Gods Husbandry, Sermon 1 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Shewing how the hypocrite and vpright doe agree and differ in faith.
FAith is a moſt excellent grace, conſummated & accompliſhed by two diſtinct acts of the mind: by aſſenting to the known truths, and applying the ſame to eueryevery mans ſelfe in particular. In both theſe acts of Faith, the true-hearted and diſſembler doe both agree and diſagree. For the firſt;The hypocrite aſſents to the diuine truths, aſwell as the true chriſtian. the hypocrite as well as the faithfull ſaint of God doth aſſent vntounto the doctrine of the Scriptures, perſwading himſelfe in his-heart, that doubtleſſe it is from God, and is therefore a moſt certaine truth: by name he may belceue the doctrine of the Goſpell, (concerning the ſaluation of man by Ieſus Chriſt, God and man,) to be moſt ſure and vndoubted. Thus it is ſaid of Simon Magus, that hee beleeued. The ſtony ground alſo did beleeue: and there were that beleeued in Chriſt ſo, as that yet hee did not truſt himſelfe with them, which manifeſtly prooueth that they were but hollow. And ſurely Ananias and Saphira did perſwade themſelues that the Goſpel was a true doctrine,The hypocrite aſſents to be firme and rooted, as the true chriſtian doth. and gaue credit vntounto it as vntounto a ſure and excellent truth. But the difference is, that the hypocrite aſſenteth alone confuſedly and ſlightly, to the whole, in groſſe, and with a kinde of faint conſent: not to each particular part, with a firme and well grounded aſſent. This difference our Sauiour Chriſt noteth in the Parable of the grounds,Marke 4.5.6. when he tells vsus that the ſeed in the ſtony ground had not much earth, and that therefore it withered. The hypocrite hearing the doctrine of the Goſpel, or being brought vp vnderunder it, taketh it vponupon truſt, thinkes, ſure it is true, and (hauing a little light affoorded him from GOD in the reading or preaching of the Word,) thinkes ſure this muſt needes be from God, it cannot but be ſo, and there an end. A more diſtinct, particular and ſerious conſideration of the things reuealed, he ſtandeth not vponupon: hee doth not muſe and ponder much of the excellency, fruit, benefit, diuinitie, and heauen lineſſe of Gods word, and the ſeuerall parts thereof: but the Chriſtian, by much pondering vponupon the Word, and by often reſoluing his faith into the truth, wiſedome, and power of God, who is the author of the Word, is faſt grounded and eſtabliſhed in the faith. The true Chriſtian ceaſeth not to make himſelfe feele the power of the Goſpell in himſelfe more and more, and ſo indeede hee is rooted in beleening; the hypocrite neglecteth the thus pondering and muſing of the Word, and taking experience of the efficacie of it in himſelfe; and ſo, ſoone withereth or is choaked vp. The houſe that hath a foundation will ſtand in ſtrong blaſts, the tree that is deepely rooted, will not eaſily be blowne vp, but want of roote and foundation cauſeth the houſe to tumble, and the tree to be blowne vp, This difference, though it be a certaine difference, yet is not ſo manifeſt, till the dayes of tribulation come, or till ſome triall be made by ſome meanes. For often the true Chriſtian is much more moleſted with tentations of doubting about the truth of the Word (as the holy man was that ſaid,Pſal. 73.13. I hauehave waſhed mine hands in innocency in vaine), than the hypocrite. For Satan knowing that the diſſembler doth but diſſemble (as no doubt hee can well enough tell where hee raigneth and ruleth) is not ſo buſie to diſquiet his thoughts; yea verily if he hauehave any doubtings, hee lets them goe as they came, becauſe he buildeth not his hopes and happineſſe vponupon the truth of this doctrine. But the true Chriſtian, as hauing laid (as it were) the wager of all his bliſſe vponupon the truth of the Goſpell, is exceedingly vexed and diſcontented with theſe doubting thoughts: euen abhorring himſelfe, and aſhamed of himſelfe, that in ſo euident and excellent truths, he ſhould finde any aptneſſe to make any queſtion. And this alſo Satan perceiuing, doth ſtriue to moleſt him continually with ſuch doubtings, and with the ſtirring vp of many obiections, which he cannot tell