slew two hundred Husbandmen of the Villages thereabouts Zisca hearing of these men and their detestable practises led out his Army against them and destroyed them I am loath to rake any longer in such a kennel but judge Reader if there bee any thing new under the Sun 18 Hee may bee vehement rigid or violent in preaching the Law and urging good duties Hee may lay a heavy load on anothers conscience himself doing just nothing the while like the Egyptian Task-masters Matth. 23. 3. Powerfull and thundring Preachers they may bee to others themselves livelesse and hollow as the silver Trumpets when sounding loudest filled only with wind Some have preached liberty to others when themselves were servents of corruption the Apostle saith and some preach bonds and duty to others but keep themselves at liberty But as it is not knowing 2 Pet. 2. 19. but knowing and doing makes the blessed hearer so it is not preaching but Jo. 13. 17. doing and teaching which makes the good Preacher such a one was Christ Act. 1. 1. himself The godly Minister must not docere facienda but faciendo the language of the life must go along with the language of the lip The man of God must bee a Seer not a Sayer and not a Word-man or a Sword-man but a Work-man that he may not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth dividing it to others and taking his part of it himself 19 Hee may go yet further be zealous for the Law the Law of God the Moral Law and that not onely to preach it but to observe it zealous to keep the whole Law onely he fails in one point the end of the Law he seeks righteousness Rom. 9. 33. 10. 2 3. from it and builds his hopes of justification upon it Thus did the Jews of old and to this day their children Thus do the Papists tread in their steps being ignorant of Gospel-righteousness of the righteousness of God by faith as it is called Phil. 3. 9. They seek to set up a righteousness of their own and perish They are for repentance and obedience for piety and charity too yet they perish These attain not the Law of Righteousness Rom. 9. 31. Fall from Grace Gal. 5. 4. Fall under the curse Gal. 3. 10. Stumble at Christ Rom. 9. 33. and lose all benefit by the Gospel making the death of Christ void Gal. 2. ult Take the Law out of the hand of a Mediator and it worketh nothing but wrath discovers all cures no sin Hence Paul told the Galathians he feared all his labour was lost on them while they turned from mount Sion to Sinai to the Gal. 4. 11. 20. 21. Law from the Gospel for justification It is observable when the Lord appointed two Mountains one for blessing Mount Deut. 27. 4 5. 13. compared Gerizim the other for cursing Mount Ebal that the Law was to bee written not on Gerizim but Ebal whence all the curses were poured out Wee pity the ignorance of some who make the Creed a Prayer and thou art as far out if thou make the Ten Commandements a Creed to expect salvation from the Law 20 The last step is a very high one indeed whereby the hypocrite is lifted up above the middle to the highest Region even lifted up to heaven and yet doth perish in his way Hee may be righteous overmuch Eccles 7. 16. Hee may exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees yet not enter into the Kingdome of heaven Such were the Essaei or Esseni a noted sect among the Jews about the time of our Saviour of whom though no mention is made in the Evangelists yet do Ecclesiastical Writers speak much of them and Josephus largely They called themselves Essaei quasi Mag. Cent. 1. l. 1. c. 5. In Pharisaeis hipocrisin fueosamque pietatem cernevant in Sadducaeis Epicurismum c. dicas operatores as if they would say they were all Works not words and shews as the Pharisees were not Brutes and Epicures as the Sadduces were As once some Hereticks called themselves Gnosticks as if none had any knowledge of God but themselves so these called themselves Essens as if none had any works or good life but they That as the Chinois say of themselves They onely have all their eyes the Europeans have one eye other Nations none so these thought and gave out that they were above the common rank of Professors â— Dâ—vid 〈◊〉 dicit hâ—c discrie◠〈◊〉 inâ—â—â— justâ—m â—heâ—ed justus ea facâ—t quae lex praescribiâ— Chesed vero aliquid amplius Vide plura in Cameron ad Mat. 19. 3. De Pharisaeis others were called Simpliciter pâ—i these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 others did observe what the Law required these exceeded they had their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sive auctarium legis their over-measure whereby they over-shot the Laws Standard saith Camero and he gives another derivation of the name from the Syriack Chesi which signifies one extraordinary righâ—eous It would astonish one to read and consider what is recorded of them for their piety doctrine life excess in devotion their charity morality severity contempt of the world So that you would think if any were lifted up to heaven and should as Constantine said to Acesius Socrat. l. 1. c. 7. Climb up by a Ladder of their owne these should I shall transcribe some passages concerning them out of Josephus The Essens saith he were the third Sect a sort of people abounding in love each Mutuo inter se amore conjunctissimi voluntates quâ—si maleficia viâ—ant nuâ—tias fastiamat c. to other they shun all pleasure as unlawful or as Witchcraft Continence is a chief vertue with them they forbid not marriage but forbear it yet are very charitable in bringing up others children for them as if they were their owne kindred Riches they contemn for all is common with them no man hath more than another Poverty is no disparagement Riches no advantage to any They live as so many brethren of one Patrimony or joynt-stock Oyntment and ornaments of the body they detest judging slovenliness Squalorem decorem putant for a grace if any of their Profession come from other parts they entertain them as freely as their Neighbours and they who never saw one Tanquam conluetissimi ad cos ingrediuntur quoâ— nunquam ante viderunt anothers face before at first sight are as familiar as if they had been acquainted seven years They are all cloathed alike Their cloaths or shooes they change not till they can wear them no longer They buy not nor sell to one another but give or exchange But saith he for Religion to Pâ—aecipue erga Deum Religiosi sunt God-ward they are singular For before Sun-rise not an evil word do they speak but tendring their vows and prayers they pray for the Sun-rising Then every one to his business till almost noon when they meet they
