it is to all the VVord and that part most of all that shall detect and correct his most secret sin Psal 141. 5. Rom. 7. 12 13 14. 6 It is a fruitfull changing and efficacious love it makes the man in whom it is by the use of this VVord to grow still and be changed into the very likeness of it and so to love the knowledge of it as to fall into the practise and obedience of it He loves to do it as well as to know it 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby Rom. 6. 17. But ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine Job 23. 12. Neither have I gone back from the commandement of his lips c. 1 Pet. 1. 22. But the false love and so the short and sleight delight of the Hypocrite to and in this VVord hath none of all this for it is commonly to a part of it onely he cannot brook that part thereof that shall discover and correct his sin especially his secret and beloved sin John 3. 20 21. Mark 6. 17 18. 3 Luk. 19 20. 2 Chron. 18. 7. And that love he hath to the rest doth usually arise from the excellencies or noveltie of the matter treated of therein the singular gifts of the Preacher or some view he hath of the sweet promises of the Gospel contained therein the Redemption by Jesus Christ and the happiness of such as believe in him and that he by mistake doth apprehend he hath a share therein But it works no change at all in him nor is he at all conformed thereunto in his heart and life He doth hear but not doe it he casteth it behinde his back and commonly he hateth it Ezek. 33. 31 32 33. Isa 58. 2. and 59. 2. Ps 50. 16 17. Rom. 2. 13 23. James 1. 22. Jer. 7. 23 24. SECT VIII 7 In their love to Ordinances The true Christian doth love and delight in all the rest the Ordinances of God the Sabboâ—h Sacrament Prayer and the like And some kind of love and delight there may be also in the heart of an Hypocrite but with a great deal of difference The love of the sincere Christian to them is as they are pure Ordinances from God and are by divine institution and serve to his glory and the good of souls and as they serve to bring God and us near together and to maintain our communion with him And it is his meat and drink to use thâ—m Rom. 7. 22. Heb. 8. 10. His Laws are put into their mind and written in their hearts Rom. 7. 22. He doth delight in the Law of God after the inward man And together with his use of them he doth joyn Reformation of heart and life Psal 119. 14 I have rejoyced in the waies of thy Testimonies Psal 119. 10 I have refrained my feet from every evil way Ps 40. 8. But that which is in the heart of an Hypocrite of delight and pleasure in them is very little and short And that is onely for his self ends at the most because he conceiveth there is a necessity of the doing of them in order to salvation And so an Hypocrite may like of and use them as a bridge to goe over to heaven or as men use Physick But commonly he doth account all these things as a burthen and he doth use them as a cloak to his wickedness Isa 58. 2 3 4 c. Isa 59. 2 3 c. Ezech. 33 32. Amos 8. 5. When will the New Moon be gone c. the Sabboth c And he doth continue still in his wickedness at the least of the heart as before Psal 58. 2 3 Yea in heart ye work wickedness c. Mat. 23. 27. Acts 8 22 23. SECT IX 8 In their love to and desire after Grace The true Christian doth and must love and desire Grace And the Hypocrite also as he hath a kinde of love to Gods VVord and to godly men so hath he a kind or appearance of desire and love to Grace But there is a great deal of difference between them For 1 The love desire of the true Châ—istian is a true and natural love arising from his new nature and Gods Spirit in him The love of Grace is Grace and a part of the new creature 2 His love to it is for it self and its loveliness in his eye and the likenesse it hath to God and the agreement that there is between the true Christians changed nature and it and because it makes him like to God But that which is in the Hypocrite is counterfeit and not from a new nature for he is not regenerate neither hath he the Spirit of God in him But that seeming love and desire of Grace which is in him is onely for himself and his own end and so he may have a confused desire of it as apprehending it may be a means to escape the wrath of God and the condemnation of hell and to obtain heaven and happiness for him 3 The true Christians desire after Grace is vehement active and unsatiable Psal 84. 2. 7. Cant. 4. 16. He cannot be satisfied with any measure of it but hungers and thirsts still for more Ps 119. 97. O how I love thy Law c. My soul breakeâ—h for the longing c. Phil. 3. 12. Rom. 7. 24. Luke 1. 53. Mat 5 6. Isa 55. 1 2. But the love that is in the Hypocrite is a weak cold careless and unactive love he thinks he hath enough and cares for no more Rev. 3. 17. Because thou saist I am rich c. Luke 6 25. and 1. 53. Luke 18. 12. But more of this afterwards in the fifteenth Section SECT X. 9 In their faith and trust in God The true Christian doth beleeve and trust in God Iohn 14. 1. Psal 31. 1. And so he must do 2 Chron. 20. 20. Psal 130. 7. The Hypocrite also hath a kind of trust and hope in God Psal 106. 12. Job 8. 14. But there is a great deal of odds between the faith trust and hope of the one and of the other 1 The faith and hope of the true Christian is grounded upon the Word of God and the Promise and Covenant of God in Christ which he doth well understand and wherein he hopes himself to be included Psal 78. 7 8. Psal 119. 42. 94. I am thine save me Psal 9. 10. They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee c. But the Hypocrite doth commonly trust in himself or somewhat else besides God Luke 18. 11. 21. Rom. 10. 3. That which the Hypocrite hath is oft times wrought by something else besides the Word of God Psal 106. 12 13. John 2. 23. and 6. 2. and 4. 48. And
SINCERITY AND HYPOCRICY OR The Sincere Christian and Hypocrite in their lively Colours standing one by the other Very profitable for this Religion Professing time By W. S. Serjeant at Law Together with a Tract annexed to prove That true Grace doth not lye so much in the Degree as in the Nature of it Joh. 1. 47. Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no gaile Rom. 2. 29. He is a Iew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of GOD. OXFORD Printed by A. Lichfield Printer to the University for Rob Blagrave 1658. To all that pretend in any form of Worship to call on the Name of the Lord. Friends I Having had cause my selfe to suspect mine own condition have been put to search try my self and not willing to bee mistaken in a point of so high concernment I did lay and bind up together these Meditations tending to the anatomizing and the turning of the inside outward of a Christian to be as a Looking-glass or Touchstone for my help herein And finding them somewhat usefull for mine own purpose and supposing they may be so also to some others in my case And having vehement cause to suspect that many thousands amongst us in this golden time go with the wind and tyde in the general profession of the Gospel and know not because they try not what they are or whither they are going or what they doe Therefore I have sent it amongst you as a watch-word And now consider were there any one amongst you to have a goodly Mannor in a remote country for which he hath a conveyance for the payment down of a little sum of money and is to go shortly thither to shew his conveyance pay his mony and take his possession And should I tell him his couveyance hath a flaw in it and this is to be helpen before he go and that the mony he iutends to carry will not pass for currant there will he not be willing to hear and receive advice from me To this purpose is all this that I am saying That your Evidence as it now stands is not good for Heaven the money you intend to carry with you that you have to lay down for Christ will not be taken for currant there If I should tell any of you that are trading with your whole stock whether you shall thrive or not or that you are in the way to be undone and how you may thrive and be exceeding rich Or if I should tell you that are now going a voyage by Sea in a Ship wherein you adventure your lives and all your estate in a dangerous passage between Rocks and Sands Or you that are going about a work of mighty concernment in a journey by land in a solitary way where are Robbers Lyons Bears Wolves Brakes Pits c. and there is but one way of safety onely and that you are in the dangerous way and should offer to put you in the safe way Or if I should tell any of you that stand to be chosen to a place of Preferment that the having of it will make him and the losing of it will undoe him that he is out of the way for it and which way hee may be sure of it who would not hearken to me How acceptable would my conusel be to such My design therfore in this word of Advice is to shew you how amongst all your gettings you may get wisdom * Prov. 4. 7. and in your trading purchase that incomparable Pearl which to get with the loss of all is an incomparble purchase * Mat. 13. 