Comfort and Counsel for Dejected Souls, Section 2 · Chapter 5
CHAP. 5.
Satisfaction for ſuch as fear they are at best but Hypocrites,
THere are ſome ſoules who when they are ſadde,Caſe, and caſt down, they cry out againſt themſelves for Hypocriſie. To theſe I muſt now ſpeake, and in order to the quieting of their diſquieted mindes: I ſhall propoſe theſe particulars.
Firſt, Its at leſt a peece or part of ſincerity, to queſtion hypocriſie. SatisfactionHypocrites doe not uſe to queſtion themſelves: Its the very nature of Hypocriſie, to be ſhye of, and to avoid (as much as poſſible) any tryall: And its of the nature of ſincerity to be queſtioning. Thy very feare (O ſoule) of hypocriſie, is a fruit of ſincerity. The Phariſee did not ſuſpect himſelfe: neither did the Publican purge himſelfe: yet you know who went away juſtified. Chriſt (O ſoule) will and (indeed delights to) juſtifie ſuch as condemne themſelves. Thine own ſuſpition is not an evidence of thy hypocriſie. Look as wicked men are ſaid to feare where no feare (i.e. no ground of feare) is: So likewiſe Saints do ſometimes.Cant. 1.6. Its worth the noting though the Church cry out looke not upon mee becauſe I am blacke: (much like the Leper in the Law, Levit. 13.45.) yet Chriſt ſaith of her thou art all faire and haſt no ſpot. Chriſt (O ſoule) can diſcover ſparkles of gold under thy clods of dirt; and he can ſee peeces of ſincerity, even in thy feares of hypocriſie.
Secondly, An unknown iniquity, is not an argument of hypocriſie. Sinne muſt be known, and yet concealed, ere it brand one for an hypocrite. Many ſoules queſtion their ſincerity becauſe of ſecret ſins. Peradventure ſome corruption bubbles up that they were not aware of; they perceive ſome ſin that had a long time laine ſecret, and this makes them feare they are hypocrites, but it ſhould not. David is ſenſible of ſecret ſins, and he cryes out againſt them, cleanſe me from my ſecret ſins, Pſal. 19. Yet he can and doth ſtand to, and plead his ſincerity, Pſal. 26.1; 2. Look as in point of ſincerity, its not enough to ſerve God by doing his will: But we muſt know it, and be willing our ſelves. So likewiſe in the point of hypocriſie, its not ſimple ſinning, but knowing and hiding thereof that makes it ſo, The Aſſyrian was Gods rod, and he did ſerve him; Howbeit (ſaith the Text) he meaneth not ſo, neither doth his heart thinke ſo, Eſa. 10.7. The Aſſyrian ſervice was not ſincere, for he nere meant to doe what he did; Proportionably, thy ſins O ſoule are not hypocriſie, for as much as thou kneweſt them not, neither didſt mean to keep them if thou didſt know them.
Queſt. Conſider this (O ſad dejected ſoul) thy ſins which are newly broke out, are they not ſuch as thou didſt never dreame of: Is it not that which thy ſoule loatheth; and thou didſt thinke thy ſelfe moſt free from?
Anſ: Yes, They are ſo, and this makes me fear my heart, that it ſhould ſo long conceale theſe corruptions which now I ſee.
Reply, But know O ſoule, its a miſtake from hence to conclude hypocriſie; Certainly thy ignorance will excuſe thee herein: Hypocriſie is properly a feighning or counterfeiting either of vertue where tis not, or a concealing of vice where it is. Didſt ever boaſt or feigne thy ſelfe better, then conſcience told thee thou wert? or didſt ever conceal, or extenuate ſins thou kneweſt in thee? If not, why feareſt thou thy ſelf an hypocrite? Its a painting of a Sepulcher, that denotes hypocriſie, there may be unknowne ſins, where there is ſincerity. But
Thirdly, Some mixtures of this bitterneſſe will be in the beſt, while in the body. There is no grace ſo perfect in this life, as that its free from all mixture: Our gold is never ſo refined, but that there will (at leſt) cleave to us ſome droſſe. As the ſtrongeſt faith doth not free any from all incredulity: So the pureſt ſincerity doth not free from ſome hypocriſie. Even Peter and Barnabas are taxed by Paul, and recorded by the ſpirit no have had (at leſt) a tange of this bitterneſſe, they are down-right charged with diſſimulation, Gal. 2.13. Its a true aſſertion of an accute writer, that, Hyporiſie is in all, Torſhall.but with ſo great a difference, that all are not to be called hypocriſes. You will not call every doubting ſoule an Infidell: why ſhould you, becauſe of ſome remainders of hypocriſie, conclude your ſelves hypocrites? Job is charged (even by God himſelfe) to darken counſell by words without knowledge. Iob 38.2.And yet God tells Satan, that he was a perfect and upright man. But ſuppoſe the worſt (O doubting ſoule) ſuppoſe not a little, but a great deal of hypocriſie, be in thy heart. Conſider,
