Divine Characters in Two Parts, Part 1 · Chapter 27
CHAP. XXVII. The Counterfeit Convert. Is he that turneth unto God, without Converſion of heart.Defin.
AFter repentance followeth Converſion: and, ſuch as the one is, ſuch is the other. If the one be counterfeit,Auguſt. the other cannot be ſincere. Est verſus qui non item converſus. He may be ſaid to be turned, that is not converted or returned unto God. Either he may be turned another way; as from one ſin to another; or, if unto God, yet not as he ought: either he doth but ſeem to return, or fail in his doing more. He returneth not with the whole heart; but, feignedly aJer. 3.10.
The voice of the Lord to the true Penitent is, If thou wilt return, return unto me bJer. 4.1. Let the wicked forſake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord cIſa. 55.7. Theſe are ſpoken to ſuch as upon ſight of their ſins and ſorrow for them, are willing to grow wiſer and to forſake them, which is true repentance; ſo they forſake all ſin, and hate every falſe way dPſal. 113.104. But now becauſe ſuch may be miſled by Satan, if not guided by God, as a man newly recovertd out of ſome deſperate diſeaſe, may ſoon marre his cure, and overthrow all, by miſtaking in diet, or by ſome other errour in ordering of his body; therefore the Lord doth not only phyſick his people by repentance, but diet them by Converſion, calling all that are weary of their ſins and willing to forſake them, to come back unto himſelf, as that which is the end of repentance, after they have forſaken their own way; and, which will ſecure the penitent from returning again to the ſame, or to other folly.
Unto theſe Calls, this hypocrite anſwereth, as the ſecond ſon in the Parable, I will, Sir: but, moveth noteMat. 21.30. He ſpeaks as well as any man can do, and gives him good words, as Judah of old, that with flattering lips, and with a double heart, cried unto God, My Father, thou art the guide of my youth fJer. 3.4, when yet the Devil led her, not only by the arme, but by the heart too, every ſtep in another way. This hypocrite is a bird of the ſame egge, that will promiſe as much as God will ask, but perform nothing of all that is commanded himgJer. 32.23. His eye and his heart is not but for his covetouſneſſe hJer. 22.17, or other luſts, from which he is not divorced by his mock-repentance. Had he truly repented, he would indeed have returned unto him, from whom he and all ſinners have deeply revolted iIſa. 31.6. But ſeeing his repentance was but feigned, he returneth to the Lord but in ſhew, not in truth.
Differ.On the contrary, the true Chriſtian is a true Convert unto God.
He not only heareth, but from the heart obeyeth that voice, Return, returne, O Shulamite, return, return kCant. 6.13.. Upon his true repentance, in forſaking his former way, he findes the truth of that promiſe that God hath mercy on him, and doth abundantly pardon, or multiply pardons lIſa. 55.7. God hath now made him a Shulamite, one that is at peace with God and Chriſt, that was before a revolter, a rebel, that neither had heart to ſeek after God, nor durſt to look him in the face. And indeed, only the Shulamite is in a ſtate and condition to return to God, for he only hath made his peace with God: and therefore Chriſt calls to him, and after him, again and again, to let him ſee how earneſt he is for his return; and then ingeminates the ſame call, once and again, to give him the more encouragement, againſt all the objections of his own heart, and the obſtructions of ſin within him, to return to his firſt husband mHoſ. 2.7..
He is one of the generation of true ſeekers, even ſummè querentium of them that ſeek the face of God nPſal. 24.6with all their heart, as Jacob at Peniel, that will never give over till he finde him, nor let him go till he bleſſe him: that beholds his face in righteouſneſſe hereoPſal. 17.15, that he may after ſee him as he is in gloryp1 John 3.2. Until he return to God, and finde him, he is reſtleſſe in his bed, he riſeth, goeth every way in the streets, in the broad wayes to ſeek him whom his ſoule loveth, he adventures among the watchmen, (ſuch envious miniſters as being themſelves ungodly, ſmite and perſecute thoſe that are godly, for they ſmote and wounded him qCant. 5.7) and never gave over ſeeking till he found him: and having found him, he holds him and will not let him go rCant. 3.4: Perhaps the fleſh within him, may, at firſt, anſwer churliſhly and rudely, as that firſt ſon to his father, bidding him to go and work in his vineyard, to whom the ſon malipartly ſaith. I will not sMat. 21.29? but afterwards he bethinks himſelf, repenteth, and goeth. Even a true Convert may ſometimes carry himſelf too rudely, and make too little haſte to returne unto God, as Lot did to go out of Sodom, until the Angels laid hold upon him and his company, and either thruſt them out, or carried them out as it were by violencetGen. 19.15.16. And God is faine to deal with him, as Abſalom by Joab, whom he having ſent for, once, and again, but could not get him to him, Abſalom cauſed his fields to be ſet on fire, that ſo he might at length force him to comeu2 Sam. 14.30 31, and thereby prevailed. So God ſometimes ſetteth the ſinners fields on fire, yea, cauſeth him to go through fire and water wPſal. 66.12, but at length he conquers him, and cauſeth him to come in unto him; which done, he bringeth him out into a wealthy place.