45 46 47. and to put you into the narrow way to eternal life which so few find and so many are mistaken in who then would not but hearken to it who would but be at the cost and pains to buy and read it And now if any one by the reading hereof shall find himself to be mistaken and out of the right way it will be his advantage to be guided into it It is better to run again than to run amiss Melius est recurrere quam male currere and to beginne all again than to end that which being ended will be to no purpose And for others that are in the right way albeit they may be hereby somwhat affrighted and shaken yet it Bonum est timere will make to their faster settlement at last The last chapter of the Book * Hag. 2. 7. 9 Eph. 5. 6. Prov. 28. 14 is a peece of another mans an Addition to the fourth chapter of the Book for the further clearing of this point That true Grace doth not lye in the degree or quantity but in the nature and quality And it is like to the man learned indeed All the defects and mistakes of my part of the work must be imputed to me the Printer All the good of it if any bee therein must be attributed much of it to other men some living some dead from whom I borrowed it But be it whose it will if you get any good by it give to God the glory for to him it doth belong And look on me as a poor well wisher to all that enquire what they may doe to be saved W. S. A Table of the Contents of the whole Book A. APpearing to Christ To long for it a sign of Sincerity chap. 7. page 207 Apostasie What induceth to it c. 5. p. 102 103. c. 13. sect 3. C. Christ How to know we are in him c. 9. sect 1 Love of Christ See Loves Conviction What conviction may be in an Hypocrite c. 5. p 84 Wherein this and the conviction of the true Christian differ c. 6. p. 125 Christian Who so indeed How described c. 3. sect 1. c. 9. sect 3 4 5. The weakest Christian c. 9. sect 4 5 The difficulty of the Christian life c. 11 Directions and helps in it c. 11. throughout Conversation Holy conversation a mark of Sincerity c. 8. p. 223 D. Delight in God goodness and good men and their company See Joy Desires What good desires may be in an Hypocrite c. 5 Wherein these and the desires of the true Christian differ c. 7. p. 166 F Faith What faith an Hypocrite may have c. 5. p. 86 Wherein this and the faith of the true Christian differ c 7. p. 152 154 Signs of true faith in Christ c. 7. p. 154. Fear of God What fear of God may be in an Hypocrite c. 5. p. 85 Wherein this and the true fear of God in the true Christian differ c. 7. p. 168 G. God See Fear Love Knowledge Joy c. Grace What there is of true Grace in an Hypocrite c. 4. p. 53 Whether the truth of Grace lye in the degree or nature of it c. 15. throughout Desire of perfection thereof a sign of Sincerity c. 8. sect 11 Grewthin Grace a sign of sincerity c. 7. p. 184 The
many as walk according to this rule c. 3 Ioh. 4. 2 Ioh. 3. 4. I rejoyced greatly that I found of thy Children walking in truth as we have received a commandement c. Coll. 1. 13 2 3 4. 5. For otherwise let what will be done and let a man act in what he doth never so much ex animo from his very heart and sincerely according to the light he hath received as many doe upon false Principles yet may he be called an Hypocrite Who were such By the Sincere Christian therefore throughout this Work we understand such a one as the Scripture noteth Nathaniel to be Io. 1. 47. Behold a true Israelite indeed in whom is no guile And such were David 1 Kings 11. 4. Ps 78. 72 Iosiah 2 Kings 23 25. Hezekia 2 Chron. 29 2. Abraham Gen. 17. 1. and 24. 40. 2 Kings 22. 2. Asa 2 Chron. 20. 32. 1 Kings â—1 14. Iob Iob. 1. 1. and 2. 3. Noah Gen. 6 9. Iehosaphat 2 Chron. 20 32. Paul after his conversion and the rest of the Apostles 2 Cor. 1. 12. 6. 20. Acts 24. 16. Abâ—l Gen. 4. 4. 5. Heb 11. 4. and others whose Sincerity is thus described of some of them That their hearts were perfect with the Lord of others that they did that which was right in the sight of the Lord of others That they walked with God of others that they walked before God of others that they did turne to the Lord with all their heart with all their Soule and with all their might of others That they laboured to keep their Consciences voyd of offence c. And these kind of men in Scripture language are some-times called Holy men or Saints Psal 37. 14 28. Sometimes wise men Mat. 25. 1. 2. Mat. 7. Sometimes perfect men Gen. 6 9. Sometimes upright men Psal 37. 14 18 37. Sometimes righteous Men Psal 37. 14 16. Sometimes just Men Gen. 6. 9. Sometimes plaine men Gen. 25. 27. 11. 14. Sometimes innocent men Mat. 10. 16. Sometimes the true worshippers that worship God in Spirit and Truth Io. 4. 23. Sometimes such as love the Lord Jesus in Sincerity Ephes 6. 24. Sometimes the pure in heart Math. 5. 8. Psal 24. 4. Sometimes the undefiled Psal 119. 1 3. Sometimes the poore and needy Mat. 5. 3. 7. Psal 37. 14. Sometimes good men Psal 37. 14 23. For the Sincere Christian is a compleat Christian Coll 2. 10. 4. 12. A perfect and entire Christian James 1. 4. Heb. 13. 21. And he that wants one grace or one grace in truth wants all grace That known position in Ethiques Quod virtutes sunt connexae is as true in Divinity as Morality so that he that hath not all hath indeed none at all and hence it is that true blessednesse is annexed to one of them Mat. 5. 3. Bles-sed are the poor in spirit c. And the sincere Christian is more or lesse all this Holy Wise Just Righteous c. So that by this work we shall see as in a glasse as well who is the Holy Just and Righteous man as who is the Sincere man This Sincerity now and the Sincere man are opposed to Hypocrisie and the Hypocrite And that they may more lively appeare in their colours we shall set them the one beside the other and in the next place give a description of Hypocrisy and the Hypocrite Hypocrisie What. Hypocrite Who. Hypocrisie is an evill frame of Spirit whereby a man would seem to be right towards God and to be carried to act really for him but in truth it is not so Or where a man pretends to more good towards God or Men without then is within him or whereby he would seem to himselfe or others to be better then he is He that hath this heart is said to have a heart and a heart or a double heart Psal 12. 2. Iames 1. 8. A crooked heart or perverse heart Prov. 12 8. and a divided heart Hosea 10. 2. 7. 14. And he that hath such a heart is he we intend by and call the Hypocrite The Nature of Hypocrisie But to open this Hypocrisie and the nature of it and to shew who we mean by this Hypocrite we are to know first of all that Hypocrisy stands in opposition to the Truth and reality of a thing and it stands also in opposition to the Sincerity of a mans intention in the thing and so Hypocrisy may be with reference to either of these 2. By the Hypocrite in generall we doe not intend one that appears worse then he is indeed as Peter did when he denied his Lord ' which yet he did not without Hypocrisy being so well acquainted with him Nor by the Hypocrite doe we intend one that acts this part for once or is deceitfull in one thing as Peter and some others with him were Gal. 2. 3 14. And as the best men sometimes may be and are unfainedly sorry for the same afterwards Nor doe we intend by the Hypocrite in generall such a man as by humane frailty only falleth into lesser sinnes Rom. 7. 17 19 For in many things we offend all Iames 3. 2. And there is not a man that liveth and sinneth not 1 Kings 8. 47. 1 Io. 1. 7 8. Deut. 32. 5. Nor doe we hereby intend him that by strength of Temptation may fall into greater sinnes against his purpose whereof he doth afterwards repent as David Solomon Peter and others did and the best of Gods own people may doe For as a man may be in some Acts without Hypocrisie and yet be an Hypocrite so a man may be Hypocriticall in some Acts and yet be sincere and there is some Hypocrisie in the best who at one time or other or in some things may appeare better then they are 3. But by the Hypocrite we meane him that is an Hypocritie through his heart and life one that for holinesse and goodnesse seems to others and perhaps also to himselfe to be what he is not but yet ought to be or one that desires to make a faire shew without of that goodnesse and holinesse which he hath not nor any root or foundation of within him He is one that seems to be and to act the part of a true Christian but is none he appears in the shape of a living Christian but is dead Rev. 3. 1. Thou hast a name to live but art dead Rom. 2. 28. He is not a Iew that is one outwardly He doth seem to be a Saint or Angell of Light and is a Devill Io. 6. 70. 2 Cor. 11. 14. Hence it is that Hypocrites are compared to Tares which are like to Wheat Matth 13. 25. As Hypocrisie is compared to Leaven Luke 12. 1. which cannot be known by sight so the Hypocrite is compared to a wolfe in a sheeps skin Mat. 7. 15. For the likenes and agreement that is in appearance between him and the true Christian for they are indeed very hardly to be known the one from the other And the
