Two sermons preached by Master Henry SmithTvvo sermons preached by Master Henry Smith

Though Paul was a Pharisee, and the son of a pharisee, yet he shameth not to confess himself one of the ¹chief sinners that Christ came to save. So if the Pharisees that murmured at Zaccheus would have been saved, they should have confessed themselves chief sinners as Paul did. They should not have accused Christ for ²keeping company with sinners, but they should have accused themselves for not keeping company with Christ. The just man (saith Solomon, Pro. 18.) is the first accuser of himself; but the Pharisees are so far from accusing themselves that they began to accuse Zaccheus & Christ together. Thus the pharisees of our time that make religion a cloak to cover their corrupt dealing, have this property to think other men to be heinous sinners, and themselves only to be righteous: in so much as they will not stick to speak like that proud people that was wont to say, Depart from me, for I am holier then thou: and like the presumptuous pharisee, Luk. 18. I thank God I am not as others are, extortioners, usurers, adulterers, drunkards, or such like. I sanctify the Sabbath, which other men profane: I frequent sermons, which they neglect: J reverence the name of God, which they blaspheme: I pay tithe, which others withhold: and fast oftentimes, which they do seldom, or never. These were the speeches of the Pharisees, ³that lived in the time of Christ, whom he so often ⟨image 15⟩calleth hypocrites: and these are the speeches of the hypocrites of our age, that seem to live after the straightest ⁴sect of our religion. Acts. 26. They wash the outside of the cup and of the platter; that is, they justify themselves, and seem marvellous holy in the sight of men, which can discern by the outward appearance only: but unto God that seeth and searcheth the secrets of the harts and reins, they appear like painted tombs, full of dead mens bones, and all filthiness: that is, they have their inward parts full of ravening, and all kind of wickedness. Wherefore, as Christ said to his Disciples, Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven: