the pharisee and the publican-第26章

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　sincere　in　their　obedience　thereto；　even　God　himself　maketh　use　of　what　they　did；　to　condemn　the　disobedience　of　the　Jews；　and；　moreover；　doth　tell　the　Rechabites　at　last；　that　they　should　not　want　a　man　to　stand　before　him　for　ever。　　〃And　Jeremiah　said　unto　the　house　of　the　Rechabites；　Thus　saith　the　Lord　of　Hosts；　the　God　of　Israel；　because　ye　have　obeyed　the　commandment　of　Jonadab　your　father；　and　kept　all　his　precepts；　and　done　according　unto　all　that　he　hath　commanded　you；　therefore；　thus　saith　the　Lord　of　Hosts；　the　God　of　Israel；　Jonadab；　the　son　of　Rechab；　shall　not　want　a　man　to　stand　before　me　for　ever。〃

He　would　not　lift　up　his　eyes　to　heaven。　　Why？　　Surely　because　shame　had　covered　his　face。　　Shame　will　make　a　man　blush　and　hang　his　head　like　a　bulrush；　shame　for　sin　is　a　virtue；　a　comely　thing；　yea；　a　beauty…spot　in　the　face　of　a　sinner　that　cometh　to　God　for　mercy。

God　complains　of　the　house　of　Israel；　that　they　could　sin；　and　that　without　shame；　yea；　and　threateneth　them　too　with　sore　repeated　judgments；　because　they　were　not　ashamed；　it　is　in　Jer。　viii。　　Their　crimes　in　general　were；　they　turned　every　one　to　his　course；　as　the　horse　runneth　into　the　battle。　　In　particular；　they　were　such　as　rejected　God's　word；　they　loved　this　world；　and　set　themselves　against　the　prophets；　crying；　〃Peace；　peace；〃　when　they　cried；　〃Judgment；　judgment！〃　　And　were　not　ashamed　when　they　had　committed　abomination；　〃Nay；　they　were　not　at　all　ashamed；　neither　could　they　blush；　therefore　shall　they　fall　among　them　that　fall：　　in　the　time　of　their　visitation　they　shall　be　cast　down；　saith　the　Lord；〃　ver。　12。　　Oh！　to　stand；　or　sit；　or　lie；　or　kneel；　or　walk　before　God　in　prayer；　with　blushing　cheeks　for　sin；　is　one　of　the　most　excellent　sights　that　can　be　seen　in　the　world。

Wherefore　the　church　taketh　some　kind　of　heart　to　herself　in　that　she　could　lie　down　in　her　shame；　yea；　and　makes　that　a　kind　of　an　argument　with　God　to　prove　that　her　prayers　did　come　from　her　heart；　and　also　that　he　would　hear　them；　Jer。　iii。　22…25。

Shame　for　sin　argueth　sense　of　sin；　yea；　a　right　sense　of　sin；　a　godly　sense　of　sin。　　Ephraim　pleads　this　when　under　the　hand　of　God：　I　was　（saith　he）　〃ashamed；　yea；　even　confounded；　because　I　did　bear　the　reproach　of　my　youth。〃　　But　what　follows？　　〃Is　Ephraim　my　dear　son？　is　he　a　pleasant　child？　for　since　I　spake　against　him；　I　do　earnestly　remember　him　still：　　therefore　my　bowels　are　troubled　for　him：　　I　will　surely　have　mercy　upon　him；　saith　the　Lord；〃　Jer。　xxxi。　19；　20。

I　know　that　there　is　a　shame　that　is　not　the　spirit　of　an　honest　heart；　but　that　rather　floweth　from　sudden　surprisal；　when　the　sinner　is　unawares　taken　in　the　actin　the　very　manner。　　And　thus　sometimes　the　house　of　Israel　were　taken：　　and　then；　when　they　blushed；　their　shame　is　compared　to　the　shame　of　a　thief。　　〃As　the　thief　is　ashamed　when　he　is　found；　so　is　the　house　of　Israel　ashamed；　they；　their　kings；　their　princes；　and　their　priests；　and　their　prophets。〃

But　where　were　they　taken；　or　about　what　were　they　found？　　Why；　they　were　found　〃saying　to　a　stock；　Thou　art　my　father；　and　to　a　stone；　thou　hast　brought　me　forth。〃　　God　catched　them　thus　doing；　and　this　made　them　ashamed；　even　as　the　thief　is　ashamed　when　the　owner　doth　catch　him　stealing　his　horse。

But　this　was　not　the　Publican's　shame。　　This　shame　brings　not　a　man　into　the　temple　to　pray；　to　stand　willingly；　and　to　take　shame　before　God　in　prayer。　　This　shame　makes　one　rather　to　fly　from　his　face；　and　to　count　one's　self　most　at　ease　when　farthest　off　from　God；　Jer。　ii。　26；　27。

