The Cairo bulletin., 1907-11-25
"PHARisgE AND PUBLICAN"
Conduct OF the TWO Types contrSs.ed
and Brought Home to the
Christians Of Today.

part
The parable Of the "Pharisee aad
tnc Publican is a lesson to us, in
which Christ with a masterhand por'
trays two characters, one of which
warns against an arrogant assump'
ton OF selfrighteOUsness, the other
POINTS out the benefits derived from
a humble. sincere confession OF sins.
In imagination. within the temple, be-
fore rs behold the two men; God,
thank thee am not as Other men
are, extortioners unjust adulteters'
or even as this publican fast twice
10 the week | give tithes Of all that
Il possess The other. standing a'ar
ION. not even self-ccnfdent enough ID
This lsrayer to raise his eyes towards
heaven saving as lie smote on is
breast. God be merciful to me 81 \
neF. There they are-the lesson
from words and conduct fer all timo.
The record ~ made, not Cd ~
changed. Christ concludes the RAJ
ohle with these words, II tell you this
man (the publicanl Went down to 5
house justified rather than the other
for every one that eXalteth himSe {
shall not be abased; and he that
humbleth himself shall not be ex-
alted. Let us note the conversion
and take to ourselves some ct the les
sous derived from the parable
! Ii may not be amss to view the
Fharisee for awhile
One Of the greatest hindrances to
conversion self.rigateousness is IL
! Ii strated in the life of the Pharisee.
Il is magnifying OF ones supposed
Virtues, minimizing of his faul $
Not as other men are" If the
Imayer made by him is analyzed. we
find the major elements 81 true
lprayer wanting In II there Is no
confession There is no petition no
asking for blessings, no thanks for
/ forgiveness Of sin. Let IFS read this
parable carefully for it Is one Of the
places in Gods word where the dis
lease Of self-righteousness is infinitely
described The two roots OF this sin
iarp 10 A shallow view Of God and
bis law. t2,1 A superficial under
standing of self and sin.
| The Pharisee did no understand the
| Divine nature, therefore. he could not
correctly interpret the law; aattering
I himself that he has kept the law"
because he is guilty OF the grosser
sins. he emphasizes the letter" not
the spirit of the law" Two positive
virtues are enumerated He boasts
Of these making them acts of super
lerogation doing even more than the
law demanded Not understanding
the spirit Of the law he could not
really know the nature of sin He
had not heard the Sermon on the
| Mount" he could not have told you
THAT lust is sin. Christ could reach
and gather in pubIicans ttaX cellect-
orsl and sinners. but he converted
few Pharisees. He once said to
them: THE publicans and barIo4s
go into the kingdom Of God before
yen"
4 Selfrighteousness is sthe great OBJ
Ftaole, to the progress pf The. e Church
Relay The h9liness Of eJehoyah and
th6 selhousness OF sin are not dwelt
on enough BY /, preachers nor cen
tempIated by the pew. The remedy
for this is the Word of God suffi-
cieTh medicine: the sword of the
Spirit" cutting into and LAYING bare
abe desperate deceitfuness of the
hrman heart. Through the Word. the
Holy Spirit convinces the world ''of
Sin. of righteousness and of judg-
,ment
The publican was pertinent. Notice
ghis in his, actions He STOOD affair
tod." Did not feel himself good
Enough to come into close contact
with the Holy Place. Quite unlike
he Pharisee who-doubtless--go as
1ffose TO the Holy Place as possible
BE did not lift mp his ewes unto
;1payen He was ashamed of his sins
fxhamed in Gods sight not ashamed
frwever. before the world to confess
tYr<e sins II was good sy'npt1m
os+fli'e peuitence II Ne saT t'at a
hiHe no sin the firth is nrt IN rs
bunfi Se confess orr Sins be l. faith
fueknd Just To forgive MS our s'ns. re-
1ltfe uron lis breast az Il ~ say
"Hefe.-w within the heart Is the g7ro
Blaces here = whore ! need m~di
cine. = Lastly in his appr aeh to
God. Nc saws. Re mercifrl :" "a" a
sinners sAs II wore Nc singled hiri-
self OFT Nas the dhief 81 sinners. He
vas humble punitent asked fer
mercy-he got It. be won't hack to his
house iustihed-;Istigod throug'
faith.
God alone has the gift ~ merry I'm
the sense - .evtcnding par,loping
grace To thc rrHtrif~ sinner. SELF
rightcorsBoSs IS u~-~- modrsf in it,
reeuests. It demands wars. wants
Justice a
I'm the davs r. .rna'f..', 'he Greet 1
a timid little ~ffi cnr@ agoze~l h-r
vav through 80 s~ur.'e--'.e~A sf~rd
before hin. Lcntfqr drvn iaio IL
pleading face fi'o- o-'--F-s - sail
VOL child. what rs go ~--r-.h'iarls {
she told him that sT- c77nc ir n
Ca tha fifa rr ro- rafra- u-ho wee