which way better to anſwer, than by loathing them, and being much diſcontented at their riſing in him. So that I ſay, the ſtrength and firmeneſſe of the vpright perſons aſſent, aboue the diſſemblers, is not ſo euident till the day of triall: but then it moſt manifeſtly diſcouereth it ſelfe. For the one will by no meanes be turned from embracing and following the beleeued truth, becauſe hee beleeueth it ſtedfaſtly, being rooted in faith; the other quickely giues ouer following it, becauſe hee beleeued it faintly, hauing taken little paines to feele his aſſent vntounto it, with much ſtrength of aſſurance, gotten by much continuance of meditation about it. Thus the windes and waues muſt ſhew where is a foundation to others; but he that is founded, may know that hee is founded, by the labour hee doth beſtow in digging deepe to lay the foundation; that is, in much muſing to reſolue himſelfe of the truth of the Word, by finding the powerfull operation of it in himſelfe daily; and he that hath not a foundation, may (if he will) know that hee hath none, by his neglect of this labour and paines, to lay it in his ſoule: but faith doth apply as well as conſent. It is manifeſt, that our iuſtifying faith is a putting on of Chriſt Ieſus, an eating and drinking of him, a receiuing of him, that is, an applying of him to eueryevery mans ſelfe: for how can either food nouriſh, or apparrell keepe warme, if it be not applyed? and how ſhould Chriſt profit a man, if hee be not made his owne?
Now the hypocrite alſo ſeemeth to apply the promiſe of the Goſpell,The hypocrite doth apply the promiſe of ſaluation by Chriſt to himſelfe, as well as the true Chriſtian. and Chriſt, and his benefites offered therein, euen vntounto himſelfe in ſpeciall, being ſtrongly conceited, that Chriſt is his Sauiour, and that God is his God, and that he doth reſt and ſtay himſelfe vponupon God, and vponupon Chriſt for his owne ſaluation; and this he doth ſometimes ſo violently, that hee thinketh himſelfe to make no doubt of his being ſaued, being in this matter alſo giuen ouer to a ſtrong deluſion, to beleeue a lye. Surely the ſtony ground could neuer hauehave gone away reioycing as they did, if they had not perſwaded themſelues of their owne particular welfare, and had not made full reckoning to be made partakers of the benefits of that doctrine, which they did imbrace. And did not the Iewes in the eighth of Iohn, boaſt with great boaſting, that they had one Father, euen God? And can any man doubt, but that Ananias and Saphira did at firſt perſwade themſelues, that they ſhould be ſaued by Chriſt as well as others? But let vsus ſee the difference then, which ſtands in theſe things. The hypocrite,The hypocrite ſo applies the promiſe, that he neglects to apply the commandements & the threats: but the true chriſtian applies all indifferently: hee doth ouer-greedily feede vponupon the promiſes (as a childe will doe on ſweet things, euen to ſurfeting; and (as you know) children are apt to eate their meate without bread): in the meane ſpace not caring to apply to himſelfe the Commaundements for his direction, and the threats for his humiliation; yea, the more forward he is in taking to himſelfe the promiſes by way of vſurpation, the leſſe carefull he is of taking the precepts and threats of the Word, and laying them cloſe to his ſoule alſo. Thus he maketh it manifeſt, that it is not the holy Ghoſt which doth inable him, to lay holde vponupon the promiſes, and to reſt himſelfe vponupon them: but that it is the preſumptuous boldneſſe of his owne ſelfe-louelove, which maketh him forward, to lay violent hands vponupon any thing, that hee thinketh is good for him, and to pull it to himſelfe (as it were) whether God will or no. But now the true hearted Chriſtian doth in the ſame degree, apply the other parts of the Word to himſelfe: that the promiſes of ſaluation, and Gods goodneſſe in Chriſt. Hee doth not ſeuer, what God would hauehave ioyned: but (becauſe it is the good Spirit of God, that frameth his heart to receiue Chriſt, and relie vponupon him, therefore by the direction of the ſame Spirit, which muſt needs moue him to be of the ſame minde towards thoſe things that are equally true, and equally from God) he