The Hypocrites Ladder, Treatise · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. Containing the ſecond Ladder.
SECT. 1. The five firſt ſteps.
BUt now I ſhall make way for a ſecond Ladder, as long as the former; but joyn this Pelyon to that Oſſa, yet both will bee too ſhort to bring him to heaven. The next twenty Rounds are as followeth:
1 Hee may have many ſeeming graces, and excellent gifts, as the fooliſh Virgins ſeemed to bee as well provided for heaven as need bee, they had all their Utenſils, Veſſels, Lamps, Oyle. Is Knowledge a grace? hee hath it, 1 Cor. 8. 1. Is Faith? Magus hath it. Is Repentance? Judas hath it. Is Zeal? Jehu hath it, So the carnal Jews, Rom. 10. 2. They want nothing, Rev. 3. 17. Now ſeeming graces lead to hell, as well as open ſins, if the one deſtroy more, the other deceives more. The Apoſtle checks the pride of ſome ſuch, 1 Cor. 4. 8. Now yee are full, now yee are rich, yee have reigned as Kings without us, and I would to God yee did reign, that wee might alſo reign with you; Wee are fools, yee are wiſe, wee are weake, yee are ſtrong, yee are honourable, wee deſpiſed. They were ſuch as Paraeus ſaith thought themſelves above Pauls Superbi regnum gerunt in capite, &c. ita Corinthii perſuaſum habentes ſe jam abſolutos eſſe in Chriſtianiſmo, nec Pauli opera indigere amplius. Par. in loc.teaching, they cared no more to hear him, they were ſo rich, and full, and wiſe, and abſolutely perfect. Here was much grace in ſhew, little in truth. So wee read of ſome beleevers, who could beleeve in Chriſt, but hee durſt not truſt them ever the more for their beleeving, Joh. 2. 23, 24. But wee read of ſtrange and monſtrous beleevers, Joh. 8. 30. Many beleeved on him, it is ſaid, yet were they ſuch as gloried, and reſted in their carnal priviledges, that they were Abrahams ſeed, beleevers that were ſtrangers to the ſtate of ſpiritual bondage in ſin, verſ. 33. Beleevers who went about to kill the Meſſias, becauſe his word could finde no room in their hearts, verſ. 37. Beleevers that were the children of their father the Devil, verſ. 44. Beleevers that muſt not be reproved, nor hear the ttuth from Chriſt himſelf, but they will flye in his face, verſ. 40. 45, 46, 47. Beleevers that reproach Chriſt, as an Impoſtor, a Samaritan, and one that had a Devil, verſ. 48. Read the whole ſtory, Joh. 8. from verſ. 30. to the end; and you will ſee the picture of ſtrange beleevers, who glory they are the chidren of the Church, Sons of Abraham, never were other than the children of God, &c.
2 Hee may bee ſo well as to make no queſtion of his ſalvation at all, but pity others more. The Phariſee had no doubt of his own ſalvation in the world, hee Luke 18. 11.pitied the Publican. Laodicea ſo rich in Rev. 3. 17.ſpirituals, as ſhee wanted nothing; if Eſau could ſay hee had enough of worldly goods, ſhee could ſay ſhee had grace and gifts, and hope enough, if Jacob and Gen. 33. 9. Phil. 4. 18. Gen. 33. 11.Paul could ſay they had all, ſhee will not come behinde any of them, Micah 3. 11. The Lord complains they leave not ſin, yet leave not leaning on him; Yet will they lean upon the Lord, and ſay, is not the Lord among us? none evil ſhall come upon us. They lean ſo as they will not bee ſhaken off; This leaning is a heavy treading on God, as a Cart is full of ſheaves, Am. 2. 13. God is loaden with their ſins, but moſt with their confidence, Job. 18. 14. They carry their confidence, and it them, to the King of Terrors, that is to hell, Jer. 2. 37. God rejecteth their confidences, but they will not reject them, though they never proſper worſe, than I thirſt for Thirſtineſs; I weep for tears, well-pleaſed I am to bee diſpleaſed thus: The onelyonly thing I fear is want of fears, Suſpecting I am not ſuſpicious. Amidſt theſe reſtleſs thoghts this reſt I find, For thoſe that reſt not here, there's reſt behind. Famous Gataker of himſelf.when they preſume moſt.
Hence ſome have ſaid, Hell is full of Aſſurance and preſumption, Heaven full of fear and trembling, of doubting and mourning Chriſtians. The ſincere man ſeeks to hold his Integrity, the hypocrite onelyonly to hold his confidence, but a little integrity is worth a great deal of confidence. The ſincere Diſciples are noted all to bee ſelf-ſuſpicious, onelyonly Judas ſcorns to change his colour, and to bring himſelf into the leaſt ſuſpicion. I read of a Monk that dying blaſphemouſly ſaid, Da mihi vitam aternam quam debes.
