Several Works, Work 2 · Part 4
Verſe 7.
foreign, &c.
IN the former Verſe, we have a preparative Cry, behold the Bridegroom cometh; In this Verſe we have the effect of it in part, which is general to them all, both wiſe and fooliſh; then when that cry was made, that dreadful ſound was made in their ears, it ſtartled them, rowſed them out of their ſleep, they aroſe from their bed of ſecurity, and one as well as another; all thoſe Virgins, thoſe he had been ſpeaking of, all thoſe that ſlept, which were wiſe as well as fooliſh, and fooliſh as well as wiſe. And that it is thus generally taken, it is further plain; becauſe afterward he cometh to divide them, and the fooliſh ſaid unto the wiſe; while they were both aſleep, the one could not ſpeak, nor the other hear; but now they were all rowſed, they univerſally particle, they all aroſe, and trimmed, &c. It hath influence upon both parts of the Predicate. The words are a plain Propoſition; the Subject is the Virgins; the univerſality of the Subject, all of them, thoſe Virgins that were aſleep before. That which is ſpoken of them, is double; they aroſe, and they trimmed their Lamps. And we have alſo the time when they did this, then, then when the Cry came, they heeded not what Condition their Lamps were in before.
There are two things mainly noteworthy in the verſe, according to the two ſorts of Virgins, which divide this univerſal; all thoſe Virgins, they were wiſe and fooliſh; ſome of them were Virgins in deed, the other in profeſſion and appearance ſuch; now it is very conſiderable concerning them both. That the Hypocrite ſhould ever ariſe out of ſuch a deep ſleep, conſidering that his heart was never awake, is a matter worth our noting; and that he that had nothing elſe but a Lamp, and that even now wearing out, yet ſhould be trimming of it up for heaven; On the other hand, and it is as obſervable, that the Child of God hath his Lamp to trim now at ſuch a time as this is, when the Cry is come, he is ſummoned to meet the Lord Jeſus, who is near at hand. Accordingly, I ſhall take up a double Obſervation from the words.
That an Hypocrite, a formal Profeſſor may go very far towards Doctr. 1.heaven and ſalvation. And I think this droppeth like honey from the comb, without cruſhing, or wrong to the Text.
That a Child of God may have his Lamp to trim when he ſhould Doctr. 2.uſe it.
The firſt of theſe, A Hypocrite may go very far, his Profeſſion may carry him a great way, and yet fall ſhort at laſt. You ſee here in the Text, God doth not pluck away the vizard at firſt, but letteth them proceed; he could have diſcovered them when he pleaſed: they take up their Lamps, and they go forth to meet the Bridegroom; more then many will be perſwaded to, that will hardly ſtir a foot for Chriſt, they continue ſo doing, until the Bridegroom tarried ſo long beyond their expectation; then indeed they fell aſleep, then they rowſed again, and trimmed their Lamps. All theſe put together, which are in the Text, will make it appear, that a Hypocrite may go far, and fall ſhort: A Doctrine never more need for to be preſſed then now: And therefore though you have heard, not very long ſince much concerning it, and much more then I am able to ſpeak, and better for the matter, yet let me alſo put you in remembrance of theſe things brethren, and the Lord open all our eyes in a thing ſo nearly concerning us all. I ſhall therefore propoſe what I have to ſay by way of proof of the Doctrine in ſeveral heads or degrees whereto a Hypocrite may reach; the Lord give us all underſtanding in them.
Firſt then, a Hypocrite, he may have much knowledge, much light, a head full of notion, and this is one thing neceſſarily imported in the Lamps which the fooliſh Virgins had. Some have thought their Lamps were dead, they had no flame, no light, nor heat at all, but I ſee no reaſon of it; for it is ſaid their Lamps were gone out, which argues they were in before; but I think this will hardly be denied, but a Hypocrite may be a man of much knowledge; do you not ſee it in the Phariſees? were they not men of much knowledge and underſtanding, able to teach others? they had Moſes's Chair, and ſo the Scriptures, the Doctrine of the Law, men of Mat. 23. 2.great knowledge, and yet our Saviour brands them for Hypocrites; that is, an aëry religion that lies in the head. So the Jews, the Apoſtle ſpeaks to them by way of conceſſion, yielding to them what they had, but ſhewing them where they fell ſhort; thou art a Jew, and reſteſt in the Law, and makeſt thy boaſt of God: as Rom. 2. 17. to 21.we do now, make our boaſt of Chriſt, that we are Chriſtians, and cannot bear it, to be accounted otherwiſe; and knoweſt his will, and approveſt the things that are more excellent, being inſtructed out of the Law; there is the principle of their knowledge, not a light within them by nature, but to the Law, and to the Teſtimonies; they had their light from thence, and ſo well grown in knowledge, that they were confident that they were guides to the blind, and therefore had no need to be blind themſelves; a light to them which are in darkneſs, an inſtructer of the fooliſh, a teacher of Babes. And not only he is confident of it, but the Apoſtle yieldeth it, that he had the form of knowledge, and of the truth in the Law, and then he reaſons ex conceſsis; thou which teacheſt another, teacheſt thou not ſelf? &c. We glory in theſe days, as much in our light as ever they did; never ſuch times of light, though for my part I cannot ſee but much that paſſeth for light, is groſs darkneſs; but ſuppoſe it be ſo, there may be light enough, a ſhining Lamp, and yet but a fooliſh Virgin; ſurgunt indocti, & rapiunt coelum, & nos cum doctrinis, &c. I know it is true, where a people are void of knowledge, they muſt needs periſh; God will not be merciful to them, Iſa. 27. He hath a controverſie, becauſe there is no knowledge Iſa. 27. 11. Hoſ. 4. 6.of God in the Land, Hoſ. 4. and where no viſion is, the people periſh; they periſh for want of knowledge, which cometh by viſion, and yet it is not knowledge alone will ſtand them inſtead; the Devils are called, foreign and that for their knowledge, and yet are foreign for their malice; thou mayſt have enough then to light thy Lamp, and yet have no Oyl in thy veſſel; remember this.
