An  omission  of  this  kind  could  not  fail  of  surprising  the
pharisee,  as  he  had  thereby  shewn  an  open  contempt  of  their
traditions.  Jesus,  who  well  knew  the  thoughts  of  this  bigoted
pharisee,  said  to  him.  Your  sect  are  remarkably  careful  to  keep
every  thing  clean  that  touches  your  food,  lest,  by  eating  it^
your  body  should  be  polluted ;  but  you  take  no  pains  to  clean
your  minds  from  the  pollutions  of  rapine,  covetousness,  and
wickedness.  You  must  surely  be  convinced,  that  he  who  crea-
ted the  body  formed  also  the  soiil,  and  can  you  imagine,  that
the  Almighty,  who  requires  purity  of  body,  because  it  is  the
work  of  his  hands,  will  not  also  insist  upon  a  greater  purity  of
soul,  which  is  undoubtedly  the  far  nobler  part  of  human  nature?
Instead,  therefore,  of  that  scrupulous  solicitude  of  washing  your
hands,  when  ye  sit  down  to  meat,  ye  should  be  careful  to  apply
yourselves  to  the  great  duty  of  charity;  a  duty  that  will  render
it  impossible  for  any  external  things  to  defile  you,  but  will  be
at  all  times  acceptable  to  your  Maker.  ''Now  do  ye  phariseea
make  clean  the  outside  of  the  cup  and  the  platter ;  but  your  in-
ward part  is  full  of  ravening  and  wickedness.  Ye  fools,  did  not
be  that  made  that  which  is  without,  make  that  which  is  within  al-
so f  but  rather  give  alms  of  such  things  as  ye  have,  and  behold,
all  things  are  clean  onto  you."     Lttkcj  xu  39,  be.
