Gods Husbandry, Sermon 2 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Shewing the reaſons of the deſtruction of hypocrites.
THus hauehave you ſeene how ſure it is that hypocrites muſt fearefully periſh. Let vsus conſider, why it muſt needes fall out ſo hard with them. And the reaſons hereof are to be taken from God partly, & partly from themſelues, and from all other of Gods Saints. From God, Reaſon 1 Fom God, whoFirſt, becauſe he ſees them. Secondly, becauſe he hates them. Thirdly, becauſe he will gayne glory by them. For the firſt of theſe,1. Sees. Though the hypocrite doe couer himſelfe ouer with ſuch a thicke cloudy as the eyes of men are not able for the moſt part to pearce thorow it, and diſcerne him: yet the Lord of heauen doth alwaies ſee him, and ſee thorow him. His eyes in eueryevery place behold the euill and the good: He tryeth the hearts, he ſearcheth the reynes, he ſpyeth into the deepeſt and darkeſt corners of eueryevery ſoule. Hell and deſtruction are before the eyes of the Lord: how then ſhould the hearts of the ſonnes of men be hidden from him? Nay doubtleſſe, there is neither darkeneſſe nor the ſhadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themſelues, but his eyes doe obſerue, and his eye-lids doe ponder all their paths. From men like himſelfe, a man may make an eaſy ſhift to keepe his heart ſecret, yea, ſo is this vice giuen to cloaking and ſculking, that from a mans owne ſelfe, he will make a ſhift to hide the odiouſneſſe of his inſide, and this filthy guilefulneſſe of his owne ſpirit; But after all the turning, and ſhifting, and winding of mankinde, that ſhall proue true at length (in ſpight of all) which Paul affirmeth, viz. that God is not mocked. There is no beguiling of that all-ſearching eye of our Maker. There is no poſſibility of offering couzenage, and putting tricks vponupon the King of heauen. The Lord of all the world is not ſubiect to the weakeneſſe of earthly Princes, that often take flatterers for friends, and fawning ſycophants, for loyal ſubiects: but euen ſuch as a man is in deede and truth, ſuch doth God eſteeme and take him for: for he doth not iudge after the outward appearance, but iudgeth righteous iudgement. A man may ſay of hypocriſy, as once Iob in another ſence ſaid of Wiſdome: That it is hid from the eyes of all liuing, and kept cloſe from the Fowles of the aire: but God vnderſtandeth the way thereof, and hee knoweth the place thereof: for hee looketh to the ends of the earth, and ſeeth vnderunder the whole heauen. Did not our Sauiour Chriſt know what was in man? and therefore alſo refuſe to truſt himſelfe, with thoſe hollow-harted beleeuers of his time? Did not he giuegive Iudas his right name, when hee carried himſelf moſt fairly and commendably to the world-wards? euen then, intitling him as he was worthy to be intitled, a diuell, when as yet, he remained diſguized with the vizard of Apoſtleſhip? Doubtleſſe, as no wiſedome, counſell, nor vnderſtanding can preuaile againſt the Lord, to diſappoint him, (as Salomons Prouerb affirmeth;) So neither can any fraud, guile, or diſſembling, preuaile to beguile him. And is it poſſible that his pure eyes ſhould diſcouer him, and his iuſt and almighty hand not bee ſtretched out to deſtroy him? Nay verily: for as he ſees him,2. Hates. ſo hee lothes him alſo, and lothes him in a very high degree, euen as we doe lothe a rotten ſepulchre for all its payntings: and as we would abhorre a cup full of filthy geere within, though the outſide were neuer ſo cleanly waſhed, and farely ſcowred: and as we could not but doe him, that ſhould beare great outward ſemblance of friendſhip and goodwill vntounto vsus, when his heart did harbor nothing but neglect of vsus, or malice againſt vsus. A falſe friend is alwaies more deteſtable vntounto a man, when once his falſehood is made knowne, then the moſt violent, but profeſſed enemy. Doe you not thinke that Dauid was as much or more imbittered againſt Achitophel, then againſt the Philiſtim or Moabite, that euer he fought with? The hypocrite, by ſeeming good, declares that he knowes