Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-10-28
TO OBTAIN MERCY
Consciousness OF Sin and In
worthiness Must Always Be
the First Requisite.

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IL Is important TO know how mercy
may be sought so rs 10 be found. In
the familiar words concerning the
Pharisee and the publican, we have
the way To mercy 6ivinely pointed out
The first requisite Is a sense OF per
sonal guilt--"God be merciful to me
"A sinner"
individuality and personal account
abiiity TO God must be recognized be-
fore any acceptable plea for mercy
can be presented
Every man must give an account
of himself to God" Every soul must
bear its own burden"
There must be grief on account OF
SIN The Pharisee had no conviction
OF unworthiness. and. therefore, no
sorrow for sin He did not feel any
need OF mercy. and did not pray for IT,
Yet he prayed. He prayed with him
self, not 10 God. saying: God.
thank thee, that | am not as other
men are, extortioners. unjust. adulter.
ers, or even as this publican"
lie felt himself to be rich, in
creased In goods and I'm need OF moth
ing and TO all such God says. II
VIII spue thee out OF my mouth"
How different with the publican,
He "smote his breast" indicating the
heart as the seat OF grief. on account
OF the consciousness OF sin and un
worthiness. The chief element i'm true
repentance is sense Of the ofrense
our sins arc offering to God.
There can be no repentance toward
God" until the soul feels that:
Against thee, thee only. have
sinned"
/ have sinned against heaven and
in thy sight"
True Feeling OF Grief.
The feeling OF grief Is produced in
recognizing the sinfulness OF Gin in
Gods sight, and in realizing the in.
Jury II infi!cts on ourselves and the
harmful influence II exerts upon 9th.
ers
The publican "smote his breast" in
expression OF his passionate grief over
his sin against God. his own soul and
his fellow man. He c.ied for mercy.
bowling his heart In humility and
shame before God.
He stood afar or, denoting that he
felt unworthy to draw near to the
sacred precincts OF the temple. and az
though his presence would desecratc
the holy place. His humility is fur.
ther shone IN his not lifting up so
much as his eyes unto heaven"
The Psalmist expresses this
thought in the words: MY sins have
taken hold OF mo so that am not
able TO look up"
The perception OF divine purity al
ways produces a deep sense OF hu.
mility In the sinners heart and
prompts the prayer. God. be merciful
10 me, sinner"
Mercy is the sinners only plea. He
does not pray for Justice Weighed
in the scales OF justice he must be
found wanting, and has nothing to ex.
pect but punishment.
Seeking for Mercy.
Note that the publican had convic.
ton Of personal guilt, sorrow on ac.
count OF his unworthiness and deep
humility OF heart. These are the con.
ditions for acceptable approach TO God
In prayer
Then note the object and character
Of his prayer. The object was
mercy" It's character was brief and
simple. but sincere and earnest.
1t was very short prayer. Only
seven words. but the longings OF the
soul were I'm them and they were pre-.
sented In the way OF Gods appoint
ment. He went up to the temple to
pray" He was seeking God where he
Is always TO be found by those of "a
broken and contrite heart"
Would you find mercy?
Seek II as the publican did in the
spirit OF humility and with confession
Of sin. Offering unto God the sincere
and earnest duplication OF the heart:
God be merciful To me, a sinner"
There was very happy result fol
lowing the publican's going up to the
temple 10 pray.
He went down to his house JUST.
ned" Not 90 with the proud Phari
see. lie went away abashed
For every one that exalteth himself
shall be abased and he that humbleth
himself shall be exalted"
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From a Veteran Pastors Prayers.