Thirdly, this is another misery of hypocrites, that they live in continual fear and1 danger: there are holes in their masks, (at least there will be) and their double dealing shall be seen into: it shall sometime or other come to light, how they have abused Gods presence, and dissembled with their brethren, by making fair shows, and pretences of that which they never meant: their sins shall not always lie hid, but either they will give over all, in time of persecution, as the stony ground did; or in hope of promotion, as Judas, and Ahithophel did, and so discover their false-heartednes: or else it shall be drawn2 forth by their speeches, in their merriments, or in their distempers; or else Gods spirit in godly men, shall descry it, by working in their hearts, a vehement suspicion of them, and causing them with a judicious eye, more narrowly to pry into their works, and ways. By one such means or other, God will lay them open to the view of the world: so that being in such peril, they cannot but have a fearful heart, and a restless conscience. And to this purpose, notable is that saying of Solomon: He that walketh uprightly, walketh boldly 3or surely, but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. Whence it is apparent, that the upright man needeth not to fear any thing, he needeth not to be afraid of ill men: for though they may disgrace him, they cannot shame him: he needeth not to be afraid of good men: for the oftener he speaketh unto them, and converseth with them, the more he is approved by them: neither needeth he to be afraid of God, for he that searcheth the heart and the reins, knoweth and alloweth of the integrity of their souls. They have no cause of fear for the present, because all things go well with them: neither is there any for afterwards, because all things shall go well with them, for they shall never fall away from God: None can pluck them out of his hand; Satan cannot, because he that is 4in us, is stronger then he that is in the world: sin cannot, because grace will prevail against it: the world cannot, because this is our victory, whereby we overcome the world, 5even our faith.
Thirdly, this is another miserie of hypocrites, that they liue in continuall feare and1 danger: there are holes in their maskes, (at least there will be) and their double dealing shal be seene into: it shall sometime or other come to light, how they haue abused Gods presence, and dissembled with their brethren, by making faire shewes, and pretences of that which they neuer meant: their sinnes shall not alwaies lie hid, but either they will giue ouer all, in time of persecution, as the stony ground did; or in hope of promotion, as Iudas, and Achitophel did, and so discouer their false-heartednes: or else it shall be drawne2 forth by their speeches, in their merriments, or in their distempers; or else Gods spirit in godly men, shall descrie it, by working in their hearts, a vehement suspition of them, and causing them with a iudicious eye, more narrowly to pry into their workes, and waies. By one such meanes or other, God will lay them open to the view of the world: so that being in such perill, they cannot but haue a fearefull heart, and a restlesse conscience. And to this purpose, notable is that saying of Salomon: He that walketh vprightly, walketh boldly 3or surely, but he that peruerteth his waies shall be knowne. Whence it is apparant, that the vpright man needeth not to feare any thing, he needeth not to be afraide of ill men: for though they may disgrace him, they cannot shame him: he needeth not to be afraide of good men: for the oftner he speaketh vnto them, and conuerseth with them, the more he is approued by them: neither needeth he to be afraide of God, for he that searcheth the heart and the reines, knoweth and alloweth of the integritie of their soules. They haue no cause of feare for the present, because all things goe well with them: neither is there any for afterwards, because all things shall goe well with them, for they shall neuer fall away from God: None can plucke them out of his hand; Sathan cannot, because hee that is 4in vs, is stronger then he that is in the world: sinne cannot, because grace will preuaile against it: the world cannot, because this is our victorie, whereby we ouercome the world, 5euen our faith.
- 13 They live in continual danger.3 They liue in continuall danger.
- 2Luc 8. 13.
- 3Prou. 10. 9.
- 4Joh. 10. 29. Joh 4. 4.Ioh. 10. 29. Ioh 4. 4.
- 51. John. 5. 4.1. Iohn. 5. 4.
