33 34 36 Io. 9. 22. and 12. 43. 3. In his way in the generall As the Religion he falls into be more or lesse pure and undefiled and according to the word of God or corrupt and false as the thing he doth is more or lesse good or evill forbidden or not commanded James 1. 17. Hosea 7. 8. 2 Kings 17. 33. Zeph. 1. 5. Rev. 3. 15. 16. Mat. 23. 4 16. 4. As he that doth act is or is not a man of a pure heart as his heart is or is not cleansed by the blood of Christ applyed by Faith in his justification and by the Spirit and word of Christ in his Sanctification 1 Tim. 1. 5. Mat. 23. 27 28. and 12. 34. Io. 15. 3 4. 5. In the manner of doing thereof 1. As it is done more or lesse after the pure Rule of Gods word or after his own or other mens fancies and inventions Gal. 6. 16. Acts 13. 36. Mat. 15. 1 2 3. c. 2. As it is done more or lesse with the whole heart and cheerfully and willingly or faintly and coldly unwillingly or grudgingly Psal 119. 10 24. Heb 10. 12. Goll 3. 22. Acts 17. 11. Psal 110. 3. 1 Pe. 5. 1 2. c. 3. As it is done with a mind and heart more or lesse prepared or unprepared to the work 2 Chron. 12. 14. and 20. 33. and 19. 3. and 29. 36. Psal 108. 1. 4. As it is done more or lesse in and with the feare of God as well as in the Feare of men Coll. 3. 22. Ephes 6. 6. 2 Sam. 23. 3. 5 As it is done more or lesse in the love of God arising from his love to him in Christ and from his love to other men or from his love to himselfe alone 1 Cor. 13. 1 2 Gal. 5. 13. 1 Tim. 1. 10. Phil. 1. 15. 6. As it is done more or lesse with Faith unfeyned or ignorantly and doubtingly in unbelief 1 Tim. 1. 10. Rom. 14. 1 2 3. c. Heb. 11. 46. 7. And as it is done more or lesse to Right and pure ends either to God or to a mans selfe as to his ultimate highest and chief end Hosea 7. 7 8. Esay 58. 1 2 c. Ephes 6. 6. 1 Cor. 6. 20. and 10. 31. That is with these considerations 1 That in the work how meane soever it be he hath to doe not only with men but with God also Ephes 6. 6. 2. That the eye of God as well as of man is upon him in it Psal 16. 8. Ephes 6. 6. 3. That he shall be rewarded by God for what he doth according to his doing thereof Ephes 6. 8. 2 Tim 4. 8. Coll 3. 24. Mat. 6. 2. 4. And with an ayme and desire most of all to
please God in it Ephes 6. 8. Gal 1. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 9. Coll 3. 17 22 23. 1 Thes 2. 4. 2. And as his ends in the thing to be done are more or lesse upon himselfe Either to remove or prevent some evill felt or feared only Hosea 7. 14. Psal 78. 33 34. Or to gaine some good as the praise applause and favour of men Riches pleasure ease or content Mat 6. 6. and 23. 4. 13. 1 Sam 15. 25 30. Acts 8. 13 19. 1 Pe. 5. 2. Rom 16. 17 18. Micha 3. 11. Or to cover over some wickednesse in doing or to be done Prov. 7. 14 21 22. Mat 23. 14. and 6. 5 6. Or as his ends are more or lesse upon and for the glory and praise of God Coll. 3. 22. Gal 2. 10. Io. 17. 4. Phill 1. 21. 1 Cor. 10. 31. 2 Cor. 5. 14. And to please men Acts 12. 3. Ier 3. 10. Ephes 6. 6. or as his ends are more or lesse for the good and profit of men especially good men and especially the good of their soules 2 Cor. 5. 9 10. Gal. 1. 10. and 6. 10. Acts 13. 36. 1 Cor. 10. 31 33. Io. 21. 15. And this is discovered or may appeare more or lesse as the glory of God or our own advantage is more or lesse upon our hearts or we make it our designe or work and as we can more or lesse doe or not doe it or be contented or not contented with or displeased at it when it is to our own losse and disadvantage 2 Cor. 13. 7 8 9. c. As for examples in the work of Rule of Churches Common-wealths and Families the Sincerity or Hypocrisy lyeth and is much shewed by the putting forth of their power to the uttermost or by halves in the work of Reformation by their care and industry or negligence by their faithfulnesse or trechery but especially by the tendernesse of the good of the Ruled that the Rulers doe preferre the good of those over whom they have Rule before their own good Psal 78. 72. 1 Tim. 2. 2 3. Rom. 12. 8. 1 Pet. 5. 2 3. 2 Kings 15. Nehem. 5. 14. Rom 10. 1 2 c. Ezra Nenemiah Jehosaphat Josias and others And on the other side Jehu Saul and others And in the work of Preaching much is to be seen thereof in the man as he Preacheth more or lesse the Truth of the Gospell without any mixture of Error or of mens inventions as he doth more or lesse advance the grace and glory of God and not his own glory as he doth more or lesse labour to please God more then men as he doth more or lesse seek the good of the soules of the people more then his own good And as his Preaching is with more or lesse faithfulnesse and ingenuity without subtilty and deceit playnes without craft or obscurity boldnesse without feare wisdome watchfulnesse care and industry without improvidence and neglect Freedome without flattery Cheerfullnesse without wearinesse humility without Lording tendernesse and meeknesse without harshnesse peaceablenesse without contention and Love without envy and the like And by these things also the Hypocrisy of men herein may be much seen as they are more or lesse imperious contentious seditious crafty menpleasing self seeking the like 2 Cor 4. 2. 5 1 Thess 2. 2 3 4 5 6. 2 Tim 1. 7 14. 2. 15. 1 Pet. 4. 11. 1 Tim 1. 3. and 4. 2 16. 2 Cor 3. 12 13. 1 Cor 2. 4. and 4. 5. Luke 12. 42. Mat 13. 52. 1 Pet 5. 2 3. Phil 1. 16. 1 Cor 9. 22. Rom 10. 1 2 c. So in Masters to their Servants and Servants to their Masters in the service they doe The Servants in their services as they doe it more or lesse In all things with feare and trembling in singlenesse of heart as unto Christ not with eye service as men pleasers but in singlenesse of heart fearing God and as the Servants of Christ that in whatsoever they doe of the will of God they doe it heartily with good will doing service as to the Lord and not to men knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth the same he shall receive of the Lord. And as Masters doe the same things and not oppresse their Servants Coll 3. 22 23 24 25. Ephes 6. 6 7 8 9. SECT VIII As a man doth persevere 8. Sincerity and Hypocrisy doe lye and are much seen in this in mens constancy perseverance and holding out in their Appearances of good or in their starting aside Apostasy and backsliding from it Mat 13. 22 23. 1 Jo. 2. 19. Jo. 10 28. 1 Io. 3. 9. Phil. 4. 12. Io 8. 68. Rev. 2. 10. 2 Tim. 2. 17 18. 1 Sam. 13. 8. and 28. 7. 2 Kings 1. 2. Psal 27. 4. 2 Tim. 4. 10 14. 1 Tim. 1. 20. Acts 20. 30. Io 19. 38. and 9. 22. and 7. 13. and 6 66. SECT IX As a mans opinion is of himselfe 9. It lyeth also much in this as a man with all his parts gifts and works is more or lesse lifted up within himselfe with selfe-conceitednesse of his own excellency to despise others and doth trust in himselfe and his own righteousnesse or hath low or mean thoughts of himselfe esteeming others better then himselfe and accounts of all that he hath done when he hath done all he can but as lesse then his duty and himselfe but an unprofitable servant therein and being poor in spirit as he doth more or lesse trust to the Mercy of God in Jesus Christ and take up his eternall rest and lodging in Jesus Christ alone for salvation Heb. 4. 4. Luke 18. 11 15. Psal 130. 3. 1 Tim. 1. 15. Luke 17. 10. Isa 65. 5. Ezek 20. 43. Gal. 6. 14. Esay 66. 2. SECT X. As a man doth take the reproofe of Sinne. 10. And lastly Sincerity and Hypocrisie in a man lies much in this that being fallen into sinne as he doth more or lesse deny defend hide shift or mince it or quarrell with them that reprove him and hold it fast Or as a man is more or lesse willing to see his sinne to be reproved and loves the reprover and as a man doth more or lesse readily and ingeniously confesse it and labour to leave it 2 Sam 12. 7 8 c. 13. Psal 141. 5. Pro. 28. 13. 1 Io. 1. 9. Gen. 3. 10. and 4. 9. 1 Sam 15. 14 15. Iob. 31. 33. We shall now in the next place endeavour to cleare a doubt that lyeth in the way in reference to our Subject matter in hand and to answer some objections touching the same CHAP. IV. Whether the Truth of Grace doe lye in the degree or Quantity or in the Quality and Nature of it THere are some that make a new and another kind of Hypocrisie and say it is where there is truth of Grace within but yet not saving grace Or would have the truth of Grace to consist only in the degree or measure thereof and so admit Hypocrites to have
have it 2. He thinks he hath true grace and will not be perswaded to the contrary as one of a thing he dreameth 3. That the Hypocrite himselfe be he here a member of a true visible Church and never so glorious a professor is in Gods account and in truth no Christian no more then the picture of a man is a man Nor is part of Christs mysticall body more then an artificiall Eye Tooth or Legge is a part of the body to which it is annexed And yet for his outward appearance he is said to be in Christ Io. 15. 2. Every Branch in me that beareth not fruit c. Rom. 2 17. Matt. 23. 27. Ye are like painted Sepulchres which appeare beautifull c. Rom. 2. 28 29. He is not a Jew that is one outwardly c. Rev. 2. 9. Them that say they are Jewes and are not c. Rev. 2. 2. and 3. 9. That the works done by the Hypocrite albeit they are sometimes said to be works done because they seem so to others and so they think themselves Psal 78. 35 36. Yet are they not works really and truly done nor done to or for God and therefore he doth look upon and account of them as workes not done at all or as evill deeds Hosea 10. 1. Israel is an empty vine c. Esay 1. 11. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices c. Who hath required this at your hands c. Bring no more vaine oblations c. Esay 58. 5. Is this the fast that I have chosen c. Zach. 7. 6. When ye fasted c. did ye at all fast unto me even to me And when ye did Eat and when ye drink in your holy feasts did ye not Eat for your selves and drink for your selves Hos 7. 14. They have not cryed unto mee when they howled c. For as the prayer of the heart not uttered by the mouth is notwithstanding a Prayer in Gods account so the Prayer of the tongue not in the heart may be said to be no Prayer to God at all 1 Sam 1. 13. In this sense Rom. 2. 28. it is said that Circumcision outward and not in the heart is no Circumcision And so for the common Graces or gifts that are in the heart of an Hypocrite albeit they be sometimes for the likenesse they have to the true Graces called by their names Esay 48. 2. Io 2. 23. Esay 58. 2. Micha 3 11 17. yet coming from an evill man and out of an evill heart they cannot be good Mat 7. 11. 12. 35 The Lord doth not account of them nor are they to be esteemed in a Theologicall or spirituall sense as any Graces at all no more then painted fire is fire or a thing a man doth fancy in his dreame the thing it selfe or counterfeit coyne true coyne And as God herein takes the will for the deed in that which is not so in that which is the deed without the will not to be at all hence it is Io. 6. 64 70. that Judas albeit he had a temporary faith yet he is said not to believe But for the Text objected in Mat. 23. 24. That from him that hath not that hath not indeed shall be taken what he hath These words are in Luke 8. 18. Resolved and expounded thus And whosoever hath not from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have or thinketh he hath Ob. It may perhaps be farther objected that the oyle which the foolish Virgins that were Hypocrites had was the same kind of oyle which the wise Virgins had Matt. 25. 1 2. c. Ans For Answer to this we say 1. That Theologica parabolica non est argumentativa 2. That it is true that the text saith that the foolish Virgins had oyle in their Lamps but it cannot appeare by the text to be of the same kind of oyle that the wise Virgins had Nor is it probable to be so for the wise had their supply about them but the foolish theirs from without them We grant the Hypocrite to have seeming Grace or gifts but not of the same kind with the true Christian whose oyle is of another kind fed by the spirit of God within him which spirit the Hypocrite hath not His seeming grace hath no rooting as the feed of the stony and High way ground and the building on the sand It hath not the causes of the true Graces that are in the heart of the true Christian it is not so rooted and bottomed upon Christ and his spirit it works not so downward to break and humble the heart for sinne and that out of a deep sense of the love of God and Christ so as to engage and fasten in it a root and foundation of love towards God and his people for his sake that can never be razed out but will be increasing and growing still according to the promise of our Saviour Ioh. 14. 