what is good, and how it ſhould be imbraced: And by but ſeeming alone, hee proueth that he hath no louelove to that which hee confeſſeth to deſerue louelove; and ſo ſinning againſt the light that is inkindled in him, muſt he not needs prouoke the holy eyes of the Diuine Maieſty againſt him? In truth, an hypocrite euen of the cloſer kinde, doth exceeding groſſely abuſe the Lord, and all his ordinances, and exceeding hainouſly peruert his patience and kindeneſſe, and turne the great myſtery of our ſaluation, into a very fable, ſeeing that he is not good in good earneſt, but in Ieſt, as one might well call it: and how then can it be otherwiſe, but that the wrath and indignation of God ſhould burne againſt him euen vntounto hell?3. Will glorify himſelfe by the hypocrite. ſeeing that in the laſt place he hauing fully purpoſed to glorify himſelfe by all his creatures, findes none other way left, of reaping honour from the diſſembler, but alone by magnifying his Iuſtice in his ouerthrow. For he neglects the offers of his louelove, and refuſeth to conuert, and wil not accept of ſaluation vponupon thoſe conditiōs, on which God would beſtow it vponupon him. Wee know all, that God hath made all things for his owne glory, in the cleere demonſtration of his owne vnſpeakeable excellencies by them, and of this end he can no more fayle, or be diſappointed, then be defectiue in wiſdome & goodnes; which, becauſe they be eſſentiall in him, he can no more come ſhort of perfection in them, then that hee can ceaſe to be himſelf. Now the hypocrite, by the continuing ſuch, doth make himſelfe vtterly vncapeable of becomming an actiue inſtrument to glorify the Lord, by performing that that is good in his ſight: for fruitfull he will neuer be, his impotency ariſing alwaies from wilfulnes, or careleſnes, or both, ſeeing theſe twaine cannot at all or very hardly be ſeparated one frō the other: wherfore needes muſt he be made a paſſiue inſtrument of Gods honor, whether he will or no, ſeruing to declare his infinite iuſtice in his due deſtruction, by being forced to ſuffer the deſerued puniſhment, which his grieuous wickedneſſe doth challenge at the hands of his righteouſneſſe. If it be obiected, that God might conuert the hypocrite if he would: The anſwere is, By his omnipotent power he might, and ſo he migt the diuels too, and the very prince of the diuels, Beelzebub himſelfe. But wee muſt vnderſtand, that the Lord hath ſet downe a certaine way and order of conuerting men vntounto him, agreeable to the rules of his owne vnſearchable wiſedome: euen ſuch a way, as is in it ſelfe moſt plaine, ſure and infallible, if the negligence and obſtinacy of men doe not hinder, and ſuch a way, as is moſt conuenient to procure the greateſt honour that may be vntounto him, in their ſaluation, and that is, that man himſelfe ſhould become a working inſtrument with God, to his owne conuerſion and ſaluation. Which ſeeing the hypocrite will not doe, the Lord will neuer bee ſo ouer-gracious vntounto him, as to bring him to heauen by another way, but will euen magnify himſelfe in deſtroying him, becauſe he neglected to take the right courſe that was ſhewed him, to doe himſelfe good. So you ſee reaſons enow on Gods part, why ſuch branches ſhould be ſeparated from the Vine. Conſider we of themſelues, and ſee if there be not more then cauſe of handling them with ſuch ſeuerity. Firſt, they thruſt away ſaluation from themſelues, Reaſon. 2 as it is ſayd of the Iewes in another caſe,From themſelues whom. 1. They thruſt away ſaluation from them Becauſe they will not entertaine, and yeeld vntounto the good motions of Gods Word and Spirit, that doe vrge and preſſe them to turne vntounto the Lord, and therefore, what can be expected in reaſon, but that they ſhould procure vntounto themſelues euen ſharpe and ſwift damnation? For is it not moſt equall, that he which will not receiue ſaluation, when it is proffered vntounto him by God, ſhould vtterly periſh; as that he ſhould be ſtarued, and dye for hunger, which will not receiue foode, when it is put into his hands? Theſe men reſiſt