The Hypocrite Discovered and Cured, Book 1 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. The Reaſon and Vſe of the Treatiſe. A prevention of miſtake. The order or method propounded to be followed.
I Have undertaken the Hypocrite, The uſe & benefit of the Treatiſe.his Diſcoverie, and his Cure. An hard taske, I confeſſe, but very neceſſary; and in ſuch times as theſe moſt neceſſary and uſefull. For as the Church in all ages hath been ever full of unſound members, a Cain living in externall communion with Abel, an Iſhmael with Iſaac, a Judas with the Apoſtles, a Demas with the Diſciples, bran with the meale, bad fiſh in the drawnet, tares in the wheat-field: So eſpecially in the time of the Churches credit, when Jeruſalem is made a praiſe in the Earth, many that were ſtrange unto her, and that were wont to looke upon her, as if they had not knowne her, will then be of her acquaintance, and claime friendſhip, that they may partake of her Reputation. The Samaritan will be of neare kindred to the Jewes, when they are in proſperity; and when the feare of the Jewes is upon the Nations, many of the Nations will joyne themſelves unto them.
Bleſſed be God that we live to ſee Religion beginning to recover her lovelineſſe, and that men confeſſe ſhe is beautifull; but we will not believe, that all who now wooe and court her, are in love with her; for ſeeing they were aſhamed of her raggs, we may ſuppoſe they are now taken with her Dowry, not with her face; and pretend love, becauſe the preſent State doth countenance and bid ſo faire a Portion with her.
We muſt needs ſay, that the time hath been, that ſome hard and drie froſts have locked up the Earth, that little fruit hath ſprung up, and thoſe fruits of holineſſe which did ſpring were too much nipt and blaſted. We have felt of late ſome warme and comfortable ſhowers, a feeding and refreſhing raine: but as that weather is good for the Corne, ſo it brings up likewiſe abundance of Weeds. Hypocrites come up thicke and grow faſt in ſuch ſeaſons. As this point therefore is alwaies uſefull, ſo eſpecially now in ſuch a time as this moſt ſeaſonable and neceſſary, that we may have ſome helpe in ſome meaſure to underſtand other men; and may be able every one to diſcerne our owne hearts, that we deceive not our ſelves, which is indeed the principall thing that I aime at, 2 Cor. 13.5. 1 Cor. 13.7. Rom. 14 4.and which the Scriptures conſtantly commend unto us, To prove and judge our ſelves; not to be apt to ſuſpect, to condemne others.
And here let me take occaſion once for all, A prevention of miſtake.before I enter upon the worke, to put in a caveat againſt the prejudices, to which ſuch a Diſcourſe as this may be ſubject, and againſt the ill uſe which worldly and carnall men may put it unto. I know that all ſpeech of and againſt Hypocriſie is acceptable to prophane men, who preſently turne the edge of every Tryall and Reproofe this way, upon the breaſts of all that are (as they are called for diſtinction) Profeſſours, and doe account every Profeſſour to be an Hypocrite, and doe hate the godly under this pretence, Mat. 27.63. 2 Cor. 6.8.that they are Hypocrites. Chriſt was called a Deceiver, and ſo they reckoned the Apoſtles. So that Religion and Godlineſſe come to be hated under other names and colours. But let ſuch men know, that they ſhall ſtumble at my very threſhold, if they faſten any ſuch intentions upon my preſent Deſigne, or upon my thoughts, which are full of honour toward all them that feare God, and walke before him in an holy, open and publike Profeſſion of his name, which is ſo neceſſary, that ordinarily there is no ſalvation without it; according to that of the Apoſtle, with the heart man beleeveth unto righteouſneſſe, Rom 10.10. Vid Abra. Scultet. Conc. 1. in Iſa. 44.and with the mouth confeſſion is made unto ſalvation. We muſt all be Confeſſours (as the old Church called them who ſhone forth in an holy life, or as this age cals them, Profeſſours) though we come not all to the honour of Martyrdome: and if any be aſhamed of Chriſt, Mark. 8.58. Luk. 9.26.18.8. 2 Tim. 2.12. Iſa. 44.5.of them will Christ be aſhamed before his Father. Shall that then be generally cenſured for Hypocriſie, which God requires of us, as a neceſſary duty? If any man therefore ſhall ſay, He is the Lords, and call himſelfe by the name of Jacob, and ſhall ſubſcribe with his hand unto the Lord, and ſurname himſelfe by the name of Iſrael: Be tender of ſuch a mans reputation, and be not ready to entertaine a charge againſt him raſhly, but reſpect him for his cloth ſake, and the liverie that he weares. Oh diſgrace not theſe ſervants of God, for God who is their Maſter will revenge their diſgrace; Jude ver. 15.yea Chriſt will account all your hard ſpeeches to have bin ſpoken againſt himſelfe.
We ſee how dangerous it may prove to judge others, but againſt our ſelves we may be ſafely ſevere, and unleſſe in ſome ſpeciall caſes of Deſertion and Despaire, we may apply all rules of Diſcoverie and cenſure to our ſelves thoroughly, without hazard. And this I profeſſe to be my main Scope, to put a candle into every mans hand, when he is alone by himſelf in a dark roome.
The order that I have propoſed to follow in this Treatiſe; The method of the whole Treatiſe.ſhall be to enquire into,
1. The Definition of Hypocrioſie; what it is.
2. The Kinds of it.
3. The Subject.
4. The Symptomes.
5. The Prognosticks.
6. The Cauſes.
7. The Cure of it.