because they were really hypocrites, and nothing else. The word, according to the learned, comes from the Greek, _hypocrisis_, it is counterfeiting religion and virtue—an affectation of the name and hatred to the thing—the having the form of godliness but denying the power. Thus, he is an hypocrite who pretends to be what he is not—who puts on a false person like the actor in tragedy or comedy—as a beggar may act a king, or a coward an hero. But the chief enemies our dear Lord had were the Pharisees, whose characters are drawn by an unerring hand; they imposed many severe injunctions, rites and ceremonies above what the law required; but they never did the least part of them themselves. What they did was only for ostentation to be seen of men; they hid their crying sins, under the appearance of virtue, that they might sin with less suspicion. Whited sepulchres, within nothing but sordid dust. They were exact in trifling matters—zealous in all outward forms of religious worship, but totally neglected all acts of justice, mercy and truth; they studied an external purity of hands, pots and dishes, but strangers to heart-felt purity; they pretended a deal of respect to the ancient prophets, who were faithful to God and truth, yet hated, persecuted and murdered the God of the prophets. On them in one chapter the Saviour pronounced eight awful woes—told them of their dreadful end—the destruction of their temple and city—and then left that place for ever. Hypocrites are said to pray only to God in the time of sickness: and will God hear their cry? No—the foolish virgins, after their long profession, cried “Lord, Lord, open, to us:” but the Lord would not hear.