Jewish Hypocrisy, Chapter 15
CAP. XV.
1. The reaſon why I make not a particular application of all that hath been ſaid to the caſe of our Nation. 2. Which others may do better then I can, and more to the general good; great need they ſhould, becauſe there is great reaſon to ſuſpect us guilty of theſe ſins. 3. Becauſe ſo many unjuſt and unmerciful actions have been committed. 4. Every man therefore muſt ſearch into himſelf. 5. The Rulers eſpecially are herein concerned, for ſundry reaſons.
1. IT may now be expected that I ſhould ſearch into the ſtate of this ſinful Nation wherein we live, and conſider whether our caſe do not parallel that which I have now deſcribed. But I being one of the meaneſt of thoſe ſpiritual Phyſitians that are in it, and but of ſmall practice and little experience, do not conceive my ſelf ſufficient to make a full diſcovery of the temper and conſtitution of it. Healthy I am ſure it is not, but deſperately ſick and like to die, unleſs Gods infinite mercy and our care prevent: But whether it labour of this diſeaſe more then any other, which was the plague of the Jewiſh ſtate, I have not acquaintance enough with particular perſons to affirm. But yet I am not ſo blind, as not to ſee what the actions of ſome men profeſſing Religion have been among us, at whoſe diſeaſe, without coming near them to feel their pulſe, an ordinary skill may more then conjecture. And therefore I cannot but ſuſpect that a great many are ſick of the ſame, though I do not know them; and that their zeal and good affection to ſome duties of piety, is but their diſeaſe and not a good habit of their ſouls.
2. This jealouſie made me to take this pains, and to touch this ſore ſomething ſharply in many paſſages of this diſcourſe. And let me intreat thoſe that are of greater skil and larger obſervation; that have had more to do in the world then my years and obſcurity would permit me, and whoſe books are like to come into more hands; let them I ſay make a more exact inquiry into the ſtate of this nation, and when they have paſſed a judgement upon its proper diſtemper, tell all the people of it as plainly as they can, the danger in which they lie, of being made the people of his wrath. For though I dare not take upon me to be as one of the old Prophets, and to ſay that the nation is generally guilty of all theſe ſins; yet thus much I have more then ſaid, that as they were the ruine of Iſrael and Judah, ſo will they bring down Gods vengeance on our heads if they be found to reign among us, unleſs we unfeignedly forſake them. And this I ſhall further ſay, that I very much fear by what I have obſerved of ſome, that if a Prophet ſhould now ariſe among us, or in other parts of the Chriſtian, yea the Reformed world; he would thunder out againſt us the ſame words that I have cited out of the book of God. He would tell us how little difference men make of right and wrong, that they invade one anothers rights and properties, wallow in blood and cruelty, &c. and yet cry up the purity of Religion, the merits of Chriſt Jeſus, and ſuch like things, with as loud a voice as they in the Prophet did the Temple of the Lord. And though men talk much of ſeparating themſelves from the world, yet it is a great doubt with me whether He would have any better language for thoſe who are double-refined from Popery, and have reformed even the reformation.
3. For ſad it is to think what horrid things have been done among us, under the glorious name of Chriſt Jeſus. It is but a ſmall thing to ſay that men have winnowed with every wind, and gone in every way (as it is Eccleſ. 5.9.) or that they have taken all wayes of getting riches, and become any ones creature to become great; or that they have broken the Laws and Sanctions of the place where they live to make them ſerve their ends, with ſuch like things: For rapine and oppreſſion, cruelty and bloodſhed, falſneſs and perjury, and whatſoever the covetouſneſs or ambition of men would put them upon, have been blanched and whited over with the moſt ſpecious and fair names of Religion, and the honour of God. And one cannot chuſe but have a fear that this infection hath ſpread far and near in the Nation, ſeeing it hath been almoſt an honourable thing to wrong an enemy, and ſeeing men have had ſo many rich and inviting occaſions (which they call providences) to do againſt known Laws & principles of Conſcience. Who can then hold his peace from ſpeaking of theſe things? how can I forbear to wiſh that I had a voice as loud as Stentor, or like that of Mars in Homer, that I might make theſe things that I have ſaid to ring in the ears of the people of this Land! Though you exalt your ſelves as the Eagle in high flown devotions; and though you build your neſt in the ſtars, and talk of glorious illuminations, though you think you dwell in the rock, and ſhall hide your ſelves in Chriſt Jeſus, yet from thence will theſe ſins bring you down, and ſhame ſhall cover you. I have the word of the righteous Lord for what I ſay, and I the teſtimony of all ages, and mine own eyes have ſeen thoſe things done which I verily thought would be the ruine of the Actors of them, and ſo they have proved.