Thus, this hypocrite is like Ephraim, either a ſilly Dove without heart xHoſ. 7.11to return to God; or elſe, compaſſing him about with lies and deceit yHoſ. 11.12; the true Chriſtian is one of thoſe that ſeek him with the whole heart zPſal. 119.2: the one is as the ſluggard that turneth upon his bed, as a door upon the hinges aProv. 26.14, turning this way and that way, but never turnes off; the other, as the Hart, panting after the water-brooks (being hunted down even unto death panteth after God, his ſoul thirsteth for God, for the living God; and as impatient of longer ſtay, crieth out, When ſhall I come and appear before God bPſal. 42.1, 2.
Character 1 This hypocrite ſeeketh not God, but ſomewhat elſe in ſtead of God.
What is ſpoken of all ſinners (there is none that underſtandeth, there is none that ſeeketh after God cRom. 3.11) is moſt true of this hypocrite, even when he ſeemeth moſt to ſeek God. He profeſſeth indeed to ſeek the Lord, but the Lord that beſt knoweth, diſcovereth his counterfeiting. If he lack corne and wine, God ſhall have his cuſtome, to help him off with thoſe commoditiesdHoſ. 7.14. If he be in a ſtorme, God ſhall heare of him, to allay the tempeſteJon. 1.5, 6. If God fall to hewing and killing, then this hypocrite will ſeek him; he returneth and enquireth early after God fPſal. 78.34. But God knoweth the inward thoughts and aimes of all ſuch hypocrites, and thus turneth the inſide outward; they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds. They aſſemble themſelves for corne and wine, and they rebel againſt me. Though I have bound and strengthned their armes, (which I had broken for their wickedneſſe) yet they were no ſooner healed, but they imagine miſchief againſt me. They return, but not to the moſt High, they are like a deceitful bowe gHoſ. 7.15, 16. They make as if they aimed at God, but the heart, like an arrow ſhot out of a falſe bowe, lights far wide from that mark.
All his end is, ut bene ſit ſibi, that it may be well with him, when he obeyeth the voice of the Lord hJer. 42.6. Proſperity, Proſperity, Proſperity is all his buſineſſe with God when he comes unto him. This is the firſt, and laſt, and all that ever he ſeeketh at the hand of God: if he ask more, it is in order to this. His daily enquiry is, Who will ſhew us any good iPſal. 4.6? No matter what, ſo a carnal heart can reliſh it. No matter who ſhew it: yet, let God do it, rather than they go without it; if by no other meanes it may be had, then let it be by counterfeiting religious Converſion. Some other thing therefore there is for which this hypocrite knocks at Gods door. There is ſomewhat within, that the hypocrite cannot be without; for which God is ſought, or ſomewhat in God that the hypocrite likes not, and therefore rejects him, when he hath got his penniworths out of him: both which I mean, his coming to God, and leaving him again, is all one ſin in effect: only the one maskes him as an hypocrite, the other marks him for an Atheiſt.
Contrarily, the true Convert ſeeketh God himſelf, for himſelf.Differ.
When God ſaith, Seek ye my face, his heart ſaith unto God, thy face, Lord, I will ſeek kPſal. 27.8. God no ſooner ſpeaketh, but the heart makes an eccho to it, without capitulation, or ſiniſter ends. The deſire of his ſoul is to the Name of God, and to the remembrance of God himſelflIſa. 26.8. He had rather enjoy God in the wilderneſſe, without bread, than to ſit by the fleſh pots in Egypt, and to eat bread to the full mExod. 16.3. While the hypocrite is for any good, nothing ſufficeth him but this, Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me nPſal. 4.6. He ſeeketh not God, that his belly may be filled with Gods hidden treaſures of the earth in this life; but, that he may behold the beauty of his holineſſe, and be ſatisfied with his Image, even after his awaking from death.