THE Hypocrites Ladder OR LOOKING-GLASSE OR A Discourse of the dangerous and destructive Nature of HYPOCRISIE The Reigning and Provoking Sin of this AGE Wherein is shewed how far the Hypocrite or Formal Professor may go towards Heaven yet utterly perish by Three Ladders of Sixty Steps of his ascending TOGETHER WITH A Looking-Glass clearly discovering that Lurking Sin of HYPOCRISIE As also another Glass to try Sincerity of Grace by By Jo. Sheffeild Minister of the Word at Swithins London Matth 8. 11 12. And I say unto you that many shall come from the East and West and shall sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdome of heaven But the children of the Kingdome shall bee cast out into utter darkness c. Vt generationi huic a fermento Pharisaorum quod est hypocrsis si tamen hypocrisis dici debet quae jam latere prae abundantia non valet proe imputentia non quaerit Scrpit hodie putida rabies per omne Corpus Ecclesiae quo tatius eo desperatius eoque periculofius quo interius Bern. in Cant. Serm. 33. LONDON Printed by R. I. for Tho. Newberry at his Shop at the Three Golden Lions in Cornhil 1658. TO THE Right Honourable the Lady ELIZABETH Countess Dowager of EXETER And to the Honourable the Lady MARY ARMIN. Right Honourable I Do with much confidence presume to joyn your Ladiships two Great Names in the Dedication of this plain Treatise as so well knowing how long and how firmly you have been joyned in heart by the best hand and in the best bonds of mutual Love to each others persons and mutual rejoycing in each others Graces and Vertues and especially in these two viz. 1 The truth of love to God and his people and wayes which are in your Ladiships esteem the onely excellent and wherein is your whole delight 2 The love of the Truths of God which you have kept fast in this houre of Tentation which hath come upon all the earth to try the approved Rev. 3. 10. as knowing from whom you have received them and that they are able alone to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus And truly these two Graces TRUTH OF DIVINE LOVE and LOVE OF DIVINE TRUTH I reckon the two richest Jewels which can adorn a Ladies breast They are the Evangelical Urim and Thummim Such were you both I can speak of my own knowledge for about this Thirty years and such you are still And as it was the highest glory of the Highest Elizabeth of this Land the glory indeed of her Sexe so it will bee your Ladiships to bee Semper Eaedem while so many others have to their shame left their first love if not Rev. 2. 4. to their damnation forsaken their first 1 Tim. 5. 11. faith I have had the happiness together with many others long to know your Ladiships pious exemplary conversation manner of life faith charity humility meekness patience constancy under sundry and great trialls In which regard I must say of your Ladiships what was once said of Timothy I know none or very few like-minded Phil. 2. 20. Yet truly when I consider that as it is the nature of Hypocrisie which takes up one part of this Discourse like Hagar presently to swell and lift up it self upon the first Conception though of a Bond son Gen. 16. 4. So of Sincerity which makes up the other part of this Discourse like Elizabeth to keep in and hide her Luke 1. 24. self after her conception of a reall God-son a childe full of grace and of the Holy Ghost chusing with Rebeckah or with Moses to put on a vail to hide that beauty and glory from the view of the world which is best seen of him who sees 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and looketh into the hidden man of the heart And further when I consider the common vanity that I say not greater crime of this present age as in Funeral Sermons so in Dedicatory Epistles to over-lash or break out into exuberant and excessive and often undue praises of the persons spoken of in the one and spoken to in the other I confess I was resolved to chide my Pen and to lay my hand upon my mouth remembring that of the Poet Haec amat obscurum But when I call to minde again on the other side that even the holy Apostles in their Canonical Epistles have spent some good part of their holy lines in the ample commendations of those eminent Saints to whom they wrote as Paul in his to Philemon and John in that of his to an Honourable Lady and that other to a meaner Gaius and that they went not behinde the door as wee say to whisper but as on the house top did proclaim the Religious and pious practises of those more choice Christians to the imitation of others And further when I consider again in the sight of God that with like truth that may bee asserted of both your Ladiships which the Apostle speaketh of Demetrius a rare and not ordinary Testimony Demetrius hath good report of all men 3 Joh. v. 12. and of the truth it selfe and wee also beare Record and wee know that our Record is true Or what is recorded of 2 Chron. 31. 20 21 Hezekiah Thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah and wrought what was good and right and truth before the Lord his God And in every work that hee began in the service of the house of God and in the Law and Commandements hee did it with all his heart and prospered And in hope that like use might bee made of such examples as of the Corinthian forwardness which the holy Apostle therefore commended That your zeal and forwardness might provoke others I then resolved Cupit haec or decet haec sub luce videri What and if the wise and sober take offence to behold rotten wood and base copper covered over with gilt and paint is there any just cause that the envious world should take offence to see the gold and chrystal appearing in their native purity and splendor which neither ignorance or malice can make any detraction from nor Art nor Eloquence make any addition unto The character and testimony given unto your Ladiships is that which thousands will attest Even every eye that hath seen you hath blessed and every ear that hath heard you as was said of Job hath born witness to you and every mouth of such as have had Job 29. 11. knowledge of you will break out in the words of Solomons mother Many Daughters many Ladies have Prov. 31. 29. done vertuously but you have excelled the most of them all What were your Ladiships when you lived there but the two Eyes or Breasts of your Country The two Pillars of two great and eminent Families The two Staves of Bands and Beauty Two Beacons set upon two Mountains Or two Glasses for Ladies and Gentlewomen to dress by Such
the broadest that ever were yet came Jer. 51. 53. to bee made a heap of Nettles So the new and mystical Babylon that hath sate so long a Queen and hath set her Throne as the Throne of God must come down and bee burnt to ashes 2 So it is in Spirituals they who are now in an imaginary heaven of Gospel-happiness may bee thrown down to the lowest hell And on the other side the godly whose beginning was small and their present condition sad may bee lifted up in due time so was Jacob Joseph David Mordecai Job and others lifted up from poverty the dunghil and the dungeon and set among the Princes And which is better the Church which is at present afflicted and tossed but not comforted shall have her stones laid with fair colours and her foundations with Saphires Isa 54. 11. And which is better yet the soul that now sits in darkness walks in distress being deserted tempted discouraged may come to enjoy beauty for ashes the oyl of joy for mourning the Es 61. 3. garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness and shall come to Sion with songs and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing Es 35. 