JOsephus , though himself a Pharisee , gives this Character of them , That they were a Crafty and Subtil Generation of Men , and so perverse even to Princes themselves , that they would not fear many times openly to affront and oppose them ; and so far had they insinuated themselves into the affections and estimations of the Populacy , that their good or ill word was enough to make or blast any one with the people , who would implicitely believe them , let their report be never so false or malitious . Therefore King Alexander Jannaeus very wisely advised his Queen , when he lay upon his Death-Bed , That if she would secure the Kingdom to her self , and her Successors , she should bestow some Authority upon the Pharisees ; who would sound her praise , and obtain her the peoples Favour . He further added , that after his Death she should go to Jerusalem , and make the most plausible Speech she could to them ; promising them that she would do nothing in the Administration of the Government , but by their advice ; and that by this means she should Reign in great quiet and assurance . Certain it is , they were so infinitely Proud and Insolent , Surly and Ill-natur'd , that they hated all Mankind but themselves , and censured whosoever would not be of their way , as a Villain and a Reprobate : Greatly Zealous to gather Proselytes to their party ; not to make them more Religious , but more Fierce and Cruel , more Carping and Censorious , more Heady and High-minded ; in short , Twofold more the Children of the Devil than they were before . All Religion and kindness was confin'd within the bounds of their own Party , and the first Principles wherewith they Inspir'd their new Converts were , That none but they were the godly party , and that all other persons were Slaves , and Sons of the Earth : and therefore especially endeavour'd to Inspire them with a mighty Zeal and Fierceness against all that differ'd from them ; so that if any one did but speak a good word of our Saviour or his Apostles Institutions , he should be presently Excommunicated and cast out , persecuted , and devoted to the Death . To this end , they were wont not onely to Separate , but Discriminate themselves from the herd and community , by some peculiar notes and badges of Distinction ; but they were especially active and diligent in what cost them little , the outward instances of Religion , such Duties especially as did more immediately refer to God Almighty , as frequent Fasting and Praying ; which they did very often , and very long , with Demure and Mortified looks , in a whining and an affected Tone : and they so contrived the Scheme of their Religion , that what they did might be seen of men to the best advantage . Yet under all this seeming Sanctity , they were but Religious Villains , Spiteful , Malitious , Griping , Covetous , great Oppressors , Merciless , Dealers , Heady , Seditious , Rebellious , and indeed guilty of most kinds of Immorality ; all which they thought to palliate and varnish over with their more than ordinary pretence of Religion .

Another Branch of this Sect there was , called the Zealots ; These men were mighty Assertors of the Law , and the Strictness and Purity of Religion , assuming a Liberty to themselves to question Notorious Offenders , without staying for the ordinary Formalities of the Law ; nay , when they thought good , executed Capital vengeance on them . And being not timely Impeded , their Zeal degenerated into all manner of Licentiousness and wild Extravagance ; and they not onely became the pests of the Commonwealth at home , but opened the Door for the Romans to break in upon them , to their final and irrecoverable Ruine ; and they were continually prompting the people to throw off the Roman Yoke , and Vindicate themselves in their native liberty ; and when they had turn'd all things into hurry and confusion , themselves in the mean time fisht in these troubled waters . Josephus gives a large account of them , and every where bewails them as the great Plague of the Nation : He tells us of them , That they scrupled not to rob any ; to kill many of the prime Nobility , under pretence of holding Correspondence with the Romans , and betraying the liberty of their Country ; openly glorying that herein they were the benefactors and Saviours of the People . They abrogated the Succession of antient Families , thrusting obscure and ignoble persons into high Offices , that so they might oblige the most infamous Villains to their party . And as if not content to injure men , they affronted Heaven , and proclaimed defiance to the Divinity of self , by breaking into and prophaning the most holy Place ; stiling themselves Zealots ( says he ) as if their undertakings were good and honourable , while they were greedy and emulous of the greatest Wickednesses , and out did the worst of men . Many attempts were made by Annas the High-Priest , to reduce them to order and sobriety : But neither force of Arms nor fair and gentle-methods could do any good upon them ; they held out , and went on in their Violent proceedings , and joyning with the Idumeans , commited all manner of outrage , slaying the High-Priest himself . Nay , when Jerusalem was straitly Besieged by the Romans , and their danger equal with the rest , yet they ceased not to create Tumults and Factions within , and were indeed the main cause of the Jews destruction .