Secondly, A Hypocrite may have not only knowledge, but his affections may be ſtirred alſo; he may be warmed in the Lamp, before it be extinguiſhed; there was heat as well as light. Some have light without heat, ſuch are meer notions; others have heat without knowledge, and this is not good ſo far; but the Hypocrite he may have light, and he may have heat and affection alſo, and yet be a fooliſh Virgin when all is done. Let me ſpeak a little to ſome affections, among many others, which they may have. As,
1. They may have ſorrow for ſin, being convinced of it, and what it expoſeth them unto; How doth Darius, when he had ſigned the Decree againſt Daniel, and his kingdom lay at ſtake, his people would rebel, if he executed not the Decree, he laboured to deliver him, he was ſorry for what he had done, and he could not reſt, nor ſleep that night, and early in the morning cometh with a lamentable tone to him: O Daniel, ſervant of the living God, art thou yet alive? There may be a ſpirit of bondage to fear, or witneſſing to a man that he is in a condemned ſtate, which is not ſucceeded with a Spirit of Adoption: Sinners, you may have your Conſciences ſo galled ſometimes with the Law, that you cannot reſt, but cry out of ſin; O ſin, ſin, what a bitter thing is ſin; yea ſo far may this ſorrow prevail, that it may make you vomit up your ſweet morſel, make you make reſtitution with Judas; God may ſo fire the Coal, you cannot hold it in your boſom any longer: the fire of Gods wrath upon Judas, even melted his pieces, they were too hot for him to hold, and yet but a Judas ſtill: And I tell you brethren, this is much, a ſtrong effect of thoſe troubles.
2. There may be ſome deſires, and ſeemingly earneſt deſires after things really good, and which bring to ſalvation: as thoſe there in that place of John, were they not much affected, Ioh. 6. 44.when they cried out, Lord evermore give us of this bread? As very a wretch as Balaam was, yet he had his wiſhings and wouldings: O that I might die the death of the righteous, &c. O how beautiful are his Tabernacles, &c. he Num. 23. 10.ſeemeth to be taken with them, or deſires to enjoy that communion and fellowſhip with them in their Ordinances: how beautiful are they? And the young man in the Goſpel, had he not good deſires? and is it not ſaid, our Saviour loved him for that good that was in him, though not with that ſpecial love of pitty to ſave him, that we read of? his deſires carried him out far, and yet never reach heaven; I doubt not brethren, but many of us this day have ſometimes ſome good deſires, and you would have it go well with your ſouls; you may cry out ſometimes with the multitude, O Lord evermore give us this bread, you would be loath to part with the Ordinance of Chriſt, it is good; but all this may be in you, and yet you may be hypocrites, fooliſh Virgins; O that you could lay it to heart.
3. There may be alſo ſome hope, we read often in Job, of the Iob 8. 13. 14.hope of the Hypocrite; he hath certainly an hope for heaven, elſe he would never be at ſo much pains, as many a Hypocrite is at, as you ſhall hear afterward; would the fooliſh Virgins, think you, have done ſo much as they did, if they had not had a hope? when hope expireth, all endeavour giveth up the ghoſt with it.
4. There may be alſo a joy and delight in holy things, as thoſe that kindled a fire of their own, in that place of Iſaiah, ſaith the ſa. 50. 11.Text; They walk in the ſparks of their own fire, that is to ſay, they delight themſelves in it. And ſurely brethren, the Galathians, when they would have pluckt out their eyes for the Gal. 4. 15.Apoſtle, they had no ordinary rapture upon them; and yet alas, how did they apoſtatize ſome of them? And is is not ſad, to ſee in our days many, that the Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt, whom he hath made inſtruments of God to their ſouls, they have been as dear to them as their eyes, and what is it come to with many of them? are they not come to caſt off all? what ſhall we think brethren, of ſuch, in ſuch caſes? According to the hope, ſo is the joy; if the hope be ſound, ſo is the joy; if Rom. 12. 12,the hope be falſe, ſo is the joy which ſprings from it; the Lord hinders it not haply, doth not damp, and overcaſt the ſoul; and O how Satan endeavours to water ſuch a plant as that is! for what more available to lay a ſoul aſleep then this? he hath joy in holy things, this is an high attainment indeed, they take delight in approaching to God. And we read in Heb. 6. that ſuch as fall Iſa. 58. Heb. 6.away, may have a taſte of the joy of the world to come; ſuch a temporary faith, the light of it doth convince, and ſhew us things worth the rejoycing in, and then a falſe hope of a title to them, when it is no ſuch matter; it will raiſe the ſpirit to rejoyce; Well, this is no ordinary pitch of affections, and yet but a Hypocrite; the ſtony ground received the word with joy, and they rejoyced in John Baptiſts light for a ſeaſon; Thou art unto them Mat. 13. Ezek. 33.as one that hath a pleaſant voice, &c.
