with us, Do you make a fool of me? I leave it to the hypocrite to think seriously what he is going to make of God, when he puts up his hypocritical services. God's command was, none should appear before him empty;' this the hypocrite doth, and therefore mocks God; he comes indeed full-mouthed, but empty-hearted. As to the formality of a duty, he oft exceeds the sincere Christian; he, if any, may truly be called a master of ceremonies,' because all that he entertains God with in duty, lies in the courtship of his tongue and knee. How abhorrent this is to God, may easily be judged by the disdain which even a wise man would express to be so served; better to pretend no kindness, than, pretending, to intend none. It is the heart God looks at in duty if the wine be good, he can drink it out of a wooden cup; but let the cup be never so gilded, and no wine in it, he makes account that man mocks him that would put it into his hand. It was Christ's charge against Sardis, Rev. iii. 2, I have not found thy works perfect before God; I have not found them full before God,' as the original hath it. Sincerity fills our duty, and all our actions; and mark that phrase, 'before God,' which implies that this church retained such an outward form of devotion, as might keep up her credit before men; she had a name to live, but her works were not full before God; he pierced them deeper than man's probe could go, and judged her by what he found her within.

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Secondly, The hypocrite performs the duties of God's worship on some base design or other, and this makes him yet more abominable to God, who disdains to have his holy ordinances prostituted to serve the hypocrite's lust, used only as a stream to turn about his mill, and handsomely effect his carnal projects. When Absalom had formed his plot, within his own natural bosom, and was big with his treason, as ever cockatrice was with her poisonous egg, to Hebron he goes in all haste, and that, forsooth, to pay an old vow, which in the time of his affliction he had made to the Lord, 2 Sam. xv. 10, 11. Who would not think the man was grown honest, when he begins to think of paying his old debts? but the wretch meant nothing less; his errand thither was to lay his treason under the warm wing of religion, that the reputation he should gain thereby might help the sooner to hatch it. And I wish that as Absalom died without a son to keep his name in remembrance, so that none had been left behind to inherit his cursed hypocrisy, that the world might have grown into a happy ignorance of so monstrous a sin; but, alas, this is but a vain wish, vivit, imo in templum venit, this kind of hypocrisy yet lives, yea, comes as boldly to outface God in his worship as ever; many making no better use of the exercise of it, than some do of their sedans, to carry them unseen to the enjoyment of their lust. And is it any wonder that God, who hath appointed his ordinances for such high and holy ends, should abhor the hypocrite, who thus debaseth them in the service of the devil? Did you invite some to a costly feast at your house, who, instead of feeding on the dainties you have provided for them, should take and throw all to their dogs under the table, how would you like your guest? The hypocrite is he who casts God's holy things to his dogs. God invites us to his ordinances, as to a rich feast, where he is ready to entertain us, in sweet communion with himself; what horrid impiety is it then that the hypocrite commits, who, when he is set at God's table, feeds not of these dainties himself, but throws all to his lusts, some to his pride, and some to his covetousness; propounding to himself no other end in coming to them, than to make provision for these lusts, as Hamor and Shechem his son, who, when they would persuade the people of their city to submit to circumcision, used this as the great argument to move them, that they should grow rich by the hand: If every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised, shall not their cattle and their substance, and every beast of theirs, be ours?' Gen. xxxiv. 21, 22. A goodly argument, was it not, in a business of such a high nature, as coming under a solemn ordinance? they rather speak as if they were going to a horse-market, or cow-fair, than to a religious duty. Truly, though most hypocrites have more wit than thus to print their thoughts, and let the world read what is writ in their hearts, yet, as Queen Mary said of Calais, if she were opened, it would be found on her heart; so some such low things as vain-glory, worldly profit, &c., would be found engraven in the breast of all hypocrites, as that which they most aim at in the duties of religion.