The　Publican's　shame；　therefore；　which　he　demonstrated　by　hanging　down　his　head；　was　godly　and　holy；　and　much　like　that　of　the　prodigal；　when　he　said；　〃Father；　I　have　sinned　against　heaven；　and　in　thy　sight；　and　am　no　more　worthy　to　be　called　thy　son；〃　Luke　xv。　21。　I　suppose　that　his　postures　were　much　the　same　with　the　Publican's；　as　were　his　prayers；　for　the　substance　of　them。　　O　however　grace　did　work　in　both　to　the　same　end！　they　were　both　of　them；　after　a　godly　manner；　ashamed　of　their　sins。

〃He　would　not　lift　up　so　much　as　his　eyes　to　heaven。〃

He　could　not；　he　would　not：　　which　yet　more　fully　makes　it　appear；　that　it　was　shame；　not　guilt　only；　or　chiefly；　though　it　is　manifest　enough　that　he　had　guilt；　by　his　crying；　〃God　be　merciful　to　me　a　sinner。〃　　I　say；　guilt　was　not　the　chief　cause　of　hanging　down　his　head；　because　it　saith；　he　WOULD　not；　for　when　guilt　is　the　cause　of　stooping；　it　lieth　not　in　the　will；　or　in　the　power　thereof；　to　help　one　up。

David　tells　us；　that　when　he　was　under　guilt；　his　iniquities　were　gone　over　his　head：　　as　an　heavy　burden；　they　were　too　heavy　for　him；　and　that　with　them　he　was　bowed　down　greatly。　　Or；　as　he　says　in　another　place；　〃Mine　iniquities　have　taken　hold　upon　me；　so　that　I　am　not　able　to　look　up；〃　Psalm　xxxviii。；　xl。　　I　am　not　able　to　do　it：　guilt　disableth　the　understanding；　and　conscience；　shame　makes　all　willingly　fall　at　the　feet　of　Christ。

He　would　not。　　He　knew　what　he　was；　what　he　had　been；　and　should　be；　if　God　had　not　mercy　upon　him；　yea；　he　knew　also　that　God　knew　what　he　was；　had　been；　and　would　be；　if　mercy　prevented　not；　wherefore；　thought　he；　Wherefore　should　I　lift　up　the　head？　　I　am　no　righteous　man；　no　godly　man；　I　have　not　served　God；　but　Satan；　this　I　know；　this　God　knows；　this　angels　know；　wherefore　I　will　not　lift　up　the　head。　　It　is　as　much　as　to　say；　I　will　not　be　an　hypocrite；　like　the　Pharisee：　　for　lifting　up　of　the　head　signifies　innocency　and　harmlessness　of　life；　or　good　conscience；　and　the　testimony　thereof；　under　and　in　the　midst　of　all　accusations。　　Wherefore　this　was　the　counsel　of　Zophar　to　Job〃If；〃　saith　he；　〃thou　prepare　thine　heart；　and　stretch　out　thine　hand　towards　him；　if　iniquity　be　in　thine　hand；　put　it　far　away；　and　let　not　wickedness　dwell　in　thy　tabernacles。　For　then　shalt　thou　lift　up　thy　face　without　spot；　yea；　thou　shalt　be　steadfast；　and　shalt　not　fear；〃　Job　xi。　13…15。

This　was　not　the　Publican's　state：　　he　had　lived　in　lewdness　and　villany　all　his　days；　nor　had　he　prepared　his　heart　to　seek　the　Lord　God　of　his　fathers；　he　had　not　cleansed　his　heart　nor　hands　from　violence；　nor　done　that　which　was　lawful　and　right。　　He　only　had　been　convinced　of　his　evil　ways；　and　was　come　into　the　temple　as　he　was；　all　foul；　and　in　his　filthy　garments；　and　amidst　his　pollutions；　how　then　could　he　be　innocent；　holy；　or　without　spot？　and；　consequently；　how　could　he　lift　up　his　face　to　God？　　I　remember　what　Abner　said　to　Asahel；　〃Turn　thee　aside　（said　he）　from　following　me；　wherefore　should　I　smite　thee　to　the　ground？　how　then　should　I　hold　up　my　face　to　Joab；　thy　brother？〃　　2　Sam。　ii。　22。

As　if　he　had　said；　If　I　kill　thee；　I　shall　blush；　be　ashamed；　and　hang　my　head　like　a　bulrush　the　next　time　I　come　into　the　company　of　thy　brother。

This　was　the　Publican's　case：　　he　was　guilty；　he　had　sinned；　he　had　committed　a　trespass；　and　now　being　come　into　the　temple；　into　the　presence　of　that　God　whose　laws　he　had　broken；　and　against　whom　he　had　sinned；　how　could　he　lift　up　his　head？　how　could　he　do　it？　　No；　it　better　became　him　to　take　his　shame；　and　to　hang　his　head　in　token　of　guilt；　and　indeed　he　did；　and　did　it　to　purpose　too；　for　he　would　not　lift　up；　no　not　so　much　as　his　eyes　to　heaven。

