The Hypocrites Ladder, Treatise · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. The words opened, and ſome points noted.
I Could ſay of this Scripture, as Daniel of that Dream of Nebuchadnezzar before hee came to the opening and interpretation of it. My brethren, The Dream bee to them that hate you (or rather the Name of Chriſt) and the interpretation to your (or rather Dan. 4. 19.his) Enemies. But if Jeſus Chriſt ſhall go up to Mount Eball, wee muſt not make dainty to follow him. The Levites who were aſſigned to bleſs Iſrael, Numb. 6. 23. were alſo deputed to pronounce all thoſe Curſes, Deut. 27. 14. And the Apoſtles whoſe hands were imployed in ſcattering the good ſeed of the Goſpel of ſalvation upon the good ground, their Feet alſo were to ſhake off the duſt of condemnation upon the refuſers, and diſobedient hearers of the word. Some have compared the ſtate Mr. Erig…man.of the Church of England to Laodicea long agoe: but I may ſay, Whereunto ſhall I liken the men of this preſent Generation ſo fitly as to Capernaum? A City exalted to Heaven, a place frequently and extraordinarily honoured with our Saviours preſence, inlightened by his doctrine, graced with many Miracles above all other places, (ſuch are wee) a people highly fed, heavenly taught, liſted up above all others by Gods hand, liſted up alſo in all other mens eyes, and which is onelyonly to bee faulted, lifted up in their own conceit; and what are wee leſs? Inſomuch that other Nations ſending hither their young Students, and Candidates of Divinity, upon their return ſay to them what have you ſeen and heard in Capernaum, Stupor mundi Clerus Anglicus.that let us ſee and hear in your own Country.
The Text is a dreadfull Commination, and a terrible Thunder-clap, and flaſh of lightning coming from the Lord, to one of the moſt noted and eminent places in the world, wherein you ſee the Exaltation, and Humiliation of Capernaum, the one indeed delightful, the other dreadful to conſider.
The Exaltation is Allegorical, and Figurative. But the Humiliation is Litteral. The Exaltation is Hyperbolical, and Exceſſive, made higher than it was. But the Humiliation is without any Hyperbole, even ſo as it ſhall bee found true in the Letter.
And herein we have two things ſet down
1 The Sin
2 The Doom
of Capernaum.
Both very ſad. And both ſet down
1 Poſitively,
2 Comparatively
1 Their ſin is ſet down Poſitively, verſ. 20. They repented not.
2 Comparatively, verſ. 23. They were worſe than Sodome, the worſt of men, who were ſinners before the Lord, exceedingly, and very wicked, Gen. 3. 13.
2 Their Doom ſet down, 1 Poſitively, verſ. 23. They ſhall bee caſt down to Hell.
2 Comparatively, verſ. 24. I ſay unto you, it ſhall be more tolerable for Sodome in the day of judgement than for thee.
And this Doom is elegantly amplified by taking the degree of Altitude and Elevation wherein they now ſtood (the higheſt pitch and degree, as high as heaven) and meaſuring to that bottome, and abyſſe, whereunto they ſhould fall; not ſo low as Earth, but Hell, yea lower than the upper or middle Region of Hell, lower than Sodomes Hell, that if any place were lower and darker, and hotter, and more dreadfull in Hell than other, there they ſhould bee.
A little to open the words. And] q. d. Having ſpoken to Chorazin and Bethſaida, verſ. 21. and pronounced to each of them their wo, I have no better tydings for thee, Capernaum.
Thou] foreign, Thou above all the reſt. It is ſuch a Thou, as that Dan. 5. 23. And Thou Belſhazzar haſt not humbled thy ſelf, though thou kneweſt all this.
Capernaum] For the ſignification of the Name. It ſignifies the place or Capharnahum Haebreis ſonat vicum conſolationis & poenitentiae. Aret. in Mat. 8. verſ. 5. Salmeron in Mat. 4. 13.town of Conſolation and Repentance. For the ſeat of it, it was a noble City, and Metropolis of Galilee, pleaſantly ſeated ſaid Egeſippus, whereinto fell a ſpring of the ſame Name falling into the Lake of Genaſareth. It is a City where our Saviour was much converſant, or reſident, Matth. 4. 13. Hee is ſaid to dwell there *It is called Mat. 9. 1. foreign, his own City.. There hee preached often, wee read Joh. 6. Luke 4. 31. and other places, inſomuch as it became a Proverb, Whatſoever wee have heard done in Capernaum, do alſo in thy own Country, Luke 4. 23. Here it is by a Metonymie (locus pro incclis) put for the people of that place.
Exalted] foreign. Paſſive lifted up, and may bee taken in a threefold ſenſe.
