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anst require no more than an endless life in an earthly paradise； for there thou wast set up at first； nor doth it appear from what hath been said； touching all that thou hast done or canst do； that thou deservest a better place。
Did I say； that thou mayst require justly an endless life in an earthly paradise？ Why； I must add to that saying this proviso； If thou continuest in the law； and in the righteousness thereof； else not。
But how dost thou know that thou shalt continue therein？ Thou hast no promise from God's mouth for that； nor is grace or strength ministered to mankind by the covenant that thou art under。 So that still thou standest bound to thy good behaviour； and in the day that thou dost give the first； though ever so little a trip； or stumble in thy obedience； thou forfeitest thine interest in paradise （and in justice）； as to any benefit there。
But alas！ what need is there that we should thus talk things； when it is manifest that thou hast sinned； not before thou wast a Pharisee； but when after the most strictest sect of thy religion thou livest also a Pharisee； yea； and now in the temple； in thy prayer there； thou shewest thyself to be full of ignorance； pride； self…conceit； and horrible arrogancy； and desire of vain glory； &c。； which are none of them the seat or fruits of righteousness； but the seat of the devil； and the fruit of his dwelling； even at this time in thy heart。
Could it ever have been imagined； that such audacious impudence could have put itself forth in any mortal man； in his approach unto God by prayer； as has shewed itself in thee？ 〃I am not as other men；〃 sayst thou！ But is this the way to go to God in prayer？ 〃The prayer of the upright is God's delight。〃 But the upright man glorifies God's justice； by confessing to God the vileness and pollution of his state and condition： he glorifies God's mercy； by acknowledging； that that； and that only； as communicated of God by Christ to sinners； can save and deliver from the curse of the law。
This； I say； is the sum of the prayer of the just and upright man； Job。 i。 8； xl。 4； Acts xiii。 22； Psalm xxxviii。； li。； 2 Sam。 vi。 21； 22； and not as thou most vain…gloriously vauntest with thy； 〃God； I thank thee； I am not as other men are。〃
True； when a man is accused by his neighbours； by a brother； by an enemy； and the like； if he be clear （and he may be so； as to what they shall lay to his charge）； then let him vindicate； justify； and acquit himself； to the utmost that in justice and truth he can； for his name； the preservation whereof is more to be chosen than silver and gold； also his profession； yea； the name of God too； and religion may now lie at stake； by reason of such false accusations； and perhaps can by no means （as to this man） be covered and vindicated from reproach and scandal； but by his justifying of himself。 Wherefore； in such a work； a man serveth God； and saves religion from hurt； yea； as he that is a professor； and has his profession attended with a scandalous life； hurteth religion thereby； so he that has his profession attended with a good life； and shall suffer it notwithstanding to lie under blame by false accusations； when it is in the power of his hand to justify himself； hurteth religion also。 But the case of the Pharisee is otherwise。 He is not here a…dealing with men； but God； not seeking to stand clear in the sight of the world； but in the sight of heaven itself； and that too； not with respect to what men or angels； but with respect to what God and his law could charge him with； and justly lay at his door。
This therefore mainly altereth the case； for a man here to stand thus upon his point； it is death； for he affronteth God； he giveth him the lie； he reproveth the law； and； in sum； accuseth it of bearing false witness against him； he doth this； I say； even by saying； 〃God； I thank thee； I am not as other men are；〃 for God hath made none of this difference。 The law condemneth all man as sinners； testifieth that every imagination of the thought of the heart of the sons of men is only evil； and that continually； wherefore they that do as the Pharisee did； to wit； seek to justify themselves before God from the curse of the law by their own good doings； though they also； as the Pharisee did； seem to give God the thanks for all； yet do most horribly sin； even by their so doing； and shall receive a Pharisee's reward at last。 Wherefore； O thou Pharisee； it is a vain thing for thee either to think of； or to ask for； at God's hand； either mercy or justice。 Because mercy thou canst not ask for； from sense of want of mercy； because thy righteousness； which is by the law； hath utterly blinded thine eyes； and complimenting with God doth nothing： and as for justice； that can do thee no good； but the more just God is； and the more by that he acteth towards thee； the more miserable and fearful will be thy condition； because of the deficiency of thy so much； by thee； esteemed righteousness。
What a deplorable condition then is a poor Pharisee in！ For mercy he cannot pray； he cannot pray for it with all his heart； for he seeth indeed no need thereof。 True； the Pharisee； though he was impudent enough； yet would not take all from God； he would still count； that there was due to him a tribute of thanks： 〃God； I thank thee；〃 saith he： but yet not a bit of this for mercy； but for that he had let him live （for I know not for what he did thank himself）； till he had made himself better than other men。 But that betterment was a betterment in none other's judgment than that of his own； and that was none other but such an one as was false。 So then the Pharisee is by this time quite out of doors： his righteousness is worth nothing； his prayer is worth nothing； his thanks to God are worth nothing； for that what he had was scanty and imperfect； and it was his pride that made him offer it to God for acceptance； nor could his fawning thanksgiving better his case； or make his matter at all good before God。
But I will warrant you； the Pharisee was so far off from thinking thus of himself； and of his righteousness； that he thought of nothing so much as of this； that he was a happy man： yea； happier by far than other his fellow rationals： yea； he plainly declares it； when he saith； 〃God； I thank thee； I am not as other men are。〃
O what a fool's paradise was the heart of the Pharisee now in； while he stood in the temple praying to God！ God； I thank thee； said he； for I am good and holy； I am a righteous man； I have been full of good works； I am no extortioner； unjust； nor adulterer； nor yet as this wretched Publican。 I have kept myself strictly to the rule of mine order； and my order is the most strict of all orders now in being： I fast； I pray； I give tithes of all that I possess。 Yea； so forward am I to be a religious man； so ready have I been to listen after my duty； that I have asked both of God and man the ordinances of judgment and justice； I take delight in approaching to God。 What less now can be mine than the heavenly kingdom and glory？
Now the Pharisee； like Haman； saith in his heart； To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself？ Where is the man that so pleaseth God； and； consequently；