The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-30
\PIRIT OF THE PHARISEE
- REGNANT IN OUR OWN TIMES.
BY REV. II. IL. WHITAKER.

me DIS d lCiSiouS SStl
are of ancient origin. The earliest
mention of them is by Josephus who
says they were a sect of considerable
weight. in the time of John Hyrcanus
the high priest, los years before the
coming of Christ. When they first APP
peared is not known. They derived
their name from the Hebrew word
"pharash." which signifies 'separat-
err" or "set apart" as on account of
their superior strictness in religious
observances, they separated them
selves from the rest of the Jews. They
hoasted that, from their accurate
knowledge of religion, they were the
favorites of Heaven; and thus trust
ing in themselves that they were the
only righteous, and despised Others
The character of the Pharisee is
graphically drawn by the Saviour as
follows: (Luke 1S;10-12): 1.-TWO men
went up into the temple to pray; the
one PhariSee, and the other a pub
lican. The Pharisee stood and pray
ed thus with himself God | thank
thee that | am not as other men are,
cXtortoners, unjust adulterers, or
even as this publican. / fast twice in
the week, [ give tithes of all that L
possess.
we can well imagine that he stood
very high in his own estimation. and
II he really was, what he claimed to
be. he was extra good. But his Boast
ing way, of presenting himself to the
Lord, turned his pretended prayer into
self-praiSe, and that barred the door
OF blessing against him; for the Sa-
vioor states that the publican. who
didn't brag on himself, was justified
rather than the boastfu1 Pharisee.
Pharisees were constantly finding
fault with Jesus and claiming that he
was sinner because he healed on the
Sabbath day. The Sabbath day was
their special hobby and like the
Pharisees Of all ages, who stress Ger
tain duties and neglect others, they
made themselves conspicuous on every
occasion in their reproofs of the
Lords conduct But he called them
hypocrites and warned his disciples
to beware of them. saying in another
place, on another occasion, Except
your righteousness shall exceed the
Righteousness of the Scribes and
Pharisees We shall in no wise enter
into the Kingdom of heaven"
l know some preachers who. like the
Pharisee. claim TO be holer than 9TH
er people; who boast of what they do,
and don't hesitate to speak as lightly
of other preachers as the Pharisee did
of the publican, and even go so far as
to intimate that none but they and
their kind will be saved. They claim
to have attained unto such a degree
of holiness as to be above and beyond
the power of temptation.
Holiness is absolutely essential, for
it is expressly stated that, without it
no man shall see the Lord; but holi-
hess like charity, "vauntieth not
ITSELF" is not pulled up" doth not be-
have itself unseemly; therefore, ii
never brags on itself: don't try to
walk on stills, and never deals in un-
charitable criticisms.
When l hear men Dragging on their
piety, telling the people how much
better they are than other people, l
say there's a Pharisee-a self-righte-
= Gus man. the like of whom the Sa
viour condemned. because. as he clear
ly taught, they are hypocrites, who do
and say to be seen of men.
But, after all, are not most of US
Pharisees, in the sense that we think
our way is best, and our piety is
specially pious? l am afraid so. We
re very prone to think that we may
do things, that in another we would
be very apt to condemn.
/ once saw a picture in "Harper's
Young People" which was an apt il
lustration of this idea. The picture
was an old tree on the dead limbs of
which were perched a number of
crows and hawk. The scene rep
resented a court. Old Judge Grow
sat on a high limb, and on each side
of him, on different limbs, sat six
crows which constituted the jury. In
front of Judge Crow sat a mean look
ing hawk, guarded by two crows.
Judge Crow, in judicial tone of voice
asked:
''Who is the prisoner at the bar?'
ga hawk hawk Sheriff Crow
answered.
What is the charge against him"
asked Judge Crow.
Stealing: stealing!" squalled all the
crows.
What did he steal?" asked the
judge.
"A chicken." the attorney answer
ed and he proceeded to read the bill
of Indictment.
-"Can this charge against the pris-
oner be proven ?" asked the judge.
Every crow-a score or more-wit-
messed to the fact that the prisoner,
hawk did enter a mans yard and
take therefrom a nice fat puliet, which
he cruelty put to death. and did eat;
and if the court desired it the feath-
{ i,c of the chicken could be pro-
duced.
What say you, gentlemen of the
jury?' asked Judge Grow. guilty or
rot guilty?"
Guilty! Guilty. GUILTY." the jury
cried
Prisoner at the bar said the Judge
you've heard the verdict of the jury
Stand up while L pronounce the SEN