The Covenant of Grace, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
Of uprightnesse towards men.
NOw we are to speak briefly of integrity, as it hath reference to man. For as we are to serve God in holinesse before him, that is in uprightnesse of heart, without hypocrisie; so also in righteousnesse before him, that is in simplisity and singlenesse of heart, without guile. For this simplicity whereof we are now to speak, is not that which is opposed to discretion, as being want of wit, (for the simplicity of doves must be tempered with the prudence of serpents; we must be without guile as doves without gall, but we must not be like Ephraim Hos. 7. 11. as silly doves without heart) but is opposed to dissimulation, disguising, doubling, deceipt and guile. From which the redeemed of the Lord are free, according to the testimony of the Prophet Zephany c. 3. 13. and according to the oath of God in this place, worshipping the Lord in righteousnesse before him; That is, performing the duties which they owe unto men, as in the sight and presence of God.
Now this simplicity is expressed by the same …ermes which signified uprightnesse, being referred to men, and where they are put absolutely, without relation either to God or man, both are, or may bee implyed, as alwayes going together. Thus the word Thamim may be understood in this larger sence. And therefore where Iacob is called Ish th…in… Gen. 25. 27. it is to be understood as wel of his simple and sincere dealing, among men, as of his uprightnesse towards God, and so the 72 interpret it by the word foreign free from fayning or dissembliug, and Aquila by the word foreign a simple hearted man free from doubling and deceipt, and so the word is used sometimes to signifie simplicity, Gen. 20. 5, 6. 2 Sam. 15 11. The like is to be understood of Iob and other holy men to whom that attribute is given in the scriptures; who are also noted to have performed their duetyes to men in uprightnesse, or integrity as David, Ps. 78. 72. is said to have sed, that is, ruled the people of God according to the integrity of his heart. The want whereof is objected by Iotham to the men of Shechem. Iud. 9. 16. 19. that they had not dealt in truth, and integrity with Gedeon his father. And therefore even …uch, as dissemble with men are sometimes called hypocrites, Mat. 2. 18. and their disguising is called hypocrisie, M…rk. 12. 15. or as Luke termeth it foreign c. 20. 23. Deceiptfulnesse, when one by flattering words and faire shews seeketh to intangle another.
The words jashar and shalem, which signifie upright and perfect, have also sometimes relation to men, as 2 Kings 10. 15. 1 Chron. 12. 38. so have the word, which signify sincerity and truth, Iud. 9. 16. 19. 2 Cor 1. 12. The phrase also of doing our dutyes to men from the heart, as Eph. 6. 6. Col. 3. 23. and out of a pure heart 1 Pet. 1. 22. importeth also this simplicity and singlenesse of heart.
But the most proper words wherby this grace is signified in the scriptures of the N. Test. are foreign and somtimes foreign simplicity, or singlenesse of heart, opposed to dubling, to dissimulation and guil. The man endued with it, is called sometimes foreign which in latine is simplex (quasi sine plica) and somtimes foreign which signifieth either harmlesse being as it were without hornes; or rather sincere, as being without mixture of deceipt or guile, Mat. 10. 16. Phil 2. 15. sometimes it is signified by the denyall of the contrary, as 1. foreign Without guile, or sincere, 1 Pet. 2. 2. Blessed is the man in whose heart there is no guile. Iohn 1. 48. 2 Not with an heart and an heart, that is not with a double heart, 1 Chron. 12. 33. but as it is v. 38. with a perfect heart, 3 Not fained foreign as 1 Pet. 1. 22. brotherly love unfained.
To serve God therefore in righteousnesse before him, is in the dutyes which we performe to men, to behave our selves as in the sight and presence of God; not in dissimulation and guile, not with an heart and an heart, that is a double heart, not with fayning or disguising, but in integrity, sincerity and truth, with simplicity and singlenesse of heart; Which you are to understand, not that simple men are to be fooles, but that wise men are to be si…ple; or as the Apostle exhorteth, wise to that which is good, and simple concerning evill, Rom. 16. 19. or as he speaketh, 1 Cor. 14. 20. Babes in malice, but in understanding men.
