[b]The Preaching Hypocrite[i]by John Fletcher
The preaching hypocrite–Admitted of men, not called of God, he preaches
Christ, but not for Christ. “Put me (saith he) into the priest’s office, that I may eat a morsel of bread.” He is, perhaps, a “preacher of righteousness,” but a “worker of iniquity.” But the true Chris- tian preacher only spends and is spent upon Christ and His interest. He is care- ful not only of his gifts, but of his grace; not only to be sent of men, but of God. The one preaches himself and for him- self. The other preaches Christ, and for Christ.
The hypocrite is ambitious to show his learning; to be admired rather than to be useful. Not so St. Paul (1 Cor. 2). A “scribe well instructed bringeth out of his own treasures things new and old.”
He brings in learning, but not divine learning! His artificial fire hath no warmth in it. But the Christian minister, though perhaps learned in Egyptian wis- dom as Moses, and in Greek literature as Paul, who quoted Aratus to the Atheni- ans (Acts 17:28), Menander to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 15:38), Epimenides to Titus (Tit. 1:12), never uses it but as the Agar of Sarah; Christ crucified being his chief knowledge.
The hypocrite uses divine learning to human, carnal ends–to get preferment or fame, to support opinions or parties. The minister of Christ handles not the “word of God deceitfully, but by mani- festation of the truth” (2 Cor. 4:2). He glorieth not in his preaching, a necessity being laid upon him by Christ.
The hypocrite chooses subjects on which he may shine and please. The other, those which may awaken and edify, disclaiming men pleasing. The one shoots over the heads, the other aims at the hearts of his hearers, suiting himself to the meanest capacity.
He puts on a face of zeal, without zeal, and, trying to move others, is him- self unmoved. He cannot say with Christ, “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.” His zeal is an ignis fatuus, or per- haps a heathenish fire lighted at Seneca’s torch; not a burning, as well as a shining light. He may have some feelings, but they are over with his sermon or prayer; some warmth for the church, as Jehu, because it is his party. But the Christian minister hath more zeal in his bosom than on his tongue. Elijah-like, the “word of the Lord is as a fire in his bones.” His soul “weeps in secret places” for the sins he reproves openly (Jer. 13:17). He can put probation est to what he preaches, and his zeal hath a very large measure of gospel love. It saves others, while it consumes himself.
The hypocrite is, perhaps, strict in his rules, loose in his practice, binding heavy burdens, that he toucheth not him- self. He is like a finger post, which shows the way, but never walks in it. He prom- ises liberty, while he is himself the slave of sin. The true preacher is afraid to preach what he practices not; he lives his sermons over. As a brave captain, he saith, “Follow me.” He aims at Thummim as well as Urim, perfection as well as light. The one makes the way to heaven as broad as he can, at least to himself, and ofttimes allows things to others to screen himself. The other makes the way to heaven narrower to himself than to his hearers and never gives up the last of the word, lest his own foot should be pinched.