The Cure of Misprision, Section 74 – Section 75
Sect. 74.
4. Fourthly and laſtly, As we all grant that there are ſuch hypocrites: who have a forme of Godlines, and deny the power of it: that ſeeme religious, are vicious; or not at all vertuous. So wee willingly acknowledge them, the moſt ſeleſtique miſcreants, that ever hell was beholding to. For the hypocrite, ſhames religion by profeſſing it & makes the way of truth evil ſpoken of. As 2 Pet. 2. 2. Yea for his ſake, the name of goodnes is blaſphemed all the day long; and an ill report raiſed upon them, that ſerve God in truth, So that for the deceivers fault, the true man is beaten. And what the Iſraelites once ſpoke to Moſes, Exod. 5. 21. We may more juſtly apply to the hypocrite: Yee have made our Saviour to ſtinke, in the eyes of all the people: and put a ſword into the hands of prophane men, to ſlay us▪ As woſull experience ſhews; For by reaſon of ſuch▪ how doe the Divel and his …imbs tryumph? over them that ſerve God in truth? Yea the Saints are not onelyonly reproached, the truth diſgraced, and religion it ſelfe ſcandalized: but this gives occaſion to others to blaſpheme God, and to doubt whether all divinity, be not meer policie; and …he ſcriptures a fable. As of old▪ the people abhorred the ſervice of God; and became deſpiſers of his worſhip: becauſe thoſe prophane ſonnes of Ely, were ſo wicked and ſcandalous. 1 Sam. 2. So between hypocrites, and the openly prophane: (home bred enemies, and forraign foes; both Heirs apparant to Satan) the righteous ſuffer: like Ieremiah between the Princes and falſe Prophets.
I confeſſe the miſchief an hypocrite does, to thoſe that are within: is nothing to what he does to himſelfe, and them that are without: For firſt, his ſcandalous life ſo hardens carnall men; that it makes many of them proteſt againſt their owne converſion. Yea his ill life ſingle; pulls downe more: then many good tongues are able to build up.
Secondly, though he grievouſly wrongs both the good and bad▪ yet none ſo much as himſelfe. For beſides, that when hypocrites have acted their parts of diſſimulation here: they ſhall be bid, Go ye curſed into everlaſting fire. Which is the portion of all wicked men. Matth. 25. 41. They above all other ſinners; ſhall have a double weight, or portion of vengeance: the loweſt, and deepeſt place in Hell. As is plaine Matth. 23. Where our ſaviour, not only pronounceth. Woe to you hypocrites: but repeats it eight times in one Chapter: ſaying, Woe, Woe, Woe, to you hypocrites: for you ſhall receive greater damnation. verſ. 14. The hypocrite, ſtrives to loade Chriſt with man… ſinnes: therefore Chriſt loads him with many woes and curſes. Though the maine ground is, from the nature of this ſinne. For nothing more greatens any ſinne, then ſimulation of holineſſe. Nor is any miſchiefe ſo diveliſh, as that which is cloaked with piety. The better vice ſhews, the worſe it is, and the worſe it is: the better it deſires to ſhew. Yea the better colour is put upon any vice, the more odious it is: both in the ſight of God & man. For as every ſimilitude adds to an evil; ſo the beſt adds moſt evil. The face of goodneſſe, without a body: is the worſt wickedneſſe. Cloath an Ape in Tiſſue: and both the beauty of the Robe, and the reſemblance which hee carrieth of a man; does but add more ſcorne to the beaſt. And without contradiction; an ill man is the worſt of all creatures, ſave the Divel himſelfe: an ill Chriſtian, the worſt of all men and an ill profeſſor the worſt of all Chriſtians. Profeſſed Curtizans, if they bee any way good: it is becauſe they are openly bad. And it ſhall be eaſier for theeves, and Adulterers, at the day of judgement, then for hypocrites. Mat. 21. 31.
Wherefore if thou beeſt unſound within: ſoil not the glorious Robe of truth, by putting it upon thy beaſtlines. To bid thee repent, and ſtrive for Sincerity; were to ſmall purpoſe: for (which is ſtrange) in all the Scriptures, wee never reade of an hypocrites repentance. And a notable reaſon may be given: Wickedneſſe doth moſt rankle the heart, when it is kept in and diſſembled.
And thus far our opinions jumpe.
Sect. 75.
But touching the next query, our judgements are as diametrially oppoſite; as the two poles. For who are theſe verball, orrall, occular profeſſors? Thoſe who are called puritans, or thoſe that terme and repute them ſo? this is the main queſtion, and it would be throughly examined. We ſay they are the only men, guilty of this crime: they ſay the like of us; but the tryall is all: and how ſhall wee try it? ſurely by bringing each ſide, and every of their actions to the rule. And firſt to bring them to the tryall; who call all profeſſors of Religion puritans; and raile againſt them, under pretence; that they are not as they ſeeme. If hee be an hypocrite, who is much in profeſſion, and nothing, or clean contrary in his practice; then there are none greater hypocrites; then Proteſtants at large. viz.
Prelaticall, and Scandalous Miniſters
Civil. and Morall Men.
Prophane, and Ignorant Perſons.
Cunning Polititians.
who joyne all together, in crying downe, and barking againſt profeſſion.
I know the aſſertion will ſeeme ſtrange; Yea the groſſeſt hypocrite of them all, will preſume that hee can Herod like, waſh his hands of this ſin. And with David, touching Nathans parable which made him paſſe ſentence againſt himſelfe; think that this foule evil, does no way concern him; Or as Ahab, thought of the Prophets parable; when his own mouth condemn'd him for letting Benhadad go free. 1 Kings 20. 39. to 43. But I ſhall make it appear, that there are no greater hypocrites, nor Puritans under Heaven; then they who rail, and cry out ſo much; againſt hypocriſie, and Puritaniſme. It faring with them, as it did with Sabillus the Sicilian; who ſlew the tyrant Cleander, and was after found to bee a worſe Tyrant then he, Or as it did, with that Phariſee in the Goſpel; who brake his neighbours head; when he ſhould with the Publican, have ſmote his owne breaſt, Oh that men would obſerve what I ſhall ſay, but aſmuch as it concerns them; that they would well conſider how Satan gulls them; and how groſly they gull themſelves.
But this is the gift of God alone; for to plant, and water is nothing; except it receive bleſſing from above, I will therefore do my utmoſt, and leave the reſt to him that can doe what hee will, and will doe what is beſt.