Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-12-14
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PHARIsEE OF MODERN TIME.
~~

10y ItcV SykAo AAoSIAu SoJ
Then jesus said unto them. take
heed and beware of the leaven of the
Pharisces and of the Sadducees.-
Matthew 2G:6.
One of the most striking features
about the words OF Christ is that they
so far transcend circumstances and EN-
vironmont that the application of them
reacheth to the end of the world and
the end Of time. Not less pertinent
to-day is that warning which was nj
tered 1000 years ago. America is not
Jerusalem, but the Sadducces and the
Pharisees. little changed in all that
long period, are still with MS ana the
caution Is as necessary now as then.
The Sadducee was Il man who sub
stituted circumstances for principles.
who was governed by conditions rather
than convictions. who's" watchword
was "expedlency." whose policy was
a time-scrving truck!e to the powers
that be-" II the determination to fit
in with environment at whatever cost.
The Sadduccc was made by the
things about him and as a determinA-
live loltN lc uUlouiitSu W lttIC II
var not until the Savior nterfercl
with vested right and attacked mate
rial privilege that the Sadduccc con
spired with the Pharisee. whom he
hated, to cruelty Him.
The Pharisee was a man who put
garded the inward and spiritual to ac-
claim the outward and material, who
cared nothing for cause but everything
for effect, whose w~atchword was "lc-
gality" and not Righteousness who
substituted for the living voice Of con
science a minute description for all
sorts and conditions of men and cir
cumStances, whose whole idea was nOt
sis a thing right or wrong?" but what
is the law that governs?" When the
Savior, with a sublime disregard for
petty regulation, insisted upon moral
principles n transcribed amy attempt
to crib, cabin and contine them in OBJ
solete and infnitesimal edict. he united
with his hereditary foe, the Sadducee,
to cruelty Him.
Who is the. Pharisee to-day? Not SO
much the man who covers his wicked
ness with a specious cloak of morality
and a scrupulous attention to little
things, as the bank president who would
not have q man in his employ who
smoked a cigar, but who did not scruple
to rob the bank of millions-he was Il
Pharisee in the minor sense-but the
man who makes the law the measure of
his actions and whose opinion is that so
long as he does not render himself legal
ly liable he is a moral, upright man.
law and morals are synonymous terms.
de is the real Pharisee to-day.
And who are the Sadducees? Those
who AVE no settled or abiding convic-
tions as to right or wrong, but are made
by the prevalent opinion of the hour,
blown about by every wind of doctrine,
attracted one moment by liberalism and
another moment by asceticism. The
crying need for the hour is conviction
conviction of sin, conviction of truth,
conviction of Righteousness.
There has been so much said about
broad and beautiful liberality, and the
requirements for Christian manhood
and citizenship and church membership
have been so minimized that people
have come to think that these are not
of much Importance, and that a certain
vague, general endeavor to do good will
answer all purposes.
They have forgotten that the way of
salvation is a straight m narrow way.
Faith before works, belief before ac-
ton, right thinking before right doing
these are the great principles, and
SO the old warning comes with a new
force. Are you a Pharisee or a Sad,
ducee? Beware of this leaven if thou
wouldst finally have fellowship with
Jesus, the greatest figure that has eve1
exemplified manhood and divinity.