He ſeeketh pardon of ſin, that his tongue may ſing aloud of Gods righteouſneſſe oPſal. 51.14. He ſeeketh grace to do well, not to commend himſelf, but to magnifie the riches of Gods grace towards him, and that he may in all things be accepted of himp2 Cor. 5.9. He is all for God, even in the things he receiveth from God: becauſe he goes unto God, for God more than for himſelf. Yea, even when God enviteth him, with promiſe and profer of ſome good, ſome ſpiritual good, he cloſeth with the invitation, but looks higher than himſelf in coming to God, as thoſe true penitents of old, when God ſaid, return ye backſliding children, and I will heal your backſlidings, they make this anſwer, Behold we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God qJer. 3.22. It is this conſideration that moſt ſtrongly draws him, that the Lord is his God. Not that he hath not ſome eye to the recompence of reward rHeb. 11.26. But the chief reward he ſeeketh is God himſelf, Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none on earth that I deſire beſides thee sPſal. 73.25?
Thus this hypocrite comes unto God as to a market or faire, to ſtore himſelf with what he lacketh, and then returnes home again. The true Convert turneth unto God as to his Lord, to give himſelf unto God, as one that is alive from the dead tRom. 6.13. The one returneth unto God, that he go laden from him, the other goeth unto God that he may dwell in God and abide with him for ever.
This hypocrite ſeeketh God without an heart. Character 2
He can ſpeak well, but God findes not an heart from whence that floweth, which his lips uttereth, O that there were ſuch an heart in them, ſaith GoduDeut. 5.29. Nay, he is ſo far from this, that when he draweth near unto God with his mouth, and with his lips doth honour him, he removeth his heart far from God wIſa. 29.13. He is never further off, than when he ſeems to be neareſt, being herein like the foot of a Rainbow, which the further you go towards it, the further it goes from you. If he come to the Word of God, his eare, haply, liſteneth, and his mouth ſheweth much love (he highly commends both the Preacher and his matter) but his heart goeth after his covetouſneſs xEzek. 33.31. Of ſuch God complaineth in reſpect of the heart, they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them riſing up early, and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive inſtruction yJer. 32.33. Not that the outward man was wanting, but the heart was abſent, whereby God did ſurdis canere, make muſick to the deaf.
Differ.On the contrary, the true Chriſtians heart is his chief Meſſenger and Agent, in all his addreſſes unto God.
It is a great point of wiſdom to ſend to ones betters by a meſſenger that is gracious. Now the Lord bids none welcome, but the heart, and ſuch as attend it. If the heart be chiefly employed in the Embaſſie, all his Attendants are feaſted. Then the eye, the lips, the eare, the hand are all welcome. My ſon, ſaith God, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes obſerve my wayes zProv. 23.26. He will give eare unto the prayer that goeth not out of feined lips aPſal. 17.1; becauſe the heart frames it. When the heart enditeth a good matter, the tongue is accepted as the pen of a ready Writer bPſal. 45.1. Let the tongue ſay what it will from the heart, and it is ſure of audience and a gracious anſwer. He is good to the ſoul that ſeeketh him cLam. 3.25. Therefore it is the true Chriſtians ſoul that deſireth God in the night: it is his ſpirit with him that ſeeketh God early dIſa. 26.9. It is his ſoule that ſaith unto the Lord, thou art my Lord ePſal. 16.2. It is his ſoul that panteth, that thirſteth for God fPſal. 42.1, 2. He can no more go to God without his ſoul carry him on her wings, than he can live without a ſoul: And when he comes unto God, he will do nothing without his heart, how exact and dextrous ſoever his parts, and the members of his body be.
Thus, this hypocrite is all for bodily exerciſe, which profiteth little g1 Tim. 4.8; that is, not at all: the true Chriſtian is all for lifting up his heart with his hands unto God in the heavens hLam. 3.41, ſo often as he returneth from ſin unto God. The one returneth unto God as Saul, confeſſing his ſin unto Samuel; but, without ſorrow of heart for it, and was rejected i1 Sam. 15.24, 25; the other is as David, who returning with the whole heart, was accepted and pardonedk2 Sam. 12.13; both returned, but not alike; anſwerable whereunto, was the iſſue.
