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But are soon weary of a service in which they have no plea

sure

Few, very few, it is to be feared, resemble the importunate widow

Few pray, as if they thoroughly believed the efficacy of prayer

If "Christ should now come, would he find faith” in us?— He will surely enquire as well respecting our faith as our works

And if we have not the faith that stimulates us to prayer, he will appoint us our portion with the unbelievers-]

ADDRESS

1. Those who live without prayer

[Such persons are as devoid of reason as they are of piety

What madness is it to neglect heaven when it may be obtained by such means!

And how will such thoughtless sinners ere long bewail their folly!

We cannot but address them as the mariners did the sleeping prophet]

2. Those who pray only in a formal manner

[Formal services are far from being pleasing and acceptable to God

They tend, for the most part, only to deceive our own souls

God requires us to worship him in spirit and in truth¶--

Let us then remember the awful declaration of our Lord'] 3. Those who, after praying for a season, become remiss again

[See whether it be not the love of earthly things that hath hindered you

If so, repent and do your first works, and turn unto your Gods

But perhaps you faint merely through the discouragements you meet with

Let the remembrance of the importunate widow revive your hopes

Justify God, as the Psalmist did in similar circumstances" — And renew your application to him in dependence on his gracious promise3—]

P Jonah i. 6.

$ Rev. ii. 5.

a Ps. xxii. 2, 3. VOL. III.

r Mark vii. 6, 7. Ps. lxxvii. 7-9. Prov. xiii. 12.

q John iv. 23, 24..

* Heb. ii. 3.

Y

4. Those that have received gracious answers to prayer [Let not the goodness of God to you become an occasion of pride

God was not first moved by any worthiness in your petitions; but he stirred you up to ask, because he had before determined to give

If this view of things be humiliating, it also affords much encouragement

Every believing prayer may be considered as a pledge of the blessings asked

Adopt therefore the pious resolution of the Psalmist2So shall your prayers terminate in everlasting praises-]

y Ps. vi. 9.

z Ps. cxvi. 2.

CCLXIII. THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN.

Luke xviii. 13, 14. And the Publican standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other.

MANY express their regret, that religion is so generally neglected

And doubtless, a considerate man cannot reflect upon it but with grief

But it is common also to substitute a formal and mistaken religion in the place of that which is spiritual and saving

Nor is there sufficient jealousy entertained on this subject

The Pharisees of old were extremely diligent in the observance of outward duties

But, while they "trusted in themselves that they were righteous," they were as far from the kingdom of God as if they had been openly profane

For the conviction of such persons, our Lord contrasted, in a parable, the spirit of a self-righteous Pharisee with that of a repenting Publican

He represented them as engaged in prayer, which is a season when most of all they discover their true character

He then declared the very different acceptance they met with from God

In pursuance of our Lord's design, we will open more fully

I. The different dispositions they manifested in prayer The Pharisee, with apparent devotion, gave thanks to God

[The Pharisee might with propriety bless God for his preventing grace

And acknowledge with gratitude whatever God had wrought in him

Nor was it sinful to feel a pleasure in reviewing his past life— St. Paul, on proper occasions, spake of his disinterestedness and generosity"

He thanked God also that he had laboured more than all the apostlesb

And received much satisfaction in reflecting on his own integrity-]

But on a more attentive survey of his spirit we shall find him actuated

1. By pride

[He came professedly with an intention to pray to GodBut he was so full of his virtues that he forgat all his wantsHis acknowledgment of God was manifestly no more than a mère compliment

His thanksgiving was one continued eulogium upon himself

Yet, after all, his freedom from gross sins was but a small matter to boast of

And the duties he had practised were only the means of gratifying his vanity-]

2. By uncharitableness

[Not satisfied with commending himself, he poured contempt on all othersd

He arrogantly presumed to judge the Publican in particular

But what concern had he with the state of other men?Their greater degrees of sinfulness could not make him less sinful

Nor should it have been a subject of boast but of lamentation

a Acts xx. 33, 34.

e 2 Cor. i. 12.

b 1 Cor. xv. 10.

dio, the rest of the world.

He should have taken occasion from it, not to insult over them, but to intercede for them

But the guilt and misery of his fellow-creatures were to him a source of gratification rather than of grief

Nor did he care how many might perish, provided he could have the satisfaction of contemplating his own superior goodness-]

3. By self-dependence

[He confessed no sins, because he thought he had none to confess

Or that they were far over-balanced by his virtues

He implored no help because he felt no need of divine assistance

He entertained no doubt of his own ability to do the will of God

The whole of his deportment shewed the thought of his heart to be, "In myself have I righteousness and strength"-] The Publican manifested a spirit altogether the reverse of this

[He was of a profession that was generally and perhaps justly execratede

And it is probable he had yielded to the temptations that beset him

But now,

"what had been sweet in his mouth had become gall in his bowels"-]

He approached God with deep humility and contrition [He came into the temple with an holy fear and trembling

While the Pharisee boldly walked up to the highest part, he stood, as it were, at the very threshold

While the Pharisee ostentatiously spread forth his hands, he did not presume to "lift up so much as his eyes," to heavenInstead of boasting of his goodness, he humbled himself as "a sinner"

He confessed himself to be deserving of God's wrath and indignation

With much anguish of spirit he "smote upon his breast"And cried for mercy as one who felt himself the chief of sinners]

He placed all his confidence in God alone

[He did not attempt to extenuate his guilt

Or promise amendment as a reparation for his offences

The Publicans were tax-gatherers; and, under pretence of ga thering the legal imposts, generally extorted more than was due: hence their very employment was held odious, and all who engaged in it were detested.

He renounced all self-righteous methods of recommending himself to God

And cast himself entirely upon the divine mercy-]

Services performed in so different a spirit could not find equal acceptance

II. The different success with which their prayers were attended

The Pharisee could not reasonably expect a blessing [Many humble persons indeed would envy his conscious rectitude

And wish that they could lay claim to such purity as his— But, what could he obtain who did not condescend to ask any thing?

His pride would set God at a greater distance from him

Had he been able to boast of far greater things than he possessed, his uncharitableness had rendered them all of no values

And his self-dependance cut him off from all hope in the divine mercy

Hence, though full of self-applause, he departed without a blessing from God

Though justified in his own conceit, he was under condemnation for sin

He was odious in God's eyes in proportion as he was amiable in his own—

This is asserted, not in the text only, but in other passages of scripturei

Jehovah himself declares this in very significant and awful terms]

The Publican, on the contrary, was blessed beyond his expectation

[Many would have reprobated his down-cast look and solemn attitude

And have judged him to be a melancholy enthusiast or a designing hypocrite

But God regarded him with complacency and delightSuch humility and contrition could not fail of engaging his carel

f Ps. cxxxviii. 6. i Prov. xvi. 5.

g 1 Cor. xiii. 1—3. ▲ Gal. v. 2, 4.k Isai. lxv. 5. Here the Pharisee's character is described in perfect correspondence with the text: and God's indignation against him is very strongly painted.

1 Isai. lvii. 15. Ps. li. 17.

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