the pharisee and the publican-第6章

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e　poor；　and　miserable；　and　wretched；　and　blind；　and　naked。　　Thus　the　poor；　blind；　naked；　hypocritical　Pharisee　thought　of　himself；　when　God　threatened　to　abase　him：　　yea；　he　thought　himself　thus；　and　joyed　therein；　when　indeed　he　was　going　down　to　the　chambers　of　death。

3。　　By　these　words；　the　Pharisee　seems　to　put　the　goodness　of　his　condition　upon　the　goodness　of　God。　　I　am　not　as　other　men　are；　and　I　thank　God　for　it。　　〃God　（saith　he）；　I　thank　thee；　that　I　am　not　as　other　men　are。〃　　He　thanked　God；　when　God　had　done　nothing　for　him。　He　thanked　God；　when　the　way　that　he　was　in　was　not　of　God's　prescribing；　but　of　his　own　inventing。　　So　the　persecutor　thanks　God　that　he　was　put　into　that　way　of　roguery　that　the　devil　had　put　him　into；　when　he　fell　to　rending　and　tearing　of　the　church　of　God；　〃Their　possessors　slay　them　（saith　the　prophet）；　and　hold　themselves　not　guilty：　　and　they　that　sell　them　say；　Blessed　be　the　Lord；　for　I　am　rich；〃　Zech。　xi。　5。　　I　remember　that　Luther　used　to　say；　〃In　the　name　of　God　begins　all　mischief。〃　　All　must　be　fathered　upon　God：　the　Pharisee's　conversion　must　be　fathered　upon　God；　the　right；　or　rather　the　villany　of　the　outrageous　persecution　against　God's　people；　must　be　fathered　upon　God。　　〃God；　I　thank　thee；〃　and；　〃Blessed　be　God；〃　must　be　the　burden　of　the　heretic's　song。　　So　again；　the　free…willer；　he　will　ascribe　all　to　God；　the　Quaker；　the　Ranter；　the　Socinian；　&c。；　will　ascribe　all　to　God。　　〃God；　I　thank　thee；〃　is　in　every　man's　mouth；　and　must　be　entailed　to　every　error；　delusion；　and　damnable　doctrine　that　is　in　the　world：　　but　the　name　of　God；　and　their　doctrine；　worship；　and　way；　hangeth　together；　as　the　Pharisee's　doctrine；　that　is　to　say；　by　nothing　at　all：　　for　God　hath　not　proposed　their　principles；　nor　doth　he　own　them；　nor　hath　he　commanded　them；　nor　doth　he　convey　by　them　the　least　grace　or　mercy　to　them；　but　rather　rejecteth　them；　and　holdeth　them　for　his　enemies；　and　for　the　destroyers　of　the　world。

4。　　We　come；　in　the　next　place；　to　the　ground　of　all　this；　and　that　is；　to　what　the　Pharisee　had　attained；　to　wit；　that　he　was　no　extortioner；　no　unjust　man；　no　adulterer；　nor　even　as　this　Publican；　and　for　that　he　fasted　twice　a…week；　and　paid　tithes　of　all　that　he　possessed。　　So　that　you　see　he　pretended　to　a　double　foundation　for　his　salvation；　a　moral　and　a　ceremonial　one；　but　both　very　lean；　weak；　and　feeble：　　for　the　first　of　his　foundation；　what　is　it　more；　if　all　be　true　that　he　saith；　but　a　being　removed　a　few　inches　from　the　vilest　men　in　their　vilest　actions？　a　very　slender　matter　to　build　my　confidence　for　heaven　upon。

And　for　the　second　part　of　his　ground　for　life；　what　is　it　but　a　couple　of　ceremonies；　if　so　good？　the　first　is　questioned　as　a　thing　not　founded　in　God's　law；　and　the　second　is　such；　as　is　of　the　remotest　sort　of　ceremonies；　that　teach　and　preach　the　Lord　Jesus。　But　suppose　them　to　be　the　best；　and　his　conformity　to　them　the　thoroughest；　they　never　were　ordained　to　get　to　heaven　by；　and　so　are　become　but　a　sandy　foundation。　　But　any　thing　will　serve　some　men　for　a　foundation　and　support　for　their　souls；　and　to　build　their　hopes　of　heaven　upon。　　I　am　not　a　drunkard；　says　one；　nor　a　liar；　nor　a　swearer；　nor　a　thief；　and　therefore　I　thank　God；　I　have　hopes　of　heaven　and　glory。　　I　am　not　an　extortioner；　nor　an　adulterer；　not　unjust；　nor　yet　as　this　Publican；　and　therefore　do　hope　I　shall　go　to　heaven。　　Alas；　poor　men！　will　your　being　furnished　with　these　things　save　you　from　the　thundering　claps　and　vehement　batteries　that　the　wrath　of　God　will　make　upon　sin　and　sinners　in　the　day　that　shall　burn　like　an　oven？　　No；　no；　nothing　at　that　day　can　shroud　a　man　from　the　hot　rebukes　of　that　vengeance；　but　the　very　righteousness　of　God；　which　is　not　the　righteousness　of　the　law；　however　christened；　named；　or　garnished　with　all　the　righteousness　of　man。