3 Hee may be a man of excellent diſcourſe and language, Ahitophel was for wiſdome of words, an Oracle, Jethro a moral Pagan, gives inſtructions to Moſes the greateſt Prophet about managing civil affairs, and matters of Judicature. Exod. 18. 17, 18, 19.Very good Chriſtians may go to School to Plato, Aristotle, and Seneca, to learn morality, and finde in them many Exod. 18. 17, 18, 19.wiſe, and weighty ſentences; How did Balaams words drop piety, zeal, and Num. 23. 10. & 24. 3, 4, 5, 15.contempt of the world? Gamaliels ſpeech was very ſeaſonable to ſtop perſecution. Feſtus ſpeech was full of Juſtice. How Act. 25. 16. & …lt.diſcreetly did that Scribe diſcourſe with our Saviour. Mar. 12. 33. Good words are cheap. Many mens tongues are like Naphtalies hinde [let looſe, that give goodly words, whoſe hearts are not like Aſhers bread, full of Royal Dainties. Gen. 49. 21, 22 Joh. 12. 5, 6.Judas himſelf had words of oyl and butter, for his ſpeech, hee was the moſt charitable of all the Apoſtles, the poor mans friend, piety, and charity, and all grace ſeemed to bee poured into his lips. The other Apoſtles were all taken tardy in their ſpeeches one time or other; of Judas I never read hee was taxed. An hypocrite may bee more wary in his diſcourſe than ſometimes a gracious man is, the more the pity. James and John overſhot themſelves, Luke 9. 53. Philip, Joh. 6. 7. Andrew, Joh. 6. 9. Judas (not Iſcariot) Joh. 14. 22. Thomas, Joh. 20. 25. Nathaniel, Joh. 1. 46. Peter very often, as Luke 5. 8. Matth. 16. 22. Joh. 13. 8. & 21. 21. To ſay nothing of his denying, ſwearing, curſing once when time was, Judas was no curſer, ſwearer, nor inconſiderate ſpeaker, but a curſed hypocrite hee was.
5 The hypocrite may have ſtrange ſtirrings and pangs of conſcience at times, as if the Spirit began to move them at times, as it did ſometimes to Sampſon, Judg. 13. 25. Felix had once a trembling fit, Magus a ſhaking fit, when Peter came up, and cloſed with him, Thou art in the gall of bitterneſs, &c. Nebuchadnezzar had a falling fit, Dan. 2. 46. hee fell down before Daniel, and worſhipped; yet Chap. 3. 1. hee was ſetting up a golden Image, and it muſt bee worſhipped, and hee that ſaid of Daniels God, Chap. 2. 48. Of a truth it is that your God is a God of Gods, and a Lord of Lords; and thereupon at Daniels requeſt promoted Shadrach, Meſhach, and Abednego; in the next Chapter hee muſt have theſe men fall down and worſhip him, or his Image, or into his furnace they muſt bee caſt, and impiouſly asks what their God could do for them? Who is that God that can deliver you out of my hands? Pharaoh had his relenting Exod. 8. 28. & 9. 27. & 10. 16 1 Sam. 24. 16fit, and Saul a weeping fit, and as fits, they came and went away again. They returned from repenting to repenting, from a good repenting to a bad; from repenting of ſin, to repent of their repentance.
Now wee reckon a man to bee of ſuch a temper, as hee is conſtantly of, not a man hot who is ſo in a Feaver-fit, or cold who ſhakes in an Ague-fit, but whoſe habit and conſtitution is ſuch. Iſrael had many good fits.
1 A fit of love, Jer. 2. 2. a Hony-moon, as wee ſay, I remember the kindneſs of thy youth, the love of thine Eſpouſals, &c.
2 A fit of Gratitude, Exod. 4. 31. They bowed the head, and worſhipped, when they heard the tydings of Gods remembring and viſiting them.
3 A fit of faith, Exod. 14. 31. They beleeved God, and his ſervant Moſes.
4 A promiſing fit, Exod. 19. 19.
5 A ſinging fit, Pſal. 106. 12.
6 Crying fits, which were commonly their beſt fits, Judg. 10. 10. All but fits, all like a morning cloud, or the early dew. But many a murmuring fit, tempting, rebelling fit, whoring fit, a tempting fit that held forty years, Pſal. 95. 10. A whoring fit that laſted three hundred and ninety years, Ezek. 4. 5. Long fits! not like a Quartan that hath one bad day, two good, but a conſtant Quotidian or double Tertian, one good day may bee in a year, or in his age. Thus the hypocrite is all fits, ſhort fits, like our winter ſolſtice, ſhort dayes, long nights, conſtant freezing weather, no warmth; or like ſome trees which are as full of bloſſomes at Spring, as ever they can hang, but bear no fruit all the year after.