Character 3 This hypocrite, if he afford God his heart, it is but a part.
If God will be content of a Partner, he may have a ſhare: but all is too much for the hypocrite to venture in one bottom. He can make two hearts of one, for a need. He is foreign, a double ſoul'd man lJam 1.8. He hath a ſoul for God, and a ſoul for Mammon too. He makes a diſhotomy of his heart, giving God one half, and Mammon the other; making God Partner with the devil: and thinking he can ſerve both how contrary ſoever the one be to the other, which our Saviour ſheweth to be impoſſiblemMat. 6.24. For, the love of the world not only baniſheth the love of God out of the heart; (if a man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him n1 John 2.15) but makes him to deſpiſe and hate the Lord. And the ſoule that cleaveth to the world committeth adultery with itoJam. 4.4, therefore, no fit wife, or friend for God, but an enemy to him.
Differ.Contrariwiſe, the true Chriſtian returneth unto God with the whole heart.
He knoweth there is work enough for the whole heart, for the whole man; that the whole heart is due to God, and required by him; and that they are bleſſed who ſeek him with their whole heart pPſal. 119.2: Leſſe will not be accepted. God will have a whole burnt-offering, or nothing; and the ſacrifice of God is a broken and contrite ſpirit: when man breaks it too peeces, God ſets it ſo together, that he will not loſe the …aſt piece or ſhiver of it. This, God promiſeth to all true Converts, they ſhall return unto me with their whole heart qJer. 24 7: and this every true Seeker performeth. With my whole heart have I ſought thee, ſaith herPſal. 119.10. I ſhall obſerve (thy Law) with my whole heart sVer. 34. I will keep thy Precepts with my whole heart tVer. 69. I will praiſe thee with my whole heart uPſal. 138.1. He can never give God enough that oweth ſo much unto God. He can give him but all, and that he ſhall be ſure of. He is not ignorant how God abhorred blinde, lame, imperfect ſacrificeswMal. 1.8. and 14.
Thus, this hypocrite is as the harlot that was for dividing the living childe between the true mother and her ſelf; let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it x1 King. 3.26. The true Convert is like the true mother, crying out to the King, Give her the living child, and in no wiſe ſlay it. He had rather part with it all, than endure to have it divided, the dividing of it being the deſtroying of it. The one is as Ananias and Sapphira who by keeping back a part, loſt all, and themſelves with ityAct. 5.2, 5, 10: the other is as Barnabas, who ſold all, and laid down the whole money at the Apoſtles feetzAct. 4 36, 37, and thereby had treaſure in heaven.
This hypocrite returneth unto God, but not with an heart prepared. Character 4
The heart of man is like the accurſed earth, apt to bring forth thornes and briars, which choak the ſeed of grace, and either binder good actions from being done, or marre them in the doing; for which reaſon it is required of all that ſeek the Lord, to break up their fallow ground aHoſ. 10 12, and not to ſ…we among the thornes bJer. 4.3. This husbandry the hypocrite omitteth, and ſo whatever coſt and pains he beſtoweth, is all loſt, for the thornes over-top and choak all the hopes of an harveſt, and over-run all. He ſuffereth corruptions to grow and over-grow in his heart, and ſo miſcarrieth even in the beſt ſervices, becauſe he doth not prepare his heart to the Lord. He is as Rehoboam, who did evil, becauſe he prepared not his heart to ſeek the Lord c2 Chro. 12.14. He hath ſome good thoughts, deſires and ſome attempts to ſeek God, but there are ſo many thornes and briars growing in his heart, that he never returneth to God to any purpoſe, he doth not carefully purge his conſcience from dead works to ſerve the living God, and therefore never ſerveth him with a perfect heart.
Contrarily, the true Convert prepareth his heart to the Lord.Differ.
He knoweth that God is an holy and a jealous God, holy in himſelf, jealous of his honour; and therefore they cannot ſerve him who are not purged and prepared; nor will he pardon ſinners that come unpurged to him. He conſidereth that God is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, that an heart unſanctified is a ſink of all iniquity, therefore he is careful not only to cleanſe himſelf from all filthineſſe of fleſh and spirit d2 Cor. 7.1, but, prayeth unto that God to whom he returneth, waſh me throughly, or waſh me much, from mine iniquity, and cleanſe me from my ſin ePſal. 51.2; and again. Purge me with hyſſop, and I ſhall be clean, waſh me, and I ſhall be whiter than ſnow fVer, 7. He findeth to his grief when he hath done all he can, many corruptions to be mortified, many worldly cares to be ſuppreſſed and abandoned, many holy thoughss, meditations, preparations to be entertained, and all little enough to bring ſo vile a wretch into the preſence of ſo holy, ſo great a God with any acceptance.
