THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 107, 27 January 1853, Page 4

THE PHARISEE AND PUBLICAN.

Luke XVIII 13. "God be merciful to me a sinner." If we know the meaning and extent of the Ten Commandments, we shall say after each of them, " Lord, have mercy upon us!" And if we sec any thing of the holiness, majesty, and glory of the great God, we shall rn-wilh Isaiah, " Woe is me, for I am undone;" or wilh Job, " I have heard or ihcc by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye secth thee; wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." No person truly enlightened will say, as many have done, I am not a groat sinner; for, in fact, there cannot be a little sinner, unless there wcro a little law to break, a litllc Godtooflend, and a little wrath to incur. Il istoo common for persons to comfort themselves with the idea that they arc not such great sinners as some others; many dying pcopledo this, and even wretches at the gallows have done so. tint his is very absurd; for ihe question is not, whether we have sinned as much as others, but whether we have sinned at all, that is, whether we have broken the holylaworGod! if so, we are sinners, and stand exposed to the just wrath of theMostlligh : nor can we escape it, but by partaking of Hint great mercy for which the Publican prayed. You will next observe, lhat his sense ofshi and danyer put him upon prayer. Many ■people live without prayer; and what is the reason? Thev do not feel the need ormerc.y; Tor this is the "first thing a convinced sinner prays for: ami it is a good sign of grace when a desire for mercy send n man to his knees. An«els rejoice on such an occasion, and point to the new born soul, saying, " Behold, he nrayeth!" Mv friends, do you pray for mercy? If not", how can you expect it; and what must become of you without it; o that vou mav begin to pray 1 This poor man cried to the Lord: and| whither can a creature fly for help but to God? HeisourinaUor: he is our governor: he is our judge: he is able to save or destroy: he is offended wilh our sins, yet is he most sracious and readv lo forgive. How reasoiiabletlien.thataguillv, helpless sinner, ready to perish, should applv " to him that is able to save to the uttermost all who come to linn by Jesus Christ." He begs for mercy. What is mercy 7 \\c know what it is by our own feelings. It is compassion to the miserable; it is a disposition 10 pity and relieve the distressed : and we never speak of mercy but with reference to m'senj. It is nol, then, a light unfeeling use of solemn words, that can encourage us to hope for mercy: it is nol saying, without feeling, Lord have mercy upon us! Christ have mercy upon us: but it is coining W'lh i'"* ''ublican's spirit, with Ins

broken heart, vilh his remorse, with his des ires, and in earnest prayer claiming this precious blessing. Observe, it is mercy he asks. Here is not a word of merit. Mercy and merit are opposite things, The Pharisee's prayer was a mere boast of meritorious deeds: the Publican has nothing to plead ; nor does lie ask for wealth, or honour, or pleasure: his heart is dead to these; all his desires centre in one, and that one is mercy. " Mercy, good Lord, mercy I ask, This is the total sum; For mercy, Lord, is all my suit: O let thy mercy come !" To he continued in our next.