5. There may not onelyonly be thoſe affections and others, but the fervor of them; a mans affections may ſeem to be boyled up to a great height: Zeal for God ſeemeth to be much, this is Jehu his caſe, how hot and zealous was he for God? and ſo Judas 2 Kings 10. 16.ſeemed very zealous of good works, when he would have had the box of oyntment ſpilled. Ananias and Saphira ſeemed to have more heat of love then others, to ſell their poſſeſſions to be with the forwardeſt, and yet you ſee what became of them; and ſo may we brethren. Not but that zeal is exceedingly to be commended, and lukewarmneſs is the moſt loathſom temper to the Lord, he will ſpue ſuch a man out of his mouth; yet there may be this fire, which is not of Gods kindling. The falſe Apoſtles did zealouſly affect thoſe Chriſtians to whom the Apoſtle writeth, Gal. 4. 17.they ſeemed to be men of more then ordinary love, and warm affections to their ſouls; but yet they were but falſe Apoſtles, they did it enviouſly, to work the Apoſtle out of their hearts, ſo to hinder this work among them. Well remember this, ſuch as are more forward then others are, there may be heat, as well as light, and yet but fooliſh Virgins, but hypocrites▪ when all is done.
Thirdly, An hypocrite, he may be careful in avoiding much ſin; not only in an imperfect will, which is overcome by an intereſt, ſuch as Herod and Darius had, who were wretches, though not ſo properly hypocrites; but an hypocrite may go as far as they ſurely, they may forgo their Idolatry and groſs wickedneſs, as Simon Magus left his Sorceries; and theſe virgins, therefore they are Acts 8▪called virgins, though fooliſh virgins likely, though I will not build much upon it; but yet we ſee the unclean ſpirit may go out of a man for a time, and yet enter again; he may forſake his groſs pollutions, and yet return to that folly again, wallowing in them as the ſwine and the dog, in that ſecond of Peter; there is an 2▪ Pet. 2. 20.eſcaping the pollutions of the world, and yet notwithſtanding a returning to them again; he that ſtole, ſtealeth no more: I was a drunkard may ſome one ſay, but now I thank the Lord I am none; I was a filthy wretch, but now I am filthy no more, this is very far, and yet all this may be but hypocriſie▪ a profeſſion and no more, in the end we may appear to be fooliſh Virgins.
Fourthly, An hypocrite may have conflict within himſelf concerning ſins, that others can take no notice of, and this is more then the former; there may be an inward▪ regretion and re…ctan…y againſt our ſecret evils; the Conſcience being inlightened and di…ng, …hoſe vain thoughts ſhould be abandoned; this pride of heart is loathſom againſt God, it quarrels with the Affections and Will, if it be a ſin a man would keep, and ſo there is a buſle in the ſoul, and many of us may miſtake our ſelves, and think it is the luſting of the fleſh againſt the ſpirit, and the ſpirit againſt the fleſh in us, when it proveth nothing ſo.
Fifthly, They may alſo do much, many duties & ſervices, be much in action, not Napkin up their Talent, but act, and act much, as the fooliſh virgins, you ſee they went as far as the wiſe, for ought appears, ſtep for ſtep. Did not Judas act as well as the reſt, following Chriſt up and down, going forth to preach the Goſpel as well as the reſt? did not Jehu act in an high manner for God? Come and ſee my zeal for God, he did much more then many would 2 Chron. 24.do. And did not Joaſh reform much in Jehoiadah… time? he was zealous for the Temple of the Lord, and blamed … Prieſts, they were not ſo forward as himſelf was, and yet what …d he at the laſt? have we not fearful examples in our own times, how many diligent Chriſtians, as they ſeemed to be, and yet alas how went they out? yea truly I will ſay one thing more, ſometimes there may be a doing, very great ſelf-denying actions: Was not that a ſelf-denying action of Rehoboam, and far greater then this of Jehu? 2 Chron. 11. 4.he had an Army ready to fight with Iſrael when they revolted, 180000 fighting men, and yet when the word of the Lord came and told him it was of God, and bid him ceaſe, he obeys, though a kingdom lay at the ſtake, and he was in ſo fair a poſture for it; and yet he is but a Rehoboam ſtill, and one that forſook the Law of 2 Chron. 12. 1, 2▪his God when he was ſtrengthened, though before he made much of the ſervants of the Lord.
Sixthly, An hypocrite may have the aſſiſting, inlarging preſence of God with him in his ſervice. They had preached in the name of Chriſt, his preſence had been with them alſo, and yet you ſee they are caſt out: It is ſaid of Saul, that he had another ſpirit Mat. 7. 22.given him from that day forward, a ſpirit to gift him for the government, and when God had rejected him and his ſervice, the ſpirit departed from him, and an evil ſpirit vexed him; he had a more then ordinary preſence of God with him, and yet but a Saul, a 1 Sam. 10. ….wretch; many a Miniſter that preacheth your ſouls to heaven and ſalvation, may periſh himſelf: he may have great gifts given, and much of Chriſt his preſence with him in the exerciſes of them, and yet periſh for all this. As the Nurſe, though for the preſent eats dainty fare, not for her own ſake, but the ſake of the great mans child whom ſhe nurſeth: So may it be with us, the Lord prevent us with his loving kindneſs. And you that are Chriſtians, God may give you a gift of Prayer, a gift in conferring, you may be eminent therein, God may aſſiſt you much therein; It is for his peoples ſakes that he will build up thereby, refreſh thereby, your ſelves may periſh notwithſtanding. O brethren, Is not this fa… that an hypocrite may go?
