Address —
1. Those who trust in themselves that they are righteous —
[Almost all, when interrogated about their souls, reply as this Pharisee p— . But we shall not stand or fall by a compari- son with other men. If we have been free from some sins, we have committed many others ; and if we have practised some duties, we have neglected many others. As sinners we must all humble ourselves like the Publican : nor is there a pos- sibility of obtaining mercy in any other way q.]
2. Those who are of a contemptuous spirit while
they profess to believe in Christ —
[Many pride themselves on the knowledge of the Gospel, as the Pharisee did on his virtues, and speak as contemptuously of the unenlightened world as he did of the Publican. Con- ceited, arrogant, contentious, they make the Gospel itself an occasion of sin. Well did St. Paul reprove such persons in the Corinthian Church r. Let them remember that humility and love are the very essence of religion ; and beware, lest the higher they are exalted in privileges, the deeper they fall into destruction.]
3. Those who are low and vile in their own esteem —
[Never are you higher in God's esteem than when you are lowest in your own. Fear not but that they who trust in God's mercy shall find mercy at his hands. Let that faithful saying of the Apostle's sink deep into your hearts s. — Look truly to the Saviour, and you may " go down to your house justified'." To every believing penitent he speaks as he did to that repenting sinner11 — .]
p " I am not the worst of sinners," &c. &c.
i Prov. xxviii. 13. 1 John i. 8, 9. r 1 Cor. hi. 3. and iv. 7.
R 1 Tim. i. 15.
1 Christ emphatically says, " I say unto you," &c.
u Luke vii. 48, 50.