Hope and Dependance they also are not willing to forgo These Men place that Hope on their own Works and Righteousness which true Christians place on Christ and so unbelief in them throws Christ quite away they having no need of him 1. What is Unbelief but an actual or vertual denial of the Truth of the Gospel when Men do not assent to the Doctrine of it by an act of the Understanding 2. 'T is a refusal to accept heartily of Christ upon the Terms of the Gospel which is opposite to Justifying-Faith when there is not a fiducial Motion to Christ as the Center When Christ the only Foundation and chief Corner-Stone is laid aside and the Need and Worth of him not believed This Sin binds all the Guilt of all their old and new Sins upon their Souls 't is a Sin against the highest Goodness of God and casts Contempt upon it for never did God manifest such sovereign Goodness unto his Creatures as in Jesus Christ God hath said there is no Life no Salvation any other way but by the Lord Jesus But these Men do not assent to this Truth do not believe the Report God hath given concerning the want of perfect Righteousness and Regeneration and Self-debasement c. Nay they seem to contradict the Will of God by their going about to establish their own Righteousness and so not submitting to the Righteousness of God In a word 't is a denying of Christ and a disesteeming the Price of his Blood as it also reflects on the Wisdom of God in fixing on this way to save Sinners 'T is an invaluating the Excellency of Christ's Person Blood and Merits As Faith counts all things Dung in Comparison of Christ so Unbelief accounts the Person Offices and Doctrine of Christ but as Dung in Comparison of the Excellency of Self-Righteousness Self-Wisdom Self-Sufficiency c. These Men are the worst Neglecters of the great Salvation they do not only neglect it but slight and contemn it there being in their Thoughts not any need to look for Salvation this way They that sin against the Law fly to the Gospel but these sin against the Cure held forth and extended in the Gospel Whither must these fly since there remains no more Sacrifice for Sin if this be slighted no other way or means is ordained for Salvation Such who refuse the Covenant of Grace and depend on the Covenant of Works how woful is their Condition And what hope a Law often transgress'd can give a Malefactor is saith a worthy Person easy to imagine Millions have perished by it none can be secured by it as none ever by it were or could be saved At first these Persons transgressed against the Rule but now they transgress against the Rule and Remedy too None but Unbelievers are despised by God none but these shall taste of his Wrath and Divine Vengeance this is the condemning Sin this is Satan's strongest hold hither he retreats after all and here he keeps as in chains his miserable Captive He that believes not shall be damned And what is Faith but a going out of a Mans self to Christ for Life and Righteousness as a poor wretched and miserable Sinner But these Men now see not themselves to be in such a State Earthly Hypocrisy it appears from the whole which hath been said is another of those evil Spirits that is entered into this Man Hypocrisy is opposed to that inward Simplicity of the Heart and all counterfeit Professors are guilty of it though all do not act the part of an Hypocrite with an Intention i. e. are not convinced they are Hypocrites some deceive their own Hearts they are the grosser sort others their Hearts deceive them these are most to be pitied a Man may doubtless be an Hypocrite and he may not know it he may go on in a way of Duty and do all things as he thinks exactly according to the Letter of the Word and in Uprightness as he may judg and yet be unsound certainly thus it was with the foolish Virgins Hypocrites may be nevertheless discerned our Saviour hath given the Character of them 1. They are commonly most zealous from the lesser things of Religion i. e. for paying Tithes of Mint Anise and Cummin but neglect the weightier things of the Law Judgment Mercy Faith and the Love of God They strain at a Knat and swallow a Cammel They make a stir about external Rights Observation of Days and Meats but to the Power of Religion and Godliness are Strangers and experience nothing of a Divine change on their Souls 2. As they lay the greatest stress upon the least things so they are commonly partial in their pretended Obedience they lay hard things or heavy Burdens upon others but they themselves will not touch them with one of their Fingers What they preach and press on others they do not themselves they will not obey Christ nor follow him in the hardest things nor do they obey in Love or always 3. They are commonly finding Faults in other Men can spy the Mote in their Brother's Eye but cannot see the Beam that is in their own As it is a Sign of notorious Hypocrisy and Impudence to censure and