Seventhly, He may hold out very long, and yet in the end prove but an hypocrite, and this is the ſaddeſt of all the reſt, and this you ſee plainly here in the Text, the fooliſh Virgins had well nigh gone to the end; when the Cry came they were found with the wiſe, indeed in a ſleeping condition, but they were as forward as they for externals, had not their Lamps gone out; it is ſtrange to …der that Judas ſhould be ſuch a rotten creature at the heart, and yet ſhould follow him ſo far; many of his Diſciples were quickly offended at him and went backward, and never walked with him again, but Judas went far; it may be we may think the better of our ſelves for our continuance ſo long in the ways of God▪ it is good if it be right in the root, ſo that it hold o…t to the end▪ Hypocrites may hold until they come, as I may ſay, within the ſight of heaven, or the p…ice of the Goal, and then they tyre, and give up: Joaſh, how long did he continue following God? it was a long paſſion, conſidering it was not a new nature in it that was the principle▪ a torrent without a Spring to feed it, to run very long indeed; and ſo it may be with many a poor ſoul: do but conſider under this head two things.
1. They may continue and weather out a perſecution, endure the ſtorm, and yet periſh in a calm; may have indured perſecution for Chriſt his ſake, for his name and cauſe, and yet alas, fall ſhort: Mat. 13.as for inſtance, the third ſort of ground, it was not ſcorched with the Sun when it was up, but continued, and yet alas, brought not forth fruit to perfection, for the Thorns choaked it; he not only withers like the Bull-Ruſh, before other hearts, but ſometimes like a tree, he continueth and abideth the heat of the Sun, Job 8. 17. And that Alexander that indured ſo much for the Apoſtle, hazarded his life for him, Act. 19. 32. is thought by ſome to be that Alexander which did him much evil, of which he complains 2 Tim. 4. 14. And have we not too much ſad teſtimony of it in our days, ſuch as indured much affliction and perſecution from the oppoſers of Gods people, yet now have turned their backs upon that truth for which they ſuffered.
2. Conſider yet further, they may continue ſo long, as though they fall aſleep with the wiſe Virgins, yet to riſe again with them, they may be deeply ſeized on by ſecurity; and a man would think that then an hypocrites profeſſion ſhould come altogether to an end, he ſhould never open his eye more; and yet you ſee the fooliſh Virgins after this, the Cry awaketh them as well as the wiſe Virgins, and they beſtir themſelves as well as the wiſe, to trim their Lamps; their Conſciences had been awaked before, though their hearts were never throughly awaked; Some Will and Affections they …ad, but never through, and prevailing againſt the …leſh; well, that which was awake, fals aſleep, and yet it holds out to be awaking again, and trimming up their Lamps again, as if none were more likely, nor fairer for heaven then they, until they find upon the tryal, alas they were going out. Well then brethren, we may continue through changes of times, through changes of our own hearts, we may have ſleeping fits, and riſe again out of them, and ſ…ir up our ſelves, trim our Lamps, and yet prove but fooliſh Virgins.
Eighthly, a fooliſh Virgin, or an Hypocrite may carry it ſo, as that the Saints have a good eſteem of them, yea, the moſt ſearching of Gods people, as ſome have a more piercing eye, and can ſee further into an Hypocrite then others can, as the caſe may ſtand; but indeed ſome hypocriſie is of ſo fine a thread, that it doth e… fingere aciem oculorum, ſome Hypocrites are double and treble guilt, ſo that they are not ſo eaſily diſcerned to be copper, until it come to wear off, and it holds long; the Diſciples of our Saviour, even he that lay in his boſom, could not diſcern who was the Traitor by any thing that appeared; they had as good thoughts of Judas, as they had of themſelves, there was their ſimplicity and love, and yet he proved but a Judas, he walked with them, ate the Paſſover with them, if not the Supper with Mat. 27. 23.them. Thus we may have a name to be alive among the people of God, and yet be but dead; as it is ſaid of that Church in the Revelations. Rev. 3. 2.And ſo the wiſe Virgins you ſee, walked hand in hand with the fooliſh, they paſs for all alike; and no marvel, when a man hath ſo much knowledge, ſuch good and ſtirring affections, ſo full of action for Chriſt, walks ſo unblamably, ſuffer for Chriſt, hold out ſo long, no marvel if the people of God in love, which thinketh no evil, do judge well of ſuch perſons.
Ninthly and laſtly, they may alſo upon all theſe grounds foregoing have a very great confidence of the goodneſs of their own condition; the fooliſh Virgins had admittance into the fellowſhip of the wiſe, walked with them, with their Lamps burning and ſhining; we find not that they ſuſpect themſelves at all, until at laſt they awake out of this ſleepy condition of theirs, and then they ſee their Lamps are gone, or going out. I deny not, but an hypocrite may ſometimes be ſelf-condemned, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks of Hereticks, after the firſt and ſecond admonition reject, for fundamentals are ſo clear, that if he …earken not to the firſt, and ſecond admonition, according to the Rule of Chriſt, in clearneſs, and meekneſs held forth, then he muſt needs be foreign, condemned of himſelf. If our own hearts condemn us, ſaith the Apoſtle, …it. 3. 11.God is greater then our hearts. But yet others may go on, and not ſuſpect themſelves. There is a Generation, ſaith Solomon, that are pure in their own eyes, (as they judge of themſelves) yet are not waſhed from their filthyneſs. It is worth the noting, that all the Prov. 30. 12.Diſciples were more forward to doubt their conditions then Judas, for they all asked, Is it I Lord, is it I? and our Saviour was Mat. …7. 2….fain to ſet it on with a terrible threatning, It were better for that man that he had not been born: and then he cometh out with it, Maſter is it I? thou haſt ſaid it, ſaith Chriſt; if he ſuſpected himſelf before, yet he kept it cloſe however. The hypocrite may hold faſt his duties, gifts and performances, as his houſe when it beginneth to totter; he may hold them by his teeth as it were; as the godly man holds the practiſe of them, and will not let them go, ſo a hypocrite holds his confidence in them, and will not let …ob …. …5.it go. The world giveth him a good teſtimony, the Saints they bear witneſs to him, Satan he applauds him, his own heart flatters him, no marvel if he build a confidence upon all this; and therefore the fooliſh Virgins here, how confident were they, not only not ſuſpecting their condition all this while, but when they ſaw that their Lamps were out, yet they go and cry for mercy, with what confidence, Lord, Lord open to us; though now they ſaw they had been hypocrites all their daies, yet ſo high were their hopes and confidence. You ſee then Brethren, a hypocrite may go very far. So much for the Doctrinal part.
