Divine Characters in Two Parts, Part 1 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Of hypocriſie, and of the hypocrite in general.
The names.THe names of hypocriſie, and Hypocrites are borrowed from the Greek, In which tongue they primarily ſignifie the profeſſion of a Stage-player, which is to expreſſe in ſpeech, habit and action, not his own perſon and manners, but his whom he repreſenteth. But in the New Teſtament, theſe words are familiarly uſed to note the ſinne and ſinner, Pronunciatores perſonarum alienarum, &c. Augof whom we here intreat. Indeed a very Stage-player, acting the part of a member of Chriſt, without any portion of ſound and ſaving grace. The Hebrew words are fetcht from a root that ſignifieth to be impi…us or prophane, Jer. 3.1, 2to pollute or defile, to diſſemble or counterfeit; whence that of the Prophet is diverſly tranſlated. The earth is defiled, or the earth hath deceived, or dealt hypocritically,Iſ. 24.5 & 32.6 From foreign. foreign Caneph therefore ſignifieth indifferently an Hypocrite or a wicked man.
The definition. Quiſquis ſe vult videri quod non eſt hypocrita eſt. Aug. Aliud ſimulans aliud agens, &c. Hi…r n.We may define an hypocrite to be ſuch a one as covereth wickedneſſe under a cloak of goodneſſe. Tegit ſub perſona quod eſt (ſaith Saint Auſtin) & oſtentat in perſona quod non eſt. Abſcondit quod eſt (ſaith Bernard) quod non eſt mentitur. He hides as under a viſor or counterfeit, that which he is, that he may ſeem in that viſor that which he is not: The holy Ghoſt compareth ſuch to clouds without rain wells without water, trees without fruit. Others have likened them to harlots, who cover a wrinkled face with parjetting;aJude 12 Greg. Sicut lamiae quibus humana facies, corpus beſtiale ſic hypocritae &c. Hieron. Explained in the matter. to the Oſtrich, which hath great feathers, but flieth not; to flags and bul-ruſhes, which grow green to the eye, but beare no fruit.
The matter is large, and of contrary parts, firſt vertue, and eſpecially piety, which it ſeemeth to put on: Secondly, vice and iniquity which it concealeth: For hypocriſie is vice in a viſor; the face covered is vice; the viſor pretended is vertue; and not any one vice or vertue but all hypocriſie is a caſe for all vices, a counterfeit of all vertues.
This is that which hath given us occaſion to name our hypocrite, ſometimes from the vertue which he counterfeiteth, ſometimes from the vice which he concealeth: This is that which giveth Hypocrites place in the Church viſible amongſt Gods people, etſi non per virtutem, certè per ſpeciem pietatis, not as partakers,Aug. in Pſ. 106 but as counterfeiters of piety; not as innocent, but as unconvicted of their iniquity. For hypocriſie is both the Ape of piety, and the mask of ſinne; for goodneſſe, the hypocrite is like the Bankrupt, the leſſe ſubſtance he hath, the more ſhew he maketh; or like the Alchymiſt, that blows himſelf and all away in ſmoak, to make, not gold, but counterfeit gold, fit for nothing but thebRev. 9.7 locuſts crowns. But though hypocriſie erre in imitation of vertue, it faileth not in giving perfection to ſinne: for in every web of ſinne, whatſoever be the warp, hypocriſie is the woof; and whatſoever be the dye, this ſtrikes it in grain. It is a leaven that joyneth it ſelf with the whole maſſe of iniquity till all be leavened. Dolus & ſcelus, ſubtilty and miſchief go together: but ſubtilty is the ſheet whereincMicah 7.3 men wrap up miſchief. As with every mortal diſeaſe (they ſay) a feaver is joyned, ſo with every reigning ſin, hypocriſie. Look through all the dominions of ſin, and you ſhall ſee that what vice ſoever is the devils Vice-roy, hypocriſie is his chiefeſt States-man.
