most extraordinary Thing of that Nature, that occurs in the whole Hifto ry of our Lord's Miniftration. On the Pharifee's Part, the Facts are not fo favourable: We have an express Account of but one Perfon in that Body, who was difpos'd to have a favourable Opinion of our Saviour's Million. And how different was his Conduct from Zaccheus's, and how much a Slave to popular Opinions in Points of the utmost Importance? Instead of giving any publick Approbation to fuch a Preacher of Righteoufnels, to a Perfon, who, as he himfelf confefs'd, could not do the Works he did, unless God was with him, Nicodemus is content with coming to Jefus Chrift by Night, and with being a Difciple fecretly, for fear of the Jews. Secondly, Let us confider the Pharifee and the Publican in their more immediate Relations to their Neighbour. It must be confefs'd that the Publican's and Harlot's Example have always been very contagious, and their Manners very pernicious to Society. Extortion, Injustice, Adultery, and the like, are fuch Sins, as no Society could fubfift under, were they generally to prevail. But the World has never yet been fo blind, or fo wicked, as not to fee the fatal Confequences of these Sins, and fupprefs them by all the Rigours of Law. So that this fort of Sinners must carry on their Work cautiously and covertly. Eye of the Adulterer waiteth for the Twilight*, and the Woman with the Attire of an Harlot waits for the unwary Youth in the Evening, in the black and dark Night. Nay, the is represented as playing the Pharifee with him too, before the can fubdue him; The tells him, that fhe had her Peace * Job xxiv. 15. The Offerings Offerings with her, and that Day she had paid her Vows. * As to the Pharifee, if he is guilty of the fame Immoralities with the Publican, they must be attended with the fame injurious Effects. But he will be found to be a more pernicious Member of Society upon this Account. His religious Pretences will gain him better Opportunities, both of practifing and concealing his Sins. He will be the lefs fufpected and guarded againft. His long Prayers gain thẹ holy Oppreffor an easy Admiffion into the Widow's Houfe, which is better fecured against all other Robbers. So much more dangerous a Pit-fall is a painted Sepulchre, than an open one, where their Rottenness within is equal. But we will again take the Pharifee in the best and most advantageous Light we can, and acquit him of * Prov. vii. 14. grofs grofs Immoralities. And we fhall ne vertheless find, that his Religion itself leads him into more and greater Publick Injuries, than any other Perfon is capable of committing. That Kind of Righteousness, which he trufts to himself, he is very industrious to recommend to others. He compaffes Sea and Land to make one Profelyte; and then, when he has brought them into his own Condition, what greater Injury could he do them? Did he not make them twofold more the Children of Hell than himself? They who concur not with him, are accursed, and understand not the Law; they are declared Enemies to the Temple, and treated accordingly. Even the Rulers who believed on Jefus, durft not confefs him, for fear of the Pharifees, left they should be put out of the Synagogue *: If their Influence was fo great, as to awe the chief Rulers * Joh. xii. 42. them themselves, and make them suppress fo weighty a Conviction, how muft the People be enflaved by it? They would not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven themselves, and those that were willing to enter in, they hinder'd. If we confider them as Teachers of the Law, they made it void thro' their Traditions and falfe Gloffes; they had taken away the Key of Knowledge; they bound heavy Burdens, and grievous to be born, and laid them on Men's Shoulders; but they themselves would not move them with one of their Fingers. If we consider their Zeal and Artifice in making Profelytes, their Breadth of Phylacteries, and Pomp of Vestments, their loud and long Prayers, their Alms proclaimed with Sound of Trumpet, their frequent Faftings, their fad and fanctify'd Countenance; what is the Attire of the Harlot to all this? If we confider further their Matth. xxiv. 4. Power, |