16. 17. And I will pray the Father he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever The Hypocrite is a tree that beareth fruit like as the true Christian doth but not a good tree and therefore bringeth not forth good fruit as the true Christian doth But the common grace of the Hypocrite is a loose and slight piece of work in the soule an opinion and fancy of Faith Joy and Peace like to a building on the Sand and to a rootlesse plant standing on his own bottome and loose and not engrafted into the tree Without any true love to Christ sense of sinne change of the heart or any such like thing and therefore will not stand under any storme will not abide any Temptation but will fall downe dry and wither away and come to naught Ob. But it may perhaps be farther objected out of the Parable of the divers sorts of hearers Mat 13. That the same kind of grace that was in the bad hearers was also in the good hearer and differed only in degrees Ans To this we answer That the scope of that Parable is only to comfort and satisfy the Disciples as touching the fewnesse of them that did receive the Gospell and profit by the Preaching thereof And it was to lay open the various effects of the Preaching of the Gospell the meanes of begetting and increase of the saving grace of Gods elect and of the common grace of the Hypocrite by the comparison of the Sower and his sowing of seed corne in the ground That the effect thereof is various according to the ground in which it is cast That where the word falls into a stony heart Ezech. 36. 26. and a heart lost in the love of the world Jer. 4. 4 James 4 4. 1 Jo. 2. 19. Which is alwaies a wicked heart there it is fruitlesse and lost But where the word meets with a good and honest heart which is a heart broken and contrite for sinne and a heart that loveth God more then the world of
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
glister be not gold yet all gold doth more or lesse glister But in the true Christian there is and must be another Spirit then that which is in other men Numb 14. 24. He must be something more and have something in him beyond what is in the Hypocrite or he cannot be saved Mat. 5. 20. Except your righteousnesse exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees you cannot enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Mat. 5. 47. What singular thing doe yee The differences then that we find between the motion and operation of true grace in the true Christian and of counterfeit Grace in the Hypocrite are Either in the Rise Principle or spring of it or in the proceed and end of it SECT I. In the Rise Root or Spring of true and Counterfeit Grace in them The first of these is as the Root in relation to the Tree or tree to the fruit or spring to the streames We shall open it first in the Root or Spring and then in Fruit or Streames The maine thing wherein the difference seems to lye is in something which is secret and invisible which is called a hidden life Coll. 3. 3. The hidden man of the heart 2 Pet. 3. 4. and that which is within us Luke 17. 20 21. and the hidden Manna a white stone and therein a new name written which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it Rev. 2. 17. and the Inward part and hidden part Psal 51. 6. And it is said to passe knowledge and understanding Phill 4 7. To be unspeakable 1 Pet. 1. 8. And they in whom it is are called Gods Secret or hidden ones Psal 83. 3. The foolish Virgins wanted nothing that the wise had in sight but they wanted this hidden wisdome 1 Cor 2. 7. The secret and inward work of Grace in their hearts This Secret and hidden work then lieth in this That the true Christian in order to the execution of Gods eternall decree for his Salvation having a new nature wonderfully formed in him by his spirit is by faith in a Spirituall and Mysticall way to be united to Christ as a body to the head and building to its foundation and to have his Spirit dwelling in him And the Soule and the Body is as one body animated by Christ as the Soule thereof so that Christ is said to live in him dwell in him and walk in him And the Christian to live by him So that as we all in the state of corrupt nature partake of the nature of the first Adam even so all that are saved partake of the divine nature of Christ the second Adam 2 Pet. 1. 4. Gal 2. 20. I am crucified with Christ neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the saith of the Sonne of God Joh 5. 26. 2 Cor 13. 5. 2 Tim 2. 14. Rom. 8. 10 11. If Christ be in you c. But if the spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall quicken your mortall bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you Jo. 14. 16 17. 1 Io 5. 12. He that hath the Sonne hath life c. And together with this union ariseth our Regeneration or the new Creature called the New man Ephes 4. 24. which after God is created in Righteousnesse and true Holinesse Compared to a new engrafted Tree that brings forth the fruits of Love joy Peace Long-suffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Faith Meeknesse and Temperance Gal. 5. 22 23. This great work in reference to the Fruits and effects of it is compared to and set forth by severall things as 1. By the Oyle in the vessell which the foolish Virgins wanted Mat 25. 1 2 3. c. to note that there must be something within to feed and maintaine the life of grace and holinesse in a true Christian which Christ by his Spirit doth give forth to every true believing Christian that is a member of his mysticall body Io. 15 1 2 c. Heb. 1. 9. Psal 133. 2. 2. By the Root of a Tree or Hearb in relation to the Tree or hearb Rev 22. 16. I am the Root c. Rom 15. 12. There shall be a root of Jesse and he that shall rise to raigne Rom. 11. 17. Job 19. 28. To note that the true Christian hath all his life and vertue from Christ by his spirit as the Tree hath its life and vertue from the root of it Coll. 2. 6 7. As ye have therefore received Christ Iesus the Lord so walke ye in him rooted and built up in him c. 3. By the earth that feeds the Tree Mat. 13. 6. To note that Christ must feed the true Christian or he will not be fruitfull 4. By the Tree in relation to the branches thereof Io 15. 1 2 3. c. I am the true vine c. Every branch in mee c. To note that the Christian hath his rise support growth and feeding from Christ 5. By the strong foundation of a Building in relation to the building Ephes 2. 20. And are built upon the foundation c. Iesus Christ himselfe the chief corner stone c. In whom you also are builded together for an habitation by the spirit Coll. 2. 7. rooted and built up in him 1 Cor. 3. 11. 1 Pe. 2. 4 5. To note that the true Christian as a Christian hath all his Rise and Support from Christ 6. By the engrafting of a Cion of a Sprig in a Tree in relation to the Stock Rom. 6. 5. To note that all the good that comes from him is from Christ being incorporated into him 7. By a lively spring in relation to the streams thereof Zach 13. 1. Jo. 4. 14. 7. 38 39. To shew that all the operations of grace within us issue from the spirit of Christ within us 8. And by a new Birth or Resurrection from death to life in Relation to the operations of Life Jo. 3. 3. Ephes 2. 1. Jo. 5. 25. To note that all the motions Acts and works of grace in the true Christian move from this new life Coll. 3. 3. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God 2 Cor. 4 10. That the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortall flesh c. Now this union between Christ and the true Christian soule and the presence of Christs Spirit in the soule is not at all to be found in the case of the Hypocrite and that work that is wrought in his heart for he hath neither the Spirit of God nor Faith Jude v. 19. Jo. 6. 64. There is no such root of the matter in him which we have spoken of Iob. 19. 28. But rather there is still in him the root of Bitternesse Acts 8. 23. that will bear fruit accordingly and he stands by himselfe and at a distance from Christ He is therefore a Lamp burning that hath no more to maintain
the heart of an Hypocrite is without root or foundation the 〈◊〉 e is no spring within to feed or maintaine it but it is as a plant ungrasted or as water in a poole or cisterne Mat. 13. 21. Mat. 7. 26. The parables of the severall sorts of hearers and of the house built on the sand 2. True grace in the heart of a true Christian doth flow naturally from it as the water out of a spring that will still issue forth and as the operations of life move in a living body which cannot be stopt while the body is alive Acts 19. 20. We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard Io. 7. 38. Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water this he spoke of the spirit which they that believe on him should receive c. 1 Io 3. 3. Acts 15. 9. Phill. 2. 20. Psal 119. 174. and 40. 8. and 39. 3. Pro. 10. 11. 1 Pe. 2. 2 But the motions and operations of that seeming grace which is in the heart of an Hypocrite are forced and come heavily as water drawne up by a Pumpe bucket or such like engine and as the motions of seeming life in a dead body made by art after the fashion of men and beasts which have been made to act and doe like to living beasts and men He is as a Cisterne that hath no water any longer then it is powred in it Mat. 13. 21. Yet hath he not root in himself but dureth for a while 3. The true grace in the heart of a true Christian is for the most part quick lively active and vigorous as the spring water is and the motions of life in the living part of the body are the more it doth the more it may move and act Heb. 6. 10. Your labour of love Acts 15. 9. Purifying their hearts by Faith 1 Io. 3. 3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifyeth himselfe c. Jo. 7. 38 39. 1 Pe. 1. 3. Vnto a lively hope c. But the common work of the spirit in the Hypocrite is not so but dull dead and ineffectuall Iames 2. 20. Faith without works is dead He is not so active within in his heart towards God as he is without in his tongue but his heart acts another way for this doth naturally in him work wickednes Ps 58. 2. Ezek. 33. 33. With their mouth they shew much love but their heart goeth after their coveteousnesse And he doth no more in his heart towards the things that are good then an Artificiall leg or tooth to the motions of life in the body Jam. 2. 17. 4. True grace out of the heart of a true Christian doth commonly flow out abundantly as the water out of a lively Spring Jo. 7. 38 39. Out of his belly shall flow Rivers c. But that which is within the heart of an Hypocrite is but little and of another kind That therefore that the Hypocrite receiveth herein is compared to a Tast that which is as by a Gargarisme in the mouth received in but that the true Christian receiveth to eating and drinking or to the vertue and strength he gets by strong a Cordiall which remaineth Heb 6. 4 5. 5. The true grace in the heart of the true Christian is fixed constant and certaine as the Root of a tree and doth establish him that hath it Heb. 13 9. But that which appeares in an Hypocrite is fleeting transient and incertaine like to a thin vapour or Cloud Jade v 12. Clouds they are without water carried about with wind Hosea 6. 4. Your goodnesse is as a morning cloud and as the early dew it goeth away 6. The true grace in the true Christian is commonly increasing growing as the young tree or child Psal 84. 7. They goe from strength to strength 2 Thess 1. 3 Your faith groweth exceedingly Psal 1. 2. But otherwise it is in that which is in the Hypocrite because it lacketh root it doth not grow but wither away Ma. 13. 6 21. Because they had no root they withered away 7. The true grace albeit it doth grow yet it doth commonly grow leasurely and by degrees Heb 5. 12. Jer 14 9. Luke 24. 25. But that which is in the Hypocrite is soon up and groweth very fast Mat 13. 20 21. And in him the proverb is fulfilled Soon ripe soon rotten 8. True Grace in the true Christian as it is pure in it selfe so is it of a purifying and cleansing nature it worketh out sinne and corruption out of the heart As the Spring the dirt that is within it Acts 15. 9. Purifying their hearts by faith 1 Pe. 1. 22. Seeing ye have purified your soules c 1 Io. 3. 3. Io 7. 38 39. But otherwise it is in the heart of the Hypoc 〈◊〉 ite which is still as filthy as ever it was Acts 8. 23 Thou art in the gall of bitternesse c. Mat. 23 25 27. Within they are full of wickednesse 9. The true Grace in the heart of the true Christian is very powerfull prevalent and victorious as a lively Spring or flood of water that doth carry all before it it will make its way through all difficulties till it hath attained its end 1 Io. 5. 4. Whatsoever is borne of God overcometh the World Ro. 8. 35 38 39. What shall separate us c Ephe. 1. 19. And what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us word who believe c. Cant 8. 6 7. Love is as strong as death Rom. 8. 37. We are more then conquerors c. 1 Cor. 4 20. The kingdome of God is not in word but in power 1 Thess 1. 5. But the common work of the Spirit in the heart of an Hypocrite hath no such power or prevalency in it but it may be easily interrupted and abated by temptation or opposition Mat. 13. 6 21. Job 8. 13. 12. And lastly true Grace out of the heart of the true Christian doth issue continually without end as a lively Spring that is seldome or never dry Io 7. 38 39. Psal 1. 3. But it is otherwise with the common work in the heart of the Hypocrite this like a standing poole in a dry Summer doth often faile altogether it is therefore said to be mortall and corruptible 1 Pe. 1. 23. And very often Hypocrites doe discover themselves by a totall and finall Apostasie Job 8. 13. Mat. 13. 6 21 22. 1 Io. 2. 9. If yet you shall desire to see more particularly the differences that there are between the true Christian and the Hypocrite we shall in the next place lay downe some of them CHAP. VII The differences that are between the true Christian and Hypocrite in some particulars AND now having hinted at the generall differences that are between the operations of true of counterfeit grace in the heart of a true and false Christian we shall descend to some particulars and speak to these heads 1 The difference that is between the outside or the outward
