The Theater of Gods Judgments, Book 1 · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. Of Hypocrites.
AS God is a Spirit and Truth, so he will be worshipped in truth of spirit and affection, and not in hypocrisie and dissimulation: for which cause he commandeth us by the mouth of Moses, in the sixth and tenth chapters of Deuteronomy, To love and honour him with all our heart, with all our soule, and all our strength: which hypocrites are so farre from doing, that they have nothing in them but a vaine shew of coined religion, and so by that means break the first commandement; thinking to bleare Gods eyes with their outward shewes and ceremonies, as if he were like men, to see nothing but that which is without, and offereth it selfe to the view; but it is quite contrary: for it is he that descryeth the heart, and searcheth out all the cornors thereof, to see what truth and sinceritie is therein, and therefore hateth and detesteth all hypocrisie, and abhorreth all such service as is performed onelyonly 1 Sam. 16:for fashion sake, or in regard of men: as appeareth by there proofes and checks which the Prophet Esay denounceth against the hypocrites of his time: who made shew of honouring God, but it was but with their lips and vaine and frivolous ceremonies, not in truth of heart and affection: so our Saviour Christ thundred out his curses against the Scribes and Pharisees Math. 23.with the judgements and vengeance of God for their hypocrisie. With this sinne was Balaam that wicked Prophet, upon whom God bestowed Numb. 22.a certaine gift of prophesie, infected: for when King Balac sent for him to curse the Israelites, he made as though he would not enterprise any thing contrary to the will of God as if he had him in great reverence and estimation: neverthelesse being allured and enticed by the golden presents which were sent him, he despised Gods commandement, and discovered his own secret impietie, and became an hired slave and enemy to the people of God: but as he was in journey towards him, there happened a strange and prodigious thing; an Angell met him by the way with a naked sword in his hand ready to hew him in pieces: whom when he himselfe being blinded with covetousnesse as with a vaile, could not perceive, …is asse saw and was afraid; and that which was more strange, the poore bruit and dumbe beast speaking in a new language like a man, reproved his masters … Pet. 2. 16.madnesse. Whereat he being sore amazed, and notwithstanding all the asses humbling before the Angell, yet pursued his unhappy journey, to his eternall shame and confusion, as one of an obstinate and heardened heart; for he was forced by the Spirit of God to blesse those whom he had purposed to curse; and yet further discovering his hypocrisie and envious disposition, he was the cause why the Israelites provoked the wrath of God against themselves, through the pernicious and deceivable counsell which he gave to the Madianites; for which cause he himselfe was in the end slain.Numb. 25. Numb. 3.
In this range may we place Geesie, Elizeus servant, who being as is it were the Disciple and profest follower both of his Masters life and doctrine, the true Prophet of God, by whom for the further assurance and confirmation 2 King. 5.of the grace and blessing of God, he had seene many notable and excellent miracles wrought; yet notwithstanding was not true of heart, but drawne aside by desire of lucre, that caused him secretly (unwitting to his master) to ru…ne after Naaman the Syrian in his masters name, for the money and Avarice, l. 2. 6. 35.apparell which his master had before refused: and supposing his knavery to be so hidden that it could not come to light, God discovered and pulled off his visard, and punished as well the deed, as the manner of doing hereof, upon him and his posteritie, with a perpetuall leprosie.
Saint Luke in the first chapter of the Acts, doth at large describe the hypocrisie of Ananias and Saphira, who that they might seeme zealous to Godward, and charitable toward the Saints, having sold a certaine possession, under pretence of giving the price thereof among the poore, retained covertly a certaine portion of it to their owne use, being so impudent as to lye unto the Holy Ghost the President of the Church, and founder of all secrets: but being attached by the mouth of Peter, a just and fearfull judgement of God fell on them both, even their sudden death at the Apostles feet, one after another.
