Degree higher than the former Instance I mentioned) was their being skilful in the Knowledge of their Law. This our Apoftle in this Chapter takes notice of, when, reckoning up thofe Things that the Jews had fo great a Value for in themselves, he names their having a Form of Knowledge, v. 19, 20. and being able to be Guides of the Blind, and Inftructors of the Ignorant, and Teachers of Babes. And indeed, fuch was the Genius of that People at that Time, that by how much any of them did exceed in Knowledge and Skilfulness about the Myfteries of their Law, and the Traditions of their Fore fathers, by fo much the better Jews they took themfelves to be, and the more acceptable to God, and by fo much the more they defpifed their Neighbours that were inferior to them in this kind of Knowledge. And hence came that great Conceit the Pharifees and Scribes had of themfelves, and the great Contempt that, upon all Occafions, they expreffed of others: This People, fay they, that knoweth not the Joh. 7.49 Law, are curfed, as you find them speaking in St. John's Gofpel. Hence it came, that inftead of practising the Law in their Lives, their whole Study was taken up in Speculations about it, in finding out Subtilties, and Myfteries, and Curiofities, that were above the Capacities of ordinary Perfons; in which Matter we have at this Day

extant

extant in their Writings abundance of Instances of their Diligence.

And are there not juft fuch a fort of Chriftians among us? Are there not fome in our Days that make Christianity little more than a Bufinefs of mere Speculation, or a Set of Orthodox Opinions, or a more than ordinary Knowledge of the Mysteries of God? Are there not too many, who read the Word of God indeed, nay, and perhaps, with a great deal of Care, if not Nicenefs and Curiofity, but yet by no means with an Intent to better their Lives thereby, by no means to regulate their Judgments in any Points of Faith, or their Manners in any Points of Practice; but merely for the confirming them in fome Notion they have taken up, or the establishing fome Doctrine, that the Party they are ingaged in are oblig'd to maintain? Others, I am afraid, may study the Scriptures to another Purpose, which is altogether as unaccountable; that is to fay, merely for the Sake of the Phrase and Language they there meet with; which, when they are well acquainted with, they do fo wretchedly mifapply in their religious Talk, that, in truth, what is admirable Senfe and Reafon in the holy Books, is little better than Jargon and Cant, when it comes out of their Mouths. With these Men to be a good Chriftian, is to be able to difpute learnedly

learnedly about Articles of Faith, and to be wonderfully Orthodox in their Opinions, and to have fo great a Knowledge in the Points that are now controverted among Christians, that they can enter the Lifts for the Caufe they have efpoufed against any Adverfary that oppofes them. With others of them, Christianity runs much lower, for it is but talking warmly and zealously in Scripture Phrase and Language about Matters they never gave themselves much Trouble to understand; and then who can doubt of their Love to God, and their Zeal for Jefus Chrift ?

The Men that have thefe Talents, are apt to think meanly enough of those that have them not, Those plain fimple Chriftians, that heartily believe their Creed, and endeavour to live honeftly among their Neighbours, and ferve God as well as they can, but yet trouble not themselves with thofe high Points of Speculation, nor with the Divifions of Christendom, this fort of Men (God help them) are, in their Opinion, but poor weak Chriftians, too much under the Difpenfation of Morality, and not yet arrived to the faving Knowledge of Jefus Chrift.

But fure this fort of Principles, and these Notions of Religion, where-ever they are found, are but a Branch of the old Pharifaifm. These kind of Men that I have described, how knowing foever they are in

the

the Mysteries of God, are but Jews, I should lay, Chriftians outwardly, and their Praife is of Men, and not of God. The true inward Christianity finks down into the Heart, is a vital Principle there of all holy and good Actions, makes a Man a new Creature, and fubdues every Thing in him that speaks Oppofition to the holy Difcipline of our Lord Jefus; but was never intended to flutter above in the Brain, and to fill his Head with Notions and Speculations, and there to leave him, with his Affections and Inclinations, as deeply ingaged to the World, and the Flefh and the Devil, as ever they were before. O this is the worst Reprefentation of Christianity Rom. 2. that can be! They are not the Hearers of the Law (fays St. Paul) but the Doers of John 13. it, that shall be juftified. And if you know thefe Things (fays our Saviour) happy are ye if ye do them. And whatever Knowledge of Chrift any of us may pretend to above 1 John 2. Our Neighbours, yet hereby (says St. John) we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments. But he that faith he knows him and keepeth not his Commandments, is a Lyar, and the Truth is not in him.

13.

17.

3.4.

III. Another Piece of outward Judaism, which the Scripture often takes notice of, was, the having an extraordinary Zeal for Things that were in themselves indifferent, and were not commanded of God, and make

ing it a weighty Point of Religion to obferve or abstain from thofe Things. The Jews, and efpecially the Pharifees, placed a great deal of their Religion in these Matters They loved their own Traditions (as our Sa- Mark 7. viour tells us) more than God's Command-7, 8, 9, ments. What a world of Stir and Buftle did they make about their Phylacteries? (which were certain Scrolls of Parchment, with certain Texts of Scripture written upon them, that they tied upon their Foreheads, whenever they said their Prayers.) There was no Law of God for them (unlefs they forced fome proverbial Allegorical Expreffion in the Law to fpeak a literal Senfe, which was not intended); but yet, as our Saviour reproves them, they were abundantly more careful to have thofe Phylacteries about them, tied on their Heads, than to have the Law of God written upon their Hearts.

What a Matter of Confcience did they make of cleanfing Cups and Platters, and washing their Hands before Meat? Infomuch, as the Text tells us, they marvelled Matt.15.1. to see our Saviour and his Difciples to fit Mark 7.2. down to Meat with unwashed Hands. And abundance of other Inftances there is to be given of their Zeal in Matters of this Na

ture.

We now, that are Christians, and know better Things, are apt enough to deride Ff

VOL. VI.

the