and oppugne the Spirit of God, and will not accept of life vponupon ſuch termes, as it may ſtand with Gods Iuſtice to beſtow it vponupon them. If he would ſaue them, and giuegive them leaue to goe on in their beloued ſinnes too, O how glad they would be of ſuch a carnall way of comming to heauen! But if he wil not giuegive eternall life, but vntounto thoſe that are carefull throughly to reforme their hearts and liues, they know not how to be at all that paynes. Surely the matter ſtanding thus betwixt the Lord and their ſoules, it could not ſtand with his righteouſneſſe, to preſerue them from ruine. The diſſembling Chriſtian dealeth by God, as the Diſciples of Chriſt did deale by him in the ſixth of Iohn. When he told them of eating his fleſh, and drinking his blood, they ſayd, This was an hard ſaying, who could heare it? and ſo went backe, and walked no more with him. So the hypocrite, hearing of remiſſion of ſinnes, of life, of ſaluation, thinkes they bee things very deſireable, and out of a will to hauehave a part in them, he will goe a great way with God: but when he heares of a generall renouncing of all ſinne, and of waſhing and clenſing his heart, and that without this care there is no ſaluation, he will not beleeue that the way to heauen is ſo narrow, he ſhrinkes backe at theſe exhortations, and thinkes, the Lord is an hard Maſter, and will goe with him no further. So then, ſeeing the fruitleſſe branch doth careleſly or obſtinately let paſſe the opportunity of ſauing himſelfe when it is often offered vntounto him, what can be more righteous with God; then that hee ſhould bring vponupon himſelfe eternall deſtruction? Againe, the hypocrite abuſeth the richeſt of all Gods benefits, his Word, his Sacraments, his Goſpell, the blood of his Son, his tender of mercy, and the reſt of thoſe ſupernaturall things that he hath to doe with. He turneth the grace of God into wantonneſſe, and like a very Swine, doth tread vnderunder foot the moſt precious pearle of Gods goodneſſe in Chriſt; and muſt not an heauy vengeance therefore needs oppreſſe him? Meate, drinke, apparell, wit, ſtrength, health, theſe be worthy gifts of God, and exceeding ſinfull is the abuſe of them accounted in the ſight of God, as reaſon there is that it ſhould; and very heauy hauehave the puniſhments been, that hauehave lighted vponupon the abuſers of ſuch mercies. But theſe are cōmon fauours, eueryevery dayes benefits; the outcaſts of the world hauehave them, as wel as thoſe of Gods houſhold. Only the Word of God, his holy Ordinances, the knowledge of himſelfe, & of his Son, and of his Kingdome, and the offers of mercy to ſaue them from hell; theſe are peculiar fauours, highly-eſteemed kindneſſes, ſpecially beſtowed vponupon thoſe of his owne family, with whom hee pleaſeth to bee in Couenant. Now the hypocrite abuſeth theſe, he peruerteth theſe, he flatters himſelfe in his ſins for all theſe, and when God himſelfe doth euen as it were, come a wooing vntounto him, in all theſe ordinances, and beſeech him to be reconciled to receiue himſelfe for an husband, his Kingdome for a dowry, and Heauen for a ioynture, hee will none of the bargaine, vnleſſe he may hauehave the liberty of inioying his ſinnes beſides. O how great an indignity is heere offered vntounto God? how ſhamefull a repulſe doth the Lord receiue, and how vndeſerued a refuſall? wherefore, by how much the mercies of God, that the diſſembler abuſeth, in cōtinuing obſtinate againſt them, are greater, by ſo much muſt God, in iuſtice, needes increaſe the ſharpnes and ſtrength of his blowes againſt his ſoule.3. Doe much harme in the Church. Againe, the hypocrite doth procure a number of miſchiefes in the vine where he growes, which muſt needs occaſion and haſten his cutting off. Theſe diſcredit Religion, and cauſe it to bee ill ſpoken of; theſe being of Gods family in ſhew, doe bring an ill name vponupon it, as once the ſpies did vponupon the land of Canaan. They doe grieue the hearts of the vpright, and ſtrengthen the hands of other ſinners, and fill their mouthes with inſultation. Their barrenneſſe