Fourthly, Our happineſſe is built and bottomed more, and rather upon the ſincerity of Chriſts heart to us, then upon the ſincerity of our hearts to him. Chriſt knew before he loved us, that we would deale treacherouſly (as it is Eſa. 48.8.) Its charged upon the Church that ſhe was not as ſincere. (As Solomon deſcribes a wife,Pro. 31.11 i.e. to be one in whom the heart of her husband might truſt) the Lord ſaid of Iudab ſhe was treacherous, and her heart was not turned wholly but [fainedly] to him, Ier. 3.10. Yet he ſaith unto her I am married unto thee, verſ. 14. Its our happineſſe Chriſt abideth faithfull (as tis 2 Tim. 2.13.) our welfare is not founded upon our own hearts; but upon his: And as the whole body of ſin, and hypocriſie, did not keep him from loving us ſincerely at firſt, ſo the remainders of hypocriſie ſhall not make him to love us leſſe now. Reader, if thou be not a Spider, I may tell thee this, Chriſt can, and doth love hypocrites: His heart is ſincere, though our hearts be hypocriticall.i.e. one that ſucks poiſon out of wholeſome things. Sucke the ſpeech, and if thou bee a Bee, thou wilt find not onelyonly ſweetneſſe, but ſanctity, yea and ſincerity in it too. Rouze up O caſt downe ſoule; Chriſt hath writ his love, and thy life upon his owne heart, not on thine; There it remaines ſound, notwithſtanding thy rottenneſſe. The fountaine of free grace is open even for adulterous Iudah, and treacherous Iſrael.
Object. Yea, but yet my hypocriſie is odious is it not? my double dealing with Chriſt is dreadfull in it ſelfe. I am ſure it is ſo to me: I ſee it, and while I ſee it, I cannot but be ſad. If it bee Chriſts glory that his heart is ſincere towards me? the more its my ſin, and ſhame, and ſorrow, that my heart is not ſo towards him.
Anſw. True (O ſoule) thy hypocriſie is thy ſin: but thy ſhame, and ſorrow for this, is thy grace (or rather Chriſts) and thy glory. For
Fiftly, Its a mercy to have a ſight and ſence of hypocriſie: Chriſt certainly intends a cure, in this opening the wound. Some Hypocrites have a ſeared conſcience. I feare they are incureable. But this diſcovery of thy diſeaſe is a ſignall of health. Chriſt deals well with thoſe whom he wounds: he hath balme for the bruiſed. Many a wretch playes the hypocrite all his life, and goes into hell in the conceit, he lived in. Yea,foreign: Signifies a Player: uſually tis rendred Actor by the Latines ſome ſhall come conceited of ſincerity, at laſt; ſaying Lord, Lord; But Chriſt will then make them know what they are. Its mercy that he diſcovers thee to thy ſelfe here: The Publican is better in his ſackcloath confeſſing, then the Phariſee in his vizzard praiſing. But.
Sixtly, Add to al this, the conſideration of the promiſe of the ſpirit to them that aske him, Lu. 11.13. Though thy ſpirit be hypocriticall, yet Chriſts ſpirit is ſincere. Chriſt hath promiſed to ſend him; Its but aske and have: David it ſeemes was in your caſe and he prayed. Renew in me a right, or a ſincere ſpirit. And you know what incouragement he gives. This poore man (ſaid he) he ſpeaks as if he were as poor as thou (oh ſoul) cryed, and the Lord heard him, Pſal. 34.6. Its the Covenant of promiſe, that he will give a new heart.
Object. Tis ſo indeed; but alas, I have prayed, and yet not received: and therefore my joy is not full. I have groaned under this hypocriſie many yeares: And yet ſee not the promiſe of the comming of Chriſts ſpirit, &c.
Anſw. Surely, thou art miſtaken (O ſoule) in ſaying the ſpirit is not come: Thoſe groanes of thine, are his: That ſoftneſſe is an effect of him; Peradventure all thy hypocriſie is not yet cured: I ſaid in this life it would not be. The ſpirit will be a refiners fire all your dayes. Its true, he could burne up all at once; but thou couldeſt not bear it. Such a fire would breake thee: Gold-ſmiths proportionate their fire, elſe the refining pot would crack: Certainly, the Lord Chriſt conſiders, we are but earthen veſſells; therefore the refining fire is heated accordingly, The ſpirit purgeth out hypocriſie by degrees. In time he'l have purged out all. Even this dejection of thine is a degree of purging: And this fruit thou ſhalt have of this feare: That thy feare of hypocriſie, ſhall worke for thy ſincerity, why then art thou caſt downe (O ſoule?) be not diſquieted ſo with the feare of hypocriſie; truſt in God, waite on the ſpirit, for thou ſhalt yet praiſe him as ſincere to thee, and making thee ſo to him.