10. shall bee done away And which is yet better best of all They who nâ—w sow in tears and mingle their drink with weeping being in much heaviness at present through manifold temâ—tations are smitten into the place of Dragons and covered with the shadow of â—eath yea are in continual bondage all their life and wade through great tribulations shall at length bee â—et on Thrones cloathed with long white Robes and shall have their Palmes in their hands and glorious Crowns on their heads Observ 2. It is not the past or present state wherein men now are whereby they may bee denominated happy or miserable but the eternal state which they must abide by Capernaum had been lifted up to heaven The Apostate Angels had been possessed of heaven but neither the happier Woe to you that are full now that laugh now that are at ease in Sion now Go to now yee rich worldlings yee secure Professors Weep and howl your present delights shall end in eternal miseries After a short heaven a long hell After a short reign as Zimries of seven 1 King 16. 15. dayes a dreadful end after a sumptuous revel and riotous feast a terrible hand-writing on the waâ—l as to Belshazzar after a merry sitting down a sudden and confused taking away as Adonijah from his usurped Crown after the second 1 King 1. 49. Banquet of wine a shamefull and unexpected execution as to Haman The Ester 7. 2. 10. joy of the hypocrite is short his sorrows to come not so his triumphing is but for a moment but his destruction is not Job 20. 5. for a moment They shall bee destroyed with an everlasting destruction from the 2 Thess 1. 9. presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power But as for you that are godly though you now lye among the pots and mourn as Doves in the valleyes Psal 68. 13. lift up your heads you shall bee as the wings of a Dove covered with silver and her feathers like gold You do weep and lament and the world doth rejoyce but your sorrow shall be turned Jo. 16. 20. into joy and their joy into bitterness It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you and to you who are troubled rest when the 2 Thes 1. 7 8 9 Lord shall bee revealed from heaven in flaming fire with his mighty Angels when hee shall be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that beleeve For your shame you shall have double after a sour breakfast a sweet supper after a short hell a long heaven Here is the faith and patience of the Saints Observ 3. It is most dangerous living and dying in the best places if wee live unfruitfully It is better to live and dye in Sodome than at Capernaum Propius Joâ—i propius fulmini It is worst living in a land of righteousness if wee work Iniquity A weed is safer in a hedge than in the Garden a stone in the high way than in the Vineyard They next the Sanctuary are nearest danger God will bee sanctified in such as are near to him or hee will get himself glory in their just destruction CHAP II. The chief Doctrine raised cleared and made good by many Iustances BUt the Point wee shall insist upon is this Jamjam tacturum sidera summa-Jamjam tacturum Tartara â—igra A formal Professor may go far flye high and seem to bee in a very fair way for heaven and salvation above all others yet is his last state woful fearful desperate Lifted up to heaven thrown down to hell Babylon was in an Allegorical heaven Es 14 14 15. yet tumbled down and some Expositors suppose our Saviour alludes to that speech in this place Tyre was in the highest terrestrial heaven in the highest region of an imaginary heaven Thy heart was lifted up and thou Ezek. 28. 2 3. 12 13 14. hast said I am a God I sit in the seat of God thou hast set thy heart as the heart of God Thou art wiser than Daniel Thou sealest up the summe full of wisdome perfect in beauty Thou hast been in Eden the Garden of God thou art the anointed Cherub c. who could bee higher yet thou shalt bee brought down to the pit and dye the vers 8. 10. vers 19. death of the uncircumcised yea thou shalt bee a terror and never bee any more Here is a sad conclusion after such an Exaltation Lucifer was in a real heaven lifted not up to but into heaven yet is now in chains of darkness Hypocrites and formal Professors may bee in a high place and form in the ecclesiastical-Ecclesiastical-heaven in a scripture-Scripture-heaven the visible Church is often called the Kingdome of heaven they may bee lifted up three stories high yet fall from this third loft with Eutichus 1 They are really lifted up by the hand of God are as vessels in his hand in a fair way to heaven vessels of honour they are planted in the choysest Vineyard 2 They are higher lifted up by the general acclamation of all that know them And 3 They are lifted up higher yet too too high in their own proud conceit and false opinion of themselves yet after all this miscarry Matth. 8. 12. Many shall come from the East and West and sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdome of heaven but the children of the Kingdome the Kingdome of heaven reputedly shall bee cast into utter darkness there shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth Religio nunquam Periclitatur nisi inter Reverendissimos Luther said well and I may allude Salus nunquam adeo Periclitatur ac inter sanctissimos Religion is in most hazard of being
lost among the great Rabbies said hee where his Grace and his Holiness are their ordinary Titles and salvation is no where in such danger as among Christians Professors Saints The children of the Kingdom As when the Conqueror comes the children of the Kingdome go to the pot when Plebeians and vulgars escape so when the Lord comes to Judgement it will go better with Pagans and Infidels Sodome and Gomorrah than with unsound Professors The last shall bee first and the first and for most shall bee last was a Proverbial speech our Saviour much used The smartest storms follow the hottest gleams usually This I shall further clear by Instances first and after by Arguments confirme it 1 Instance Was not Balaam lifted up on high of whom it is said The Spirit Num. 24. 3 4 15 16. of God came upon him that hee had had his eyes shut but now open that hee heard the words of God that hee saw the visions of the Almighty falling into a trance but having his eyes open all the while and after hee that had the knowledge of the most High and saw the vision of the Almighty There is never an Enthusiast alive never a Quaker of them all can speak of more Visions and Apparitions and extraordinary Revelations then hee yet a notorious Impostor 2 Was not Saul highly exalted when the Spirit of the Lord came upon 1 Sam. 10. 6 9 12. him as it did that hee prophesied and was turned into another man not a new man and God gave him another heart yet not a new humble holy and soft heart of flesh hee prophesied to admiration all the talk was now Town and Country of Saul What is this that is come on the son of Kish yea hee had such extasies and such actions as none of all the company of Prophets hee stript himself lay naked all day and all night on the ground and brought in a new way of Prophesying into the world 1 Sam. 19. 24. 3 What shall wee say of the Pharisee who so highly applauded himself I am Luke 18. 11 12 14. not one of your Extortioners I fast twice in the week c. yet is hee after his self-justifying left under a sentence of condemnation 4 Magus was not hee high flown of a sudden hee heard beleeved wondered Act. 8. 