Page:As others saw Him.djvu/115

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THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY.
109

too, I have known many a scribe and many a Pharisee who neither carried their good deeds on their shoulders, nor said, 'Wait, I have to finish some godly deed;' nor set off their good deeds against their sins; nor boasted of their sacrifices for godly works; nor did they seek out their sins that they might pay for them by their virtues; nor were they Pharisees from fear of the Divine punishment. They were Pharisees from love of the Lord, and did throughout their life what they knew to be his commands."

But Jesus spoke gently unto the old man, and said naught but, "Nay, master, I spoke not of thee, nor of men like thee. These be the true Pharisees; the rest but have the Pharisaic color."

"That is so," said old Simeon. "I have heard what King Jannaus said: 'Fear not the Pharisees, nor those who are no Pharisees; but fear the colored ones, who are only Pharisees in appearance, who do the deeds of Zimri and demand the rewards of Phineas.'"

But before the old man could finish there was a movement at the doorway,