Chap. 34. Agi: Expojition upon the BeekofJ o B. Verf. 3o, 761 Hence Note. Firft, Ahypocrite is a perfonbated ofGod, andhurtful to men. He is therefore hated of God,becaufe hurtful to men.And there- fore God is not pleafed he fhould reign,eicher as to reign is taken ftriétly,for the exercifingof Soveraign power;or,as to reign maybe taken largely, for the exercifing of anypower, and living in the height of profperity.For the clearingof this trucli;that a hypocrite is hatedofGod, . I thall Phew , firli the nature of anhypocrite ; fecondly, give the diflin lions ofhypocrites ; thirdly, make forne difcoveries who is anhypocrite. To the Rd-, An hypocrite in his general Rate or nature, is (as I may fay) a wickedman in agodly mans clothes ; he hath an appearance of holinefs, when there'snothing but wickednefs at thebotrome. There are two greatparts of the hypocrites work, firft, to thew himfelfgood, which he is not ; this is properly the workof fimu lacion or feigning : fecondly,to cover that real evilwhich he is or doch: this is properly the work of' diftimulation or cloaking. The hypocrite ftrivesas much to appear what he is nor, as not toap.. pear what he is ; he makes a femblance' of that purity, which he lovesnot, and he diffembleth that impurity which he loves and lives itt. Secondly, Wemay confider hypocrites under this diftination. Firft, there is afiimpie hypocrite, whohath not the good which he thinks and believes he hath ; thus every one that profeffeihor na- meth thenarne.of Chrifr, and is not reallyconverted, is anhypo- crite ; becaufe he hath nor that which he feems to have, yea, whichpoifiblyhe verily believes he bath ; I may call fuch a one (though it may feem a very ftrange expreflìon) afincerehypocrite '; he doth not intend todeceive others, but is deceived himfelf, becaufe he hath not the root ofthe matter inhim,nor the pow- er of godlinefs, though he brings forth fome feeming fruits of godlinefs, and is much in the formof ir. Such we mayconceive ihaddowed out tous by the foolifh Virgins ; they made a pro- feflion, theyhad their lamps, yea, they had oyl in their lamps, they did fomwhat whichwas confiderable in the outward duties of Chrifliati Religion,and they-hoped to be accepted with_Chri(t, but they had no oyl in their veffels with their lamps, as the wife P' r- gins had, (Match. 2 5.4.) that is,they had nograceintheir hearts, Eeeee nor
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