The vain religion of the formal hypocrite, and the mischief of an unbridled tongue…

And therefore as it is a vexation to him to live under such a searching Minister, as is always rubbing on the galled place, and causing conscience to torment him before his time; so is it a trouble to him to live among these heavenly believers, and to be daily condemned by their lives, and galled by their reproving practices.

And therefore as it is a vexation to him to live under such a searching Minister, as is alwayes rubbing on the galled place, and causing conscience to torment him before his time; so is it a trouble to him to live among these heavenly believers, and to be dayly condemned by their lives, and galled by their reproving practices.

By this time you may see the reason and use of the Hypocrites Religion: The self-denying part of Religion he cannot abide: The life and power of it is above him ⟨p. 78⟩and seems against him: The fears of hell and gripes of conscience he cannot abide: some hopes of heaven he must have a while to keep him from despair: And therefore he must have some Religion to deceive his heart, and maintain his hopes. And therefore he fitteth his Religion to these uses, and takes up with so much as will not much trouble him, or undo him in the world, or absolutely forbid his sinful pleasures. And though sometime he be afraid lest the power and life of godliness will prove necessary to his salvation; yet he revives his fainting hopes, by running for comfort to his lifeless form. The rest he hath no mind to; and therefore will hope to be saved without it, till his deceit have brought him to the place of desperation, where there is no hope. As the Merchant in a storm is loth to cast his goods into the sea, and ⟨p. 79⟩therefore hopes he may save himself and them, till he and they are drowned together; or as a Patient that abhors his Physic, or loves some forbidden thing too well, is hoping still that he may scape though he use the thing he loves, and forbear the medicine which he loathes, till he be past remedy, and he consents too late; so is it often with the self-deceiving Hypocrite: he loves not this strict, and holy, and heavenly, and self denying life: and therefore he will hope that God will save him without it, as long as he is Religious in a way that he accounts more wise, and safe, and moderate, and comely, and suited to the nature and infirmity of man; These are his hopes, and to deceive his heart, by maintaining these, it is that he is Religious: till either Grace convert, or Justice apprehend him, and his hopes and he are swallowed