Ofche Parable ofthe $onyGround Math. 1340,11. CAP. XVII. med Hypocrites, bath been declared. Thofe whopretend to be Codward,what 443- they know themfelves not tobe, making a pretence ofReligion , to colour and countenance them in vice and vicious pra&ifès,or fenfuall.courfes,where. in they allow and bleffe themfelves, we intend not : But fuch as info,;ie finer,. city, under the enjoyment and improvement of gifts and priviledges, do, or may walke confcientioufly, as Paid beforehis converfion, and yet are not uni- ted to Chrift. 2. Ofthefe we fay, that they may fo efcape, &c. but thatfaund Believers, may wallow in all manner offinfulnefle, and defile themfelves with all mail. nerofpollutions , we fay not : nor will any inffance given amount to the height and intendment of thofe expreflions, they being all alleviatedby fun - dry confiderations, neceflàrily tobe taken in with that of their finning. 3. Ifwe may compare the wort " of a Saint , with the bcff of a formáll Profeffor, and makean eftimate of the Elates and conditions of them both, we maycall the ballanceon the wrongfide. 4. We do fay that Simon Peter was a believer when he denyed Chrift, & Simon Magus an Hypocrite,,and in the bondofiniquity, when it was ftid he believed. We do fay, that a man may be alive notwithfianding many Wounds and much filth upon him,and a man may be dead,without either the one or the other, in that eminently vifible manner He adder. 2. The Perfons here fpokenof, arefaid to have, '40,,,, truly and really .leaped 4 4te from thofe, who live in errour. Doubtleffe an Hypocrite cannot be faid, truly or really,but infhero, or appearance at mofl,to havemade filch r.n efcape (7 mane frommen who live in errour j confidering thatformatter ofreality and trieth, re- maining in Hypocrify, he lives inone of the great-efi and foulef errours that n. Thewhole force of this fecond exception, !yes upon the ambiguityof the terme Hypocrite, though filch as pretend Religion, and the worfhip of Cod, tobe a colour and pretext, for the freeand uncontrouled pra&ïfing of vile abominations, maynot. be laid fo to efcape it, yet fuck as rhefe we have be- foredefribed, with theirconvi&ions, light, guiftes, dutyes, good con,':cience &c. may truly andreally efcape from them,and their wayes whò polture tieih felves with the errour., ofIdolatry, falle-worfhip, füner(fítion, and the p I' a- tions ofpra&ifes againft the light of nature, and their owne conviCtións: it is added that 3. AnHypocrite, whofefoot is already in the fnareofDeath, cannot upon any tolerable account, either ofreafonorcommon fence, be faid to be allured (i.e.by allurements to be deceived)or overcome by the,pollutions of the world, no more thanaRh that is already in thenett,orfafî upon the hookc,canbefaid to be allured,by a batte held to her. Anf' But he that hath been fo farre prevailed upon by the preachingof theWord, as to relinquifh, and renounce the pra&ifes of uncleaneneffe wherein he fometimewallowed, and rolled himlelfe, may be prevailed upon and overcome by temptations, to backflide into the fame abominablepratti- fes, wherein he was formerly engaged, deferring that.way and courfe ofat- tendingto theWord, and yeilding obedience thereunto,whichhe had enter- tained, that in its Ownnature tended to a better end. 4. Sayes he, Hypocrites areno wherefaid,neither can they with any congruity to Scripture Phrafe, befaid to haveefcaped the pollutions of the world through the acknowledgement (forfo the word y1/41i-/Ç fhould be tranflated) sf7efu:C[rift the acknowledgementofthe truth, andfoofChriji, and ofGod, confiantly in the Scriptures, importing afound_andfaving workeofconverton as we lately obfer- sed in this chap. sell. 20. L I 1 Auf. -1'
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