And thus we are to serve God in righteousnesse before him. For howsoever wordly policie, which is mixt with dissimulation and guile, be commonly practised and highly extolled among men, and simplicity contrariwise neglected and contemned, as folly; yet by the testimony of the Holy Ghost, true wisdom which descendeth from above as all good gifts doe is not mixed with dissimulation, Iam. 3. 17. but is tempered with simplicity, as our Saviour teacheth his followers, Mat. 10. 16.
Those therefore that wil be wise in Gods accompt, must be content to seeme fooles in the estimation of the world, 1 Cor. 3. 18. As for that wisdome which is mixed with deceipt, the Holy Ghost doth censure it, as earthly carnall, and devilish Iames 3. 15. And although that be accompted the onelyonly wisedome among worldly men; yet the wisedome of the world is foolishnesse with God. 1 Cor. 3. 19. for such men are, as we use to say, peni-wise and pound-foo…ish who by their policie to gaine their desires in this world doe lose their sou…es: which is not onelyonly folly, but madnesse. I say extreame madnesse, for the momentany fruition of worldly desires, which are vain and unprofitable, not onelyonly to deprive themselves of everlasting happinesse in heaven, but also plunge themselves into endlesse woe and misery in hell. Verily, it were easy for any man, that is not a foole, to become worldly wise, if he would be so foolish, as to cast away his soule by making no conscience of dissembling and disguising, of lying and deceiving, out-facing, of swearing and for swearing which, because no true Christian w…ll doe; therefore as every where in the world true Christians are by the worldings accompted innocents, meaning fooles; so in the parts of Italy about Rome fooles (as I have heard) are termed Christians.
But that we may be moved to imbrace simplicity and singlenesse of heart, and be swaded from all doubling and guile, let us consider, what arguments the Holy Ghost affordeth in this behalfe. And first, as touching dissimulation or guile, it is two-fold either in word, or in deed. In word when there is a divorce between the tongue and the heart; the heart meaning one thing, and the tongue speaking another with purpose to deceive. This in the scriptures is called speaking with an heart and an heart. Ps. 12. 2. with flattering lippes and with an heart and an heart, (that is a double heart) do they speake. It is also called, a mouth of deceipt, Ps. 109. 2 a deceiptful tongue. Such as should not be found in the remnant of Israell. Zeph. 3. 13. a tongue of deceipt, when a man speaketh peace…bly to his neighbour, but in his heart he layeth wai…e for him. Ier 98. Ps. 28. 3. having peace in their mouthes, but mischeief in their hearts.
This double to…gue and double heart, as it is odious to ingenuous men, in so much as some of the heathen have protested, that they bate it as the very gates of hell; (Achilles apud Homerum Iliad. 9.) so and much more it is abominable unto God; who is the Patron of truth, and avenger of falshood, Ps. 50. 19. thou applyest thy mouth to evill, and thy tongus forgeth deceipt. For these things will I reprove thee, &c. Sh…ll not I visit for these things, and shall not my soule be avenged on such a notion as this? Ier. 9. 9. Ps. 12. 3. Therfore if we desire to prosper, and to see good, wee must keepe our tongue from ev…ll, and our …pp…s that they speake no guile. Ps. 34. 12, 13.
Dissimulation or doubling in fact is, when one thing is intended, and another pretended, with purpose to d…c…ive, which in the Scriptures is forbidden and condemned Forbidden both in expresse terms, Levit 19 11. 1 T…ess 4. 6. and by types and shadowes, as Levit. 19. 19. Deut. 22. 9. 10. 11.
Condemned, as a sinne odious to God, (for the Lord abhorreth the de eiptfull man, Ps 5. 7. and accordingly punisheth them, Ps. 55. 23. Men of deceipt shall not live out halfe their dayes. For God is an a…enger of deceipt. I Thes…. 46. Ier. 9. 4. 5. 6. 9.) and as a marke of the wicked and reprobate, who are the seed of the serpent. Ps. 144. 8. Rom 1. 29.