1 By the hand of God, as Joh. 12. 32. If I bee lifted up from the earth, I ſhall draw all men to mee.
2 By men, and that firſt in way of ſcorn and deriſion, Jo. 3. 14. Secondly, In way of complement only, as Naboth was exalted, or ſet upon high, 1 King. 21. 9. Thirdly, Or in point of honour, and higheſt eſteem. So Eſt. 2. 2. Mic. 4. 1.
3 By ſelf. This is alway faulty, Hab. 2. 4. 1 Tim. 3. 6. Now if you ask, In which of theſe reſpects Capernaum was lifted up? I anſwer in all three:
1 God had lifted it up in the expreſſion of his extraordinary grace and bounty to this people. This was a gracious Exaltation.
2 They were thereupon highly lifted up in the eye of all their neighbours, not in way of ſcorn, or meer complement, but in real honour. This was an honourable, and worthy Exaltation.
3 By means of both theſe, ſhee was vainly and ſinfully lifted up in her own conceit. This was a baſe and ſhameful Exaltation.
To Heaven] Here the height of her Exaltation. Heaven is taken ſometimes litterally, and locally. For the place of Gods Throne, and the ſeat of the bleſſed: So the Article of Chriſts Aſcent into Heaven is to bee underſtood.
2 Sometimes Allegorically for the higheſt place of eminency, or ſecurity, Jer. 51. 53. Am. 9. 2. So here. Their Exaltation was the higheſt Exaltation that cou…d bee.
The Humiliation follows: Thou ſhalt bee caſt down to Hell. It the humiliation had gone before, as it did in our Saviour, and doth conſtantly in all the godly, it had been happy. But caſting down to hell, after lifting upto Heaven is very miſerable. Herein two things notable.
1 The nat…re and kinde of this humi…ation; foreign Ex al…o d…icio, Bez in loc. I am not ignorant that learned Gro…us underſtands this only All…gorically, that Capernaum ſhoul… bee deſtroyed by an outward deſtruction but the 2… verſ. telis us it is to b… underſtood of hell litterally.Thou ſhalt bee brought down] Deprimêris. B…za. Ex …lto dejiciêris, Thou ſha…t bee thruſt, hurried, or violently, and furiouſly tumbled and thrown down.
2 The place and degree of this Humiliation, Brought down to Hell] Hell is ſometime (as Heaven before) taken 1 Allegorically for the loweſt, or ſaddeſt ſtate in reſpect of ſpiritual, or outward condition. So in many places 1 Sam. 2. 6. P…al 16. 10. and 18. 5 Thus is the Article of Chriſts deſcent into hell to bee underſtood. 2 Locally, and properly, for the place and puniſhment of the damned, Luke 16. 23. So here.
So that wee ſee a double ſtate of Capernaum here, you would think ſomewhat like that of our Saviours, of Humiliation and Exaltation, or deſcent into hell, and aſcent into heaven. But they do toto coelo differre, they are moſt extreamly different.
1 In Chriſts Humiliation went before, and Exaltation followed, hee firſt deſcended into hell, after aſcended into heaven. Here is a lifting up to heaven firſt, and a caſting down to hell follows.
2 In Chriſts caſe the deſcent into hell, was Allegorical, not Local, but his aſcent into heaven was Local and Litteral, not Allegorical here, e contra the happineſs was Allegorical and Imaginary, but the miſery real and literal.
3 Chriſts hell was a ſhort hell, leading to an everlaſting heaven; here a ſhort heaven leads to an eternal hell. Therefore indeed, it is more like to Satans twofold condition, whoſe exaltation went before his deſtruction.
1 Hee was really lifted up to heaven by the bounty of his Creator.
2 Hee was ſinfully lifted up by pride in that ſtate.
3 Hee kept not his habitation, made but a ſhort ſtay there, having forfeited all.
4 Then hee was judicially and violently thrown down as lightning into hell, where his eternal abode muſt bee.
So that gather up all wee have ſaid, and put it together, and wee ſhall have a ſad obſervation put into our hands. Think ſeriouſly of it England: Think of it London: Think of it every ſecure Profeſſor that readeſt it: For the words are as if Chriſt had ſaid, A place, a Profeſſor, a City, Country, or perſon, ſingularly, and extraordinarily honoured by God with higheſt Goſpel-priviledges, eminently honoured and eſteemed by all other Chriſtians, and Neighbour Churches, and highly ſenſible of their own enjoyments, that they reckon themſelves as ſafe as ſafe can bee, they think themſelves next door to heaven, they are lifted up to it, and but one ſtep more, and they are in it, may yet all this while bee deceived by an imaginary heaven, and yet after fall, yea bee thrown down without all mercy, by Divine vengeance, into the loweſt hell, to bee below even the reſt of the world, yea the worſt of men (Sodome it ſelf) and there muſt abide for ever.
Here wee may take up ſundry uſefull and ſmart obſervations.
Obſ. 1. The preſent and future ſtate of many, is very much differing.
Capernaum now lifted up muſt at laſt bee brought down.
