Chap. 34. An Expofttton upon the Brok.of ] o B. Verf. 3o. 777 theGofpel over are taxed for hypocrites; and when Chrift had preached that parable of the unjuii Steward, concluding with this lentence, re cannotJerve God and Mammon ; The Evangelift tel- leth us (Lul`e 26.14. ) The Phari fees al fo who were covetous, beard all tliiefe things, and they derided him. Covetoufnefie and hypocrifie goe together ; Theywho have no true hungrings and thtrfttngs after the things ofheaven, are moti hungry and thirfly after earthly things. We finde job in the 27th Chapter of this Pooke (v. rl.) fpeakingofthe hypocrites gain ; *hat is thehope ofthe hypocrite, though hebathgained, when God taketh away his foule ; which implyeth that the hypocrite is a great aimer at worldly gaine. The fecond predominant lull ofthe hypocrite is, ambition , or delire ofgetting to the upper end ofthe world. - Chrifl chargeth the hypocriticall Pharifees with this lull alfo ( Math: 23. 6 Mark, I z. 3 g.) They love thetoppermoft roomes at Balls, and the higheftfeats in the Synagogues. They are all to be uppermoft, they niuft have the uppermofl roomes at fealls , and the higheft feats in the Synagogue,both inCivil! and Church-meetings, hy- pocrites affeeled fuperiority, or,Diotrephes-like, tohave the pre- heminence, and (which was another fympteme of ambition they (faithChriil ) lovegreetings in themarket place,and to becal- led Rabbi, Rttbbi, which is a title of greatnefsand maflerfhip. Yea many hypocrites would not only have the uppermoll feats at feafls,and in the Synagogues,but thevery uppetiaàofl feats inNa- tions 84 Comtnon- wealrhs;They fometimesaffelt tobe thebead,who arc werfe then the tayle ofall thepeople. There artihypop:rite,of all ranks, and among' all degrees of men, force of16w,degree 'are in a very highdegree of hypocrifie ; There are hÿpocrices in raggs and in ruffet, there are hypocrites alfo in fcarlet and 'in purple; hypocrifie may reigne in and among thole that reigne. It is a maxime which force Princes have held out to all the world,as the rule of their reigning ; He that kneweth not how -to diffemble, k, tied, bp knows not how to reigns. Dif imulationis a great part ofhypocrifie, fimulmre nefc:it there is dillìmulation both as to the things of God, and the things regnete. of men;Someif they knew not howto difíenible in both (at leaf") with men, would not believethaattheyknew how to rule over, or governmen. Nowas manywho are great, and inpower , make littleconfcience to dif ernble,or nsaWsfe of hypocrifie,to carry Ggggg on
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=