SECT. 2. Contains five other ſteps of the ſecond Ladder.
6 An hypocrite may be overwhelmed with doleful trouble and reſtleſneſs of minde after ſome foul ſin committed, which hath ſet conſcience all in a flame, hee may have a ſight of that particular ſin, feel the weight of it, draw water to quench that flame, and do any thing, run, ride, groan, cry, to get peace. What ado did Judas make, and what a coyl did hee keep: Hee was like a wilde Bull in a net (as the Prophet ſaith) full of the Iſa. 51. 20.fury of the Lord, and ſo is many an hypocrite beſides. Storms are no ſign the Spring is come, but bloſſomes and fruit appearing, though uſually there are ſtorms at ſpring, yet oft there are ſharp ſtorms in the dead of Winter, and troubles of conſcience, ſhew not the ſpring of Grace ſo well as hopeful bloſſomes, and appearances of new fruit towards.
7 Extraordinary joyes and raptures of ſpirit an hypocrite may have alſo. The ſtony ground had much ſpiritual joy, no ſorrow, ſowed in joy, but reaped in tears. The Country-man joyes not to ſee the Spring over forward, by much experience hee findes a nipping blaſt comes and endangers all the over-forward bloſſomes; it is not kindly to ſee Midſummer weather in March; the fair and glorious morning oft fore-goes the moſt ſtormy day, and the warm day in Winter breeds a ſtorm wee ſay. Your over early joyes are much to bee ſuſpected, to cry Victory, when you are putting on your harneſs proclaimes more confidence, than ſafety or prudence. To bee made rich of a ſudden begets not more wonder than ſuſpicion, thou mayeſt wonder at, others ſuſpect thy ſudden joyes. A warm day ſhews not Summer to bee come, but many warm dayes together, and the ripening of the fruit. Good fruits ſhew the good Chriſtian, rather than much joy and peace.
Wee read of the hypocrites fear, Iſa. 33. 16. His Woe, Matth. 23. 13, 14. His Portion, Matth. 24. 51. So wee read oft of the hypocrites hope, Job 8. 13. & 27. 8. The hypocrites joy, Job 20. 3. Triumphing, the top of joy, ibid. Confidence the higheſt 1 King. 16. 15.of Triumph, Job 18. 14. But all is but 1 King. 1. 49. …0.for a moment, as ſhort as Zimries reigne, yea as Adonijahs Kingdome, or Caninius Rebilus, his Conſulſhip of half a day, upon whom Tully broke that ſmart jeaſt, O …igilantem conſulem qui toto conſulatus ſui tempore ſomnum occulis non vidit, Oh moſt vigilant Conſul, that can ſay, hee never laid his eyes together to ſleep all the time of his Conſulſhip.
8 An hypocrite may bee lifted and carried up to heaven in a Chariot of the ſweeteſt, richeſt, and moſt precious Goſpel-Ordinances and Injoyments, Matth. 11. 23. So was Capernaum, yet thrown down to hell. As the godly is oft like the Ball ſtricken down with force, and riſeth by rebound the higher, Saul ſtruck to the ground, yea to hell almoſt, yet raiſed up to bee a choſen veſſel above all others, when you ſee this caſting down ſay, There ſhall bee a lifting up, Job 22. 29. So when you ſee men full fed, ill liking, their teaching high, living low, ſay there is one will have a ſad fall from heaven to hell. The Lark ſpringing up by many degrees ſings a while, when at the higheſt, comes down all at once to the ground; or the Bullet, the higher it is ſhot upwards comes down more ſpeedily and violently. The children of the Kingdome are caſt into the worſt darkneſs, Matth. 8. 12. Hypocrites and Ordinances, hypocrites and their godly Miniſters muſt have as ſad a parting as Elias and Eliſha, the one taken up to heaven, the other left behinde, yea thrown into hell, in vain crying out, My Father, My Father, My Miniſter, My Miniſter. How apt are wee to truſt in ſuch lying words, The Temple of the Lord. Wee have Moſes and the Prophets, Chriſt and the Apoſtles. And in diſdain to others, ſay as they to the blinde man, Thou art born in ſin, wilt thou teach us? Bee thou this mans Diſciple, wee are Moſes Diſciples. Wee Joh. 9. 28, 29.(ſay they) are too well to change, too old to bee new taught. Wee are ſure wee have Moſes of our ſide, what care wee for more? Thus Profeſſors may bee lifted up, bee children of the Kingdome, bee Virgins, Concubines, which is more, Queens which is higher, yet not Spouſes, Cant. 6. 8. They may be as a ſignet on the right hand, yet pulled off, though of gold, when the leaſt finger ſhall bee Iſa. 2. 23. Jer. 22. 23.preſerved and ſpared, and not parted with.
