The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1917-12-28

Certainly, our Lord was not Dina
to the sins of the publican any more
than he was to the excellencies Of the
Pharisee. The publicans were naro
lot, unjust, rapacious, cruel. story,
is told of publican who restored
necklace to merchant from whom ne
had taken it by fraud. A Rabbi, COM
menting on the incident, said we
might now expect wolves to drop from
their mouths the lambs taken from the
flock; yet, the man in the parable
took such an attitude toward God tnat
spite of his sin, he was justified.
The prayer he prayed has probably
crossed more lips Of dying men than
any other prayer. 1t Is so direct, SO
brief, that it has been called n molly
telegram"
The story of man belonging to such
a class, feeling his own sinfulness ana
praying such a prayer, will always be
of interest to saints and sinners.
How it illustrates the beauty Of PEN
| itence! True, q mans repentance
does not commend him to God. Even
the publican seemed to feel that. GOD
be merciful" means, literally, "God be
propitiated." The publican felt he
needed sacrifice of blood even though
his heart was broken and his eyes
tear stained. This is always the case.
Again, the appropriateness OF deep
feeling on q sinners part Is illustrated
In the publican's cry, "God be mercifui
to me the sinner" The very fact thaS
some who have heard the Gospel many
times are still unmoved should lead
them to feel deeply. Heather people,
have been moved to cry with the pub
Hcan for mercy, the very first time the
message Of the cross has been pre-
sented to them.
Conversion Of a CannibaI.
The son of John G. Patton, the ia.
nous missionary to the New Hebrides,
tells a story which illustrates this
point. He came Unexpectedly one
night upon a group Of cannibals. His
fellow missionaries advised that ne re-
tire, for their lives were In imminent
danger. But Mr.. Patton argued that
the missionary should tell the story
of the cross, danger or no danger. He
took his place before the canniDal
chief and told of the coming OF Gods
son TO the world, Of his life and his
death. As he spoke, the Spirit Of God
-rrought and the heart OF the savage
before him was broken. When the
story was finished, the chieftain raised
q wooden knife and said, Missionary
this knife has entered the bodies OF
thousand men of whom I have eaten
at feasts. But I never heard before
of the love of God which sent his SOC
to die for us. 1t has broken my heart
Take this knife as token that De
come this night follower OF Jesus
Christ" Yet some have heard the
story many times, but have never
cried. "God be merciful to me the
sinner"
We need not say that peniten
heart is ready to accept Saviour
AS already pointed out. the publican
PRAYER, "God be propitiated to me-
(See R, w The doctrine OF Christ a!
n substitute is distasteful to many II
this age, but is radiant with glory Il
those who feel their need of Saviour
They require no proof Of it but accep
II with the eagerness Of famishet
man to whom water Is given. Spur
eeon in one of his sermons, pictures
the messenger of mercy journeying IL
search of a resting place. He hastenet
by many hostelry and tarrted no
till at length he came to little inl
which bore the sign Of The Broker
Heart. Here" said mercy's mes
seneer. 81 would fain tarry, for know
by experience shall be welcom'
here"
Justification Versus Pardon.
Finally, this parable illustrates tn
blegsedness of justification. Man,
Christians are content to believe thei
sins are pardoned, for man can con
ceiye of nothing higher than pardol
for the guilty. In human courts oni
the innocent are justified. But In tn
court of heaven, the ungodly are just
fed and sent away as If they had neve
sinned! Through the cross, God l
able to be just and yet the justifer
the believer in Jesus. How marvel
ousl
Surely, there should be no need t
urge men to accept such blessing
Rather let us take our places at ono
| S,xh +bo pubIican CRYING "GOd b