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not the scripture the same？ 〃For whosoever shall keep the whole law； and yet offend in one point； he is guilty of all；〃 Jam。 ii。 10。 Be confounded then； be confounded。
Dost thou know the God with whom now thou hast to do？ He is a God that cannot （as he is just） accept of an half righteousness for a whole； of a lame righteousness for a sound； of a sick righteousness for a well and healthy one； Mal。 i。 7； 8。 And if so； how should he then accept of that which is no righteousness？ I say； how should he accept of that which is none at all； for thine is only such？ And if Christ said； 〃When you have done all； say； We are unprofitable；〃 how camest thou to say； before thou hadst done one thing well； I am better； more righteous than other men？
Didst thou believe； when thou saidst it； that God knew thy heart？ Hadst thou said this to the Publican； it had been a high and rampant expression； but to say this before God； to the face of God； when he knew that thou wert vile； and a sinner from the womb； and from the conception； spoils all。 It was spoken to put a check to thy arrogancy when Christ said； 〃Ye are they that justify yourselves before men； but God knoweth your hearts；〃 Luke xvi。 15。
Hast thou taken notice of this； that God judgeth the fruit by the heart from whence it comes？ 〃A good man； out of the good treasure of his heart； bringeth forth that which is good； and an evil man； out of the evil treasure of his heart； bringeth forth that which is evil；〃 Luke vi。 45。 Nor can it be otherwise concluded； but that thou art an evil man； and so that all thy supposed good is nought but badness； for that thou hast made it to stand in the room of Jesus； and hast dared to commend thyself to the living God thereby： for thou hast trusted in thy shadow of righteousness； and committed iniquity。 Thy sin hath melted away thy righteousness； and turned it to nothing but dross； or； if you will； to the early dew； like to which it goeth away； and so can by no means do thee good； when thou shalt stand in need of salvation and eternal life of God。
But； further； thou sayst thou art righteous； but they are but vain words。 Knowest thou not that thy zeal； which is the life of thy righteousness； is preposterous in many things？ What else means thy madness； and the rage thereof； against men as good as thyself。 True； thy being ignorant that they are good； may save thee from the commission of the sin that is unpardonable； but it will never keep thee from spot in God's sight； but will make both thee and thy righteousness culpable。
Paul； who was once as brave a Pharisee as thou canst be； calleth much of that zeal which he in that estate was possessed with； and lived in the exercise of； madness； yea； exceeding madness （Acts xxvi。 9…11； Phil； iii。 5； 6）； and of the same sort is much of thine； and it must be so； for a lawyer； a man for the law； and that resteth in it； must be a persecutor； yea； a persecutor of righteous men； and that of zeal to God； because by the law is begotten； through the weakness that it meeteth with in thee； sourness； bitterness of spirit； and anger against him that rightfully condemneth thee of folly； for choosing to trust to thy own righteousness when a better is provided of God to save us； Gal。 iv。 28…31。 Thy righteousness therefore is deficient； yea； thy zeal for the law； and the men of the law； has joined madness with thy moral virtues； and made thy righteousness unrighteousness： how then canst thou be upright before the Lord？
Further； has not the pride of thy spirit in this hotheaded zeal for thy Pharisaical notions run thee upon thinking that thou art able to do more than God hath enjoined thee； and so able to make thyself more righteous than God requireth thou shouldst be？ What else is the cause of thy adding laws to God's laws； precepts to God's precepts； and traditions to God's appointment？ Mark vii。 Nay； hast thou not； by thus doing； condemned the law of want of perfection； and so the God that gave it； of want of wisdom and faithfulness to himself and thee？
Nay； I say again； hath not thy thus doing charged God with being ignorant of knowing what rules there needed to be imposed on his creatures to make their obedience complete？ And doth not this madness of thine intimate； moreover； that if thou hadst not stepped in with the bundle of thy traditions； righteousness had been imperfect； not through man's weakness； but through impediment in God； or in his ministering rules of righteousness unto us？
Now； when thou hast thought on these things； fairly answer thyself these few questions。 Is not this arrogancy？ Is not this blasphemy？ Is not this to condemn God； that thou mightst be righteous？ And dost thou think； this is indeed the way to be righteous？
But again； what means thy preferring of thine own rules； laws； statutes； ordinances； and appointments； before the rules； laws； statutes； and appointments of God？ Thinkest thou this to be right？ Whither will thy zeal； thy pride； and thy folly carry thee？ Is there more reason； more equity； more holiness in thy tradition； than in the holy； and just； and good commandments of God？ Rom。 vii。 12。 Why then； I say； dost thou reject the commandment of God； to keep thine own tradition？ Yea； why dost thou rage； and rail； and cry out； when men keep not thy law； or the rule of thine order； and tradition of thine elders； and yet shut thine eyes； or wink with them； when thou thyself shalt live in the breach of the law of God？ Yea； why wilt thou condemn men； when they keep not thy law； but study for an excuse； yea； plead for them that live in the breach of God's？ Mark vii。 10…13。 Will this go for righteousness in the day of God Almighty？ Nay； rather； will not this； like a mill…stone about thy neck； drown thee in the deeps of hell？ O the blindness； the madness； the pride； that dwells in the hearts of these pretended righteous men
Again； What kind of righteousness of thine is this that standeth in a mis…esteeming of God's commands？ Some thou settest too high； and some too low； as in the text； thou hast set a ceremony above faith； above love； and above hope in the mercy of God； when as it is evident； the things last mentioned； are the things of the first rate； the weightier matters； Matt。 xxiii。 17。
Again； Thou hast preferred the gold above the temple that sanctifieth the gold； and the gift above the altar that sanctifieth the gift； Matt。 xxiii。 17。
I say again； What kind of righteousness shall this be called？ What back will such a suit of apparel fit； that is set together to what it should be？ Nor can other righteousness proceed； where a wrong judgment precedeth it。
This misplacing of God's laws cannot； I say； but produce misplaced obedience。 It indeed produceth a monster； an ill…shaped thing； unclean； and an abomination to the Lord。 For 〃see；〃 saith he （if thou wilt be making）； 〃that thou make all things according to the pattern shewn thee in the mount。〃 Set faith； where faith should stand； a moral； where a moral should stand； and a ceremony； where a ceremony should stand： for this turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay。 And wilt thou call this thy righteousness？ yea； wilt thou stand in this？ wilt thou plead for this