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SECTION II. Secondly, Consider the hypocrite in the things he lays claim to, and they are no small privileges—relation to God, interest in Christ; who more forward to saint himself, to pretend to the graces and comforts of the Spirit, than the hypocrite? As we see in the Pharisees, whose great design was to get a name, and that not such as the great ones of the earth have for prowess, worldly majesty, and the like, but for sanctity and holiness; and they had it, if it would do them any good. Verily,' saith Christ, they have their reward,' Matt. vi. 2. They would be taken for great saints, and so they are by the multitude, who did so applaud them for their holiness, which faced their outside, that they had a proverb, ' If but two could be saved, one of the two should be a Pharisee.' We read of some that 'profess they know God, but in works they deny him,' Tit. i. 16. They boldly brag of their acquaintance with God, and would be thought great favourites of his, though their lives are antipodes to heaven so Rev. iii. 9, we meet with some that say they are Jews, and are not, but lie.' They dwell surely by ill neighbours, none would say so much for them but themselves: the hypocrite is so ambitious to pass for a saint, that he commonly is a greater censurer of the true graces of others, as too much hindering the prospect of his own; like Herod, who, as Eusebius writes, being troubled at the baseness of his own birth, burnt the Jews' ancient genealogies, the better to defend his own pretended noble descent. Who now is able to give a full accent to this high-climbing sin of hypocrisy? It is a sin that highly reproacheth God, to have such a vile wretch claim kindred with him. Christ indeed is not ashamed to call the poorest saints brethren, but he disdains to have his name seen upon a rotten-hearted hypocrite, as princes to have their effigies stamped on base metals: what scorn was put upon that mock prince, Perkin Warbeck, who, having got some fragments of courtiership, and tutored how to act his part, was presented to the world as son to Edward the Fourth of this nation; but when he had aped awhile the state of a prince, was taken, and with his base, ignoble pedigree, writ in great letters, pinned at his back, sent about, that wherever he came he might carry his shame with him, till in the end he was sent to act the last part of his play at the gallows! But what is all this to the hypocrite's portion, who for abusing others here with a seeming sanctity, as if indeed he was of heavenly extraction, a child of God, and a heir of glory, shall be brought at the great day to be hissed at by men and angels, and after he hath been put to this open shame, be thrown deepest into hell! Of all sinners he doth most mischief in this world, and therefore shall have most torment in the other. There is a double mischief which none stand at like advantage to do, as the hypocrite by his seeming saintship. The one he doth while his credit holds, and he passeth for a child of God in the opinion of his neighbours; the other, when his reputation is cracked, and he discovered to be what he is, a hypocrite. The mischief he doth when his mask is on, is as a deceiver: Machiavel knew what he did in commending to princes a resemblance of religion, though he forbade any more. It hath been found the most taking bait to decoy people into their snare, who come in apace when religion is the flag that is set up. Ehud could not have thought of a surer key to open all doors, and procure him admittance into king Eglon's presence, than to give out he had a message from the Lord to him: this raised such an expectation, and bred such a confidence, that room is made for him; presently all depart, and he left alone with the king; yea, the king will rise to hear this message that comes from the Lord, and so gives him a greater advantage to stab him. Had not some in our days pretended highly to saintship, I doubt not but they would have found the door shut where now they have too much welcome, and find it easy to procure belief to their errors. Even the elect are in some danger, when one cried up for a saint is the messenger that brings the error to town, and that under the notion of a message from God. I confess the hypocrite acts his part so handsomely, that he may do some good accidentally; his glistering profession, heavenly discourse, excellent gifts in prayer or preaching, may affect much the sincere soul, and be an occasion of real good to him; as the stage-player, though his tears be counterfeit, may stir up, by his seeming passion, real sorrow in his spectators, so as to make them weep in earnest; thus the hypocrite, acting his part with false affections, may be a means to draw forth and excite the Christian's true graces; but then is such a one much more in danger to be ensnared

by his error, because he will not readily be suspicious of anything that he brings, whom he hath found really helpful to his grace or comfort; and thus the good the hypocrite doth makes him but able to do the greater hurt in the end. Sisera had better have gone without Jael's butter and milk, than by them to be laid asleep against she came with her nail; and it had been far happier for many in our days not to have tasted of the gifts and seeming graces of some, than to have been so taken with this sweet wine, as to drink themselves drunk into an admiration of their persons, which hath laid them asleep, and thereby given them whom they have applauded so much but advantage the more easily to fasten their nail to their heads, errors I mean, to their judgments. The other mischief the hypocrite doth, is, when discovered, and that is as he is a scandal to the ways of God and servants of God. It is said of Samson, The dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life,' Judg. xiv. 30. Truly the hypocrite doth more hurt when he is discovered, which is the death of his profession, than when he seemed to be alive. The wicked worldlings, that are not long seeking a staff to beat the saints with, have now one put into their hands by the hypocrite. O how they can run division upon this harsh note, and besmear the face of all professors with the dirt they see upon one false brother's coat! as if they could take the length of all their feet by the measure of one hypocrite; hence comes such base language as this: They are all of a pack, not one better than another. Indeed, this is very absurd reasoning, as if one should say no coin were current and right silver, because now and then a brass shilling is found amongst the rest; but this language fits the mouth of the ungodly world, and woe be to the man that makes these arrows for them by his hypocrisy, which they shoot against the saints; better he had been thrown with a millstone about his neck into the sea, than have lived to give such an occasion for the enemy to blaspheme.

CHAPTER X.