13. was baptized stuck close to the Preacher Philip was in an extasie was ready to give any mony for spiritual gifts hee wanted nothing so much now as the Holy Ghost hee would bee an eminent Saint or nothing yet a rotten Hypocrite What shall wee say of Judas who had received part with the first Apostles not the latter seventy Disciples and did partake of the same spiritual endowments with the other Apostles to preach the Gospel heal diseases cast out devils and had the keyes of the Kingdome of heaven committed to him equal to Peter and the rest of the Disciples and the bag above all the rest hee was lifted up to heaven indeed when hee had commission to let others in yet went hee not in himself Hee was Legatus a latere Christi Hee was Angelus in Penna Re latro corde Gehenna Were not those Virgins fair for the Kingdome who had been called became Professors were furnished with Lamps Vessels and Oyle yet were shut Mat. 25. out I will say nothing of Sardis who had Rev. 3. 1. an Angel to her Minister and was her self a Golden Candlestick who had onely a name to live and was really dead But the Church of Laodicea bare the bell from them all There were the Saints indeed Shee was rich increased with goods and wanting nothing at all yet was indeed and truth poor miserable blinde and naked But above all what shall wee say to that startling place Heb. 6. 4 5 6. where such as were Enlightned and had tasted of the heavenly gift and were made paâ—takers of the Holy Ghost and had tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come and did seem to have been in heaven already yet fall away and utterly perish Here are five high steps leading towards heaven of which more hereafter 1 They were enlightned they had been darkness but now might say they were light in the Lord This the lowest step 2 They had their taste and relish as well as light and notion they had something in them inwardly they had a taste and relish they were savoury persons yea 2 tasted of gifts eminent gifts 3 Yea they are called heavenly gifts such as come from heaven lead others to heaven and you would think even go to heaven they make the possessors of them to bee heavenly Christians Such heavenly and gifted Saints may perish 3 They are partakers of the Holy Ghost in those extraordinary acts and gifts of it to speak with Tongues cast out Devils expound Scripture utter Prophesies not partakers of the renewing sanctifying regenerating heart-sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost 4 Tasted of the good word of God Herein three things 1 They have had some work upon their hearts and conscience by the word 2 They have looked upon it as Gods word and been affected as if God himself had spoken to them 3 They have had their part in the good word all the word is good but some part seems to bee more good and delightful viz. the Promise these have tasted the sweet of the promise are able to speak great things of the goodness of the word 5 And have tasted of the powers of the life to come wherein three things too 1 They may speak contemptibly of the things of this world and discourse much of the vanity of all sublunary things and speak highly and admiringly onely of Eternity the life to come 2 They have had sad apprehensions of hel wrath and damnation to know the Terrors of the Lord and they have at other times been taken up into the third heaven but neither in the body nor out of the body but onely in imagination 3 And they have felt the power and force of both mightily to terrifie or to comfort above any thing in the world Powers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the power of the one and the glorious joyes of it and the power of the other to tremble under the horror of it There is much contained in the word Powers and so again in the word Tasted Some conceive it signifies no more but a light smack and small rellish as in the fourth verse tasted the good word of God h. e. as Cooks who dress great feasts for others taste a little of every thing but sit not down at table with the Guests so may unfound Ministers or Professors But I conceive there is more in it to taste is to experiment to bee under the power of it so as to know perfectly what the thing is So Jesus told his Disciples They should not taste of death till they had seen Matth. 16. 28. the Kingdome of God come with
Lords prayer 1 Hee separates the Conclusion or Doxology from the Preface hee saith Our Father with all his heart and is willing to take acquaintance of God so far as to have a Father in heaven But when hee should come to the Doxological conclusion hee hath no Praise Kingdome power Glory Majesty Dominion to ascribe to God hee is better in the beginning of his duties worse in the end better at prayer than at praises Now this is the proper work of Saints yea of heavenly Saints and Angels to bee full of praises and to close their duties with highest admiration of God and hearts brim full of his excellencies apprehended The sincere worshipper is best at last hee begins full of self ends full of God His heart the longer hee hath been at duty is like the water that hath been over the fire grows hotter and hotter at length it boyls and runs over the poor narrow vessel cannot hold it while the fire burns so the godly say their heart hath burnt within them and even boyled over Psal 45. 1. Ebullivit cor c. their hearts have been in heaven when in praises and admirations of God 2 Hee separates the Petitions an hypocrite may say the three last Petitions no hypocrite doth say the three first Petitions with his spirit and understanding 1 An hypocrite may with all his heart say Give mee this day my daily bread Give mee Lord health peace plenty give thy blessing to mee my children my labours state stock bless my going out coming in adventures c. Here hee lefts up the voyce and weeps Hast thou no blessing for mee Bless mee even mee Oh my Father 2 Hee may pray with all his heart Forgive mee my trespasses forgive both guilt and punishment restore mee to thy favour as though I had never offended though hee doth but faintly promise to forgive others that trespass against him 3 He may pray with all his heart Deliver mee from evil i. e. from the evil one from Satan from his hands malice mischief Good Lord deliver mee but from tentations of Satan motions to sin occasions of sin departure from God unbeleef hardness of heart hee prayes not against them hee saith but faintly Lead us not into temptation 2 But for the three first Petitions hee cannot pray them at all 1 To pray that Gods Name may bee hallowed and Gods glory may bee exalted in every thing and take the precedence of his own name honour interest peace comfort so that God may bee magnified by his life or death what cares hee this is onely the frame of the truly gracious soul Father save mee from this hour but why should I pray to bee saved from this hour Father glorifie thy Joh. 12. 27 28 Name Let mee rather want my daily bread than thy Name want his glory Let come on mee what will or can so that thy Name may get glory let mee decrease so it may increase here in sincerity 2 No hypocrite doth pray Thy Kingdome come Come Lord Jesus come quickly but rather stay a while noli modo come not yet yet a little sleep and a little more slumber no hypocrite doth pray that the Kingdome of God should come into him in his life it is enough for him to come into the Kingdome of God at his death The hypocrite comes to God as a poor man to his neighbour when hee knows not what in the earth to do Sir I am come of a great errand I pray lend mee such a summe of mony so saith hee Lord lend mee thy helping hand and relieve mee in such a case and hee doth to God as Saul to his Unkle tells of his business his way and his Asses not a word hee speaks of the Kingdome 1 Sam. 10. 