their garments, and love the upper- blood be on us, and on our children, most rooms at feasts, and the chief &c. They, mocking him, said, He seats in the synagogues, and greet- trusted in God, let him deliver him ings in the markets, and to be called now if he will have him, &c. and notof men Rabbi, Rabbi, &c. But woe withstanding all the wonders at his unto you, scribes and Pharisees, death, which made the Centurion say, hypocrites! for ye shut up the king- Truly this was the Son of God: yet dom of heaven against men: for ye the chief priests and Pharisees came neither go in yourselves, neither suf- to Pilate and said, &c. That deceiver fer ye them that are entering, to go said &c. desired and set a watch upon in, &c. Ye devour widows' houses, the sepulchre. - Matt.xxvii. 3, 4.17- 20. 24, 25.41-43. 53, 54.62-64. 66. Mark xv. 10, 11. 14. 29. 31, 32. When they were convinced that Christ was risen, they gave large money to the soldiers to hide it with a lie, and promised the soldiers to se cure them.-Matt. xxviii. 11-15. Herod heard John gladly, and did many things. - Mark vi. 20. and for a pretence make long prayers, &c. Ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Woe unto you, blind guides! which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor, &c. Ye pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith, &c. Ye blind guides! which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel, &c. Ye may clean the outside of the cup, &c. but within they are full of extortion and excess: ye outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy. -Matt. xxiii. Ye are they which justify yourselves 2-7.13-17.23-31. The foolish virgins took their lamps, and took no oil with them; but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.-Matt. xxv. 3, 4. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against (or within) themselves, being not baptised of him. - Luke vii. 30. Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drank in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets: but he shall say, &c. Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.-Luke xiii. 26, 27. xv. 7. before men, but God knoweth your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed, &c.-Luke xvi. 15. The chief priests and the scribes, &c. consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him, &c. Judas betrayed Christ with a kiss, &c. The chief priests and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death.- that I am not as other men are, ex Matt. xxvi. 3, 4.49.59. Luke iv. 28,29. And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves, that they were (or as being) righteous, and despised others. Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a Publican: the Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself; God, I thank thee, tortioners, &c. I fast twice in the week: I give tithes of all that I possess. Luke xviii. 9-12. When Jesus went unto Zaccheus's house, the Jews murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a Judas said to the chief priests, &c. I have sinned, in that I have betrayed innocent blood: and they said, What is that to us? see thou to that, &c. They persuaded the multitude that man that is a sinner: his citizens they should ask Barabbas, and de- hated him, and said, They would not stroy Jesus (when the governor would have this man reign over them.-Luke have released Jesus): they said, His xix. 6, 7. 14. The chief priests and scribes would thou art a Samaritan, and hast a kill Jesus, &c. Judas offered to be- devil?-John viii. 3-6.33,34.40,41.48. tray him; and they were glad, and The Pharisees said, This man is covenanted to give him money.- not of God, because he keepeth not Luke xxii. 2.4, 5. the sabbath day, &c. The Jews had They accuse Christ before Pilate, agreed already, that if any man did saying, We have found this fellow confess that he was Christ, he should perverting the nation, and forbidding be put out of the synagogue, &c. to give tribute to Cæsar, saying, That They say of Christ, He is a sinner; he himself is Christ, a king.-Luke we are Moses' disciples: as for this xxiii. 1, 2. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?-John v. 43, 44. Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled, &c. Jesus said, &c. No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.-John vi. 26. 65, 66. fellow, we know not from whence he is, &c. When they were convinced by the man who had been blind, that Christ must be of God; they said to him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? and they cast him out. Christ said to the Pharisees, Ye say, We see, &c.John ix. 16.22-24.28-34.40, 41. Some said of Christ, He hath a devil, and is mad, why hear ye him? &c. for good works we stone thee not, but for blasphemy, &c. -John x. 20. 32, 33. When Lazarus was raised from the dead, the chief priests and the Pha Some said of Christ, He deceived the people: howbeit, no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews, risees gathered a council, and said, &c. The chief priests and Pharisees What do we, for this man doeth many said unto the officers, Why have ye miracles? If we let him thus alone, not brought him? The officers an- all men will believe on him, and the swered, Never man spake like this Romans shall come and take away man. Then answered them the Pha- both our place and nation, &c. from risees, Are ye also deceived? have that day forth they took counsel toany of the rulers, or of the Pharisees gether for to put him to death.believed on him? but this people, John xi. 44. 