WHERE ALL ARE STIRRED UP TO PUT THEMSELVES UPON THE TRIAL, WHETHER SINCERE OR NOT; THREE ARGUMENTS USED TO PROVOKE TO THE WORK; AND FOUR FALSE CHARACTERS BY WHICH THE HYPOCRITE FLATTERS HIMSELF INTO A CONCEIT OF BEING UPRIGHT.

Use 2. SECONDLY, Doth sincerity cover all a saint's infirmities? This shews how needful it is for every one to try his ways, and search narrowly his heart whether he be sincere or hypocritical.

SECTION I. First, All depends on it, even all thou art worth in another world; it is thy making or marring for ever: Psa. cxxv. 5, ‘Do good, O Lord, to them that are upright in heart; as for such as turn aside to crooked ways, the Lord will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity;' that is the end the hypocrite is sure to come to; he would indeed then fain pass for a saint, and crowd in among the godly, but God shall lead him forth with workers of iniquity,company that better befits him: it is sincerity shall carry it in that day. I will come,' saith Paul, 1 Cor. iv. 19, to you shortly, and will know, not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power; for the kingdom of God is not in word, but power. What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love?' O friends, not Paul, but Christ will shortly come unto us, and he will know the speech and soothing language of such as are puffed up with an empty name of profession, but will know the power, gauge the heart, and see what is in it. Now, will ye that he come with a rod, or in love? to judge you as hypocrites, or to give you the Euge of a faithful servant? Doth not he spend his time ill, that takes pains in his trade, and lays out all his stock on such commodity which when he opens his stall will be seized for false ware, and he clapped up for abusing the country? All that ever the hypocrite did will in the great day of Christ be found counterfeit, and he sure to be laid by the heels in hell, for going about to cheat God and man; every man's works shall then be manifest, that day shall declare it. Even the sincere Christian, where he hath tampered with hypocrisy, shall lose his work; but the hypocrite with his work his soul also.

Secondly, Consider, hypocrisy lies close in the heart; if thou art not very

careful, thou mayest easily pass a false judgment on thyself; they who were sent to search the cellar under the parliament, at first saw nothing but coals and winter provision, but upon a review, when they came to throw away that stuff, they found all but provision for the devil's kitchen; then the mystery of iniquity was uncased, and the barrels of powder appeared. How many are there, that from some duties of piety they perform, some seeming zeal they express in profession, presently cry, Omnia bene, and are so kind to themselves as to vote themselves good Christians, who, did they but take the pains to throw these aside, they might find a foul hypocrite at the bottom of them all; hypocrisy often takes up her lodging next door to sincerity, and so she passes unfound, the soul not suspecting hell can be so near heaven. And as hypocrisy, so sincerity is hard to be discovered; this grace often lies low in the heart, like the sweet violet in some valley, or near some brook, hid with thorns and nettles, infirmities I mean: so that there requires both care and wisdom that we neither let the weed of hypocrisy stand, nor pluck up the herb of grace in its stead.

Thirdly, It is feasible; I do not set you about an endless work. The heart of man, I confess, is as a ruffled skein of silk, not easily unravelled, yet with a faithful use of the means, it may be disentangled, and wound up on the right bottom of sincerity or hypocrisy. Job, when Satan and his cruel friends laboured to roil his spirit most, and muddy the stream of his former course and condition, by throwing their objections as so many stones into it, yet he could see this precious gem at the bottom, sparkling most brightly; yea, Hezekiah, in the very brim of the grave, recreates his spirit with it. Indeed, friends, this is a soul's encouragement, that it shall not want God's help in this search, if it goes about it with honest desires. A justice will not only give his warrant to search a suspicious house, but if need be, will command others to be aiding to him in the business: word, ministers, Spirit, all thou shalt have for thy assistance in this work; only have a care thou dost not mock God in the business: that soul deserves to be damned to this sin, who in the search for hypocrisy, plays the hypocrite; like a naughty, dishonest constable, that willingly overlooks him whom he searches for, and then says he cannot find him.

Now, for the fuller satisfaction in this point, and help in the trial, because it is that which both good and bad are mistaken in; the carnal wretch flattering himself his heart is good and honest; the sincere soul kept under fear of being a hypocrite; Satan abusing them both; I shall therefore first lay down the grounds of a hypocrite, with which he shores up his rotten house, and shew the falsities of them. Secondly, I will lay down the grounds of the weak Christian's fear for his being a hypocrite, and the weakness of them. Thirdly, Some positive discoveries of sincerity, which no hypocrite ever did, or can reach to.

SECTION II. First, For the hypocrite, he will stand upon his defence; his heart is sincere: well, how will he prove it?

First, The hypocrite will say, Sure I am no hypocrite, for I cannot endure it in another.

