Ib. p. 95.
They never fail to refer to the proud Pharisee, whom they term self-righteous; and thus, having greatly misrepresented his character, they proceed to declaim on the arrogance of founding any expectation of reward from the performance of our moral duties:—whereas the plain truth is that the Pharisee was not righteous, but merely arrogated to himself that character; he had neglected all the moral duties of life.
Who told the Barrister this? Not the Gospel, I am sure. The Evangelical has only to translate these sentences into the true statement of his opinions, in order to baffle this angry and impotent attack; the self-righteousness of all who expect to claim salvation on the plea of their own personal merit. "Pay to A. B. at sight— value received by me."—To Messrs. Stone and Co. Bankers, Heaven-Gate. It is a short step from this to the Popish. "Pay to A. B.
or order
." Once assume merits, and I defy you to keep out supererogation and the old
Monte di Pietà
.
Ib. p. 97.
—and from thence occasion is taken to defame all those who strive to prepare themselves, during this their state of trial, for that judgment which they must undergo at that day, when they will receive either reward or punishment, according as they shall be found to have merited the one, or deserved the other.