Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-03-10
The Sinners Friend.
L,,rrr aR-hn.

Central Truth Christ can save sin.
ners.
II we turn back to Matt, II chap, we
shall find there his account OF the ties
timony of Jesus about john almost in
the same words in which it is recorded
by st. Luke. Then follow these meLho.
rable and beautiful words of Jesus,
words which will never die: Come
unto me all ye that labor and are heavy.
laden, and | will give you rest. Take
my yoke upon you and learn OF me, for
am meek and lowly in heart, and ye
shall find rest unto your souls for my
yoke is easy and my burden is light -
Matt. III :2S-3O.) 1t has been supposed
that these words were heard by the
woman mentioned III this lesson, and
that they touched her heart and were
the means of bringing her to Jesus.
Certainly they Ave had this effect in
very many cases since her day, and they
will be heard 10y many sorrowiul souls
in ages yet to come, and will induce
them with all their burdens to come TO
the meek and lowly Jesus for rest.
Who this woman was Is not certainly
known. Some think that she was Mary
Magdale.e, but this is highly improoa
bly,, as also that she was Mary, the sister
of Lazarus. The brief bat significant
description of her is, that she was "a
woman in the city which was "A sinner
She was of class which may be found
in every city, aud is described in the
Book of Proverbs as one OF those (which
forsaketh the guide OF her youth and
forgetteth the covenant of her Gos. 4"
hn lt,f
who felt deeply her shame and sorrow,
snd longed to find comfort and forgive.
ness. She came into the house OF 81
mon. "a respectable Pharisee, - who had
invited Jesus to dinner, and whose
house, according to the customs of the
East, was open to others who thought
proper to enter and view the festivities
of tue occasion. She, too, had heard OF
Jesus, and perhaps was in her heart a
believer in his divine commission. At
any rate, a sense of need drew her 10
Christ, and so, with a true courage, she
put away her sense of unworthiness and
shame, and resolved that she would
seek his presence and his help.
She brought costly offering also, an
alabaster box OF precious ointment, and
with flowing tears which fell upon his
feet as she stood behind him, sprinkled
his feet and wiped them with her rich
tresses, pressing her lips 10 them with
humble gratitude, and pouring upon
them the fragrant and precious ONT.
ment. The whole proceeding was n
most simple and eloquent expression OF
her faith, repentance and love, and was
altogether acceptable TO the pure and
loving Jesus. He knew what was in the
woman's heart, and graciously accepted
her sincere faith and loving devotion,
and rewarded her with his forgiylng
love.
Simon looked on with a cold and
critical eye, and inwardly made his own
censorious comments. To these Jesus
replied by the story of the two debtors
and their conduct, when they were bot h
freely forgiven by their common credi.
tor. With rare wisdom and dscrimina.
tion he obliges Simon to acknowledge
that the woman's demonstrations were
only the natural and proper expression
OF her grateful sense of the Lords mer.
cy in forgiving her great sin, and that
they who have the deepest sense oi
their own unworthiness will naturally
express the highest sense of obligation
to Christ.
He contrasts the behavior of the wo.
man with his hosts forgetfulness to
show his guest the ordinary tokens OF
Eastern hospitality. He shows Simon
that the despised woman exceeded him
in loving appreciation of her indebt.
edness to Christ, which proved that she
keenly felt her great obligations to him
while Simon is taught that he himself
had little idea of his own need Of Jesus,
and thus little sense of gratitude and
little real love to him for his forgiving
mercy. 1t was a most wise and peril
nent lesson.
joyful woman, the Lord assured her that
her humble faith was accepted, and
dismissed her with a gracious benedic
tion, "Thy faith hath saved thee go in
peace y
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
/. Phariseeism says to the sinner
"Stand by, for am holier than thou"
Infinite purity and love SAYS "Come
unto me all ye that labor and are heavy.
laden, and | will give you rest"
2. Many men are willing to invite the
Lord to dinner, but are not willing to
give him their hearts. There is a way
of patronizing Christianity, which is a
very different thing from embracing it.
Simons civility to Christ cost him
nothing, and ,cas north just what 4 cost.
3. A truly penitent and loving heart
thinks that it cannot do too much for
Jesus.
If it has an alabaster box of precious
ointment, it will joyfully break it, and
pour its fragrant contents upon the Saw
iour's feet.
Yet far more precious Is the gift OF 9
sinners broken heart
4. Many men pride themselves on
being always ready to pay their debts
who never remember their largest Cred
itor.
We owe man two hundred pence
our debt to God Is more than ten thou
sand talents
~ III ell ~