Ah but Hypocrites and Temporaries,1 are but passionate, transient, and inconstant in their Obedience; they talk of Obedience, they commend Obedience, and now and then in a fit, they step in the way of Obedience, but they do not walk in a way of Obedience, they are only constant in inconstancy, Job, chap. 27. vers. 10. Will the Hypocrite delight himself in the Almighty? Will he always call upon God? Or as the Hebrew hath it, Will2 he in every time call upon God? will he call upon God in time of prosperity, and in time of adversity; in time of health, and in time of sickness; in time of strength, and in time of weakness; in time of honour, and in time of disgrace; in time of liberty, and in time of durance, &c? The answer to be given in, is, He will not always, he will not in every time call upon God. As a lame Horse, when he is heated, will go well enough, but when he cools, he halts down-right; even so an Hypocrite, though for a time, he ⟨p. 443⟩may go on fairly in a Religious way, yet when he hath attained his ends, he will halt down-right, and be able to3 go no further. The Abbot, in Melancton, lived strictly, and walked demurely, and looked humbly, so long as he was but a Monk; but when by his seeming extraordinary sanctity he got to be made Abbot, he grew intolerably proud and insolent; and being asked the reason of it, confessed, That his former carriage, and lowly looks, was but to see if he could find the Keys of the Abbey. Ah! many unsound hearts there be, that will put on the Cloak of Religion, and speak like Angels, and look like Saints, to find the Keys of Preferment, and when they have found them, none prove more proud, base, and vain, then they. Ah! but that Obedience that accompanies Salvation, is constant and durable: A Christian in his course goes strait on Heaven-wards. The two milch Kine, 1 Sam. 6. 12. took the strait way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the high-way, laughing as they went, and turned not aside to the right-hand, or to the left: So gracious Souls go strait ⟨p. 444⟩along the High-way to Heaven, which4 is the way of Obedience; though they go laughing and weeping, yet they still go on, and turn not aside to the right-hand, nor to the left: If by the violence of temptation or corruption they are thrust out of the way at any time, they quickly return into it again.
Ah but Hypocrites and Temporaries,1 are but passionate, transient, and inconstant in their Obedience; they talk of Obedience, they commend Obedience, and now and then in a fit, they step in the way of Obedience, but they do not walk in a way of Obedience, they are onely constant in inconstancy, Job, chap. 27. vers. 10. Will the Hypocrite delight himself in the Almighty? Will he always call upon God? Or as the Hebrew hath it, Will2 he in every time call upon God? will he call upon God in time of prosperity, and in time of adversity; in time of health, and in time of sickness; in time of strength, and in time of weakness; in time of honor, and in time of disgrace; in time of liberty, and in time of durance, &c? The answer to be given in, is, He will not always, he will not in every time call upon God. As a lame Horse, when he is heated, will go well enough, but when he cools, he halts down-right; even so an Hypocrite, though for a time, he ⟨p. 443⟩may go on fairly in a Religious way, yet when he hath attained his ends, he will halt down-right, and be able to3 go no further. The Abbot, in Melancton, lived strictly, and walked demurely, and looked humbly, so long as he was but a Monk; but when by his seeming extraordinary sanctity he got to be made Abbot, he grew intolerably proud and insolent; and being asked the reason of it, confest, That his former carriage, and lowly looks, was but to see if he could finde the Keys of the Abbey. Ah! many unsound hearts there be, that will put on the Cloak of Religion, and speak like Angels, and look like Saints, to finde the Keys of Preferment, and when they have found them, none prove more proud, base, and vain, then they. Ah! but that Obedience that accompanies Salvation, is constant and durable: A Christian in his course goes strait on Heaven-wards. The two milch Kine, 1 Sam. 6. 12. took the strait way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the high-way, loughing as they went, and turned not aside to the right-hand, or to the left: So gracious Souls go strait ⟨p. 444⟩along the High-way to Heaven, which4 is the way of Obedience; though they go loughing and weeping, yet they still go on, and turn not aside to the right-hand, nor to the left: If by the violence of temptation or corruption they are thrust out of the way at any time, they quickly return into it again.
- 1Such Hypocrites may well cry out as Ecebolius did, who was only constant in inconstaney, [Greek or Hebrew]. Tread upon me that am unsavoury Salt.Such Hypocrites may well cry out as Ecebolius did, who was onely constant in inconstaney, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Tread upon me that am unsavory Salt.
- 2[Greek or Hebrew]〈non-Latin alphabet〉
- 3The Monk in the Fable being a poor Fisher-mans son, still spread a Net over his Table, as a remembrance of his mean original, till he had by these shows of humility attained to the highest preferments; which when he had attained, he laid away the Net, because the Fish was caught.The Monk in the Fable being a poor Fisher-mans son, still spread a Net over his Table, as a remembrance of his mean original, till he had by these shews of humility attained to the highest preferments; which when he had attained, he laid away the Net, because the Fish was caught.
- 4A Christians emblem should be an house moving towards Heaven, saith Clemens.
