most extraordinary Thing of that Nature, that occurs in the whole Hiftory of our Lord's Ministration. On the Pharifee's Part, the Facts are not so favourable: We have an express Account of but one Person in that Body, who was dispos'd to have a favourable Opinion of our Saviour's Mission. 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 such a Preacher of Righteousness, to a Person, who, as he himself confefs'd, could not do the Works he did, unless God was with him, Nicodemus is content with coming to Fefus Christ by Night, and with being a Disciple 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 confess'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 such Sins, as no Society could subsist under, were they generally to prevail. But the World has never yet been so blind, or so wicked, as not to fee the fatal Consequences of these Sins, and suppress them by all the Rigours of Law. So that this fort of Sinners must carry on their Work cautiously and covertly. The 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, she is represented as playing the Pharisee with him too, before she can fubdue him; she tells him, that the had her Peace

* Job xxiv. 15.

Offerings

Offerings with her, and that Day she had paid her Vows. *

As to the Pharifee, if he is guilty of the same Immoralities with the Publican, they must be attended with the same 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 less suspected and guarded against. His long Prayers gain the holy Oppreffor an easy Admission into the Widow's House, which is better secured 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 Pharisee in the best and most advantageous Light we can, and acquit him of gross Immoralities. And we shall ne vertheless find, that his Religion itself leads him into more and greater Publick Injuries, than any other Person is capable of committing. That Kind of Righteousness, which he trufts to himself, he is very industrious to recommend to others. He compasses 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 Jesus, durst not confess him, for fear of the Pharifees, left they should be put out of the Synagogue *: If their Influence was so great, as to awe the chief Rulers * Joh. xii. 42.

themselves, and make them suppress so weighty a Conviction, how must the People be enslaved 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 false 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 Proselytes, their Breadth of Phylacteries, and Pomp of Vestments, their loud and long Prayers, their Alms proclaimed with Sound of Trumper, their frequent Faftings, their sad and sanctify'd Countenance; what is the Attire of the Harlot to all this? If we consider further their