For the Application then of this Doctrine: How ſad is their condition, if a man reach to all this, and yet fall ſhort of heaven? Ʋſe 1.What ſhall we ſay of many of us, that have nothing almoſt of all this to ſay for our ſelves; have not ſo much as Lamps, ſo much as a profeſſion of Chriſt? It is true, we have the name of Chriſt upon us, but what have we elſe? If a man may have ſo much knowledge and fall ſhort, what ſhall we ſay to ſuch as have no knowledge of God in Jeſus Chriſt, as ſottiſh and ignorant as if they never had heard of Chriſt, of heaven or hell almoſt? It is true, a leſs meaſure of knowledge, for the quantity, may prevail more upon a mans heart, then a greater ſometimes; but where there is no knowledge of God, Jeſus Chriſt will come in a terrible manner againſt ſuch as know him not, as well as thoſe that obey not his Goſpel. It may be you have ſome knowledge, yet alas, where is your affection? you fall ſhort of hypocrites in that: how many in this Congregation, that never knew what one heart-pang for ſ…n meant? do not diſſemble before the Lord, didſt thou ever mourn either Legally or Evangellically? And ſo for deſire, have you thus deſires toward the Lord and his waies? are they ſuch a delight to you? thou haſt heard his word many a hundred times, and didſt never taſte any ſweetneſs, any ſavour or reliſh in it at all. Say, are not many of us ſo far from delighting to draw nigh him, it is the moſt burthenſom day in all the week, the Sabbath is, we care not how ſeldom it cometh; but I hope better things of you in this particular for the moſt part. If you have ſuch affections, do you not, many of you, wallow in your filthyneſs? Indeed it is ſtrange to ſee how ſome men have a tongue to ſpeak for Chriſt, & ſeem to be wonderfully affected with any diſhonour put upon him, and to be great diſputers for his Ordinances and Sabbaths, ready to flie in the faces of them that ſpeak againſt theſe things, and yet themſelves are very Sinks and Puddles of uncleanneſs; will be drunk, will be filthy, will ſwear, and lie, and come and ſtand before the Lord, as if they were delivered to do all theſe things: what will become of thee? if a fooliſh hypocrite ſhall periſh, where wilt thou appear? It may be, if thou avoid theſe groſs ſins, thou makeſt nothing of a ſecret luſt, ſo be thou canſt hide it from the eyes of men, thou deſpiſeſt the preſence of the Lord with thee in thy ſecret place.
Again, it may be thou haſt done ſomething for Chriſt, but thou couldſt not ſuffer for him, but turn, and ſhift, and deny him before men: O, far before thee have many gone, and yet periſhed, never reached heaven. It may be thou art ſo groſs, that even the people of God themſelves can diſcern thy hypocriſie, and thy own heart may condemn thee: Well, if others that have out-ſtript thee in theſe things fall ſhort, where wilt thou appear? thou comeſt behind the Phariſees far enough, and they enter not, they fall ſhort; what will become of thee? If the Virgins, becauſe fooliſh Virgins, are not thought meet to enter into the Marriage-Supper, the door is ſhut againſt them; What wil become of thee that art an arrant ſtrumpet-ſoul, that haſt thy gods, thy Idols to worſhip, thy gold, and thy belly, thy ſport and paſtimes, to which thou devoteſt thy ſelf, ſo that thou canſt not come under the notion of a Virgin? O that the Lord would make men ſenſible! If ſuch as take all this pains for heaven fall ſhort, what is like to befall them that never ſet foot forward towards it?
Then, It may ſerve to ſtir up every one of us, that heareth this word this day, to take heed, be not high-minded, but fear, as the Ʋſe 2.Apoſtle ſaith. You ſee how far a hypocrite may go; It may be further then many of us have gone; what need then had we to look to it, that that we have, and that we do, be in ſincerity and uprightneſs; for then it will hold out with the wiſe virgins. To you that make a profeſſion of Jeſus Chriſt and of his waies, I direct this Exhortation to you eſpecially: And I ſhall back it with theſe two or three arguments; and then propound ſome few conſiderations to be made uſe of here in the tryal.