9 Hee may bee much reformed as to former ſins, a partial external, temporary (not univerſal, inward, total) reformation an hypocrite may attain to. Hence the Scripture ſaith of ſuch, The unclean ſpirit is gone out, They are empty, ſwept, and garniſhed. Matth. 12. 43, 44.Empty of former foul vices, ſwept by the beeſome of Ordinances and Profeſſion, from open prophaneneſs, and garniſhed with new expreſſions, and ornamental carriage; but the Harlots mouth is but wiped, not heart-changed; the out-ſide is waſhed, the inſide is as filthy, vain, or worldly, the ſepulchre is but painted, it is full of rottenneſs within. They are ſaid in ſome ſenſe to have eſcaped pollution, 2 Pet. 2. 20. yea in ſome ſort to bee ſanctified, Heb. 10. 29. yet all this while hypocrites. They change their wayes, Jer. 2. 36. Trim their wayes, Jer. 2. 33. To ſeek love, as hee ſaith, but never amend their wayes, Jer. 7. 3.
10 Hee may go ſo far as to bee in love with ſpiritual excellencies, ambitious of ſuch gifts, and graces, as may ſet him off the better, ſo as to count all as nothing without them, yea bee willing to give any mony, and bee at any coſt and pains to purchaſe them, as Magus was to Act. 8. 18, 19get the Holy Ghoſt, and the gifts of it.
SECT. 3. Contains five ſteps more.
11 Hee may go yet further, Grow up in time to bee an experienced Chriſtian in a great degree and meaſure. Here is a high ſtep indeed. The higheſt ſome think that an hypocrite may go. The Apoſtle deſcribes it thus, Heb. 6. 4. a trying and ſhaking Scripture, that hath made many an Oak and Cedar to ſhake. They have been enlightned, have taſted of the heavenly gift, been made partakers of the Holy Ghoſt, have taſted of the good word of God, and of the powers of the world to come, yet fall as the unripe figs fall off the Tree. Here are five high ſteps.
1 To have been much enlightned with the knowledge of the Scriptures and myſteries of ungodlineſs, to ſee his own miſery by nature, and hope of help by Chriſt.
2 To have taſted (this word taſte implies experience) of the heavenly gift, of illumination, conviction, humiliation, ſins bitterneſs, promiſes ſweetneſs, graces amiableneſs, and the myſteries of godlineſs.
3 To have taſted alſo the good word of God, to bee caſt down by it, gladded by it, ſtung by it, healed by it, to like it, to commend it, to preach it, to beleeve it.
4 To have taſted the Powers of the world to come, to have known the Terrror 2 Cor. 5. 11. Pſal. 90. 11.of the Lord, and the powers of his wrath, to bee amazed with the apprehenſions of Hell, Judgement, and Eternity; and again to have felt for a time the joyes of heaven, and the felicity of the bleſſed; hee hath travelled all the Regions of Hell, and Heaven, and ſeen the pains of the damned, and hath paſſed the Suburbs into the very gates of heaven, and ſeen the glory of the bleſſed; and hee hath taſted the power of both, to bee terrified or comforted.
5 And all this by the help of the Holy Ghoſt, whereof hee is made a partaker, in theſe common gifts, though in a more extraordinary manner, yet hee falls at laſt. Oh Lucifer what a fall was thine! Oh hypocrites what a fall will this bee! Bee not high minded, but fear. Many ſad examples in this kinde our Land and this Age hath afforded, never ſo many, never ſo ſad. As it befell the Spies, they had viewed the Land of Canaan, Num. 13.they had been in it, gone al… over it, taſted the fruit, ſhewed others of the cluſters thereof; they could diſcourſe of the Land, could commend it, tell their own experiences, yet this was all the part they had in it, they never inherited it.
12 Hee may come to bee very ſenſible of his ſpiritual miſery, and cry out how great his ſin is, how inſupportable Gods wrath is, hee cryes out of Gods hard dealing with him; hee thinks himſelf the unhappieſt of men, and concludes there is no miſery like that of being caſt off by God, as Saul, 1 Sam. 28. 15. yea hee may in this caſe bee willing to run and ride, to hear, inquire, and take any courſe for eaſe, go with his flocks and herds to ſeek God, Hoſ. 5. 6. As Saul went from duty to duty, to one Prophet, to another Prophet, hee tried Viſions, tried Dreams, tried the Prophets, tried all, but could get no comfort, yea when hee ſeeth his caſe is thus, hee ſheds many a ſalt tear, and makes a bitter lamentation as Eſau did, Heb. 12. 17. as having his heart broken under ſenſe of wrath, not under ſorrow for ſin, and yet hee periſheth. His tears come too late, or they are extorted, not kindly penitential tears flowing from a heart full of contrition and deteſtation of ſin. The hard marble ſometimes wee ſee ſtandeth on drops, and is all wet with tears, but it is againſt ſome weather, they are onelyonly outward tears, the marble is nothing ſoftned when it weeps, they are cold tears, they are ſoon dried off again by change of weather, ſuch are the tears of hypocrites.
