Verse 1
A Pharisee his neighbours blames,
More to reprove their conduct aims
Than to reform his own;
Eager that others should embrace
All his religious forms and ways,
And copy him alone.

Verse 2
Of others with design he speaks,
And marking their omissions, seeks
To draw th’ admirer’s eye;
By branding them as less severe,
Himself he studies to prefer,
Himself to magnify.

Verse 3
Far from his sour hypocrisy,
Thou inexperienc’d novice flee
The poisonous leaven shun;
Thy censure rash forbear to deal,
Nor boast thy forwardness of zeal
To serve a God unknown.

Verse 4
Thou feeble soul, unsav’d from pride,
All thy external rigors hide,
With humbly prudent care:
The inward, true religion seek,
Be poor, self-diffident, and meek,
And then for God declare.