But above all deſcriptions our Saviours ſimilitude of a painted Sepulcher, bringeth us neereſt to the repugnant conſtitution of this ſinner. A painted T…mb! what ſo glorious? nature teacheth men to put comelineſſe upon that which is leaſt comely. I need not mention thoſe Mauſoloea and Pyramides, at which the world to this day wondreth; every man is willing his Tomb ſhould be fairer then his houſe, yea, then the reſt of the Churches wherein they ſtand: ſo Hypocrites make a fairer ſhew, not only then the common ſort of men, but then other profeſſors; but open theſe Sepulchers, and their inſide is moſt horrible and loathſome. No filth like carrion, no carrion like that of a man, death revelling on him, as the Greeks on dead Hector, ſo that Abraham had reaſon to ſeek a place to bury his dead out of his ſight, whom living, he could not endure out of his eye. The Hypocrite is both the Tomb and the corps.dMat. 23.28 ye appear righteous to men (ſaith our Saviour) there is the goodly Tomb, but inwardly ye are full of hypocriſie and iniquity (there is the carrion carkaſſe;) Hypocrites, like Tombes, love to be neer the Church, but the humbleeLuke 18.13 Publican ſtanding afar off is neerer to God then they. Tombs preſerve the name while the man conſumes: ſo hypocriſy maintaineth a bruit of goodneſſe, while the wicked hypocritesfRev. 3.1 rot above ground. Tombes give a ſpectacle to the eye of the beholder, but cannot give life to the interred; ſo hypocriſie makethgGal. 6.12 a faire ſhew in the fleſh, but the hypocrite remaineth dead in regard of the life of God.
The formeThe forme of hypocriſie conſiſteth in apt imitation, and cunning diſſimulation. The hypocrite ſeeks not to put off ſin (that is death to hypocriſie;) but to put on a cloak or a viſor upon ſinne. Thus the dead bury their dead; dead men bury their dead works out of other mens ſight, not out of their own, much leſſe out of Gods. An Hypocrite is a man of both worlds; he converſeth with the living by that which he pretendeth, and with the dead, by that which he concealeth. But alwayes that is beſt lov'd which is concealed, yea, only loved, for the other is expoſed for the ſafety of this. Herein hypocriſie goes beyond flat lying, becauſe it is a lie with a pretence, and that you may not finde out the truth, giveth you a ſtale or a mask to gaze upon the whiles. Gehazi was a ſimple lyar, Thy ſervant went no whether; Adam was more cunning with his apron of fig-leaves, and excuſe upon the woman. He had need be cunning that ſhould conceal, not only his ſinne, but the art alſo whereby he would conceal that*Plurimum artis habere ſolet ſimulatio, &c. Hilar. in M…t. Canon. 22; not onelyonly his iniquity, but alſo hishMat. 23.28 hypocriſie. Tully ſaid of Pompey, that he was a great diſſembler, but not able to hide his diſſimulation, but if any want wit, that is not his fault, he wants no will to hide both. The Aſſe may be an hypocrite as well as the Fox, though he cannot ſo well cover his eares. The devil will bear with him that ſerveth him as far as he can. Many hypocrites were in our Saviours dayes, but the Scribes and Phariſees carried away the prize; many now a days; but the Monks and Friers bear the bell among the Papiſts, &c.
The End, The end.our …aviour noteth to be ſeen of men. But that end is referred to further ends, to wit, glory, lucre, eaſe, immunity, command,iMat. 6.23.5. all for himſelf as a perfect ſelf-ſeeker; ſeen he would be of men, and that in the wayes of God, not that God may be honoured, not that men may be edified, but that himſelf may be commended, Quaſi in Deum intendit, ſed non propter Deum. He ſeemeth to apply himſelf toward God, but not for God. Hence he is called foreign,kJames 1.8 a double minded man: and if a mans mind be himſelf (as the Phyloſopher ſaith) then muſt he be a double man that hath an heart and a heart.
The ſubject of hypocriſie.The extent of this ſin in regard of the ſubject is very large: For it is a circumſtance of evil cleaving to all ſorts of ſinners. Hypocriſie is proper to ſuch quarto modo (as Logicians ſpeak) that is to all, only, and always.
