It marreth in one word, all good things, and changeth the not committing of sin, into a sin, and the performing of the most commendable duties, into very loathsome evil. A devout Hypocrite, is little better then a profane Epicure, and a painted Sepulchre, is little different from a very dunghill. Happy shall that man be, that is careful to spy out the working of this crooked and deceitful vice in himself, and that with earnestness, diligence, wariness, and constancy, doth ⟨image 85⟩strive to chase it out of his own heart. When the Ziphites, (wretched claw-backs as they were) came to waken Sauls sleeping malice, by offering him their service to deliver up David: the Story tells us, that he sent them back with this instruction, Go and prepare yet, and know, and see his place, and where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there; for it is told me, that he dealeth very subtly. See therefore, and take knowledge of all his lurking places, where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you; and it shall come to pass, if he be in the Land, I will search him throughout all the thousands of Judah. This was maliciously spoken by an envious Prince, against his faithful subject and son. But well were it with us, if we could all make use of his words, in the pursuit of our hidden guile, and follow it as close as ever Saul did follow David, even to seek and search, and spy out all its lurking places, and never cease seeking, till we have found it, nor fighting, till we have vanquished it, as one of the most dangerous of all our spiritual enemies, the very soul of the body of death, and that, that giveth life to all the rest. I beseech the living God for thee, Reader, that he will please to sanctify, as other means, so these my weak endeavours, (if thou please to make use of them) to help thee against this pestilent fault. And I crave thy prayers for me also, that my self may be able to practise what I have taught thee, and that woeful thing befall me not, which Paul speaketh of, upon another occasion, that having preached to others, I my self should be a reprobate. For this hateful ⟨image 86⟩and baneful vice, the worst of vices, doth sometimes step into the Pulpit also, and causeth even Ministers to condemn themselves in judging others, because they that judge, do the same things;
It marreth in one word, all good things, and changeth the not committing of sinne, into a sinne, and the performing of the most commendable duties, into very loathsome euill. A deuout Hypocrite, is little better then a profane Epicure, and a painted Sepulohre, is little different from a very dunghill. Happy shall that man be, that is carefull to spy out the working of this crooked and deceitfull vice in himselfe, and that with earnestnesse, diligence, warinesse, and constancy, doth ⟨image 85⟩striue to chase it out of his owne heart. When the Ziphites, (wretched claw-backes as they were) came to waken Sauls sleeping malice, by offering him their seruice to deliuer vp Dauid: the Story tels vs, that he sent them backe with this instruction, Goe and prepare yet, and know, and see his place, and where his haunt is, and who hath seene him there; for it is told me, that he dealeth very subtilly. See therefore, and take knowledge of all his lurking places, where hee hideth himselfe, and come yee againe to me with the certainty, and I will goe with you; and it shall come to passe, if hee be in the Land, I will search him throughout all the thousands of Iudah. This was maliciously spoken by an enuious Prince, against his faithfull subiect and sonne. But well were it with vs, if wee could all make vse of his words, in the pursuit of our hidden guile, and follow it as close as euer Saul did follow Dauid, euen to seeke and search, and spy out all its lurking places, and neuer cease seeking, till we haue found it, nor fighting, till we haue vanquished it, as one of the most dangerous of all our spirituall enemies, the very soule of the body of death, and that, that giueth life to all the rest. I beseech the liuing God for thee, Reader, that he will please to sanctifie, as other meanes, so these my weake indeuours, (if thou please to make vse of them) to helpe thee against this pestilent fault. And I craue thy prayers for mee also, that my selfe may be able to practise what I haue taught theē, and that wofull thing befall me not, which Paul speaketh of, vpon another occasion, that hauing preached to others, I my selfe should be a reprobate. For this hatefull ⟨image 86⟩and banefull vice, the worst of vices, doth sometimes step into the Pulpit also, and causeth euen Ministers to condemne themselues in iudging others, because they that iudge, doe the same things;