Nicephorus telleth of one Philip, the first Emperour that undertook the name and profession of Christ; but by the report of other writers, it proceeded not from any zeale of Religion, or feare of God, but onelyonly to the intent to counterfeit a kind of honestie, and cover his foule vices and cruelties under the cloake of Religion. But God quickly espied and punished his deepe hypocrisie; for before he had raigned full five yeares, both he and his son were slain at Verona by his men of war. Let us learn then this lesson, by these examples to carry our selves in all purenesse, sinceritie, and good conscience before God; that our thoughts, words, and deeds, being estranged from all hypocrisie, and dissimulation, may be agreeable and acceptable in his sight.
Moreover, even as hypocrisie can winde and insinuate her selfe into the pure and sincere service of God, as hath been declared; so doth she play her part with no lesse bravery and ostentation in superstition and idolatry: for the truth whereof (before I proceed further) I will set downe a history not altogether unworthy the reading and remembring. Two hundred yeares Enguerran de Monstr. & Vol. 2.are not yet past, since there was in the raigne of Charles the seventh, King of France, a certaine preaching Frier of Britaine, called Frier Thomas, who by his dissembling customes and brags, under pretence of a certaine reformation of manners, so mightily deceived the whole world, that every where he was reputed for an holy man. This Frier puffed up with a greedy desire of vaine-glory, used to goe from towne to towne, and from countrey to countrey, finding exceeding honourable entertainment in every place; which he tooke very willingly; and that he might ride at the more case, he got him a little young Mule, that would goe very softly; and in this sort appointed, he was accompanied with divers of his owne Order, and many other Disciples that went for the most part on foot by him: the people flocked from all quarters to see him; yea, and many were so besotted, as to forsake their fathers, mothers, wives, and children, to attend upon this holy man. Alwayes when he came neere to any citie, the Burgesses, and Gentlemen, and Clergy, with one consent came forth to meet him, doing him as much reverence (saith mine Author) as they would have done to one of Christs Apostles if he were alive. Hee was very well content, that honourable personages, as Knights and such others, being on foot, should hold his Mule by the bridle, to be in stead of pages and lacquies to lead him into the townes. His entrance into every citie was with great pompe and magnificence, and his lodging provided at the richest and stateliest Burgesses house. Now that he might the better play his part, they prepared him in the best and convenientest places in the citie, a scaffold richly hung and garnished, upon the which his custome was first to say Masse, then to begin his Sermon; wherein he ripped up the vices of every estate, but reproved especially the Clergies enormities, because of their concubines and whores which they maintained: wherein he did say nothing but that which was good and lawfull; but in the same he used no discretion, but joyned madnesse and sacriledge with his Monkish nature, in stirring up little children to exclaime upon women for their attyre, promising certain dayes of pardon to them, as if he had been a god: so that Ladies and Gentlewomen were inforced to lay aside for a season their accustomed trinkets. Moreover also, towards the end of his Sermons hee commanded to be brought unto him their Chesse-boords, Cards, Dice, Nine-pins, and such other trash, which he openly threw into the fire, to be burned before them all. And that he might give more strength and credit to this his paltry rifraffe, he caused the men and women to be divided on each side, with a line drawne betwixt them, as in a Tennis-court; and by this means he drew together sometimes twentie thousand persons: so ready and zealous is and ever hath been the world to follow after such hypocriticall deceivers, rather than the true preachers of Gods Word.