And sometimes he takes offence at some word or work of God or by some other occasion and falls clean away by Apostasy 1 Jo 2 19. 2 Tim. 4 10. 1 Sam 13. 8. 28. 7. Luke 18. 22. Mark 6. 20. And thus much of the differences between them in their outside SECT II. The Differences between the saving work of Gods Spirit in the true Christian and the common work in the Hypocrite We come now to the Second head to speak of their Inside And herein shall observe the differences that there are between the saving and reall Graces of the true Christian and the counterfeit Graces of the Hypocrite in some particulars 1. In their Knowledge The true Christian hath and must have the knowledge of God for without this the heart cannot be good Prov. 19. 2. And so the Hypocrite may have and hath also But there are these differences between the knowledge of the one and the knowledge of the other 1. The knowledge of the true Christian is commonly a more clerae and distinct knowledge Phill. 1. 9 10. Mat 13. 11. But that of the Hypocrite a more generall confused and obscure knowledge and such was the knowledge of the Scribes and Pharisees of the Scripture 2. That of the true Christian is more certain as being grounded upon the Scripture and also upon some practise and experience of the things known And it is like to the knowledge that a man hath of meats drinks and medicines by the view tast and trial over and besides his reading of them And to the knowledge that a man hath of a Country that he hath dwelt walked in and beheld with his own eyes over and above his knowledge thereof by the Mappe Phill. 1. 9 10. Heb 5. 14. Psal 34. 8. 1 Pet 2. 3. But that of the Hypocrite is only speculative and discoursive like to the knowledge that a man hath of a farre Country by a Mappe or by reading of it or to the knowledge that a man hath of the vertues of meats medicines by the reading thereof only Mat. 23. 16. 17. Jo 3. 10. Acts 22. 3. Phill. 3. 4 5 6. 3. That of the true Christian is alwaies accompanied with a desire and labour of increase thereof and the more he hath the more he desireth and laboureth to have still Phill. 1. 9 10. Coll 1. 10. 2 Pet 3. 18. But in that which the Hypocrite hath it is otherwise for he being full cares for no more thereof nor doth he desire it farther then it will make to his advantage in his designe he drives Job 21. 14. Rev. 3. 17 18. 4. That of the true Christian is a Spiritualizing knowledge it doth spirituallize the man and his heart in whom it is 2 Cor. 5. 16. 1 Cor 2. 7 14. Mat. 13. 11. But that of the Hypocrite is carnall earthly naturall and sensuall as the man in whom it is is And hence it is that he takes things yea the most spirituall things carnally Io. 3. 4 9. and 6. 41 45 52 60 63 66. 2 Cor 2. 14. and 4. 3. 5. That of the true Christian is a lively effectuall and working knowledge that produceth great and lasting effects in the heart and life of him in whom it is It is like to fire that doth not only give light but heate purify consume and otherwise work according to the matter on which it cometh and wherewith it meeteth and so it is 1. A heart affecting knowledge For thereby and therewith there is wrought and kindled in the heart deere affections towards the things known God Christ Word Christians and other known spiritualls a high esteem of a vehement love to delight in an ardent and strong appetite as of the child after the mothers breast after the enjoyment of them Psal 119. 72 97 103 162. 1 Pe. 2. 3. Phill 3. 8. and 1. 9. 1 Cor. 2. 2. 1 Cor 8. 1. 1 Io. 4. 7 8. Cant. 6. 1. But that of the Hypocrite is a remote knowledge that doth swimâ—â—e in the braine onely and doth never come neer to the heart it is a cold flat and dead knowledge that either doth not at all affect the heart with any life or hear or if it doth it is but sleightly and for a little time and it is soon quenched againe Ezech 33. 31. Mat. 13. 11 20. Mark 4. 6. 2. It is a heart purging knowledge for hereby the heart is more and more purged from its sinne and wrought and changed into an holy frame after the likenesse of the word as the wax to the Seale put upon it 2 Cor. 3. 18 1 Pet. 1. 22. Ye have purified your soules in obeying the truth c. 1 Pe. 2. 3. Jam 3. 17 1 Io. 3. 6. But it is not so in the heart of the Hypocrite his heart is not changed at all or not changed throughly and to purpose Heb. 4. 5 6 and 11. 12 but he continues therein as bad or worse then ever he was Acts 8. 21. 22. Rom. 1. 32 3. It is a heart humbling and Souleabasing knowledge It makes a Christian vile and despicable in his owne eyes the more he sees of God and Divine Mysteries the more humble selfe emptie selfe denying and selfe abhorring he is Iob. 42. 5. 6. Rom. 7. 18. 24. Gal. 2. 20. Phil. 3. 7. 8. 1 Cor. 15. 9 Ephes 3. 8. 1 Tim. 1. 15. But that of the hypocrite doth puffe him up So the knowledge of the Pharisees puffed them up Io. 9. 40. Are we blind also 1 Cor. 8. 1. And this knowledge in Gods account is no knowledge at all 1. Cor. 8. 2. 4. It is a life-reforming knowledge and obedientiall and practical knowledge and makes him in whom it is fruitfull in all good workes 1 Ioh. 2. 3. Hereby we know that we know him if we keep his commandements Iames 3. 17. the wisdome that is from above is c. full of good workes 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding the glorie of the Lord are changed unto the the same Image 1. Ioh. 4. 6. Joh. 13. 17. But that of the Hypocrite is but seldome so and if it doe worke upon him any change of reformation it is but in the outside only but generally he is a hearer and Talker but no Doer of the word Mat. 23. 3. they say and doe not v. 27. ye appear beautifull outward but within c. are ful of all uncleaner 1. Jo. 2. 3. 4. 6 The knowledge of the true Christian is a communicative knowledge in order to the edification of others wife children servants neighbours c. It is still scattering and dispering it selfe abroad Prov. 15 7. His lips disperse knowledge Psal 112. 9. He hath dispersed c. Psal 51. 12. 13. But the Hypocrite he either hides his Talent or if he doe imploy it he doth it to advance his owne prayse or to further his owne corrupt ends Mat. 25. 25. I was afraide and hid my Talent c. Mat. 23. 15. ye compasse
is only to appear and seem beautiful Mat. 23. 25 27. Ye make clean the outside c. but within are ful of all uncleanness 1 Kings 21. 1 2 3 c. But the maine study and labour of the sincere Christian is to mortifie his evil affections to put out the fire of his lust his covetousnes pride uncleanness envy anger and the like Job 31. 1. I made a covenant with mine eyes why then should I think on a maid and v. 24. If I have made gold my hope c. Psalm 19. 12. Cleanse thou me from secret faults c. 1 Cor. 9. 27. But I kee under my body Rom. 8. 3. Col. 3. 15. SECT XXI In their new obedience in the general and the exactness and compleatness thereof The sincerre Christian as he is a new creature so he is to yeeld and perform a new obedience to God in Christ in his doing and suffering of the will of God according to the Gospel Rom. 16. 19. 26. 1 Pet. 1. 22. Rom. 6. 17. The Hypocrite he doth somewhat like unto this for the unclean spirit seems to be cast out of him Mat. 12. 13. But there is a vast difference between them herein also 1 In the person doing 2 In the thing done 1 In the person doing The sincere Christian looks to it that he himself be rightly qualified for the work that he himself be good and accepted of God that he be in Christ by faith so a new creature otherwise his works cannot be accepted Deut. 33. 10 11. Gen. 4. 4 5. God had respect to Abel and his offering c. But the hypocrite hath no regard of this but being stil in his sins without the wedding garment of Christs righteousness upon him his work is not accepted God heareth not sinners Joh 9. 31. Mat. 24. 11 12. Pro. 28. 9. 2 In the thing done The obedience of the sincere Christian flows from the true and right principle viz the new nature from his being renewed by the Spirit of God Phil. 1. 11. But the the obedience of the Hypocrite floweth from corrupt principles 1 Pet. 1. 22 23. 2 The new obedience of the sincere Christian is regular and orderly He is first taught and commanded he heareth what he is to beleeve and doe and then hee is obedient to it Jer. 31. 19. After that I was instructed I smote upon the thigh c. Acts 9. 6. and 16. 30. and 2. 37 38. Isa 2. 2. Ephes 1. 13. In whom ye trusted after that ye heard the word c. Rom. 10. 14 15. But the obedience of the Hypocrite is oft times a blind and irregular obedience not grounded upon and warranted by the Word of God but upon his own or some other mans fancy and opinion Rom. 10. 1 2. They have a zeal of God but not according to knowlege 3 He doth it knowingly and beleevingly he not onely hath a word for what he beleeveth and doth but he knoweth he hath such a word for it and so doth it in faith which the Hypocrite heedeth little and therefore is not accepted Rom. 14. 1 2 3 c. Heb. 11. 4 6. Acts 17. 23. 4 The new obedience of the sincere Christian is an exact and compleat obedience 1 it is universal He is holy in all manner of conversation and yeelds himself to do and suffer all that God will have him 1 Pet. 1. 15. But that of the Hypocrite is lame and defective And the obedience of the sincere Christian it is universal 1 As to the things to be obeyed 2 It is entire as to the man that doth obey As to the first the Hypocrite he is lame and defective in this His obedience is but by halves or in part onely as Jehu Saul and others Mal. 2. 9. And have been partial in my Law Hosea 7. 8. Ephraim is a cake not turned He doth as Herod Mark 6. 20. did many things not all that God commanded But the true Christian he is through paced in his goings herein as were Caleb and Joshua who followed the Lord fully Numb 14. 24. and 32. 12. Deut. 1. 36. and David who had respect to all Gods commandements Psal 119. 6. and Paul who had a conscience voyd of offence towards God and towards man Acts 24. 16. and Zacharie and Elizabeth who walked in all the commandements and ordinances of the Lord blameless Luke 1. 6. But more particularly The sincere Christian he ceaseth from doing all that is evil and he doth all that is good Isa 1. 6. The Hypocrite he doth not cease from all that is evil for either he is erroneous in his opinion as those in 2 Pet. 2. and Jude 1 2 c. 1 Cor. 15. 12. or in his practise or in both Or at the most and at the best he doth depart from evil onely in his outside his heart is where it was still psal 58. 2. Yea in heart ye work wickedness Psal 52. 3. And some evill or other hee doth most commonly retain in his life still as Judas he kept his covetousness still Joh. 12. 6. Herod he kept his brothers wife still Mark 6. 18. 20. Iehu whiles hee boasts so much of the zeal he had for the Lord and the uprightness of his heart therein depart not from the sins of Iereboam which made Israel to sin 2 Kings 10. 15 31. Saul whiles he pretends so much tenderness of conscience in smaller matters yet carrieth still within him his murdrous intentent to kill David 1 Sam. 14. 33 44. and 18. 10. and 20. 5. Exod. 16. 28 29 2 Kings 5. 18. Zephan 1. 5. Hosea 7. 7 8 9 10. Isaiah 65. 3 4 5 6. But the sincere Christian hee leaves all that is evil in opinion in practise in heart in life The sin of his love and delight inclination age temper and constitution profit trade office calling that which he is most tempted to his open his secret his greater and his lesser sinnes So David Psal 119. 128. I hate every false way and 101. 3. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes and 119. 101. I have refrained my feet from every evil way and 18. 23. I kept my self from mine intiquitie Psal 19. 12. Cleanse thou me from secret faults So Job from the sin of his inclination he would not look on a maid of his calling as a Magistrate he despised not the cause of the meanest of his condition as a rich man hee would not oppress the poor he kept from the sin of his affection occasion and profit Job 31. throughout the chapter And for the second part the sincere Christian as hee doth cease from all that is evil so hee doth all that is good The Hypocrite many of them I mean have not an appearance of some Graces Acts 8. 21. Thine heart is not right c. Mat. 9. 13. Either he is failing in his doing or in his suffering Hee is commonly failing in the doing of some duties or works So the Pharisees Mat. 23. 23