1 All ſinnersFirſt, to all, and therefore a wicked man and an hypocrite are not only joyned, but confounded, as we ſhewed in the Etymology of the Hebrew word Caneph: The holy Ghoſt ſpeaking by David the moſt pious, man calleth the evil man the wicked: by Solomon the wiſeſt, he calleth him the foole; by Job the moſt upright, he termeth him the hypocrite: to ſhew that theſe three, Piety, Wiſdome and Sincerity; and contrariwiſe wickedneſſe, folly, and hypocriſie, import under divers names, one and the ſame thing; ſo that in Job mJob 17.8the hypocrite and the innocent are oppoſed. Take men therefore as men in the ſtate of corruption, and they are all wicked, all fools, all hypocrites; nPſalme 4.2O ye ſons of men, ſaith David, how long will ye love vanity and ſeek lies? oEſay 9.17Every one (ſaith the Prophet) is an hypocrite and wicked; and againe,pand 33.14 The ſinners in Sion are afraid, fear hath ſurprized the hypocrites. All ſinners are hypocrites, (forqJer. 17.9 the heart of man is wicked and deceitful) but moſt of all the ſinners in Sion, whorEſay 26.10 in the land of uprightneſſe do wickedly. The world is full of hypocrites, forsPſalme 12.2 every man ſpeaketh vanity to his neighbour, and the Church is not without them, for even there alſo aretDeut. 32.23 children in whom there is no faith. All that are in Covenant with the Lord ſhould be, (and therefore are ſtileduDeu…. 32.15) Jeſchurum, or upright wEſay 63.8…children that will not lie: but alasxDeut. 32.5 they have corrupted themſelves by their vice, not being his children. Hypocriſie likezGeneſis 6 the daughters of men, with a falſe ſhew of beauty, hath corrupted for the moſt part the ſonnes of God, and made them alſo anaEſay 10.6 Eſt ergo eccleſiae quod ferat foris gemat intus, Aug. in Pſ. 141 2 Only ſinners hypocritical Nation. All they who are onelyonly outwardly called, not regenerate, not ſanctified, are among hypocrites. The Church doth not onelyonly ſuffer from enemies abroad, but ſorrow for falſe children at home.
Secondly, only wicked unſanctified men are hypocrites. Satans City isbEſay 24.10 a City of vanity; but Gods Jeruſalem iscZeek. 8.3 a City of truth. A true Iſraelite is he,dJohn 1.47 in whoſe ſpirit is no guile. Thus it pleaſeth the Lord to ſtile and acknowledge his children, not that they are perfectly purged from this leaven, but becauſe it prevaileth not in them. The wicked are not that, the godly are not all that which they ſeeme. Hypocriſie counterfeiteth grace in the wicked, weakeneth and diſturbeth grace in the regenerate; in them it ſerveth inſtead of grace; in theſe it ſhouldereth in with grace. If it be hypocriſie (as Saint Auſtin ſaith) peccatum vultu tegere, not to be known of our ſinnes by our looks; we may well adde, with the ſame father, to be without ſome ſpot of hypocriſie is ſcarce incident to mortality. Hence Satan thinketh he hath ſomewhat to object, even to the beſt of men. For when he could charge Job with nothing elſe, he accuſed him of hypocriſie, and it had gone ill with that upright man, if God had not been his merciful Judge. Hence it is that we can the better look into the cloſe cabinet of the hypocrites falſe heart; we have that inſight which Adam in innocency had not; we our ſelves in our ſtate of nature have plowed with the ſame heifer. We have a counterpane of the ſame inſtrument, though by a grace in great part cancelled. But hypocriſie reigneth not in Gods children: Hence it is a character of the bleſſed and juſtified man, in whoſe ſpirit there is no guile, a true Iſraelite, one of Gods Iſrael is he, that isePſalme 73.1 and 125.4 pure and true in heart. Thus hypocriſie is among natural men, an hereditary; and (I may ſay) oecumenical diſeaſe; in men outwardly called, belonging only to the Church viſible, an epidemical diſeaſe, common, yet adventitious, not of the nature of their calling; in the regenerate it is an ill humour, but not a diſeaſe or ſickneſſe, becauſe it prevailes not to overthrow the functions of ſpiritual life. Every man therefore in the world is either an Iſraelite or an hypocrite: Every man in the Church is either of Gods Iſrael, or of the devils army, but the Church hypocrite is of thefRev. 11.7 Dragons Angels.
Thirdly, the wicked man is perpetually an hypocrite. Hypocriſie is both natural and native in him. The wicked (ſaith David gPſalme 58.3) are ſtrangers from the womb, 3. Sinners always hypocritesfrom the belly have they ſtrayed, ſpeaking lies. It is a wonder to ſee how ſoon little ones can learn to ſew their fig-leaves, and the elder ſtill the more cunning. The whole life of man unregenerate, is an enterlude. Auguſtus dying, asked his friends, what think you? have we well acted the enterlude of life? The New-birth only makes a man live in good earneſt; puts onhRom. 12.9 love without diſſimulation, iJames 3 17wiſdom without hypocriſie. Grace is unto the ſoul a change of rayment; the skin of the Lamb for fig-leaves, ſincerity for hypocriſie; elſe nothing but death and judgement can pull off the viſor, and ſtrip conſcience of this linſey woolſey coat. Till then the whole life is a lie; for as a lie is the hypocriſie of the tongue, ſo hypocriſie is the lie of the life. A falſe heart findeth meanes to tell a lie to the eye as well as to the eare.