and want of good fruit, doth adminiſter matter (vntounto thoſe that are ready to cauill) of caſting reproches vponupon the roote on which they grow, and vponupon all the branches that grow by them. Neuer did any profeſſed enemy doe ſo much hurt to true Religion, and ſo much hinder the proceeding of true piety, as the hypocrite hath done. Hee is one of the chiefe ſtumbling blocks in the world; and if a woe be denounced againſt him by whom offences come, then the heauieſt of all woes muſt light vponupon him, from whoſe default the greateſt of all ſcandals doe come. Doe you not conceiue what triumphing there was againſt Chriſt, when his owne Diſciple had ſold him for money? The dry branch is a great impediment to the fruitfulneſſe of the neighbour branches: and the vnfruitfull Figtree doth euen keepe the ground idle. Hee keepeth many from goodneſſe that might hauehave come vntounto it, but for his ill example: hee diſcourageth thoſe that would hauehave been more abundant in goodneſſe, but for his ill example. Hee makes thoſe that are willing to ſinne, bold alſo to be more outragious in ſinning, by his ill example. In a word, the Church of God did neuer receiue ſo great miſchiefes, as from the falſe members of it. It is then but need for the Lord to take a ſharpe and ſpeedy courſe againſt them. Laſtly,4. Make themſelues vncapable of honouring God any other way. you may conclude all the other euill they doe, with putting your ſelues in mind of the euill that they doe vntounto themſelues, by making themſelues vnfit to bring glory vntounto God any other way, but in their puniſhment, as we ſaid before. They ſay of a Swine, that he neuer doth good till he come to the knife: ſo may we ſay of the Hypocrite, that he doth not bring any honour to God, till hee be faine to honour him perforce, in ſuffering the ſtrokes of his infinite Iuſtice. In his praying, in his receiuing the Sacraments, in his laborious following his calling, in his workes of mercy hee diſhonoureth God, in all the actions of his life he doth wholly diſhonour him, & would for euer, if he might be ſuffred, continue to diſhonor him, doing all theſe things hollowly & guilefully, ſeruing and ſeeking himſelf in them, and preferring himſelf the creature, before the Lord his Creator. Doth not he then compel the Lord to take ſuch a courſe with him, that hee may no longer diſhonour him, but may procure vntounto him, though againſt any proper intention of his, the glory of being an hater of ſinne, and a puniſher of all vnrighteouſneſſe: yea of being a ſearcher of hearts, and a diſcouerer of the ſecrets of all mens ſoules? An vnfruitfull branch is good for nothing but to be burnt: wherefore the Gardener doth beſt to make him a fire of it.
Reaſon 3 And one more reaſon we may fetch of the wofull end of Hypocrites,Becauſe all Gods people doe pray for their ruine, yea themſelues alſo. euen from all the reſt of Gods Saints, who with one mouth doe continually ſue vntounto the Lord for their cutting off, they being principall hinderances of the hallowing of Gods Name, proceeding of his Kingdome of grace, doing of his holy will, and the ſanctification alſo of his children: againſt all which hindrances, the people of God are inioyned by our Sauiour, to make their prayers. Indeed the Saints of God doe not know, nor mention in their prayers, the particular diſſemblers that are in the Church: but the Lord that knowes them each in ſpeciall, muſt needs be prouoked againſt each, by the inceſſant prayers of his Saints that are made againſt all. Yea the Hypocrites themſelues, when they doe pray after their faſhion, and according to their manner, though not intending any ſuch matter, nor heeding the ſcope and purport of their owne prayers, doe yet pray euen againſt themſelues, after a ſort deuoting themſelues, and crying vntounto God, to hauehave his fury and vengeance diſpatched againſt them. So hauehave you the poynt made ſtrong: ſhall we alſo make it vſefull? Wee will doe ſo, and intreat you to attend, whileſt we ſhew you the vſes that are to be made of Gods ſeuerity againſt counterfeits.