neither been a Thief nor a Traytor. This fearful experiment in Judas of the fatal iffues of Covetoufnefs, whom it at length hurried on to the Commiffion of that horrid Crime of betraying his Master the Lord of Glory; the guilt of which Sin filled his Confcience with fuch Horrour as made him his own Executioner, that he might go to his own Place; I fay this fearful experiment in Judas of the fatal Iffues of Covetoufness, fhould Caution all who find themselves addicted to that Sin; to set themselves against it, and use their utmost endeavours for the mortifying of it, least it prove their Ruin in the end as it did his.

And fo I have done with the Chara&ters of the Perfon that took offence at Mary.

In the Second place follows the exception that he took at Marys Action, together with the pretended Reafon thereof. Why was not this Oyntment Sold for Three Hundred Pence and given to the Poor? Judas put on the Vizard of Charity, and would be thought to have a great deal of Care and Solicitude for the supply of the Wants and Neceffities of the Poor: And that it grieved him to the Heart to fee fuch waste of what

might fill fo many empty Bellies, and Cloath so many Naked Backs :* A very likely thing that fuch a Covetous Wretch as he was, fhould fo highly concern himself with the Poor, and fo much take it to Heart, that fuch lavish and profufe expence fhould be needlefly made in an empty and fruitlefs Ceremony, while the Poor were pinched with cold and ftarved with Hunger.How much, think you, would he have given out of his own Purse towards their relief? Not one Penny we may be confident of, and yet this is the Man that would appear to have fo much tendernefs and compaffion for them. And are there not too many in theWorld like him? Are there not many who can make shew of much Affection and Compaffion towards the diftreffed fo far as good words will go, but when it comes to it that fomething is to be done for the Poor, they draw back, and look another way? Are there not those who would feem to fhew a great deal of Zeal for the Poor in blaming other Mens backwardness, but will do nothing themselves? They are not good words, and fair flourishes, and empty Profeffions of a compaffionate Sense of the wants and exigencies of the Cc 3 diftreffed

diftreffed that are acceptable to God, but Love unfeigned, and fincere compaffions, and the Truth and Sincerity of these really manifefted by fuch Deeds of Charity as may afford them seasonable and effectual Succour and Relief.

So from the pretended grounds of Judas his exceptions against Marys Action, I come to the true Reason thereof, in the next words, This he faid, not that he cared for the Poor, but because he was a Thief, and had the Bag, and bare that which was put therein. A Charitable regard of the Poor was pretended by him, but his own private advantage, and the fatisfying of his own Covetousness was intended. He bare the common purse for Chrift and his Difciples, out of which he was wont to purloyn for himself, driving on a Trade of Thieving; and fo the more came into the Bag, the more might he Thievishly detract thence and put into his own Pocket without being discovered. It was not the filling of the Poors Bellies, but his own Purfe that he had fo much Zeal for. Judas never learn'd these Arts from his Mafter; but many have learn'd them from him, or from the Devil who was his Teacher. Religion,

and

and Piety, and Charity, Zeal for God's Glory, and Zeal for the good of Men is often held forth, but other matters are defigned. Religion is only taken up and made use of as a Cloak to cover Mens vicious Practices, or to help them to carry on their ungodly defigns fo much the more fecretly and fuccessfully. But God will have a time to unmask all fuch Notorious Hypocrites, that their Rottennefs may appear unto all Men. They fo carry the matter as if they might fafely mock God; but God is not mocked, faith the Apostle, Gal. 6. 7. that is,he neither will nor can be mocked, and fo much they fhall know to their coft, when he comes to lay Judgment to the Line and Righteoufnefs to the Plummet, and to give unto every Man according as his works fhall be. Then it shall appear that Chrift hath not in vain pronounced fo many Woes against Hypocrites, Matth. 23. Nor in vain threatned wicked and unfaithful Servants, with the Doom and Punishment. of Hypocrites, faying, the Lord of that Servant fhall come in a Day when he looketh not for him, and in an Hour when he is not aware of, and shall cut him afunder, and appoint him his Portion with Hypo

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Mat, 24. Hypocrites. And why with Hypocrites 50, 51. rather than with any other fort of Sinners? Surely because they of all others fhall be most dreadfully punished.

And this might have fufficed to have been spoken concerning the Reason, the true Reason of Judas his exception against Mary: but that there is a Question that may here be moved, which I fhall briefly touch. If das were a Thief, as here he is faid to have been, and if Christ knew him to be fo, as being God he could not but know it, how is it that he intrusts him with the Bag rather than any other of his Disciples whom he knew to be faithful ?

Anfw. 1. Chrift knew him though Thievish and unfaithful, to be in some respects fittest for this imployment. He was most unfit for better Imployment, and for an higher Truft.

2. The rest of his Difciples were qualified for higher Imployment, and were not to be incumbred or distracted with the things of the World farther than there was a neceffity; and there was no neceffity here where there was another to undertake that mean Service.

3. Chrift