The greatneſſe of this ſinneThe greatneſs of this ſin. is too much for our ſurvey. The matter formerly handled ſheweth it to be a double iniquity, ſinne upon ſinne, a ſinful covering of evil with pretence of good; and what more ſinful then to make good a cover for evil? TheykEſay 30.1 cover (ſaith the Lord) with a covering, but not of my Spirit, that they may lay ſinne upon ſinne; a covering indeed not of Gods Spirit, whoſe office islJohn 16.8. to diſcover ſinne. God hateth all ſimulation and counterfeiſance; moſt of all, that of his own image. The Authour of truth brooks no forgery.Tertul. de ſpectac. Adulterium eſt apud illum omne quod fingitur, ſaith Tertullian. All counterfeiting is with him, adultery, the abuſe of his own bed. Our Saviour in the Goſpel never ſpeaketh of hypocriſie without deteſtation; never calls any man hypocrite but with indignation. Other ſinnes, in compariſon, he accountethmM…t. 7.5 moats; but this is a beame in the eye. Si trabs in oculo, ſtrues in corde; a beam in the eye betokens a heap in the heart: If the receiver be worſe then the thief; hypocriſie muſt be worſe then any ſinne, yea, then all ſinnes, for it is the common abettor, concealer, patron, and pandar of ſinnes; It is a colour for covetouſneſſe, a canopy for uncleanneſſe,Prov. 26.84 a dark lanthorne for malice, a vault for treaſon, a diſguiſe for Ambition, a viſor for Atheiſme; in a word, a horſe full of Greek, or rather a Sinon to bring in the horſe. Every ſin is made worſe by hypocriſie; for this makes of an enemy a traytor, Every reigning ſinne is a Jebuſite, but hypocriſie is a Jeſuite; not only a traytor, but making all traitors that entertain him.
It is a manifeſt wrong to our neighbour whom we delude,In regard, 1 Of other men as the witch did Saul witho1 Sam. 28 a devil inſtead of a Samuel. Every man beareth ſome reſpect to the opinion of others, and would (if it might be) approve himſelf; which becauſe wicked men will not do by goodneſſe, they ſeek to do that by a ſhew of goodneſſe; therefore even the whoriſh woman when ſhe hath eatenpProv. 30.20 ſhe wipeth her mouth, and ſaith, I have done no wickedneſſe. It croſſeth the royal Law, do as ye would be done by, I have known many (ſaith Saint Auguſtine) were willing to deceive,Confeſſ. lib. 10 cap. 23 but never any willing to be deceived. And which is fartheſt from ingenuity, it abuſeth rather friends then enemies; for they are apteſt to erre on the favourable ſide. Neither is the deluſion without danger, for as the Apoſtle ſaith of ſinne, itqRom. 7.11 deceives, that it may kill: ſo hypocriſie deludes, that it may corrupt. And (as thoſe locuſts) it hath not only therRev. 9.7, 8, 10 face of a man, and haire of a woman, that it may inſinuate, but alſo the teeth of a lion, and taile of a ſcorpion, that it may deſtroy.
It is that by which a man chiefly wrongeth himſelf, deluding his own conſcience,2. Of the ſinner himſelf or rather deriding her to her face, by calling evil good, and good evil; for as it giveth an outſide of vertue to the world inſtead of vice; ſo it giveth an inſide of vice to the conſcience inſtead of vertue. There is no hypocrite ſo cunning as to hide himſelf abſolutely from himſelf, but that he ſees his heart abhorres from the Lord,Ab intimâ luce, ad fraudulenta… ſimulatioues, &c. Aug. de Geneſ. contr. Manich. l. 2. c. 15 and that he doth but dally with him, giving that which his heart tells him, God is not ſatisfied with, and with-holding that which his heart tells him God chiefly calls for, that is the heart it ſelf. He knows he ought to be what he ſeems, elſe why ſhould he affect it? He knows he is not what he ought to be, elſe why ſhould he counterfeit it? Thus mentitur iniquitas ſibi. sEſay 28.20The bed is ſhorter then that he can ſtretch himſelf on it, and the covering narrower then that he can wrap himſelf in it.