16. the childe of God comes and sayes Lord I have a great errand to thee it is about a Kingdome I come and not a Kingdome for my self but thee I have a rebellious untoward heart of my own Lord subdue it Blessed bee the Kingdome Lake 19. 38. that comes in the Name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest Let thy Kingdome come let it come to day before to morrow Bee like the Roe and like the Hart upon the Mountains of Spices Hee came Cant. 8. 14. to God of the same great errand Israel came to David with Behold thou art 2 Sam. 5. 1 2 3 our bone and our flesh wee want a good King wee come to offer thee a Kingdome to set up thy Kingdome and to anoint and chuse thee to bee King over us say us not nay make a League and Covenant with us 3 No hypocrite can pray Thy will bee done c. Onely the sincere soul saith that Petition Let thy will bee done not mine what thou commandest let it bee obeyed what thou imposest let it bee born give strength patience peace support rather than deliverance out of affliction It is written of mee that I should do thy will Agreed I would it might bee saith hee to God as Laban to Jacob according Gen. 30. 34. to thy word Lord with all my heart I had rather serve God than reign over men rather have the grace of obedience than the gift of working miracles Thy minde to mee a Kingdome is Da quod Jubes Jube quod vis Command first a Mallem obedire quam si possem miracula operari Luther willing minde then command whatsoever thou wilt I would Lord thy will should bee done in every thing yea I would have it done as well on earth as it is in heaven no grumbling repining questioning gain-saying no halving no halting or imperfect obedience to God no faint cold dead performing of any holy service but let thy will in every part of it bee observed punctually readily cheerfully universally let thy commands bee obeyed continually totally inwardly holily conscientiously and let thy worship bee performed purely spiritually livelily heavenlily Angelically Divinely perfectly with all the heart and minde and soul and strength and joy and delight Thus much for Prayer 2 For hearing I will not say but an hypocrite may hear much and often but hee doth not take heed how hee hears Hee is one of Ezekiels hearers or comers who Ez. 33. 31 32. say Come let us hear what is the word that cometh from the Lord they come and sit and hear as my people but they will not do my words for with their mouths they shew much love but their heart goeth after their covetousness But he is none of Isaiahs hearers or comers who say Come let us go to the house of the Lord and hee will Isa 2. 3 4. teach us of his wayes and wee will walk in his pathes An hypocrite may bee a great Sermon-hearer cannot bee called a Sermon-follower hee hath the ear tipt or the tongue tipt but hath not as the Priests in the day of their Consecration and the Leper in the day of his Purification had their ear and the
mingles the blood of his sacrifice with the blood of Christ I have had Peace-offerings to day therefore I am absolved my duties have made mee whole nay his mouth runs over commonly and a Trumpet must bee sounded in Gods ear O God I thank thee I am not thus and thus yea it may bee the next man hee meets hee must bee told of it Come see my zeal The godly man is content to bee seen in secret and to bee in Occulto Judaeus a Jew within and is as humble after a duty as after a sin unprofitable servant that I am not to mee but to thy Name bee the glory Not I but the grace of God with mee The 1 Cor. 15. 10. Gleanings of Christs Intercession is better than all my Vintage I need that High Priest to take away the iniquities of my holy things as well as to cover Exod. 28. 38 my foulest miscarriages If the Lord should bate mee all my other sins and reckon onely for my duties woe to mee Hee hath learned with Luther to bee Cave etiam a bonis operibus afraid not onely of his evill deeds but his good deeds also with Paul not onely to part with his unrighteousness but his righteousness also The Duty Gift Phil 3. 8 9. Grace or Revelation that puffs thee up doth thee hurt that under and after which thou art most humble is best performed It is never so well said one as when Moses face shines and hee not aware of it But an hypocrite loseth the comfort of his duties by applauding himself and for making a holy perfume to smell to hee is cut off Exod. 30. 38. It fares with an hypocrite priding himself in his duties and looking for a reward for them as with that Souldier who cast himself into the Sea to take up Alexanders faln Crown and putting it on his own head while hee presented it to him or with the Amalekites who 2 Sam. 1. 15 4. 12. brought David Sauls Crown or Baanah and Rechab who brought Ishbosheths head they all expected great thanks and rewards but lost their lives Hee that will save his life shall lose it and hee that will bee saved by his duties will bee lost and undone by them Wee must neither make the Creed a prayer nor a prayer our Creed We read Lev. 16. 24. that the Priests were to wash after their sacrifice as well as before and wee need the blood of Christ to wash our prayers and tears as well as our sins Say none but Christ Wee read again Lev. 16. 20. That there was to bee a more solemn sanctifying and reconciling of the holy place the Tabernacle the Altar c. All which were reputed holy and might bee looked upon as what should cleanse and reconcile them so do wee need the blood of Christ to reconcile our Altar Tabernacle and Sabbath-services which wee are apt to think are of a reconciling and cleansing nature To conclude as Irenaeus said As it were better for a man to bee the most ignorant person in the world to know nothing in matters of Philosophy or in any controversie of Divinity so hee know Christ crucified rather than to have all knowledge and to bee ignorant of him So it were better for a man to have no duties or righteousness at all and have nothing but sense of sin and worthlesness and to flye to Christ with the Publican or with the Theef on the Cross than to have all duties and righteousness whatsoever without any sense of sin at all and to bee thereby kept from Christ CHAP. VI. How the Hypocrite fails most in point of true and saving Graces THirdly Hee is wanting in the choysest of Graces which are four 1 Preparative 2 Fundamental and Radical 3 Nutritive or Conservative 4 Consummative and perfective or crowning Graces There were four things wanting in the three bad grounds which had the good seed but fell short in fruit which answer to these four kindes of grace viz. a Plough Root Moysture and Sun The good ground had all The high-way ground wanted nothing but a Plough not Root Moysture or Sun had it been taken in well broken up and kept from the Passengers treading on and the birds picking up it might have proved good ground Sodome if it had been so dealt with might have proved as good ground as Capernaum The stony ground wanted not a Plough it was broken up Matth. 11. 