the pharisee and the publican-第25章

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hrust　herself　into　his　presence；　but　knew；　and　kept　her　distance；　standing　in　the　inward　court　of　his　palace　until　he　held　out　the　golden　sceptre　to　her；　then　Esther　drew　near；　and　touched　the　top　thereof；　Esth。　v。　1；　2。

Men；　also；　when　they　come　into　the　presence　of　God；　should　know　their　distance；　yea；　and　shew　that　they　know　it　too；　by　such　gestures；　and　carriages；　and　behaviour；　that　are　seemly。　　A　remarkable　saying　is　that　of　Solomon；　〃Keep　thy　foot；〃　saith　he；　〃when　thou　goest　into　the　house　of　God；　and　be　more　ready　to　hear　than　to　give　the　sacrifice　of　fools；　for　they　consider　not　that　they　do　evil。〃　　And　as　they　should　keep　their　foot；　so　also　he　adds；　〃Be　not　rash　with　thy　mouth；　and　let　not　thine　heart　be　hasty　to　utter　any　thing　before　God；　for　God　is　in　heaven；　and　thou　upon　earth；　therefore　let　thy　words　be　few；〃　Eccles。　v。　1；　2。

Three　things　the　Holy　Ghost　exhorteth　to　in　this　text。

The　one　is；　That　we　look　to　our　feet；　and　not　be　forward　to　crowd　into　God's　presence。

Another　is；　That　we　should　also　look　well　to　our　tongues；　that　they　be　not　rash　in　uttering　any　thing　before　God。

And　the　third　is；　Because　of　the　infinite　distance　that　is　betwixt　God　and　us；　which　is　intimated　by　these　words；　〃For　God　is　in　heaven；　and　thou　upon　earth。〃

The　Publican　therefore　shewed　great　wisdom；　holy　shame；　and　humility；　in　this　brave　gesture　of　his；　namely；　in　his　standing　afar　off　when　he　went　up　into　the　temple　to　pray。　　But　this　is　not　all。

Secondly；　The　Publican；　in　standing　afar　off；　left　room　for　an　Advocate　and　high…priest；　a　Day's…man；　to　come　betwixt；　to　make　peace　between　God　and　his　poor　creature。　　Moses；　the　great　mediator　of　the　Old　Testament；　was　to　go　nigher　to　God　than　the　rest　of　the　elders；　or　those　of　the　people；　Exod。　xx。　21。　　Yea；　the　rest　of　the　people　were　expressly　commanded　to　worship；　〃standing　afar　off。〃　　No　man　of　the　sons　of　Aaron　that　had　a　blemish　was　to　come　nigh。　　〃No　man　that　hath　a　blemish　of　the　seed　of　Aaron　the　priest　shall　come　nigh　to　offer　the　offerings　of　the　Lord　made　by　fire。　　He　shall　not　come　nigh　to　offer　the　bread　of　his　God；〃　Lev。　xxi。　21。

The　Publican　durst　not　be　his　own　mediator；　he　knew　he　had　a　blemish；　and　was　infirm；　and　therefore　he　stands　back；　for　he　knew　that　it　was　none　of　him　that　his　God　had　chosen　to　come　near　unto　him；　to　offer　〃the　fat　and　the　blood；〃　Ezek。　xliv。　13…15。　　The　Publican；　therefore；　was　thus　far　right；　he　took　not　up　the　room　himself；　neither　with　his　person　nor　his　performances；　but　stood　back；　and　gave　place　to　the　High…priest　that　was　to　be　intercessor。

We　read；　that　when　Zacharias　went　into　the　temple　to　burn　incense；　as　at　the　time　his　lot　was；　〃The　whole　multitude　of　the　people　were　praying　without；〃　Luke　i。　9；　10。　　They　left　him　where　he　was；　near　to　God；　between　God　and　them；　mediating　for　them；　for　the　offering　of　incense　by　the　chief…priest　was　a　figurative　making　of　intercession　for　the　people；　and　they　maintained　their　distance。

It　is　a　great　matter　in　praying　to　God；　not　to　go　too　far；　nor　come　too　short；　in　that　duty；　I　mean　in　the　duty　of　prayer；　and　a　man　is　very　apt　to　do　one　or　the　other。　　The　Pharisee　went　so　far；　he　was　too　bold；　he　came　into　the　temple　making　such　a　ruffle　with　his　own　excellencies；　that　there　was　in　his　thoughts　no　need　of　a　Mediator。　He　also　went　up　so　nigh　to　God；　that　he　took　up　the　room　and　place　of　the　Mediator　himself；　but　this　poor　Publican；　he　knows　his　distance；　and　keeps　it；　and　leaves　room　for　the　High…priest　to　come　and　intercede　for　him　with　God。　　He　stood　afar　off：　　not　too　far　off；　for　that　is　the　room　and　place　of　unbelievers；　and　in　that　sense　this　saying　is　true；　〃For；　lo；　they　that　are　far　from　thee　shall　perish；〃　Psalm　lxxiii。　27；　that　is；　they　whose　unbelief　hath　set　their　hearts　and　affections　more　upon　their　idols；　and　that　have　been　made　to　cast　God　behind　their　backs；　to　follow　and　go　a…whoring　after　them。

