the pharisee and the publican-第7章

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sus；〃　Rom。　iii。　25；　26；　see　Phil。　iii。　6…8。

〃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　（in　trusting　to　his　own　righteousness）；　he　shall　die　for　it。〃

Note　hence　further。

1。　　That　there　is　more　virtue　in　one　sin　to　destroy；　than　in　all　thy　righteousness　to　save　thee　alive。　　If　he　trust；　if　he　trust　ever　so　little；　if　he　do　at　all　trust　to　his　own　righteousness；　all　his　righteousness　shall　be　forgotten；　and　by；　and　for；　and　in；　the　sin　that　he　hath　committed；　in　trusting　to　it；　he　shall　die。

2。　　Take　notice　also；　that　there　are　more　damnable　sins　than　those　that　are　against　the　moral　law。　　By　which　of　the　ten　commandments　is　trusting　to　our　own　righteousness　forbidden？　　Yet　it　is　a　sin：　　it　is　a　sin　therefore　forbidden　by　the　gospel；　and　is　included；　lurketh　close　in；　yea；　is　the　very　root　of；　unbelief　itself；　〃He　that　believes　not　shall　be　damned。〃　　But　he　that　trusteth　in　his　own　righteousness　doth　not　believe；　neither　in　the　truth；　nor　sufficiency　of　the　righteousness　of　Christ　to　save　him；　therefore　he　shall　be　damned。

But　how　is　it　manifest；　that　he　that　trusteth　to　his　own　righteousness；　doth　it　through　a　doubt；　or　unbelief　of　the　truth　or　sufficiency　of　the　righteousness　of　Christ？

I　answer；　because　he　trusteth　to　his　own。　　A　man　will　never　willingly　choose　to　trust　to　the　worst　of　helps；　when　he　believes　there　is　a　better　as　near；　and　to　be　had　as　soon；　and　that　too；　upon　as　easy；　if　not　more　easy　terms。　　If　he　that　trusteth　to　his　own　righteousness　for　life；　did　believe　that　there　is　indeed　such　a　thing　as　the　righteousness　of　Christ　to　justify；　and　that　this　righteousness　of　Christ　has　in　it　all…sufficiency　to　do　that　blessed　work；　be　sure　he　would　choose　that；　thereon　to　lay；　lean；　and　venture　his　soul；　that　he　saw　was　the　best；　and　most　sufficient　to　save；　especially　when　he　saw　also　（and　see　that　he　must；　when　he　sees　the　righteousness　of　Christ）；　to　wit；　that　that　is　to　be　obtained　as　soon；　because　as　near；　and　to　be　had　on　as　easy　terms：　　nay；　upon　easier　than　man's　own　righteousness。　　I　say；　he　would　sooner　choose　it；　because　of　the　weight　of　salvation；　of　the　worth　of　salvation；　and　of　the　fearful　sorrow　that　to　eternity　will　overtake　him　that　in　this　thing　shall　miscarry。　　It　is　for　heaven；　it　is　to　escape　hell；　wrath；　and　damnation；　saith　the　soul；　and　therefore　I　will；　I　must；　I　dare　not　but　choose　that；　and　that　only；　that　I　believe　to　be　the　best　and　most　sufficient　help　in　so　great　a　concern　as　soul…concern　is。　　So　then　he　that　trusteth　to　his　own　righteousness；　does　it　of　unbelief　of　the　sufficiency　of　the　righteousness　of　Christ　to　save　him。

Wherefore　this　sin　of　trusting　to　his　own　righteousness　is　a　most　high　transgression；　because　it　contemneth　the　righteousness　of　Christ；　which　is　the　only　righteousness　that　is　sufficient　to　save　from　the　curse　of　the　law。　　It　also　disalloweth　the　design　of　heaven；　and　the　excellency　of　the　mystery　of　the　wisdom　of　God；　in　designing　this　way　of　salvation　for　man。　　What　shall　I　say；　It　also　seeketh　to　rob　God　of　the　honour　of　the　salvation　of　man。　　It　seeketh　to　take　the　crown　from　the　head　of　Christ；　and　to　set　it　upon　the　hypocrite's　head；　therefore；　no　marvel　that　this　one　sin　be　of　that　weight；　virtue；　and　power；　as　to　sink　that　man　and　his　righteousness　into　hell；　that　leaneth　thereon；　or　trusteth　unto　it。

But；　Pharisee；　I　need　not　talk　thus　unto　thee；　for　thou　art　not　the　man　that　hath　that　righteousness　that　God　findeth　not　fault　withal；　nor　is　it　to　be　found；　but　with　him　that　is　ordained　to　be　the　Saviour　of　mankind；　nor　is　there　any　such　one　besides　Jesus；　who　is　called　Christ。　　What　madness　then　has　brought　thee　into　the　temple；　there　in　an　audacious　manner　to　stand　and　vaunt　before　God；　saying；　〃God；　I　thank　thee；　I　am　not　as　other　men　are？〃