He remembreth who hath given it in charge to all Converts, Waſh ye, make ye clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes, ceaſe to do evil, learne to do well gIſa. 1.16, which leſſon is not ſoon learned. He taketh notice of that charge alſo, Cleanſe your hands ye ſinners, and purifie your hearts ye double minded hJam. 4.8. Here is work enough for a mans whole life: He muſt be clean within and clean without before he be prepared as he ought for the Lord. Therefore, as he ſeeketh God himſelf for himſelf, with his heart, with his whole heart, ſo he prepareth his heart to ſeek him: and, when all is done, acknowledgeth that he needeth pardon for want of better preparationi2 Chro. 30.18 19.
Thus, this hypocrite ruſheth into Gods Preſence without preparation, as he that came to the marriage without a wedding garment kMat. 22.13, and is caſt out with diſgrace and ruine; the true Chriſtian is as the Kings daughter, all glorious within, and her clothing without, of wrought gold, and ſo is brought unto the King lPſ. 45.13, 14, throughly prepared to be embraced by ſo great a Majeſty; the one for want of the oyle of preparation obtaines no entrance; the other, as the wiſe Virgins, trimmeth his Lamp, and being ſo ready, goes in with the Bridegroom to the marriage mMat. 25 10.
Character 5 Th s hypocrite ſeldom ſeeketh or returneth unto God, until he be ſo straitned that he knoweth not whither elſe to go.
He never ſeeketh after God (unleſſe for ſome worldly advantage) in proſperity; but when God doth vex him with all adverſity n2 Chro. 15.6. God is fain for the moſt part, to tear as a Lion, and then to go away, till men acknowledge their iniquity, and ſeek his face; in their affl…ction they will ſeek him early oHoſ. 5.15. He will ſeek him for proſperity, but not in proſperity. It is not well with him when he begins to look God-ward: ſomething he ailes when he looks that way. If God ſpeak unto him in his proſperity, he will not heare: this hath been his manner from his youth pJer. 22.21 Pſal 78.14. But when God once falls to ſlaying of ſuch as he is, then he ſhall heare of them, not before. In his trouble he will ſay, Ariſe and ſave us *Jer. 2.27.
In proſperity Pharaohs voice is, Who is the Lord, that I ſhould obey his voice qExod. 5.2? Till God hath humbled him and pull'd down by plague after plague, he never comes to that, the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked rExod 9.27. As idle and looſe children delight more to be in any company, than to be with their Parents; but, if they aile any thing, then their Parents ſhall be the firſt that heares of them, ſo he that hath ſo far played the Prodigal, as one houſe could not hold him and his father, when he hath ſpent all, and is ready to ſtarve, then he comes home with this palinody, Father, I have ſinned againſt heaven, and againſt thee, &c sLuke 15.18. When God hath hedg'd his way with thornes, and made a wall, that he cannot finde, or at leaſt go no further in his own paths, then perhaps he will ſay, I will go and return to my first husband, for then it was better with me than it is now tHoſ. 2.7. In a word, as Swallowes and other Summer-birds come and go, not for love of the regions, but to avoid Winter, and to follow the Summer. So this hypocrite, when it is Winter with him, he flies to God and to the Church that he may be in a warme Sun, and farewell; and as the Perſians became Jewes, when the fear of the Iewes fell upon them uEſth 8.17. And now crouch upon them, whoſe throats they had before intended to cut; ſo this hypocrite fawnes upon the godly as a great ſervant to the Church when himſelf is in ſtraits, and ſhe in honour, whereas it would be far otherwiſe, if their outward conditions were but changed.
Differ.Contrariwiſe, the true Convert, ſeeketh God in proſperity, as well as in adverſity.
