the pharisee and the publican-第27章

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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　not　lift　up　so　much　as　his　eyes　to　heaven。　　They　are　but　bad　scholars　whose　eyes；　when　their　master　is　teaching　of　them；　are　wandering　off　their　books。

God　saith　unto　men；　when　he　is　teaching　them　to　know　the　evil　of　their　ways；　as　the　angel　said　to　the　prophet　when　he　came　to　shew　him　the　pattern　of　the　temple；　〃Son　of　man；〃　says　he；　〃behold　with　thine　eyes；　and　hear　with　thine　ears；　and　set　thine　heart　upon　all　that　I　shall　shew　thee；　for　to　the　intent　that　I　might　shew　them　unto　thee　art　thou　brought　hither；〃　Ezek。　xl。　4。　　So　to　the　intent　that　God　might　shew　to　the　Publican　the　evil　of　his　ways；　therefore　was　he　brought　under　the　power　of　convictions；　and　the　terrors　of　the　law；　and　he　also；　like　a　good　learner；　gave　good　heed　unto　that　lesson　that　now　he　was　learning　of　God；　for　he　would　not　lift　up　so　much　as　his　eyes　to　heaven。

Looking　downwards　doth　ofttimes　bespeak　men　very　ponderous　and　deep　in　their　cogitations；　also　that　the　matter　about　which　in　their　minds　they　are　now　concerned　hath　taken　great　hold　of　their　spirits。　　The　Publican　hath　now　new　things；　great　things；　and　long…lived　things；　to　concern　himself　about：　　his　sins；　the　curse；　with　death；　and　hell；　began　now　to　stare　him　in　the　face：　　wherefore　it　was　no　time　now　to　let　his　heart；　or　his　eyes；　or　his　cogitations；　wander；　but　to　be　fixed；　and　to　be　vehemently　applying　of　himself　（as　a　sinner）　to　the　God　of　heaven　for　mercy。

Few　know　the　weight　of　sin。　　When　the　guilt　thereof　takes　hold　of　the　conscience；　it　commands　homewards　all　the　faculties　of　the　soul。　　No　man　can　go　out　or　off　now：　　now　he　is　wind…bound；　or；　as　Paul　says；　〃caught：〃　now　he　is　made　to　possess　bitter　days；　bitter　nights；　bitter　hours；　bitter　thoughts；　nor　can　he　shift　them；　for　his　sin　is　ever　before　him。　　As　David　said；　〃For　I　acknowledge　my　transgressions：　　and　my　sin　is　ever　before　me；〃in　my　eye；　and　sticketh　fast　in　every　one　of　my　thoughts；　Psalm　li。　3。

〃He　would　not　lift　up　so　much　as　his　eyes　to　heaven；　but　smote　upon　his　breast。〃　　This　was　the　third　and　last　of　his　gestures；　he　〃Smote　upon　his　breast；〃　to　wit；　with　his　hand；　or　with　his　fist。　　I　read　of　several　gestures　with　the　hand　and　foot；　according　to　the　working　and　passions　of　the　mind。　　It　is　said；　〃Balak　smote　his　hands　together；〃　being　angry　because　that　Balaam　had　blessed　and　not　cursed　for　him　the　children　of　Israel。

God　says　also；　that　he　had　smitten　his　hands　together　at　the　sins　of　the　children　of　Israel。　　God　also　bids　the　prophet　stamp　with　his　feet；　and　smite　with　his　hand　upon　his　thigh　（Num。　xxiv。　10；　Ezek。　xxii。　13；　vi。　11；　xxi。　12）；　upon　sundry　occasions；　and　at　several　enormities；　but　the　Publican　here　is　said　to　smite　upon　his　breast。　And；

1。　　Smiting　upon　the　breast　betokeneth　sorrow　for　something　done。　This　is　an　experiment　common　among　men；　and　indeed；　therefore　（as　I　take　it）；　doth　our　Lord　Jesus　put　him　under　this　gesture　in　the　act　and　exercise　of　his　repentance；　because　it　is　that　which　doth　most　lively　set　it　forth。

Suppose　a　man　comes　to　great　damage　for　some　folly　that　he　has　wrought；　and　he　be　made　sorrowful　for　（being　and）　doing　such　folly；　there　is　nothing　more　common　than　for　such　a　man　（if　he　may）　to　walk　to　and　fro　in　the　room　where　he　is；　with　head　hung　down；　fetching　ever　and　anon　a　bitter　sigh；　and　smiting　himself　upon　the　breast　in　his　dejected　condition：　　〃But　smote　upon　his　breast；　saying；　God　be　merciful　to　me　a　sinner。〃

