enrich themselves, Luke iii. 13, 14; xix. 2, 8. This was therefore
grievous to the Jews, who always counted themselves a free people,
and could never abide to be in bondage to any. And this was
something of the reason, that they were so generally by all the Jews
counted so vile and base, and reckoned among the worst of men, even
as our informers and bum-bailiffs are with us at this day.

But that which heightened the spirit of the people against them, and
that made them so odious and filthy in their eyes, was for that (at
least so I think) these publicans were not, as the other officers,
aliens, heathens, and Gentiles, but men of their own nation, Jews,
and so the brethren of those that they so abused. Had they been
Gentiles, it had not been wondered at.

The Publican then was a Jew, a kind of a renegade Jew, that through
the love that he had to unjust gains, fell off in his affections from
his brethren, adhered to the Romans, and became a kind of servant to
them against their brethren, farming the heathenish taxations at the
hand of strangers, and exacting of them upon their brethren with much
cruelty, falsehood, and extortion. And hence, as I said, it was,
that to be a publican, was to be so odious a thing, so vile a sinner,
and so grievous a man in the eyes of the Jews. Why, this was the
Publican! he was a Jew, and so should have abode with them, and have
been content to share with his brethren in their calamities; but
contrary to nature, to law, to religion, reason, and honesty, he fell
in with the heathen, and took the advantage of their tyranny to poll,
to rob, and impoverish his brethren.

But for proof that the Publican was a Jew.