4. Let every man therefore enter into his own heart, and conſider whether there be any violence in his hands when he lifts them up in ſupplications to heaven; any of the blood of the poor and oppreſſed running about his fingers when he layes hold of Gods mercy; any unjuſt acquiſitions that he is conſcious of, when he devotes any thing to his ſervice. If theſe things be not found among us, we may have hopes that God will not make us a deſolation; but if they be, we ought deeply to be humbled for our hypocritical faſtings, prayers and humiliations; and for that whileſt we would needs lean upon God, and cry the Temple of the Lord, and called for the building up of Sion, we have not minded ſo much as matters of common juſtice, equity and mercy between a man and his neighbour. And we may fear that the Lord will make an utter end of us, unleſs we do with all ſpeed amend our wayes and doings. For the Hypocritical Nation is the people of. Gods wrath, Iſa. 10.6. And he will be avenged of ſuch enemies, and eaſe himſelf of his adverſaries, Iſa. 1.24. When he goes into his vineyard (as it is, Iſa. 5.7.) and looks for judgement, but behold oppreſsion, and for righteouſneſs, but behold a cry; when men are come to that paſs, that they take the matters of Juſtice but for a trifling buſineſs, and hope that the change of ſo ſmall a thing as a letter, the placing of foreign, in the ſtead of foreign, and of foreign in the room of foreign will make no great change in Gods affection to his people, and be accounted but a petty overſight; Then immediately comes out a woe in the following verſe; and a loud aſſeveration, that many houſes ſhall be deſolate, even great and fair without an inhabitant, ver. 8, 9. and ſee ver. 20. unto 25.
5. If I may be allowed to ſay any more, it ſhall be only this, that the Rulers of the land muſt carefully and impartially inquire into themſelves about theſe matters. For firſt they are more then others concerned in them, as many of thoſe places which I have alledged will tell him that reads them; and (2) They have greater power and temptations to do theſe things then moſt of the people; and (3) They raiſe theſe ſins nearer to the height of the prophetical expreſſions, then the ordinary ſort of men can do (in regard of whom many of thoſe phraſes that I have cited muſt be interpreted with ſome diminution and abatement) and (4) God gave a particular command concerning the Kings of Iſrael, V. Schickarti jus reg. Hebr. cap. 3. Theor. 11.that they ſhould not multiply ſilver or gold (Deut. 17.17.) i. e. private riches they ſhould not ſtrive to gather into their Coffers; for this he knew would make them oppreſs his people; and likewiſe that they ſhould not lift up their heart above their Brethren (v. 20.) i. e. be proud and deſpiſers of their ſubjects, for this would make them unmercifull and void of pitty toward them. And (5) a Prince is called in the holy language by a name, (viz. foreign) which teaches him to be like that Ptolomy who for his good deeds was called foreign a Benefactor, one that doth good to all, but harms none of his Subjects. And (6) they cauſe the People to err, if they be bad, as it is Iſa. 9.16 ſo that every one becomes an hypocrite and an evil doer, and every mouth ſpeaketh folly, according as you read in the following verſe.
Let us all then from the greateſt to the leaſt examine our ſelves, and be well informed whether we be guilty or clear in this matter; and let us make the ſame conſcience of doing juſtly, that we do of hearing Sermons; and of loving mercy, that we do of faſting and praying, and then God will dwell in the midſt of us. And let no mans heart be ſo wicked as to think that he ſhall loſe by doing thus; for God ſaith, In the houſe of the righteous is much treaſure, Prov. 15.6. and righteouſneſs exalteth a Nation, Prov. 14.34. And, The Lord will not ſuffer the ſoul of the righteous to famiſh, but he caſteth away the ſubſtance of the wicked. Bleſsings are upon the head of the juſt, but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. As the whirlwind paſſeth, ſo is the wicked no more; but the righteous is an everlaſting foundation, Prov. 10.3, 6, 25.