which there are few there it doth bring forth more or lesse fruit So that the seed sowen in all the grounds is the same but the fruit not the same for the bad ground it is said of the seed sowen in it that it had no root and that it brought forth no fruit So that although it be the same word that woâ—ks the common grace in the Hypocrite and the speciall grace in the Elect yet that which is wrought thereby in one is not the same that is wrought in another hearer thereof 2 Cor 2. 16. And now by all this that hath been said it may appeare that Sincerity lyeth more in the quality and nature then in the quantity and measure of the thing But there will be something more added we hope for the clearing of this poynt by a better hand in the last Chapter of this book And therefore we shall leave it in this place and proceed We have done now with the explicatory and shall come next to the Applicatory part of our discourse And out of what hath been already said may we not now draw up this conclusion That there is great cause to suspect That Sincerity towards God and Christ amongst the Professors of the Christian Religion is rare and that the Sincere Professors thereof are few But that Hypocrisy amongst these professors is very common and that the false Professors thereof are very many And now we shall make some Inferences and uses of that we have formerly laid downe CAP. V. Wherein the true Christian and Hypocrite may agree And how farre the Hypocrite may goe SECT I. ANd now we shall make some Inferences upon and improvement of all that we have said in our Explicatory part The first improvement we shall make of these things we have laid downe shall be For the tryall of our selves upon these heads 1. How farre an Hypocrite may goe in his perswasion practice and performance Or what he may be or have within or doe without him that the true Christian is hath and doth 2 What is lacking in him and what the true Christian is must be have and doe more then the Hypocrite And wherein he doth goe beyond and excell him And then secondly for the tryall of our works services 1. For the first 1. This is agreed in the generall by all men That a man may be not only almost but altogether at least in his perswasion converted from being a Jew Turke or Heathen to be a Christian from being a Papist or other Heretick to be a Protestant and Orthodox from being prophane and unrighteous to be a morall or civill man from being an Atheist or irreligious to be a Formalist or a man seemingly Religious and all this by the Preaching of the Gospell and yet be an Hypocrite So Judas Mat. 27. 1 2 c. Symon Magus Acts 8. 1 2 c. and many others Acts 5. 1 2 Mat. 23. 15. 2 The Hypocrite may be as rich honourable and prosperous in the world as the true Christian Psal 52. 1 2. 1 Sam. 22. 9. 3. He may come of a Godly Parentage and have a Godly education Phil 3. 4 5. Acts 22. 3. 4. The Hypocrite may have and enjoy as much in the outward Ordinances and Priviledges of the Church as the true Christian may have and enjoy 1 Cor. 10. 1 2. 9. 4 5. Moreover brethren I would not that you should be ignorant how that all our Fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the Sea And were all Baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the Sea and did all eat the same spirituall meat and did all drink the same spirituall drink for they drank of that spirituall Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ that is to say that the Fathers did upon the matter enjoy the same spirituall benefits and outward Sacraments But with many of them God was not well pleased c. Heb 3. 18 26. But some when they heard did provoke c. And to whom did he sweare c. but to them that believed not Luke 13. 25 26 27. When the Master is up and hath shut the doore c. and ye begin to stand without and to knock saying Lord Lord open to us And he shall answer and say I know you not whence yee are then shall yee begin to say We have eaten and drank in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets But he shall say I tell you I know not whence yee are Heb. 4. 2. For unto us was the Gospell Preached as well as unto them but the word Preached did not profit them c. Jude 4. Acts 22 3. 5 The Hypocrite may have as great a share in the Manifestation of Gods presence with a people by outward protections deliverances Salvations and Mercies as the true Christian may have Jude v. 5. I shall therefore put you in remembrance though yee once knew it how that the Lord having saved the people out of the Land of Egypt afterward destroyed them that believed not 1 Cor 10. 1 2 c. 6. The Hypocrite for his outward station and condition may be placed as nigh to God as the best Christian may be He may be the chief officer of a Church or a Nation or the like Jude v. 5. And the Angells which kept not their first estate but left their own habitation he hath reserved in everlasting chaynes under darknesse c. So Judas Rev. 2. Demas Philemon 24. and others But more particularly SECT II. How farre the Hypocrite may goe in his outside with the true Christian The Hypocrite as to his practise and performance and for his outside and appearance therein may be visibly changed into another man 1 Sam 10. 6. He can and may doe as much and goe as farre as the best Christian whatsoever Nay he may possibly doe and suffer as much and in appearance before men with as great and as much Spirit and zeale as any man Yea seem more glorious and for matter and manner both go beyond the best Christian as the lustre of false gold may exceed the lustre of true gold and as an Artificiall picture and painted face may excell the naturall face and as a Stage-player may more lively act a man or thing said or done then the man or thing he doth act to be said or done He may therefore leave not only some but all the outward evills of his life and do in appearance all that is good he may seem to deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and live soberly righteously and Godly and so in shew make a compleat outward reformation He may take up the whole forme of Godlinesse and Religion go round from day to day in the practise of piety keep the Sabbath Pray heare read conferre expound receive the Sacraments Fast and pray and do all other duties publick and private incumbent on a Christian he may seem good amongst good as Saul 1 Sam 10. 10. and better then most of
named particulars within this Section See Numb 23. 10. Let me dye the death of the Righteous Numb 24. 2 3 c. 1 Cor 11. 30 31 32. For this cause many are weake c. If we would judge our selves c. but when we are judged we are chastned of the Lord that we be not condemned c. which would seem to have this intimation that notwithstanding all your gifts Parts and progresse in Christianity if you have secret evills and do not labour to find them out and judge your selves for them you may be condemned with the world 1 Cor 15. 19. If in this life only we have hope in Christ c. which words seem to imply thus much That if all our Parts gifts desires works c. reach and look no farther and last no longer then for this present life that our Faith Hope c. be but temporary moved from and carried to something that is not beyond this life we are in a sad case it will doe us no more good then the wealth glory and good things which Dives had Luke 16. 25. Io. 6. 27. 1 Cor 13. 8 13. 1 Pet. 1. 22 24 25. Seeing ye have purified c. Being borne again not of Corruptible seed c. By which words are intimated thus much That unlesse you manifest the work of the spirit within you in obedience to the truth by having your hearts purifyed and by an unfeyned pure and fervent love of the Saints beyond that work which is wrought in the hearts of Hypocrites you will not have the evidence within you of that Regeneration which is true and effectually wrought of God by his spirit through the word by which there is effected an immortall seed of Grace that abideth for ever But if it be only some morall vertues or common gifts be they never so excellent and glorious that have the face of the new Creature and he in whom they are be not a new Creature indeed they are reckoned with God but as flesh which is as grâ—sse and the flower of the field they will doe a man no more good nor last any longer then riches honours and such like things which are but for this life only Phil. 3. 4 5. 2 Pe. 3. 4 It is said Psal 106. 11 12. then believed they his words that is when they had seen such signall manifestations of Gods power and working for them against their enemies they were for the present as full of Faith in God his promise and joy as a bladder of wind they soon forgat c. it had no root nor well grounded principle they fell back But lusted exceedingly c. Mat. 13. 21 22. Phill 3. 4 5 19. 1 Tim 6. 5. 2 Pe. 3 4. Exod 14. 31. compared with 15. 23 24. Numb 13. 26 27. c. 14. 1. 27. c. And thus he may strive in his inward as well as in his outward man to enter into heaven and not be able Luke 13. 24. SECT IV. What it is that doth carry the Hypocrite thus farre And why he goeth no farther If it be asked how it comes to passe that an Hypocrite doth goe so farre We answer 1. That he may be drawn or driven to it by some or all of these following means 1. He may be drawn hereunto by the work of his naturall Conscience Rom 2. 15. Rom. 1. 32. For when the Gentiles that have not the law doe by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law to themselves which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts their Consciences also bearing witnesse c. Prov. 20. 27. The spirit of a man is the Candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the belly Or by occasion and reason of some eminent and miraculous work of God done before their eyes Io. 4. 41 44 45 46. c. Except ye see signes and wonders ye will not believe or by occasion of some eminent work of Gods Providence done for his people or against their enemies or by the feare of death or some great affliction upon him Psal 78. 34. When he flew them then they sought him c. Psal 106. 11 12. And the waters covered their enemies c. then believed they his words they sang his praise they soon forgat his works c. Or by occasion of some light breaking in and some powerfull conviction upon the Conscience by the word and Spirit of God whereby it is pressed and moved to doe what it doth Perhaps it cannot otherwise be in peace It may be it is convinced there are some good and desireable things to be had and duties to be done in the profession of the Christian Faith and happily it may find more temporall good in such a life then in a wicked loose life 2. He may be moved or brought hereunto by Education discipline or example of Parents or such like persons under whom he hath been brought up So by Education many Creatures have been brought to be quite contrary to their nature and so doe many strange things And by this means he hath perhaps taken in some truths and taken up a profession or customary practise of doing some good And by custome herein he hath as it were gotten another nature and now doth act almost as freely as he that acts Naturally by grace and so he doth continue till by strength of temptation he be taken off and so discovered Luke 8. 12 13 14. This seems to be the case of Joash who continued good all the dayes of Jehoiadah 2 Kings 12. 2. This being that which moved him when this was gone his Action ceased 3. But there are many carnall and corrupt ends that draw in and bring on so many into a profession of Religion and that doth make them to engage so farre as to follow Christ a great way and a great while therein For some enter into a profession of Religion out of a designe and desire to doe mischiefe in it And this sometimes doth make men act vigorously as if Religion were their principall aime So some â—â—ve joyned themselves to the Church of Christ and preached and made profession of the Gospell of purpose to destroy the Gospell and overthrow the Church of Christ Gal. 2. 4. False brethren c. who came in privily c. that they might bring us into bondage Phil 1. 16 17. Some preach Christ of envy c. supposing to add afflictions to my bonds that is by drawing away the more to the Profession of the Gospell and so enraging the enemy the more against mee or by exalting and preferring of themselves before me so as to hinder the fruit of my Ministry Some engage in a profession of Religion that thereby they might cover some wickednesse they are intending to doe or in doing Prov. 7. 14. 1 Kings 21. 9 12. But most commonly and most men herein are carried forth in their profession of Religion from selfe love to and for selfe-ends as
glister be not gold yet all gold doth more or lesse glister But in the true Christian there is and must be another Spirit then that which is in other men Numb 14. 24. He must be something more and have something in him beyond what is in the Hypocrite or he cannot be saved Mat. 5. 20. Except your righteousnesse exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees you cannot enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Mat. 5. 47. What singular thing doe yee The differences then that we find between the motion and operation of true grace in the true Christian and of counterfeit Grace in the Hypocrite are Either in the Rise Principle or spring of it or in the proceed and end of it SECT I. In the Rise Root or Spring of true and Counterfeit Grace in them The first of these is as the Root in relation to the Tree or tree to the fruit or spring to the streames We shall open it first in the Root or Spring and then in Fruit or Streames The maine thing wherein the difference seems to lye is in something which is secret and invisible which is called a hidden life Coll. 3. 3. The hidden man of the heart 2 Pet. 3. 4. and that which is within us Luke 17. 20 21. and the hidden Manna a white stone and therein a new name written which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it Rev. 2. 17. and the Inward part and hidden part Psal 51. 6. And it is said to passe knowledge and understanding Phill 4 7. To be unspeakable 1 Pet. 1. 8. And they in whom it is are called Gods Secret or hidden ones Psal 83. 3. The foolish Virgins wanted nothing that the wise had in sight but they wanted this hidden wisdome 1 Cor 2. 7. The secret and inward work of Grace in their hearts This Secret and hidden work then lieth in this That the true Christian in order to the execution of Gods eternall decree for his Salvation having a new nature wonderfully formed in him by his spirit is by faith in a Spirituall and Mysticall way to be united to Christ as a body to the head and building to its foundation and to have his Spirit dwelling in him And the Soule and the Body is as one body animated by Christ as the Soule thereof so that Christ is said to live in him dwell in him and walk in him And the Christian to live by him So that as we all in the state of corrupt nature partake of the nature of the first Adam even so all that are saved partake of the divine nature of Christ the second Adam 2 Pet. 1. 4. Gal 2. 20. I am crucified with Christ neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the saith of the Sonne of God Joh 5. 26. 2 Cor 13. 5. 2 Tim 2. 14. Rom. 8. 10 11. If Christ be in you c. But if the spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall quicken your mortall bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you Jo. 14. 16 17. 1 Io 5. 12. He that hath the Sonne hath life c. And together with this union ariseth our Regeneration or the new Creature called the New man Ephes 4. 24. which after God is created in Righteousnesse and true Holinesse Compared to a new engrafted Tree that brings forth the fruits of Love joy Peace Long-suffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Faith Meeknesse and Temperance Gal. 5. 22 23. This great work in reference to the Fruits and effects of it is compared to and set forth by severall things as 1. By the Oyle in the vessell which the foolish Virgins wanted Mat 25. 1 2 3. c. to note that there must be something within to feed and maintaine the life of grace and holinesse in a true Christian which Christ by his Spirit doth give forth to every true believing Christian that is a member of his mysticall body Io. 15 1 2 c. Heb. 1. 9. Psal 133. 2. 2. By the Root of a Tree or Hearb in relation to the Tree or hearb Rev 22. 16. I am the Root c. Rom 15. 12. There shall be a root of Jesse and he that shall rise to raigne Rom. 11. 17. Job 19. 28. To note that the true Christian hath all his life and vertue from Christ by his spirit as the Tree hath its life and vertue from the root of it Coll. 2. 6 7. As ye have therefore received Christ Iesus the Lord so walke ye in him rooted and built up in him c. 3. By the earth that feeds the Tree Mat. 13. 6. To note that Christ must feed the true Christian or he will not be fruitfull 4. By the Tree in relation to the branches thereof Io 15. 1 2 3. c. I am the true vine c. Every branch in mee c. To note that the Christian hath his rise support growth and feeding from Christ 5. By the strong foundation of a Building in relation to the building Ephes 2. 20. And are built upon the foundation c. Iesus Christ himselfe the chief corner stone c. In whom you also are builded together for an habitation by the spirit Coll. 2. 7. rooted and built up in him 1 Cor. 3. 11. 1 Pe. 2. 4 5. To note that the true Christian as a Christian hath all his Rise and Support from Christ 6. By the engrafting of a Cion of a Sprig in a Tree in relation to the Stock Rom. 6. 5. To note that all the good that comes from him is from Christ being incorporated into him 7. By a lively spring in relation to the streams thereof Zach 13. 1. Jo. 4. 14. 7. 38 39. To shew that all the operations of grace within us issue from the spirit of Christ within us 8. And by a new Birth or Resurrection from death to life in Relation to the operations of Life Jo. 3. 3. Ephes 2. 1. Jo. 5. 25. To note that all the motions Acts and works of grace in the true Christian move from this new life Coll. 3. 3. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God 2 Cor. 4 10. That the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortall flesh c. Now this union between Christ and the true Christian soule and the presence of Christs Spirit in the soule is not at all to be found in the case of the Hypocrite and that work that is wrought in his heart for he hath neither the Spirit of God nor Faith Jude v. 19. Jo. 6. 64. There is no such root of the matter in him which we have spoken of Iob. 19. 28. But rather there is still in him the root of Bitternesse Acts 8. 23. that will bear fruit accordingly and he stands by himselfe and at a distance from Christ He is therefore a Lamp burning that hath no more to maintain