46-48.53.57. who knoweth not the law, are cursed. Judas said, Why was not this ointNicodemus saith, &c. Doth our law ment sold for three hundred pence, judge any man before it hear him, and and given to the poor? This he know what he doeth? And they said said, not that he cared for the poor, unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? but, because he was a thief, and had -John vii. 12, 13.45-48.50-52. the bag, &c. The chief priests con This woman was taken in adultery, sulted that they might put Lazarus &c. What sayest thou? This they also to death, because that by reason said tempting him, that they might of him many of the Jews went away, have to accuse him, &c. We be Abra- and believed on Jesus, &c. The Phaham's seed, and were never in bondage risees therefore said among themto any man, &c. Jesus said, &c. Who- selves, Perceive ye how ye prevail soever committeth sin, is the servant of nothing? Behold, the world is gone sin, &c. Ye seek to kill me, a man that after him, &c. Among the chief rulers hath told you the truth, which I have also, many believed on him; but beheard of God; this did not Abraham. cause of the Pharisees they did not Ye do the deeds of your father, &c. confess him, lest they should be put The Jews said, Say we not well that out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men, more than the When the apostles had said, That praise of God.-John xii. 5, 6.10,11. God had exalted that Jesus whom 19.42, 43. The time cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doeth God service. And these things they will do unto you, because they have not known the Father nor me.--John xvi. 2, 3. Pilate sought to release Jesus; but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Cæsar, &c. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your king? the chief priests answered, We have no king but Cæsar. --John xix. 12. 15. Others mocking, said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter said, &c. These men are not drunken as ye suppose. Acts ii. 13-15. they slew, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.-Acts v. 1-3.14-18.24.28.30-33. vii. 51, 52.54, 55. When they could not resist the spirit and wisdom by which Stephen spake, then they suborned men, which said, We have heard, &c. and they stirred up the people, and the elders and scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, &c. And set up false witnesses. - Acts vi. 10-13. Simon, when he saw the apostles through laying on of hands conferred the Holy Ghost, offered them money for the like power, &c. He was in the gall of bitterness. -Acts viii. 18, 19, 23. As the apostles spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of known of Saul: and they watched When Saul had preached the gospel, the Jews took counsel to kill him: but their laying in wait was the gates day and night to kill him. Acts ix. 22-24. The next sabbath day, came almost the whole city together, to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people, &c. And they laid hands on them, &c. saying, By what power, or by what name have ye done this? &c. They said, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a with envy, and spake against the notable miracle hath been done by things which were spoken by Paul, them, is manifest unto all, &c. and contradicting and blaspheming, &c. we cannot deny it; but that it spread But the Jews stirred up the devout no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name: and they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus. - Acts iv. 13.7.14-18. Ananias and Sapphira brought part of the price, and would have deceived the Holy Ghost, &c. Multitudes were added to the Lord. Then the high priest, &c. were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison, &c. They doubted whereunto this would grow, &c. Said to the apostles, Ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's bloop upon us, &c. and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.Acts xiii. 44, 45. 50. The unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren, &c. and persuaded the people to stone them.-Acts xiv. 2. 19. When Paul had preached, and many believed, the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city in an uproar, &c. They drew Jason, and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down, &c. These do all contrary to the deIsrael, which followed after the crees of Cæsar, saying, That there is law of righteousness, hath not attainanother king, one Jesus. The Jews ed to the law of righteousness: wherecame also to Berea, and stirred up fore? because they sought it not by the people. Acts xvii. 2-7.13. faith, but as it were by the works of The Jews made an insurrection the law: for they stumbled at that with one accord against Paul, and stumblingstone, &c.--Rom. ix. 31, 32. brought him to the judgment seat, They have a zeal of God, but not ac saying, This fellow persuadeth men cording to knowledge: for they, being to worship God contrary to the law. ignorant of God's righteousness, and -Acts xviii. 12, 13. going about to establish their own Paul said, I was zealous toward righteousness, have not submitted God, as ye all are this day; and I themselves unto the righteousness of persecuted this way unto the death, God. Rom. x. 1-3. binding and delivering into prisons, &c.