This appeareth in that Pharisee, who being bewrayed by our Saviour to be no such as he vaingloriously boasted himself to be, did yet justify himself and say, Lord I thank thee that I am not as others.1 whereas the righteous man is his own first accuser, yea, laboureth to see his secret sins, & dares not hide,2 them and ceaseth not till he renounce and confess the same that he may find mercy: so far is he of from playing the part of the hypocrites in setting the best side outward, and seeking to shift, excuse and defend that which is evil. And yet I say not that he is utterly void of hypocrisy, which ⟨p. 120⟩assaulteth the best, but yet he seeth it with deadly dislike how it encumbereth him, and (will he nill he) it doggeth him, but he makes no provision to fulfil the desires of it, as the other doth, but groaneth under the burden of it and of the like sins, till he testify plainly that he doth not harbour them, as may plainly be seen in the poor Publican. And who doth not see that he is not the man which is odious for his sin to the godly that know him, as the other are approved of them: whereas they in whom there is no soundness nor conscience, but they are sly and slippery, do discredit themselves, and are neither in favour with God nor men; ⟨p. 121⟩but like Gehezai, whose great sin although it was found out of his master the Prophet,3 yet when he would try what grace there was in him to confess it, though he had wickedly committed it, he boldly and shamelessly did hide it: and where he asked him where he had been, after he returned from his horrible facts he had been about, he answered, thy servant hath been no where, (he meant but where he should and might be, that was about his masters business,) so far •he was of from grace though a Prophets servant. Use. Therefore let every one that calls on the name of the Lord lesus be far from bold maintaining of the least sin, and ⟨p. 122⟩from clearing himself when he is manifestly convicted in his own conscience: for among all offenders, as such an one as hideth his sin shall not prosper, so he may be sure to be excluded from Gods kingdom, if he abide in his sin.
This appeareth in that Pharisie, who being beewrayed by our Sauiour to be no such as he vainegloriously boasted himselfe to be, did yet iustifie himselfe and say, Lord I thanke thee that I am not as others.1 whereas the righteous man is his owne first accuser, yea, laboureth to see his secret sins, & dares not hide,2 them and ceaseth not till he renounce and confesse the same that he may finde mercie: so farre is he of from playing the part of the hypocrites in setting the best side outward, and seeking to shift, excuse and defend that which is euill. And yet I say not that he is vtterly voyde of hypocrisie, which ⟨p. 120⟩assaulteth the best, but yet he seeth it with deadly dislike how it encombereth him, and (will he nill hee) it doggeth him, but he makes no prouision to fulfill the desires of it, as the other doth, but groaneth vnder the burthen of it and of the like sinnes, till he testifie plainely that he doth not harbour them, as may plainely bee seene in the poore Publican. And who doth not see that he is not the man which is odious for his sinne to the godly that know him, as the other are approued of them: whereas they in whom there is no soundnes nor conscience, but they are slie and slipperie, do discredit themselues, and are neither in fauour with God nor men; ⟨p. 121⟩but like Gehezai, whose great sinne although it was found out of his master the Prophet,3 yet when he would trie what grace there was in him to confesse it, though he had wickedly committed it, he boldly and shamelessely did hide it: and where hee asked him where hee had beene, after hee returned from his horrible facts he had beene about, he answered, thy seruant hath beene no where, (hee meant but where he should and might be, that was about his masters busines,) so farre •he was of from grace though a Prophets seruant. Vse. Therefore let euery one that calls on the name of the Lord lesus be farre from bold maintaining of the least sinne, and ⟨p. 122⟩from clearing himself when he is manifestly conuicted in his owne conscience: for among all offenders, as such an one as hideth his finne shall not prosper, so he may be sure to be excluded from Gods kingdome, if he abide in his sinne.
- 1Luk. 18.
- 2Prou. 28. 14
- 32. King. 6.
