But, I say, as to men's commending of themselves, yea, though others
should commend them also, that availeth, to God-ward, nothing at all.
"For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord
commendeth." So then, men in "measuring themselves by themselves,
and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise;" 2 Cor. x.
12.

Now, this was the way of the Pharisee; I am not, saith he, as other
men: I am no extortioner, nor unjust, no adulterer, nor yet as this
Publican.

"Two men went up into the temple to pray;" and they two, as I said,
as opposite one to the other, as any two men that ever went thither
to pray. One of them was over righteous, and the other wicked over
much. Some would have thought, had they not by the word of Christ
been otherwise described, that they had been both of the same
religion; for they both went up into the temple to pray; yea, both to
pray, and that at the same time, as if they did it by appointment, by
agreement; but there was no such thing. The one was a Pharisee, the
other a Publican: for so saith the after words: and therefore
persons as opposite as light and darkness, as fire and water; I mean,
as to their apprehensions one of another. The Pharisee could not
abide the Publican, nor could the Publican brook the Pharisee; and
yet both went up into the temple to pray. It is strange to see, and
yet it is seen, that men cross in their minds, cross in their
principles, cross in their apprehensions; yea, and cross in their
prayers too, should yet meet together in the temple to pray.

"Two men;" men not of the middle sort, and them too picked out of the