The Sinfulness of Evil Thoughts, Treatise · Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI. The hypocriticall thought.
LAſtly, we may not forget the hypocriticall thought, which makes the heart as bad as any other. What are we better if we have not Atheiſticall, Blaſphemous, or hard thoughts of God, if we have low, baſe and diſhonorable thoughts, not glorifying him as God, an heart ſearching omniſcient God. There is no greater abomination in the eyes of God, no greater reproach to the Church, and no ſtranger monſter in the world then the hypocrite is. In face and ſpeech he is an Angel, in heart and life a devill, hath a head of Gold, feet of clay, and heart of dirt. He is a black feind in a Prophets mantle, an Iſraelite with a Babyloniſh Garment and wedge of Gold in his tent, a Syrian outwardly cleanſed, in heart a Rimmonite; a diſciple with a Bagge, and a devill with an holy Soppe; a Pſudo-nicodemite, by day with Chriſt, by night with the High Prieſts in their Conclave; a baſtard Moſes, who puts on a vaile when he appeares before God, or before Iſrael, puts it off when he comes into his cloſet, or among his companions. He hath ever a cloven foot, a cloven heart and cloven tongue, that you may know whoſe child he is: He haltes between God and Baal, God and Rimmon, God and Mammon, God and Molech. He hath a cloven foot, with one knee bowing to God, with the other to Rimmon; he hath a cloven, or double heart, with one heart embracing God, with the other Mammon; a cloven tongue too, he can ſwear by God, and ſweare by Malcham too. He can pronounce Zeph. 1. 5.Shibboleth and Sibboleth too, and can ſpeak the language of Canaan and the language of Aſhdod both. Theſe will needs purſue Chriſt and profeſſion, as Aſahell dogged Abner, whom he would have been ſhut off, that he might not have deſtroyed him. Turn thee 2 Sam. 2. 22:aſide to the right, or left hand, and take any other mans ſpoils, or garments but leave me; But he would not turn aſide from following him, Till Abner lift up his ſpear, and ſmote him under the fift rib. Theſe had better be any thing then Profeſſors, and follow any one then Chriſt. He will at length give them their deaths wound: All their ſacrifices are abomination, as being offered with leaven, and wanting the Salt of ſincerity. What an Iſraelite, and ſteale and diſſemble Lev. 2. 13. Joſh. 7. 11. Jer. 42. 20. Ez. 33. 32. Act. 5. 1. Ezek. 14. 4.too as Achan? Proteſt, promiſe, and vow, and yet diſſemble as Johanan? hear, make loves and diſſemble as Ezekiels hearers? Profeſſe and diſſemble as Ananias? Preach and diſſemble as Judas? Beleeve and diſſemble as Magus? Come before God with Idoles in your hearts. Ah Sirs, God will not be mocked, God will not be enquired of by ſuch! God will anſwer them by himſelf. All Idols are abomination, but the Idol in the heart, is the greateſt: All falſhood is abomination to the Lord, falſity in a ballance, falſity in the ſpeech, but moſt of all in the heart.
As truth commends every thing that good is, and makes it much better, ſo falſity debaſeth every thing that ſeemes never ſo good, and makes it ſtark naught, what more delightfull to heare then good news? It is good if true we ſay. So are gold, Jewels, Pearls highly valued if true, not counterfeit.
A true profeſſor, and a true Iſraelite indeed, who knows his worth how highly doth Jo. 1. 47.God eſteem him? a Prophet, how highly is he honoured in the Church, above another profeſſor? but he muſt be a true Prophet; an Apoſtle above a Prophet, if a true Apoſtle; The Meſſias above them all, but it muſt be the true Meſſias then; And God above him too, but it muſt be the true God. On the other ſide, how doth falſity debaſe every thing: A falſe ballance bad, a falſe tongue worſe, a falſe heart worſe ſtill, a falſe Profeſſor worſe yet, a counterfeit Apoſtle, or falſe Prophet worſe yet, A falſe Religion, or fained Goſpel worſe ſtill, But a falſe Chriſt, and a falſe God worſt of all.
Kings proceed againſt ſuch as traitors, who adulterate their Coyn, and ſtamp their Image on baſe mettall; what will be done to them, can we imagine, that ſhall be found guilty of adulterating Gods Coyne, and ſtamping the Image and ſuperſcription of God, and the Effigies of holy profeſſion, upon a baſe droſſy heart, and ſpotted life?