Hitherto；　therefore；　it　appears；　that　though　the　Pharisee　had　more　righteousness　than　the　Publican；　yet　the　Publican　had　more　spiritual　righteousness　than　the　Pharisee；　and　that　though　the　Publican　had　a　baser　and　more　ugly　outside　than　the　Pharisee；　yet　the　Publican　knew　how　to　prevail　with　God　for　mercy　better　than　he。

As　for　the　Publican's　posture　of　standing　in　prayer；　it　is　excusable；　and　that　by　the　very　Father　of　the　faithful　himself：　　for　Abraham　stood　praying　when　he　made　intercession　for　Sodom；　Gen。　xviii。　22；　23。　　Christ　also　alloweth　it；　where　he　saith；　〃And　when　ye　stand　praying；　forgive；　if　ye　have　ought　against　any；　that　your　Father　also　which　is　in　heaven　may　forgive　you　your　trespasses；〃　Mark　xi。　25。　Indeed　there　is　no　stinted　order　prescribed　for　our　thus　behaving　of　ourselves　in　prayer；　whether　kneeling；　or　standing；　or　walking；　or　lying；　or　sitting；　for　all　these　postures　have　been　used　by　the　godly。　　Paul　〃kneeled　down　and　prayed；〃　Acts　xx。　36。　　Abraham　and　the　Publican　stood　and　prayed。　　David　prayed　as　he　walked；　2　Sam。　xv。　30；　31。　　Abraham　prayed　lying　upon　his　face；　Gen。　xvii。　17；18。　　Moses　prayed　sitting；　Exod。　xvii。　12。　　And　indeed　prayer；　effectual　fervent　prayer；　may　be；　and　often　is；　made　unto　God　under　all　these　circumstances　of　behaviour：　　for　God　has　not　tied　us　up　to　any　of　them；　and　he　that　shall　tie　himself；　or　his　people；　to　any　of　these；　doth　more　than　he　hath　warrant　for　from　God：　　and　let　such　take　care　of　innovating；　it　is　the　next　way　to　make　men　hypocrites　and　dissemblers　in　those　duties　in　which　they　should　be　sincere。

True；　which　of　those　soever　a　man　shall　choose　to　himself　for　the　present；　to　perform　this　solemn　duty　in；　it　is　required　of　him；　and　God　expects　it；　that　he　should　pray　to　him　in　truth；　and　with　desire；　affection；　and　hunger；　after　those　things　that　with　his　tongue　he　maketh　mention　of　before　the　throne　of　God。　　And　indeed　without　this；　all　is　nothing。　　But　alas！　how　few　be　there　in　the　world　whose　heart　and　mouth　in　prayer　shall　go　together？　　Dost　thou；　when　thou　askest　for　the　Spirit；　or　faith；　or　love　to　God；　to　holiness；　to　saints；　to　the　word；　and　the　like；　ask　for　them　with　love　to　them；　desire　of　them；　hungering　after　them？　　Oh！　this　is　a　mighty　thing！　and　yet　prayer　is　no　more　before　God；　than　as　it　is　seasoned　with　these　blessed　qualifications。　　Wherefore　it　is　said；　that　while　men　are　praying；　God　is　searching　of　the　heart；　to　see　what　is　the　meaning　of　the　Spirit　（or　whether　there　be　the　Spirit　and　his　meaning　in　all　that　the　mouth　hath　uttered；　either　by　words；　sighs；　or　groans）；　because　it　is　by　him；　and　through　his　help　only；　that　any　make　prayers　according　to　the　will　of　God；　Rom。　viii。　26；　27。　　Whatever　thy　posture　therefore　shall　be；　see　that　thy　prayers　be　pertinent　and　fervent；　not　mocking　of　thine　own　soul　with　words；　while　thou　wantest；　and　art　an　utter　stranger　to；　the　very　vital　and　living　spirit　of　prayer。

Now；　our　Publican　had　and　did　exercise　the　very　spirit　of　prayer　in　prayer。　　He　prayed　sensibly；　seriously；　affectionately；　hungering；　thirsting；　and　with　longing　after　that　for　which　with　his　mouth　he　implored　the　God　of　heaven；　his　heart　and　soul　was　in　his　words；　and　it　was　that　which　made　his　prayer　PRAYER；　even　because　he　prayed　in　PRAYER；　he　prayed　inwardly　as　well　as　outwardly。