the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and to testifie his love to God for the love of God shewed to him in Christ And therefore it doth not satisfie him to do any thing as for the publick good the Common wealth or the like So the Heathen men have done unless he goe higher and shoot as far as the utmost white and mark of all which is Gods glory he cannot be satisfied to come short of this or to goe beyond it with reference to any thing else Rom. 14. 8. Whether we live we live to the Lord c. Phil. 1. 21. For me to live is Christ c. Luke 17. 12. The Leapers one of them when hee saw hee was healed returned and glorified God c. 1 Tim. 1. 17. Now to the King immortal c. 1 Tim. 6. 16. Rev. 4. 11. Thou art worthy to receive glory c. Rev. 5. 12. Saying with a loud voice worthy is the Lamb c. Psalm 115. 1. Not unto us but to thy Name c. So John the Baptist of Christ John 3. from verse 27 to the end Iohn 1. 19 20 c. This is the record of John c. And he confessed and denied not but confessed I am not the Christ c. He is from heaven c. He must increase c. 2 Cor. 4. 5. Wee preach not our selves but Christ Iesus the Lord c. Ioshua 7. 9. What wilt thou doe for thy great Name c. Psalm 111. 9. Holy and reverend is his Name Iohn 14. 14. Psalm 44. 22. For thy sake are wee killed all the day long we c. Luke 2. 14 20. Canticl 7. 13. Deut. 28. 58. Hab. 3. 17. 1 Thes 2. 4. Even so we speak not as pleasing men but God c. Gal. 1. 10. or doe I seek to please men c. And therefore he doth so because this is required by the Gospel of him 1 Cor. 6. 20. Ye are bought with a price wherefore glorifie him c. 1 Cor. 10. 31. do all to the glory of God c. Col. 3. 17. Whatsoever ye doe in word or in deed doe all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him Mat. 6. 9. 13. And next to Gods glory the true Christian he doth in his obedience active and passive aim at and design the good of all men especially of godly men So Paul 1 Cor. 10. 33. Even as I not seeking mine own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved So David Acts 13. 36. After hee had served his own generation c. Ps 78. 72. Luke 7. 5 6. Gal. 6. 10. Acts 20. 35. 1 Cor. 8. 8 9 10. And in the last place next to Gods glory and the good of other men he doth design his own spiritual good here and the salvation of his body and soul hereafter 1 Cor. 9. 27. 1 Tim. 4. 16. Acts 2. 40. And in this order of his working to those ends he doth not onely follow the light of Gods Word but the light of Nature which some of the Heathen saw and taught That man was not born for himself but first for God next for his country and lastly for himself SECT XXII In their affections and manifestations therof as to Christs appearing as to enemies the sins of the times troubles of the Churrh love to the world holy duties to works of mercy and justice receipts of gifts order of Gods working reformation of his family and in their assurance of salvation And finally the sincere Christian also doth more or less commonly outstrip the Hypocrite in all these things that follow 1 He doth more or less love long pray and prepare for Christs appearing to judgment Rev. 22. 17. The Spirit and the Bridegroom say come Cant. 1. 14. Make hast my beloved 1 Cor. 1. 7. Waiting for the coming of our Lord Iesus Mat. 25. 1 2 3 c. 2 Tim. 4. 8. This the Hypocrite cannot endure to hear of or think upon or prepare for Is 33. 14. The sinners in Sion are afraid fearfulness hath surprised the Hypocrites Rev. 6. 16. And said to the mountains and rocks fall on us and hide us from the face c. And from the wrath of the Lamb. 2 He can love his enemies and doe good for evil Acts 7. 59. 60. They stoned Stephen And hee cried c. Lord lay not this sin to their charge Job 31. 29 30. If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me c. Mat. 23. 32. and 5. 43 44. But this the Hypocrite cannot do Mat. 5. 46. If ye love them that love you what reward have you 3 He doth grieve and mourn for and make opsition against the sins of the time and place wherein hee liveth 2 Pet. 2. 7. For that righteous man in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds Ps 119. 136. Rivers of water run down mine eyes because they keep not thy Law But it is otherwise with the Hypocrite who doth many times rather rejoyce in the sinnes of others and joyn with them then mourne because of the same Psalm 50. 16. 18. 4 He can doth more or less sympathize and fellow-feel in the troubles of his brethren pity and help them 2 Cor. 11. 29. Who is weak and I am not weak c. Nehem. 1. 2 3 4. When I heard these words I sate down and wept c. Ps 112. 4. Rom. 12. 4 5. at which many Hypocrites doe rather rejoice Obadiah 12. 13. But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother c. neither shouldest thou have rejoyced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction Psalm 35. 25. So would wee have it Mat. 27. 41. The chief Priests mocking him said he saved others c. 5 Hee can and doth more or less live above the world and trample the honours pleasures and profits thereof under his feet Rev. 12. 1. A woman cloathed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet Galat. 6. 14 God forbid I should rejoice in any thing but the crosse of our Lord Jesus by whom the world is crucified to mee and I unto the world Job 31. 24 25. If I have made gold my hope c. or rejoiced because my wealth was great c. Heb. 11. 24 25. 2 Tim. 3. 2 4. Phil. 3. 7. 19 20. But the Hypocrite is not so but commonly is covetous a lover of the world his pleasure his profit or his honour 2 Tim. 3. 2 4. Lovers of themselves covetous 2 Tim. 4. 10. Lovers of pleasures Mat. 23. 25. 6 He can and doth having a low esteeme of himself and his own deserts thankfully acknowledge his receipts of benefits from God Gen. 32. 10. I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies c. Mat. 8. 8. Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof Luke 17. 15. And one of them when he saw that hee was healed turned back
and with a loud voice glorified God Psalm 26. 7. 2 Sam. 7. 18. But the Hypocriee having high thoughts of himself and his own worth and works as if God were beholding to him for his service to him he is commonly very unthankful for what he receives from God Luke 17. 14 15. As in nine of the ten Leapers Isa 58. 3. We have fasted and thou regardest it not 7 The sincere Christian hee is careful to submit to Gods means and goe Gods waies for the attainment and accomplishment of Gods ends But the Hypocrite hee wil not stick at the use of any unlawful meanes to bring to passe Gods end when it may also sute with his own end therein Hab. 2. 3 4. 8 The sincere Christian hee doth much more labour against the sins of his own family and relations But the Hypocrite he looks al abroad and takes no care at home hee is bitter against the sinnes of others and seems very active many times in the reformation of the evil that is abroad but doth nothing at hom Mat. 7. 1 3. Mat. 23. 15. Why seest thou the mote c. 9 The sincere Christian is commonly of a more composed spirit and behaviour in prosperitie and adversitie than the Hypocrite is Phil. 4. 11. I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to bee content Job 2. 9 10 and 21. The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken c. But the Hypocrite in such times is commonly more discomposed and disturbed in time of adversitie he doth despair 2 Kings 6. 33. What should I waite for the Lord any longer And in time of prosperity hee is lifted up to forget the Lord and himself both Psal 106 throughout 10 Hee is and doth shew himselfe to bee really more merciful just true loving meek humble and peaceable in heart word and work than the Hypocrite is who is and very often shews himself more fraudulent unjust ambitious cruel envious contentious John 1. 30. and 3. 28. 1 Cor. 4. 6. Micah 6 8 Mat. 33. 5 6 12 13. 3 Joh. 9. Luke 18. 10 12. Isa 65 5. Job 31 throughout 11 And lastly some sincere Christians are by the witnesse of the Spirit of God in them some more some lesse assured of their interest in Christ and their part in eternal life 1 Io. 5. 6 7 8 9 10. Hee that beleeveeth c. hath the witness in himself c. Heb. 10. 15. 1 Iohn 4. 13. Hereby know we that wee dwel in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit it self beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God Ephes 1. 13. Ye were sealeo by that holy Spirit of promise And in this the Hypocrite hath no share at all But many of them lye and dye under the feare of eternal vengeance from God as the just reward of his Hypocrisie and none of them ever had any true and well grounded assurance Ier. 33. 14. The sinners in Sion are afraid fearfulness hath surprithe Hypocrites Rev. 6. 