November 13 — Except your justice exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisee you shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven. — Mat v. 2D

Consider, first, how much it concerns us all, to know what vre must do to save our souls; and what kind of justice, that is, what degree of virtue, is necessary to bring us to heaven; lest we deceive ourselves, or let ourselves be imposed upon by the enemy, with false appearances and outward show, and, catching at the shadow of virtue, lose the substance of it, and our soul's into the bargain. The scribes and Pharisees were the most precise amongst the Jews, and professed the greatest zeal for f he law of Cod and the true religion; they prayed muth; they gave large aims; and they fasted frequently; so that they passed for saints amongst tlie people; and yet we are here assur, by the mouth of Truth itself, that except our virtue exceed theirs, we 11 have no share in his heavenly kingdom. See then, my soul, and examine well, in what their justice was defective, that so thou mayst avoid their defects, lest thou perish with them; for why shcdst thou suffer thyself to be deluded, to the loss both of thy Cod and of thyself, for all eternity?

Consider, secondly, that the justice of the scribes and of the Pharisees was many ways deficient, but more especially in this, that it contented itself with reforming and regulating the outside, whilst it neglected the interior, which fe the true seat of Christian justice. They nmde dean the outside of the cup, and of the platter, whilst their inside was fuU sf iniquity, Luke xi. 39. Their good works were not done wkh a pure ‘mention; they sought not God, but themselves, in all they did, their |>rayers, their alms, their fastings, were directed to tlie gaining ot the applause of the world, to the end they might he honoured and esteemed by men. And, whilet they avoiefed the mme scandalous excesses, of the grosser carnal sins of drunkenness aud impurity, which might have rendered them infamous in the eyes of the world, they made no scruple of the spiritual sins (much more odious to God) of envy, hatred, detraction, covetousness, and an extravagant pride and conceit of themselves, joined with a contempt of all others. Thus, all the good they seemed to do Was quite vitiated and corrupted; all their virtues were but in appearance, and before the eyes of men; but their vices were real, and abominable in the sight of God. Christians, tal:e heed of this leaven of the Pharisees, as your Lord admonishes you; take heed of hypocrisy, of ostentation, ajfid an outward show of devotion, destitute of the real substance of it. All the glory of the true spouse, the daughter of the king is within: it lies hidden in the interior of the soul. Take heed lest pride or vain glory vitiate your good actions, by vitiating your intention. Keep yourselves clean, not only from all the defilements of the flesh, but of the spirit also; for these are the more heinous sins of the two. O, see that nothing of the Pharisee corrupt the Christian in you.

Consider, thirdly, what that justice is, which Jesus Christ insists upon, as necessary to the eternal salvation of our souls. It consists not in mere outward professions; for not every one that saith to me. Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, huf he that doth the will of my Father, who is in heaven. Matt. vii. 12. Nor vi’iW faith alone suffice to Christian justice, James ii. 17, 24. Nor will alms, prayers, or fastings alone, make any one just, (as we see in the very case of the Pharisees,) nor any outward forni >f worship, without the inward spirit; nor any thing else, that can be separated from obedience to the commandments, from true Christian humility and divine charity. No, my soul, the justice that is to bring thee to heaven is to keep the commandr ments. Matt. xix. 17. It is the will of thy Father who is in heaven. Matt. vii. 21. It is to he poor in spirit. Matt. v. 3. It is to be humble Uke a little child, Matt, xviii. 3, 4. It is to love the Lord thy God vnth thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength, and to love thy neigh hours as thyself This is Christian justice indeed. Do this, and thou shalt live. But where any part of this is wanting, nothing else can make any man

Conclude to be quite in earnest, in seeking and following aider this Christian justice in all its branches; by purity of intention in all thy works; by sincerity and simplicity, or uprightness of soul; by attending to thy interior, to keep that regular and orderly, by true humility of heart; and above all things, by flying sin and loving God; and thou shalt be just indeed before tlie Lord, and entitled to his heavenly kingdom.