feedeth alſo vponupon the ſowre herbs of the threats, to humble himſelfe as need requires, and ceaſeth not to vrge the precepts vponupon himſelfe for his continuall direction. So the hypocrite ſeparateth, what God would hauehave ioyned, picking out of the Word that, that likes him beſt, I meane the comfortable promiſes; and caſting the reſt behinde his backe. But the true Chriſtian ioyneth thoſe things together, that God would hauehave ioyned; making vſe of the whole Word to himſelfe, as well, as much, as carefully (in their times and places) as of the promiſes. Againe, the hypocrite applies the promiſes falſely, not according to the tenour of the Scripture,The hypocrite applies the promiſes falſely to himſelfe, not regarding to ſeeke for in himſelfe the conditions by which the promiſes are limited. but according to his owne fancie; not duly deducting his particular perſwaſion, out of the generall directions of the Word: but ſophiſtically concluding in his owne behalfe, according as beſt liketh him. The Lord hath made many gratious promiſes in his Word; by name, that principall promiſe of ſaluation. And it hath pleaſed God to limit theſe promiſes to thoſe that doe ſuch and ſuch things, requiring (as you would ſay) certaine conditions to be performed on his part, that muſt enioy theſe promiſes. Now the hypocrite, hee neuer looketh to his part, nor mindeth what care he hath of ſtanding to the condition, but gapeth after the good thing promiſed, without any more adoe, and thinkes himſelfe ſure of that vponupon ſome ſleithy reaſon, and there an end. Therefore Iohn Baptiſt warned them, that they ſhould not begin to ſay, wee hauehave Abraham to our Father, but ſhould bring forth fruites worthie amendment of life. Heere hee ſhewes the fore (as it were) of their preſuming and falſe faith, by telling them of the remedy. An hypocrite, hee loues to be ſhort in applying the promiſes, and doth it by enthymems; Chriſt dyed to ſaue ſinners, and therefore I ſhall be ſaued; forgetting to tell himſelfe what things are required of ſuch ſinners as Chriſt muſt ſaue, and to conſider afore hee draw that concluſion, whether himſelfe hauehave the properties of ſuch a ſinner, yea or no. Or thus, I ſhall be ſaued, becauſe I come to Church, receiue the Sacraments, do many good things, or the like; not remembring that more is required than all this, of him that would be ſaued. But now the true Chriſtian,The true-hearted applies truly, ſtill vrging himſelfe to performāce of theſe conditions. he is more wary, and better aduiſed in drawing his concluſion, he will be ſure to finde in himſelfe thoſe graces, which are required in him whom the promiſes doe concerne, afore hee conclude to himſelfe, that hee ſhall receiue the promiſes. Hee will not content himſelfe to ſay, The Temple of the Lord, The Temple of the Lord; I come to Church, &c. nor to ſay, I hauehave Abraham for my Father: but he muſt finde in himſelfe fruits worthy amendment of life, or elſe he will neuer giuegive credit to his owne thoughts, that it ſhall be well with him: So the one doth build his ſpeciall concluſion vponupon falſe grounds, and falſely deducteth his particular aſſurance out of the generall promiſe, the other truely gathereth his comfortable aſſurance to him ſelfe, and will not hold faſt his concluſions, vnleſſe hee can by the Word of God aſſuredly iuſtifie his premiſes. The one reaſons falſely out of GODS Word, becauſe he neglects to proue both propoſitions from thence: the other is neuer well, till hee can make good, by euidence of Scripture, both parts of his reaſon, and ſo his concluſion muſt needs hold good and ſure: for the holy Ghoſt hauing wrought thoſe graces in him, which the promiſes doe ſpecifie; cauſeth, that by comparing himſelfe with the promiſes, he can ſoundly comfort his owne heart: but the hypocrite not hauing theſe graces in him, and yet deſirous to enioy the benefits offered, will rather beleeue vponupon ſleight proofes, than that hee will ſeeme to himſelfe to want a part in ſo pretious and excellent benefits. Thus the difference of the faith of the true Chriſtian and the hypocrite hath beene laid open. The next thing wherein wee muſt make a compariſon betwixt them, is in the point of repentance.