The Doctrine of Repentance

5. Repentance is needful for Hypocrites: ¹I mean, such as allow themselves in the sin. Hypocrisy is the counterfeiting of sanctity. The Hypocrite or (stage-player^*) is gotten a step beyond the moralist, and doth dress himself in the garb³ of Religion: he pretends to a form of godliness, but denies the power, 2 Tim. 3. 5. The Hypocrite is a Saint in jest; he makes a majestic show, like an Ape clothed in Ermine, or Purple. The Hypocrite is like an house with a beautiful frontispiece, but every room within is dark: he is a rotten post fairly gilded^*: under his mask of profession he hides his plague-sores^*. The Hypocrite is against painting of faces, but he paints holiness: he is seemingly good, that he may be really bad^*. In Samuel's mantle he plays the Devil; therefore the same word in the original signifies to use Hypocrisy, ⟨p. 90⟩and to be profane *. The Hypocrite⁷ seems to have his eyes nailed to Heaven, but his heart is full of impure lustings; he lives in secret sin against his conscience^*; he can be as his company is, and act both the Dove and the Vulture; he hears the word, but is all ear; he is for Temple-devotion, where others may look upon him, and admire him, but he neglects family and closet prayer. Indeed, if prayer doth not make a man leave sin, sin will make him leave prayer. The Hypocrite feigns humility, but it is that he may rise in the world; he is a pretender to faith, but he makes use of it rather for a cloak, than a shield; he carries his Bible under his arm, but not in his heart; his whole Religion is a demure lye,