6. Consider, a small measure of Grace will not become you that profess Christ and Christianity, because you are to exceed others; there must be something more than ordinary in your Conversation; Mat. 5.20. Except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven: and ver. 47. What do you more than others? A peculiar People must live in a peculiar manner. There must be something over and above in you of what is found in others. The Pharisees were very strict; the Apostle calleth them [Greek or Hebrew], the most straitest Sect, Acts 26.5. they did excel all others, Luke 18.11. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, I am not as other Men. There were Washings, Tithings, Fastings, Alms-giving, and corporal Mortifications, O how did the Pharisees profess [Greek or Hebrew], to increase the Law, and supererogate, they exceeded all others. Now, saith Christ, you must exceed their Exceedings. It were wondrous to tell you what a painful and costly Profession of Holiness they made, insomuch that the Jews thought that if but two Men were to be saved, one should be a Scribe, and the other a Pharisee: Such were their long Devotions, their sad Looks, their hard Penances, their bountiful Alms; they did excel in all these things. Therefore do not tell me merely of hearing much, and praying much; except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, Christ will shut you out of the Kingdom of Heaven. Christians! it would make a Man's Heart to tremble to consider how far a natural Man may go by the strength of an unrenewed Will; how just, and patient, and temperate, and meek some of the Heathens were, how much they could overcome their Passions, and deny their Worldly Concernments: to tell you how far a Hypocrite, a temporary Believer, or a convinced Man may go, and yet there must [Greek or Hebrew], be something over and above in you, something more than a Heathen can do, or a Hypocrite can do, or a temporary Believer, or a convinced Hypocrite can do: you need to carry Piety to greater Heights, and endeavour after a greater degree of Sanctification; for there must be something excellent and exceeding both in your Hearts and Lives.
6. Consider, a small measure of Grace will not become you that profess Christ and Christianity, because you are to exceed others; there must be something more than ordinary in your Conversation; Mat. 5.20. Except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven: and ver. 47. What do you more than others? A peculiar People must live in a peculiar manner. There must be something over and above in you of what is found in others. The Pharisees were very strict; the Apostle calleth them 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the most straitest Sect, Acts 26.5. they did excel all others, Luke 18.11. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, I am not as other Men. There were Washings, Tithings, Fastings, Alms-giving, and corporal Mortifications, O how did the Pharisees profess 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, to encrease the Law, and supererrogate, they exceeded all others. Now, saith Christ, you must exceed their Exceedings. It were wondrous to tell you what a painful and costly Profession of Holiness they made, insomuch that the Iews thought that if but two Men were to be saved, one should be a Scribe, and the other a Pharisee: Such were their long Devotions, their sad Looks, their hard Penances, their bountiful Alms; they did excel in all these things. Therefore do not tell me merely of hearing much, and praying much; except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, Christ will shut you out of the Kingdom of Heaven. Christians! it would make a Man's Heart to tremble to consider how far a natural Man may go by the strength of an unrenewed Will; how just, and patient, and temperate, and meek some of the Heathens were, how much they could overcome their Passions, and deny their Worldly Concernments: to tell you how far a Hypocrite, a temporary Believer, or a convinced Man may go, and yet there must 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, be something over and above in you, something more than a Heathen can do, or a Hypocrite can do, or a temporary Believer, or a convinced Hypocrite can do: you need to carry Piety to greater Heights, and endeavour after a greater degree of Sanctification; for there must be something excellent and exceeding both in your Hearts and Lives.
