Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

.

SERMON VI.

PHARISEE and PUBLICAN

In the Temple.

SERMON VI.

LUKE Xviii. 14. 1ft Part.

I tell you, this man went down to his boufe, juftified rather than the other :

THE

HESE words are the judgment which our SAUIOUR has left upon the behaviour and different degrees of merit in the two men, the pharifee and publican, whom he reprefents in the foregoing parable as going up into the temple to pray; in what manner they difcharged this great and folemn duty, will best be seen from a confideration of the prayer, which each is faid to have addreffed to GOD upon the occafion.

The

The pharifee, instead of an act of humiliation in that awful prefence before which he flood,-with an air of triumph. and felf-fufficiency, thanks God that he had not made him like others -extortioners, adulterers, unjust, or even as this publican. The publican is reprefented as. standing afar off, and with a heart touched with humility from a juft fense of his • own unworthiness, is said only to have fmote upon his breaft, faying GOD be merciful to me a finner. I tell you, adds our SAVIOUR, this man went down to his houfe juftified rather than the other.

Though the juftice of this determination strikes every one at firft fight, it may not be amifs to enter into a more particular examination of the evidence and reafons upon which it might be founded,

[ocr errors][merged small]
« PoprzedniaDalej »