13 Hee may have ſome remoter relation to Chriſt, and intereſt in him as hee conceives by vocation, imployment and adherence (as the branch to the Vine) where there is no real inſition, ingraffing, incorporating into Chriſt, no lively union with him ſeen in our ſhooting into him, growing up into him, Eph. 4. 15. and bearing of fruit according to ſuch an union. Hell is full of ſuch branches, they are caſt into the fire, Joh. 15. 2, 6. Hee is to Chriſt as a branch or twig ſtuck into the bark of a tree, but not put into the pith and bowels of it, is not bound to gether, cloſed, that there may bee a coalition, and may become one together. Theſe may bee green a while, but ſhortly wither, or as the Miſſletow, or Ivy to to the Oak, there they are, and both are greener than the natural branches of the tree in Winter, but have a root of their own, bear no fruit, nor timber, at length are torn away. But the ſoul that deſireth ſound peace muſt not ſatisfie himſelf in this that hee is one of the children of the Kingdome, Matth. 8. 12. but one of the children of the King, and bee able to produce an Authentick pedigree by the new birth, and new life, or hee may with thoſe Prieſts who could not ſhew their Pedigree by a lineal and unqueſtioned deſcent from Aaron the High Prieſt, bee debarred from the priviledge of holy things, Ezra 2. 63. They muſt not content themſelves to bee of the outer Court, Rev. 11. but of the inner Temple, nor to bee children of the Kingdome, but of the Family, yea of the Bride-chamber, not to bee ſervants, but ſons, The ſervant may bee caſt out of the houſe, the ſon abideth ever, Joh. 8. 35. nor to bee Friends, or Kinſmen to the Bridegroom, but to have a propriety, a Contract and Covenant-propriety, and intereſt in the Bridegroom. Hee that hath the Bride is the Bridegroom: And ſhee that hath the Bridegroom is the Bride. Reſt not till thou canſt ſay, I am my beloveds, and my …eloved is mine. And as Chriſt gloried in ſaying, I and my Father are one, Joh. 10. 30. one eſſentially, So do thou when thou canſt ſay, Chriſt and I are one conjugally. As hee ſaid, The living Father ſent mee, and I live by the Father, Joh. 6. 57. So reſt not till thou canſt ſay, The living Son of God who quickneth whom hee will, hath enlivened mee, and I live not, but Chriſt liveth in mee, and the life I live in the fleſh is by faith of the Son of God, who loved mee, and gave himſelf for mee, Gal. 2. 20.
14 Hee may do many remarkable ſervices in the Church, yea for the Church, hee may preach profitably and powerfully, Matth. 7. 22. Phil. 1. 15. hee may bee as the ſilver Trumpet, call the Aſſembly Num. 10. 2.to God, and not go himſelf, bee a Bridge to others to paſs over the water and lake of hell, yet himſelf ſtand in it; a door to let others go into the houſe, yet go not in himſelf, the glaſs to hold the wine for others to drink, but taſtes none it ſelf, a Lamp that ſpends it ſelf to give Take heed of a fic vos non vobis here.light to others, yet hath no part in it it ſelf. Hee may bee as the Porter that carries another mans treaſure, but hath no part in it, onelyonly is paid for the carriage a groat or ſixpence. If Miniſters bee not partakers of the Goſpel with beleevers, 1 Cor. 9, 23. they have but a ſlender recompence of reaping temporals, for ſowing ſpirituals. The Counſellor hath the peruſing, and keeping of his Clients Evidence, but the Land not his.
15 Hee may bee ſo well, as to his own thinking to have done nothing amiſs, which hee needs to bee humbled for; he is one of the ninety nine, that never went aſtray, hee is one of thoſe that need no repentance. Luke 15. 7. Matth. 18. 13. Luke 18. 11. Gen. 20. 4, …: Luke 15. 29.Such a one was Saul, 1 Sam. 15. 13. 20. There was no convincing of him, but hee had done all which was commanded. The Phariſee had done nothing amiſs. Abimelech was righteous and innocent, if hee may bee his own judge. The Prodigals brother had never offended in all his life, the father was rather to blame than hee, Non deeſt qui impleat, deest qui Jubeat, hee ſaith with the proud Pelagian. Laodicea wanted nothing, no not any thing. The young man had Rev. 3. 17. Matth. 19. 20.kept all, hee rather wanted more Commandements, than more obedience. The ſloathful ſervant brought forth his Talent, if any was to blame it muſt needs bee the hard Maſters, not the careful ſervant, and others plead not guilty. Jer. 2. 25. Mat. 25. 24.Becauſe I am innocent, ſurely his anger ſhall turn from mee; Behold I will plead with thee, ſaith the Lord, becauſe thou ſayeſt, I have not ſinned. The like Hoſ. 12. 8. They ſhall finde no iniquity in mee, that were ſin. Oh how great is that Generation that are pure in their own eyes, yet are not waſhed from their filthineſs? Prov. 30. 11.
