This thou mayst verily think of thy self,1 and yet be deceived, and damned, and go to the Devil at last. There is a way (saith Solomon) that seemeth right to a man,2 but the end thereof is the way of death. For he is an hypocrite, not only that makes a seeming outward show of what he hath not, but also that hath a true show of what indeed there is not. The first sort of Hypocrites deceive others only; the latter, having some inward, yet common work, deceive themselves too. I am. 1. 26. If any man seem to be religious (so many are, and so deceive the world) but it is added, deceiving his own soul. Nay, thou mayst go so fairly, and live so honestly, that all the best Christians about thee may think well of thee, & never suspect thee, and so mayst pass through the world, and dye with a deluded comfort, that thou shalt go to heaven, and be canonized for a Saint in thy funeral sermon, and never know thou art counterfeit, till the L O R D ⟨p. 138⟩brings thee to thy strict and last examination, and so thou receivest that dreadful sentence, Go ye cursed: so it was with the Five foolish Virgins that were never discovered by the wise, 3nor by themselves, until the gate of grace was shut upon them; If thou hast therefore no better evidences to show for thy self, that thine estate is good, then these, Isle not give a pins point for all thy flattering false hopes of being saved: but it may be, thou hast never yet come so far as to this pitch; and if not; Lord, what will become of thee? Suspect thy self much, and when in this Ship-wrack of souls thou seest so many thousands sink; cry out, and conclude, It's a wonder of wonders, and a thousand, and a thousand to one, if ever thou comest safe to shore.
This thou mayst verily think of thy selfe,1 and yet be deceived, and damned, and goe to the Devill at last. There is a way (saith Salomon) that seemeth right to a man,2 but the end thereof is the way of death. For he is an hypocrite, not onely that makes a seeming outward shew of what he hath not, but also that hath a true shew of what indeed there is not. The first sort of Hypocrites deceive others onely; the latter, having some inward, yet common worke, deceive themselves too. I am. 1. 26. If any man seeme to be religious (so many are, and so deceive the world) but it is added, deceiving his owne soule. Nay, thou mayst goe so fairely, and live so honestly, that all the best Christians about thee may thinke well of thee, & never suspect thee, and so mayst passe through the world, and dye with a deluded comfort, that thou shalt goe to heaven, and be canonized for a Saint in thy funerall sermon, and never know thou art counterfeit, till the L O R D ⟨p. 138⟩brings thee to thy strict and last examination, and so thou receivest that dreadfull sentence, Goe yee cursed: so it was with the Five foolish Virgins that were never discovered by the wise, 3nor by themselves, untill the gate of grace was shut upon them; If thou hast therefore no better evidences to shew for thy selfe, that thine estate is good, then these, Ile not give a pinnes point for all thy flattering false hopes of being saved: but it may be, thou hast never yet come so farre as to this pitch; and if not; Lord, what will become of thee? Suspect thy selfe much, and when in this Ship-wracke of soules thou seest so many thousands sinke; cry out, and conclude, It's a wonder of wonders, and a thousand, and a thousand to one, if ever thou commest safe to shoare.
- 1Answ.
- 2Pro. 14. 12.
- 3Mat. 25.
