Further,1 for the extent of knowledge, the difference is clear; the hypocrite for all his large knowledge, great learning, quick-sightedness, is yet almost always wittingly ignorant of some one or other duty, sin or truth, that he might know, if he would but use his eyes to look about him. It may be ever said of him in some, or other point, as it is said of them in Peter, 2This they know not, and that willingly. What duty for fear of loss, disgrace, or the like inconvenience he hath no will to perform; that he will not see to be a duty, lest his conscience should check him, for not performing it. And some fault, that he doth not resolve to leave, because it is profitable, delightful, or otherwise beneficial; that, he cannot perceive to be a fault, that he may not be enforced to fault himself for not amending it. In what truths it would be against his credit (as he supposeth) to change his opinion, those he will not see to be truths, though he do see them:3 yea, he winketh with his eyes (as the Scripture speaketh of the Jews and Pharisees) and will make a shift not to know in the very sun-shine ⟨p. 39⟩of clearest light, in such points. The Pharisees saw enough to persuade them, that Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, was the true Messiah:4 but yet they could not be persuaded of it, they would not yield unto it, and they could not see it at length, because they would not confess it. This is to detain the truth in unrighteousness, a plain fruit of hypocrisy, when the light beateth upon a mans soul, and he begins to be convinced, and to think within himself, sure this is a truth; yet because the following of that truth would make against his commodity, or his credit, or some other carnal desire of his, therefore he will cast about again, and set his wit upon the tenters, and never give over plodding, till he have met with some trick or other that may delude himself, and hide the truth from his eyes, and (if it may be also) from the eyes of others. This is, in seeing, not to see, and to hoodwink ones own self; yea, to give ones self over to the God of this world, to have his eyes blinded by him; and so blind will the hypocrite be for all his knowledge, making himself also, as Christ telleth the Pharisees, a blind leader of the blind. But the upright-hearted man is quite contrarily disposed;
Further,1 for the extent of knowledge, the difference is cleare; the hypocrite for all his large knowledge, great learning, quicke-sightednesse, is yet almost alwayes wittingly ignorant of some one or other duty, sinne or truth, that he might know, if hee would but vse his eyes to looke about him. It may be euer said of him in some, or other point, as it is said of them in Peter, 2This they know not, and that willingly. What duty for feare of losse, disgrace, or the like inconuenience he hath no wil to performe; that he will not see to be a duty, lest his conscience should checke him, for not performing it. And some fault, that hee doth not resolue to leaue, because it is profitable, delightfull, or otherwise beneficiall; that, he cannot perceiue to be a fault, that he may not bee inforced to fault himselfe for not amending it. In what truths it would bee against his credit (as he supposeth) to change his opinion, those he will not see to be truths, though hee doe see them:3 yea, hee winketh with his eyes (as the Scripture speaketh of the Iewes and Pharisies) and will make a shift not to know in the very sun-shine ⟨p. 39⟩of clearest light, in such points. The Pharisies saw enough to perswade them, that Christ Iesus, the sonne of Mary, was the true Messiah:4 but yet they could not be perswaded of it, they would not yeeld vnto it, and they could not see it at length, because they would not confesse it. This is to detaine the truth in vnrighteousnesse, a plaine fruit of hypocrisie, when the light beateth vpon a mans soule, and hee beginnes to be conuinced, and to thinke within himselfe, sure this is a truth; yet because the following of that truth would make against his commoditie, or his credit, or some other carnall desire of his, therefore hee will cast about againe, and set his wit vpon the tenters, and neuer giue ouer plodding, till he haue met with some tricke or other that may delude himselfe, and hide the truth from his eyes, and (if it may be also) from the eies of others. This is, in seeing, not to see, and to hoodwinke ones owne selfe; yea, to giue ones selfe ouer to the God of this world, to haue his eyes blinded by him; and so blinde will the hypocrite be for all his knowledge, making himselfe also, as Christ telleth the Pharisies, a blind leader of the blinde. But the vpright-hearted man is quite contrarily disposed;
- 1The hypocrite will wink against some truths: the true Christian is ready to yield to every truth.The hypocrite will winke against some truths: the true Christian is ready to yeeld to euery truth.
- 22. Pet. 3.5.
- 3Matth. 13.15.
- 4Rom. 1 18.