But；　O　thou　blind　Pharisee！　since　thou　art　so　confident　that　thy　state　is　good；　and　thy　righteousness　is　that　that　will　stand　when　it　shall　be　tried　with　fire　（1　Cor。　iii。　13）；　let　me　now　reason　with　thee　of　righteousness。　　My　terror　shall　not　make　thee　afraid；　I　am　not　God；　but　a　man　as　thou　art；　we　both　are　formed　out　of　the　clay。

First；　Prithee；　when　didst　thou　begin　to　be　righteous？　　Was　it　before　or　after　thou　hadst　been　a　sinner？　　Not　before；　I　dare　say；　but　if　after；　then　the　sins　that　thou　pollutedst　thyself　withal　before；　have　made　thee　incapable　of　acting　legal　righteousness：　　for　sin；　where　it　is；　pollutes；　defiles；　and　makes　vile　the　whole　man；　therefore　thou　canst　not　by　after　acts　of　obedience　make　thyself　just　in　the　sight　of　that　God　thou　pretendest　now　to　stand　praying　unto。　　Indeed　thou　mayst　cover　thy　dirt；　and　paint　thy　sepulchre；　for　that　acts　of　after　obedience　will　do；　though　sin　has　gone　before。　　But；　Pharisee；　God　can　see　through　the　white　of　this　wall；　even　to　the　dirt　that　is　within：　　God　can　also　see　through　the　paint　and　garnish　of　thy　beauteous　sepulchre；　to　the　dead　men's　bones　that　are　within；　nor　can　any　of　thy　most　holy　duties；　nor　all　when　put　together；　blind　the　eye　of　the　all…seeing　Majesty　from　beholding　all　the　uncleanness　of　thy　soul　（Matt。　xxiii。　27。）　　Stand　not　therefore　so　stoutly　to　it；　now　thou　art　before　God；　sin　is　with　thee；　and　judgment　and　justice　is　before　him。　　It　becomes　thee；　therefore；　rather　to　despise　and　abhor　this　life；　and　to　count　all　thy　doings　but　dross　and　dung；　and　to　be　content　to　be　justified　with　another's　righteousness　instead　of　thy　own。　　This　is　the　way　to　be　secured。　　I　say；　blind　Pharisee；　this　is　the　way　to　be　secured　from　the　wrath　which　is　to　come。

There　is　nothing　more　certain　than　this；　that　as　to　justification　from　the　curse　of　the　law；　God　has　rejected　man's　righteousness；　for　the　weakness　and　unprofitableness　thereof；　and　hath　accepted　in　the　room　of　that　the　glorious　righteousness　of　his　Son；　because　indeed　that；　and　that　only；　is　universal；　perfect；　and　equal　with　his　justice　and　holiness。　　This　is　in　a　manner　the　contents　of　the　whole　Bible；　and　therefore　must　needs　be　more　certainly　true。　　Now　then；　Mr　Pharisee；　methinks；　what　if　thou　didst　this；　and　that　while　thou　art　at　thy　prayers；　to　wit；　cast　in　thy　mind　what　doth　God　love　most？　and　the　resolve　will　be　at　hand。　　The　best　righteousness；　surely　the　best　righteousness；　for　that　thy　reason　will　tell　thee：　　This　done；　even　while　thou　art　at　thy　devotion；　ask　thyself　again；　But　who　has　the　best　righteousness？　and　that　resolve　will　be　at　hand　also；　to　wit；　he　that　in　person　is　equal　with　God；　and　that　is　his　in　Jesus　Christ；　he　that　is　separate　from　sinners；　and　made　higher　than　the　heavens；　and　that　is　his　Son　Jesus　Christ；　he　that　did　no　sin；　nor　had　any　guile　found　in　his　mouth；　and　there　never　was　any　such　he　in　all　the　world　but　the　Son　of　God；　Jesus　Christ。

Now；　Pharisee；　when　thou　hast　done　this；　then；　as　thou　art　at　thy　devotion；　ask　again；　But　what　is　this　best　righteousness；　the　righteousness　of　Christ；　to　do？　and　the　answer　will　be　ready。　　It　is　to　be　made　by　an　act　of　the　sovereign　grace　of　God　over　to　the　sinner　that　shall　dare　to　trust　thereto　for　justification　from　the　curse　of　the　law。　　〃He　is　made　unto　us　of　God；　righteousness。〃　　〃He　hath　made　him　to　be　sin　for　us；　who　knew　no　sin；　that　we　might　be　made　the　righteousness　of　God　in　him。〃　　〃For　Christ　is　the　end　of　the　law　for　righteousness　to　every　one　that　believeth；〃　1　Cor。　i。　30；　2　Cor。　v。　21；　Rom。　x。　4。

