40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?



Ver. 40. Are we blind also?] Yes, none more: for who so blind as he that will not see? "Who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord’s servant?" Isa_42:19; "Thou blind Pharisee," saith our Saviour, Mat_23:26; and again, "Ye blind guides," Mat_23:24; and "Ye fools and blind," often in that chapter. And yet these passed in those days for the only wise men were (1Co_1:20; "Where is the wise? where is the scribe?"), and had as good a conceit of themselves (a sure argument of their spiritual blindness) as the Chinese have to this day, when they usually say that all other nations of the world see but with one eye, they only with two. St Paul (who knew them, intus et in cute, as well as one man could know another) speaks out their conceits. "Thou art confident," saith he, "that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light to them that are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish," &c., Rom_2:19. And hence their swelth, their ruth, and their ruin. For as swelling is an ill symptom to the body, so is pride in the soul: and as the body may die of an inward bleeding, so may the soul of spiritual pride. And as none more often miscarry in the waters than your most skilful swimmers, so neither do any sooner fall into the condemnation of hell, or lie deeper therein, than the most knowing men, and those of greatest parts, which they usually overween, and are too well conceited of. Raram facit scientia cum modestia mixturam. Learning with modesty, as it is rare, so it is êáëïí êáëùò (saith one), most amiable and attractive. It is like the coupling of a muse and a grace,



-"aut ubi flavo



Argentum, Pariusve lapis circundatur auro."



Virgil