154 The Nr.w and COMPLET LIFE of our BLESSED alfo infili on a greater purity of the foul, which is doubtlefs the far nobleft part pof- feffed by man. Initead therefore, of that fcrupulous care and exabtnefs in wafhing your hands when you fit down to meat, ye { hould be careful to cleanfe your hearts from all pollution, and fervently pray to the God of Ifrael to purify your minds; this will render it impofible for any ex- ternal thing to defile you, and will at all times be looked upon with complacency and delight by the God of purity. Noce, faid he, doyou Pharifees make clean theout fide of the cup or platter; but your inward part isfull ofravening and zoickednefs. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without; make that which is within alfo ? But rather give alms offilch things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. Such was the language of the Son of God, but the proud felf-conceited Pharifees would not hear; however clear and con- vincing, however mild and perfuafive, the reafonings of our Reedemer were, the in- veterate prejudices and rooted unbelief of thefe men prevented thefe excellent dif- courfes from having their proper effect. Our bleffed Saviour therefore treated them with more feverity, and denounced againfi them the moil heavy woes for their hypo - crify, which was manifeft in their fcru- pulous exaRnefs in the performance of the minuteft part of the ceremonial obfervances contained in their traditions, while they were molt fcandaloufly carelefs and negli- gent in the weightier matters of the law : Wo unto you, Pharfees I fait he, for ye tithemint, and rue, and all mannerofherbs, and pafs over judgment and the love of God: thefe oughtye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Wo untoyou, Pharifees! for ye love the uppermofi feats in the fyna- gogues, and greeting in the markets. Rh unto you, Scribes and Pharifees, hypocrites! forye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them. Though this difcourfe was principally defigned to affebi the Scribes and Pharifees, a certain lawyer, who fat at the table, think- ing that this rebuke aflefed perlons of his profeflion, was very much offended; but our great Redeemer, who regarded not the perfons nor profeflions of men, plainly told him what was his real charabler: Wo unto you al/o, ye lawyers! faid he, for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and yeyour/lives touch not the burdens with one ofyourfingers. The bleffed Jefus alto blamed the con- dubt of the Scribes and Pharifees for build- ing the fepulchres of the prophets, whom their fathers had murdered ; becaufe they did not creel thefe edifices fo much out of refpce to the memory of the deceafed wor- thies, as to exhibit the utmoft oftentati-onof piety, and make themfIves admired for their noble fentiments ; while, by their con- fiant line of condubl, they gave. reafon to conclude, that they fecretly entertained the faine hatred to reproof; and unconquerable obhhinancy and perverfenefe, which excited their fathers to the molt unreafonable and cruel of their allions : Wo unto you! faid he,forye build thefopulclires of the prophets, andyour fatherskilled them. Trulyye bear witnefs thatyeallow the deeds ofyourfathers: for they indeed killed them, andye build theta fepulchres. Therefore afelaid the wifdont ofGod, I willfend them prophets and ap% Iles, and feme of them theyfhall flay and petfecute: that the blood of all the prophets, which wasfhed frite the foundation of the world, may be required ofthis generation ; from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perfzedbetween the alter and the temple: verily, I fay unto you, it fhall be required of this generation. As our Redeemer well knew that this hardened and unbelieving generation, would fpill the blood of the Son of God, and of confe, quence be guilty of the blacken, and molt impious and horrid martyrdom which could be committed; he might juflly re- prefent them, as the molt black, horrid, and hateful race of murderers, as guilty in themfelves, as much to be abhorred, and equally deferring peculiar and diftinguifhed vengeance
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