Mystical bedlam, or the world of mad-men. By ThoMystical bedlam, or the vvorld of mad-men. By Tho

4. The Hypocrite

Plays the mad-man under covert and concealment. He is proud under the shadow of humility. But he cannot say with David, Psal. 131. Mine heart is ⟨p. 55⟩not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty. Cor & oculi, fons & rivuli. The tongue that brags of humility, deserves little credit. Frons, vultus, oculi saepè mentiuntur; lingua verò saepissimè: The forehead, eyes, and countenance do often deceive, the tongue most commonly. The worst Inn hath sometimes the biggest Sign; and the baser metal the loudest sound.¹ Turpiora sunt vitia, cum virtutum specie celantur: Vices are then more ugly, when they have put on the robes of virtues. Hypocrita solus vult omnibus videri melior, ²& solus est omnibus peior: The Hypocrite would seem better then any man, and is indeed the worst of all men. His respect is not to the reward of virtue, but regard of men; as if virtue were not sibimet pulcherrima merces, a sufficient compensation to it self. Being the Son of a hand-maid, ³and a bramble indeed, as Jotham spake of Abimelech; he brags as much of his shadow, as either Vine, Olive, Fig-tree, or the tallest Cedar in Lebanon.

Playes the mad-man vnder couert and concealement. He is proud vnder the shadow of humility. But hee cannot say with Dauid, Psal. 131. Mine heart is ⟨p. 55⟩not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty. Cor & oculi, fons & rivuli. The tongue that brags of humility, deserues little credite. Frons, vultus, oculi saepè mentiuntur; lingua verò saepissimè: The forehead, eyes, and countenance do often deceiue, the tongue most commonly. The worst Inne hath sometimes the biggest Signe; and the baser mettall the lowdest sound.