3. Of God.But above all conſider how audatious this ſinne is, that undertaketh to delude the Lord himſelf. For with him the heart hath to do.rActs 5 4 Eſay 57.11 and 59.13 Thou haſt not lied (ſaith the Apoſtle) unto men, but unto God. Adam had no ſooner ſinned, but he had learnt to hide his head in a buſh, his ſhame with fig-leaves, and his ſinne with an excuſe, To ſinne, and to hide his ſinne, are two lines of the ſame firſt leſſon of Satan, two properties of an heart eſtranged from God, and now at once become wicked and deceitful. The hypocrite (as a powder-traitoruEſay 29.15) diggeth deep to hide his counſel from the Lord; he is not afraid to face down the Lord with a lie, to hide ſinne under GodswMal. 2.16 own garment, pretending Law for luſt. No ſinner bringeth ſinne ſo neere the Lord, and as it were under his noſe, as the hypocrite doth. It oppoſeth God in his being, for this is but a ſhew; in his ſimplicity, for this is double; in his truth, for this is a lie; in his judiciary power, for this makes man his Judge; in his holineſſe, for this is impurity; and that (which is moſt abominable) covered with holineſſe. The Lord in the old Law could not abide any emblems of hypocriſie;xDeut. …2.11 Lev. 11.4 and 19.19. the linſey-woolſey coat; the hollow footeſt beaſt; the miſſellane corn, the plowing with an oxe and aſſe together; the ingendring of beaſts of divers kindes; all to ſhew how much he abhorreth the mixture of contrarieties or diſſentanies in our profeſſion and practiſe.
Of all ſinners the hypocrite moſt hardly and moſt rarely repenteth;The hypocrite rarely repenteth He yJer 8.5holdeth faſt deceit, and refuſeth to return; He maketh zEſay 28.15.falſhood his refuge: He hath ſo many prentences and evaſions, that he ſhifteth off the neceſſity of repentance. It is no eaſie matter to convince an hypocrite, eſpecially of his hypocriſie. It is like an apoſtume in the breaſt, ſo much the more dangerous as it is more inward; and as rocks under water are more perillous then thoſe which appeare; ſo this covert makes ſinne the leſſe heeded, and the more pernicious. David from adultery, Peter from apoſtacy; yea, Manaſſeh from idolatry returned to God by repentance. But Judas, Simon Magus, Demas never returned.aMat. 21.31 Publicans and harlots are more eaſily converted, becauſe more eaſily convinced. Hypocriſie is moſt like an hectique feaver, hard to be cured; whiles it is curable, it is hard to be diſcovered; when eaſie to be diſcovered, it is hard to be cured, for being diſcovered, it degenerateth into prophanneſſe and Atheiſme, or into deſpair, with the hypocrite, ſhame once found, is ever loſt: For how can that man look God in the face, with whom he hath ſo ſhamefully diſſembled?
Reaſons why the Lord tolera…eth hypocrites.But ſome may ſay, why then doth the Lord ſuffer hypocrites, eſpecially in his Church, ſeeing they are ſo hurtful, & not unknown unto him? To whom I anſwer, the Lord hath more Reaſons of his actions then he always will impart unto usbJob 33.13; notwithſtanding of this, he revealeth many, of which theſe are ſome.
Firſt, he tolerateth hypocrites, that he may ſet his children a pitch, not where to reſt, but beyond which to reach; for where ever the hypocrite writeth, Nil ultra, thus far and no farther; there the true Chriſtian muſt write Plus ultra, I have not yet attained, there is more to be done:cMat. 5.20 Except your righteouſneſſe (ſaith our Saviour) exceed the righteouſneſſe of the Scribes and Phariſees, ye ſhall not enter into the Kingdome of heaven.
Secondly, they ſerve for way-marks towards Heaven, though not as way-mates: like Lots wife in the way to Zoar; though with her face to Sodom.
Thirdly, they ſerve to comfort the people of God in evil days, who elſe were apt every one to think, as Elias, that he were left alone to defend the cauſe of God.