the sincere Christian is compleat and entire also as to him that obeyeth for it is the obedience of his whole man body and soul The obedience of the Hypocrite is commonly counterfeit and not from his heart sometimes with a part of his heart only and never with his whole heart Ezek. 33. 31. There is action without affection the lips are without the heart in it It cometh coldly from him without any vigour or life of the inner man Ezech. 33. 31. their heart goeth after their covetousness Isa 29. 13. This people draw nigh to mee with their mouth but their heart is far from me Ps 78. 34 35 36. They returned and enquired early after God nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth c. for their heart was not right with him c. Jer. 3. 10. And yet c. her treacherous Sister Judah hath not turned unto me with hgr whole heart but feignedly c. Amos 8. 5 6. Hosea 7. 14. But the new obedience of the sincere Christian is a cordial and affectionate obedience of the whole inward and outward man both together That which he beleeveth and that which he doth or leaveth undone it is all frrom his very heart Rom. 6. 17. You have obeyed from the heart the Doctrine c. And it is with the whole heart Ps 119. 10 145 With my whole heart have I sought thee c. So that what he doth he doth with his whole soul mind conscience wil affections all concurring with him therein He doth with all his might and strength desire and endeavour to doe the whole will of God Psal 119. 10. 34. 69. I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart Acts 8. 37. If thou believest with al thy heart c. His grace within and his work without is unfeigned 2 Tim. 1. 5. 2 Cor. 6. 6. 1 Sam. 12. 20. Ezek. 11. 19 20. Rom. 12. 8. 5 As he is careful to doe all God requireth and with the whole man so is he careful to doe no more than God requireth But the Hypocrite hath additions of his own and other mens inventions Jer 32. 35. Ps 106. 39. Mat. 15. 2 3. c. 6 The new obedience of the sincere Christian is a real obedience 1 That of the Hypocrite is onely verbal and complemental Mat. 21. 28 29 30. A certain man had two sons and he said to one of them Goe and work to day in my vineyard And he said I go sir but went not 1 Ioh. 3. 17 18. Let us not love in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth Luke 6. 45. And why call ye me Lord Lord and do not the thing which I say But the obedience of the sincere Christian is an obedience that is in deeds as well as in words Rom. 15. 18. Col. 3. 17. 2 That of the Hypocrite is feigned and counterfeit as we have shewed Ps 78. 36. But this of the sincere Christian is as he himself is indeed what he seemeth 7 This new obedience of the sincere Christian as it is exact and compleat for the matter so for the manner of it and the mind of the doer therin The Hypocrite he onely mindeth the worke done and not how it bee done or with what minde hee doth it But the sincere Christian is careful not only what he doth but how with what mind he doth it And for this he doth and suffereth it i. in Christs name where the Hypocrite doth dare adventure to goe to God in his own name and upon his own account without the name of Jesus Christ as Mat. 22. 1 2 13 c. He saw there a man that had not on a wedding garment c. Luke 18. 11 the Pharisee praied and said God I thank thee I am not c. Iohn 6. 64. and 7. 5. or otherwise ask doubtingly Iames 1. 7 8. The sincere Christian he dares not come to God but with Iesus Christ in his heart and mouth and so coming he beleeves that he shall be accepted both in his person and service Hee doth ask in faith his Prayer is the prayer of Faith Iames 5. 15 16. 1 Tim. 2. 8. Iames 1. 6. Heb. 11. 4 6. By Faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain c. But without Faith it is impossible to please him for he that cometh to God must beleeve Iohn 16 23 24. 14 6. 2 He doth and suffereth preparedly where the Hypocrites heart in his coming to God in service is altogether unprepared for it as being voyd of the love and fear and reverence of God in it 2 Chron 12. 14 and 20 23. Psal 78. 34 35 36. Isa 29. 13. The sincere Christian his heart is ready and prepared to and for his obedience in doing or suffering as an instrument when set in tune is ready to be plaid upon He loves and fears God hee hath high holy and reverend thoughts of Gods name wayes and worship c. 2 Chron. 30 9. Psalm 108. 1. Psal 57. 7 Rom. 1 15 Mal 1. 6 7 8 17. Deut. 10. 12. Acts 21. 13. 3 He doth it sincerely where the Hypocrite doth it with a double and deceitful heart all that he doth Psal 78. 34 c. James 4. 8. The sincere Christian he doth it with a true plaine heart Heb. 10 22. Rom. 12. 8 9. 1 Pet. 1 2. So the Magistrate ruling Rom. 12. 7 8. The Minister in preaching 2 Cor. 1. 12. 1 Thes 2. 4 5 6 c. but to this we have spoken before 4 He doth it cheerfully and joyfully Where the Hypocrite is in his obedience especially in the service of God unwilling to and unchearfull in it and takes little or no delight but is soon weary of and tyred in it Amos 8. 5. When will the new Moon be gone c. Mal. 1. 15. Behold what a weariness it is Job 27. 10. The true Christian he delights in it it is his meate and drink the yoak herein upon him is an easie yoake to him Psal 40 8. Mat 11. 30. Psal 119 47. I shall delight my self in thy Commandments 2 Cor 8. 19. 1 Pet 5. 2. 2 Cor 9 7. Isa 58. 13. If thou call the Sabbath a delight 1 Cor. 29 9. Heb. 10. 34. Ye took joyfully the spoyling of yourgoods Judges 5. 2. And hence are the sincere Christians said to be a willing people Ps 110. 3. 5 He doth it patiently Where the Hypocrite is commonly in that which he doth and suffereth impatient and complaining against God Mal. 3. 14 15. Ye say it is in vain to serve the Lord c. 2 Kings 6. 33. This evil is from the Lord what should I wait c. Ezek. 18. 25 29 and 33. 17. 20. Numb 14. 17. Psal 106. 25. Mat. 20. 12 15. Mat. 25. 23 24. The sincere Christian hee is patient and doth quietly submit to the will of God therein 1 Sam. 3. 17 18. It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good 2 Kings 20. 19
cause hee in whom the same is found hath to suspect himselfe thereof The signs or marks follow SECT I. In his esteem of God and Christ. 1 It savoureth much of sinceritie and it is very much a sign of a sincere man That he do esteem value and preferre God and Christ above all and that he do in all things seek God and Christ above himselfe and above all men and things Psalm 24. 6. This is the generation of them that seek him that seek thy face c. Hee doth greatly love and delight in God and Christ Ps 97. 10. Yee that love the Lord. Ps 18. 1. I will love thee O Lord c. Io. 21. 15. Lord thou knowest that I love thee Revel 12. 11 And can and will leave all for their sakes Philip. 7. 8. Mark 10. 28 We have left all and followed thee Hee cares not how little bee given to him so that much be given to God for whom he thinkes nothing too good or too much Psalm 115. 1. Not unto us O Lord not unto us but to thy Name give glory c. So John the Baptist he confessed and denied not I am not the Christ Hee is preferred before me whose shooes latchet I am not worthy to unloose c. John 1. 19 20 27. John 3. 28. Hee trusts in God 1 Pet. 3. 5. Holy women that trusted in God c. And hee doth more fear to offend and labour to please God than all the world besides Exod. 1. 15. 16. But the Midwives feared God and did not as the King commanded them Job 31. 4. 14. 23. Doth not hee see my waies c. What shall I doe when God ariseth c. 1 Kings 18. 3. Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly Isaiah 29. 13. 1 Pet. 3. 14. And on the other side it savoureth much of Hypocrisie and is very much a sign of an Hypocrite That a man as hee loves other things more than God and Christ so in all things hee doth preferre and seek himself more than God and Christ his owne interest more than Gods Hosea 2. 13. She went after her lovers and forgat mee John 5. 41 42. I know you that ye have not the love of God in you Phil. 3. 9. Whose belly is their God Rom. 1. 25. Who changed c. and worshipped the creature more than the crearor c. 2 Tim. 3. 4. Lovers of pleasures more than God He is ready to assume the glory due to God to himself Acts 12. 22 23. And the people gave a shout saying the voice of God c. And immediately the Angel of the Lord smote him because he gave not God the glory And therefore in the forbearing or doing of good or evil hee is more moved by his desire to please and feare to offend men than God Iohn 9. 22. Mat. 14. 5. Luke 20 19. and 22. 2. Iohn 7. 13. Mark 23. 5. Iohn 12. 42. He doth in Gods service think any thing good enough for God Mal. 1. 6. 8. O Priests that despise my Name c. offer it now to thy Governour will he accept it c. The love of God is not in him Iohn 5. 42. Hee hath low and undervaluing thoughts of God and Christ and the ordinances and institutions of Christ Mal. 1. 1 2 3 c. Ye despise my Name c. ye offer polluted bread c. Yee say the Table of the Lord is contemptible c. He doth more eye the praise and applause honour and esteem favour and good will of men than of God Mat. 6. 1. to the 12. You do your almes before men to be seen of them c. Gal. 1. 10. Or doe I seeke to please men for if I â—et pleased men I should not bee the servant of Christ John 7. 18. John 8 50. 1 Sam. 15. 30. I have sinned yet honour me now I pray thee before the Elders of my people c. He trusts more in other things than in God Isa 30. 2 3. They cover with a covering c. That walk to goe into Egypt Hosea 7. 14. Hee gives more respect to the Traditions and Inventions of men than to the Word and Command of God Mat. 15. 1 2 c. Thus have you made the commandements of God of none effect by your tradition Isa 65. 4. Isa 29. 30. Mark 7. 3 4 c. And to save himself he can be contented to lose Christ SECT II. In his care of his conversation 2 It is a good proofe of a mans sinceritie when there is joyned to his profession of Religion and the light of his understanding in the Word of God a holy conversation 2 Cor. 1. 12. For our rejoycing is this the testimonie of our conscience that in simplicitie and godly sinceritie c. wee have had our conversation in the world c. Phil. 3. 20. Our conversation is in heaven c. Psalm 119. 1 3. They doe no iniquitie Psalm 101. 3. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes Phil. 3. 17. Psal 26. 1 6. 2 Sam. 22 24. Tit. 2. 11 12. And it is a dangerous evidence of Hypocrisie when a man is loose and careless herein 1 John 2. 4. Hee that saith I know him and keepeth not his commandements is a lyar and the truth is not in him 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 6. Men shall be lovers of their own selves covetous hoasters proud disobedient to parents c. truce breakers c. having a form of godliness Luke 13. 26 27. Then shall yee begin to say wee have eaten and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets But he shall say c. Depart from me all yee workers of iniquitie Psalm 56. 1 2. The transgressions of the wicked c. untill his iniquitie bee found hatefull Hosea 7. 8. 14. 16. Rom. 15. 17. Amos 5. 10. Isaiah 1. 1 2. c. and 48. 1 2. Tit. 3. 8. Ps 58. 2. SECT III. In his labour to cleanse his heart 3 It savours much of sinceretie and is very much a sign of a sincere Christian when a mans main study and labour is to make and keep cleane his heart and to bee indeed as well as to seem to be good within and without when hee labours to be what he desires to seem to be and doth affect the thing as wel as the name to be within indeed what hee is without in appearance Psalm 73. 13. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain c. Psalm 101. 1 2. I will walk within my house with a perfect heart I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes I hate the work of them that turn aside 2 Tim. 1 3. I serve with pure conscience c 1 Pet. 3. 3 5. Whose adorning let it not be outward c. but the hidden man of the heart for so holy women which trusted in God adorned themselves Tit. 2. 11 12. Psalm 51. 10. And on the other side it savours as much of Hypocrisie and is very much a sign of an Hypocrite
he in whom these things are found is certainly a sincere Christian and an adopted childe of God All this seems to be put together in the words of our Saviour Christ Iohn 1. 12 13. But as many as received him that is by faith and obedience as the true Messias to them gave he power that is the dignity right or privilege to become the Sons of God 1 John 3. 1 Gal. 4. 6. which were born that is born again as John 3. not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man not in a natural course and way wherin men have children in their owne likeness Gen. 5. 3. But of God and according to his own likeness Gen. 1. 26. and 5. 1. But the Hypocrite being still in his natural estate let his place and gifts bee otherwise what they will understandeth none of these things 1 Cor. 2. 11 14. and is a stranger to them John 3. 1 4 8 9. Nor can any man know these things but he that receiveth them Rev. 2. 17. So that now by comparing of a mans heart and life to the VVord of God in the particulars before layd down a man may know as much of his own as touching his Sincerity in his profession of Religion as can be known And by coâ—paring another mans life to the Word of God a man may know as much as touching his Sincerity in his Profession as can be known by another man SECT IV. Some Objections and Answers to them Objest If it be said some are sanctified from the womb and some are changed insensibly Answ We answer They are changed from the state of natural men whose state is to bee seen in the glasse of the VVord and by their contrarietie to natural men that are in the world being opposite to them So that by a carefull comparing of these things together a man may see much herein But out of all this an objection may be made thus Object If there go so much to the making up of a true Christian and that in his heart there be such a work of Grace as we have shewed and no lesse than this will speak him sincere who then shall be saved Answ To this we do answer 1 That wee know there is some Hypocrisie more or lesse in the best Christian under heaven for we are not perfect here And therefore when we press Sincerity and a necessity of it we mean not such a sincerity that is so perfect and compleat that it hath no deceit or falshood joyned with it But as other graces are but in part wee know but in part wee love but in part so likewise we are sincere but in part So David a man after GOD's own heart yet cryeth out who can understand his errours Ps â—9 12. Yea there is more Hypocrisie and selfe ends in the best than he can perceive So much is discovered even to the best man as to make him humble and to trust in Christ onely and to make him cry out with David Ps 51. 6. for truth in the inward parts 2 As we doe not judge of a mans integrity by one act and call him a sincere man that doth some things in a natural uprightness of heart as Abimelech Gen. 20. 5. and as some think of Vriah whom the Prophet Isaiah calleth a faithfull witnesse that hee was the same grosse Idolater named 2 Kings 16. 10. Is 8. 2. So do we not judg a man an Hypocrite by any particular act or carriage at one time but by the constant course of his life his constant walking and way And so the godly man is said to walke in his uprightnesse Prov 14. 2. 3 VVe have said that the best Christian hath a time of Infancy and tender age when hee is but weak and his strength small 4 VVee doe not understand or intend that there is or of necessity must be such a lively and constant acting of grace by every sincere Christian at all times and such manifestations therof by the signes and characters we have before given so as there shall bee no ebbe stop or interruption therein VVe know the state of a Christian here is a warfare between the flesh and the spirit typed out by the house of David and Saul And that it is in this in the soul as it is in the body it hath its distempers it is sometimes sick weak and faint and sometimes it seems to be dead for many daies and yet alive The true Christian may grow lukewarme perhaps cold for a time there are times of temptation with him that as in the winter there doth outwardly appear no difference between a dead tree and a living tree both are without fruit and leaves so between a true and counterfeit Christian But in the worst time somewhat more or lesse will appear of what we have observed herein SECT V. Quest But then it may be asked what at the least is required of the true Christian and yet is to bee found in the lowest least and weakest state of true Grace Answ For answer to this wee are to know That as there is a strong so a weak Christian Rom. 15. 1. and there are little children as well as young men and fathers in Christianity 1 Iohn 2. 13. so amongst them that are weak there are two sorts or Christians are weak in two cases or under two considerations 1 Such as are now weak by accident but have been stronger at other times and so the strongest Christian may become weak as a man that is strong in his natural strength of his body may by sicknesse fasting or the like bee brought to be so weak that a child may push him down or he may be ready to fall of himselfe And as the natural body by a distemper from a disease a blow on the head or some other accident may lye a while for dead so it is with the spiritual body of the new man and with his spiritual strength It may be by some extraordinary pressures and burdens of affliction or temptation for the present brought to a very low and weak estate and perhaps into a kinde of swound to have in appearance very little or no sign of life left but to bee as it were starke dead But there are another sort of weake Christians and they are such as were never stronger And such are for the most part all Christians at their first comming into Christ they are rude and raw and have but little faith such were Christs disciples Mat. 17. 17. Luke 9. 41. Matth. 6. 30. and 8. 26. and 16. 8. Mark 9 19 24. Nathaniel John 1. 45 46 20 27. and others 1 Cor. 9. 22. And yet it is so possibly with some as it seems it was with Paul that they have very much of the Spirit given them and they are very strong Christians at the first But for the most even of true Christians they are weak and childish in the things of God a while after the first conversion
when he doth it either to still the noyse of his own conscience or to get him a name or to procure himself some outward advantage in the world thereby Joh. 6. 26. Ye follow me for the loaves c. or at the most to save his soul by it and because that cannot be done otherwise And without any love to God to whom the work is done or love of the work done And without any respect at all to Gods glory or the good of other men Ephes 6. 5. Col. 3. 22. Not with eye service as men pleasers Matth. 6. 2 10. Ye doe it to be seen of men Mat. 23. 14. That ye may appear to men c. Or for a worse end James 4. 3. Ye ask amiss that you may consume it on your lusts Phil. 1. 17. 2 Cor. 4. 2. 5. 12. See more for this in Chap. 7. Sect. 21. Object It may be asked whether a man in the good he doth and evil he suffereth may not have an eye also to his own good a temporal reward here as wel as to his eternal salvation hereafter Answ To which we answer Yes doubtlesse 1 For God doth set this before him to encourage him in it and no Scripture motive can draw out any unlawful affection and whatsoever Gods VVord requireth the Spirit of God worketh by degrees in the heart of the Beleever 1 Pet. 5. 4. 2 The servants of God it is true have within them an ingenuous and supernatural principle whereby they love God and holy things because of the excellency of them even as a carnall man loveth sin because of the sutablenesse of it with his own heart And yet Gods servants in the things they have done and suffered have had an eye yea a fixed and constant eye upon their owne temporal and eternal good also for their encouragement therein Heb. 11. 14 26. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a Country For hee had respect unto the recompence of reward 3 Our Lord Jesus in that he did suffered had an eye to this Heb. 2. 2. Looking unto Iesus c. who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross c. And therefore all amor mercedis is not amor mercenarius Some make Gods glory and our happiness to differ as the supream and subordinate ends some as coordinate ends onely but to be sure GOD hath so infallibly eonjoyned them together that one cannot bee without the other So that by all this now wee may try our selves as to our workes and our works themselves whether they be such as God will approve whether they be wrought in God Gal. 6. 4. But let every man prove his own works and then shall he have rejoycing c. The more they doe answer to these rules the more perfect they are and the more they swerve from them the more they savour of Hypocrisie in them VVee shall now in the next place make some other uses of and infereuces upon all that wee have sayd and therein a little enlarge our selves upon the whole matter before layd down CHAP. XI Other Conclusions and Inferences upon all the premises HAving opened and laid down the main differences that are between the sincere Christian and the Hypocrite and how and wherein the true Christian doth and must goe beyond the Hypocrite in heart and life And having in this set forth the difficulty pains and charge of a true Christian life and how far many men goe therein and yet come short of heaven and how much there doth go to the making up of a sincere Christian we shall make some other inferences thereupon and uses thereof for the edification of our selves and others in the Christian Faith Some of which will be for Information or Instruction some for caution or admonition and some for exhortation SECT I. 1 For Information 1 To shew us somewhat of the reason of the Disciples speech to Christ and his answer to them in Luke 23. 23 24. Lord are there fâ—w that shall be saved And hee said unto them strive to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter and shall not be able c. And of Christs words Matth. 7. 13 14. Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth to life and few there bee that finde it And of that in 1 Pet 4. 18. If the Righteous scarcely bee saved where shall the ungodly and sinners appeare 2 To shew us that there is great cause to doubt that amongst the many glorious Professors of Religion in these days there may be very few sincere very many And if so may we not in our time take up the complaints and lamentations of the holy men of former times and of such times wherin were godly Kings and wherein Religion flourished as in the time of the Prophet David Psal 12. 1 Help Lord for the godly faile c. and of the Prophet Jeremiah Ierem. 5. 1 run too and fro c. and see c. and seeke if he can find a man if there be any that executeth judgment that seeketh the truth c. And of the Prophet Isaiah Isai 59. 15. Yea truth faileth and he that departeth from evill maketh himselfe a prey And of the Prophet Micah Micah 7. 1. 2. 4. the good man is perished out of the earth and there is none upright amongst men they are as the grape gleanings of the vintage c. the best of them is as a brier the most upright is sharper then a thorn-hedge where we have the best of them of the time compared to thorns and briers which are of a hurtfull catching scratching pricking vexing greiving nature to all that come neer unto or medle with them Ezech 28. 24. Numb 34. 55. Iudges 9. 14. 15. Iosh 23. 13. And are not most of the glorious Proffessors of Religion of our dayes such one towards another VVhat meaneth else the bitter Envy malice wrath jealousie contempt and evill surmisings of mens hearts within And from without the strife debate contention whispering back-biting slandering censuring judging threatning provoking scoffing scorning rayling reproaching sleighting by gestures words and deeds pass from one of them towards another And what else mean the manifold Heresies Seditions Calumniations Invectives Confusions and evil works that are to be found every where amongst the eminent Professors of the Gospel agreeing together in the Head Christ and substance of Doctrine about differences of ceremonie and circumstance Have not parties factions and interests almost devoured and eaten up all appearance of Sinceritie amongst us Prov. 20. 6. Most men proclaim every man his goodness but a faithfull man who can find 3 To shew that the sincere Christian is a rare piece and precious jewel in Gods account his delight is much in his heart is much upon him John 1. 47. Behold an Israelite indeed c. Psal 11. 7. His countenance doth behold the upright c. 4 To shew the gross mistake
this That 1 they doe the more fear and suspect themselves that they also may be deceived Is it not seasonable to advise men to take heed what money they receive when there is much counterfeit coyn going abroad amongst men And when we hear of many Shipwracks by Sea of Ships richly laden with many precious Jewels in the way wee and others are to pass is it not then a good time to perswade our selves and others that are to go that way to fear and to look well to our tackling and our way Many there are doubtless very many that think they are good Christians and are accepted and approved of for such amongst others but are not so Rev. 2. 9. call themselves Jews and are not Luke 16. 15. And so it will appear at the last Mat. 7. 21 22 23. Lord Lord in thy name c. and I shall profess I never knew you c. Mat. 25. 1 2 c. 2 In the second place Let us try our selves by the Word of God by the light and heat where of wee may discover the true and sincere from the false and counterfeit persons and things as the Eagle doth her genuine young ones by the light and heat of the natural Sun-beams Let us view our selves well by this Looking glass and see what manner of persons we are whether true or counterfeit Christians And there is great reason for it why wee should so doe 1 It is commanded of God 2 Cor. 13. 5. Try your selves whether you be in the faith or no. 2 The godly do so Psal 139. 23 24. Search me O God c. try me c. Lam. 3. 40. Let us search and try our waies c. 3 The thing is of mighty concernment to us there is life and death yea life and death eternal in it if we bee deceived in this point wee are everlastingly undone Mat. 25. 1 2 3 c. the foolish Virgins Mat. 7. 22 23. 4 It can doe us no hurt nay it cannot but doe us some good to doubt and suspect and to labour to know our selves for all knowledge is sweet but that of our selves sweetest of all And if we finde our case good and safe wee shall be the more settled and established in it If our case be bad and we find out it may be yet amended Psal 50. 1 2 c. v. 16 22. And if now any man ask us what if upon search I find my case doubtful and dangerous what shall I doe Wee answer The best way is to begin all again as a man that hath layd the foundation of his building amiss or is going in a wrong way to his journeys end for the Hypocrite and the worst of wicked men as they are alike evil so is their case alike dangerous Mat. 24. 51. compared with Luke 12. 46. In the third place then our Exhortation shal be to such as these that have laid an ill foundation and to our selves and all others who are entring into or entred or shall hereafter enter into the profession of Religion and are following or to follow Christ therein That they and we doe seriously consider of what wee are going about that therein our case is as the case of a man that is going a long and a dangerous journey or run a race for a great prize or engage in a desperate battel alone or with others Eph. 6. 12. 2 Tim. 4. 7. or are going about to set up a great building or going to make a great purchase Mat. 11. 12. It is compared therefore to a pilgrimage and the Christian therein to a Pilgrim Ps 39. 12. 1 Pet. 2. 11. And it was shadowed out by the life travel and difficulty of the Jews passage from Egypt to Canaan And therefore that it wil be our wisdom wel to consider before hand what it is we are going about and how we are prepared for it and to prepare accordingly This is our Saviours advice in the very cose Mat. 14. 25 c. for which of you intending to build a Tower sitteth not down first and counteth the cast And that therefore we doe as men to go such a journey or doe such a work these two things 1 Remove all hinderances 2 Provide our selves with al necessaries for the way and work Amongst other hinderances herein let us take heed 1 of unbelief a dangerous sin by which the Israelites were kept hindered from their entrance into the earthly Canaan Iude 5. Heb. 4. 1 2 c. And this now wil keep a man from entring into the heavenly Canaan Luke 12. 46. 2 The love of the world which like as the weeds amongst corn that do choak hinder the growth of it doth hinder the worke of grace in the heart Mat. 13. 22 23. 2 Tim. 2. 4. And for provision for our journy or our work 1 Let us look wel to our foundation that it be wel laid Mat. 7. 24. 13. 22. that it be layd upon Christ for other foundation can no man lay than that which is already layd which is Iesus Christ. 1 Cor. 33. 11 Eph. 2â— 20. and that we lay it low enough And that for this we find our hearts by the Word and Spirit of God not only deeply convinced of our miserable estate by the sin of Adam and by our owne original and actual sin but that we be broken and humbled in heart for and converted from it Hab. 6. 1. Acts 2. 37 38. Ezek. 36. 31. And having a discoverie made by this VVord and Spirit that there is a Remedy to be had in this case by the Lord Jesus Christ That he will be to the repenting beleeving sinner as the City of Refuge was to the Manslayer Numb 35. And as the poole of Bethesda was to him that was first put into it after the Angel had troubled it 10. 5. 2 c. And as the brazen Serpent was to them that were stung by the fierie Serpent in the wilderness Numb 31. 6. And that in him there dwelleth all fulnesse for the supply of all our wants and cure of all our maladies Joh. 1. 16. Col. 1. 19. And so by faith rowle and leave our selves upon him and take up our eternal rest and lodging in him alone Cant. 8. 5. Joh. 6. 67 68. Mat. 4. 22 Mark 10. 28. Mat. 19. 21. and 13 46 Phil 3. 7 8. 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. Heb. 4. 4 5. And being thus got into Christ by faith let us be assured of help that our sin is pardoned and that we are taken into favour by him Then in the next place let us looke to the progress of our building that being thus rooted engrafted into and built upon Christ we make it out by the work of Regeneration Sanctification in us that we be partakers of the Divine nature that we have a seed principle of grace within us that Christ lives in us and we in him that we are now Christ like of his minde and making and that we live walk and do
and 2. 12 13. 2 Pet. 3 9. And laying aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us let us run with patience the race that is set before us H. b. 12. 1 2. and 2. 1 2 c. and so much the rather be diligent to adde one grace to another and one degree of Grace to another c. 2 Pet. 1. 6 7. c. And let us work out our salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2. 12. Let us endure the cross despise the shame Heb. 12. 2. Take up the cross and follow Christ Mark 10. 21. Suffer and die with him 2 Tim. 2. 11 12. Leave all for his sake Mark 10. 28. Strive to enter into Heaven Luke 13. 24. and take it by force Mat. 11. 12. Fight the good fight of Faith and finish our course 2 Tim. 4. 7. do the singular things required of us Mat. 5. 47. Afflict our soules Lev. 16. 29. James 4. 9. Put a knife to the throat Prov. 23. 3. Mortifie the deeds of the body Rom. 8. 13. Crucifie the old man the flesh with the affections and lusts Gal. 5. 21. Rom. 6. 6. Deut. 10 16. Let the fore-skin of our hearts be circumcised and let us circumcise our selves to the Lord and let us break up our fallow grounds Jer. 4. 3. 4. Be crucified to the world and the world to us Gal. 6. 14. Keep down our bodie 1 Cor. 9. 27. Pull out our right eye and cut off our right hand that causeth us to offend Mat. 5. 29 30. Suffer the losse of all things and count them but dung for Christ Phil. 3. 8. 9. Refrain our seet from every evil way Ps 119. 10. Strive for Masterie 1 Cor. 9. 25. and rejoice as not rejoicing 1 Cor. 7. 30. And thus doing we may be sure and certain that we are not cast-awaies 1 Cor. 7. 27 Gods wrath shall not break forth upon us Jer. 4. 4. We shall not come into condemnation John 5 24. nor be cast into hell fire Mat. 5. 29. and 188. that we shall never fall 1 Pet. 1. 10. that wee shall not die but live not perish but have everlasting life and glory John 3. 15. 2 Tim. 2. 9. 10. 11. Mark 10. 30. Rom. 8. 13. And we may be confident that we shall enter into joy Mat. 25. 23. life Mat. 18. 8. rest Heb. 4. 2 Thes 2. 8. live and raign with Christ 2 Tim. 2. 11 12. Rom. 8. 13. Have and enjoy the incorruptible crown of Righteousness life and glory 1 Tim. 4. 8. 1 Cor. 9. 24 25. Rev. 2. 10. be received into everlasting habitations Luke 16. 9. enjoy the fulness of pleasures at Gods right hand Ps 16. 11. and be satisfied Ps 17. 5. Sit down and feast for ever with Christ and his people Mat. 8. 11. and that we shall go into life eternal Mat. 46. And we cannot misse it for ours is the kingdom of heaven we have eternal life and are passed from death to life i. we are as sure of it as if done already Our sixth and last word of Exhortation is to all that now doe or hereafter shall appeare as Christians and follow Christ in the profession of Religion and have a form of godliness To perswade them to Sincerity and against Hypocrisie herein to be pure and upright in heart and life And that they lye not to God and men whiles they pretend to be and have the name of Christians and are not so indeed but counterfeit ones onely To perswade them and oh that we might prevail herein that they would lay aside al manner of guile and deceit herein And labour to be plain simple hearted in thought word deed That they do not compass God about with lyes and flatter and dissemble with him whiles their hearts are not right and perfect before him That they do not pretend to prefer God above all have no other God but him whiles they love fear and trust in themselves and other men and things more than God seeke the praise of men more than the praise of God That they call not God their Father and Master whiles they despise his Name and do not honour him as a sonne his father nor fear him as a servant his master That they doe not teach Gods fear by the precepts of men That they give not to God a worse when they have a better to give him in his service That they do not pretend to enquire after seek serve and obey him with their whole heart whiles they seek themselves and to serve themselves upon God therein That they do not pretend to faith love repentance fear and the like towards God whiles they know there is no such thing but the contrary thereof in their heart That they doe not pretend to draw nigh to God in his worship whiles their hearts are far removed from him it That they do not pretend to form of godlyness whiles they deny the power thereof That they do not say they know him and keep not his commandements That they doe not professe to know God whiles in their works they deny him That they do not say they are Saints whiles they live like not devils That they do name the Name of the Lord unless they depart from iniquity And as for Rulers of Churches Christian Commonwealths and Families Judges and such like men that they say not they rule and judge for God and lean upon him whiles they seek themselves and their own things and not the things of God and the peoples good And for Christian Teachers c. That they say not they are of God sent of Christ Ministers of the Gospel workers with Christ c. whiles they appear to be deceitful workers to speak lyes in hypocrisie to deceive the simple with fair words to seek to please men to seek their own things and not the things of Jesus Christ to serve their bellyes to make merchandize of mens soules to hunt after filthy lucre and so goe themselves and lead others with them to destruction And that neither Heads Priests nor Prophets leane upon the Lord say He is amongst us whiles they judge for reward teach for hire and divine for mony Mic. 3. 11. Ps 50. 16 17. Mat. 23. 27 28. Isa 29. 13. 1 Joh. 2. 4. Mat. 7. 22 23. Is 43. 24. Ps 78. 36 37. But on the other side let us perswade such men professing godlines That they get the new life the immediate principles and habits of Grace and the operations motions effects and fruits thereof And then that they labour for and get a perfect heart a heart perfect with the Lord. 1 Chron. 29. 19. That they walk before God in truth and with a perfect heart 2 Kings 20. 3. 2 Chron. 29. 2. Gen. 17. 1. That they do the thing that is good and right with a perfect heart as in Gods sight 2 Kings 20. 3. 2 Chron. 25. 2. That they draw near to serve seek God with their
