the Fear of god, Part 13
A Word to Hypocrites.
Hypocrites, My last word is to you (The hypocrite is one that would appear to be that in mens eyes, that he is nothing of in Gods) Thou hypocrite that wouldest be esteemed to be one that loves, and that fears God, but does not; I have this to say to thee, thy condition is damnable, because thou art an hypocrite, and seekest to deceive both God and Man with Guises, Vizards, Masks, shews, pretences, and thy formal, carnal, feigned subjection to the outside of Statutes, Laws and Commandments: but within thou art full of rotteness and all excess.
Hypocrite, Thou maiest by thy cunning shifts be veild, and hid from men: but thou art naked before the eyes of God, and he knoweth that his fear is not in thy heart, Luk. 16.15.
Hypocrite, Be admonished that there is not obedience accepted of God, where the heart is destitute of this grace of fear. Keeping of the Commandments, is but one part of the duty of man, and Paul did that, even while he was an Hypocrite, Philippians. 3. To FEAR GOD and keep his Commandments, that is the whole duty of man, Ecclesiastes 12.13. This [fear God] the hypocrite, cannot as an hypocrite do, and therefore as such, cannot escape the damnation of Hell.
Hypocrite, Thou must fear God first, even before thou dost offer to meddle with the Commandment, that is as to the keeping of them. Indeed thou shouldest read therein that thou maiest learn to fear the Lord, but yet, fear God, goes before the Command to keep his Commandments. And if thou dost not fear God first, thou trangressest, instead of keeping of the Commandments.
Hypocrite, This word, fear God is that which the hypocrite quite forgets, although it is that which sanctifies the whole duty of man. For this is that, and no thing without it, that can make a man sincere in his obedience, the hypocrite looks for applause abroad, and forgets that he is condemned at home, and both these he does because he wanteth the fear of God.
Hypocrite, Be admonished that none of the priviledges that are spoken of in the former part of the Book belongs to thee, because thou art an hypocrite; and if thou hope, thy hope shall be cut off, and if thou lean upon thy house, both thou and it shall fall into Hell-fire. Triumph then, thy Triumph is but for a while. Joy then, but the Joy of the Hypocrite is but for a moment, Job 8.13, 14, 15. Chap. 20.4, 5, 6.
Perhaps thou wilt not let go now, what, as an Hypocrite, thou hast got: But what is the hope of the Hypocrite, when God shall take away his soul, Job 21.8.
Hypocrite, Thou shouldest have chosen the fear of God, as hou hast chosen a profession without it, but thou hast cast off fear, because thou art an Hypocrite; and because thou art such, thou shalt have the same measure that thou meetest: God will cast thee off because thou art an Hypocrite. God hath prepared a fear for thee because thou didst not chuse the fear of God, and that fear shall come upon thee like desolation, and like an armed man, and shall swallow the up, thou and all that thou art, Prov. 1.29.
Hypocrite, Read this Text and tremble. The Sinners in Zion are afraid, fearfulness hath surprized the Hypocrite, … shall dwell with devouring fire … as shall dwell with everlasting burning… ▪ Isa. 33.13, 14.
Hypocrite, Thou art not under the fatherly protection of God, because thou art an Hypocrite, and wantest his fear in thine heart. The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear him to deliver them. But the fearless man, or Hypocrite is left to the snare and wiles of the Divel to be catched therein and overcome, because he is destitute of the fear of God.
Hypocrite, Thou art like to have no other reward of God for thy labour than that which the goats shall have: the Hypocrite because he is an Hypocrite, shall not stand in Gods sight. The gain of thy religion thou spendest as thou gettest it. Thou wilt not have one farthing overplus at Death and Judgment.
Hypocrite, God hath not intrusted thee with the least dram of his saving grace, nor will he, because thou art an Hypocrite: And as for what thou hast, thou hast stolen it, even every man of you from his Neighbour; still pilfering out of their profession, even as Juda… did out of the bag. Thou comest … a thief into thy profession, and like a thief thou shalt go out of the same. Jesus Christ hath not counted thee faithful to commit to thee any of his Jewels to keep, because thou fearest him not, He hath given his banner to them that fear him, that it may be displayed because of the truth, Psal. 60.4.
Hypocrite, Thou art not true to God, nor man, nor thine own soul, because thou art an Hypocrite: how should the Lord put any trust in thee? Why should the saints look for any good from thee? Should God give thee his word, thou wilt sell it; should men commit their souls to thee, thou wilt destroy them by making Merchandize of them for thy own Hypocritical designs.
Yea if the Sun waxes hot thou wilt throw all away, and not endure the heat because thou art an Hypocrite.
ERRATAS.
REader, thou art desired to correct these Errata's, (with some others) which were occasioned by the Printer, by reason of the absence of the Author.
Page 96. line 11. after matter, read no, p. 109. l. 23. for serrini, r. Jeremy, p. 116. l. 14. for next, r. text, p. 117. l. 18. for even, r. ever, p. 128. l. 3. for lest, r. last, and l. 23. after self, r. for, & l. 25. for thus, r. this.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Bunyan, the Fear of god (1679)