An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…

Secondly, As the designing hypocrite desires to be seen in doing good, or to have the good which he hath done seen; so he is exceeding censorious and rigid towards those whom he sees falling into evil. Christ gives this discovery also (Math: 7.3.) Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brothers eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye; concluding at the 5th verse; Thou hypocrite (why doth Christ call him hypocrite? surely because he was so quick-sighted to see a mote, that is, a smaller fault in his brothers eye, but took no notice of the beam that was in his own eye; a spot upon his brothers coat, was censured more by him, then his own wallowing in the mire. I do not say that the Patriarch Judah was an hypocrite, but, as those two other Patriarchs, so he acted one very gross part of hypocrisy (Gen. 38.24.) For he no sooner heard that Tamar was with child, but he censured, yea condemned her presently to death; Bring her forth (said he) and let her be burnt; and yet himself was more faulty then she. How hard a Judge was he of that crime in another, which was principally his own? Saul had sinned greatly (1 Sam: 13.9.) in offering sacrifice before Samuel came, which was an usurpation of the Priests office, and so great a sin that Samuel told him presently, God would therefore rend the Kingdom from him; yet he thought to put it off with a slight excuse. But in the 14th Chapter when Jonathan only offended against a rash command of his (putting a Curse upon that people if any did eat before the going down of the Sun) he sentenced him to death for it. In the 8th of John, How severe were the Pharisees to the woman taken in Adultery, they haled her before Christ, and pressed the Law that she should be stoned to death; yet, when Christ said (v. 7.) He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her, they being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one. We ought to reprove and not flatter sin in others; yet they who are extremely severe against a sin in others, usually favour either the same or a worse in themselves. He that is sincere, pitieth others, as much as reproves them, and he reproves them, though wi•h sharpness, yet with meekness, at once considering himself, lest he also be tempted (Gal: 6.1.) and blessing God who hath ⟨p. 772⟩kept him in or from these temptations.

Secondly, As the designing hypocrite desires to be seene in doing good, or to have the good which he hath done seene; so he is exceeding censorious and rigid towards those whom he sees falling into evill. Christ gives this discovery also (Math: 7.3.) Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brothers eye, but considerest not the beame that is in thine owne eye; concluding at the 5th verse; Thou hypocrite (why doth Christ call him hypocrite? surely because he was so quick-sighted to see a mote, that is, a smaller fault in his brothers eye, but tooke no notice of the beame that was in his owne eye; a spot upon his brothers coate, was censured more by him, then his owne wallowing in the mire. I doe not say that the Patriarke Judah was an hypocrite, but, as those two other Patriacks, so he acted one very grosse part of hypocrisie (