judg others for those Sins which Men live in themselves so it is a Sign of like Hypocrisy to spy Faults in others and reproach them for those Faults and yet the Person is guilty of worse himself What they preach and press on others they do not themselves they will not follow Christ in the most hard and difficult things of Religion but pick and chuse will do some things that they like of and not only neglect others but quarrel with them who contend for it and faithfully subject to Christ in it And as they are not universal in their Obedience so they do not obey in Love nor do they obey always as sincere Christians do as David intimateth 4. They are generally very confident touching the Goodness of their own Condition not questioning their Salvation thus were the Pharisees they judged others were in a damnable State but as touching themselves did not doubt but they were the only People and blessed God they were not as other Men whereas a true Christian is full of Fear and doubts about the Truth of Grace received and Goodness of his Condition 5. They are vain-glorious do what they do to be seen of Men like the Pharisees They love the Praise of Men more than the Praise of God their Hearts are kept up by the good Opinion others have of them they like their Predecessors love greetings in the Markets and uppermost Rooms in Feasts and to be called of Men Rabbi they also are subject to Envy or have their Hearts rise against such who they hear out-do them and would be looked upon as the chiefest of Men in Learning Parts and Wisdom 6. They are commonly very zealous to make Men Proselytes to their own
THE Counterfeit Christian OR The Danger of Hypocrisy Opened in TWO SERMONS Containing an EXPOSITION of that Parabolical Speech of our Blessed Saviour Matth. xii 43 44 45. When the Unclean Spirit is gone out of a Man c. By BENJAMIN KEACH Author of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pastor of the Church of Christ meeting on Horsly-down in Southwark Ezek. 33. 31. And they come unto thee as the People cometh and they sit before thee as my People and they hear thy Words but they will not do them for with their Mouth they shew much Love but their Heart goeth after their Covetousness Mat. 23. 25. Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites 2 Pet. 2. 21. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of Righteousness c. London printed and are sold by John Pike at the upper end of Bread-street just by Cheap-side and by the Author at his House near Horslydown in Southwark 1691. Price stitch'd 6d To the Reader IT is more than a Year since I began a Morning-Exercise on the Lord's-Day at seven a Clock when I entred upon an Exposition of all the Parables and express Similitudes contained in the four Evangelists according to the measure of Light and Knowledge received though by reason of a Journey into the Country it has not been continued The Explication of this Parabolical Speech of our Saviour I have been prevailed with to make publick And if this meets with Acceptance I may in a short time publish Proposals for printing the whole which in regard of the greatness of the Charge cannot be done but by Subscriptions And though I must confess my Ability to perform so great a Work to be much inferiour to many others yet by God's Assistance I shall do what I can And the Consideration of the kind Acceptance my other Labours have had amongst God's People has caused me to take the more pains God having blessed the Writings of divers of his Servants to the Conversion of many Souls and Comfort of others yet if I have not sufficient encouragement from Christian Friends I must desist this great Essay Reader The second Sermon I have much enlarged scarcely half of it was delivered when preach'd thinking to have preached a third time upon the Text but was prevented by laying down that Lecture for the Reason afore-mentioned Neither have I been so large on other Parables already opened nor intend to be on those I purpose to explain so that the first Sermon is rather a proper Specimen of the whole Work than the second As touching some part of this dark Parabolical Saying of our Saviour I may differ in my Conceptions 't is probable from divers Men 〈…〉 inclined 't is like to believe that the Man or Men here mentioned are such only that Satan overcomes after they have made a profession of Religion with the same scandalous Sins and so they turn with the Dog to their old Vomit I grant this may be true in respect of some of them yet I do not believe the Lord Jesus intends to shew hereby they do all after manner fall from their 〈◊〉 Religion and Profession 'T is evident to me he applies it to the Pharisees and other People of that Generation but many of them never became openly Prophane yet was their State worse by many degrees than whilst they abode under the Power of gross and scandalous Sins and died in their Vnbelief and Hypocrisy