David　tells　us；　that　God　heard　the　voice　of　his　supplication；　the　voice　of　his　cry；　the　voice　of　his　tears；　and　the　voice　of　his　roaring。　　For　indeed　are　all　these　acceptable。　　Affection　and　fervent　desire　make　them　sound　well　in　the　ears　of　God。　　Tears；　supplications；　prayers；　cries；　may　be　all　of　them　done　in　formality；　hypocrisy；　and　from　other　causes；　and　to　other　ends；　than　that　which　is　honest　and　right　in　God's　sight：　　for　God　would　search　and　look　after　the　voice　of　his　tears；　supplications；　roarings；　prayers；　and　cries。

And　if　men　had　less　care　to　please　men；　and　more　to　please　God；　in　the　matter　and　manner　of　praying；　the　world　would　be　at　a　better　pass　than　it　is。　　But　this　is　not　in　man's　power　to　help　and　to　amend。　When　the　Holy　Ghost　comes　upon　men　with　great　conviction　of　their　state　and　condition；　and　of　the　use　and　excellency　of　the　grace　of　sincerity　and　humility　in　prayer；　then；　and　not　till　then；　will　the　grace　of　prayer　be　more　prized；　and　the　specious；　flounting；　complimentary　lips　of　flatterers；　be　more　laid　aside。　　I　have　said　it　already；　and　will　say　it　again；　that　there　is　now…a…days　a　great　deal　of　wickedness　committed　in　the　very　duty　of　prayer；　by　words　of　which　men　have　no　sense　by　reaching　after　such　conclusion　and　clenshes　therein；　as　make　their　persons　be　admired；　by　studying　for；　and　labouring　after；　such　enlargements　as　the　spirit　accompanieth　not　the　heart　in。　　O　Lord　God；　make　our　hearts　upright　in　us；　as　in　all　points　and　parts　of　our　profession；　so　in　this　solemn　appointment　of　God！　　〃If　I　regard　iniquity　in　my　heart；〃　said　David；　〃the　Lord　will　not　hear　my　prayer。〃　　But　if　I　be　truly　sincere；　he　will；　and　then　it　is　no　matter　whether　I　kneel；　or　stand；　or　sit；　or　lie；　or　walk；　for　I　shall　do　none　of　these；　nor　put　up　my　prayers　under　any　of　these　circumstances；　lightly；　foolishly；　and　idly；　but　to　beautify　this　gesture　with　the　inward　working　of　my　mind　and　spirit　in　prayer；　that　whether　I　stand　or　sit；　walk　or　lie　down；　grace　and　gravity；　humility　and　sincerity；　shall　make　my　prayer　profitable；　and　my　outward　behaviour　comely　in　his　eyes；　with　whom　（in　prayer）　I　now　have　to　do。

And　had　not　our　Publican　been　inwardly　seasoned　with　these；　Christ　would　have　taken　but　little　pleasure　in　his　modes　and　outward　behaviour：　　but　being　so　honest　inwardly；　and　in　the　matter　of　his　prayer；　his　gestures　by　that　were　made　beauteous　also；　and　therefore　it　is　that　our　Lord　so　delightfully　delateth　upon　them；　and　draweth　them　out　at　length　before　the　eyes　of　others。

I　have　often　observed；　that　which　is　natural　and　so　comely　in　one；　looks　odiously　when　imitated　by　another。　　I　speak　as　to　gestures　and　actions　in　preaching　and　prayer。　　Many；　I　doubt　not；　but　will　imitate　the　Publican；　and　that　both　in　the　prayer　and　gestures　of　the　Publican；　whose　persons　and　actions　will　yet　stink　in　the　nostrils　of　him　that　is　holy　and　just；　and　that　searcheth　the　heart　and　the　reins。

Well；　the　Publican　stood　and　prayed；　he　stood　afar　off；　and　prayed；　and　his　prayers　came　even　to　the　ears　of　God。

〃And　the　Publican　standing　afar　off　would　not　lift　up　so　much　as　his　eyes　to　heaven；〃　&c。

We　are　now　come　to　another　of　his　postures。　　He　would　not；　says　the　text；　so　much　as　lift　up　his　eyes　to　heaven。　　Here；　therefore；　was　another　gesture　added　to　that　which　went　before；　and　a　gesture　that　a　great　while　before　had　been　condemned　by　the　Holy　Ghost　himself。　　〃Is　it　such　a　fast　that　I　have　chosen；　a　day　for　a　man　to　afflict　his　soul？　　Is　it　to　bow　down　his　head　as　a　bulrush？〃　Isa。　lviii。　5。

But　why　condemned　then；　and　smiled　upon　now？　　Why？　　Because　done　in　hypocrisy　then；　and　in　sincerity　now。　　Hypocrisy；　and　a　spirit　of　error；　that　he　shall　take　no　pleasure　in　them；　but　sincerity；　and　honesty　in　duties；　will　make　even　them　comely　in　the　sight　of　men　may　I　not　say　before　God？　　The　Rechabites　were　not　commanded　of　God；　but　of　their　father；　to　do　as　they　did；　but；　because　they　were　sincere　in　their　obedience　thereto；　even　God　himself　maketh　use　of　what　they　did；　to　condemn　the　di