1 So it is in Temporals, Nebuchadnezzar, Haman, Senna…her…b, Jerelo…m, and other wicked great ones, knew their beginning, their preſent riſe and glory, but knew not their end; they ſaw not how ſlippery the ground was whereon they ſtood. Amalek the firſt among the Nations, their end was to periſh for ever, Num. 24. 20. Babylon the glory of Kingdoms, and excellency of the Chaldeans became as Sodome, Eſ. 13. 19. It mounted up to heaven, and was fortified with the higheſt walls, and the broadeſt that ever were, yet came Jer. 51. 53.to bee made a heap of Nettles. So the new and myſtical Babylon, that hath ſate ſo long a Queen, and hath ſet her Throne as the Throne of God, muſt come down, and bee burnt to aſhes.
2 So it is in Spirituals, they who are now in an imaginary heaven of Goſpel-happineſs, may bee thrown down to the loweſt hell. And on the other ſide, the godly, whoſe beginning was ſmall, and their preſent condition ſad, may bee lifted up in due time, ſo was Jacob, Joſeph, David, Mordecai, Job, and others lifted up from poverty, the dunghil, and the dungeon, and ſet among the Princes. And which is better, the Church which is at preſent afflicted, and toſſed, but not comforted, ſhall have her ſtones laid with fair colours, and her foundations with Saphires, Iſa. 54. 11. And which is better yet, the ſoul that now ſits in darkneſs, walks in diſtreſs, being deſerted▪ tempted, diſcouraged, may come to enjoy beauty for aſhes, the oyl of joy for mourning, the Eſ. 61. 3.garment of praiſe for the ſpirit of heavineſs, and ſhall come to Sion with ſongs, and everlaſting joy ſhall be upon their heads, they ſhall obtain joy and gladneſs, and ſorrow and ſighing Eſ. 35. 10.ſhall bee done away. And which is yet better, beſt of all. They who n…w ſow in tears, and mingle their drink with weeping, being in much heavineſs at preſent, through manifold tem…tations, are ſmitten into the place of Dragons, and covered with the ſhadow of …eath, yea are in continual bondage all their life, and wade through great tribulations, ſhall at length bee …et on Thrones, cloathed with long white Robes, and ſhall have their Palmes in their hands, and glorious Crowns on their heads.
Obſerv. 2. It is not the paſt, or preſent ſtate wherein men now are, whereby they may bee denominated happy, or miſerable, but the eternal ſtate which they muſt abide by.
Capernaum had been lifted up to heaven. The Apoſtate Angels had been poſſeſſed of heaven, but neither the happier. Woe to you that are full now, that laugh now, that are at eaſe in Sion now; Go to now, yee rich worldlings, yee ſecure Profeſſors, Weep, and howl▪ your preſent delights ſhall end in eternal miſeries; After a ſhort heaven, a long hell. After a ſhort reign, as Zimries, of ſeven 1 King. 16. 15.dayes, a dreadful end; after a ſumptuous revel, and riotous feaſt, a terrible handwriting on the wa…l, as to Belſhazzar, after a merry ſitting down, a ſudden and confuſed taking away, as Adonijah from his uſurped Crown; after the ſecond 1 King. 1. 49.Banquet of wine, a ſhamefull and unexpected execution, as to Haman. The Eſter 7. 2. 10.joy of the hypocrite is ſhort, his ſorrows to come not ſo; his triumphing is but for a moment, but his deſtruction is not Job 20. 5.for a moment: They ſhall bee deſtroyed with an everlaſting deſtruction from the 2 Theſſ. 1. 9.preſence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. But as for you that are godly, though you now lye among the pots, and mourn as Doves in the valleyes, Pſal. 68. 13.lift up your heads, you ſhall bee as the wings of a Dove covered with ſilver, and her feathers like gold. You do weep and lament, and the world doth rejoyce, but your ſorrow ſhall be turned Jo. 16. 20.into joy, and their joy into bitterneſs. It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you, and to you who are troubled, reſt; when the 2 Theſ. 1. 7, 8, 9Lord ſhall bee revealed from heaven in flaming fire with his mighty Angels, when hee ſhall be glorified in his Saints, and admired in all them that beleeve. For your ſhame, you ſhall have double, after a ſour breakfaſt, a ſweet ſupper; after a ſhort hell, a long heaven. Here is the faith and patience of the Saints.
Obſerv. 3. It is moſt dangerous living and dying in the best places, if wee live unfruitfully. It is better to live and dye in Sodome than at Capernaum, Propius Jo…i, propius fulmini. It is worſt living in a land of righteouſneſs, if wee work Iniquity. A weed is ſafer in a hedge, than in the Garden, a ſtone in the high way, than in the Vineyard. They next the Sanctuary are neareſt danger, God will bee ſanctified in ſuch as are near to him, or hee will get himſelf glory in their juſt deſtruction.