which 't is to be feared many now do If the Scope of the 〈◊〉 be considered That our blessed Saviour designed by this Parable to see 〈◊〉 the State of the Pharisees is evident as may be seen if you begin at the 24th Verse of the Chapter where they charged him with casting out Devils by Bâ—â—lzebub the Prince of the Devils From whence his 〈◊〉 an occasion to set forth the sadness of their Conditions 〈…〉 Zeal and outward Sanctity shewing 〈◊〉 Vers 33 34 35. that their Hearts were not made good but like an Evil and corrupt Tree Then soon after follows these words When the Unclean Spirit is gone out of a Man c. Reader I shall not trouble thee further what Weakness thou findest in these Sermons I hope Chairty will 〈◊〉 it If any Profit thou shalt receive thereby bless God and be 〈…〉 of resting in a Form of Religion being not brought into 〈◊〉 Union with Jesus Christ nor under the Power of true 〈…〉 let me have a part in thy Prayers who is 〈…〉 them being attended with many Troubles and 〈…〉 but doubt not but God will make them all work together for good and will at last I hope through his infinite Grace bring to his quiet peaceable and everlasting Rest His poor Servant thy unworthy Friend and Brother in the Gospel BENJ. KEACH From my House near Horsly-down this 27th of the 3 d Month called May 1691. ERRATA PAge 33. line 28. for Pride read Proud c. l. 34. for regulate r. regular l. 35. blot out by P. 35. l. last f. they r. we and f. thereby r. there â—â— The Counterfeit Christian OR The Danger of Hypocrisy CONTAINING An Exposition of that Parabolical Speech of our Saviour Mat. 12. 43 44 45. SERMON I. When the unclean Spirit is gone out of a Man he walketh through dry places seeking Rest and finding none Ver. 43. Then he saith I will return into my House from whence I came out and when he is come he findeth it empty swept and garnished Ver. 44. Then goeth he and taketh with him seven other Spirits more wicked than himself and enter in and dwell there and the last State of that Man is worse than the first Ver. 45. THIS place of Holy Scripture is generally acknowledged to be hard to be understood most Expositers and Annotators I have met with say but little to it Some call it a Parable and others a parabolical Speech or a Similitude By the Scope and Coherence of the place it is evident our Saviour setteth forth by it the direful State and Condition of the Scribes and Pharisees and other People of the Jews who boasted of their external Holiness or seeming Sanctity they being not prophane or notorious Sinners or as they themselves foolishly said Not Extortioners unjust or Adulterers like as the Publicans were Luke 18. 11. Yet the Lord Jesus sheweth by this Parable how they were deceived for though they were delivered from that prophane and debauched unclean Spirit yet was their State worse than the State of gross and wicked Sinners which is signified by the entering into them seven other unclean Spirits worse or more wicked than the first that were gone out of them That the Words may be applied to them and other People of that Generation is evident from the sequel of ver 45. Even so shall it be with the People of this froward Generation Yet no doubt our blessed Saviour in this place may have Reference to a Man in the like State or as Beza
little ground or is worsted in one Soul he will try what Power and Success he can find in another 3. It shews that he is an unquiet and restless Spirit being cast out of Heaven he can rest no where and if he be forced out of some Men at one time he will tempt others nay if the Servant hath a little worsted him he to revenge himself will fall perhaps in the next place upon the Son if he lose some place in his own House he will see if he cannot get into the Temple of the Holy Ghost or if he is forced to leave wet and filthy places in which he delights he will walk through dry places and see what he can meet with there 4. Satan's great Work which he imploys himself in and about is no doubt to get into the Heart of Men to dwell nay rule there and so subject them to himself and defile and polute them one way or other Dry places seeking Rest and finding none i. e. where there is no Water or Moisture or not enough to refresh him he has a cruel Thirst upon him and unless he can meet with that he seeketh which is to make a Prey of the Souls of Men he is in a restless state like a thirsty Person who walking through dry Places can find no Water There are some sorts of Men that aford Satan no Content nor Satisfaction he seeketh for that oft-times which he finds not he is not pleased to be as a Travellor to pass through a place and stay as it were but for a Night but would fain find Rest i.e. have a Place or Heart to dwell in and take sole Possession of I find one of the Ancients who writing on this dark Expression speaketh thus So long as he dwelleth not in me he is said to seek Rest he is grieved and vexed c. 