Fourthly, they ſerve as leaves to keep the good fruit from parching and blaſting. Therefore, though they fall in Winter, when the fruit is inned, yet by Gods providence they return in the Spring, and continue in the Summer while the fruit is in hazard; and as the chaff fenceth the corn in the field, but is removed before it come to the Table; ſo hypocrites are an outward ſtrength to Chriſts party in this world, though excluded out of heaven
Fifthly, as Apes (ſome ſay) in the Eaſt countreys are made to gather ſpices, and ſave mens labours; ſo theſe Apiſh imitators (though on unreaſonable grounds) help forward the common work of ſalvation, as we ſee in Judas preaching, Wiſe men (much more the only wiſe God) can make uſe of ſuch as are ſufficient, though unfaithful.
Sixthly, as there are many counterfeit gemmes, yet retained for ornament, ſo the Lord among thoſe faithful ſoules with which his Church is arayed, ſuffereth theſe unprofitable hang-byes to help todEſay 49.18 dreſſe his Spouſe to the eye of the world. Gemmes of uſe (as watches and coines) muſt be true, or elſe they are nothing worth; but theſe that are for ſhew only, may ſerve, though they be counterfeit; even as ſimilitudes, as well borrowed from a fiction, as taken from a thing in being, ſerve to illuſtrate.
Seventhly, they ſerve to give teſtimony to the truth. Goodneſs gaineth ſo much by her enemies, that ſhe need not bring in parties (God and good men) to plead for her. Wicked men themſelves maintain the plea; for living, they deſire the name; and dying,eNumb. 23.10 the lot of the righteous: And it is a powerful proof that cometh from the mouth of an enemy, when they who refuſe to be, yet chuſe to ſeeme vertuous.
Eighthly, They ſerve to ſhew Gods bounty and hoſpitality, who in the Church viſible keepeth open houſe for all comersfMat. 22.10 Luke 14.23, as well foes as friends, that the houſe may be filled, and the wedding furniſhed.
Ninthly, they ſerve to terrifie the enemy, for which purpoſe, as the Canaanites were left in the land of promiſe, leaſt the wilde beaſts ſhould over-run the countreygExod. 23.29; ſo hypocrites are tolerated in the Church leaſt infidels ſhould break in; and as in a ſiege, ſometimes they have ſet up mens cloaths ſtuft with hraw to make the enemy afraid of their number; ſo hypocrites help to amuſe the aſſailants, and hide the paucity of true defendants; and it is well if a Poppet may excuſe a David, hGen. 14Aner, Eſhcol and Mamre helped Abraham, though they went for the ſpoile, and he for the cauſe.
Laſtly, as in Rome the wiſe Senators would not have the ſlaves diſtinguiſhed in attire from free men, leaſt knowing their number they ſhould rebell: ſo the Lord ſuffers hypocrites to be concealed, leaſt knowing one anothers minde, they ſhould prove more dangerous to his party then all the infidels in the world; It were not for the ſafety of a State, that all thieves and traytors were acquainted one with anothers minde, leaſt where, as now they ſtand in awe of true men, and take part one againſt another, they ſhould joyn together to the prejudice and deſtruction of thoſe that are well affected.
For theſe and the like Reaſons the Lord vouchſafeth a connivance to hypocrites in the time of this life, ſaving that he bringeth to light now one of them,Why at times the Lord diſcovereth them. and then another, as Judas, Simon Magus, Ananias) to ſerve, as malefactors unto the Anatomiſts, that by diſſection of ſome, the diſeaſe of many may be diſcovered, and the cure facilitated: Or as men uſe crows when they have killed them, to hang them up to make others afraid. For as concealed, they are nauſea Chriſti, the abhorrency of Chriſt; ſo diſcovered, they are vomitus Eccleſiae, the vomit of the Church.
And this is my intent in this whole Treatiſe,Application that by the diſcovery of hypocriſie in many particular kinds and ſubjects, we may all learn how to carry our ſelves as far as may be from the contagion of this ſin.