Perhaps God was neceſſitated to handle him as he did Manaſſeh, to caſt him into chaines before he returned to him: but being once returned, he keeps as cloſe to God when his ſtate is altered, to the beſt, as when it was at the loweſt and worſt; and thereby finds better acceſſe and aſſiſtance in adverſity: as Hezekiah that could plead his cleaving unto God, not by way of merit, but of motive only to prevail with merciemercy for his recoverywIſa. 38.2, 3 Lucan.. It is ſometimes in dealing with God, as withmen. Adverſity is a fitter time to uſe a friend, than to make one. Nulla fides unquam miſeros elegit amicos. Few make choice of men in miſery for friends, all though miſery ſometimes, compel the miſerable to ſeek new friends. God will not alwayes be found in miſery of thoſe that in proſperity would none of God. Therefore the true Convert will take all opportunities to come to God before he be forced in by extremities.
It is too true, and cannot be denied, that divers of Gods own people do too often neglect him in proſperity, who y… have both truly and faithfully ſought him in affliction; but yet with great difference from the hypocrite, and the wicked. For, theſe, in proſperity, neglect him, becauſe they can be content to live without him, ſaying to the Almighty, Depart from us, for we deſire not the knowledge of thy wayes xJob 21.14. Perhaps they ſay not ſo with their tongues, yet they ſpeak ſo in their hearts, and by their livesyPſal. 36.1. But the negligence of Gods children is not from being contented to live without him, but from having ſo much to do for themſelves, that they minde not God ſo much as they ought, and, make too bold with God in omitting of ſundry duties, eſpecially in private, wherein formerly they were more converſant; they ſit more looſe from God, they abate of their first love and works. But all this is but gradual and comparative: they do not wholly caſt off the Lord: they cannot do that. He hath ſo put his feare in their hearts, that they ſhall not ſo depart from himzJer. 32.40. But they do not ſeek him ſo earnestly, and diligently, as in former times, and as he ſtill expects they ſhould. And therefore God is faine by afflictions to awaken, minde, and quicken them to their duty with greater care and diligence; by hiding from them, as they have ſtraggled from himaHoſ. 5.15, until they recollect themſelves, and ſay, Come, let us return unto the Lord, for he hath torne, and he will heal us, he hath ſmitten, and he will binde us up bHoſ. 6.1. And ſo they who performed leſſe duty in proſperity, are brought to profit more by adverſity, and to confeſſe, before I was afflicted, I went aſtray; but now have I kept thy Word cPſal. 119.67. Thus God deals with his own, as ſome Creditors with a Chapman that is broken by ſome accident, he ſets him up again, yea, makes him a gainer by his loſſes; and, thereby at length recovers his own.
Some have indeed held out from returning to God, until he hath cauſed them to ſit in darkneſſe, and in the ſhadow of death, and to be bound in affliction and iron fPſal. 107.10. Yet have truly and ſavingly ſought the Lord in their diſtreſſe, and have been pardoned and delivered as Manaſſeh, the Prodigal, and divers others: but this hath not been from affliction it ſelf, but from Gods ſanctification thereof unto them: but not all that then ſeek the Lord, do ſo ſeek, or ſo finde.
Affliction in it ſelf doth not make men better, but worſe, it neither ſofteneth the heart, nor openeth the eare: men may be puniſhed by affliction, but not reformed; ſubdued, but not reconciled. When Iſrael had played the harlot and done ſhamefully, God hedg'd her way with thornes, and made a wall that ſhe ſhould not finde her paths: but then ſhe followed after her lovers, as leudly and more madly than beforegHoſ. 2.6, 7. Thus Ahaz, in the time of his diſtreſſe, treſpaſſed yet more againſt the Lord h2 Chro 28.22. And no wonder, for, the wicked is like the raging ſea, whoſe waters caſt out mire and dirt iIſa. 57.20. The ſea caſteth out mire and dirt at all times, but much more in a ſtorme, when it cannot reſt.
Nor doth the hypocrite ſeek God in affliction as the child of God doth. The hypocrite ſeeks to God for outward eaſe and relief, as Pharaoh and Ahab; or for an outward bleſſing, as Eſau: but the godly, for pardon of ſin, mortification and ſpiritual grace eſpecially, when driven to God by outward troubles. David was more importunate for pardon, and cleanſing from guilt and ſin, than to be freed from outward ſhame, or from the ſword threatned to his houſe for his ſlaying of Ʋ riah. The hypocrite is all for removing the preſent plague, the true Convert, though perhaps he firſt was driven unto God by the whip of tribulation, that he might be delivered; yet, being come, he findes other work to do, and other ſuits to prefer that may make way for this: as namely, that God would waſh him from his ſin, take away his hard heart, open his blinde eyes, deaf eares, ſubdue his love of the world, and of himſelf; and, for theſe ends, he endureth afflictions, and bleſſeth God for them, and prayeth rather for the ſanctifying, than removal of them.
