A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…

First, An Hypocrites inside is never answerable to his outside; §1an Hypocrites inside is one thing,¹ and his outside another thing; an Hypocrite is outwardly clean, but inwardly unclean; he is outwardly glorious, but inwardly inglorious. Hypocrites are like Apothecaries galley pots, having without the title of some excellent Preservative, but within they are full of some deadly poison; they are like the Egyptian Temples, that were beautiful without, but within there was nothing to be found but Serpents and Crocodiles, and other venomous creatures. Hypocrites trade more for a good name, than for a good heart; for a good report, than for a good conscience; they are like Fiddlers, more careful in tuning their Instruments, than in watching their spirits.² Hypocrites are like white silver, but they draw black lines; they have a seeming sanctified outside, but stuffed within with ⟨p. 288⟩malice, worldliness, pride, envy, &c. Like window cushions, made up of velvet and richly embroidered, but stuffed within with hay. An Hypocrite may offer sacrifice with Cain, and fast with Jezebel; and humble himself with Ahab, and lament with the tears of Esau; and kiss Christ with Judas, and follow Christ with Demas; and offer fair for the holy Ghost with Simon Magus, ³and yet for all this his inside as bad as any of theirs. An Hypocrite is a Cato without, and a Nero within; a Jacob without, and an Esau within; a David without, and a Saul within; a Peter without, and a Judas within; a Saint without, and a Satan within; an Angel without, and a Devil within.⁴ An Hypocrite is a Jew outwardly, but an Atheist, a Pagan,⁵ a Turk inwardly. I have read of certain Images, which on the outside were covered with gold and pearl, resembling Jupiter and Neptune, but within were nothing but spiders and cobwebs; a fit resemblance of Hypocrites. Hypocrisy is but an outside, like cloth of Arras, fair and beautiful without; but if you look to the inside, you shall find nothing but rags and ends. That Monk hit it, that said, To be a Monk in outward show was easy, but to be a Monk in inward reality was hard. To be a Christian in outward show is easy, but to be a Christian inwardly and really is very hard. An Hypocrites inside never echoes or answers to his outside; his inside is vicious, and his outside is Religious: