The comfortlesse Hypocrite. [ 1980]
AS a Man can have very small comfort, to be thought by the World to be rich, because he hath a shop full of wares and driveth a great trade,* 1.1 when in the mean time, he knows, poor Man, that he is worse then nothing, and ow∣eth much more then he is worth; or because he maketh a counterfeit shew of rich wares, when as he hath nothing but empty boxes with false Inscriptions, or but pieces of wood and brickbars made up in paper instead of silks or other costly wares: So is it with all those that seem to be Religious, that make a goodly shew of Godlinesse, yet in the mean time are very Bankrupts in Grace,* 1.2 and like one of Solomons Fools that boast themselves of great Riches, when they are indeed exceeding poor; but cui bono? Why do they so? what get they by it? What comfort reap they by it? None at all, their Consciences bear∣ing them witnesse that they are none such as the World takes them to be.