Alſo the hypocrite, even in affliction, as Eſau, cometh too late for the true, the beſt bleſſing: and when 'tis too late, then though he ſeek God early, and out-ſtrip others in outward addreſſes; yet, ſaith God, he ſhall not finde me kProv. 1.28; but, as Chriſt told the unbelieving Jewes, ſhall die in his ſins lJohn 8.24: The true Iſraelite ſeeketh the Lord while he may be found, and calleth upon him while he is near mIſa. 55.6: and thence it comes to paſſe that before he calleth, God anſwereth; and while he is yet ſpeaking, the Lord will hear nIſa. 65.24.
Thus, this hypocrite is like a malefactour in a Goale, that never cares for the King or his favour, till he be in danger of the halter; the true Convert returneth unto God when effectually called, whether in affliction or not. The one in affliction runs to God, when all other meanes faile him, as Saul to the Witch at Endor o1 Sam. 28.8, to ſee what he can do for him; the other, in his trouble goeth unto God for pardon of ſin, more than for deliverance from the fruits of ſin; the one ſeeks for eaſe, the other for the profit of afflictions.
Character 6 This hypocrite, as he ſeeks to the Lord for a ſhift, ſo he is as ready to leave him when his turne is ſerved.
He is in and out, off and on; now he ſeeks, now he ſhuns the face of God. In covenanting with God the hypocrite would make the benefit ſure, and to have whatever his heart deſireth; He is inquiſitive to know what he muſt truſt to, as the Iſraelites that asked meat for their luſts, Can God furniſh a table in the wilderneſſe? Can he give bread? Can he provide fleſh for his people pPſ. 78.19.20? but, reſerves a ſtarting hole for himſelf to go from his word, when he hath gotten from God what he came for: or at leaſt, not ſearching the bottom of his deceitful heart, he undertakes more than he through reſolved upon or can perform, and ſo is faine to dodge, and break with God.
As the bad debtor under arreſt, ſaith, Ile pay you the next week without faile; and the leud childe under the rod, promiſeth, I will never do ſo any more: So ſaith this hypocrite; and it may be, he hath a little good meaning ſo to do, for the preſent, which makes him never the more a true man, but rather a deceiver of more, by one, that is, himſelf: And as they that come into a dangerous harbour, let fall an Anchor, to winde themſelves off upon occaſion; ſo this hypocrite making a profeſſion of godlineſſe, when he is in ſome great diſtreſſe, leaveth open ſome poſtern of impiety to ſlip out at, when he thinks he hath no more need of feigned ſhewes.
Differ.On the contrary, the true Chriſtian with purpoſe of heart cleaveth to the Lord qAct. 11.23for ever.
He is the Spouſe of Chriſt, that having once laid hold on him, leaves him notrCant. 3.4. It is the condition propounded to thoſe to whom God ſpeaks peace, to return no more to folly sPſal. 85.8. This God promiſeth to true Converts, Thou ſhalt call me, my Father, and ſhalt not turne away from me tJer. 3.19: for, He ſo putteth his feare in their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from him. The true Convert leaves God free, but binds himſelf: he makes a ſure Covenant uNehem. 9.38: and, if need be, comes up to enter into an Oath and a Curſe to walk in Gods Law wCap. 10.29. And, he being too conſcious of, and privy to his own feebleneſſe and fickleneſſe, entreateth God to undertake the whole work himſelf, turn thou me, and I ſhall be turned xJer. 31.18; yea, not only to be turned, but to be faſt knit unto him, Ʋnite my heart to thee, that I may feare thy Name yPſal. 86.11; and that God would keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of his ſervant, and prepare his heart unto him z1 Chro. 29.18. Thus to cleave unto God, and thus to walk with God without ſeparation or backſliding.
Thus this hypocrite makes uſe of God as Aſalom did of Joab, to procure his return from baniſhment, and afterwards ſet his fields on fire a2 Sam., when Joab would not come at him; the true Convert is as Ephraim, even after converſion, and mercy obtained; goes no more from God, but layeth himſelf lower before him, ſmiting upon his thigh; as one ſtill aſhamed, yea, even confounded every day more and more for his former tranſgreſſionsb14.29, 30. The one falls off from God ſo ſoon as his turn is ſerved; the other cleaves the cloſer to God by how much the more God hath done for him.