Chap. 34. An Expofitton upon the Book,rof j o a. Verf. 3o. ---- 773 colours when he comes to thebattei., or feeth hemuff either quit the truths of God, or his owne peace. Ifonce he fandeth that he cannot thrive by religion, he will meddle no more with it. There is a generation who will appeare no further for truth.,, then fery s their owne turne ;. and when they fee they cannot ferve that, by holding the truth, they will neither hold nor profeffe it any long- er. Theywill venter no further in fuck matters, then theymay make a faire recreate, if they fee themfelves in danger, or cannot carry onne their owne interefis. Thus the fecond ground is de- fcribed ( Math: i 3. 20, 21. ) He that heareth ti. a word , and anon with joy reoeiveth it ; yet bath he not roote in himfelfe, but du- reth for a while,for when tribulation or perfecution arifeth becaufe of the word, by and byhe is ofended. He hath enough of the word, when he feeth he cannot have that, and enoughof the world too, Many will get aboard the fhip ofthe true Church in-acalme,who if they fee the clouds gather , the ayre darken, the winds riling, the forme coming, they dare not ride it out in anangry Sea, but will be calling for the boate, and row to the next fhoare. There never purpofed to endure all winds and weathers, with the Church of God , but hoped tobe tranfported to the cape oftheir worldly good hope, and wifhed for earthly haven. Their Bight in- terprets their tntents,ind lifts them amongdeigninghypocrites. The houle founded on the fand, fheweth as faire in a faire day,as that founded on a rocke ; But when the raine defcends , and the couds come,,and the winds blow, you may dillinguii it , by the down-fall. He was never more nor better then a meere out-fide profeffor, who.doth not hold fail his profeffion in a day oftroublé as wel as in a day of peace ; in the greateffdiftreffe, as wel as in the highef fucceffe and triumph- of the. people of God its this world. To !hut up this poynt: and obfervation, I (hall only give three' or foure confiderations, which may move all to take heed of hp- pocrifie. Chrif}.faith ( Luke 1.2. i.) Bewareof the Leven of the-- Pharr* fees which -is bypoçrifae. As Leven fowres the whole lump of bread, fo do:h.hypocrife both the>perfons and converfatións- of tholewho, are infected with-it. Firft , Beware of hypocrifie, or of hiding what you are , for what you are , doth alwayes appeare toGod, though not to men ; all things arenaked-and manif e41 unto-the-eyes of him.witb whom: Wee
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