True；　some　would　have　done　it；　the　Pharisee　did　it；　though　if　he　had　considered　that　hypocrisy　and　the　leaning　to　his　own　righteousness　had　been　a　sin；　he　would　have　found　as　little　cause　to　have　done　it　as　did　the　Publican　himself。　　But；　I　say　he　did　it；　and　sped　therein；　he　went　down　to　his　house；　as　he　came　up　into　the　temple；　a　poor　unjustified　Pharisee；　whose　person　and　prayer　were　both　rejected；　because；　like　the　whore　of　whom　we　read　in　the　Proverbs；　after　he　had　practised　all　manner　of　hypocrisy；　he　comes　into　the　temple　and　wipes　his　mouth；　and　saith；　〃I　have　done　no　wickedness；〃　Prov。　xxx。　20。　　He　lifts　up　his　head；　his　face；　his　eyes；　to　heaven；　he　struts；　he　vaunts　himself；　he　swaggers；　he　vapours；　and　cries　up　himself；　saying；　〃God　I　thank　thee　that　I　am　not　as　other　men　are。〃

True；　had　he　come　and　stood　before　a　stock　or　stone；　he　might　have　said　thus；　and　not　have　been　reprehended；　for　such　are　gods　that　see　not；　nor　hear；　neither　do　they　understand。　　But　to　come　before　the　true　God；　the　living　God；　the　God　that　fills　heaven　and　earth　by　his　presence；　and　that　knows　the　things　that　come　into　the　mind　of　man；　even　every　one　of　them；　I　say；　to　come　into　his　house；　to　stand　before　him；　and　thus　to　lift　up　his　head　and　eyes　in　such　hypocrisy　before　him；　this　was　abominable；　this　was　to　tempt　God；　and　to　prove　him；　yea；　to　challenge　him　to　know　what　was　in　man；　if　he　could；　even　as　those　who　said；　〃How　doth　God　（see）　know？　can　he　judge　through　the　dark　cloud？〃　　Job　xxii。　13；　Psalm　lxxiii。　11。

But　the　Publicannohe　would　not　do　this；　he　would　not　lift　up　so　much　as　his　eyes　to　heaven。　　As　who　should　say；　O　Lord；　I　have　been　against　thee　a　traitor　and　a　rebel；　and　like　a　traitor　and　a　rebel　before　thee　will　I　stand。　　I　will　bear　my　shame　before　thee　in　the　presence　of　the　holy　angels；　yea；　I　will　prevent　thy　judging　of　me　by　judging　myself　in　thy　sight；　and　will　stand　as　condemned　before　thee　before　thou　passest　sentence　upon　me。

This　is　now　for　a　sinner　to　go　to　the　end　of　things。　　For　what　is　God's　design　in　the　work　of　conviction　for　sin；　and　in　his　awakening　of　the　conscience　about　it？　　What　is　his　end；　I　say；　but　to　make　the　sinner　sensible　of　what　he　hath　done；　and　that　he　might　unfeignedly　judge　himself　for　the　same。　　Now　this　our　Publican　doth；　his　will　therefore　is　now　subjected　to　the　word　of　God；　and　he　justifies　him　in　all　his　ways　and　works　towards　him。　　Blessed　be　God　for　any　experience　of　these　things。

〃He　would　not　lift　up　so　much　as　his　eyes　to　heaven。〃　　He　knew　by　his　deeds　and　deservings　that　he　had　no　portion　there；　nor　would　he　divert　his　mind　from　the　remembering；　and　from　being　affected　with　the　evil　of　his　ways。

Some　men；　when　they　are　under　the　guilt　and　conviction　of　their　evil　life；　will　do　what　they　can　to　look　any　way；　and　that　on　purpose　to　divert　their　minds；　and　to　call　them　off　from　thinking　on　what　they　have　done；　and　by　their　thus　doing；　they　bring　many　evils　more　upon　their　souls；　for　this　is　a　kind　of　striving　with　God；　and　a　shewing　a　dislike　to　his　ways。　　Would　not　you　think；　if　when　you　are　shewing　your　son　or　your　servant　his　faults；　if　he　should　do　what　he　could　to　divert　and　take　off　his　mind　from　what　you　are　saying；　that　he　striveth　against　you；　and　sheweth　dislike　of　your　doings？　　What　else　mean　the　complaints　of　masters　and　of　fathers　in　this　matter？　　〃I　have　a　servant；　I　have　a　son；　that　doth　contrary　to　my　will。〃　　〃O　but　why　do　you　not　chide　them　for　it？〃　　The　answer　is；　〃So　I　do；　but　they　do　not　regard　my　words；　they　do　what　they　can；　even　while　I　am　speaking；　to　divert　their　minds　from　my　words　and　counsels。〃　　Why；　all　men　will　cry　out；　〃This　is　base；　this　is　worthy　of　great　rebuke；　such　a　son；　such　a　servant；　deserveth　to　be　shut　out　of　doors；　and　so　made　to　learn　better　breeding　by　want　and　hardship。〃

But　the　Publican　would　not　divert　his　mind　from　what　at　present　God　was　about　to　make　him　sensible　of；　no；　not　by　a　look　on　the　choicest　object；　he　would　n