This Point likewise, rebukes Hypocrites, as wicked profane ones that have their Conversations in hell: so there's another kind of men that are unsound professors, Hypocrites, and they have their Conversations between Heaven and Earth: It's not in Heaven nor in Hell, nor altogether upon the Earth, but between Earth, and Heaven, and Hell. Sometimes they seem to be a loft, above; sometimes very forward and zealous in the profession of Religion, sometimes much enlarged in Duties, at other times again they are as base earthly spirits as any, yea, sometimes, there's much of Hell in their hearts, and in their ways, they profess themselves the seed of Abraham, but they are not as the stars of heaven, but as Meteors that are between Heaven and Earth: we call them blazing stars; but they are not so bright as the stars, nor are they of such a heavenly nature as the stars, they are but made of a few unclean vapours that come out ⟨p. 236⟩of the earth, which being got up near the heavens, do make a show as if they were some star in heaven, but you find a great deal of difference between the stars and them in this, for within a little while they fall, and vanish, and come to nothing; and so it is with many hypocrites, they by the Word are raised up a little for the present, and seem to be above the stars, and they have a glittering show as if they had something heavenly in them, even like the stars of heaven, they seem to be got above others: your blazing star, a child would think it a great deal bigger than one of the stars that is an hundred times bigger than that is; so 'tis with many hypocrites, they have a greater show of Religion than many that have truth of Godliness, and that are truly gracious, they look upon them as wondering at the excellent parts that they have, excellent abilities, it may be, they will discourse sometimes in an excellent manner about heavenly things; you shall find some that have no soundness at all, yet will have very excellent discourse, they speak the very language of Canaan, but it is in such company where they may gain respect by it, but still are but as meteors that hang between heaven and earth: whereas the truth is, while they seem to be so high above others, and so heavenly, yet their hearts are grovelling upon the earth:
THis Point likewise, rebukes Hypocrites, as wicked prophane ones that have their Conversations in hell: so there's another kind of men that are unsound professors, Hypocrites, and they have their Conversations between Heaven and Earth: It's not in Heaven nor in Hell, nor altogether upon the Earth, but between Earth, and Heaven, and Hell. Sometimes they seem to be a loft, above; sometimes very forward and zealous in the profession of Religion, sometimes much inlarged in Duties, at other times again they are as base earthly spirits as any, yea, somtimes, there's much of Hell in their hearts, and in their waies, they professe themselves the seed of Abraham, but they are not as the stars of heaven, but as Meteors that are between Heaven and Earth: we call them blazing stars; but they are not so bright as the stars, nor are they of such a heavenly nature as the stars, they are but made of a few unclean vapours that come out ⟨p. 236⟩of the earth, which being got up neer the heavens, do make a shew as if they were some star in heaven, but you find a great deal of difference between the stars and them in this, for within a little while they fall, and vanish, and come to nothing; and so it is with many hypocrites, they by the Word are raised up a little for the present, and seem to be above the stars, and they have a glittering shew as if they had somthing heavenly in them, even like the stars of heaven, they seem to be got above others: your blazing star, a child would think it a great deal bigger than one of the stars that is an hundred times bigger than that is; so 'tis with many hypocrites, they have a greater shew of Religion than many that have truth of Godliness, and that are truly gracious, they look upon them as wondering at the excellent parts that they have, excellent abilities, it may be, they will discourse sometimes in an excellent manner about heavenly things; you shall find some that have no soundness at all, yet will have very excellent discourse, they speak the very language of Canaan, but it is in such company where they may gain respect by it, but still are but as meteors that hang between heaven and earth: whereas the truth is, while they seem to be so high above others, and so heavenly, yet their hearts are groveling upon the earth:
