CHAP. V.

The Difference between a truly renewed Man who is in Christ, and Hypocrites.

Object. ATHEISTS and hypocrites may have great changes and renovations wrought upon them, and in them, and I fear mine may be such.

Answ. I grant that Atheists and hypocrites have many things in them which do look like the new

creature.

I. In regard of the parts of the man, they may, 1. Come to much knowledge-they are enlightened. 2. There may be a stir amongst their affections: They receive the word with joy, as he that received the seed into stony places." 3. They may reach a great deal of outward reformation in the outward man, both concerning freedom from sin, and engagement to positive duty, as the Pharisee did: "God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this Publican; I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." Yea, 4. In regard of their practical understanding, they may judge some things of God to be excellent-the officers said, that "never man spake as Christ."

sions.

II. Hypocrites may have a great deal of profes1. They may talk of the law and gospel, and of the covenant, as the wicked do-" What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldst

take my covenant in thy mouth?" 2. They may confess sin openly to their own shame, as King Saul did: "Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly." 3. They may humble themselves in sackcloth with Ahab: "And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sack-cloth, and went softly." 4. They may inquire busily after duty, and come cheerfully to receive it: "Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask me of the ordinances of justice: they take delight in approaching to God." 5. They may join with God's interest in a hard and difficult time, as Demas and other hypocrites, in the book of the Acts of the Apostles, who afterwards fell off. 6. They may give much of their goods to God and to the saints, as Ananias, if not all their goods: "Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." Yea, 7. It is not impossible for some such, being straitly engaged in their credit, to "give their bodies to be burned," as in the last cited place.

III. Hypocrites may advance far in the common and ordinary steps of a Christian work; such as the elect have when God leads them captive. As, 1. They may be under great convictions of sin, as Judas was: "Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented him

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self, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. So was King Saul often. 2. They may tremble at the word of God, and be under much terror, as Felix was: "And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season I will call for thee. 3. They may rejoice in receiving of the truth, as he that received the seed into stony places." 4. They may be in some peace and quiet, in expectation of salvation by Christ, as the foolish virgins were. 5. All this may be backed and followed with some good measure of reformation, as the Pharisee: "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." "The unclean spirit may go out of them." 6. This work may seem to be confirmed by some special experiences and "tastings of the good word of God."

IV. Hypocrites may have some things very like the saving graces of the Spirit; as, 1. They may have a sort of faith with Simon Magus: "Then, Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.” 2. They may have a sort of repentance, and may

walk mournfully: "What profit is it that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?" 3. They may have a great fear of God, such as Balaam had, who, for a house-full of gold, would not go with the messengers of Balak, without leave asked of God, and given. 4. They have a sort of hope: "The hypocrite's hope shall perish." 5. They have some love, so had Herod to John: "And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her." I need not to insist, it is out of all question they have counterfeits of all saving graces.

partakers of the Holy good word of God, and come, if they shall fall

V. They have somewhat like the special communications of God, and the witnessing of his Spirit, and somewhat like "the powers of the world to come," powerfully on them, with some flashes of joy arising thence. "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made Ghost, and have tasted the the powers of the world to away, to renew them again unto repentance." withstanding of all which, they are but ❝ almost persuaded, with Agrippa, to be Christians." It were tedious to speak particularly to each of these things, and to clear it up, that they are all false and unsound: I shall condescend upon some few things, in which a truly renewed man, who is in Christ, doth differ from hypocrites and reprobates.

Not

1. Whatever change be in hypocrites, yet their heart is not changed and made new. The new heart is only given to the elect, when they are con

verted and brought under the bond of the covenant : "I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever." "A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh." Hypocrites never apprehended Christ as the only satisfying good in all the world, for which with joy they would quit all; for then the kingdom of God were entered into them: "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." The truly renewed man dare, and can upon good ground say, and hath a testimony of it from on high, that his heart hath been changed in taking up with Christ, and hath been led out after him, as the only enriching treasure, in whom "to be found he accounteth all things else loss and dung.”

2. Whatever reformation or profession hypocrites do attain to, as it cometh not from a new heart, and pure principle of zeal for God, so it is always for some wicked and by-end, as, " to be seen of men," or to evade and shun some outward strait, to be free of God's wrath, and the trouble of their own conscience: "Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge ?" "What profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?" In testimony of this, they never have re