3. Here is a third suggested in the words read to you, by a saying of the ⟨p. 2⟩Prophet Hosea, Chap. 6. 6. where a general Reason is intimated, that a Ceremony of the Levitical Law must not hinder a necessary Duty of the Moral Law. Therefore his conversing with them for their Edification, was not unlawful nor uncomely; for all Rituals must give way to Morals. And so those Laws of not accompanying with an Heathen, or an unclean Person, were never intended to be a Bar to an Act of Mercy or Charity, especially spiritual Mercy and Charity. And therefore though they held the Publicans profane, and unworthy their Conversation, (therein also stretching the Law) yet Christ, without any breach of decorum, might converse with them for their good. For if Acts of Mercy and Charity be to be preferred before the Ceremonies of the Worship of God, this Act of rescuing and saving a Soul, is to be preferred before all these ritual Restraints of Conversation, with those who were supposed to be unworthy, or legally unclean. And 'tis notable, these words are brought, not only to vindicate this Fact of Christ, but secretly to tax the Pharisaical Hypocrisy of those, who place Religion in Rituals more than Morals. Elsewhere you find ⟨p. 3⟩Christ at this Argument again on another Occasion, but to the same End and Purpose, Matth. 12. 7. When the Pharisees frowned; because the Disciples plucked Ears of Corn for their Necessity on the Sabbath-day; If you had known what this meaneth, I will have Mercy and not Sacrifice, you would not have condemned the Guiltless. So that this one Sentence is notably useful to condemn Pharisaism; or, which is all one, close Hypocrisy, and withal to set us right in the true Religion.
3. Here is a third suggested in the words read to you, by a saying of the ⟨p. 2⟩Prophet Hosea, Chap. 6. 6. where a general Reason is intimated, that a Ceremony of the Levitical Law must not hinder a necessary Duty of the Moral Law. Therefore his conversing with them for their Edification, was not unlawful nor uncomely; for all Rituals must give way to Morals. And so those Laws of not accompanying with an Heathen, or an unclean Person, were never intended to be a Bar to an Act of Mercy or Charity, especially spiritual Mercy and Charity. And therefore though they held the Publicans prophane, and unworthy their Conversation, (therein also stretching the Law) yet Christ, without any breach of decorum, might converse with them for their good. For if Acts of Mercy and Charity be to be preferred before the Ceremonies of the Worship of God, this Act of rescuing and saving a Soul, is to be preferred before all these ritual Restraints of Conversation, with those who were supposed to be unworthy, or legally unclean. And 'tis notable, these words are brought, not only to vindicate this Fact of Christ, but secretly to tax the Pharisaical Hypocrisy of those, who place Religion in Rituals more than Morals. Elsewhere you find ⟨p. 3⟩Christ at this Argument again on another Occasion, but to the same End and Purpos•, Matth. 12. 7. When the Pharisees frowned; because the Disciples plucked Ears of Corn for their Necessity on the Sabbath-day; If you had known what this meaneth, I will have Mercy and not Sacrifice, you would not have condemned the Guiltless. So that this one Sentence is notably useful to condemn Pharisaism; or, which is all one, close Hypocrisy, and withal to set us right in the true Religion.