16. SECT XXIII So that now upon the whole matter wee may perceive that the sincere Christian doth out strip and go beyond the Hypocrite throughout 1 Quoad principium gratiae as to his Foundation Root or Spring the immortal and incorruptible seed of Grace in the New Creature he is Regenerate But the Hypocrite is not so And therefore that which is wrought in him is a corruptible thing that will never come to good 2 Quoad incrementum gratiae as to the increase of Grace he doth more or less grow and increase in Grace But it is otherwise with the Hypocrite who commonly after a little while doth grow worse and worse 3 Quoad exercitium gratiae as he hath every grace so it is as true that his graces put him upon the exercise of them but the graces of hypocrites are but seemingly such their faith being but a dead Faith And as for that work of Grace in a sincere Christian which lyeth in the external actings hee doth excell also in these things 1 That which he doth he doth by the right rule of Gods Word which shews the wil of God and he doth all that But the Hypocrite he followeth his own and the will of other men and at the most he doth but a part of Gods wil only 2 Hee doth that which hee doth in a right manner with the whole heart But the Hypocrite otherwise 3 He doth that which he doth to the right end to Gods glory and not to the praise of himself as the hypocrite doth SECT XXIV But by all this we have spoken of the compleat and exact obedience of the sincere Christian we do not intend nor would be understood that the sincere Christians life is perfect and without sinne for that is to affirm contrary to what the Holy Ghost affirmeth and experience hath evidenced to us of the lives of all men and the best men that ever lived that they all had their faults and to assure us thereof some of them yea very many of them are recorded in Scripture and left us for our learning to let us know that there is not a man that liveth sineth not The phrases of speech therefore which we have used and that which we have affirmed of the obedience of the sincere Christian that hee leaveth all sinne and doth all duties at all times and in all places cases c. And the Phrases of the Scripture applyed to the Saints that they followed the Lord fully were in all the commandements of God blamelesse and were perfect they are to be understood not in a legal or in a litteral but in an Evangelical sense For doubtlesse the utteâ—most obedience that is expected or that can be performed by the most absolute and perfect Christian that is most sincere is That hee hath a real and unfained will and desire and a real intention and purpose and doth his endeavour with all his might to doe and fulfil the whole wil of God therein And he is grieved that he cannot doe it more perfectly And that which he doth of it he doth in sincerity And when he hath done all he thinketh himself to be but an unprofitable servant and to have done lesse than was his duty to doe And he doth not trust to himself therein but to the Righteousness of God in Christ And in this only or especially in this point doth the sincere Christian eminently excel and outstrip all the Hypocrites yea the most refined Hypocrites in the world who have not any such unfained wil desire purpose or intention but rather the contrary thereof in them Nor do they endeavour at all so to doe in all things as we have shewed elswhere at large And this progress towards the perfect doing in the sincere Christian is esteemed with God as the perfect doing of the thing it self Heb. 11. 17. By Faith Abraham when hee was tried offered up Isaac c. 1 Cor. 8. 12.
and some of them may happily continue so for a long time as some children as to their naturall strength doe by some distemper continue weak and grow but a little for a long while Yea possibly it may be so in the first conversion of a sinner to God that as the seed of Corn that is cast into the earth dyeth and lyeth long before it ariseth yet having a seed of life in it it doth at length arise and grow 1 Cor. 16. 36 37. and come to perfection So little of spiritual life or the life of the new creature may appear for a long time in that soul which may notwithstanding be quickned and truly alive to God in Christ We shall say a word to both of these kindes of weaknesse and weak Christians touching whom we say That ordinarily in the weakest of true Christians of this second sort and in the lowest and weakest estate of Christianity considered apart and free from violent temptations assaults and oppositions these things are alwayes seen and are necessarily required in every true Christian 1 The weakest Christian must bee in Christ by Faith and a new creature As one cannot bee sayd to bee of the nature of man or of mankinde till that hee bee born and brought forth of the womb of his mother So neither can one bee or bee said to bee a true Christian till he be born again and Christ be formed in him John 1. 12. But to as many as received him to them gave he power to be the sonnes of God even to them that beleeve on his name which were born c. 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature 2 He must by this means be spiritually alive and risen from the death of sin Eph. 2. 1. You that were dead hath hee quickned Gal. 2. 20. Christ liveth in me and the life I now live c. 3 He is then of the same nature and therefore must be more or less like unto the strongest Christian as children to men lambs to sheep and the most tender branches to the great bows of tree So the weakest Christian notwithstanding his weakness is partaker of the divine nature of God in Christ 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whoreby are given us exceeding great and pretious promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature 4 Hee must have of the light of the saving knowledge of God Ephes 5. 4 8. Ye were darkness but now are ye light c. Isa 52. 2. my people shall know my name Heb. 8. 11. They shall know the Lord. 1 Iohn 2. 13 19 20 27. Mat. 13. 11. 5 He hath a tender care to please and fear to offend God Isa 66. 2. I will look to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word c. 1 Iohn 3. 23. 2 Kings 22. 3 10 12 19. 6 He is very sensible of his own weakness Mat. 9. 23 24. And straightway hee cried out with tears Lord I beleeve help thou my unbelief Luke 11. 1. Lord teach us to pray c. 7 He hath a Spirit of prayer and can more or lesse open his case to God thereby Gal. 4. 6. And because ye are sons God hath sent the Spirit of his Sonne into your he arts crying Abba Father Rom. 8. 15. 8 He is from the sight and sense of his owne weakness poor in spirit and moved to looke towards Christ and to hunger and thirst after him Mat. 5. 3 4. 9 He desireth strength and therefore loveth and plyeth all the means of Grace especially the Word of God whereby he may be strengthned he maketh after Christ in and by his owne Ordinances Mat. 9. 23 24. Luke 11. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 2. as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word c. Luke 17. 5. The Apostles said to the Lord Increase our faith John 45 46 47. 10 He will not be taken off this way but will follow Christ alwaies Joh. 6. 67 68. Will ye also go away Then Peter answered Lord to whom shall wee go thou hast the words of eternal life John 10. 27. 11 He doth commonly grow and increase in strength as children trees and herbs Mal. 4. 2. Ye shall go forth and grow as the calves of the stall Eph. 4. 15. 12 He doth not purpose nor doth he make it his trade to sin 1 John 3. 8 9. He that committeth sin is of the devil c. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him c. that is he cannot so sin as to purpose it and make it his trade as wicked men do 13 He hath a love to all the children of God and true Christians as Christians 1 Iohn 5. 1. Whosoever beleeveth that Iesus c. is born of God And every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him 1 Iohn 4. 7. Every one that loveth is born of God v. 8. He that loveth not knoweth not God 1 Iohn 3. 14. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death Mat. 25. 42. 14 He hath the use of his spiritual senses in some degree at one time or other as Sight Hearing c. He seeth somewhat of God and Christ sin and wrath grace and glory And giveth ear to the things that are spoken thereof and hath some rellish and savour sense and feeling and can speak something sensibly thereof and hath some breathings and stirrings of good desires and wishes after Christ some power and motion to do good And he that can finde these things really and in truth in any degree in him may conclude of himself that though he be but a weak yet he is a childe of God and a sincere Christian And that his sinnes are forgiven for his Name fake 1 Iohn 2. 12. And he shall never be moved Psalm 15. 5. And herein also we are to know That these signs and symptomes are not in all nor in the same person at all times alike cleare and visible to others or to the party himself in whom they are but they ebbe and flow occasionally and have their degrees stops and changes It is sometimes with the spiritual man as it is with the natural man and his natural strength the same may bee by some accident or distemper very much decaied and impaired and the man though otherwise a strong man grow very weak and seeme to bee dying So it is in this case a sincere Christian sometime strong may by a relapse into sinne or some grievous pressure of affliction inward or outward or both grow for a time very weake in grace his pulse beat weak and his breath short as if hee were near dying yea sometimes though very rarely it falls out so that all the motions exercises and operations of Grace in the true Christian may be for a while so much suspended that they may seem in appearance to be totally extinct So that as in the natural body it falls out
