ner that Christ must fall into it either way. For if he contradicted Moses, by ordering the woman to be released, they would have set him down for a false prophet; and if, with Moses, he sentenced her to death, he must have acted contrary to his character of a merciful Saviour. So, you see, these Scribes and Pharisees, while they were clamouring for vengeance against adultery, forgot there were any such sins as envy, hatred, and malice, and perceived not that they themselves were all the time in the gall of bitterness. The woman had broken one commandment; but these her accusers were overturning the foundations of the whole law, mercy, justice, and truth. So easy is it for men who are not upon their guard, even while they are exerting themselves against some kinds of sins, to run into others; nor indeed can we be greatly surprised, that they, who give up their whole attention to the concerns of their neighbours, should sometimes a little neglect their

own.

The sight of a sinner discovered and brought to shame, might be a very useful and improving sight to those who behold it. But men have several ways of making it to themselves an occasion of falling.

Some think it a proper subject of laughter, and Solomon tells who they are-not remarkable for their wisdom-" Fools," says he, "make a mock at "sin." For what is there in sin to make a mock at? It is thought a very serious matter in heaven, and will be found so in hell. Why then should it be made a jest of upon earth? It ruined mankind, and brought death into the world. And is there any

thing humorous in that consideration? As little merriment can there be in the nature of confession and repentance, whereby the sinner is delivered from the wrath to come. In the primitive ages, such a subject was never touched upon without concern and grief. But now, people have much ado to keep their countenances, and forbear laughing. So strangely are the times altered! in other words, ignorance has taken place of knowledge, and folly sits on the throne of wisdom.

Others there are, who, when they hear of a sinner discovered and exposed, bless themselves to think, how good and righteous they are; ready to cry out with the Pharisee, "God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are. May be not; though we have only your own word for it, which many, perhaps, will not take. You are not, indeed, brought to shame or punishment; but, have you never deserved to be so? Recollect a little. If not, have you ever been in the same circumstances of temptation? or, are you sure, that in those circumstances you should not have fallen? Who is it that hath preserved you all this time? Give the glory to God, and learn to have pity, like him, on those whose strength failed in the day of trial. Otherwise, under the show of great zeal for virtue and religion, you may display as much pride, uncharitableness, and hypocrisy, as the Scribes and Pharisees did of old, when they brought the woman before our Saviour, only that they might ensnare him.

But let us not be deceived, as they were. God is not mocked. He knew their craft, and saw through

their design. Their hearts were open to him, and he viewed distinctly all that was passing there. It was not his intention to destroy the law of Moses, for he came to fulfil it; nor would he condemn sinners, for he came to save them. At the same time, he would teach these men, that there were sins known to God, which the law did not reach to punish here, and that those ought to be avoided as well as these; since there was nothing secret which would not be known at the last day: that people who were fond of accusing and punishing others, or of seeing them accused and punished, should therefore look at home, and examine how matters stood in their own breasts, how they should like to have the story of their lives told aloud, and the thoughts of their hearts revealed to the world. This would soon cure that desire, with which so many are infected, of knowing and publishing the faults of their neighbours; it would make them treat their weak and fallen brethren as they themselves would wish to be treated by the Judge of all the earth.

Such being our Saviour's intention, he seemed at first to take no notice of what was said, but stooping down, he wrote with his finger on the ground. They now thought they had perplexed him, and that he knew not how to answer their question. They pressed him, therefore, more earnestly, and continued asking, till at length he raised himself, and thus addressed them—" He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."

As if he had said, in other words-"You have brought before me a person taken in a grievous

"crime, and you tell me, Moses in the law com"manded, that such should be stoned. If he did "command this, why do you come to me? Truly, for no reason, but to tempt and ensnare me. You would

appear to be good and holy men, haters of sin, zealous for the honour of God and his law. But your "design all the while is to entrap, to persecute, and slay me, an innocent person, sent from God to be

66

your prophet, your priest, and your king, the pro"mised Messias, the Saviour of Israel. The woman, "it is true, is a sinner; but her accusers are no saints, and the world is imposed upon, when it "takes them for such. I know the rottenness of your hearts, and can, when I will, show it to others. I "shall not condemn the woman myself, for it is not "mine office. You may do it, if you will affirm "yourselves to be those righteous men which you "desire to be accounted. But this you dare not do "before me, a person who, as you well know, can

you

prove the contrary, and give the by-standers such "a history of what you have been, and what you 66 are, as will make ashamed to show your faces. "And therefore it is, that I challenge and defy you "to proceed-He that is without sin among you, "let him first cast a stone at her." This said, Christ returned to his former employment of writing upon the ground, leaving the medicine which he had administered to perform its operation.

66

And now behold the mighty force of a few words They which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at "the eldest even unto the least; and Jesus was left

"alone, and the woman standing in the midst." What! are these godly persons gone; all gone; and is the work, upon which they came, left unfinished? It is even so. The criminal alone remains to be seen; her accusers are fled. Aud reason good. They found there was one ready to accuse them in their turn; they perceived that "all things were "naked and open before him with whom they had to "do;" and they had no mind to have him lay open their hearts, and read a lecture upon them before the people. Their consciences told them what sort of a lecture that must needs be; and, therefore, rather than provoke him to read it, they very prudently made the best of their way out of the temple, and left him to condemn or absolve the woman, as he should think fit.

Whenever, therefore, you find yourselves tempted to be severe upon a neighbour's failings, call to mind what passed between our Lord and the Pharisees. Busy in bringing to light the sins of another, they had entirely forgotten their own; they reflected not, how very unfit they were to be the woman's accusers; they thought not what would become of themselves, when God should arise to judgement. And here is the great misfortune. Heaven has given to every man his portion of work, and every man is doing the work of his brother, instead of that which belongeth to himself. We are all naturally disposed to entertain a pretty good opinion of ourselves. A careful and constant examination of our ways, might chance to spoil that good opinion, and is, for that reason, a task which we are very backward in enter