1. Dry Places are commonly clean Places or Places where there is no Dirt or Mire and Satan that unclean Spirit is like a Swine i. e. he delights in filthy and mirery Places which may signify his assaulting the Saints or seeking to get into sanctified Hearts or Hearts renewed by the special Grace of God and throughly purged by the Blood of Christ in whom that filthy sink of Sin and Polution is not only dryed up but the Heart is changed and made new and so no more a House or Habitation for this unclean Spirit but is become the Temple of the Holy Ghost or a Habitation for God through the Spirit And these Men's Hearts are unto Satan like dry Places to a thirsty and restless Person for as the Holy Spirit cannot rest nor take up his abode in filthy and poluted Hearts so the Devil that wicked Spirit can find no Rest nor Place of abode in renewed and sanctified Hearts And as it is no suitable House or Habitation for him so likewise Believers have one dwelling in them strong enough to keep Satan out for stronger saith the Apostle is he that is in us than he which is in the World and again he saith Ye are strong and the Word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the Wicked one He that is begotten of God keepeth himself and the wicked one toucheth him not shall not so touch him as to enter into his Heart and take up his Dwelling or get Possession of him any more and therefore these Men's Hearts i. e. the Hearts of true sanctified Christians I conclude are meant here by our Saviour which are to Satan as dry places where there is no dwelling or abiding for him 2. As dry Places are clean Places so likewise they are commonly barren Places Places where little or nothing will grow Satan is for such Hearts that will receive his evil Seed i. e. suited and fit to close in with his cursed Temptations which are like to moist or mirery places such as all corrupt and unregenerate Hearts are in others that bitter and evil Seed which this unclean Spirit sows will not take root Or if it should so fall out that through the Carelesness and Negligence of Believers and Strength of Temptations Satan should drop some of his cursed Seed in them and it should meet with a little of the old corrupt Nature there being in the best of Men an unregenerate part yet it would soon wither and come to nothing for their Hearts are as I said before no proper Soyl for the Seed of the wicked one therefore if he gets in a little he is soon turned out again so that in a Word according to the Import of this Saying of Christ as I conceive these Mens Hearts are to the Devil like dry places where he can find no Rest 3. Dry Places are for the most part places least inhabited for want of Water the Hearts of Saints are like uninhabitable Places to Satan in them he cannot find those proper Accommodations which he needs and must have where he dwells But since he can find no Dwelling here no Diabolical Comfort nor Refreshment i. e. no abode in Godly Hearts he saith I will return into my House from whence I came out ver 44. I will return Not that he was quite routed and vanquished before 't is called still his House he lays claim and pleads Propriety in him and Interest still Therefore this Man's Heart was not become the Temple of the Holy Spirit he was gone out or forced out before as a Swearing Cheating Whoring or drunken Devil c. and this might inrage him and move him to attempt some greater Enterprize which we have already spoken to Satan doth not love to loose or let go any strong hold he hath of carnal and prophane Persons but seeing he had received some small Defeat he sets upon the truly Godly Christian like as when he was cast out of Heaven unto the Earth he presently persecuted the Woman which brought forth the Man-child Rev. 12. 13. When he saw he could not uphold his Kingdom by Paganism nor farther execute his Malice by Pagan Emperors but was routed and overcome as to that Power he had as our late Annotators observe to let us know that he retains his Malice though he hath lost his former strength he goes on in pursuing the Church of God Even so I say he having been forced to give way before as was hinted he walks about to seek Revenge upon the Saints but they being to him like dry Places to a thirsty Man or as an Inn to a Traveller viz. no resting Place he resolves to return to his own House that is the Hearts of hypocritical Professors such as the Pharisees were And this returning of his into his old House imports as I conceive his coming again in another form or shape and with a Resolution to get better and more firmer and surer Possession than he had before Now he appears as an Angel of Light Nor can we suppose he had no Party left in the said House when he went out Parables must not he
