will cheerfully put themselves under his direction ; and they will follow his prescriptions, that they may obtain a cure.] It is more particularly so in a figurative sense — [There is an analogy between sickness and sin : this is a disorder of the soul as that is of the body. A person uncon- scious of his sinfulness desires not a Saviour ; nor will he comply with the self-denying directions given him. But one who feels his lost state longs earnestly for a cure : he delights to hear of Christ, and to make application to him ; nor does he esteem any injunction too severe3.]
This being acknowledged, our Lord proceeds to make, II. An application of it to his own conduct —
The physician's office leads him to converse with the sick. Our Lord's work required him to maintain an intercourse with sinners.
There are many who conceive themselves to be "righteous" —
[None are absolutely and perfectly righteous b, but many suppose that their sins are neither great nor numerous. Such were the Scribes and Pharisees whom our Lord addressed0 ; and there are many of this description in every aged.]
Such persons were not so much the objects of our Lord's attention —
[He " willed indeed that all should come to repentance e," but he knew that they would not receive his offers ; they saw no need of the salvation which he came to accomplish ; their pride and prejudice unfitted them for receiving it. He there- fore bestowed less labour in calling them to repentance.]
But there are many of more ingenuous disposition —
[They are not really more heinous " sinners" than others, but they are made sensible of their guilt and danger. Such was the publican at whose house our Lord was, and such are to be found in every place.]
To call these to repentance was the great object of Christ's ministry —
[These were prepared, like thirsty ground for the rain ; to them he was a welcome messenger ; they rejoiced to hear
a 1 John v. 3. b None by nai 5m. iii. 10, 12, c Luke xviii. 9, 11. a Prov. xxx. 12. e 2 Pet. iii. 9.
b None by nature, Job xiv. 4. and xv. 14. None by practice, Rom. iii. 10, 12, 23.