Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-04-23
Pr ARISEEISK.

PRARISEFTsEE.
God, l thank Thee that am not as other
men are.-LUKE IS, XII.
Our Savior often taught in parallels, so
often indeed, that one disciple wrote,
"without a parable spake he not unto
Them
Among the many parallels, perhaps
none more aptly illustrates some prevail
ing ideas in these enlightened days than
this one of the Pharisee and publican
praying in the temple.
The Pharisees were a sect Of Jews
separated from the rest by the assumed
holiness of their character, and the obser-
vance Of religious ceremonies. The
publicans were collectors Of taxes and
tribute and were generally held in detes-
tation. The Pharisees of the nineteenth
century are, in their own esteem, quite as
exclusive o sect On account Of their as
sumed piety and their observance of re-
ligiOus rites, as the ancient Jews
The modern Pharisee, although
living in the world is not
of the world; its sins, temptations and
weaknesses can never touch him; he has
no sympathy with the frailties of weak
human nature. A gentleman of this
city once asked one Of this class for aid
and pity for young man who had fallen.
He replied: No, [ don't pity him. l
never was tempted to steal. The Phari-
see may often be found in the pulpit AS
follower of Him who "came to minis
ter unto, and to be the servant of all,
and, as q minister of His testament,
to preach humility and charity,
how often does clergyman Cypress the
members of his congregation, especially
the poorer class, with his assumption of
exhaIted holiness and dignity of charac-
ter. He seems to exhale perfume of
sanctity, that falls cold and repellant on
the hearts of sinners. To the young man
who is troubled with doubts, he says:
<'Away with your doubts. l never
doubted" AT all times, and in all places,
he seems to live and breathe the very
spirit of this prayer, ''God, thank thee
that am not as other men are
A st. Paul clergyman was once asked if
certain book, by "Gail Hamilton" did
not suggest some new thoughts He re-
piled, 81 have not read it. Do you sup
pose that l can be taught by Cape Cod
school ma'am?' The church numbers
many Pharisees among its members.
They are always ready to pray, to sing or
exhort. Forgetting the Masters
command "But thou, when thou
prayest, enter into thy closet and
shut the door," they make long
prayers, and, in the face Of the bible dec.
laration that "God is love- and that
"Like as father pitieth his children, so
the Lord pitieth them that fear him" ex-
press willingness to go to hell if it shall
be Gods pleasure. Their zeal for the Or
thodox faith is SO great, that they can not
sit at the Lords table with person who
does not believe in eternal torment. OF
have any fellowship with one who is
looking for the 'fnal appearing of
Christ, although angels told the
disciples that "this same Jesus
which is taken frem YOU
into heaven shall so come In like manner. 81
Many women are members of the
straitest sect of Pharisees. Assuming
that they are perfect patterns of the
Christian graces, they measure all the
other women by what their conduc,
would be on similar occasions. Shielded
and cared for, interrupted and untried.
they condemn without pity the suspected
or fallen. a protesting Christian woman
remarked about aperson of doubtful rep
utation: 81 cannot breathe in the same
room with that woman "When Jesus
sat at meat in the house, behold, many
publicans and sinners came and sat down
with him and his disciples,'' and he ate
with them.
Thus from that ancient sect has come
down to this day the Pharisee, no longer
Jew, but of the Christian persuasion,
and ever widely increasing in numbers.
Not among the poor and the weak nor
the truly noble and refined are they
found; nor among those who have taken
upon them chs yoke, who is meek
and lOwly in heart" Phariseelsm
is the arrogance of ignorance, the
seeming rather than the being in relig-
ION. Then spake Jesus to the multi
tudeA Do not after their works. For all
their works they do to be seen of men.
They love the uppermost rooms at feasts
and the chief seats IN the synagogue.
But whatsoever shall exalt himself shall
he abased, and he that shall humble him.
self shall be exalted"