whole heart with a perfect heart and willing mind with a true heart in sinceritie and truth 1 Chr. 28. 9. Deut. 10. 12. Heb. 10. 22. Hos 7. 14 15 16. That whatever they do in their profession they doe it to and for the Lord and noâ— to or for themselves or for other men Col. 3. 23. Hos 7. 14 15. That their repentance towards God faith towards the Lord Jesus their love to fear of and joy and delight in God and Christ and their profession and declaration thereof bee unfeigned and with all their heart and soul Prov. 23. 26. Deut. 30. 10. 2 Kings 23. 25. 2 Cor. 6. 6. Ps 78. 34 35 36. That they follow God fully Numb 14. 24. and Christ wheresoever he shall goe or call them Mat. 8. 19. That whatsoever they doe unto men be not done with eye-service as men pleasers but as doing the wil of God from the heart heartily with singleness of heart with good wil as the servants of Christ as serving him fearing God and as unto the Lord. Col. 3. 22. Eph. 6. 6 7 8. That such as pretend to the faith love and obedience of and suffering for the Lord Jesus Christ that they doe it in sinceritie to exalt his honour and the honour of the Father in him Eph. 6. 24. Joh. 5. 23. That whatsoever they speak to men be the truth and from their heart 1 Thes 46 Ps 52. 2. Jer. 9. 5 6 8. Prov. 26. 22 23. c. Gen. 34. 13. 2 Sam. 3 27. Psal 15. And that they talke walk and live like Saints that they be not only hearers and talkers but doers of the Word of God James 1. 2 2. and that their hearts be purified and their hands be cleansed Iames 4. 8. that those as name the Name of Christ depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2. 19. Mat. 7. 22 23. Psal 119. 1 2 3. That the Rulers be Ministers of God for good to the people revengers to execute wrath upon him that doth evil Rom. 13. 2 3. And that they be not a terrour to good works but to the evil That they rule in the fear of God 2 Sam. 23 3. To the glory of God and the good of them that are ruled especially of the people of God amongst them 2 Sam. 23. 2. Ps 78 72. 1 Tim. 3. 4 12. That the Judges professing godlyness be such as feare God men of truth hating covetousness Exod. 18. 21. That in their judgement they doe take heed to what they do and consider that they judge not for man but for the Lord who is with them in the judgement And that the fear of the Lord be upon them and that they doe take heed and doe it as considering that there is no iniquitie with the Lord nor respect of persons nor taking of gifts 2 Chron. 19. 6 7. And that the Teachers and Preachers preach the Truth Feed the Flock of God taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind not as Lords over Gods heritage but as ensamples to the flock 1 Pet. 5. 1 2 3. That herein they seek not their own but the things of Iesus Christ Phil. 2. 21. and the good of others 1 Cor. 10. 24. 33. not to please themselves or men but to please God Gal. 1. 10. 1 Cor. 10. 33. that they give no offence to God or man 1 Cor. 9. 20. And that in all they doe God may bee glorified the Name of the Lord Jesus exalted 1 Cor. 10. 31. 6. 20. the peoples souls saved Gal. 6. 10. and they themselves be able to give up their account therof with joy at the last day Heb. 13. 17. And now for our last word to others that do not so much as appear to be the friends but rather the enemies of Christ Let us perswade them onely to lay down their weapons and give over their opposition against Christ for he will be too strong for them It is hard to kick against the priks Acts 9. 5. 1 Cor. 10. 22. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousie are we stronger than he Mat. 21. 44. And therefore what the Prophet Ps 2. 10 11. said to great men we say to all Be wise now therefore c. kiss the son c. And now having set forth wherein the Christians life doth consist and the difficulty thereof it is high time we lay down some motives or encouragements and helps therein CHAP. XII Arguments to perswade to Sinceritie and against Hypocrisie in the general THE next thing we have to do is to lay down something by way of motive to perswade not only to a Christian life but also to Sincerity and against Hypocrisie therein And this first in general And in the next place in particular services to perswade us to be Christians indeed to the profession of the Christian faith and to sincerity therein And to move us to labour to bee and to keep sincere in our state or in the general Besides what we have before layd down let us take up and use these following considerations 1 Hypocrisie in Religion is a sin we are all very prone to for every man by nature is an Hypocrite and every true Christian hath more or less hypocrisy in him Job 31. 33. If I cover my transgressions as Adam by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom Gen. 3. 12. Hence it is that Christ bids his Disciples beware of it Mat. 6. 1. Luke 12. 1. 2 Yea it is much to be feared that Hypocrisie in Religion is now very common and that Hypocrites are very many and that Hypocrisie is now become the general disease of the time because there is now more to breed feed it than in former times Religion is now in request the greatest and most of men be religious Religion is now looked upon with a good eye and religious godly men are now in great esteem with the greatest men of the time so that it is now as in the time spoken of in Esth 8. 17. The Iews had light and gladness and joy and honour c. and a good day and many of the people of the land became Iews for the fear of the Iews fell upon them A false heart will work upon this and the man in whom it is will for his outward advantage in the world put himself into any form of Religion 1 Tim. 6. 5. 3 The sin of Hypocrisie in the nature and working of it is a most dangerous sin For 1. It is a soul-pleasing sin being a part of the old man and natural to us Ps 52. 3. thou lovest evil c. and lying c. Hosea 12. 7 8. Col. 3. 9. 2 It is a soul killing sin Acts 8. 21 22 23. 3 It is of a very infectious nature Gal. 2. 12 13. 4 It is as we have said a very common evill where the contagion of the plague is common the danger is greater 5 It is hardly discerned in him in whom it is It is as
than him and useth her observances onely to cover and conceal it 19 It is a high point of wisdome to be sincere and a huge peece of folly to be deceitfull for a man takes as much pains to destroy himself as would save him and he is utterly deceived and disappointed in all that he doth and thinketh in it ps 101. 1. 2. I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way c. Mat. 7. 24 27. the wise and foolish builders Job 15. 35. they conceive mischief and bring forth vanitie c. Mat. 25. 1 2. The wise and foolish Virgins 20 Sincerity will breed a constancy and evenness in all our outward behaviour Grace and Nature both begin at the heart as the center and from thence goeth to the circumference But Art Hypocrisie begin with the face and outward lineaments Iames 1. 8. He is unstable in all his waies Iames 4. 8. 21 There is no good to be expected by any means of Grace while we be hypocritical Ier 9. 6. Through deceit they refuse to know me saith the Lord. 1 Pet. 2. 1. Laying aside all malice guile and hypocisie c. As new born babes c. But the Word of God and means of grace shall be good to the upright Mic. 2. 7. Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly 22 Hypocirisie doth commonly end in Apostasie 1 John 2. 19. They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us 1 Tim. 1. 20. 2 Tim. 2. 18. But the upright shall never fall Ps 15. 5. Hee shall never be moved and 37. 31. none of his steps shal slide Mat. 24. 24. they shall deceive if it were possible the very elect 23 The Hypocrite dishonoureth God Rom. 2. 21 24. The name of God is blasphemed through you c. And he hurteth and grieveth men Mat. 13. 35. 4. As the tares annoy the wheat Deut. 29. 18 19. Heb 12. 15. least any root of bitterness c. trouble you and thereby many be defiled 24 No Hypocrite shall ever enjoy God for he will never give himself to be possessed and enjoyed of a spiritual Adultress who doth affect any other lover more or besides him Mat. 6. 24. No man can serve two Masters c. 25 Honour and glory attends upon Sincerity But shame and dishononr doth follow Hypocrisie Psa 119. 8. Let my heart be sound in thy statues that I be not ashamed 26 Sincerity is a sure signe of our being in the state of Grace the true and living members of Christ mystical body Hee that is sincere onely is a true member of the Church Militant here and shall be a member of the Church Triumphant in heaven Rom. 2. 29. He is a Iew that is one inwardly c. Psal 15. 1 2 6. Lord who shall dwel in thy holy hill He that walketh uprightly .. c. Hee that doth these things shall never be moved 2 Cor. 1. 12. 1 John 3 21 But the hypocrite in Gods account and by the judgement of the Word of God is a wicked and ungodly man Psal 69. 27. Adde iniquity to their inquitie and let them not come into thy righteousness Psal 50. 16. But unto the wicked God saith what hast thou to doe c. Jude 4. ungodly men turning the grace of God c. and therefore to have his portion with unbeleevers Luke 12. 46. compared with Mat. 24. 51. Psal 24. 4. 27 All the promises of God for good as to this life and that to come are made to him that is sincere in Religion and to him only 1 Generally That he shall be blessed here and for ever Mat. 5. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart Ps 112. 2. The generation of the upright shall be blessed Ps 84. 2. The generation of the upright shall be blessed Ps 84. 2. He is a sunne and a sheild will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Psalm 32. 2. Ps 119 1 2. But all the threatnings of evil for this life and that to come are against the Hypocrite by name and as fully and severely as against any wicked or ungodly person whatsoever and against them all That the Hypocrite shall be cursed here and for ever Prov. 28. 13. Hee that hideth his sin shall not prosper Isa 10. 6. As to this life 1 In general God may seem sometimes to neglect the upright man and may be thought to favour the Hypocrite but hee doth not so The sincere man may be weak in himselfe be compassed with many spitefull enemies and bee hated and suffer the more for his sincerity hee may have many troubles yet God knoweth it and him in it and will be with him He will be his strength support him under and deliver him out of them and order all events to his good He shall have good things in his possession here have peace in his end and for ever For it is said they shall remain in the land for ever and leave their inheritance to their children who shall be blessed after them Prov 14. 11. The Tabernacle of the upright shall flourish 1 Kings 3. 6. And Solomon said thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy according as he walked before thee in truth and in righteousness and in uprightness of heart with thee c. Psal 35. 18. Psal 24. 4 5. He that hath clean hands and a pure heart He shall receive the blessing c. Prov. 28. 10. Psal 94 15. 64. 10. But the contrary of all this shall come upon the Hypocrite for he shall be cursed Mal. 1. 14. Cursed be the deceiver c. Psal 69. throughout Isa 9. 17. Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men neither shall have mercy on their fatherlesse and widdows for every one is an hypocrite and an evil doer and every mouth speaketh folly c. Job 15. 34. The congregation of Hypocrites shall be desolate Job 18. 9 19. and 20. 22 23. and 8 6. Jer. 42. 20 21 22. But more particularly in this life the sincere man shall be blessed for he shall have great prosperity and outward blessings Deut. 11. 13 14 Plenty of corn wine and oyl Isa 33. 16. Bread shall be given him his water shall be sure And for this end fruitfull seasons c. The sincere man shall be blessed in his children Prov. 20. 7. The just man walk the in his integrity His children are blessed after him But the children of the Hypocrite shall be cursed Psal 109. 9 10. c. Let his children be continually vababonds and beg Let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places The sincere man shall be established and continue in his prosperitie 1 Kings 9. 4 5. 2 Sam 22. 24. 26. But the prosperity of the Hypocrite shall bee but for a little while Psal 58. 1 8. 9. Doe ye speak righteousness c. do ye