this That 1 they doe the more fear and suspect themselves that they also may be deceived Is it not seasonable to advise men to take heed what money they receive when there is much counterfeit coyn going abroad amongst men And when we hear of many Shipwracks by Sea of Ships richly laden with many precious Jewels in the way wee and others are to pass is it not then a good time to perswade our selves and others that are to go that way to fear and to look well to our tackling and our way Many there are doubtless very many that think they are good Christians and are accepted and approved of for such amongst others but are not so Rev. 2. 9. call themselves Jews and are not Luke 16. 15. And so it will appear at the last Mat. 7. 21 22 23. Lord Lord in thy name c. and I shall profess I never knew you c. Mat. 25. 1 2 c. 2 In the second place Let us try our selves by the Word of God by the light and heat where of wee may discover the true and sincere from the false and counterfeit persons and things as the Eagle doth her genuine young ones by the light and heat of the natural Sun-beams Let us view our selves well by this Looking glass and see what manner of persons we are whether true or counterfeit Christians And there is great reason for it why wee should so doe 1 It is commanded of God 2 Cor. 13. 5. Try your selves whether you be in the faith or no. 2 The godly do so Psal 139. 23 24. Search me O God c. try me c. Lam. 3. 40. Let us search and try our waies c. 3 The thing is of mighty concernment to us there is life and death yea life and death eternal in it if we bee deceived in this point wee are everlastingly undone Mat. 25. 1 2 3 c. the foolish Virgins Mat. 7. 22 23. 4 It can doe us no hurt nay it cannot but doe us some good to doubt and suspect and to labour to know our selves for all knowledge is sweet but that of our selves sweetest of all And if we finde our case good and safe wee shall be the more settled and established in it If our case be bad and we find out it may be yet amended Psal 50. 1 2 c. v. 16 22. And if now any man ask us what if upon search I find my case doubtful and dangerous what shall I doe Wee answer The best way is to begin all again as a man that hath layd the foundation of his building amiss or is going in a wrong way to his journeys end for the Hypocrite and the worst of wicked men as they are alike evil so is their case alike dangerous Mat. 24. 51. compared with Luke 12. 46. In the third place then our Exhortation shal be to such as these that have laid an ill foundation and to our selves and all others who are entring into or entred or shall hereafter enter into the profession of Religion and are following or to follow Christ therein That they and we doe seriously consider of what wee are going about that therein our case is as the case of a man that is going a long and a dangerous journey or run a race for a great prize or engage in a desperate battel alone or with others Eph. 6. 12. 2 Tim. 4. 7. or are going about to set up a great building or going to make a great purchase Mat. 11. 12. It is compared therefore to a pilgrimage and the Christian therein to a Pilgrim Ps 39. 12. 1 Pet. 2. 11. And it was shadowed out by the life travel and difficulty of the Jews passage from Egypt to Canaan And therefore that it wil be our wisdom wel to consider before hand what it is we are going about and how we are prepared for it and to prepare accordingly This is our Saviours advice in the very cose Mat. 14. 25 c. for which of you intending to build a Tower sitteth not down first and counteth the cast And that therefore we doe as men to go such a journey or doe such a work these two things 1 Remove all hinderances 2 Provide our selves with al necessaries for the way and work Amongst other hinderances herein let us take heed 1 of unbelief a dangerous sin by which the Israelites were kept hindered from their entrance into the earthly Canaan Iude 5. Heb. 4. 1 2 c. And this now wil keep a man from entring into the heavenly Canaan Luke 12. 46. 2 The love of the world which like as the weeds amongst corn that do choak hinder the growth of it doth hinder the worke of grace in the heart Mat. 13. 22 23. 2 Tim. 2. 4. And for provision for our journy or our work 1 Let us look wel to our foundation that it be wel laid Mat. 7. 24. 13. 22. that it be layd upon Christ for other foundation can no man lay than that which is already layd which is Iesus Christ. 1 Cor. 33. 11 Eph. 2â— 20. and that we lay it low enough And that for this we find our hearts by the Word and Spirit of God not only deeply convinced of our miserable estate by the sin of Adam and by our owne original and actual sin but that we be broken and humbled in heart for and converted from it Hab. 6. 1. Acts 2. 37 38. Ezek. 36. 31. And having a discoverie made by this VVord and Spirit that there is a Remedy to be had in this case by the Lord Jesus Christ That he will be to the repenting beleeving sinner as the City of Refuge was to the Manslayer Numb 35. And as the poole of Bethesda was to him that was first put into it after the Angel had troubled it 10. 5. 2 c. And as the brazen Serpent was to them that were stung by the fierie Serpent in the wilderness Numb 31. 6. And that in him there dwelleth all fulnesse for the supply of all our wants and cure of all our maladies Joh. 1. 16. Col. 1. 19. And so by faith rowle and leave our selves upon him and take up our eternal rest and lodging in him alone Cant. 8. 5. Joh. 6. 67 68. Mat. 4. 22 Mark 10. 28. Mat. 19. 21. and 13 46 Phil 3. 7 8. 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. Heb. 4. 4 5. And being thus got into Christ by faith let us be assured of help that our sin is pardoned and that we are taken into favour by him Then in the next place let us looke to the progress of our building that being thus rooted engrafted into and built upon Christ we make it out by the work of Regeneration Sanctification in us that we be partakers of the Divine nature that we have a seed principle of grace within us that Christ lives in us and we in him that we are now Christ like of his minde and making and that we live walk and do
there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth Psalm 125. 5. And as he is of all sinners the greatest for his counterfeit holyness is in Gods sight a double wickedness so will his punishment in hell be the greatest Mat. 23. 14. Therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation Job 20. 5. 23 24 25. God shall rain down the fury of his wrath upon him c. He shall suck the poyson of Asps the Vipers tongue shall slay him c. God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him All darknes shall be hid in his secret places and fire not blown shall consume him c. This is the portion appointed to such a man by God And this portion is the portion of unbelevers expressed in Ps 11 6. Vpon the wicked he shall rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their cup they shall be cut asunder and torn in pieces there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Luke 12. 46. compared with Mat. 24. 51. the Lord of that servant shall come c. and shall cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Psalm 50. 16. 22. Now consider this ye that forget God least I tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver CHAP. XIII Arguments to perswade to Sincerity and against Hypocrisie in Services AND now to perswade us to Sincerity in our particular Works and Services especially in the service of God we may take up and use these motives 1 God is upright in his work and all that he doth he doth in uprightnesse and wee are to be followers of God Ier. 32. 41. And I will plant them c. with my whole heart and whole soul Ephes 5. 1. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children 2 God requires uprightness in us in all that we doe in his service Heb. 20 22. Let us draw near with a true heart c. Deut. 10. 12. And now Israel what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear the Lord c. and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul 1 Sam. 12. 20. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Love one another with a pure heart fervently 1 Sam. 12 10. Rom. 12. 8 9. 1 Chr. 28. 9. 3 This sincere service agreeth with the nature of God whom we serve 1 For he is a Spirit Iohn 4. 24. God is a spirit and must be worshipped in spirit and truth 2 He is a great King Mal. 1. 14. For I am a great king saith the Lord of hosts my name is dreadful c. He is not as man but as far above man as the heavens are above the earth Ps 55. 9. Mal. 1. 6. A son honoureth his father and a servant his master If I then be a father where is mine honour and if I be a master where is my fear saith the Lord of Hosts unto you O Priests that despise my name Eccles 5. 1 2. Keep thy foot when thou goest into the house of God c. For God is in heaven and thou upon earth c. 4 This is Gospel service and fit for Gospel times and Gospel worshippers and such service as God doth call for Ioh. 4. 23. The hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship him in spirit and truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him Jer. 24. 