A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

Let this be understood to the confutation, to the confusion of hypocrisy; which turns Religion into a visor: it hath mouth, and eyes, and nose; all but painted. Hypocrites are not like the heathen Idols, save in one thing, Psal. 115.5. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes, but they see not, &c. These have mouths, and they speak: eyes, and they see: ears and they hear; noses, and they smell: feet, and they walk: they have hands, but they do not work. Plutarch hath a tale of the Moon, that she entreated her mother to make her a coat fit for her. Her mother answers, my daughter, it is impossible to fit thee with a coat: for thou sometimes waxest, sometimes wanest: art now in the full, by and by changing: to day bigger, to morrow less. The hypocrite is such a man in the moon; sometimes a giant, sometimes a dwarf: now great, presently small; evermore so changing, that no coat can fit him. Hypocrites are like pictures on canvas they show fairest at farthest. Hear them speaking, and see them not doing, and you would think them Angels: but see them doing, and hear them not speaking, and they are devils. Or at least, as you would Judge of dancers, when you hear not the tune of their music; leaping and turning, in all points like mad-men. Their voice is the voice of Jacob, but their hands are the hands of Esau. Tace linguâ, loquere vitâ: let thy life speak, and thy tongue hold her peace. Hypocrites have the running gout, but it settles most in their fingers; Chiragrâ laborant. A beggar being reproved for his lazy life, answered that he had a secret disease lying in his bones, which for modesties sake he must not declare: they believed him and relieved him. One among the rest being unsatisfied, would needs know of him what that secret sickness was; seeing that he appeared so well outwardly: he told him plainly; it is within, a disease lying in my bones; some call it Idleness. Tell an hypocrite, (whose zeal is so pepper-hot at the tongues end) that his works be cold: Oh he hath a secret disease in his bones; a scurvy dissembling humour, settled in his heart, and creeping through every joint. If you will, you may call it Idleness or Hypocrisy; for I understand them as convertible terms. It must be very strong physic that purgeth this humour.

Let this bee understood to the confutation, to the confusion of hypocrisie; which turnes Religion into a vizard: it hath mouth, and eyes, and nose; all but painted. Hypocrites are not like the heathen Idols, save in one thing,