1. Then conſider brethren, What ever men judge of you, or you judge of your ſelves, through miſtakes ſometimes, yet God he ſeeth through all. It may be, the cobweb is ſo thick woven, that the piercing eyes of the moſt judicious child of God cannot ſee through it, but God can ſee through it. And ſo the foundation of the houſe, he ſeeth to be upon Sand, when it may be the people of God cannot diſcern it. We are exceeding apt, ſecretly to bleſs our ſelves when the people of God think well of us; and if we may be but admitted into their fellow ſhip, we are well; it is a thing to be eyed in its place, but to make this our reſt, is deſperate; alas, they have ſo much to do at home with their own hearts, they cannot have ſo much time to pry into the actions of others; nor if they do, to enter into the heart of any; and charity binds them to think the beſt, where there is no diſcovery to the contrary; but what if all the Saints ſhould admire thee, and look upon thee as a moſt precious glorious creature? Yet the Lord ſees thee to be but dung, and droſs, and rottenneſs: Men look upon the out-ſide of the Sepulchre, God pierceth to the rottenneſs within, his eyes behold the evil and the good; let it lie never ſo deep, the ends, God diſcovers them; Did you at all faſt unto me, Prov. 15. 3.ſaith the Lord? no, but to your ſelves. So the Phariſees, they had covering upon covering to hide their rottenneſs with, but all would not do; they had their long garments, long prayers, and many good actions which they did, and much zeal which they ſeemed to have; and yet God ſeeth through all this, and calls them wretched hypocrites when all is done, and tels them for what end they did it, to devour widows houſes, and to be ſeen of Mat. 23.men. So God ſaw the Idols of their hearts, though the Prophet could not. Our Saviour knew their hearts, and would not truſt himſelf unto them. Would it not be a confuſion to you, if the Ezek. 14.people of God ſhould ſee your hypocriſie? how would you hold up your heads before them? Ah brethren, how will you lift up your faces before the Lord then, who ſearcheth the hearts? If you be found with no oyl in the heart, in the veſſel, only a Lamp, a ſhew, he can, he will ſearch it out, and that your ſouls ſhall one day know. And therefore it concerneth us now to ſearch.
2. The great danger of hypocriſie in profeſſion in theſe daies, now the times ſmile upon it, for indeed, let hypocrites pretend what they will, they are ſenſual, and it is their belly they ſerve, and not the Lord Jeſus, and therefore as the times ſway, you ſhall have them bow; where the loaves were, there thoſe hypocrites would be, they followed not the Ordinance, the bread of life for it ſelf, but for the loaves, they ſubjected it unto their bellies; the Bull-ruſh will not grow, except it have much mire and water; no more will an hypocrite, except he hath his advantages ordinarily, though ſometimes they may go through perſecution; yet that is ſomewhat more then ordinary. O how Judas loveth the bag, more then the Maſter, it was that that kept him ſo cloſe to Jeſus Joh. 8. 11.Chriſt: he had a ſweet place of it while he had the bag. WelL, If ever mens ſouls were in danger of being undone by hypocriſie, now is the time Brethren; And now it is the more hard to diſcern whether we follow Chriſt for the leaves, yea …r no: therefore upon that account alſo, we had the more need to ſearch and try our hearts, whether we be ſound at the bottom or no.
3. The danger of the cure, if we be pocrites: Indeed in this reſpect the condition of a prophane man is better then a cloſe hypocrite, his diſtemper is more apparent, and his own conſcience cannot but judge him of many things; but now many times a hypocrite ſeeth not his hypocriſie, though ſometimes he do: it may be at the firſt if he had hearkened to the voice of his conſcience charging him with hypocriſie in this and that, he might have kept it tender; but ſmothering it, at laſt it groweth ſilent and harder ſeared, and the eyes by degrees are blinded, ſo that he ſeeth not his diſeaſe. 2. It is ſo like to uprightneſs of heart, that it is ſcarce diſcernable to the Phyſitian that ſhould be inſtrumental to heal it: Morbus vix ſanabilis, ſaith one, qui ſanitatem imitatur, and then when it is diſcerned, there is much more goeth to the healing of an hypocrite, then another ſinner; he muſt firſt be emptied of himſelf, whereof he is full; he muſt be untaught, before he can be taught any thing of Chriſt. 3. If he do ſee his diſeaſe, he is uſually unwilling to have it healed, he liketh it better to keep his luſts, ſecretly to have the delight of them, and pleaſure of ſin ſecretly, and yet the ſhew of godlineſs. Like a ſ…urdy Rogue, he hath a ſore, and he knoweth it well enough, but he careth not for having it healed, becauſe it is his Plow; it is that which brings in his profit or advantage, by moving others to commiſeration; but many times, ſuch perſons as theſe dye of their wounds, and when the… would have them healed, they are foſtred ſo and corrupted, there is no healing of them. The Lord grant it prove not the caſe of our ſouls.
Why, but you will ſay, how ſhould a man know then (If a Object.hypocrite be ſuch an one that may go ſo far) whether he be an hypocrite or no? for it may be you will ſay, for ought I perceive, an hypocrite is gone ſo far that I doubt I ſhall hardly reach it. For anſwer to this, I ſhall ſay theſe few things.
Firſt then, for matter of affection, for knowledge, I think we Anſw.can hardly make that Characteriſticon, becauſe it is common to both; and when men ſpeak of it as a practical knowledge, an humbling knowledge, a warning knowledge, &c. Theſe are the effects of it. But knowledge conſidered as knowledge, it is alike, though the Spirit of the Lord do ſhed it abroad upon ſome mens hearts and affections, ſo that it works there mightily, and remaineth impriſoned in ſome mens heads and underſtandings. Therefore for the Affection, I cannot ſtand to give account of every affection ſpoken of before, but for That of mourning for ſon, which is ſpecially conſiderable, you have heard a heart may be troubled for ſin, and it is queſtionleſs true. But how ſhall we know then, whether our trouble for ſin be right or no, or whether we be hypocritical therein? Truly Brethren; If ever we could look upon Jeſus Chriſt crucified by his ſins and for them, with ſuch an eye of faith, and ſo mourn over him crucified by us, Z…h. 12. 10.and yet for us; this ſurely none elſe can work, but the ſpirit of grace, it is a ſpecial fruit of it, in that 12. of Zach. It may be thou haſt been a poor creature, much vexed with thy ſins, and weary by reaſon of them, and weary of thy groa…ing and trouble; but haſt thou ever had a ſight of Chriſt crucified, and mouraid over him whom thou haſt crucified? This is the bitterneſs indeed, that a hypocrite cannot reach unto.