23. deep enough it wanted no Sun neither it had too much it wanted Root within and Moysture from above and a good stone gatherer The Thorny ground wanted not the Plough nor Root nor Moysture onely wanted the Sun which the Thorns kept from the Corn that it could not ripen And as in a building there are four things to bee done or all labour is lost 1 Removing the Rubbish 2 Digging deep to lay the foundation 3 The Structure upon the foundation so laid 4 The Roof to keep all dry So it is in the Christian Fabrick 1 Rubbish must bee removed by preparatory Grace 2 The foundation must bee laid in fundamental Graces 3 The structure raised by conservative Graces 4 The roof set up and covered by consummative Graces 1 Hypocrites want the first Grace or Preparations to Grace The way of the Lord is to bee prepared The Law is to go before to remove Rubbish the rough wayes are to bee made smooth the hills to bee levelled the crooked made strait and then all flesh shall see the salvation of God Luke 3. 4 5. The Plough must go before the Seeds-man or all is cast away The Lord prepares the heart opens the heart breaks up the fallow ground by strong convictions deep humiliations whereby the Lords Husbandmen plough upon the heart of their hearers and make long furrows Then is the seed sown in tears Then is the word received in much assurance when in much affliction 1 Thess 1. 5 6. Thus were Johns hearers brought in being warned to flye from the wrath to come Mat. 3. 10. Thus were Peters hearers brought in Act. 2 37. They were pricked in their hearts and cryed out what shall wee do Thus the Jaylor Act. 16. 30. Sirs what must I do to bee saved Thus Paul himself was stricken down and cryed Lord Act. 9. 6 what wilt thou have mee to do These held out These brought down to hell at first are lifted up to heaven and into heaven at last As the Ball the harder it is stricken down to the ground the higher it rebounds God gives to such whom hee intends to use as principal engines and battering peeces against Satans Kingdome a full charge and gives fire and there is a hideous noyse and smoak but these are tryed peeces Though I confess some may dye and perish in these where there is not the following as some Peeces fall all a peeces in the first charge It is not the Plough alone makes fruitful the seed must follow Therefore rest not here It is
Ague-fit but whose habit and constitution is such Israel had many good fits 1 A fit of love Jer. 2. 2. a Hony-moon as wee say I remember the kindness of thy youth the love of thine Espousals c. 2 A fit of Gratitude Exod. 4. 31. They bowed the head and worshipped when they heard the tydings of Gods remembring and visiting them 3 A fit of faith Exod. 14. 31. They beleeved God and his servant Moses 4 A promising fit Exod. 19. 19. 5 A singing fit Psal 106. 12. 6 Crying fits which were commonly their best fits Judg. 10. 10. All but fits all like a morning cloud or the early dew But many a murmuring fit tempting rebelling fit whoring fit a tempting fit that held forty years Psal 95. 10. A whoring fit that lasted three hundred and ninety years Ezek. 4. 5. Long fits not like a Quartan that hath one bad day two good but a constant Quotidian or double Tertian one good day may bee in a year or in his age Thus the hypocrite is all fits short fits like our winter solstice short dayes long nights constant freezing weather no warmth or like some trees which are as full of blossomes at Spring as ever they can hang but bear no fruit all the year after SECT 2. Contains five other steps of the second Ladder 6 An hypocrite may be overwhelmed with doleful trouble and restlesness of minde after some foul sin committed which hath set conscience all in a flame hee may have a sight of that particular sin feel the weight of it draw water to quench that flame and do any thing run ride groan cry to get peace What ado did Judas make and what a coyl did hee keep Hee was like a wilde Bull in a net as the Prophet saith full of the Isa 51. 20. fury of the Lord and so is many an hypocrite besides Storms are no sign the Spring is come but blossomes and fruit appearing though usually there are storms at spring yet oft there are sharp storms in the dead of Winter and troubles of conscience shew not the spring of Grace so well as hopeful blossomes and appearances of new fruit towards 7 Extraordinary joyes and raptures of spirit an hypocrite may have also The stony ground had much spiritual joy no sorrow sowed in joy but reaped in tears The Country-man joyes not to see the Spring over forward by much experience hee findes a nipping blast comes and endangers all the over-forward blossomes it is not kindly to see Midsummer weather in March the fair and glorious morning oft fore-goes the most stormy day and the warm day in Winter breeds a storm wee say Your over early joyes are much to bee suspected to cry Victory when you are putting on your harness proclaimes more confidence than safety or prudence To bee made rich of a sudden begets not more wonder than suspicion thou mayest wonder at others suspect thy sudden joyes A warm day shews not Summer to bee come but many warm dayes together and the ripening of the fruit Good fruits shew the good Christian rather than much joy and peace Wee read of the hypocrites fear Isa 33. 16. His Woe Matth. 23. 13 14. His Portion Matth. 24. 51. So wee read oft of the hypocrites hope Job 8. 13. 27. 8. The hypocrites joy Job 20. 3. Triumphing the top of joy ibid. Confidence the highest 1 King 16. 15. of Triumph Job 18. 14. But all is but 1 King 1. 49. â—0 for a moment as short as Zimries reigne yea as Adonijahs Kingdome or Caninius Rebilus his Consulship of half a day upon whom Tully broke that smart jeast O â—igilantem consulem qui toto consulatus sui tempore somnum occulis non vidit Oh most vigilant Consul that can say hee never laid his eyes together to sleep all the time of his Consulship 8 An hypocrite may bee lifted and carried up to heaven in a Chariot of the sweetest richest and most precious Gospel-Ordinances and Injoyments Matth. 11. 23. So was Capernaum yet thrown down to hell As the godly is oft like the Ball stricken down with force and riseth by rebound the higher Saul struck to the ground yea to hell almost yet raised up to bee a chosen vessel above all others when you see this casting down say There shall bee a lifting up Job 22. 29. So when you see men full fed ill liking their teaching high living low say there is one will have a sad fall from heaven to hell The Lark springing up by many degrees sings a while when at the highest comes down all at once to the ground or the Bullet the higher it is shot upwards comes down more speedily and violently The children of the Kingdome are cast into the worst darkness Matth. 8. 12. Hypocrites and Ordinances hypocrites and their godly Ministers must have as sad a parting as Elias and Elisha the one taken up to heaven the other left behinde yea thrown into hell in vain crying out My Father My Father My Minister My Minister How apt are wee to trust in such lying words The Temple of the Lord. Wee have Moses and the Prophets Christ and the Apostles And in disdain to others say as they to the blinde man Thou art born in sin wilt thou teach us Bee thou this mans Disciple wee are Moses Disciples Wee Joh. 9. 28 29. say they are too well to change too old to bee new taught Wee are sure wee have Moses of our side what care wee for more Thus Professors may bee lifted up bee children of the Kingdome bee Virgins Concubines which is more Queens which is higher yet not Spouses Cant. 6. 8. They may be as a signet on the right hand yet pulled off though of gold when the least finger shall bee Isa 2. 23. Jer. 22. 23. preserved and spared and not parted with 9 Hee may bee much reformed as to former sins a partial external temporary not universal inward total reformation an hypocrite may attain to Hence the Scripture saith of such The unclean spirit is gone out They are empty swept and garnished Matth. 12. 43 44. Empty of former foul vices swept by the beesome of Ordinances and Profession from open prophaneness and garnished with new expressions and ornamental carriage but the Harlots mouth is but wiped not heart-changed the out-side is washed the inside is as filthy vain or worldly the sepulchre is but painted it is full of rottenness within They are said in some sense to have escaped pollution 2 Pet. 2. 20. yea in some sort to bee sanctified Heb. 10. 29. yet all this while hypocrites They change their wayes Jer. 2. 36. Trim their wayes Jer. 2. 33. To seek love as hee saith but never amend their wayes Jer. 7. 3. 10 Hee may go so far as to bee in love with spiritual excellencies ambitious of such gifts and graces as may set him off the better so as to count all as nothing without them yea bee willing to