2。　　Smiting　upon　the　breast　is　sometimes　a　token　of　indignation　and　abhorrence　of　something　thought　upon。　　I　read　in　Luke；　that　when　Christ　was　crucified；　those　spectators　that　stood　to　behold　the　barbarous　usage　that　he　endured　at　the　hands　of　his　enemies；　smote　their　breasts　and　returned。　　〃And　all　the　people　（says　Luke）　that　came　together　to　that　sight；　beholding　the　things　which　were　done；　smote　their　breasts　and　returned；〃　Luke　xxiii。　48。　　Smote　their　breasts；　that　is；　in　token　of　indignation　against；　and　abhorrence　of；　the　cruelty　that　was　used　to　the　Son　of　God。

Here　also　we　have　our　Publican　smiting　upon　his　breast　in　token　of　indignation　against；　and　abhorrence　of；　his　former　life；　and　indeed；　without　indignation　against；　and　abhorrence　of；　his　former　life；　his　repentance　had　not　been　good。　　Wherefore　the　apostle　doth　make　indignation　against　sin；　and　against　ourselves；　one　of　the　signs　of　true　repentance；　2　Cor。　vii。　11；　and　his　indignation　against　sin　in　general；　and　against　his　former　life　in　particular；　was　manifested　by　his　smiting　upon　the　breast；　even　as　Ephraim's　smiting　upon　the　thigh　was　a　sign　and　token　of　his：　　〃Surely　（says　he）；　after　that　I　was　turned；　I　repented：　　and　after　that　I　was　instructed；　I　smote　upon　my　thigh：　　I　was　ashamed；　yea；　even　confounded；　because　I　did　bear　the　reproach　of　my　youth；〃　Jer。　xxxi。　19。　　Man；　when　he　vehemently　dislikes　a　thing；　is　very　apt　to　shew　a　dislike　to　that　thing　by　this　or　another　outward　gesture；　as　in　snuffing　or　snorting　at　it；　or　in　deriding；　or；　as　some　say；　in　blowing　of　their　noses　at　it；　Ezek。　viii。　17；　Mal。　i。　13。　　But　the　Publican　here　chooseth　rather　to　use　this　most　solemn　posture；　for　smiting　upon　the　breast　seems　to　imply　a　more　serious；　solemn；　grave　way　or　manner　of　dislike；　than　any　of　those　last　mentioned　do。

3。　　Smiting　upon　the　breast　seems　to　intimate　a　quarrel　with　the　heart；　for　beguiling；　deluding；　flattering；　seducing；　and　enticing　of　him　to　sin；　for　as　conviction　for　sin　begets　in　man　（I　mean　if　it　be　thorough）　a　sense　of　the　sore　and　plague　of　the　heart；　so　repentance　（if　it　be　right）　begets　in　man　an　outcry　against　the　heart；　forasmuch　as　by　that　light；　by　which　repentance　takes　occasion；　the　sinner　is　made　to　see　that　the　heart　is　the　fountain　and　well…spring　of　sin。　〃For　from　within；　out　of　the　heart　of　men；　proceed　evil　thoughts；　adulteries；　covetousness；〃　&c。；　Mark　vii。　21…23。　　And　hence　it　is　that　commonly　young　converts　do　complain　so　of　their　hearts；　calling　them　wicked；　treacherous；　deceitful；　desperate　ones。

Indeed；　one　difference　between　true　and　false　repentance　lieth　in　this。　　The　man　that　truly　repents　crieth　out　of　his　heart；　but　the　other；　as　Eve；　upon　the　serpent；　or　something　else。　　And　that　the　Publican　perceived　his　heart　to　be　naught；　I　conclude；　by　his　smiting　upon　his　breast。

4。　　Smiting　upon　the　breast　seems　to　intimate　one　apprehensive　of　some　new；　sudden；　strange；　and　amazing　thing；　as　when　a　man　sees　some　strange　sight　in　the　air；　or　heareth　some　sudden　or　dismal　sound　in　the　clouds；　why；　as　he　is　struck　into　a　deep　damp　in　his　mind；　so　it　is　a　wonder　if　he　can　keep　or　hold　back　from　smiting　upon　his　breast。

Now；　oftentimes　a　sight　of　God　and　sense　of　sin　comes　to　the　sinner　like　a　flash　of　lightning　（not　for　short　continuance；　but）　for　suddeness；　and　so　for　surprisal；　so　that　the　sinner　is　struck；　taken　and　captivated　to　his　own　amazement；　with　what　so　unexpectedly　is　come　upon　him。　　It　is　said　of　Paul　at　his　conversion；　that　when　conviction　of　his　bad　life　took　fast　hold　of　his　conscience；　he　trembled；　and　was　astonished　（Acts　ix。　6）；　and　although　we　read　not　of　any　particular　circumstance　of　his　behaviour　under　his　conviction　outwardly；　yet　it　is　almost　impossible　but　he　must　have　had　some；　and　those　of　the　most　solid　sort。　　For　there　is　such　a　sympathy　betwixt　the　soul　and　the　body；　that　the　one　cannot　be　in　distress　or　comfort；　but　the　other　must　partake　of　and　also　signify　the　same。　　If　it　be　comfort；　then　it　is　shewn　by　leaping；　skipping；　cheerfulness　of　the　countenance；　or　some　other　outward　gesture。　　If　it　be　sorrow　or　heaviness　of　spirit；　then　that　is　shewed　by　the　body；　in　weeping；　sighing；　groaning；　shaking　of　the　head；　a　louring　countenance；　stamping；　smiting　upon　the　thigh　or　breast；　as　here　the　Publican　did。