Portion and take that to be his that belongs to an Hypocrite as an Hypocrite on the other hand mistakes that which belongs to him and applies that to himself which is the Portion of sincere Christians but Grace is like a small Seed at first that cannot be soon espied in the House i.e. the Heart especially when there is much Smoak and Darkness yet remaining But may be some may say What you have said tends to take us off of Holy Duties and Obedience God forbid for though we would not have you rest or depend upon your Duties and Obedience yet let me tell you a godly Man or he that is a true Christian hath such Righteousness wrought in him and by him that exceeds the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees if he had not he could in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven 1. His Obedience and Righteousness flows from a Principle of Divine or Spiritual Life or from a Principle of saving Grace or else they would be all but dead Works and from thence he acts and doth all that he performs Godward 2. He acts from a Principle of Faith his Obedience flows from thence seeing himself justified and accepted only in Jesus Christ 3. He acts from a Principle of Love to Christ and is also always the same and for the hardest part of Religion as well as for the easiest part of it Moreover he is as careful to â—eep a good Conscience towards God as to keep a Conscience void of Offence towards Men he takes up all the Duties of Religion in Point of Performance though he lays them all down in Point of Dependance He is as careful of his Heart and Ways that he â—â—y please God and glorify him as much as a Man can be that expects to merit God's Favour thereby he knows he must attend upon the means of Salvation as well as to expect Salvation it self 4. He exceeds all others in his end which is the Honour and Glory of God or to live to God on Earth as well as to live with God in Heaven Lastly How severely doth what we have said look upon all Self-righteous Persons and those proud People that boast of their Holiness and Perfection that think they need no Repentance O that they would consider it and tremble before it is too late and they perish eternally for rejecting the chief Corner-stone Remember unless ye believe that Christ is he ye shall die in your Sins Also it looks severely on all formal and carnal Christians who have nothing but a Name Alas Sirs If the painted Hypocrite he that is so gloriously garnished with many great Gifts Parts Wisdom Learning and seeming Piety is in a damnable Condition what will become of you Mourn O England what a Number of filthy debauched treacherous proud drunken swearing and unclean Christians as they are called hast thou in the Bowels of thee they shew their Sin as Sodom and hide it not and yet glory as if they were the only People of God Awake Sinners before God's Judgments are poured out upon you for certainly great Wrath is at the Door God hath wrought Wonders for the Deliverance of this Nation but ye slight and contemn them Neither Judgments nor Mercy will humble you what would you have since nothing God doth pleases you Certainly the Almighty will not bear with you much longer if you repent not But ye who are truly pious and sincere ones rejoice you who mourn for your own Sins and for the Sins of the Land you are secured from the hungry Lion your Day is coming the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is near your Redemption is at hand lift up your Heads and praise God for ever SAtan a Spirit is unclean From whom all Filth doth flow A wicked Heart his House has been There still he dwells also As all true Holiness O Lord Is from they self alone So we do find from thy bless'd Word Sin 's from that wicked one And that he in a filthy Heart Takes up his curs'd Abode So thou so good to thy Saints art In them to dwell O God And that thou mightst Possession have Satan thou hast cast out And from all Filth our Souls to save Strange things hast wrought about Let such who garnish'd are by Art And common Graces fear Whilst all those sing with joyful Heart Who are indeed sincere Let Sinners and each Hypocrite Consider their sad doom Whilst Saints do sing having in sight The Glory that 's to come The latter State of some Men will Be worser than before But Saints are happy and safe still And shall for ever-more FINIS The whole will contain 100 or 120 Sheets in Folio Preached August 10. 1690. Matth. 12. 45. * Mark 5. 8. * Luke 22. 3. †Acts 5. 3. ‖ Ephes 2. 2 3. Luke 18. 11. * Job 1. 7. * 1 John 2. 14. †1 John 5. 18. 2 Pet. 2. Mat. 23. 27 29. Doct. I. 1 John 3. 8 12. * John 8. Doct. II. Rom. 8. 7. Doct. III. Doct. IV. This Hymn was sung at the close of the first Sermon Morning-Exercise on Horsely-Down August 17 1690. Mat. 12. 45 Rev. 3. 17. Joh. 9. 41. 1 Tim. 4. 2. 2 Cor. 10. 12. Mat. 18. 11. Rom. 10. 3. Ròm 7. 9. Rom. 2. 17 18. Rom. 2. 22. Charnock Mat. 11. 25. 1 Cor. 1. Joh. 7. 48. Charnock Prov. 14. 16. Mat. 21. 32 33. Rom. 2. 17 18 19. Prov. 26. 16. 1 Cor. 1. ult 1 Cor. 1. 30. Phil. 3. 8 9. Rom. 7. 9. Rom. 7. Rom. 3. 10. Isa. 65. 