this is false goodness, goodness alone to the eye; it is called goodness, as a false shilling is called a shilling, because it looketh like a shilling, having the same stamp, and a little filuer at top, though in the middest it be nothing but brass, or some such base and unworthy matter. If a man (I say) be moved for his own credit or ease sake, yea, or for his own salvation sake, to be willing to do some good, that God in his word commandeth; and to forbear some evil in the same Word condemned, and not to be willing to do all good commanded, and avoid all evil forbidden; this is but guileful hollow, imperfect. dissembled goodness, so esteemed by men, and so ⟨p. 16⟩appearing to them, that can look alone upon the bark and outer rind of things, not so appearing to the pure eyes of God, nor so accounted in his true judgement, that searcheth into the marrow, and pith, and depth of all things. For God himself is the chief good, and in a manner the only good, neither is any thing good, but by participation from him; and so that goodness which is not (as it were) derived from him, as from the original of it, nor directed to him, as to the scope and end of it, because it hath nothing to do with him, therefore indeed is not goodness, whatsoever show it may carry to the world. So that as true goodness, is will to be good in all things for Gods sake; so is false goodness a will to seem good in some things for ones own sake. Ease may move a man to do some good, and avoid some evil, so may credit, so may profit. Now if any of these things do chiefly and principally work upon our wills, as the motives and ends of our actions, then is that goodness but hypocrisy and seeming goodness; and that man who living in the visible Church, suffers this vice (of being induced but to some good things, not all; and withdrawn but from some evil (not all) for his own credit, profit, ease, or the like cause, not Gods sake only or principally) to sway and bear rule in him, he is an hypocrite.1 But when and in whom doth this vice prevail? may some man say, I answer; even then, and in that man, where and in whom it is not seen, opposed & resisted by the spiritual weapons of frequent confessions, hearty petitions, earnest lamentations, ⟨p. 17⟩and diligent application of the word of God against it for to beat it down:
this is false goodnesse, goodnesse alone to the eye; it is called goodnesse, as a false shilling is called a shilling, because it looketh like a shilling, hauing the same stampe, and a little filuer at top, though in ths middest it be nothing but brasse, or some such base and vnworthy matter. If a man (I say) be moued for his owne credit or ease sake, yea, or for his owne faluation sake, to be willing to do some good, that God in his word commandeth; and to forbeare some euill in the same Word condemned, and not to be willing to doe all good commanded, and auoyde all euill forbidden; this is but guilefull hollow, imperfect. dissembled goodnesse, so esteemed by men, and so ⟨p. 16⟩appearing to them, that can looke alone vpon the bark and outer rinde of things, not so appearing to the pure eyes of God, nor so accounted in his true iudgement, that searcheth into the marrow, and pith, and depth of all things. For God himselfe is the chiefe good, and in a manner the onely good, neither is any thing good, but by participation from him; and so that goodnesse which is not (as it were) deriued from him, as from the originall of it, nor directed to him, as to the scope and end of it, because it hath nothing to doe with him, therefore indeede is not goodnesse, whatsoeuer shew it may carrie to the world. So that as true goodnesse, is will to bee good in all things for Gods sake; so is false goodnesse a will to seeme good in some things for ones owne sake. Ease may moue a man to doe some good, and auoyde some euill, so may credit, so may profit. Now if any of these things doe chiefly and principally worke vpon our wills, as the motiues and ends of our actions, then is that goodnesse but hypocrisie and seeming goodnesse; and that man who liuing in the visible Church, suffers this vice (of being induced but to some good things, not all; and withdrawne but from some euill (not all) for his owne credite, profit, ease, or the like cause, not Gods sake onely or principally) to sway and beare rule in him, he is an hypocrite.1 But when and in whom doth this vice preuaile? may some man say, I answere; euen then, and in that man, where and in whom it is not seene, opposed & resisted by the spirituall weapons of frequent confessions, hearty petitions, earnest lamentations, ⟨p. 17⟩and diligent application of the word of God against it for to beate it downe:
- 1Hypocrisy ruleth where it is not seen and lamented.Hypocrisie ruleth where it is not seene and lamented.