We　must　not；　therefore；　look　upon　these　outward　actions　or　gestures　of　the　Publican　to　be　empty；　insignificant　things；　but　to　be　such；　that　in　truth　did　express　and　shew　the　temper；　frame；　and　complexion　of　his　soul。　　For　Christ；　the　wisdom　of　God；　hath　mentioned　them　to　that　very　end；　that　in　and　by　them　might　be　held　forth；　and　that　men　might　see　as　in　a　glass；　the　very　emblem　of　a　converted　and　truly　penitent　sinner。　　He　〃smote　upon　his　breast。〃

5。　　Smiting　upon　the　breast　is　sometimes　to　signify　a　mixture　of　distrust；　joined　with　hope。　　And；　indeed；　in　young　converts；　hope　and　distrust；　or　a　degree　of　despair；　do　work　and　answer　one　another；　as　doth　the　noise　of　the　balance　of　the　watch　in　the　pocket。　　Life　and　death　is　always　the　motion　of　the　mind　then；　and　this　noise　continues　until　faith　is　stronger　grown；　and　until　the　soul　is　better　acquainted　with　the　methods　and　ways　of　God　with　a　sinner。　　Yea；　were　but　a　carnal　man　in　a　convert's　heart；　and　could　see；　he　could　discern　these　two；　to　wit；　hope　and　fear；　to　have　continual　motion　in　the　soul；　wrestling　and　opposing　one　another；　as　doth　light　and　darkness　in　striving　for　the　victory。

And　hence　it　is　that　you　find　such　people　so　fickle　and　uncertain　in　their　spirits；　now　on　the　mount；　then　in　the　valleys；　now　in　the　sunshine；　then　in　the　shade：　　now　warm；　then　frozen；　now　bonny　and　blithe；　then　in　a　moment　pensive　and　sad；　as　thinking　of　a　portion　nowhere　but　in　hell。　　This　will　cause　smiting　on　the　breast；　nor　can　I　imagine　that　the　Publican　was　as　yet　farther　than　thus　far　in　the　Christian's　progress。

6。　　Smiting　upon　the　breast　seems　to　intimate；　that　the　party　so　doing　is　very　apprehensive　of　some　great　loss　that　he　has　sustained；　either　by　negligence；　carelessness；　foolishness；　or　the　like。　　And　this　is　the　way　in　which　men　do　lose　their　souls。　　Now；　to　lose　a　thing；　a　great　thing；　the　only　choice　thing　that　a　man　has；　negligently；　carelessly；　foolishly；　or　the　like；　why；　it　puts　aggravations　into　the　thoughts　of　the　loss　that　the　man　has　sustained；　and　aggravations　into　the　thoughts　of　them　go　out　of　the　soul；　and　come　in　upon　a　sudden；　even　as　the　bailiff　or　the　king's　serjeant…at…arms；　and　at　every　appearance　of　them；　makes　the　soul　start；　and　starting；　it　smites　upon　the　breast。

I　might　multiply　particulars；　but　to　be　brief；　we　have　before　us　a　sensible　soul；　a　sorrowful　soul；　a　penitent　soul；　one　that　prays　indeed；　that　prays　sensibly；　affectionately；　effectually；　one　that　sees　his　loss；　that　fears　and　trembles　before　God　in　consideration　of　it；　and　one　that　knows　no　way　but　the　right　way；　to　secure　himself　from　perishing；　to　wit；　by　having　humble　and　hearty　recourse　to　the　God　of　heaven　for　mercy。

I　should　now　come　to　speak　something　by　way　of　use　and　application：　but　before　I　do　that；　I　will　briefly　draw　up；　and　present　you　with　a　few　conclusions　that　in　my　judgment　do　naturally　flow　from　the　text；　therefore　in　this　place　I　will　read　over　the　text　again。

〃Two　men　went　up　into　the　temple　to　pray；　the　one　a　Pharisee；　the　other　a　Publican。　　The　Pharisee　stood　and　prayed　thus　with　himself；　God；　I　thank　thee；　that　I　am　not　as　other　men　are；　extortioners；　unjust；　adulterers；　or　even　as　this　Publican。　　I　fast　twice　in　the　week；　I　give　tithes　of　all　that　I　possess。　　And　the　Publican　standing　afar　off　would　not　lift　up　so　much　as　his　eyes　unto　heaven；　but　smote　upon　his　breast；　s