An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

Thirdly, A bulrush or a flag in time of a storm hangs down the head, but when the storm is over, it holds up the head, and stands upright again. This resemblance between the hypocrite and a bulrush is given by the Prophet (Isa. 58.5.) Is this the fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, &c? The bulrush in a storm seems to be humbled to the very ground, but in fair weather it is as high as ever. Hypocrites in times of public humiliation, hang down their heads, and seem to lay their mouths in the dust, but when the day is past, they quickly forget their sorrows, If I (saith the Apostle, Gal. 1.18.) build again the things which I have destroyed, I make my self a transgressor. Hypocrites are the worst sort of transgressors, for they seem to destroy their sins one day, but they indeed build them again the next.

Thirdly, A bulrush or a flag in time of a storm hangs down the head, but when the storm is over, it holds up the head, and stands upright again. This resemblance between the hypocrite and a bulrush is given by the Prophet (Isa. 58.5.) Is this the fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow downe his head as a bulrush, &c? The bulrush in a storm seems to be humbled to the very ground, but in fair weather it is as high as ever. Hypocrites in times of publike humiliation, hang down their heads, and seem to lay their mouths in the dust, but when the day is past, they quickly forget their sorrows, If I (saith the Apostle, Gal. 1.18.) build again the things which I have destroyed, I make my self a transgressour. Hypocrites are the worst sort of transgressours, for they seem to destroy their sins one day, but they indeed build them again the next.

Fourthly, The rush and the flag grow only in miry places, where they may have abundance of water and moisture, which notes a kind of sensuality in them, and therefore they have their names from drinking. So hypocrites seem to be heavenly, but are indeed earthly: they are like the rush, they cannot live without store of water, they are sensual, they must please their appetites, and delight their palates. The Apostle describes them so, They serve not the Lord Jesus, but their own bellies; they must be supported with the affluence of outward things, else they cannot hold out, in profession. Whereas the godly and true believers can live, when the water is drained or dried away, when outward things fail and are gone. So the Prophet Habakkuk professes, Chap. 3. ult. Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines, though the fields shall yield no meat, and there be no herds in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, and will joy in the God of my salvation. A godly man will grow when all the world decays to him; he will rejoice in God when all outward comforts fail him; hypocrites must have sensual supplies, or they are lost. A feigned love