To this end, firſt, we muſt not haſtily call any man hypocrite, 1. Charge no man raſhly with this ſin.till we ſee the beame in his eye; for that were to enter upon Gods PrerogativeiJerem. 17.10 who only knoweth the heart. None ſo ready to faſten this imputation on others, as they that are privy to it in themſelves. We uſe to ſay, it is ill halting before creeples, and women whoſe beauty is counterfeit, and honeſty juſtly ſuſpected, are ready to ſay others are painted, and to call whore firſt; Satan the arch-hypocrite charged Job withkJob 1.9. diſſimulation. And we ſee the world (whether out of ignorance, emulation, or malice) doth thus nip in the head all forwardneſſe of profeſſion. But I hope to ſhew that hypocriſie is moſt common and moſt powerful where it is leaſt miſtruſted. Not they that are white are hypocrites, but they that are whited; not the fair, but they whoſe beauty is painted. If any be an hypocrite, and thou diſcern him not, he abuſeth thy judgement of charity; but at his own peril, not thine; nay, it is a comfort to Gods party, and a token of good times when there are many hypocrites. When David proſpered and prevailed, thelPſalme 18.14 ſtrange children (though fainedly) ſubmited themſelves unto him. The Cukoe and the Swallow are not the beſt birds yet few birds are better welcome, becauſe they give us the good time of the year; the evil and dangerous days are thoſe wherein vice pulleth off her viſor, when wicked men carry their condemnation in their fore-head, when theymEſay 3.9. declare their ſinne as Sodom, and hide it not; in the mean time, as bleſſed Paul rejoyced thatnPhil. 1.18. Chriſt was any way preached; ſo let us be glad that Religion is in any ſort profeſſed. Let the hypocrite (if he will needs) condemn himſelf whiles he admoniſheth us. He is condemned of himſelf, becauſe (for his credit) he will not ſeem what he is: He admoniſheth us what we ought to be, becauſe he thinks it for his credit, to ſeem what he is not. The firſt is a ſecret confeſſion of his own wickedneſſe, the latter is a teſtimony unto goodneſſe, even from the enemy of goodneſſe. If her enemies commend and court her, let her friends and ſubjects both love and ſerve her.
Secondly, becauſe hypocriſie is ſo general (and as I may ſay generical) let us for our own ſafetyoMat. 10.17 beware of men; 2 Beware of men.our Saviour did not commit himſelf to menpJohn 2. fin.; becauſe he knew what was in man: we have need of the ſame caution for a contrary reaſon, becauſe we know not what is in man; hope the beſt according to charity; judge in favour according to probability; but keep thy ſelf out of danger of the worſt, according to the rule of Chriſtian prudence; for it is better thou ſhouldeſt loſe the fruit of thy charity, then forfeit thy ſafety.
Thirdly, above all hypocrites abroad, take heed of the hypocrite at home.3. Take heed of the hypocrite at home. Take heed (ſaith Moſes, qDeut. 11.16) leaſt your own hearts deceive you; there is the greateſt danger, becauſe that is the greateſt impoſtor. If a cunning counterfeit abuſe thee, he cannot hurt thee; but if arEſay 44.20 ſeduced heart deceive thee, thou muſt needs feed on aſhes. How canſt thou deliver thine own ſoul? or as much as ſay, is there not a lie in my right hand? Neither man, woman, nor devil can deceive thee with danger to thy ſoul, unleſs thine own heart be in the plot: Only by this a man becomes a ſeducer, a devil to himſelf.sProv. 4.23 Keep thine heart, therefore, above all keepings, and from this above all corruptions. Thou art Gods Temple, make not thy ſelf a Tomb, drive not out of doors the quickning ſpirit of grace and truth to make room for a rotten carcaſſe of ſin, an evil heart of unfaithfulneſſe tHeb. 3.12. Be as the Kings daughter, glorious within uPſalme 45.13, whatſoever face thou ſheweſt to the world: and as the rich Merchant who hath little in his ſhop, but much in his ware-houſes and counting-houſe. Be content (with the Church) rather to bewCant. 1.4, 5 black and Sun-burnt, then to wear this mask of hypocriſie; remember, Chriſt looketh in at the caſement of conſcience, and ſaith, I know thy works. Caſt off the cloak of ſhame, no man pretends Religion without truth, but to hide ſome monſter of impiety which he is aſhamed the world ſhould ſee; and art thou not aſhamed that Chriſt ſhould ſee it? Feareſt thou not thoſe eyes like flames of fire, to none more terrible then to the hypocrite, if ever thou meaneſt to repent, take off this bolt that ſhuts out grace, demoliſh this fort of Satan, ſtop up theſe ſtarting holes of ſin. Be once perſwaded that there is nothing ſo good, as to be truly good, and whatſoever thou wouldeſt ſeem to others that be in the ſight of God, and of thine own conſcience; for this (as Socrates wiſely admoniſhed) is the moſt compendious way to vertue.