And this▪ difference will yet be more subtle and undiscernible, if I should tell you, that as in so many things, the ⟨p. 111⟩hypocrite resembles the Saint: so there are other things in which a real Christian may act too like an hypocrite. When we find a Pharaoh confessing, an Herod practising, as well as hearing, a Judas preaching Christ, an Alexander venturing his life for Paul; and on the other side, shall find a David condemning that in another, which he practised himself; an Hezekiah glorying in his riches, a Peter dissembling, and even all the Disciples forsaking Christ in an hour of trouble and danger. O then! how hard is it for the eye of man to discern betwixt chaff and wheat? how many upright hearts are now censured, whom God will clear? how many false hearts are now approved, whom God will condemn? men ordinarily have no clear convictive proofs, but only probable symptoms, which at most can beget but a conjectural knowledge of another's state. And they that shall peremptorily judge either way, may possibly, wrong the generation of the upright; or on the other side, absolve and justify the wicked. And truly, considering what hath been said it is no great wonder that dangerous mistakes are so frequently made in this matter. But though man cannot, the Lord both can, and will perfectly discriminate them. The Lord knoweth who are his, 2 Tim. 2. 19. He will have a day perfectly to sever the tares from the wheat, to melt off the varnish of the most resplendent and refined hypocrite, and to blow off the ashes of infirmities, which have covered and obscured the very sparks of sincerity in his people. He will make such a division as was never yet made in the world, how many divisions soever there have been in it. And then shall men indeed return, and discern betwixt the righteous and the wicked, betwixt him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not. Mean while (my soul) thou canst not better employ thy self, whether thou be sound or unsound, than in making these reflections upon thy self.
And this▪ difference will yet be more subtile and undiscernable, if I should tell you, that as in so many things, the ⟨p. 111⟩hypocrite resembles the Saint: so there are other things in which a real Christian may act too like an hypocrite. When we find a Pharoah confessing, an Herod practising, as well as hearing, a Iudas preaching Christ, an Alexander ventring his life for Paul; and on the other side, shall find a David condemning that in another, which he practised himself; an Hezekiah glorying in his riches, a Peter dissembling, and even all the Disciples forsaking Christ in an hour of trouble and danger. O then! how hard is it for the eye of man to discern betwixt chaff and wheat? how many upright hearts are now censured, whom God will clear? how many false hearts are now approved, whom God will condemn? men ordinarily have no clear convictive proofs, but only probable symptoms, which at most can beget but a conjectural knowledge of anothers state. And they that shall peremptorily judge either way, may possibly, wrong the generation of the upright; or on the other side, absolve and justifie the wicked. And truly, considering what hath been said it is no great wonder that dangerous mistakes are so frequently made in this matter. But though man cannot, the Lord both can, and will perfectly discriminate them. The Lord knoweth who are his, 2 Tim. 2. 19. He will have a day perfectly to sever the tares from the wheat, to melt off the varnish of the most resplendent and refined hyocrite, and to blow off the ashes of infirmities, which have covered and obscured the very sparks of sincerity in his people. He will make such a division as was never yet made in the world, how many divisions soever there have been in it. And then shall men indeed return, and discern betwixt the righteous and the wicked, betwixt him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not. Mean while (my soul) thou canst not better imploy thy self, whether thou be sound or unsound, than in making these reflections upon thy self.
