The Vain Religion of the Formal Hypocrite, Title page 1 – Table of contents
THE VAIN RELIGION OF THE Formal Hypocrite, And the miſchief of an unbridled Tongue (as againſt Religion, Rulers, or Diſſenters) deſcribed, in ſeveral Sermons, Preached at the Abby in Weſtminſter, before many Members of the Honourable Houſe of Commons. 1660.
AND The Fools Proſperity, The occaſion of his deſtruction: A Sermon Preached at Coven-Garden.
Both publiſhed to heal the effects of ſome Hearers miſunderſtandings and miſreports.
By Richard Baxter.
London, Printed by R. …. for F. Ty…o…, at the three daggers in Fleet-ſtreet, and Novel S…m…n …ookſeller at Kedenmaſter. 1660. At …bo…nd
TO THE READER.
THough God be not the Author of ſin, he knows why he permitteth tin the world. He will be no loſer and Satan ſhall be no gainer by it in the end. The malice of the Devil & wicked men, is ordinarily the deſtruction of the cauſe which they moſt deſire to promote; and an advantage by accident to the cauſe and perſons which they would root out from the earth. Were there no more to prove this, than the Inſtances of Joſephs brethren, of Pharaoh, and the murderers of our Lord, it were enough. We uſually loſe more by the flatteries of Satan and the world, than by their violence. If theſe haſty, courſe, unpoliſhed Sermons, ſhall prove beneficial to the ſouls of any, this alſo may come in among the lower rank of Inſtances. If the Devil had let me alone, they … have been caſt aſide, and no further moleſted him or his Kingdom, for ought I know, than they did upon the Preaching of them. But ſeeing he will needs, by malicious miſreports, and ſlanders, kindle ſuſpicion, and raiſe offence, againſt them and the Author, let him take what he gets by it. He hath never yet got much from me, by violence, or by his foulmouthed ſlanderous inſtruments: No not when the impudence or multitude of their ſlanders, have forced me to be ſilent, leſt I trouble the Reader, or miſſpend my time.
The firſt of theſe Diſcourſes, being intended to undeceive the Formal Hypocrite, and to call men from a Vain, to a Saving ſerious Religion, and to acquaint them that cry out againſt Hypocriſie, where the Hypocrite is to be found, it ſeems, provoked the Ignorant or the Guilty; in ſo much that the cry went that I Preacht down all Forms of Prayer, and all Government and Order in the Church: when there is not a Syllable that hath any ſuch ſenſe: But it ſeems what I ſpoke againſt the Carkaſs, was interpreted to be ſpoken againſt the Body of Religion.
The words of Mr. Bolton and other Divines, which I have cited againſt the Reproachers of ſerious piety, are added ſince the Preaching of the reſt, as being more fit to be preſented here to the eye, than in the Pulpit to the ear.
The petulancy of men on both extreams, conſtrained me to add, The Bridle for their tongues.
The ſecond Diſcourſe I underſtand offended ſome few of the Gallants, that thought they were too roughly handled; let them here peruſe it, and better concoct it, if they pleaſe.
I only add this Obſervation to the Heirs of Heaven, that are above this world, and live by Faith.
Few rich men are truly Religious: It is as hard for them to be ſaved, as for a Camel to go through a needles eye. Yet rich men will every where be the Rulers of the world, and ſo (as to outward protection or oppoſition) the Judges in matters of Religion. Judge therefore whether Dominion and earthly raign, be the portion of the Saints (as Jewiſhly ſome of late imagine): and what uſage we muſt ordinarily expect on earth! and what condition the Church of Chriſt is like to be in to the end. As his Kingdom, ſo ours, is not of this world. A low, deſpiſed, ſuffering ſtate, is it that Behevers muſt ordinarily expect, and prepare for, and ſtudy to be ſerviceable in. If better (may I call it better) come, take it as a Feaſt, and grudge not when the table is withdrawn; and look not it ſhould be our every dayes fare. But yet value the more highly thoſe few of the Rich, and Great, and Rulers, that are above this world, and devote their power and riches to the Lord, and are Holy and Heavenly in the midſt of ſo great temptations and impediments,
The Lord teach us to uſe this tranſitory world as not overuſing it, that we may never hear, Remember that thou in thy life time receivedſt thy good things,] Luke 16. 25. How ſhortly will they find themſelves everlaſtingly undone, that made not ſure of a more enduring portion! Reader, that thou mayſt ſavingly remember theſe common, but neceſſary, though much neglected truths, is the end of theſe endeavours, and ſhall be the matter of my hearts deſire and prayers, while the Lord continneth me
His ſervant for the promoting the increaſe and edification of his Church, Nov. 15. 1660, R. Baxter.
Poſtſcript.
