people to righteousness, they have used all their influence to deter men from it.
What shall we say then to these characters ? Shall we encourage them with the hopes of heaven ? Must we not rather adopt the Apostle's reasoning, " If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" Yes; if the Pharisees, with all their righteousness, could not enter into heaven, how shall they come thither, who are destitute of their attainments ? If every one must perish who does not exceed their righteousness, what must be- come of those who fall so short of it ? O that this argument might have its proper weight amongst us !
0 that men would not trifle with their souls, on the very brink and precipice of eternity ! " Consider, brethren, what I say ; and the Lord give you under- standing in all things ! "
2. Next we would solicit the attention of those who are resting in a Pharisaic righteousness. This is the kind of religion which is held in esteem by mankind at large. An outward reverence for the ordinances of religion, together with habits of tem- perance, justice, chastity, and benevolence, constitute what the world considers a perfect character. The description which St. Paul gives of himself previous to his conversion, is so congenial with their senti- ments of perfection, that they would not hesitate to rest the salvation of their souls on his attainments. But what said he of his state, when once he came to view it aright ? " What things were gain to me, those
1 counted loss for Christ ; yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the know- ledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." He saw, that bro- kenness of heart for sin, a humble affiance in the Lord Jesus Christ, and an unreserved devotedness of heart to his service, were indispensable to the sal- vation of the soul. He saw, that, without these, no attainments would be of any avail ; yea, that a man might have all the Biblical learning of the Scribes, and all the. sanctified habits of the Pharisees, and yet never be approved of the Lord in this world, nor
1299.] EVANGELIC AND niARlSAIC RIGHTEOUSNESS, 111
ever be accepted of him in the world to come. Is it not then desirable, that those who are in repute for wisdom and piety amongst us, should pause, and inquire, Whether their righteousness really exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees ? Would they not do well to study the account which St. Paul gives of himself previous to his conversion, and to examine wherein they surpass him ? Alas ! alas ! we are exceedingly averse to be undeceived ; but I would entreat every one of my hearers to consider deeply what our blessed Lord has spoken of such characters: " Ye are they which justify yourselves before men ; but God knoweth your hearts ; for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God*!."
3. Lastly, we would suggest some profitable con- siderations to those who profess to have attained that superior righteousness spoken of in our text.
You need not be told, that the examples of Christ and his Apostles, and indeed of all the primitive Christians, were offensive, rather than pleasing, to the Pharisees of old. The same disapprobation of real piety still lurks in the hearts of those who " occupy the seat of Moses'':" and you must not wonder if your contrition be called gloom ; your faith in Christ, presumption ; your dehght in his ways, enthusiasm ; and your devotion to his service, preciseness or hypo- crisy. Well, if it must be so, console yourselves with this, that you share the fate of all the saints that have gone before you ; and that your state, with all the obloquy that attends it, is infinitely better than that of your revilers and persecutors : you may well be content to be despised by men, whilst you are conscious of the favour and approbation of God.