5. Mat. 9. 20. Ephes. 2. 1 2. Ephes. 1. 18 19 20. 2 Cor. 5. 17. 1 John 3. 8. Rom. 8. 7. 1 Pet. 1. 17 18. Mat. 13. Quest Answ Jer. 4. 3. Isa. 1. Rom. 2. 19 20. Annotators John 4. 2 Tim. 3. 5. Isa. 66. 3. Counterfeit Christians are not all of one sort Rom. 3. 19 Joh. 8. 24. Rom. 3. 24 25. Object Answ 1 Cor. 3. 11. Mar. 16. 16 Act. 15. 24 Rom. 10. 3. Rom. 11. 8. Rom. 11. 6. Annotat. Object Answ Annotat. Rom. 4. 5. Annotators Phil. 1. 29. Joh. 6. 65. Joh. 6. 44. Ps. 110. 5. Rom. 8. 7. Object Answ Jer. 31. 33. Jer. 32. 40. Jer. 31. 3. Rom. 8. 29. Joh. 6. 37. Eph. 1. 4. Act. 27. 24 25 31. Annotators on the place Charnock Acts 4. 12. Rom. 10. 3. Phil. 3. 8 9 10. Mark 16. 16. Mat. 25. Mat. 23. 23 24. Luke 11. 42. Mat. 23. 4. Mat. 7. 3. John 12. 43. Mat. 23. 6 7. Mat. 23. 15. Rom. 11. 8. 2 Pet. 2. 20. 1 Joh. 3. 15. Joh. 14. 19 Phil. 1. 6. 2 Pet. 2. 22. Heb. 6.4 Mat. 12. 24 28. Vers. 31. What the Sin against the Holy Ghost is that shall not be forgiven Annotators Heb. 10. 29 Heb. 6. 6. Obs. 1. Obs. 2. Obs. 3. Obs. 4. Obs. 5. Obs. 6. Obs. 7. Obs. 8. Informat 1. Informat 2. Mat. 25. Reproof 1. Rom. 4. 11 12. Versâ— 13. Reproof 2. Reproof 3. Reproof 4. Doth God allow of nothing for Ornament We say all immodest and fantastical Garbs and Dresses are loathsom and to be abominated See Wall 's Baptism anatomized Though this Man has abused me and my Brethren yet I do not think such a scurrillous Adversary worthy of an Answer See the Narrative of John Child's Life and Death three or four years ago printed Reproof 5. Reproof 6. Examinat Sincerity described Rom. 8. 7. 1 Pet. 2. 7. Object Answ Mat. 5. 20. Quakers condemned Acts 4. 11. John 8. 24. Comfort Sung at the Close of the second Sermon
Notions of Religion though may be false and corrupt Notions but if they can but bring a Person to receive their Principles and external Ordinances then they glory tho hereby he is made twofold perhaps sevenfold more the Child of Hell than before the poor deceived Wretch thinking this change of Religion is a true Conversion and so never looks out for any other but speaking Peace to his own Soul judging all is well within They doubt not but they have Religion enough when it doth commend them to Meâ— and are taken for Saints by Saints their greatest Labor is to keep up their Name and Credit in Religion so that if they may pass unsuspected amongst their Fellow-Creatures or have the Approbation of Men and that if none can charge them justly with any immoral Actions they rest satisfied whereas the greatest Care of a true Child of God is so to walk and labour that he may be accepted of God and have his Approbation 7. Self is commonly in the bottom In all they do they aim not at the Glory of God but have a carnal Design Self-Advantage or Self-Applause c. This moves and quickens them and animates them in all they perform in religious Services and if they miss of their end be it what it will they soon are weary and grow cold and flat in their Spirits and become quarrelsome and seek Offences and disturb the Peace of the Church to whom they belong 8. Moreover they are not the same at Home which they are Abroad not in Private what they seem to be in Publick may be seldom pray either in their Family or Closet or if they do 't is with little Zeal Enlargedness or Affection to God There are divers other Marks and Characters of Hypocrites and of these false Professors which I must pass by because I would speak a word or two of Application In the last place The latter State of these Men is worse than the first 1. Because God oftentimes leaves them to judicial Blindness and to the hardness of their own Hearts According as it is written God hath given them the Spirit of Slumber Eyes that they should not see and Ears that they should not hear unto this day Even thus as God dealt with the Unbelieving Jews or the People of that Generation so I say he oftentimes deals with other formal Hypocrites c. and for the very same Cause Doubtless it was for those Spiritual Sins Unbelief and Hypocrisy the Pharisees and other People of Israel were rejected and cast off And O what Wrath were they laid under the Wrath of God is said to come upon them to the uttermost Moreover some of these false and counterfeit Professors also fall into the very same Sins and horrid Abominations they were guilty of before they made any profession of Religion nay and they prove more vile and notorious in Wickedness than ever It hath often been seen that this sort of Men who forsake the Ways of God which they seemed to own and profess have at last appeared more impudent in Sin than the vilest Men being ring-leaders to all lewd and cursed Practices and Deeds of Darkness so that the same unclean Spirit returneth into some of them in the same shape also though I cannot see any ground to believe it happens so to them all for doubtless many of them retain their seeming Zeal and external Profession of Religion and