SECT. 4. The five laſt ſteps of the ſecond Ladder.
16 Hee may live all his dayes in peace and proſperity. This is a high ſtep.
1 For outward proſperity, hee may have as much as heart can wiſh. Hee Pſal. 73. 7. Job 2…. 13.ſpendeth his dayes in mirth, and in a moment goes down to hell.
2 His ſoul may dwell at eaſe, and hee may have inward peace, Luke 11. 21. When the ſtrong man armed keepeth his houſe all is in peace, Pax ea, ſed bello pax ea deterior. But that is not the beſt peace wee have had longeſt, and coſt us leaſt. As ſome Nations are inriched by war, and beggered by peace. So the Chriſtian ever gets more by open wars, than peace with Satan. There is a peace which wee have been bred and born in wee ſhall bee fired out of: As wiſdome, ſo that peace is beſt that is dearly bought. The Canaanite was bred and born in Canaan, and enjoyed it long in peace▪ they and their Fathers at laſt were fired and rooted out of it, whereas the Iſraelites that had it by promiſe, and came hardly by it, after many a bloody battel fought, injoyed it peaceably. A man may get a Crown too eaſily by craft and treachery, as Zimri and Athaliah, but how long do 1 King. 16. 9. 2 King. 11. 12.they hold it? Adonijah came by the Crown too eaſily to injoy it long. Solomon whoſe it was from the Lord by promiſe, 1 King. 1. 25. 1 King. 2. 15.and by his Fathers deſignation, though hee came in with ſome difficulty, yet held it all his dayes, and in much peace. The hypocrite layes the foundation of his ſalvation with ſhouting on Peace, and the top-ſtone is peace too: The godly layes his foundation on Grace, and Grace is the Top-ſtone, onelyonly the foundation is laid in mourning, as the ſecond Temple was, Ezra 3. 13. but the Top-ſtone is laid on with ſhouting and rejoycing, Zach. 4. 7.
17 Or hee may after much trouble and diſquiet of conſcience, come to quiet and eaſe again. And now hee reckons himſelf ſafe indeed, and ſaith, What lack I yet? If trouble of conſcience bee good, I have had my part in that: If peace, I have that, if both, I have had both. But it matters not how ſoon and gently the ſore is cured, but how ſoundly; it may bee healed lightly, and break out again in a worſe manner, thy hurt of conſcience may be healed lightly and thou cryeſt Peace, peace, when as yet there is no peace. It matters not how rich a ſcarf thy broken arm is carried in, but how well it is ſet thy conſcience may now bee ſeared, which before was ſore when ſearched. How knoweſt thou but thou art the tree twice Jude v. 12.dead, thy conſcience being plucked up by the roots. The raging ſpirit is gone out, and a worſe ſpirit of ſlumber comes in the room of it, here the laſt ſtate is Rom. 11. 8.worſe than the firſt. Out of the fear into the pit, out of Charibdis into Scylla, eſcaping the ſword, thou dyeſt of the Peſtilen…e, Eaſe doth ſlay the ſilly one, the Pro. 1. 32.Scripture ſaith, and the proſperity of fools doth deſtroy them. It is given him to bee in ſafety, and therein hee reſteth and pleaſeth himſelf; but they are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low, and cut off as the tops of the ears of Job 24. 23, 24.corn. The ſalt is not the better if it ſmart not, nor the muſtard if it bite not, it were better if it made thy eyes run all over a water; ſo conſcience is then worſt when it doth not ſtimulate, excite, admoniſh check, and reprove thee.
