The Christian Governor in the Commonwealth and Private Families, Exposition 1 · Part 7
I will walke in the vprightnesse of my heart, &c.
THe matters which the Prophet meaneth to sing of, concerne his priuate Court, and the publike Kingdome: and these vvill hee looke vntounto as a priuate man, or as a publike King. But in these vvords he speaketh further of his priuate behauiour, and sheweth how he vvould carry himselfe priuately in his owne person; and therefore saith that he will walke; that is, conuerse, and carry himselfe: but how? in the vprightnesse of his heart: and where? in the midst of his house. He saith that he will walke, not as a Pharisee, in open places, to hauehave prayse of men, but as a true Israelite, in the close roomes of his heart, that God, who seeth in secret, may prayse him. And he saith that he will doe good, not dissemblingly abroad, when men may commend his doings, but priuately in his house, and more priuately, in his chamber, where he hath but a few witnesses. Also, that he will walke with an vpright or sound heart, or heart wherein are no holes or clefis: where hee compareth his heart to a Vessell, which (if it be close, whole, and sound) will preserue the liquour that is put into it; but being riuen, and hauing holes, will hold nothing. So the Prophet speaketh of his one heart, promising that it shall be entire and sound, keeping faith and a good conscience, and not leake through hypocrisie, nor bee full of the holes of shifts, and euasion from the truth, as the heart which is deceitfull vseth to be, and which (therefore) loseth quickly, by such vnsoundnes all integritie, and the very name of conscience. The summe of all is: The Prophet heere promiseth, not onelyonly to looke to the tackle of his heart, his actions in publike place, that they be sound, but to the heart it selfe, that it be kept in good plight, and that the fountains be kept sweete, from which must issue such a riuer of solemne reformation to Church, and Common-wealth. Euerie one is readie to commend a straight body; but the Prophet vndertaketh (heere) to keepe (that which is the commendation of a true Christian) an vpright heart.
Doct.The doctrine from hence is; The seate of integritie is not in a mans words or countenance, but in his heart: as Dauids heart was, so was he: and wee are truely that (and that onelyonly) that wee are in heart and affection: neither are they truelie godly (though outwardly professing godlynesse) whose Chambers, Cabbins, and Closets, serue but for lurking holes, or places of retyre for sinne. The Prophet therefore solemnely promiseth, that the windowes of his priuatest life, and secretest heart shall be open to all that will desire to looke into him for the integritie of those matters that he publikelie dealeth in, professing, that if he doe them not well his desire was, and labour shall be to doe them better. And thus he will walks in the vprightnes of his heart, knowing, that without such a soundnesse within, neyther his actions, nor sayings could please the Lord. Therefore all semblance of conuersation in the olde Israelites, was but meere flatterie, because their heart was not vpright with God, neyther were they faithfull in his couenant, Psal. 78.34.35.36.37. Simon Magus continued with Philip, and was among the Apostles, yet not as a Christian, but as an Intruder, because his heart was not right in the sight of God, Act. 8…13.21. He that came to the wedding dinner, and sate downe with the wedding guests, was singled out to shame & torments perpetuall, because he had not on a wedding garment; that is, vvas in body there, but not in affection there, Mat. 23.11.13. And did not Iudas speake as good words, and shew as great works as the other Disciples did; yet the Diuell hauing put treason into his heart, what good could be expected from him, euen when he saluted and kissed his Master? Ioh. 13.2. Mat. 26.48. Ananias and Saphira shall lose the reward and thanks of their contribution, if Sathan fill their hearts, and cause them to lye vntounto the holy Ghost. Act. 5.3.4.9. and so shall they, vvho counterfait with their lippes, but in their hearts lay vp deceit, Pro. 26.24.
The Reasons.
Hypocrites seeme to drawe in the same yoke of sinceritie with the Saints of God; yet because their heart is not vpright, as the heart of the Saints is: they are as graues which appeare not, and the men that walke ouer them perceiue not, Luk 11.44. Or, if painting will serue and smoothing be inough, the carion Iezebel shall goe for a beautifull and well-fauoured creature, looking out at the window, 2 King. 9.30. and where outward works are sufficient, the veriest hypocrite and rankest Pharisee, shall passe for a most sufficient Christian. Secondly, it appeareth Psal. 119.1.2. verses, that sound happinesse consisteth in a sound heart; and that it is not in the action done, or words spoken, that blessednes is to be found, but in the qualitie of these, when all is done sincerelie, and spoken soundly from a minde without guile, Psal. 15.2. Thirdly, the seruice of the hypocrite is as loathsome to God, as a Toade to man, (be his outward colour neuer so fresh, and worke glorious) which would not bee if integritie could bee found in the externall deede, that resteth in the heart, Luk. 16.15. The Pharisees would pray eueryevery where, with great deuotion, and fast eueryevery weeke with great stricknesse, and blow a Trumpet to their liberalitie and almes deedes, that they might hauehave testimonie and receiue the prayse of zealous and good men from the world, yet the Lord had them in vtter detestation: which could not hauehave beene, if there had beene any true louelove in these things.