outward Holiness until they die Evident it is our Saviour applies this direful Doom on the People of that Generation viz. the Jews particularly to the Scribes and Pharisees see the 38th verse Yet certain it is many of them never turned to open Prophaneness but died in their Unbelief whilst they abode proud and zealous Pharisees Yet I see no reason to question but this returning Devil and those seven other Spirits more wicked is applied to them as well as to others who fell away from their seeming Piety and Profession But of some of them especially it hath happened according to what St. Peter speaks For if after they have escaped the Pollutions of the World through the Knowledg of Jesus Christ and are again overcome the latter end of that Man is worse than the first that is such a knowledg of Christ as brings with it or doth produce an outward reformation of Life For as the Elect cannot be deceived so they cannot fall finally having the seed remaining in them cannot sin unto Death they are said to have eternal Life abiding in them Because saith Christ I live ye shall live also He that hath begun that good work in them will perform it to the Day of Christ They are passed from Death unto Life and shall not come into condemnation But as to these false-hearted or hypocritical Persons it happeneth to them that is to some of them according to the true Proverb The Dog is turned to his own Vomit and the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire The Apostle comparing them to Dogs and Swine shews what fort they were viz. such who never passed under an effectual change of Heart but were whilst they made a great or high profession like unclean Beasts A restraint may be put on an evil Beast or on a filthy and unclean Nature where there is not a change of nature 't is one thing to have the Life washed or cleansed and another to have the Heart cleansed Furthermore Some of this sort who have received those high though common Illuminations of the Spirit even to such a degree as they are said to be inlightned and to have tasted of the Heavenly Gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost c. that is in the common Gifts and Graces thereof and yet after all they fall away nay and so fall that they can never be renewed again by Repentance Therefore some of these Persons are they who sin the Sin against the Holy Ghost that shall never be forgiven Prophane Persons doubtless do not sin this Sin nor can true Christians commit it they cannot sin unto Death No no these are those miserable Souls those cursed Apostates who are liable and in danger to sin the unpardonable Sin Nay and observable it is that the Lord Jesus in the verses before he spake this Parable intimates that those very Pharisees c. were guilty of or in danger of being charged with this Sin see vers 30. they shewed so much Malice against our blessed Saviour as to charge him with a Devil and that he cast out Devils by Beelzebub But when the Pharisees heard it they said This Fellow doth not cast out Devils but by Beelzebub the Prince of the Devils And from hence he said All manner of Sin and Blasphemy shall be forgiven to Men but the Sin against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto Men. And therefore he bids them to make the Tree good intimating whilst the Heart was evil and under diabolical Influences
it would or might carry them away to all horrid Words and Blasphemy And then presently after brings in this parabolical Speech When the unclean Spirit is gone out of a Man c. 'T is not a speaking of hard words against Christ and the Holy Ghost but a speaking them as the Pharisees did out of spite designing to destroy him and render him odious This is dangerous 1. 'T is a sinning wilfully after a Person has received much knowledg it is a Sin knowingly committed against the operations of the Holy Spirit casting contempt or highest reproach upon Christ and the Holy Ghost contrary to the rational Convictions of their own Consciences 2. There is also it appears Malice against Christ and his Spirit in the Hearts of those Men who are guilty of it they are said to do despite to the Spirit of Grace they desert the Assemblies where he manifesteth his Gifts and Graces they reject him viz. the Holy Spirit with them and treat as one observes his Gifts and Motions as if they were mere Delusions and Impostures of an evil Spirit and this is done wilfully out of Malice to Christ his People and Religion 3. Also doubtless Apostacy is another ingredient thereof in some they fall away c. they utterly disown that Religion they have professed 4. Final Impenitency appertaineth to it likewise for what Sins we truly repent of we shall be forgiven But of these 't is said 'T is impossible to renew them again to Repentance because God is withdrawn from them and hath left them for ever so that no Means used can do them any good As God will not renew them again so none else can do it they sin therefore without remorse of Conscience after they have made shipwrack of Faith and that seeming good Conscience they once had for Paul intimated he had a good Conscience before he was converted or whilst a Pharisee Act. 23. 