A discourse about the state of true happiness delivered in certain sermons in Oxford,…A discourse about the state of true happinesse deliuered in certaine sermons in Oxford,…

Privy hypocrisy is that, by which a man makes profession of more then is in his hart. And this sometimes doth mix it self even with the fairest and most sanctified actions of Gods dearest children; and doth soonest insinuate into a hart stored with the rich treasures of true godliness. For Satan, if he cannot detain a mans soul in notorious sinfulness, in mere civil honesty, or formality, but that by the sacred inspirations of Gods good spirit it is pulled out of the mouth of hell, from the slavery of sin, and courses of darkness, into the glorious light, & liberty of Christs kingdom; he is enraged with fierce and implacable fury, & doth ever certainly with eager pursuit persecute that soul, both by his own immediate malice, and by the cruel agency of profane men. And if so be he cannot procure a scandalous relapse into gr•sse sins; yet that he may in some measure work the dishonour of God, and the discomfort of his noblest creature, the two main ends of all the policies of hell; he doth labour to distaine the pure streams of divine grace in the soul puddle of our corrupted nature; and at least to fasten the spots of privy hypocrisy upon the best actions, and the very face of innocency. This hypocrisy, as I take it, ariseth from spiritual pride. For when a godly man, by the great work of ⟨p. 25⟩regeneration is become more excellent, ¹then his neighbour; as indeed he incomparably is, howsoever the worlds estimation be otherwise: Because the one is, as yet, a limb of Satan, receiving from him the cursed influence of soul pollutions, of uncleanness, and lying, of malice and revenge of pride and profaneness, &c: The other is already a blessed member of Christs mystical body, continually inspired with holy motions and the life of grace. The one lies polluted in his own blood, encompassed with the menstruous clouts of loathsome corruptions; of all natures, except only the devil and his angels, the most wretched and woeful; of the family of hell, heir of horror and desolation: The other by the immortal seed of the pure and powerful word of God,² is made partaker of the divine nature; clothed with the rich and unvaluable robe of Christs justice, guarded with an invincible troop of heavenly Angels; justly entitled to a kingdom of unconceivable glory and pleasures, moe then the stars of the firmament in number.