Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

And three great pretences are effectual means in this their deceit. One is because indeed, there are a sort of persons, that tithe mint and cummin, while they pass by the greatest matters of the Law, and that are causelessly scrupulous, and make that to be sin, which indeed is no sin: And when such a scrupulous people are noted by their weakness, and under dishonour among wiser men, the Hypocrite hath a very plausible pretence for his hypocrisy, in seeming only to avoid this ignorant scrupulosity, and taking all for such who judge not his sin to be a thing indifferent.

And three great pretences are effectual means in this their deceit. One is because indeed, there are a sort of persons, that tythe mint and cummin, while they pass by the greatest matters of the Law, and that are causelesly scrupulous, and make that to be sin, which indeed is no sin: And when such a scrupulous people are noted by their weakness, and under dishonour among wiser men, the Hypocrite hath a very plausible pretence for his hypocrisie, in seeming only to avoid this ignorant scrupulosity, and taking all for such who judge not his sin to be a thing indifferent.

Another great shelter to the credit and conscience of this Hypocrite is, the Charity of the best sincerest Christians; who always judge rigidly of themselves, and gently of others: They would rather die than wilfully choose to commit the smallest sin themselves; but if they see another commit it, they judge as favourably of it as the case will bear, and hope that he did it not knowingly, or wilfully: For they are bound to hope the best till the worst be evident. This being the upright Christians case, the hypocrite knoweth, that he shall still have a place in the esteem and love of those ⟨p. 98⟩charitable Christians (whose integrity and moderation, maketh their judgements most valuable:) And then for the judgement of God he will venture on it; and for the censures of weaker persons, who themselves are censured by the best for their censoriousness, he can easily bear them.

Another great shelter to the credit and conscience of this Hypocrite is, the Charity of the best sincerest Christians; who alwayes judge rigedly of themselves, and gently of others: They would rather die than willfully choose to commit the smallest sin themselves; but if they see another commit it, they judge as favourably of it as the case will bear, and hope that he did it not knowingly, or willfully: For they are bound to hope the best till the worst be evident. This being the upright Christians case, the hypocrite knoweth, that he shall still have a place in the esteem and love of those