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…

That the whole course of hypocrisy is nothing but foolishness.

That the whole course of hypocrisie is nothing but foolishnesse.

Of all fools the hypocrite is the greatest; and the reason is, because he takes a great deal of pains in profession, and hath no good at all by profession: he ventureth himself many times in the world to persecution; he runs the hazard of his credit, of his estate, of liberty and life. What a fool is this to take so much pains, and subject himself to so many dangers in the outward profession of Christ, yet at last to lose the fruit and benefit of all? This folly must needs displease him: he shall at last see what an extreme fool he hath been, to trouble himself about that which bringeth him in no real good, but will really double and increase all evil upon him. No man sins at so dear a rate as the hypocrite.

Of all fools the hypocrite is the greatest; and the reason is, because he takes a great deal of pains in profession, and hath no good at all by profession: he ventureth himself many times in the world to persecution; he runs the hazard of his credit, of his estate, of liberty and life. What a fool is this to take so much pains, and subject himself to so many dangers in the outward profession of Christ, yet at last to lose the fruit and benefit of all? This folly must needs displease him: he shall at last see what an extreme fool he hath been, to trouble himself about that which bringeth him in no reall good, but will really double and encrease all evil upon him. No man sins at so dear a rate as the hypocrite.

A second translation takes the Noun (as we) for hope, and not for folly, and retains the former sense of the Verb; and so the words are thus, Whose hope shall loath him; that is,¹