wings a peece they had also hands under their wings and feet besides And it is said their appearance was like burning coals and their motion was like a flash of lightning Here was nothing but activity and readiness for service with the greatest expedition Let mee quicken you with a few Motives 1 Look you faile not of grace for if you do you will faile of glory and faile of Heaven Heb. 12. 15. you read of failing of the grace of God Rom. 3. 23. you read of failing or falling short of the glory of God It is the same word faile of grace and faile of salvation By grace you are Eph. 2. 5. saved The Schollar must bee at School fitted for the University or hee cannot bee admitted there is not the place to learn his A B C or his Eight parts of Speech and the Christian must bee in the School of the Church trayned up and made fit or meet for that heavenly society here practise the singing the Songs Psal 137. 4. Rev. 14. 1. 3. of the Lord in a strange land that hee may sing them the readier upon Mount Sion The childe usually lives not when borne that had not his due time and growth before borne if wee dye before the time before wee have had our due formation and qualification for our translation Christ formed in us there is no possibility of living there The stroke of death and bar of judgement fit no man for heaven There is not the time and place of conversion The stone and timber was hewed and fitted in Lebanon there was no hammer to be used in the building You must get your 1 King 6. 7. work done here in the Grave is no place of opportunity 2 If you faile of True grace the grace of God it is all one you will faile of salvation There is no base mettal currant in heaven but such as hath the Image or superscription of God upon it It must have solidity and weight The Lord weigheth the spirits They must have their weight Thou Lord hast pleasure in uprightness requirest truth in the inward Prov. 16. 2. 1 Chron. 29. 1â— Psal 51. 6. 1 Tim. 1. 5. Rom. 12. 9. Eph. 4. 24. 2 Cor. 1. 12 parts It must not bee the Kings stamp upon Adulterate Coyne It must bee faith unfained love without dissimulation holiness of Truth sincerity of God or nothing 3 If you shall faile in the number and measure of growth and degrees in grace I will not say but you may bee saved that is it is possible but you will have a hard bargain of it to bee as Peter saith Scarcely saved 1 Pet. 4. 18. or as Pauls phrase is to come off with some loss or difficulty and bee saved yet so as by fire 1 Cor. 3. 15. Whereas as Paul saith If you come behinde in no gift of grace you may with comfort wait for the appearing of Christ 1 Cor. 1. 7. And Peter saith If these bee in you and abound an abundant or open and easie entrance will bee granted to you into 2 Pet. 1. 8 11. the Kingdome of God 4 On the other side True Grace attained and maintained gives True peace of conscience and security to the soule in whatsoever distresses If pressed above measure even to despair of life the conscience is full of rejoycing upon the testimony of simplicity and godly sincerity that 2 Cor. 1. 12. not in fleshly wisdome but by the undoubted grace of God such have had their conversation in the world Such may say with holy Job Though hee kill mee I will trust in him but I will maintaine my wayes Job 13. 15 16. before him hee also shall bee my salvation for an hypocrite shall not come before him Such may as Peter saith When the heavens shall pass away with a hideous noise and the elements melt with extremity of heat and the 2 Pet. 3. 10 13. earth with all therein bee dissolved then mâ—y they according to the promise of God expect a new and better heaven and a new earth Yea such shall have a heaven on earth such shall see the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven Yea saith Rev. 21. 2. Christ to such I will make him a Pillar in the Temple of my God and hee shall go no more out And I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the City of Rev. 3. 12. my God the New Jerusalem which cometh down from my God out of Heaven and I will write upon him my new name 5 Which is more This is the onely way to glorifie God and his glory is much more to bee prized than our glory yea than our salvation To seek our own glory is no glory especially in competition with Gods glory Prov. 25. 27. and it is less sincerity Joh. 7. 18. God hath no glory at all upon earth but from a few sincere gracious souls of whom God saith This people have I formed Isa 43. 21. for my selfe they shall shew forth my praise And the godly have learnt to set a higher price on Gods glory than their own salvation as did our Saviour Joh. 12. 27 28. When hee first prayed for himself My soule is troubled Save mee c. hee gives that over with submission Thy will bee done I came therefore to this houre But bee I saved or not saved Father glorifie thy Name and in the Lords Prayer we are taught to pray first Hallowed bee thy Name and then Thy Kingdome come A godly soule like his Saviour Jo. 17. 4. Desireth first to glorifie God then that God should glorifie him True Grace doth not onely procure to the soule an heaven upon earth but to God an heaven on earth And hee doth seem to rejoyce more and so do the heavenly Rev. 11. 15. 12 10. host when the Kingdomes of the earth are become the Lords by a considerable increase and addition of new godly Converts then that the Kingdome of heaven is the Lords I read that Israel in the day of their solemn Thanksgiving and Rejoycing Exod. 15. 2. did proclaime God to bee their God and did promise to prepare for him an habitation It is more piety to prepare the heart for an habitation for God than to desire God to prepare heaven for an habitation for us 6 Lastly Bee diligent to get to keep to exercise to increase and improve Grace you will live usefully cheerfully fruitfully you will dye hopefully joyfully heaven-fully and enter into heaven with full assurance by a free and open passage 2 Pet. 1. 11. Now to conclude the Use with a few Directions 1 If thou wouldest not meet with Capernaums sad disappointment in the end Luke 14. 28. when thou first makest entrance begin and count the cost and resolve to goe through or never begin Resolve to regard neither winds nor clouds or never lay thy hand to the Plough nor go out Eccles 11. 4.
said Psal 72. 16. There shall bee a mighty increase and rich return to such blessed souls Thou mayest perhaps Reader think mee to dwell long upon this point I answer with Davids words to his brother And is there not a cause I shall confess the truth I have a designe upon thee but it is an honest one The self-same design I would have thee have upon Christ I would not leave thee till by importunity I have prevailed with thee to go to Christ that thou mightest go to Christ and not leave till by thy importunity thou hast prevailed with him to come to thee Importunity prevailed once with a sterne and unjust Judge Luke 18. 5. And shall it not with a meek Saviour It fetched water out of a flint that was dry and shall it not draw milke out of breasts that are full Oh that thou wouldest hearken unto mee in this as Jotham said That God may hearken to thee Do but try and do thou shew the same unwillingness to part with Christ as once Elisha did to part with his Master Tarry thou here saith hee three 2 King 2. 2. c. times for I am sent to Bethel said hee then to Jericho then to Jordan and hee as often doth reply with a peremptory resolution As the Lord liveth and as thy soul liveth I will not leave thee Do thou so and thou shalt not bee shaken off And bee confident it will bee said to thee as it was to him at last Then tell mee What I shall do for thee Elisha before I go aske what thou wilt then saith hee Let mee have a double portion of thy spirit A hard request said Elijah my only request said Elisha Do thou the like Lord if I may not have thy bodily presence let mee have thy Spirit and a double portion of it There is nothing hard with thee I know my request is great I confess not hard hard for mee to aske not for thee to grant and it is easier for thee to bestow than for mee to beleeve it so Persist and thou hast prevailed Take unto thy self words and if thou receivest a repulse sit not down by it but redouble thy importunity Take Jobs words If I hold my tongue I shall give Job 13. 19. up the ghost I must speak I must and will have an answer what ever come of it Take the Churches words Lam 3. 49. 50. Mine eye trickleth down and ceaseth not without any intermission Till the Lord look down and behold from heaven For the Lord will not cast off for ever But though hee cause grief yet will hee have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies vers 31 32. yea take the Lords own words and humbly retort them Hos 11. 8. How shall I give thee up Ephraim How shall I deliver thee Israel say thou Lord How shall I give thee up then How shall I deliver thee and part with thee then How shall I be made as Admah and set as Zeboim Oh let thy heart bee turned wthin thee and thy repentings let them bee kindled together 8 The eighth coming is to come to Christ with self-denial Matth. 16. 24. If any will come after mee let him deny himself c. Now there is a threefold self to be denied 1 An Evill 2 A Civill 3 Holy self 1 Evill self Nicodemus denied his evill self when hee came first to Christ by night Joh. 3. 2. to become his Schollar and to bee informed by him in matters of Religion hee denied his Civil or Secular self when hee openly avowed and pleaded for Christ Joh. 7. 50. But hee went further when hee owned a crucified Christ and joyned in the charge of his honourable burial Here was a Jo. 19. 39. totall self-denial or more plainly in Paul who denied his Evil self at the first call when hee said Lord what wilt thou have mee to do Act. 9. 6. his Civil self hee denied when afterwards hee said I am ready to bee bound and to dye for the Name of Act. 21. 13. Jesus but his denial of his holy and Religious self was highest when hee said I count all loss and dung even my righteousness and all that I may win Christ and bee found in him c. Phil. 3. 8 9. Wee come not to Christ at all if wee come not off from all things else and relye alone on him If our branches to allude to Ezekiels Parable when they grow up shall lean to any other Eagle any other Ez. 17. 6 7 8 9 10. prop to bee supported and nourished by that hee might water it by the furrows of her plantation Shall they prosper shall not the root thereof bee pulled up and all the fruit cut off and all wither when the East wind cometh yea they shall wither in the very furrows where they grow But the example of all examples in this As in all our other duties is Christ himself who bids us follow him and go no further than hee goes before us Hee had indeed no Evil self to deny but what a proof of high self-denial did he give in the first step of his humiliation When hee left a Kingdome and glory in heaven to become the Son of man and when hee refused a Kingdome on earth when offered Io. 6. 15. and almost forced on him was not here a mighty Civil self-denial as when hee refused all the Kingdomes of the world tendred by Satan upon base and dishonorable termes hee shewed hee had no Evil Mat. 4. 10. self to bee corrupted and wrought upon hee denied his Spiritual self when hee said I came not down from heaven to do my own will but the will of him that sent mee Jo. 6. 40. It is as if hee had said to his Father If I have a body or a soul If I have life limbs honour esteem all shall go to do thee service I am content to do thy Psal 40. 8. Mat. 20. 28. will I came not to be ministred to but to minister And to his Church hee said If I have grace spirit righteousness soul body bloud any thing that may do poor sinners good all shall go if you want righteousness merits comfort come to mee you shall never want while I have ought yea let me be taken so that these may escape Io. 18. 8 9. saith hee to his enemies and as Judah to Joseph Let mee bee bound and Gen. 44. 33. remain a Bond-man I refuse it not Let not my poor brother for whom I have undertaken suffer yea further said Christ Let mee bee poor so they may bee inriched 2 Cor. 8. 9. let mee bee a curse so they bee 2 Cor. 5. 21. blessed yea let righteousness and all go and let mee bee made sin so they may become righteousness before God I am content yea he did not onely deny a civil and an holy self but a Divine self when hee was content his glory should bee vailed as Moses his was