Dost　thou　not　know；　that　he　that　breaks　one；　breaks　all　the　commandments　of　God；　and　consequently；　that　he　that　keeps　not　all；　keeps　none　at　all　of　the　commandments　of　God？　　Saith　not　the　scripture　the　same？　　〃For　whosoever　shall　keep　the　whole　law；　and　yet　offend　in　one　point；　he　is　guilty　of　all；〃　Jam。　ii。　10。　　Be　confounded　then；　be　confounded。

Dost　thou　know　the　God　with　whom　now　thou　hast　to　do？　　He　is　a　God　that　cannot　（as　he　is　just）　accept　of　an　half　righteousness　for　a　whole；　of　a　lame　righteousness　for　a　sound；　of　a　sick　righteousness　for　a　well　and　healthy　one；　Mal。　i。　7；　8。　　And　if　so；　how　should　he　then　accept　of　that　which　is　no　righteousness？　　I　say；　how　should　he　accept　of　that　which　is　none　at　all；　for　thine　is　only　such？　　And　if　Christ　said；　〃When　you　have　done　all；　say；　We　are　unprofitable；〃　how　camest　thou　to　say；　before　thou　hadst　done　one　thing　well；　I　am　better；　more　righteous　than　other　men？

Didst　thou　believe；　when　thou　saidst　it；　that　God　knew　thy　heart？　Hadst　thou　said　this　to　the　Publican；　it　had　been　a　high　and　rampant　expression；　but　to　say　this　before　God；　to　the　face　of　God；　when　he　knew　that　thou　wert　vile；　and　a　sinner　from　the　womb；　and　from　the　conception；　spoils　all。　　It　was　spoken　to　put　a　check　to　thy　arrogancy　when　Christ　said；　〃Ye　are　they　that　justify　yourselves　before　men；　but　God　knoweth　your　hearts；〃　Luke　xvi。　15。

Hast　thou　taken　notice　of　this；　that　God　judgeth　the　fruit　by　the　heart　from　whence　it　comes？　　〃A　good　man；　out　of　the　good　treasure　of　his　heart；　bringeth　forth　that　which　is　good；　and　an　evil　man；　out　of　the　evil　treasure　of　his　heart；　bringeth　forth　that　which　is　evil；〃　Luke　vi。　45。　　Nor　can　it　be　otherwise　concluded；　but　that　thou　art　an　evil　man；　and　so　that　all　thy　supposed　good　is　nought　but　badness；　for　that　thou　hast　made　it　to　stand　in　the　room　of　Jesus；　and　hast　dared　to　commend　thyself　to　the　living　God　thereby：　　for　thou　hast　trusted　in　thy　shadow　of　righteousness；　and　committed　iniquity。　　Thy　sin　hath　melted　away　thy　righteousness；　and　turned　it　to　nothing　but　dross；　or；　if　you　will；　to　the　early　dew；　like　to　which　it　goeth　away；　and　so　can　by　no　means　do　thee　good；　when　thou　shalt　stand　in　need　of　salvation　and　eternal　life　of　God。

But；　further；　thou　sayst　thou　art　righteous；　but　they　are　but　vain　words。　　Knowest　thou　not　that　thy　zeal；　which　is　the　life　of　thy　righteousness；　is　preposterous　in　many　things？　　What　else　means　thy　madness；　and　the　rage　thereof；　against　men　as　good　as　thyself。　　True；　thy　being　ignorant　that　they　are　good；　may　save　thee　from　the　commission　of　the　sin　that　is　unpardonable；　but　it　will　never　keep　thee　from　spot　in　God's　sight；　but　will　make　both　thee　and　thy　righteousness　culpable。

Paul；　who　was　once　as　brave　a　Pharisee　as　thou　canst　be；　calleth　much　of　that　zeal　which　he　in　that　estate　was　possessed　with；　and　lived　in　the　exercise　of；　madness；　yea；　exceeding　madness　（Acts　xxvi。　9…11；　Phil；　iii。　5；　6）；　and　of　the　same　sort　is　much　of　thine；　and　it　must　be　so；　for　a　lawyer；　a　man　for　the　law；　and　that　resteth　in　it；　must　be　a　persecutor；　yea；　a　persecutor　of　righteous　men；　and　that　of　zeal　to　God；　because　by　the　law　is　begotten；　through　the　weakness　that　it　meeteth　with　in　thee；　sourness；　bitterness　of　spirit；　and　anger　against　him　that　rightfully　condemneth　thee　of　folly；　for　choosing　to　trust　to　thy　own　righteousness　when　a　better　is　provided　of　God　to　save　us；　Gal。　iv。　28…31。　　Thy　righteousness　therefore　is　deficient；　yea；　thy　zeal　for　the　law；　and　the　men　of　the　law；　has　joined　madness　with　thy　moral　virtues；　and　made　thy　righteousness　unrighteousness：　how　then　canst　thou　be　upright　before　the　Lord？

