The Hypocrite Discovered and Cured, Book 1 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. 1. Two Symptomes from the principle of the working of Hypocrites. They worke not in Gods ſtrength. Not to or for God. Their Motion hath an externall and artificiall Cauſe.
THere are two things that I take notice of under this head.
1. The fruits which hypocrites bring forth, Hypocrites work not in Gods ſtrengththey bring them not forth in Chriſt, in the ſtrength of his power, or in reference to his Law, the command of his mouth. There are branches which bring fruit, but yet not in the vine. The ſap of the vine-ſtock comes not to theſe branches to put forth in them. Thus that of our Saviour, which our laſt Tranſlation renders, Joh. 15.2.Every branch in me that beareth not fruit: We may reade without wrong to the Originall, and with very good authority, Every branch that in me beareth not fruit. This ſenſe the Syriac follows, and the Arabick of the Roman Edition, obſerved by Erpenius. Tremellius thus tranſlates it, and ſo doe our old Engliſh and the Geneva. And this reading ſeem's beſt to ſatisfie the place, for Hypocrites are branches, but not in Chriſt. Now Chriſt in that place ſeems to diſtinguiſh between hypocrites, whom he calls branches only, or branches, that though they doe beare ſome fruit, yet beare it not in him; and his true and ſound members whom he calleth branches bearing fruit. This appeares to be his meaning, becauſe the hypocrite is not in him, as it is further cleare from the ſixth verſe, where this phraſe receives more light, If a man abide not in me, he is caſt forth as a branch. And in the fifth verſe it is ſaid, Whoſoever is in (Chriſt) and abideth in him, he brings forth much fruit. The hypocrite then may bring forth fruit too, ſuch as it is, but not in Chriſt. Hoſ. 10.1. Sept. foreign. ut eſt in Edit Rom & Complat. vel. foreign, ut edit. venet. Baſil. & Plantin. habent. Vitis frondo ſa Vitis vaſtata, Tharg. Ionathae. Seipſâ contentam eſse virtutem ad beatè vivendum. Cic. paradox. Turpe eſt Deos fatigare: quid votis opus eſt? fac te felicem. Senec. Ep 31. Hypocrites have an artificiall and externall cauſe of working. Th. Herbert Deſcrip. of the Perſian Mon. p. 8.They may bring forth fruit, as it was ſaid of Iſrael, and yet be empty vines. Iſrael is an empty vine, he brings forth fruit unto himſelf. Empty of ſap from Chriſt, though full of other principles, a vine whoſe fruit is but leaves, as the Septuagint reades it, a dry withered vine, as it is in the Chalde paraphraſe, though full of ſome ſap, ſuch as it is; as we ſay a wine veſſell is an empty caske, when there is no wine in it, though it be full of ſomewhat elſe, full of ayre. An Hypocrite may bring forth fruits of Temperance and Juſtice, but ſo as Socrates was temperate, and Aristides juſt; full of their own ſtrength, not ſenſible of the need of Chriſt, not in reference unto Chriſt, not in the faith and ſtrength of him. They doe not ſpeake it ſo plainely, with Cicero, That virtue is ſufficient to help it ſelfe, and with Seneca, that we need not trouble God; but if we could dig under the rootes of theſe vines, we ſhould find ſomewhat like to that morall ſpirit and principle in them.
2. Many hypocrites have their gales of devotion, and are forward and ſtrong in it ſo long as the wind ſits that way, but when the fitt is over and the humour downe, then they faile, and loſe it, and run another courſe; like thoſe winds that ſome Travellers ſpeake of, about Sant…-Croix in Africk, which the Portugalls call the Monzoones, which blow conſtantly one way for ſix Moneths, and then the quite contrary way the other half of the yeare. While the veine laſts, ye ſhall ſee them out-doe and overact the ſoundeſt Chriſtians. While the ague-fitt is upon them, they have an higher colour and more heate, then the well complexioned right ſanguine Chriſtian, that has much and good blood in him; but then, as our Country-man obſerves of the French, Iohnſons Relation of the Kingdome, lib. 2. p 118.That he entreth like thunder, and vaniſheth out againe like ſmoake; ſo they anſwer not their fierce beginnings, but languiſh commonly and ſinke, or turne the edge of their vehemency againſt their former courſe. I knew one man (that I mention not other inſtances from other mens obſervations) who ſet out like Jehu againſt corruptions, and over-ran even good manners, in ſome houſes that entertained him, ſo that he would teare and deface any Devotionall picture (as they call it) whereſoever he came; and out of his deteſtation of Images would ſcarce endure a croſſe in a Gentlemans Coate of Armes; who afterward when a favourable Prebend-wind had cool'd him, came to be active for ſuperſtitious innovations, and of a bitter ſpirit againſt the godly minded. Such men as theſe are like Chryſolene ſtones (a kind of Chryſolites) that ſome Naturaliſts ſpeake of, that are of a golden colour, in the morning very bright, Iſid Ae…ym. lib. 16. c. 14. Chiyſolectrus. Hoſ 6 4. Vide Joh. Tarner. in loc.but ſtill towards noone dull and looſing the ſplendour. Or we may borrow a reſemblance from better authority, out of the Prophet, they are morning clouds and early dew's that goe away. The morning Cloud is ſoone diſſolved by the Sunne, and men are deceived in their hopes of raine; and the early d…w, though it lie upon the whole face of the earth, is ſoone dryed up. So Hypocrites though they runne, and in regard of the matter of their worke runne well, Gal. 5 7.yet ſomething hinders and drives them backe, that they obey not the truth, They put their hand to the Plough, Luk. 9.62.but grow weary and looke backe, whereby they ſhew they are not fit for the Kingdome of Heaven. They goe backe and walke no more with Chriſt. Joh. 6 66.They begin hopefully, but looke not to themſelves, 2. Joh. 9.and ſo they loſe the things which the Miniſters have wrought, foreign, or as an other reading … h…th it foreign. 1 Joh. 2.19. Pietas quae ſinem novit non eſt vera pietas. M. Buce…. in Lu. 1.and ſo they loſes or which they themſelves have gained. The ſavour of their good education is worne out, and the labour of the Miniſtery loſt and ſpent in vaine.
But by all this it appeares that they are Hypocrites, for if they goe from us, it is becauſe they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: So right is that obſervation of Bucer, That piety which hath an end is no true piety. And accordingly it followes in the latter end of that verſe of St John, as our Engliſh Tranſlation ſupplies it, They went out that they might be made manifest that they were not of us. They are but guilded peeces which waſh away in time. A peece of ſolid gold though yee waſh it a 1000. times, it ſtill remaines gold. But if it be but guilding (though it be faire and double guilt) time will diſcover it, D. Preſton new Coven. p. 224.it will waſh. Which agrees with the note of a late godly divine of ours; That Hypocriſie in any man, is commonly diſcovered before his death.