Several discourses tending to promote peace & holiness among Christians to which are added,…

An outside strictness without that Faith, Love, Charity, Meekness, Usefulness, and Humility, ⟨p. 42⟩which is the very Soul and Life of Christianity. Usually Gifts, and outward strictness, puff up Men with a vain conceit of their own Righteousness, and a censuring and despising others. This one Text showeth us both the Spirit of Pharisaism, and the Spirit of Christianity. The Pharisees who abounded in External Observances, censured Christ for his free Converse, disdained these penitent People whom he invited to a better Life. But now true Religion maketh Men humble and lowly in their own Eyes, by acquainting them with the desert of Sin, and their own Misery; and maketh Men pitiful and compassionate towards others, more ready to help than to censure them, and to use all ways and means to do them good. But when Men would shine alone in the repute of Holiness, they are envious to those who penitently return to their Duty; as those Servants who had wrought all the day, envied those that came in at the last hour, Mat. 22. 12. or, as the elder Brother envied the Prodigal, or Simon the Pharisee repined at Mary Magdalen's observance of Christ. They esteem much of their own Works, Merits, Sufferings, and Righteousness: O take heed of this Spirit!

An outside strictness without that Faith, Love, Charity, Meekness, Usefulness, and Humility, ⟨p. 42⟩which is the very Soul and Life of Christianity. Usually Gifts, and outward strictness, puff up Men with a vain conceit of their own Righteousness, and a censuring and despising others. This one Text sheweth us both the Spirit of Pharisaism, and the Spirit of Christianity. The Pharisees who abounded in External Observances, censured Christ for his free Converse, disdained these penitent People whom he invited to a better Life. But now true Religion maketh Men humble and lowly in their own Eyes, by acquainting them with the desert of Sin, and their own Misery; and maketh Men pitiful and compassionate towards others, more ready to help than to censure them, and to use all ways and means to do them good. But when Men would shine alone in the repute of Holiness, they are envious to those who penitently return to their Duty; as those Servants who had wrought all the day, envied those that came in at the last hour,