The Hypocrite Discovered and Cured, Book 1 · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. 4. Symptomes of Hypocriſie in reſpect of Duties. Partiality in Duties.
THe Symptome that I here conſider is this, Hypocrites partiall in Duties.that whereas we find hypocrites performing many duties, they have not a faire ecuall and ſincere reſpect to every duty, but make their choice. Saul will ſacrifice, but not obey. And the Phariſees were ſuch men, Luk. 11.42. Exo. 32 15, 16. The Tables were writtē on both thei…ſides foreign on the one ſide & on the other (as the LXX, hinc & binc), were they written, & the Tables were the worke of God, and the writing was the writing of God Vid. Guid. Pancirol de reb memor. l. 1. ch. de Char. liter & Henr. Salmuth. not. ad Opiſthographos. See M Stock Com. on Mal. 3.5. L Ve…ulam, Medi…. Sacrae, … 7.as we perceive by that ſpeech of our Saviour, Woe unto you Phariſees, fir yee tith mint and rue and all manner of hearbes, and paſſe over judgement and the love of God; theſe ought yee to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Here was ſomewhat performed that was a duty, but a paſſing over of others, like a husband-man that plucks a ſide his plow and makes a balke, when he comes to an hard and ſtiffe peece of ground; ſomewhat done that ought to be done, but other things as neceſſary left undone. Such men ſerve not Gods will, but their owne choice; They make a difference of the Tables, as if only one ſide were of Gods writing; as if both had not the ſame equall authority.
There are ſome that ſeeme to have a care of the firſt Table, they will heare frequently, pray in their Family, hate Idols, avoyd raſh oathes, keepe the Sabbath, &c. but have little of no regard of the ſecond, but live in malice, covetouſneſſe, oppreſſion, ſlandering, diſobedience, &c. The reaſon why Hypocrites boaſt of the works of the firſt Table, which are Adoration and duty towards God, is double, both becauſe ſuch works have a greater pompe and demonſtration of Holineſſe, and alſo, becauſe they do leſſe croſſe their affections and deſires. The Apoſtle takes this way to convict hypocrites, by ſending them from the works of ſacrifice to the works of mercy, which are the works of diſtinction, whereby to find out hypocrites, according to that of the Apoſtle, Pure Relegion and undefiled with God the Father is this; to viſit the fatherleſſe and widowes in their afflictions. Others are ſecond Table men, they deale juſtly, they obey laws, they are liberall to the poore, &c. but they care not for Religion, they condemne all forwardneſſe, as a ſilly preciſeneſſe, they come to Church and heare drouſily, careleſly; they care not for the Sabbath, but count it a wearineſſe unto them, eſpecially to heare twice and to performe the other duties of the day, and are ready to thinke of it, as profanely as one of late writ of it, who after he hath related the practiſe of ſome, whom he condemnes for Preciſians, in their preparatory duties, publick Church duties, private Family duties, and ſecret duties of that day, ſaith, It is ſuch a toyle as that he would not put his horſe to it. Some will performe eaſie duties, but paſſe by the difficult; they are forward in applauded, commended duties, but ſlarinke from ſuch as are leſſe accounted of, or expoſed to more cenſure. But this indeed is not to ſerve God at all, when God is not ſerved fully; which appeares by that cenſure given by the Holy Ghoſt in the pen of the writer of the Hiſtory of the Kings, concerning the ſtrange Nations which planted in Samaria; 2 Kin. 17.33, 34.They feared the Lord and ſerved their owne gods after their owne manner, they feared not the Lord. Their feare of the Lord was no feare. Rom. 2.28.So their Religion is no Religion, who abhorre Idols, and yet commit ſacriledge, as the Apoſtle inſtanceth; who throw downe Baals Temple, 2 Kin. 10.29.but keepe up Jeroboams Calves, as Jehu did, becauſe he was perſwaded it was for the profit and ſtability of his Crowne. How farre are theſe crooked ſticks that will not touch with Gods meaſure, but onelyonly here and there, from what David was, who had this teſtimony given of him, That hee did fulfill all Gods will. Act. 13.22.It is indeed an argument that the ſtocke is imperfect and unſound, when the fruites of righteouſneſſe of but one or ſome few kinds doe ſpring out. They that obey the Royall Law with reſpect unto the maker of it, will as well reſpect and tender the poore, as honour the rich and noble. But this was the deformity which St James obſerved in thoſe hypocrites he deales againſt, …am. 2.1, 2. &c.that they gave honour (as it was their duty) to the rich, If there come into your Aſſembly a man with a gold ring in a goodly apparell, yee have reſpect to him, and ſay, ſit thou here in a good place. But in the meane time another duty they neglected, they deſpiſed the poore: If there come in alſo a poore man in vile raiment, yee ſay, stand thou here or ſit under my foot-ſtoole. The Apoſtle concludes that they were partiall; ver. 4.they went not thorough with the Law, as he after ſaith, If yee respect perſons, yee are convinced of the Law as tranſgreſſours. They that are thus partiall, ver. 9.ſerve themſelves and doe their owne will, not gods, for then they would doe all his will. If then yee ſee a man willing to goe a great way in a duty, like a ſervant that is forward to goe 10. miles of his Maſters errand to a Faire, where he ſhall be ſure to meet with his companions; but to ſticke at a leſſe duty, like the ſame ill ſervant that grumbles to goe one mile, becauſe he hath no occaſion or pleaſure of his owne to ſerve: Say that man is an hypocrite, and that he goes not one foot of Gods errand, but takes all the pains for his owne.