REaders, meeting (in his conſideration of the Liturgy) with theſe following words of Reverend D. Gauden [I cannot but commend the Candor, Juſtice, and Integrity of M. Baxter, who lately profeſſed to me, that he ſaw nothing in the Liturgy, which might not well bear a good conſtruction, if men looked upon it as became Chriſtians, with eyes of Charity,] I was ſenſible of the great reſpects of this Learned and Reverend man; but leſt you miſunderſtand both him and me, I think it beſt to tell you more fully what were my words. Speaking for reformation of the Common prayer Book, and an addition of other forms in Scripture phraſe, with liberty of choice, &c. I ſaid, That for the Doctrine of the Common prayer Book, though I had read exceptions againſt divers paſſages, I remembred not any thing that might not receive a good conſtruction, if it were read with the ſame candour and allowance, as we read the writings of other men.] So that it was only the Truth of the Doctrine that I ſpoke of; againſt which I hate to be peeviſhly quarrelſome, when God hath bleſt this Church ſo wonderfully, with a moderate and cautelous, yet effectual Reformation in matter of Doctrine: The more pitty is it, that the very modes of Worſhip and Diſcipline ſhould be the matter of ſuch ſharp and uncharitable diſcords, which muſt one day prove the grief of thoſe that are found to have been the cauſes of it, and of the ſufferings of the Church on that occaſion.
The Contents.
THe Introduction. Page 1. &c.
Dict There is a ſeeming Religiouſneſs which is but ſelf-deceiving, and will prove in Vain.
Ten particulars that conſtitute the Hypocrites Vain Religion 11. to 20.
Ten things that are yet wanting to the Hypocrite, that prove his Religion Vain. 20. to 34.
By what means and method the Hypocrite makes ſhift to deceive himſelf by his Religion. 34. to 49.
What moveth the Hypocrite to this ſelf-deceit, and what are the reaſons and uſes of his Vain Religion. 49.
In what reſpects the Hypocrites religion is not Vain. 80
In what reſpects his religion is Vain. 92
Uſe 1. Why a ſeeming outſide Hypocritical religion is ſo common, in compariſon of ſerious faith and godlineſs. 95
Why Popery hath ſo many followers. 100
Uſe 2. To awaken the ſelf-deceiving Hypocrite. 108
Ten infallible marks of grace, which are in all that are ſound believers, and ſet together, deſcribe his ſtate: premiſed to prevent the miſapplication of what followeth, and groundleſs troubles of the ſincere. iii
Terror to the ſelf-deceiver. 1. His religion being Vain, his hopes and comforts are all Vain. 118
2. It will deceive him in his extremity. 129
The detection of the Hypocrite, by his contradicting all the parts of his Chriſtian profeſſion: ſhewing that all the ungodly among us that profeſs to be true Chriſtians, are Hypocrites. 148. to 173
The Hypocrites unbridled tongue. 175
Sins of the tongue. 177
What the text means. 179
Three ſorts eſpecially reproved. 180
1. The deriders, ſcorners, revilers or oppoſers of ſerious godlineſs; Their terror in the aggravation of their ſin. 181. to 198
2. Thoſe that uncharitably reproach each other, for leſſer differences in religion. 198
Of the common malicious uſe of the nicknames, Puritans, Preciſians, Zealots, &c. 205
Biſhop Downames teſtimony of the uſe of the word Puritan in his time. 210
The teſtimony of Dr. Rob. Abbot Regius Profeſſer of Divinity in Oxford, and Biſhop of Salisbury. 211
Mr. Robert Boltons teſtimony at large. 212
His further deſcription of the Formal Hypocrite. 217
Biſhop Halls Character of an Hypocrite. 226
3. The ſinfulneſs of paſſionate reproachful ſpeeches againſt ſuperiors, when we ſuffer by them for religions ſake; Propoſed to the conſideration of ſuffering tempted Chriſtians, how ſincere ſoever. 231
How far we may mention ſuch ſins of others. 247
Two cauſes of mens frowardneſs of ſpeech. 250
Who is indeed the Hypocrite. The impudency of our common Hypocritus that take ſerious godlineſs for hypocriſie. If we will be Chriſtians indeed, we muſt be content to be 10, though we are not thought to be ſo; and to be accounted Hypocrites, when we have done moſt to approve our hearts and wayes to God. 251
Eight directions to the Hypocrite to ſave him from a Vain religion. 261
The proſperity of fools deſtroyeth them, Prov. 1 32, 33.
Proved by Scripture; and the impiety of ſuch. 278
How it deſtroyeth them. 306
The ill uſes of this truth, to be avoided. 315
The right uſes urged. 317
A hint of comfort to the obedient ſouls; that they ſhall dwell in ſafety, and be quiet from the fear of evil: even when evil ſeemeth to prevail againſt them. 336