rifees were exceeding ftrict and precife in the fcrupulouse obfervations of all the outward rites and ceremonies which were either prescribed in the law, or received by tradition from their forefathers; fo that rather than do less, they would do a great deal more than was commanded in the ceremonial law; by which they were thought, not only by themselves, but by others too, to be exceeding righteous, and to abound in the obfervance of the Mofaick law. But our Saviour was quite of another mind; and tells us in plain terms, that altho the Scribes and Pharifees feemed to be exceeding righteous, and were accounted fo by others, yet unless our righteoufnefs exceeds theirs, we fhall never go to heaven. But heaven is a place which I am confident we all have a defire to go to: And therefore it concerns us highly to understand wherein it is that our bleffed Saviour would have us to be more righteous than the Scribes and Pharisees were in order to our going thither. For, it feems, we must not only be righteous, but exceed the very exceeding righteoufnefs of the Scribes and Pharifees; otherwife, our Saviour himself tells us in plain terms, that we shall never enter into the kingdom of heaven. And therefore, as it behoves me to be cautious in expreffing, it behoves you to be as ferious in confidering wherein you are to excell and exceed the Scribes and Pharifees, fo as to be more juft and righteous than they were; which that you may all be, and fo meet together again in heaven, I defire you to refolve before-hand to practife what Ifhall prove to be your duty and intereft in this particular. And do not fancy to your felves that your coming hither to hear or learn how to be truly righteous, will make you fo: But affure your felves, the knowing what I fhall tell you without doing of it, will be fo far from advancing you to happiness, that it will but fink you deeper into mifery and torment: Infomuch that did I think you would not fincerely endeavour to be as righteous as you ought to be, I should be loath to tell you of it. But why do I fpeak that? It is God's command, and my duty to tell you of it; and therefore, whether you hear, or whether you forbear, be it known unto you, there are three things wherein your righteousnes ought to excced the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharifees; in being internal as well as external, univerfal not partial, and fincere not hypocritical. In fpeaking to which, expect not any new notions, fine words, or quaint phrafes from me; for its a matter that concerns your everlasting falvation; and therefore in treating of it, you must give me leave to speak as plain and home unto you all as poffible I can. 1. IN the first place therefore, I fay, that your righteoufnefs ought to exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharifees, in your internal as well as external performance of your whole duty both to God and man: I fay, as well as exter nal nal; because I would not have you think that your righteousness fhould be fo altogether fpiritual and internal, that you need not, or ought not, to make any external expreffion of it: For you have bodies as well as fouls, both made by God, you are equally bound in both to worship and obey him that made them; yea, you are exprefly commanded to glorify God both in your body, and in your spirit, because both are his, 1 Cor. vi. 30. And therefore it is a fond foolish thing to imagin that because you are commanded to worship God in fpirit, therefore you need not worship him in your bodies, when elsewhere you are plainly commanded to worship him in both. Wherefore fuppofing that you are not fo ignorant of your duty and obligations to the great Creator of the world, as not to perform at least external worship and obedience to him, I must farther tell you that this is not enough: This is nomore than what the Scribes and Pharifees did: They made clean the outfide of the platter and the cup; but within they were full of extortion and excess. Mat. xxiii. 25. Whereas the infide and outside ought to have been both clean. Thou blind Pharifee, faith he, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outfide may be clean alfo, ver. 26, And because they were altogether for outside righteoufness, hence it was that our Saviour denounced that dreadful woe againft them, Woe unto you Scribes and Pharifees, hypocrites; for ye are like unto unto whited fepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outfide; but within are full of dead mens boans, and all uncleannefs. Even fo, faith he, ye also outwardly appear righteous unto but within ye are full of hypocrify and men; iniquity, ver. 27, 28. In this therefore it is that your righteousness ought to exceed theirs. They conftantly prayed, went to their churches or fynagogues, kept their fabbaths, heard the word of God, pay'd their tithes and offerings, gave much alms to the poor, and the like, as you may do; but their fault was, they did then, as the papifts now generally do, they looked only to the opus operatum, they minded nomore than to do the work, it was no matter how, fo the matter they performed was but good, they never regarded in what manner they performed it And herein it is that your righteoufnefs and obedience ought to exceed theirs. You muft not think it is enough to come to Church to hear the prayers read, or a fermon preached, to give fomething now and then to the poor, and the like: If this was all that is required of you, it would be eafy enough to get to heaven, and none but fools and madmen would be fhut out. But mistake not your felves; there is a great deal more than this required to the due performance of every duty that is required of you;For it is the heart which the all-feeing God, the fearcher of hearts principally obfèrves in every act which you do perform; and bowfoever how foever plaufible your profeffion is, how fpecious foever your pretences to religion be, unlefs your hearts be united, and your whole fouls employed in every act you undertake, you are no better than the Scribes and Pharifees, mere formal profeffors, outfide Chriftians, and that is the best that can be said of you. BUT to come still clofer to you: You are all affembled at this time in the prefence of Almighty God: You have been hearing very folemn prayers, together with the fcripture read, and fomething from the word of God preached to you: Yea, fome of you have this day received the confecrated bread and wine, the myftical body and blood of Chrift. But let me tell you, never a foul of you hath done fo much as one good work, or righteous act this day, unless your hearts as well as bodies have been engaged and taken up in the performance of it.. What, do ye think to pray with the tongue without the heart; to hear with your ears without the heart; to receive facraments at the mouth without the heart? No, it is impoffible; for there is nothing of goodness, nothing of righteoufnels in any thing you do, any farther than as it proceeds from your hearts; fo that you cannot be properly faid to pray, unlefs your hearts be poffeffed at the fame time with a due fenfe of God's greatnefs and glory, and of your own wants, and unworthiness to have them fupplied. You cannot be properly faid to partake of the mystical body and |