The Counterfeit Christian, Title page – Errata
THE Counterfeit Chriſtian; OR, The Danger of Hypocriſy: Opened in TWO SERMONS. Containing an EXPOSITION of that Parabolical Speech of our Bleſſed Saviour, Matth. xii. 43, 44, 45. When the Unclean Spirit is gone out of a Man, &c.
By BENJAMIN KEACH, Author of foreign, Paſtor of the Church of Chriſt meeting on Horſly-down in Southwark.
Ezek. 33. 31.And they come unto thee as the People cometh, and they ſit before thee as my People, and they hear thy Words, but they will not do them: for with their Mouth they ſhew much Love, but their Heart goeth after their Covetouſneſs.
Mat. 23. 25.Wo unto you Scribes and Phariſees, Hypocrites.
2 Pet. 2. 21.For it had been better for them not to have known the way of Righteouſneſs, &c.
London printed, and are ſold by John Pike at the upper end of Bread-ſtreet, juſt by Cheap-ſide; and by the Author at his Houſe near Horſlydown in Southwark, 1691. Price ſtitch'd 6d.
To the Reader.
IT is more than a Year ſince, I began a Morning-Exerciſe on the Lord's-Day at ſeven a Clock, when I entred upon an Expoſition of all the Parables and expreſs Similitudes contained in the four Evangeliſts, according to the meaſure of Light and Knowledge received; though by reaſon of a Journey into the Country it has not been continued.The whole will contain 100 or 120 Sheets in Folio. The Explication of this Parabolical Speech of our Saviour, I have been prevailed with to make publick. And if this meets with Acceptance, I may in a ſhort time publiſh Propoſals for printing the whole; which in regard of the greatneſs of the Charge, cannot be done but by Subſcriptions. And though I muſt confeſs my Ability to perform ſo great a Work to be much inferiour to many others; yet by God's Aſſiſtance I ſhall do what I can.
And the Conſideration of the kind Acceptance my other Labours have had amongſt God's People, has cauſed me to take the more pains: God having bleſſed the Writings of divers of his Servants to the Converſion of many Souls, and Comfort of others; yet if I have not ſufficient encouragement from Chriſtian Friends, I muſt deſiſt this great Eſſay.
Reader; The ſecond Sermon I have much enlarged, ſcarcely half of it was delivered when preach'd, thinking to have preached a third time upon the Text, but was prevented by laying down that Lecture, for the Reaſon afore-mentioned: Neither have I been ſo large on other Parables already opened, nor intend to be on thoſe I purpoſe to explain; ſo that the firſt Sermon is rather a proper Specimen of the whole Work than the ſecond.
As touching ſome part of this dark Parabolical Saying of our Saviour, I may differ in my Conceptions, 'tis probable, from divers Men; … inclined, 'tis like, to believe that the Man, or Men here mentioned, are ſuch only that Satan overcomes, after they have made a profeſſion of Religion, with the ſame ſcandalous Sins, and ſo they turn with the Dog to their old Vomit. I grant this may be true in reſpect of ſome of them; yet I do not believe the Lord Jeſus intends to ſhew hereby they do all after manner fall from their … Religion and Profeſſion: 'Tis evident to me, he applies it to the Phariſees, and other People of that Generation; but many of them never became openly Prophane, yet was their State worse by many degrees, (than whilſt they abode under the Power of groſs and ſcandalous Sins) and died in their Vnbelief and Hypocriſy, which 'tis to be feared many now do. If the Scope of the …, be conſidered, That our bleſſed Saviour deſigned by this Parable to ſee … the State of the Phariſees, is evident, as may be ſeen if you begin at the 24th Verse of the Chapter, where they charged him with caſting out Devils by B…lzebub the Prince of the Devils. From whence his … an occaſion to ſet forth the ſadneſs of their Conditions, … Zeal and outward Sanctity, shewing… Verſ. 33, 34, 35. that their Hearts were not made good, but like an Evil and corrupt Tree. Then ſoon after follows theſe words, When the Unclean Spirit is gone out of a Man, &c. Reader, I ſhall not trouble thee further: what Weakneſs thou findeſt in theſe Sermons, I hope Chairty will … it: If any Profit thou ſhalt receive thereby, bleſs God, and be … of reſting in a Form of Religion, being not brought into … Union with Jeſus Chriſt, nor under the Power of true … let me have a part in thy Prayers, who is … them, being attended with many Troubles and …, but doubt not but God will make them all work together for good, and will at laſt, I hope, through his infinite Grace, bring to his quiet, peaceable, and everlaſting Reſt,
His poor Servant, thy unworthy Friend and Brother in the Goſpel, BENJ. KEACH. From my Houſe near Horſlydown, this 27th of the 3d Month, called May, 1691.
ERRATA.
PAge 33. line 28. for Pride, read Proud, &c. l. 34. for regulate, r. regular. l. 35. blot out by.
P. 35. l. laſt, f. they, r. we, and f. thereby, r. there …