He that humbleth himself, whatever he be: if, instead of fasting twice in the week, he has been drunk twice in the week; if, instead of giving tithes of all that he possesses, he has cheated the minister of his tithes, and the king of his taxes; notwithstanding he be unjust, an extortioner, an adulterer, nay, notwithstanding the sins of all mankind center and unite in him; yet, if through grace, like the Publican, he is enabled to humble himself, he shall be exalted; not in a temporal manner; for christians must rather expect to be abased, and to have their names cast out as evil, and to lay down their lives for CHRIST JESUS in this world: but he shall be exalted in a spiritual sense; he shall be freely justified from all his sins by the blood of JESUS; he shall have peace with GOD, a peace which passeth all understanding; not only peace, but joy in believing; he shall be translated from the kingdom of Satan, to the kingdom of GOD’s dear Son: he shall dwell in CHRIST, and CHRIST in him: he shall be one with CHRIST, and CHRIST one with him: he shall drink of divine pleasures, as out of a river: he shall be sanctified throughout in spirit, soul and body; in one word, he shall be filled with all the fulness of GOD. Thus shall the man that humbleth himself be exalted here; but O, how high shall he be exalted hereafter! as high as the highest heavens, even to the right-hand of GOD: there he shall sit, happy both in soul and body, and judge angels; high, out of the reach of all sin and trouble, eternally secure from all danger of falling. O sinners, did you but know how highly GOD intends to exalt those who humble themselves, and believe in JESUS, surely you would humble yourselves, at least beg of GOD to humble you; for it is he that must strike the rock of your hearts, and cause floods of contrite tears to flow therefrom. O that GOD would give this sermon such a commission, as he once gave to the rod of _Moses_! I would strike you through and through with the rod of his word, until each of you was brought to cry out with the poor Publican, “GOD be merciful to me a sinner.” What pleasant language would this be in the ears of the LORD of Sabbaoth!
Are there no poor sinners among you? what, are you all Pharisees? Surely, you cannot bear the thoughts of returning home unjustified; can you? what if a fit of the apoplexy should seize you, and your souls be hurried away before the awful Judge of quick and dead? what will you do without CHRIST’s righteousness? if you go out of the world unjustified, you must remain so for ever. O that you would humble yourselves! then would the LORD exalt you; it may be, that, whilst I am speaking, the LORD might justify you freely by his grace. I observed, that perhaps the Publican had a sense of his justification before he went from the temple, and knew that his pardon was sealed in heaven: and who knows but you may be thus exalted before you go home, if you humble yourselves? O what peace, love and joy, would you then feel in your hearts! you would have a heaven upon earth. O that I could hear any of you say (as I once heard a poor sinner, under my preaching, cry out) _He is come, He is come!_ How would you then, like him, extol a precious, a free-hearted CHRIST! how would you magnify him for being such a friend to Publicans and sinners? greater love can no man shew, than to lay down his life for a friend; but CHRIST laid down his life for his enemies, even for you, if you are enabled to humble yourselves, as the Publican did. Sinners, I know not how to leave off talking with you; I would fill my mouth with arguments, I would plead with you. “Come, let us reason together;” though your sins be as scarlet, yet, if you humble yourselves, they shall be as white as snow. One act of true faith in CHRIST, justifies you for ever and ever; he has not promised you what he cannot perform; he is able to exalt you: for GOD hath exalted, and given him a name above every name, that at the name of JESUS every knee shall bow; nay, GOD hath exalted him to be not only a Prince, but a Saviour. May he be a Saviour to you! and then I shall have reason to rejoice; in the day of judgment, that I have not preached in vain, nor laboured in vain.