Ans. This is not enough to clear thee from being a hypocrite, except thou canst shew thou dost this from a holy ground. Jehu, that asked Jehonadab whether his heart was right, carried at that same time a false one in his own breast. It is very ordinary for a man to decry that in another, and smartly to declaim against it, which he all the while harbours himself. How severe was Judah against Tamar! he commands in all haste to burn her, Gen. xxxviii. 24; who would not have thought this man to be chaste? yet he was the very person that had defiled her. There may be a great cheat in this piece of zeal; sometimes the very place a man is in may carry him as the primum mobile does the stars, in a direction to which his own genius and liking would never lead him. Thus many that are magistrates give the law to drunkards and swearers, merely to keep the decorum of their place, and shun the clamour that would arise from their neglect, who can possibly do both, when they meet with place and company fit for their purpose. Some, their zeal against another's sin is kindled at the disgrace which reflects upon them by it, in the eye of the world; and this falls out, when the sin is public, and the person that committed it stands related; this is conceived to be Judah's case, who was willing his daughter should be

taken out of the way, that the blot which she had brought upon his family might with her be out of sight. Some again find it a thriving trade, and make this advantage of inveighing against others' faults, to hide their own the better, that they may carry on their own designs with less suspicion. Absalom asperseth his father's government, as a stirrup to help himself into the saddle. Jehu loved the crown more than he hated Jezebel's whoredoms, for all his loud cry against them. In a word, (for it is impossible to hit all,) there may be much of revenge in it, and the person is rather shot at, than his sin; this was observed of Antony's zeal against Augustus, Odit tyrannum, amavit tyrannidem; he hated the tyrant, but loved well enough the tyranny.

Secondly, Saith the hypocrite, I am bold and fearless in dangers, sure I am no hypocrite:Fearfulness surpriseth the hypocrite:' but it is the righteous that is bold as a lion.'

Ans. The better way sure, were to try thy boldness by thy sincerity, than to conclude thy sincerity by thy boldness. Truly, confidence, and a spirit undaunted at death and danger, are glorious things, when the Spirit and word of Christ stand by to vouch them, when the creature can give some account of the hope that is in him, as Paul, who shews how he came by it. This is Christian (not Roman) courage, Rom. v. 1-4; many rooms he passeth before he comes to this, which indeed joins upon heaven itself; faith is the key which lets him into all. First, it opens the door of justification, and lets it into a state of peace, and reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ; Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,' ver. 1: through this he passeth on to another, the presence-chamber of God's favour, and is admitted nigh unto him, as a traitor once pardoned is; 'By whom also we have access by him into this grace wherein we stand,' ver. 2; that is, we have not only our sins pardoned, and our persons reconciled to God by faith in Christ, but now under Christ's wing, we are brought to court as it were, and stand in his grace as favourites before their prince: this opens into a third, and rejoice in the hope of glory; we do not only at present enjoy the grace and favour of God, and communion with him here, but have from this a hope firmly planted in our hearts for heaven's glory hereafter. Now he is brought to the most inward room of all, which none can come at, but he that goes through all the former, ver. 3: And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also.' If thou hast not entered at these doors, thou art a thief and a robber; thou gettest thy confidence too quickly to have it brought to thy hand by God; if God means thee well for eternity, he will make thee smart for this thy boldness, as he did Jacob for stealing his father's blessing; and therefore content not thyself with bare boldness and confidence in dangers, but inquire whether it hath a Scripture bottom and basis to stand on, or whether the pillars supporting it be not ignorance in thy mind, and stupidity in thy conscience: if the latter, thou art in a sad condition; thy boldness will last no longer than thou seest it doth in one that is drunk, who, when he is wine-sprung, thinks, as they say, he can skip over the moon, and ventures to go without fear upon precipices and pitfalls; but when sober, trembles to see what he did in his drunken fit. Nabal, that feared nothing when drunk, his heart died within him, and became as a stone, at the story Abigail told him in the morning, when the wine was gone out of him, 1 Sam. xxv. 37. Therefore as he, when his cause miscarried, through the sleepiness of the judge on the bench, appealed from the judge asleep to the judge awake,' so do I here with you, that through the present stupidity of conscience are bold and fearless of death, and from this plead your uprightness. I appeal from your conscience asleep, to the sentence it will give when it shall be awake: which I wish may be in this world, that you may see your mistake where you may amend it.

Thirdly, Sure, saith another, I am no hypocrite, for I perform secret duties in my closet: the hypocrite he is nobody, except on the stage; it is the brand of the hypocrite, he courts the world for its applause, and therefore does all

abroad.

Ans. Though the total neglect of secret duties in religion speaks a person to be a hypocrite, yet the performing of duties in secret will not demonstrate thee a sincere person; hypocrisy is in this like the frogs brought on Egypt, no place was free of them, no, not their bedchambers; they crept into their most