18 Hee may bee dreſt as an Angel of light, and riſe up to ſuch perfections, and attainments as paſſeth, ſuch a man was Balaam, heare him ſpeak for himſelf, The Spirit of God came upon him, and hee Num. 24. 2, 3, 4, & 15, 16.took up his Parable and ſaid, Balaam the ſon of Beor hath ſaid, and the man whoſe eyes are open hath ſaid, hee hath ſaid who heard the words of God, which ſaw the viſion of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open; and verſe 16. hee ſaith the ſame, and addeth, Hee that knew the knowledge of God. There is a man for you. There are expreſſions ſomewhat like, as wee ſay, There is never a Quaker of them all could have ſaid more; nay never a true Prophet of God could ſay more. The true Meſſias came meek and lowly, a man of ſorrows, no come lineſs in him, no man Matth. 21. 5. Iſa. 53. 2, 3.cared for him, hee came in his Fathers name, no man received him, when others came in their owne name, and were honoured, Joh. 5. 43. Nor John Baptiſt neither, the one a Devil, the Matth. 11. 18.other a Glutton, both ſleighted. But the falſe Chriſts, they were the men, they had the ſpirit, they ſhewed the ſignes and wonders, and took upon them to foretell things to come. Theſe all magnifie, but the few Elect, Matth. 24. 24. The true Prophets were hiſſed at, and diſdained as a company of ſowre and ſilly men. Micaiah could ſay nothing but the word of the Lord, The word, the word; but Zedekiah his Antagoniſt 1 King. 22. 19 v. 11.hee gets him horns of Iron and layes about him like a Prophet indeed, with more confidence and reputation too. Hananiah the falſe Prophet in a Prophetical ſtrain, takes off Jeremies yoak, and breaks it, and propheſies upon it very luſtily and plauſibly, and hee carries away the bell from poor Jeremy: And Jer. 28. 10, 11.when the true Apoſtles were obſcured as deſpicable and inconſiderable perſons, counted no more of than the duſt under our feet, as the filth and off-ſcouring of all things. The falſe Apoſtles were foreign. 1 Cor. 4. 13.the blazing ſtars, Angels of light, Men that had a better ſpirit, more light, a clearer Goſpel-way, and higher Revelations. They were called foreign Apoſtles. The grand and extraordinarily eminent Apoſtles, 2 Cor. 11. 5. So that at any time the hypocrite may vye with the ſincere man, and out-go him, and take up the Apoſtles challenge, and ſay, Are they Iſraelites? So am I; Are they Chriſtians? So am I; Saints are they? So am I; Are they Stars? I am a Planet, bigger than any fixed ſtar; a blazing ſtar, that ſhews bigger, and cauſeth more wonderment than ſtars or planets. Are they Apoſtles? I am an Angel of light; yea I ſpeak fooliſhly in this confidence of boaſting, I am more. In labours more abundant, in making Proſelites more diligent and ſucceſsful, in duties more frequent, in gifts more excellent, in expreſſions more Seraphical; in parts above meaſure, and though in life more rude and diſſolute, yet in knowledge more admired, my way more extolled, my principles more imbraced, my ſpeakings more frequented, my out-ſide more adorned, my heart more elevated, and on all hands more eſteemed. Well bee it ſo: Wee muſt bee content to bee fools for Chriſt, that theſe may bee wiſe, as the Apoſtle 1 Cor. 4. 10.ſaith.
There are many ſtrange and incredible things that ſome are ſaid to have done beyond the vulgar Profeſſors reach, and the ordinary beleevers attainments. Many ſtories of high ſtrains wee read, and as many and ſtrange our Affrick (quae quotidie aliquid monſtri profert) breeds, and brings forth to the amuſing and aſtoniſhing of many unſettled ones, not onelyonly do the Patiſts tell us of their St. Francis, that hee was often in ſuch extaſies a whole day and night together that hee could not ſpeak one word, therefore gave charge to his Scholar Len, that hee ſhould not ſo much as call him off to prayers. And of their Shee-Saint Clare, they ſay that ſhee was in a trance, and ſo continued thirty dayes together, not ſo much as minding any earthly thing, nor taking a bit of meat. But St. Auſtin tells us what hee hath ſeen and known of his own knowledge. I my ſelf, ſaith hee, have ſeen a man that could bee all over in a ſweat whenſoever hee pleaſed: And ſome others, hee ſaith, had tears at command, and could weep abundantly at pleaſure: And hee Ipſe ſum expectus ſudare hominem ſolere quum vellet, &c See. l. 14. Civ. Dei. c. 24.tells of one Reſtitutus, that when hee pleaſed could make dolefull lamentations with his voyce, ſo that hee lay for ſenſeleſs, and for dead, that pinch him, prick him, or burn him with fire, hee felt nothing at preſent, yea hee ſtopped his own breath ſo artificially, that none could perceive that he took any breath, yet could hee perfectly remember what was ſpoken by any in thoſe fits.
19 Here is a high ſtep indeed (hee is almoſt at the top) hee may have the whole form of godlineſs to the full, 2 Tim. 3. 3. There are three forms an hypocrite may have.
1 The form of Knowledge, Rom. 2. 20.
2 The form of ſound words and doctrine, 2 Tim. 1. 13.
3 The whole form of fair living, and of an unreproved converſation, 2 Tim. 3. 3.
But there are three things hee wants. Three forms,
1 Chriſt to bee formed in him, Gal. 4. 19.
2 His heart to bee moulded into the right form of doctrine, Rom. 6. 17.
3 To bee transformed in the renewing of his minde, that ſo hee might expreſs Rom. 12. 2.the power of godlineſs as well as the form.