Secondly, Though an hypocrite may avoid many ſins, yet he will have ſome luſt, ſome Dalilah, ſome little one, and his ſoul ſhall live. Now if a man regard any iniquity in his heart, be it never ſo plauſibly maintained, have he never ſuch fair pretences for what he doth, that man is a hypocrite, and God will not hear ſuch a mans prayers. If I regard iniquity in my heart, God will not hear my prayers. Judas muſt have his covetouſneſs, he could Pſal. 6. 18.forego all other. Herod muſt have his ſiſters daughter, all elſe he can forego. If there be any one luſt, wherein thou ſpareſt thy ſelf, keepeſt it under thy tongue, be it never ſo ſecret, thy heart is not right. It may be a man would think, that the ſin of his conſtitution he may give himſelf a little liberty in, and this is thy plea, It is my temper, to be vainly merry, a mans temper to be wanton, to be fooliſhly jeſting, and men will plead their nature for it; why truly ſo might Job, he made a covenant with his eyes: David, I kept me from mine iniquity, whether the ſin of his nature, Pſal. 18. 23.or his preſent condition, that is to ſay, revenge upon his enemy, when he had him in his hand. So the ſins of a mans place, Job kept himſelf from them all; he did not oppreſs, wrong his man Job 31. 21.ſervant, deſpiſe his cauſe, oppreſs the poor when he had his help ready▪ in the gate to have ſided with him. If men ſhall in any caſe, though they have never ſo urgent temptations, allow themſelves in any ſin; ſurely ſuch men are hypocrites and no better.
Thirdly, an hypocrite will do much, but he will not do all; he never hath reſpect to all the commandments of God. Why but you Pſal. 119. 6.will ſay, No more can the moſt upright man upon the earth do all. Not Legally, but Evangelically he may, he may aim at all; though the Commandment be exceeding broad, he may ſearch after all, that he may do them, he may endeavour it, though he cannot reach it, I have a reſpect to all; and where he cometh ſhort, that is his burthen, that is matter of mourning to him. Take it in two or three particulars, that I enlarge not too much.
1. It may be an hypocrite will be wonderful ſtrict in the duties of the firſt table, which we call ordinarily religious duties, as praying, reading, hearing, &c. But you ſhall find him very ſlight and ſlack in the duties of the ſecond. Thoſe in the 7. of Matth, they would Preach and Propheſie in Chriſt his name, but yet they would work iniquity with both hands. Judas would pray with Chriſt, Preach for Chriſt, receive with Chriſt, but he would then couzen and defraud, made no conſcience of ſecret thievery. And it is very plain in that firſt of Iſaiah, who were more forward then they in their ſacrifices, abundant in their worſhip, multitude of their burnt-offerings and ſolemn aſſemblies, but in the mean time their hands were full of blood, they made nothing of …ſa. 1. 10. to 17.that. And is it not ſo with ſome of us, we are frequent in hearing, frequent it as much as others, and yet notwithſtanding make nothing of the duties of the ſecond table, drunkenneſs is nothing, though wine be raging; make nothing of railing, reviling, of covetouſneſs, which is Idolatry; he will hardly make a Covenant with his eyes, as Job did: maketh nothing of uncleanneſs, if not outward in act, yet contemplative, of a wandering eye, and wandring heart; and ſo of deceit. O this is dreadful, let not that man deceive himſelf, certainly he is an hypocrite, and though he may go far, yet he will be ſure to fall ſhort.
2. An hypocrite in his obedience, he will be much about little inconſiderable things. Some ceremonious things, or the like, more then the weighty matters of the Law; ſo the Phariſees, they forſooth Ioh. 18. 28.would not come into the Judgement-Hall, becauſe it was the preparation to the Paſſ-over, leſt they ſhould be defiled, and not fit for the Paſſ-over; but they made nothing of the greateſt moral pollution that could be, of falſly accuſing the moſt innocent perſon, and proſecuting him to the death, this they made nothing of: and ſo they ſcrupled not to give thirtie pieces of Silver, Mat. 23. 23.as a price for Jeſus Chriſt, that they might bring him to death, but when they had done, they would not caſt it into the Treaſury. The Papiſts, they make much ado, it is a grievous offence to violate one of their faſting daies enjoyned by the Pope, but to murther Chriſtian Princes under the notion of Hereticks, they make nothing of that; this is the condition of many a poor creature, Mint, Annice and Cummin they muſt tythe, theſe externals and ceremonials; a Gnat they ſtrain at, but a Camel they can ſwallow.
