The Hypocrite Discovered and Cured, Book 1 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. The Symptomes of Hypocriſie. The Vſefulneſſe. Pleaſure. Difficultie of this part. The Method in it, propounded.
THE way that I have hitherto gone, hath been dry and ſomewhat unpleaſant, and I have run over it with more ſpeed. But here I have found a Spring, here I will ſit down and pitch, here I ſhall ſtay long: and I hope the Reader will be content to linger here. 'Tis a fruitfull plot, every one may gather ſomething; and ſomething haply he ſhall meet with that will meet with him. I will leade him up and down to view this vale of wonders, and now and then bring him to a Chriſtall fount, wherein he may look down and ſee his own face. And if he will venture and take paines, and follow; I will guide him into the darke and narrow cavern's of mens hearts. But he muſt take paines, and ſometimes ſtoop, and carry a candle lighted at the holy Scripture in either hand. For mens wayes are darke and ſtreight, like ſome caves that reach farre within the earth, under the hanging of ſome mountain or ſteep rock.
'Tis an hard work I ſet upon, for as it is in the Prophet; Men ſeek deep to hide their counſell from the Lord, Iſa. 29.15.and their works are in the dark. We ſhall have much adoe to follow and find theſe men, becauſe they have learned of Adam, to run and hide themſelves in the thickets. Gen. 3. Rev 9.8.They have Lyons teeth, and yet weare womens hayre, and who would think ſuch deceit were under ſuch faire locks? They are Wolves, and yet weare Sheepes-cloathing, Who would not be beguiled with ſuch garments? The Painter in Plinie made a Bird ſo lively, that true live Birds were deceived with it; The Horſe in Aelian, neighed at the picture of an Horſe. But theſe men have more skill to beguile even men, Chriſtians, holy men; they can paint the Chriſtian ſo well, and ſet it with ſuch lively colours. How neatly did Judas carry it, when the Apoſtles were ready to ſuſpect every one themſelves, rather then him? They ſaid, Maſter, is it I? is it I? but none of them ſaid, Maſter is it Judas? It cannot be an eaſie ſearch, becauſe the hypocrite leaves not a track, but oft times finds an untrodden way. Their way is as the way of a ſhip in the ſea. Prov. 30.19.An horſe-way is known by the track, and where a Cart hath gone, we perceive by the print of the wheeles; but we know not the way of a ſhip: Though Mercator, and Hondius, and Jonſton, or others of them in their Mapps, draw lines of Drakes and Schoutens, or other mens voyages, yet the Marriner can ſee no ſuch path upon the ſea: So is the way of the Hypocrite. Or if we have ſome directions and markes to follow them, yet we may miſſe of them at the very laſt. They are as cunning to keep ſecret their ſinnes, as an harlot doth her lover. The Siſter of the Emperour Henry the third, Ʋincent. Spec Hiſt. l. 25. c. 10.when a great ſnow fell, carried her lover upon her ſhoulders, that the fact might not be diſcovered: The lover is entertained, but nothing can be ſeen but the print of the Ladies feet. The Hypocrite harbours his luſt, but ye ſhall find nothing but the footſteps of the upright. A cunning thiefe hides himſelfe not more cloſely in a diſ-orderly blind alehouſe; Nor doth a zealous-ſhee-papiſt hide her Prieſt with more ſecrecie and care, then ſin is hid by the Hypocrite; You may ſearch all roomes and miſſe, he hath a ſecret vault and a falſe dore. And finally, it is harder to diſcover hypocriſie then the tricks of an horſecourſer in a faire.
Yet as hard as it is, we muſt upon our journey. The Signes, or as I chuſe rather to call them, the Symptom's of Hypocriſie, (becauſe they are diſeaſes alſo themſelves incident to the grand diſeaſe of Hypocriſie, and which ſerve to diſcover it,) are many and far more perhaps then I can take notice of; I want the benefit of long experience and great practiſe, having lived moſt out of the croud; but yet many I have obſerved, and will diſpoſe them under theſe following heads.
1. Symptomes from the principle of the working of Hypocrites,
2. Symptomes from their end aimed at in working.
3. Symptomes from their profeſſion.
4. Symptomes from their carriage towards Dutie….
5. Symptomes from their carriage towards Gods ordinances.
6. Symptomes from ſeeming Graces.
7. Symptomes from Temptations.
8. Symptomes from their carriage in reſpect of Judgements.
9. Symptomes from their carriage toward Company.
10. Symptomes from their generall carriage.