Theſe three forms dant eſſe, the other three dant apparere to the Chriſtian, they ſhew him like a Chriſtian, theſe make him bee one.
Oh it is hard to tell, and ſad to think how far an hypocrite may go in this road and periſh. Hee may bee a knowing man and periſh, a Profeſſor and periſh, a Virgin and periſh, a child of the Kingdome and periſh, bee lifted up to heaven, and periſh, bee called and periſh, beleeve and periſh, repent and periſh, love and periſh, ſeek heaven and periſh, run and periſh, Matth. 22. 14. Act. 8. Mat. 28. Rev 2. 4. Luke 13. 14. 1 Cor 9. 24.pray and periſh, weep and periſh, hope well and periſh, live well and periſh, have a Talent and periſh, keep his talent and periſh, bee a ſignet on Gods right hand and periſh, have the whole form of godlineſs, and periſh.
20 Laſtly, and here you ſee him at the top of the Ladder to bee preſently turned off, and at the point of his execution, Hee may after all this dye in peace. The laſt Ladder brought one hypocrite to his end, and that was more ſad, to dye penitently; this brings another to his end who dyes as Agag more chearfully, hee dyes in peace, hee makes his Will, and bequeaths his ſoul to God in full aſſurance of eternal life, &c. and then it muſt needs ſtand; but both are alike dangerous. Let Saul dye by the hand of a Philiſtine his enemy, or by the hand of an Amalakite his friend, all is one, his life is loſt. Let the hypocrite dye more terribly and repenting, more ſecurely and beleeving all is one, his life is loſt without all recovery. Now an hypocrite may go up to the top of this Piſgah, and take a view of the land of promiſe before his death, yet never come nearer it, and ſee it no more. And then may that doleful lamentation bee taken up for him that is threatned to Babylon, The fruits that thy ſoul luſted after, are departed Rev. 18. 14.from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee (and that which follows is moſt ſad of all, and will break thy very heart for ever) and thou ſhalt finde them at all no more. The voyce of Pipers and Harpers ſhall bee heard no more at all in thee, the voyce of the Bridegroom and bride ſhall bee heard no more at all in thee, nor ſo much as the light of a candle ſhall ſhine any more at all in thee, but utter darkneſs, extream torments, and eternal miſery.
But thus may an hypocrite dye the Pſalmiſt tells us, Pſal. 73. 3. 4. As hee hath no trouble in his life, hee hath no bands in his death. Death ſeems rather bound than hee, and death more afraid of him, than hee of it. How often do wee hear ſuch men ſay, Welcome God, welcome by the grace of God. I have reſolved my ſelf, I am fit for death, I am ſure of heaven, and ſo hee ſets it down in his Will, and then hee muſt needs dye a bleſſed death, a peaceable, and comfortable death, hee dyed like a Lamb. And as was ſaid of Abner, is ſaid of him, 2 Sam. 3. 33, 34.Dyed Abner as a fool, thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into ſetters. Thou hadſt no trouble of conſcience but didſt depart in peace. Wicked Nabal departed thus, hee dyed as a ſtone, no fear, no horror, but a fair Courſe as you ſhould ſee. And wee ſay commonly they dye as Lambs, when as wee may ſay with Jeremy rather, They are made drunke, they Jer. 51. 39, 40.rejoyce, and ſleep a perpetual ſleep, and I will bring them down like Lambs to the ſlaughter. They leap into the midſt of hell with as much confidence as that Roman leaped into the midſt of the Gulph, armed at all points in his bravery M. Curtius.and gallantry. Hee goes out as Haman to a Banket, and it proves his fatal day of Execution, hee expects with the Baker, at this Lottery to draw preferment, and hee draws death. Many a wicked man goeth Judg. 11. 34, 35to his long home with as much joy as Jepthe to his own houſe after all his labour and hazard, expecting reſt, honour, comfort, and goes home with mirth and muſick, and juſt at the Threſhold his daughter, and darling ſin meets him in the face, and gives him a ſad welcome home, at fight whereof hee is ſtricken dead, and there is an end of all his muſick. As the Syrians were lead blinde-fold by the Prophet, and 2 King. 6. 18, 19, 20.knew not whether, till hee had delivered them into the hands of the King they fought. againſt, Then were their eyes opened, ſo are many by ſecurity betrayed into the hands of their deadly enemy Satan, and their eyes never opened till they are in the jaws of hell, Iſa. 57. 2. The godly man is ſaid to enter into peace at death. Then his peace begins. The wicked may depart in (but not into) peace, but into pain, he dyes in peace, and his peace dyes with him. They muffle their conſciences as condemned Malefactors when led to execution uſe to muffle their faces, as if there were more hurt and danger in ſeeing and forethinking, than feeling the ſtroak of death, or pains of hell.