The saints guide, in three treatises

Now this truth meeteth especially with two sorts of false-hearted men.

1. Discreet hypocrites. 2. Subtle hypocrites

1. Discreete hypocrites. 2. Subtile hypocrites

1. Discreet hypocrites: Discretion indeed simply considered in it self, is a blessed work of Gods Spirit, wrote in the hearts of his people, and is always acting upon good grounds, in a good matter, and to a right end; But there ⟨p. 131⟩is a worldly discretion that lodgeth in hypocritical hearts which turns to the destruction of many a soul, therefore I call such a one a discreet hypocrite, one that will always endeavour to be on the strongest side, one that will join with the most, though it be with the worst, one that according to the Proverb, Will hunt with the Hound, and run with the Hare, one that regards not whether the Cause of Christ sink or swim, so he may save himself, one that thinks them all mad men that will suffer for Religion, or for conscience sake, that want his discretion, and will not turn with the wind, as he doth, he is one that can be zealous for the Glory of God, so long as it runs a long with his ⟨p. 132⟩own advantage, as John; false hearted John was very zealous in executing the Lords Command, in cutting off the house of Ahab root• and branch, that so he might settle himself the faster in the Kingdom: But when it cometh to the touch that he must either forsake Christ, or the world, then De••• like, he follows this present world, his religion ebbs, and flows with the Current of the times he lives in, with the wicked he can show himself wicked, with the righteous he can show himself righteous, be hath his religion as it were in a sere, he can set it higher and lower, according as the times go, he can serve God upon any terms, after any fashion, he endeavours to please all,