Further；　has　not　the　pride　of　thy　spirit　in　this　hotheaded　zeal　for　thy　Pharisaical　notions　run　thee　upon　thinking　that　thou　art　able　to　do　more　than　God　hath　enjoined　thee；　and　so　able　to　make　thyself　more　righteous　than　God　requireth　thou　shouldst　be？　　What　else　is　the　cause　of　thy　adding　laws　to　God's　laws；　precepts　to　God's　precepts；　and　traditions　to　God's　appointment？　　Mark　vii。　　Nay；　hast　thou　not；　by　thus　doing；　condemned　the　law　of　want　of　perfection；　and　so　the　God　that　gave　it；　of　want　of　wisdom　and　faithfulness　to　himself　and　thee？

Nay；　I　say　again；　hath　not　thy　thus　doing　charged　God　with　being　ignorant　of　knowing　what　rules　there　needed　to　be　imposed　on　his　creatures　to　make　their　obedience　complete？　　And　doth　not　this　madness　of　thine　intimate；　moreover；　that　if　thou　hadst　not　stepped　in　with　the　bundle　of　thy　traditions；　righteousness　had　been　imperfect；　not　through　man's　weakness；　but　through　impediment　in　God；　or　in　his　ministering　rules　of　righteousness　unto　us？

Now；　when　thou　hast　thought　on　these　things；　fairly　answer　thyself　these　few　questions。　　Is　not　this　arrogancy？　　Is　not　this　blasphemy？　Is　not　this　to　condemn　God；　that　thou　mightst　be　righteous？　　And　dost　thou　think；　this　is　indeed　the　way　to　be　righteous？

But　again；　what　means　thy　preferring　of　thine　own　rules；　laws；　statutes；　ordinances；　and　appointments；　before　the　rules；　laws；　statutes；　and　appointments　of　God？　　Thinkest　thou　this　to　be　right？　Whither　will　thy　zeal；　thy　pride；　and　thy　folly　carry　thee？　　Is　there　more　reason；　more　equity；　more　holiness　in　thy　tradition；　than　in　the　holy；　and　just；　and　good　commandments　of　God？　　Rom。　vii。　12。　　Why　then；　I　say；　dost　thou　reject　the　commandment　of　God；　to　keep　thine　own　tradition？　　Yea；　why　dost　thou　rage；　and　rail；　and　cry　out；　when　men　keep　not　thy　law；　or　the　rule　of　thine　order；　and　tradition　of　thine　elders；　and　yet　shut　thine　eyes；　or　wink　with　them；　when　thou　thyself　shalt　live　in　the　breach　of　the　law　of　God？　　Yea；　why　wilt　thou　condemn　men；　when　they　keep　not　thy　law；　but　study　for　an　excuse；　yea；　plead　for　them　that　live　in　the　breach　of　God's？　　Mark　vii。　10…13。　　Will　this　go　for　righteousness　in　the　day　of　God　Almighty？　　Nay；　rather；　will　not　this；　like　a　mill…stone　about　thy　neck；　drown　thee　in　the　deeps　of　hell？　　O　the　blindness；　the　madness；　the　pride；　that　dwells　in　the　hearts　of　these　pretended　righteous　men

Again；　What　kind　of　righteousness　of　thine　is　this　that　standeth　in　a　mis…esteeming　of　God's　commands？　　Some　thou　settest　too　high；　and　some　too　low；　as　in　the　text；　thou　hast　set　a　ceremony　above　faith；　above　love；　and　above　hope　in　the　mercy　of　God；　when　as　it　is　evident；　the　things　last　mentioned；　are　the　things　of　the　first　rate；　the　weightier　matters；　Matt。　xxiii。　17。

Again；　Thou　hast　preferred　the　gold　above　the　temple　that　sanctifieth　the　gold；　and　the　gift　above　the　altar　that　sanctifieth　the　gift；　Matt。　xxiii。　17。

I　say　again；　What　kind　of　righteousness　shall　this　be　called？　　What　back　will　such　a　suit　of　apparel　fit；　that　is　set　together　to　what　it　should　be？　　Nor　can　other　righteousness　proceed；　where　a　wrong　judgment　precedeth　it。

This　misplacing　of　God's　laws　cannot；　I　say；　but　produce　misplaced　obedience。　　It　indeed　produceth　a　monster；　an　ill…shaped　thing；　unclean；　and　an　abomination　to　the　Lord。　　For　〃see；〃　saith　he　（if　thou　wilt　be　making）；　〃that　thou　make　all　things　according　to　the　pattern　shewn　thee　in　the　mount。〃　　Set　faith；　where　faith　should　stand；　a　moral；　where　a　moral　should　stand；　and　a　ceremony；　where　a　ceremony　should　stand：　　for　this　turning　of　things　upside　down　shall　be　esteemed　as　the　potter's　clay。　　And　wilt　thou　call　this　thy　righteousness？　yea；　wilt　thou　stand　in　this？　wilt　thou　plead　for　this