-Acts xxii. 3-7. As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised, only lest they Gal. vi. 12, 13. Certain Jews bound themselves under a curse to kill Paul, &c. The should suffer persecution for the cross chief priests and elders agree to help of Christ: for neither they themselves it forward.-Acts xxiii. 12-14. xxv.2,3. who are circumcised keep the law; They got an orator to accuse Paul, but desire to have you circumcised, thus; We found this man a pestilent that they may glory in your flesh.fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, The Jews who both killed the Lord and a ringleader of the sect of the Jesus, and their own prophets, and Nazarenes; who also hath gone about have persecuted us (or chased us to profane the temple, &c. When out); and they please not God, and Paul reasoned of righteousness, &c. are contrary unto all men: forbidFelix trembled, and answered, Go thy ding us to speak to the Gentiles that way for this time; when I have a con- they might be saved, to fill up their venient season, I will call for thee, &c.-Acts xxiv. 1, 2.5, 6. 25. Paul said, I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth: which things I also did, &c. being exceedingly mad.-Acts xxvi. 9-11. The Jews told Paul, That concerning this sect, it was every where spoken against.-Acts xxviii. 21. Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, and knowest his will, &c. and art confident that thou thyself art a guide to the blind, &c. Thou, therefore, which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest, a man shall not steal, dost thou steal? &c. He is not a sins alway; for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.--1 Thess, ii. 14-16. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof, &c. These also resist the truth, &c.-2 Tim. iii. 5.8. They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him: being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate (or void of judgment).-Titus i. 16. They went out from us, but they were not of us, &c. they went out that they might be made manifest, &c.-1 John ii. 19. Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead, &c. I have not found thy works perfect before God, &c. The church of the Laodiceans, &c. I know thy works, that thou art neither Jew which is one outwardly: neither hot nor cold, &c. Thou sayest, I am is that circumcision which is outward rich, and increased with goods, and in the flesh, &c. Rom. ii. 17--23.28. have need of nothing: and knowest not that thou art wretched, and mi- they say, Who seeth us? and who serable, and poor, and blind, and knoweth? - Isa. xxix. 15, 16. naked, &c.-Rev. iii. 1, 2. 14, 15. 17. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypoSECT. I. The great danger of Hypo- crites. Who among us shall dwell crisy and Formality, and the end of with the devouring fire? &c. Isa. Hypocrites. THE Israelites had sinned; and though they had the ark amongst them, yet they fell before their enemies.-1 Sam. iv. The hypocrite's hope shall perish, whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web: he shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure. - Job viii. 13-15. He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. Job xiii. 16. The congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, &c. -Job xv. 34. He that speaketh flattery to his friends, the eyes of his children shall fail. Job xvii. 5. xxxiii. 14. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled: this shall ye have of my hand, ye shall lie down in sorrow. -Isa. 1. 11. I will declare thy righteousness and thy works, for they shall not profit thee. Isa. lvii. 12. Trust ye not in lying words; saying, The temple of the Lord, &c. Behold, ye trust in lying words that cannot profit, &c. therefore will I do to this house which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh; and I will cast you out of my sight. -Jer. vii. 4.8-11. I will punish all them which are circumcised, with the uncircumcised. Egypt, &c. all these nations are uncircumcised: and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart. -Jer. ix. 25, 26. The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment: though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds, he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him, shall say, Where is he? and he shall flee away Ye dissembled in your hearts, when as a dream, and shall not be found. ye sent me unto the Lord your God, The eye also which saw him, shall &c. Now, therefore, know certainly, see him no more, &c. -Job xx. 5, &c. that ye shall die by the sword, by the What is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?-Job xxvii. 8, 9. The hypocrites in heart heap up wrath. Job xxxvi. 13. famine, &c.-Jer. xlii. 20-22. Isa.ix.17. Cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, &c. and sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing.-Mal.i.14. Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father, &c. The axe is laid, &c. - Matt. iii. 8-10. vii. 18, 19. Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, &c.-Ps.lv.23. Ye are the salt of the earth: but O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, if the salt have lost his savour, &c. I will send him against an hypo- wherewith shall it be salted? It is critical nation, and against the people thenceforth good for nothing but to of my wrath will I give him a charge. be cast out, and to be trodden under -Isa. x. 5, 6. foot of men, &c. I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark; and |