But let us heare the issue of this holy hypocrite; it was thus: When he had in the fore-named sort traversed as well France as Flanders; it took him in the head to passe the mountaines, and visit Rome; imagining that it was no hard matter to obtaine the Popeship, seeing that in all places where he went, there was equall honour given unto him: or if he should faile of that hope, yet at least the Pope and his Cardinals would entertain him honourably; but it happened farre short of his expectation: for Popes are not so prodigall of their honours, to doe any such reverence to a poore silly Monke, but are very niggards and sparing thereof even towards Kings; so farre are they from leaving their Thrones of Majestie to any other: neither must we thinke that the Pope cared greatly for all those trickes and quidditi…s of Frier Thomas, seeing he himselfe is the onelyonly merchant of such trash. When he was arrived at Rome, Pope Eugenius seeing that he came not according to custome, to kisse his holinesse feet, sent for him twice, and understanding that he refused to come, and that he feigned himselfe to be evill at ease, sent his Treasurer, but not to impart to him any treasure, but to apprehend and attatch him. The Frier now perceiving that enquiry was made for him, and that they were at his chamber-dore, leapt out at a window, thinking by that means to escape; but he was quickly taken prisoner by the Treasurers servants, waiting before the dore, and brought before the Consistory of Cardinals: Law proceeded against him, by doome wherof, though no erroneous opinious could be proved against him, he was adjudged to the stake to be burned for an Hereticke: but it was sufficient to make him guiltie, because he defamed the Priests in his Sermons, and had spoken so broadly of their Gossips, and had been so bold to usurpe the authoritie of giving pardons, which the Popes claime for a priviledge of their owne See; and besides, had made no more account of him that is a petty god on earth, but had done all these things without his leave and licence: it was a hard matter to be endured of the Bishops of Rome, that a silly Monke should so intermeddle with their affaires, and should derogate any whit from their supremacy, seeing that they quit themselves so well with Kings and Emperours, and can at every sleight occasion make them stoope: neither is it to be doubted, but that Pope Eugenius was very jealous of the honour which Frier Thomas attained unto in every place, and fearfull lest his presence might disturbe his present estate. By this meanes God, who useth all instruments for his owne purpose, and can direct every particular to the performing of his will, did punish and correct the hypocrisie of this Monke, that seemed to be holy and wise, being indeed nothing but foolish, stubborne, and ambitious.
Moreover, most notable was the hypocrisie of two counterfeit holy Maids; one of Kent in England, called Elizabeth Barton; the other of France, Stow Chron.called Ioane la Pucelle: the former of which, by the procurement and information of one Richard Master, Parson of Aldington, and Edward Bocking Doctor of Divinity, a Monke of Canterbury, and divers others, counterfeited such manner of trances and distortions in her body, with the uttering of divers counterfeit vertues and holy words, tending to the rebuke of sinne, and reproving such new opinions as there began to spread, that shee woon great credit amongst the people, and drew after her a multitude of favourites; besides, she would prophecy of things to come, as that shee should be helped of her disease by none but the Image of our Lady in Aldington; whither being brought, she appeared to the people to be suddenly relieved from her sicknesse; by meanes of which hypocriticall dissimulation she was brought into marvellous estimation, not only with the common people, but with divers great men also, insomuch that a book was put in print, touching her fained miracles and revelations. Howbeit, not content to delude the people, she began also to meddle with the King himself, Henry the eight; saying, That if he proceeded to be divorced from his wife Queene Katherine, he should not remaine King one month after, and in the reputation of God not one day: for which and many other tricks practised by her, she with her complices was arraigned of high treason, and after confession of all her knavery, drawn from the Tower to Tyburne, and there hanged; the holy maidens head being set upon London bridge, and the other on certaine gates of the City.
The other named la Pucella de Dieu, marvellously deluded with her counterfeit hypocrisie, Charles the seventh, King of France, and all the whole Stow Chron.French Nation; in such sort, that so much credit was attributed unto her, that she was honoured as a Saint, and thought to be sent of God to the aide of the French King. By her meanes Orleance was woon from the English, and many other exploits atchieved, which (to be short) I will referre the Reader unto the French Chronicles, where they shall finde her admirable knavery at large discovered. But touching her end, it was on this sort: as she marched on horsebake to the towne of Champaigne, to remove the siedge, wherewith it was guirt by the Duke of Burgoine and other of the English Captaines, Sir Iohn Leupembrough, a Burgonian Knight, tooke her alive, and conveyed her to the City of Roan, where she faigning her selfe with child, when the contrary was knowne, was condemned and burnt. And thus these two holy women, that in a diverse kind mocked the people of England and France by their hypocrisie, by the justice of God came to deserved destructions.