The New York herald., 1876-01-31
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.
THE PUBLICAN AND THE pHAR1sEE.


The Church Of the Disciples crowded yesterday
morning Mr. Hcpworth delivered the sermon choosing
for his text st. Luke, xviii. I4-'I tell you this man
went down to his house justified rather than tho
other" He said a sharper contrast can hardly bo
imagined than that between the two characters sug-
gcsted by this text The publican was a dishonest
s7eculator; he had bought the right to collect the
taxes o' large district, and his daily practice to
increase his income by every possible kind OF extor
tion That he was rich cannot be doubted His heart
was hard his religion could not be found he dcspised
everything that laid on his shoulders moral obliga-
ton He would never have gone into the temple at all
but for the fact that he had boon awakened in some way
by Gods spirit He was suddenly aroused to the con-
sciousness OF personal danger and frightened at the
prospect recognizing his own inquty he went for the
FIRST time in many years perhaps into tho temple
dedicated TO the Most High, and being stranger In
;h0t holy place he did dare approach the OF the
building but as as he crossed the threshold he
smote upon his breast and cried out "God have mercy
on me sinner" His attitude was one Of abjcct
humility.
The pharsee was man whose business Il was to
make professions OF holiness whether he practsed
them in his private life or not He represented theo-
logical orthodoxy and moral obquy at the time
There probably not single custom usage Of the
temple which he had not strictly praclisei He
had brought into tho temple the tenth part Of his
income IL was his custom TO stand at the corners Of
tho streets and with upturncd eyes TO Offer prayers
which addressed more TO the multitude than TO
Almighty God That man, assured Of his righteous
ness. felt that he was
ON TERMS INTIMACY
with the Almighty; that he of the aristocracy
OF heaven Jesus with that incisvc penetration which
was His chief characteristic used the sharpest kind Of
logic and said, Hypocrisy on one hand aud iniquity
that confesses itself the other do stand equally
in the sight Of God. Tho only position which man
can rghiiuiy occupy before the Almighty is tho posi-
tion OF humility. That which you have done in obc-
dience to the commands OF God your simple duty
The man who thinks himself saint is most apt
to be sinner, and he who is best assured
that he IS sinner stands the best chance IN
the kingdom OF God Let look little
more closely. In the first place, the prayer OF the
publican Is one that suits you and me. We ought, all
=. US s part OF our aay duty, 10 confess ourselves
before God. We ought TO look ourselves very
carefully and make impartial estimate OF our own
worth as an incentive TO duty When q knows
be Is poor he works hard for riches when he is con-
fused about his finances he grows careless in his
bargains. Brethren, II Is business to know what
we are where We are and what are our prospects II
there is any foundation which either Heaven or earth
give ought TO have L. ftherc is ANYTHING anv.
where that can give US just estimate OF ourselves
live as as possible TO the standard Himself has
set up IL seems to me there is nothing which acts
more constantly on man in the right direction
than tho habit of confessng himself before
God do not think il Is well to confess to each other
There confessional in the Protestant Church and
am thankful for IT | hear enough OF your sorrow
now and am compelled, not unwingly 10 enter with
a wounded heart sometimes into your Affections and
domestic troubles Life seems mo very like skein
that has been tangled and the more we strain at 1t the
more tangled II gctA Think Tor moment that all
over the lanct in every hour Of the day and night
there is going up this agonized cry for hepthnk OF
TANGLED sKrrxs or LrrE
the wide world over; think Of tho nextrcablc di1Cul
ties OF the crimes and repentance that God witnesses
sometimes think = was not not rrsyersn' n & n the % man
pity Godn There is side that excltos
even our human pity, but what blessed
though, that God IS 50 great ana ana good that he
that God never makes mistake II Is for that reason
de Is Cod But DID IL ever occur 10 YOU bow lis pos-