3. Another thing in their obedience is this; an hypocrite, he can be contented to take up the eaſie part of Chriſtianity ordinarily, but not the difficult, that which is more inward and laborious: they can come to hea… the word, to confer with the people of God, to receive, &c. But the inward part, the great duty of ſelf-examination, alas they are ſtrangers to it, that high duty of ſpiritual contemplation, that of keeping their hearts with all diligence, becauſe out of it are the iſſues of life, this they are Pro…. 4. 23.ſtrangers to, they cannot down with theſe things; to forgive injuries from their brethren, this is a hard duty, to love their enemies, yea to love them that think meanly of them, deſpiſe them, as well as thoſe that think more highly of them, this is no eaſie duty; here the hypocrite will give others leave to take up this part ordinarily: truly Brethren, Search and ſee, is it not ſo with Mat. 5. 44.ſome of us▪
4. Another conſideration is this, An hypocrite maketh not Jeſus Chriſt his laſt end, he doth all for ſelf-ends. Who do ſeem to be more Religious then the great Queſtioniſts of the times uſually? yet the Apoſtle tels us, if they conſent not to the wholſom words, even the words of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the Doctrine which is according to godlineſs, he is proud, knowing nothing, doting about 2. Tim. 6. 5…Queſtions and ſtrife of words, whereof cometh envy, ſtrife, railings, evil ſu…iſin… and perverſe diſputings, of men of corrupt minds, and deſtitute of the truth, ſuppoſing that gain is godlineſs; there is the root of all this Brethren, of all this zeal and contention, ſuppoſing that gain is godlineſs; was not this the argument whereby the Devil would have proved Job an hypocrite? if thou touch all he hath, he will curſe thee: doth he ſerve Job 1.thee for nought? he hath ſelf-ends in it. O ſurely brethren, if our hearts condemn us, and tell us We work for our penny in the Vineyard of the Lord, we ſerve for our penny, it is not right; it may be we may pretend the glory of God, and may ſeem to take a right aim for God and for Chriſt, but like a deceitful bow, we turn aſide, and have ſomewhat elſe in our eye that ſetteth the wheels awork, when the glory of Chriſt will not; O this is Hoſ. 8. 7.groſs hypocriſie. So thoſe in Mat. 7. they propheſied in the name of Chriſt, but not for his name, but for themſelves; and though a child of God may be peſtered with ſuch thoughts creeping in upon him, yet he ſuffers them not to lodge with him, but whippeth them, and giveth them their paſs, he mourns under them, prayeth for pardon of them, and healing and ſubduing of them.
5. Another thing is touching the conflict which the ſoul may have with ſin. How may we know whether that be right or no? An hypocrite may have ſome regret doubtleſs in ſinning, until he hath hardened his conſcience ſo by cuſtom, that he is paſt feeling.
Do but mind theſe two things. 1. Where the quarrel lies, where the battle is fought; Is it between the underſtanding, the judgement, or the conſcience convinced, and the will? or is it between the will and the will, the affections and the affections? the former may be in an hypocrite, the other is not. Peter had this conflict between his will and will, he ſhould be carried whether he would not, that is to ſay, to be martyred; Why then, if he were altogether Joh. 21. 18.unwilling, how could he be a Martyr? No, he was willing, and yet unwilling; there is a luſting of the Spirit, and a luſting of the fleſh; it is not for nothing that the Holy-Ghoſt expreſſeth it in thoſe terms, he doth not ſay the ſpirit judgeth one thing, and the fleſh luſteth after another, but there is luſting on both ſides, the fleſh againſt the Spirit, and the Spirit againſt the fleſh, and thoſe Gal. 5. 17.two are contraries; and they are in the will and affections, and therefore as contraries, they muſt needs fight until one be ſubdued; the Apoſtle ſaith, with his mind he ſerved the Law of God, Rom. 7. ul….and with his fleſh the Law of ſin; but mind, there is not meant the underſtanding as diſtinct from the will, as ſometimes it is underſtood, but it is underſtood of the regenerate part ſet in oppoſition to the corrupt part in the ſoul, and the one fighting againſt the other, ſo that the things we would do, we cannot do many times. Conſider then, Is it thus with thee? carnal affection carryeth thee out this way, but thou haſt not only a judgement to the contrary, but thy affections and will carryeth thee to the contrary, and thou art not alway overcome, but ordinarily prevaileſt: O this is a ſign of an upright heart.
2. Conſider in this conflict alſo another thing, Whether you …e not treacherous, alway holding on the ſide of ſin. So an hypocrite will be; he hath ſome regret againſt ſin its true, but yet he favours it, and would willingly excuſe for it, palliate and plead for it; and O how glad ſuch a man is, when he hath but any Scripture that will ſeem to make for it, that he may have but liberty for his luſt; as a covetous man, O how he is more then ordinarily pleaſed with thoſe Scriptures which ſeem to make for it; and ſuch a man holds in with ſin, and will not come to the light, but hates it, is willingly ignorant of ſome things, libenter ignorantur, ut liberius peccent. Is it thus with us brethren? believe it, if it be, we have cauſe to fear all is not right with us, we are unſound at the heart, and though we may go far, yet the end will be rottenneſs.
Again laſtly, See to it whether we love anything elſe more then Chriſt: If Houſe or Land, or Father or Mother, or neareſt relations, or life it ſelf more then Chriſt, we are hyporcites ſure, and this is a thing will not be ſo eaſily known, ſpecially by ſuch as with …eter, denyed him, being aſhamed of him; it may be upon a ſlight account; O happy is he that can afterwards ſay as Peter, Lord, Mat. 10. 37.thou knoweſt all things, thou knoweſt I love thee; though I dealt ſo unkindly and unfaithfully with thee for the time paſt, yet now ſure I am I love thee, and that love preferred Jeſus Chriſt before his life. If the heart be but upright, if there be never ſo little at firſt, yet it will grow, it will continue, the Seed of God will abide. And if never ſo much, if the heart be not right, it will fall ſhort of heaven, as theſe Virgins, they went far. Well, the Lord give us underſtanding in theſe things.