On the contrary, simplicity and singlenesse of heart is both commanded and commended in the Scriptures. Commanded, Rom. 12. 8, 9. he that excerciseth the duty of charity in giving, let him doe it in simplicity. Let love be without dissimulation. For seeing the faithfull have purified their souls by the obedience of the truth (that is by faith. Act. 15. 9) through the s…irit to the unfained love of the brethren, they a…e therefore to l…ve 1 another out of a pur…seart fervenly, 1 P…t. 1. 22. Our Saviour CHRIST, as he commandeth his foll…wers to be wis… a… …? …o also simpl… as d…ver, Mat. 10. 16. that th…y may be blame…esse, and simple or sincere, as t…e so …nes of GOD wi…hout re…uke P…il 2. 5. For that which in this behalfe is required in the dutyes of servan…s, is …o be observed in a…l the duty …s of righteousnesse, which we are to performe unto men in singlenesse of heart, as unto Christ not with eye-services, as men pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of GOD from the heart. Eph. 6. 5, 6. or as the same Apostle speaketh to the like effect, Col. 3. 22. 23. not with eye-s…rvices as men pleasers, but in singlenesse of heart fearing GOD. And what soever you do, doe it from the heart. As to the Lord, and not to men.
Commended, 1. as an excellent vertue as being that, for which the first Christians are highly commended, Act. 2. 46 that they conversed together in singlenesse of heart. As that, wherein we are to take comfort and to rejoyce: namely when our conscience testifieth unto us, that in simplicity, and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisedome, but by the grace of God, we have had out conversation in the world. 2 Cor. 1. 12.
2 As most profitable, as having the reword, not onelyonly of safety and security (for he that walketh in integrity, walketh safely. But he that perverteth his wayes, as dissemblers doe, she'be knowne, that is, shalbe made an example of punishment. Pro. 10. 9.) but also of blessednesse, Ps. 32. 2. Blessed is the man in whose heart there is no guile.
3. As necessary, as being the proper marke and cognizance of those that shalbe saved. For the Lord being consulted by David, who is a true Christian, and an inhe…itour of the kingdome of heaven: returneth this answer; he that walketh before God uprightly without hypocricy, and towards men sincerely, and without guile speaking the truth that is in his heart. Ps. 15. 2. this is Iacob, or this is the generation of Iacob, that is Israell. Ps. 24. 6. who f…om his integrity or uprightnesse is called Ieshurun. Deut. 33 5. 26. Es. 44. 2. for he is not a law that is one outwardly, but he that is inwardly? whose praise is not of men, but of God. Rom. 2. 28, 29. And by the testimony of our Saviour he is a true Israelite, in whom there is no guile. Ioh. 1. 48.
For a true Christian doth in some measure resemble the disposition of Christ, who left us an example, that we should follow his steps, who did no sinne, neither in his mouth was found any guile. 1. Pet. 2. 21. 2…. And there…ore as he was called a lambe, so his follwers must be, as they are called, not foxes, nor wolves, but sheepe, But if our minde being corrupted with dissimulation and guile, doe degenerate from that simplicity which becommeth those that are in Christ Iesus. 2. Cor, 11. 3. or if, as Iob speaketh. chap, 31. 5. we have walked in vanity and leasing, or if our feet have hasted to deceipt, we discover our selves to be no true Isra…li…es, nor sheepe of Christ. For if they be true Christians, in whom there is no guile, what shall we think of them, in whom no simple or plaine dealing is to be found. If true Christians be the sheepe of Christ, imitating the simplicity of the lambe of God, in whom was found no guile what may we think of those foxes and wolves, who resemble the old serpent in guile and deceipt? If those which shall inhabite the mountaine of God, be such as walke uprightly, both towards God, and towards man; where shall all hypocrites and dissemblers have their portion? see Mat. 24. 51. If in the remnaur of Isreall, that shalbe saved, a deceiptfull tongue shall not be found, Zeph… 3. 13, then doe they not belong to the Israel of God, whose hearts are fraught with …uile, and their tongues are full of deceipt.
To conclude, this necessity is proved from this oath of the Lord. Who hath sworne, that he will give to all true Christians, who are the children of Abraham, that they being delivered from the hand of their enimies shall serve him in righteousness before him, that is, with simplicity and sing…enesse of heart, without doubling, dissimulation or guile. They therefore whose conversation is in dissimulation or guile, can have no assurance, that they are the redeemed of the Lord. But of this argument of integrity and uprightnesse, I have now spok…n the more briefly in this, and some other poynts, because I have handled the same more largely in my lectures, on Ps. 15. 2, Whereunto I referre the Christian reader, as to the first treatise, that ever I saw, of this most p…ofitable, and necessary argument.