7. with 3. 10. Ezek. 36. 26 27. 5 This is the only beautiful and excellent service where there is an harmony and consent between the soul and the body in the work Heb. 11. 4 6. By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain 6 By this the meanest service may become a glorious work have much acceptance and reward from God Luke 21. 2. the widdows two mites Mat. 10. 42. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water onely in the name of a disciple verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward Exod. 1. 17 21 22. Jer. 35. 18 19. 7 Such are the services of the true servants of God 1 Thes 2. 3. Ps 119 7. 2 Tim. 2. 22. 8 The services so done only are accepted and wil be rewarded with God 1 Chron. 28. 9. Neh. 13. 14. Ezek. 18 24. 9 For no outward service can or doth please God or is accepted with him for it self or the work done but as it is joyned with sinceritie in the inward worship of Faith and love to God a desire to please and purpose to obey him Gen. 4. 4. Ps 51. 16 17. For thou desirest not sacrifice c. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Isa 66. 1 2 3. But to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word He that killeth an oxe c. Hosea 8. 13. and 9. 4. Amos 5. 21. Micah 6. 7 8. Heb 11. 4. 10 The Hypocritical service is a lye and a lye not to men so much as to God Hosea 11. 12. Ephraim compasseth me about with lyes c. Acts 5. 3. 11 The Hypocritical service albeit it be not despised by men yet God doth know it and will make it known to others to the shame of him that doth it 1 Chr. 28. 9. And then Solomon know thou the God c. and serve him with a perfect heart c. for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understâ—â—deth all the imaginations of the thoughts c. Mat. 6. 5 6. Mat. 19. 29. with Ps 44. 21 22. And it is not onely not accepted but sleighted of God it being a grievous sin a pollution and prophanation of Gods name it is a provocation of his wrath and doth draw down grievous judgements upon men that doe so perform it Mal. 1. 7. 13. 14. Should I accept this saith the Lord c. But cursed be the deceiver which hath in his flock a male and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing Lev. 10. 8. Ezek. 23. 38. Numb 18. 32. Ob. But here may be objected that hypocritical service hath had a reward 2 Kings 11. 18 19 20. 1 Kings 17. 18 c 27 28 29. 2 Kings 10. 14 15. c. Ans It cannot be denyed but that God may sometimes doth give for an outward hypocritical service for the work done because it is that he would have done a temporal reward But this will not at all preserve him from the punishment of the hypocrisie of his service here nor help to prevent the eternall punishment that will unavoidably come upon him for it hereafter Mat. 6. 5 6. and 23. 33. 2 King 10. 14 c. compared with Hosea 1. 4. CHAP. XIV Meanes or helpes to get and keepe Sinceritie IF any now shall desire and will labour for sincerity and would know by what meanes he may get
and keepe it and prevent hypocrisie We answer by these following meanes 1. Let him labour to be sincere in his state in general for till this it cannot be expected he should do any thing in sinceritie 2. Let him labour to get the Spirit of God into his heart and by this to get a newheart a heart convinced of sin by the worke of the Law Jo. 16. 7 8 9 10. And drawne to Christ by faith and so to become one with him and made a new creature for no man can otherwise bee sincere And hee that is in Christ is and must bee so a new creature assoone as he is in him Jo. 1. 12. 2 Cor. 5. 17. And when there is a full and powerfull change of the whole man by the grace of God then and not till then doth he begin to be sincere For every mans heart naturally is deceitfull above all things and till God hath changed it there is no integritie in it and a mans heart is never plaine and even till it be polished by grace for till this be a man makes himselfe the center and all lines to meete in him Then he will have the cleane right Spirit that David prayeth for Ps 51. 10. Ephes 4. 23. and 3. 19. Phill. 3. 9. 3. Let him get an understanding heart of the things of God for without knowledge the heart cannot bee good without this there can bee no feare of nor love to nor trust in God Prov. 19. 2. 1 Chron. 28. 9. And thou Solomon know thou the God of thy father and serve him with a perfect heart c. Prov. 15. 23. A man of understanding walketh uprightly Prov. 2. 10. Phill 1. 9 10. And this I pray that your love may abound in knowledge c. That ye may bee sincere c. Psal 36. 10. and 9. 10. Jo. 10. 38. 4. Let him labour for unfeined faith which is ever accompanied with and never severed from Sinceritie 1 Tim. 1. 5. 2 Tim. 1. 5 7. 5. Let him labour from the sense of Gods love to him to get and increase in an unfeined love to God which will make him sincere Psal 26. 1 2. I have walked in mine integritie for thy loving kindnes is before mine eyes 1 Jo. 4. 19. 2 Cor. 6. 6. 6. Let him labour much in the mortification of his lusts and especially in his lusts of coveteousnes for this inclines a man to hypocrisie Luke 6. 14. And the Pharises also who were Coveteous heard all these things and they derided him Mat. 26. 9. Jo. 12. 4 5 6. Rom. 8 13. Coll. 3. 5. And for the better doing and attainment of all these things 1. Let him thinke much of God his omnipresence and omniscience the fearefull judgements to come upon hypocrites And let the feare of these judgements take hold of him Prov. 14. 2. Hee that walketh in his uprightnes feareth the Lord. 2 Sam. 22. 24. For all his judgements were before me c. I was also upright c. 1 Chron. 28. 9. Know thou the God c. and serve him with a perfect heart for the Lord searcheth all hearts c. Job 31. 4 23. Doth hee not see my wayes and count all my steps Psal 50. 21 22. Thou thoughtest I was altogether such an one as thy selfe but I will reprove thee c. Consider this yee that forget God least hee teare you in peeces and there bee none to deliver you Mal. 1. 6 7 8 9. Psal 139. 1 2. 2. Let him keepe a narrow watch over his heart and the motions thereof the principles motives intentions ends of every thing that passeth thorough it Pro. 4. 23. Keepe thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the Issues of life Marke 13. 37. Psal 134. 24. 8. Let him pray and pray much and earnestly for them to God who giveth them Ier. 24. 7. And who hath promised this very thing Ezech. 11. 19. I will give them one heart c. And put a new Spirit within you c. James 1. 5. If any man want wisedome c. Let him aske of God Mat. 5. 42. Aske and yee shall have Phill. 1. 9 10. And this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement c. That yee may bee sincere c. Luke 11. 13. 1 Chron. 29. 19. Psal 139. 24. Acts. 8. 23. Psal 119. 80. Let my heart bee sound in thy statutes c. 4. Let him bee much in converse with Gods word And especially with these scriptures we have in this work proposed for a preservative from and cure of this disease This will be as a rule to the Mason in his work yea the Word will not onely discover crookedness but amend it and make a man strait 1 Sam. 22. 23 24. I have kept the wayes of the Lord c. And as for his statutes I did not depart from them I was also upright before him Ps 119. 11. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee v. 7. I shall praise thee with uprightness of heart when I shall learn thy righteous judgements Prov. 15. 21. 2. 10. 5 Let him labour to remove out of his heart all low and undervaluing thoughts and get and cherish a high value and esteem of God his Ordinances and Institutions Mal. 1. 1 2. 6. 14. c. 6 Let him take heed of hearkning to carnal wisdome either that which comes from a carnal fountaine or that which inclineth to or produceth the workes of the flesh or that which rules onely for fleshly motives and carnal ends 2 Cor. 1. 12. James 3. 13. 7 Let him decline the company of such who give vehement cause to be suspected to be Hypocrites For he that toucheth pitch will be defiled therewith And get into the company and call in help from the prayers and counsel of them that appear to be sincere Prov. 13. 20. Hee that walketh with the wise shall be wise We have now done and said all wee have to say There remaineth that onely which we have promised to be added by another hand to the clearing of what we have in our fourth Chapter touching this Question Whether the Saving Grace lye in the Quality or Quantity Nature or Degree thereof or not CHAP. XVI Sr YOu were pleased to require my opinion in that Question Whether the difference between common and speciall or saveing grace be specificall or onely graduall and also what I thought of M. Baxters discours concerneing that particular Now although it signify little what my opinion is and although I am unwilling to censure any mans positions or proofes of them especially M. Baxters whom I highly esteem for his learning and industry his moderation and ingenuity yet in obedience to your command without any further Apology or preface taking the same liberty to judge of other mens discourses which I freely give all men to judge of mine I shall crave leave to tell you 1. That