Vses.
A reproofe to those,Vse. 1. who are (as one calleth Hypocrites) signes without the things signified, or Pottes seething in their scumme. Hos. 2.10. Good men care not, so good be done, who hauehave the prayse: but Hypocrites desire not so much to be doers of good, as to hauehave glory for well doing: therefore sayth the Tribe of Ephraim, Why were not we called? Iudg. 8.1. The godly abstayne from euill, because it is euill and forbidden: the vngodly, if they forbeare to doe euill, doe it for other ends; as because the world may know it, or hee that taketh vengeance for euill workes: the ciuill Magistrate, may heare of it, and so, it is like, they shall be punished with shame or stripes. Vpright men, when they commit any sinne, though neuer so secretly, are not without feare, because the Lord is priuie to it, that knoweth the heart: but the hypocrite, so hee may keepe his credit with men, careth not to keepe his sinne too, and so feareth not God, but Man: or if his actions be straight, that M…n see… he cares not how crooked his heart is, that God sees, Psa. 51.4.
Vse 2.An admonition aboue all things to looke to the heart, when (eyther) we serue God, or doe seruice one to another by louelove, Pro. 4.23. Of the wise builder it is said, that he digged deepe, and layd the foundation on a Rocke, Luk. 6.48. So of the sound hearted Christian it may be sayd, that knowing how much loose earth is in him, and that the heart is deceitfull aboue all things, Ier. 17.9. when he meaneth to doe good duties to God and his Neighbour, he entreth farre into himselfe, searching his heart, and bewayling his sinne, that his building may be on a rocke, and not on the sand: for he purgeth away the leauen of hypocrisi… that hath infected his nature, the loose and vnfast earth of a hollow and false heart he casteth forth, and whatsoeuer may seeme contrary and offensiue to the worke of sound repentance, he laboureth to be rid of in his entrance to reformation. The Hypocrite (contrarily) makes quicke worke, all his building is aboue ground, and hee careth not how well hee doth any thing, so he doe some thing: he looketh not to his heart, that it bee in order, but to his outward wayes, that they may not shame him. If he leade a ciuill life, and pertake of the word and Sacraments, hee thinketh he hath done enough, and that he is a Christian good enough. But will a good builder, meeting with an ill foundation, build vponupon it? nay, will he not throw out all that shall endanger his foundation? And shall we lay a good worke vponupon an vnsound heart? To pray is a good action; but will we lay the good action of prayer vponupon the rubbish of an vncleane soule to God, and vncharitable minde to our brother? To receiue the Sacrament is a good worke; but will wee lay the good worke of receiuing it vponupon a foundation of malice, or spirit of bitternes, when we come together to eate of one bread, and to drinke of one Cup? To heare the word is a good dutie; but will we doe the good dutie of hearing with deceitfull affections, when we make shew to heare whatsoeuer the Lord will say vntounto vsus? will wee not take h…ede how we heare? Let vsus (therefore) when we enter vponupon any good way, endeauour with an vpright & sound heart, to proceede therein, else had it beene better neuer to hauehave entred or begun, seeing wee hauehave set no surer in the path of grace.
Vse 3.A comfort to those whose hearts are sound in matters, though their best works be mixed with the infimities of men: for this that we desire (vnfainedly,) when wee hauehave done amisse, that wee had, or could hauehave done better, is imputed to vsus for vprightnesse. If sinne hang on vsus, and we would faine cast it off: if we finde vnbeliefe, and would gladly hauehave faith: if we be troubled with hardnes, and would be softned: if we be humbled, because we cannot bee humbled enough; and hauehave great sorrow, because we cannot be sufficiently sorry for our many sinnes; let not our defects discourage vsus, but let this small measure of grace enbolden vsus to enter before the throne of grace for a greater measure, which God will not deny to those that prepare their whole heart to seeke him, though in a person, not clensed according to the purification of the Sanctuary, 2 Chr. 30.19. and for perfection, the Lord lookes not for it at our hands in this vaile of frail…ie. The place followeth wherein the Prophet promiseth to walke in his vprightnes.