The peril of the times displayed. Or the danger of mens taking up with…

now the former of these is open and manifest; it is exposed to public view, and every one may see it, whereas the latter is secret, and hidden from men, and known only to God, and the mans own Conscience. David had an excellent esteem for Ahithophel before he discovered himself, Psal. 55. 13. 14. mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance; we took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company; and he did not amiss so to think of him. The Disciples were more ready to suspect each one himself than Judas ⟨p. 67⟩when Christ told them that one of them should betray him; and they were not to be blamed for it. Paul was m•ch endeared to Demas, and made use of him in his Travels and Ministry, and it was right for him so to do: and yet all these were ungodly men, and their hearts were unsound all this while. A man may carry it among men with greatest forwardness and constancy in outward performances, follow all the means of grace in season, and out of season, and carry it very reverendly at them, discourse very knowingly and loftily about the mysteries of the Gospel, pray like an Angel, highly commend the ways of God, be very circumspect in his words and actions, exceeding charitable and honest in his Dealings with men, diligent in the Calling that God hath set him in; and yet his heart all this while not right with God, but he may pursue it for by and sinister ends, and upon pitifully mean motives: and yet make no discoveries of this falseness to us, or of any thing that so contradicts his profession as should undermine our Charity: how ⟨p. 68⟩then should we look on him as any other than a Saint? when yet he may be a Devil, or a Wolf in sheeps clothing; a mere Hypocrite. Hence no wonder, if good and wise men are sometimes forced to change their opinions about men, as David did respecting Ahithophel; and the blame is not in them, but in those that give the occasion for it; and this may be a caution to Professors, to beware how they build the confidence of their safe estate, upon the charitable thoughts of good and discerning men; they may often give shrewd guesses, but yet they may be mistaken in you: and remember that you must ere long be called to give an account of your selves to him who searcheth the hearts, and trieth the reins of men.