1. But those who are unsound at Heart who do not fall away from their seeming Holiliness and profession of Religion and so die not in Apostacy yet if they never come to be savingly wrought upon or to pass under a Divine Change they all nevertheless perish in Hypocrisy so that every way their State and the State of all of them is and will be at the last miserable And from the whole we may note That the State of the Self-righteous and Pharisaical Persons is far worse than the State of gross and prophane Sinners These are sick and know it not wounded but see no need of a Physician Sinners but see no want of a Christ They may conclude they are converted and therefore seek not after Conversion We always think his State is sad who though mortally wounded yet feels no pain Some Sinners are said to be past feeling their Enemy is hid in them they think he is gone when 't is no such thing for he another way has faster hold of them than ever 'T is a hard and difficult thing to bring a Pharisaical Person one that looks upon himself to be a religious Man to see his woful State and Condition Men may be civilized and make a great Profession of Religion and go for Saints on Earth that are not such in the sight of God in Heaven We may also from hence infer 'T is a most dangerous thing to make a Profession of Religion without true Regeneration be first wrought in the Soul better be no Professors at all than not so as to be sincere Hypocrisy is a most cursed and dangerous Sin these Persons Satan hath commonly the strongest hold of of all others The State of sincere Christians is happy though Satan doth attempt to get into them and destroy them yet he cannot do it there is no abiding for him he may foil them but cannot give them a final fall though they fall they shall rise again Satan cannot be said to be quite thrown out of that Man's Heart where the true Grace of God is not implanted nor the Soul renewed None but the Lord Jesus who is stronger than Satan can bind this strong Man armed and set the Soul at liberty Where the Heart is not changed Satan can return in one way or another at his pleasure he takes them captive at his Will Mortality or all external Gifts and common Graces though it may seem to sweep the House yet is the House empty and all is but like a vain Shew or Garnish all Reformation is nothing without Regeneration APPLICATION This may inform us of the Cause and Reason there is so great Reproach brought upon Religion and on the Ways of God and on the People of God by some who profess the Gospel Alas many of them who are called Saints we may justly fear are but counterfeit Christians such who never experienced a true Work of Grace they may have knowing Heads but unsanctified Hearts And from hence it is there are so many proud Persons in many Congregations who with brazen Foreheads will brave it out with impudent Faces in the presence of Christ's faithful Ministers and though reproved and told of their cursed Pride and abominable Dresses high and shameful Towers hateful to God and good Men yet reform not will not deny themselves of their filthy Lusts tho the Name of God and Religion is exposed to great Reproach and Contempt thereby and the Hearts of sincere Christians wounded and mourn for it bitterly before the Lord. If they had but a spark of true Grace could they ever stand it out thus against the Gun-shot of Heaven How fearless do they seem under the ratling Peals of the Thunder of Heaven They regard not the whetted Sword of the Almighty nor the bending of his dreadful Bow nor mind the Arrows that are just upon the String who is ready to send forth his Anger with Fury and his Rebukes in Flames of Fire Moreover from hence it is also there are so many covetous earthly and hard-hearted Professors and Members in Churches Alas you may tell them of this abominable Sin a thousand times over and all to no purpose their Hearts 't is to be feared are set upon their Covetousness they love the World more than the Word nay more than God or Jesus Christ and yet under a Cloak of Religion shelter themselves as if all was well and they good Christians And because they covet no Man's Goods but their own and so are not guilty of Theft they conclude they are not chargeable with this Sin of Covetousness though Christ's poor Members are not regarded the Naked are not clothed nor the Hungry fed nor the Sick visited They will give something 't is true but not according to the Need and Necessity of the Poor nor according to their Ability nor is it out of Love to Christ nor to his poor Saints neither they give what they do give may be to free themselves from Reproach or to quiet their own Consciences