The conduct and behaviour of the - publican appears very different - and indeed as much the reverfe to this, as you could conceive. But before we enter upon that, as I have spoke largely to the character of the pharifee, 'twill be but justice to fay a word or two in general to his. The publican was one of that order of men employed by the Roman emperors in levying the taxes and contributions which were from time to time exacted from Judea as a conquered nation. Whether, from the particular fate of that employment, owing to the fixed averfion which men have to part with what is their own, or from whatever other caufes it happened fo it was, that the whole fet of men were odious, infomuch that the name of a publican was a term of reproach and infamy amongst the Jews. Perhaps Perhaps the many inftances of rigour to which their office might direct them heightened fometimes by a mixture of cruelty and infolence of their own - and poffibly always made to appear worse than they were by the loud clamours and mifrepresentations of others - all might have contributed to form and fix this odium. But it was here no doubt, as in all other claffes of men, whofe profeffions expofe them to more temptations than that of others that there are numbers who ftill behave well, and who, amidst all the fnares and opportu nities which lye in their way; pals through them, not only with an unblemished character, but with the inward teftimony of a good confcience. The publican in all likelihood was one of these and the sentiments of candour and humility which the view of his condition infpired, are fuch as could come only from a heart and character thus defcribed. He goes up into the temple to pay his facrifice of prayer in the discharge of which, he pleads no merit of his own -enters into no comparison with others, or juftification of himself with GOD, but in reverence to that holier part of the temple where his prefence was fuppofed more immediately, to be displayed he keeps afar off is afraid to lift up his eyes towards heaven- but fmites upon his breast, and in a fhort but fervent ejaculation fubmiffively begs God to have mercy upon his fins. O GOD! how precious! how amiable! is true humility? what a difference in thy fight does it make to confift betwixt man and man! I man! Pride was not made for a creature with fuch manifold imperfections religious pride is a drefs which still because, of all worfe becomes him others, 'tis that to which he has least pretence the best of us fall feven times a day, and thereby add fome degree of unprofitablenefs to the character of those who do all that is commanded them was I perfect therefore, fays Job, I would not know my foul, I would be filent, I would be ignorant of my own righteousness, for fhould I fay I was perfect, it would prove me to be perverse. From this introduction I will take occafion to recommend this virtue of religious humility which fo naturally falls from the fubject, and which cannot more effectually be enforced, than by an enquiry into the chief caufes which pro duce the oppofite vice to it that of fpiritual pride for in this malady of the mind of man the cafe is parallel with most others of his body, the dan-· gers of which can never rightly be apprehended; or can remedies be applied either with judgment or fuccefs, till they are traced back to their firft principles, and the feeds of the diforder are laid open and confidered. And firft, I believe, one of the most general caufes of spiritual pride, is that which feems to have milled the pharifee a miftaken notion of the true principles of his religion. He thought, no doubt, that the whole of it, was comprehended in the two articles of paying tythes and frequent fasting, and that when he had difcharged his confcience of them- he had done all that was required at his hands, and might with |