This　done；　and　concluded　on；　then　turn　again；　Pharisee；　and　say　thus　with　thyselfIs　it　most　safe　for　me　to　trust　in　this　righteousness　of　God；　this　righteousness　of　God…man；　this　righteousness　of　Christ？　Certainly　it　is；　since；　by　the　text；　it　is　counted　the　best；　and　that　which　is　best　pleaseth　God；　since　it　is　that　which　God　hath　appointed；　that　sinners　shall　be　justified　withal。　　For　〃in　the　Lord　have　we　righteousness〃　if　we　believe：　　and；　〃in　the　Lord　we　are　justified；　and　do　glory；〃　Isa。　xlv。　24；　25。

Nay；　Pharisee；　suppose　thine　own　righteousness　should　be　as　long；　as　broad；　as　high；　as　deep；　as　perfect；　as　good；　even　every　way　as　good；　as　the　righteousness　of　Christ；　yet　since　God　has　chosen；　by　Christ；　to　reconcile　us　to　himself；　canst　thou　attempt　to　seek　by　thy　own　righteousness　to　reconcile　thyself　to　God；　and　not　attempt　（at　least）　to　confront　this　righteousness　of　Christ　before　God；　yea；　to　challenge　it　by　acceptance　of　thy　person　contrary　to　God's　design？

Suppose；　that　when　the　king　has　chosen　one　to　be　judge　in　the　land；　and　has　determined　that　he　shall　be　judge　in　all　cases；　and　that　by　his　verdict　every　man's　judgment　shall　stand；　I　say；　suppose；　after　this；　another　should　arise；　and　of　his　own　head　resolve　to　do　his　own　business　himself。　　Now；　though　he　should　be　every　whit　as　able；　yea；　and　suppose　he　should　do　it　as　justly　and　righteously　too；　yet　his　making　of　himself　a　judge；　would　be　an　affront　to　the　king；　and　an　act　of　rebellion；　and　so　a　transgression　worthy　of　punishment。

Why；　Pharisee；　God　hath　appointed；　that　by　the　righteousness　of　his　Son；　and　by　that　righteousness　only；　men　shall　be　justified　in　his　sight　from　the　curse　of　the　law。　　Wherefore；　take　heed；　and　at　thy　peril；　whatever　thy　righteousness　is；　confront　not　the　righteousness　of　Christ　therewith。　　I　say；　bring　it　not　in；　let　it　not　plead　for　thee　at　the　bar　of　God；　nor　do　thou　plead　for　that　in　his　court　of　justice；　for　thou　canst　not　do　this　and　be　innocent。　　If　he　trust　to　his　righteousness；　he　hath　sinned；　says　Ezekiel。　　Mark　the　text；　〃When　I　shall　say　to　the　righteous；　that　he　shall　surely　live；　if　he　trust　to　his　own　righteousness；　and　commit　iniquity；　all　his　righteousness　shall　not　be　remembered：　　but　for　his　iniquity　that　he　hath　committed；　he　shall　die　for　it；〃　Ezek。　xxxiii。　13。

Observe　a　few　things　from　this　text；　and　they　are　these　that　follow。

1。　　Here　is　a　righteous　man；　a　man　with　whom　we　do　not　hear　that　the　God　of　heaven　finds　fault。

2。　　Here　is　a　promise　made　to　this　man；　that　he　shall　surely　live；　but　on　this　condition；　that　he　trust　not　to　his　own　righteousness。　Whence　it　is　manifest；　that　the　promise　of　life　to　this　righteous　man；　is　not　for　the　sake　of　his　righteousness；　but　for　the　sake　of　something　else；　to　wit；　the　righteousness　of　Christ。

1。　　Not　for　the　sake　of　his　own　righteousness。　　This　is　evident；　because　we　are　permitted；　yea；　commanded；　to　trust　in　the　righteousness　that　saveth　us。　　The　righteousness　of　God　is　unto　us　all；　and　upon　all　that　believe；　that　is；　trust　in　it；　and　trust　to　it　for　justification。　　Now　therefore；　if　thy　righteousness；　when　most　perfect；　could　save　thee；　thou　mightst；　yea　oughtst；　most　boldly　to　trust　therein。　　But　since　thou　art　forbidden　to　trust　to　it；　it　is　evident　it　cannot　save；　nor　is　it　for　the　sake　of　that；　that　the　righteous　man　is　saved；　Rom。　iii。　21；　22。

2。　　But　for　the　sake　of　something　else；　to　wit；　for　the　sake　of　the　righteousness　of　Christ；　〃Whom　God　hath　set　forth　to　be　a　propitiation　through　faith　in　his　blood；　to　declare　his　righteousness　for　the　remission　of　sins　that　are　past；　through　the　forbearance　of　God；　to　declare；　I　say；　at　this　time　his　righteousness；　that　he　might　be　just；　and　the　justifier　of　him　that　believeth　in　Jesus；〃　Rom。　iii。　25；　26；　see　Phil。　iii。　6…8。

〃If　he　trust　to　his　own　righteousness；　and　commit　ini