and keepe it and prevent hypocrisie We answer by these following meanes 1. Let him labour to be sincere in his state in general for till this it cannot be expected he should do any thing in sinceritie 2. Let him labour to get the Spirit of God into his heart and by this to get a newheart a heart convinced of sin by the worke of the Law Jo. 16. 7 8 9 10. And drawne to Christ by faith and so to become one with him and made a new creature for no man can otherwise bee sincere And hee that is in Christ is and must bee so a new creature assoone as he is in him Jo. 1. 12. 2 Cor. 5. 17. And when there is a full and powerfull change of the whole man by the grace of God then and not till then doth he begin to be sincere For every mans heart naturally is deceitfull above all things and till God hath changed it there is no integritie in it and a mans heart is never plaine and even till it be polished by grace for till this be a man makes himselfe the center and all lines to meete in him Then he will have the cleane right Spirit that David prayeth for Ps 51. 10. Ephes 4. 23. and 3. 19. Phill. 3. 9. 3. Let him get an understanding heart of the things of God for without knowledge the heart cannot bee good without this there can bee no feare of nor love to nor trust in God Prov. 19. 2. 1 Chron. 28. 9. And thou Solomon know thou the God of thy father and serve him with a perfect heart c. Prov. 15. 23. A man of understanding walketh uprightly Prov. 2. 10. Phill 1. 9 10. And this I pray that your love may abound in knowledge c. That ye may bee sincere c. Psal 36. 10. and 9. 10. Jo. 10. 38. 4. Let him labour for unfeined faith which is ever accompanied with and never severed from Sinceritie 1 Tim. 1. 5. 2 Tim. 1. 5 7. 5. Let him labour from the sense of Gods love to him to get and increase in an unfeined love to God which will make him sincere Psal 26. 1 2. I have walked in mine integritie for thy loving kindnes is before mine eyes 1 Jo. 4. 19. 2 Cor. 6. 6. 6. Let him labour much in the mortification of his lusts and especially in his lusts of coveteousnes for this inclines a man to hypocrisie Luke 6. 14. And the Pharises also who were Coveteous heard all these things and they derided him Mat. 26. 9. Jo. 12. 4 5 6. Rom. 8 13. Coll. 3. 5. And for the better doing and attainment of all these things 1. Let him thinke much of God his omnipresence and omniscience the fearefull judgements to come upon hypocrites And let the feare of these judgements take hold of him Prov. 14. 2. Hee that walketh in his uprightnes feareth the Lord. 2 Sam. 22. 24. For all his judgements were before me c. I was also upright c. 1 Chron. 28. 9. Know thou the God c. and serve him with a perfect heart for the Lord searcheth all hearts c. Job 31. 4 23. Doth hee not see my wayes and count all my steps Psal 50. 21 22. Thou thoughtest I was altogether such an one as thy selfe but I will reprove thee c. Consider this yee that forget God least hee teare you in peeces and there bee none to deliver you Mal. 1. 6 7 8 9. Psal 139. 1 2. 2. Let him keepe a narrow watch over his heart and the motions thereof the principles motives intentions ends of every thing that passeth thorough it Pro. 4. 23. Keepe thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the Issues of life Marke 13. 37. Psal 134. 24. 8. Let him pray and pray much and earnestly for them to God who giveth them Ier. 24. 7. And who hath promised this very thing Ezech. 11. 19. I will give them one heart c. And put a new Spirit within you c. James 1. 5. If any man want wisedome c. Let him aske of God Mat. 5. 42. Aske and yee shall have Phill. 1. 9 10. And this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement c. That yee may bee sincere c. Luke 11. 13. 1 Chron. 29. 19. Psal 139. 24. Acts. 8. 23. Psal 119. 80. Let my heart bee sound in thy statutes c. 4. Let him bee much in converse with Gods word And especially with these scriptures we have in this work proposed for a preservative from and cure of this disease This will be as a rule to the Mason in his work yea the Word will not onely discover crookedness but amend it and make a man strait 1 Sam. 22. 23 24. I have kept the wayes of the Lord c. And as for his statutes I did not depart from them I was also upright before him Ps 119. 11. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee v. 7. I shall praise thee with uprightness of heart when I shall learn thy righteous judgements Prov. 15. 21. 2. 10. 5 Let him labour to remove out of his heart all low and undervaluing thoughts and get and cherish a high value and esteem of God his Ordinances and Institutions Mal. 1. 1 2. 6. 14. c. 6 Let him take heed of hearkning to carnal wisdome either that which comes from a carnal fountaine or that which inclineth to or produceth the workes of the flesh or that which rules onely for fleshly motives and carnal ends 2 Cor. 1. 12. James 3. 13. 7 Let him decline the company of such who give vehement cause to be suspected to be Hypocrites For he that toucheth pitch will be defiled therewith And get into the company and call in help from the prayers and counsel of them that appear to be sincere Prov. 13. 20. Hee that walketh with the wise shall be wise We have now done and said all wee have to say There remaineth that onely which we have promised to be added by another hand to the clearing of what we have in our fourth Chapter touching this Question Whether the Saving Grace lye in the Quality or Quantity Nature or Degree thereof or not CHAP. XVI Sr YOu were pleased to require my opinion in that Question Whether the difference between common and speciall or saveing grace be specificall or onely graduall and also what I thought of M. Baxters discours concerneing that particular Now although it signify little what my opinion is and although I am unwilling to censure any mans positions or proofes of them especially M. Baxters whom I highly esteem for his learning and industry his moderation and ingenuity yet in obedience to your command without any further Apology or preface taking the same liberty to judge of other mens discourses which I freely give all men to judge of mine I shall crave leave to tell you 1. That
works of the true Christian and the Hypocrite 2. We shall lay down the difference that is herein in their inside and in the operations of their hearts to wit the differences between the reall good in the heart of the true Christian and the seeming good in the heart of the Hypocrite 3. We shall lay down some of the differences that are between them both in their inside and outside 4. We shall lay downe some markes or signes of Sincerity and Hypocrisie setting the one in opposition to the other the which may serve to discover both 5. And then lastly we shall lay downe some other characters and signes of Sincerity which are signes of other things that do alwaies accompany Sincerity SECT I. The difference between the true Christian and the Hypocrite in their Outside For the first The difference that there is between the true and counterfeit Christian in their outside or by their externall works we are to know that the Hypocrite As we have said may have as faire an Outside as the best Christian in the World And some Hypocrites are such and continue so to their dying day and can say with that young man Mat. 19 17 18 19. All these things have I kept from my youth up And yet in most of them perhaps if they be narrowly watched some halting may be found in this also as to their conversation The true Christian is altogether a Christian doth follow Christ fully in all things and whether soever he goes and allwaies And he being wrought upon so effectually by the word and spirit as to be cast into the mould or transformed into the likenesse thereof he is for a present compliance with the whole will of God in all things he doth walke in all the commandments of God blamelesse He escheweth all that is evill and doth all that is good Ephes 4. 28. Zach. 13. 4 5 Isa 1. 16 17. He is for all duties to God and duties to man he is for piety justice and sobriety And he is for Godlinesse not only in the forme but in the power thereof he is for greater for lesser for publick for private duties he is for duties that are in esteeme and duties out of esteeme he is for more and for lesse profitable duties and performances for duties of mercy and charity as well as for duties that have outward profits and advantages attending them and in them all he is alike constant and industrious in their proper places And as to all the will of God and duty and work thereby incumbent on man he is universall and uniforme amongst all persons in all times places and cases one and the same and changeth not but continueth so to his dying day Psal 18. 21 23 24. For I have kept the waies of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God I was also upright before him And I kept my selfe from mine iniquity Luke 1. 6. It is said of Zacharie and Elizabeth they were both righteous before God walking in all the commandements of God blamelesse Caleb that he did fully follow the Lord in Deut. 1. 36. Numb 14. 24. and 32. 11 12. Of Auna Luke 2 37 She served God with fastings and Prayers night and day Of Cornelius Acts 10 2. He was a devout man and one that feared God with all his house which gave much almes unto the people and prayed to God alwaies Psal 101. 2. I will walk uprightly in the midst of my house Acts 2. 43. And they continued steafastly in the Apostles doctrine Psal 101. 1 2 3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes Ephes 5 1. Mat 8. 10. and 16. 24. Jo. 4. 24. 1 Sam. 12. 3 4. 2 Cor. 7. 2. But the Hypocrite is but almost or halfe a Christian doth but some things and follow Christ in part And he as to this is commonly faulty in one of these particulars 1. Either he will put off and delay to doe what he is commanded Luke 9 59. Suffer me first to goe and bury my Father c. 2 Or he will doe it but by halves when he doth it Hosea 7. 8 16. Numb 32. 11. 3. Or he will doe too much more then is given him in command by God being led therein by his own fancy or the commandements of men or some humane Tradition and so it is a Will worship Mat. 15. 2 3 6. c. Why do thy Diseiples transgresse the Traditions of the Elders c. But he answered why doe you also transgresse the commandements of God by your Tradition For God commanded c. In vaine doe you worship me teaching for Doctrines the commandements of men So Jehu 2 Kings 15. 1 2. c. Luke 18. 10 12. Psal 119. 81 82. Hosea 5. 11. 4. Or else and this is more common with him he doth too little he doth lesse then God commandeth and in the rest will doe his own will Hosea 7. 7. 5. Or he is all for the duties of the first table he is towards God religious but towards man unjust cruell unfaithfull c. Esay 1. 11 12 13. For what purpose are the multitude of your sacrifices c. your hands are full of blood c. Mal. 2. 6. Have been partiall in the Law Ezech 22. 26. 6. Or he hath somewhat of both but he hath a reserve he must be borne and dispensed with in some things he hath some beloved sinne or other of Profit and Pleasure as Naaman 2 Kings 5. 18. the Jewes Exod. 16. 28 29. Saul 1 Sam 15. 8. Herod Morke 6. 20. and others 7. Or he is very exact in the lesser but very carelesse in the greater things Mat. 23. 23. Woe to you Scribes c. Ye pay Tithe of Mint Annis and Cummin but have omitted the weighty matters of the Law judgement mercy and Faith c. 8. Or he is all for duties that are more publick and not at all for private 9. Or he is for duties that are in request and of selfe advantage and for none others Acts 8. 21. There is scarce an Hypocrite to be found but lives in some known sinne or other and under the power of some lust which he serveth He will serve two masters Mat 6. 24. He supposeth the love of God and the world may stand toget her and that he may serve both Iames 4. 4 The dog hath his kennell and the Sow her swill And if you mark well his stepps you will finde him in time of Temptation drawn or driven to the omitting of some good or doing of some foule evill And to take the boldnesse at least at some time or in some places or amongst some company or in some case to offend wickedly Ezek. 33. 30 31. compared with Ezek. 8. 7 8 9. 1 Sam 10. 10. and 14. 33 34. Mark 6 20 21 22 27. 2 Kings 5. 18. Mat 13. 22 23. Iob. 27. 10. Isa 65. 3 4 5 6 7. Hos 7. 7 8 9 10. c. Zeph 1. 5. Iob. 27. 10. Luke 17. 15.