The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-12-20


a justified rat her
----- than the other.
Certainly. our Lord was not blind
to the Sins OF the publican any more
than he was to the eXccllencles Of the
Pharisee. The publcans were hard
lot, unjust, rapacious cruel. A story
Is told OF publican who restored u
necklace 10 merchant from whom he
had taken II 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 that,
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 II has been called "n holy
telegram"
The story of man belonging to such
n class, feeling his own slnfuness and
praying such n prayer, will always be
OF interest TO saints and sinners.
How It illustrates the beauty of pen
itencel True, mans repentance
does not commend him ia God. Even
the publican seemed to feal that. God
be merclful" means, literally. God be
propitlated.' 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 sinners part Is illustrated
In the publlcan's cry. God be merclful
to me the sinner" The very fact that
some who have heard the Gospel many
times are still unmoyed should lead
them TO feel deeply. Heather people.
have been moved TO cry with the pub
llcan for mercy, the very first time the
message of the cross has been pre-.
sented to them.
Conversion Of a cannibal.
The son of John G. Patton. the IN.
nous missionary to the New Ilebrdes,
tells story which illustrates this
point. lie came Unexpectedly one
night upon group Of cannlbals. His
fellow missionaries advised that he re-
tire, for their lives were In imminent
danger. But MIR. Patton argued that
the missionary should tell the story
of the cross, danger or no danger. lie
took his place before the cannibal
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
'rought and the heart Of the savage
before him was broken. When the
story was finished, the chleftain raised
u wooden knife and said, missionary
this knife has entered the bodies of n
thousand men of whom | have eaten
at feasts. But | never heard before
of the love of God which sent his son
to die for us. 1t has broken my heart.
Take this knife as token that be.
come this night follower OF Jesus
Christ" Yet some have heard the
story many times, but have never
cried, God be merciful to me tho
sinner"
We need not say that pentent
heart is ready TO accept Saviour.
As already pointed out, the publican
prayer, God be proptlated To me-"
(See Il. W The doctrine of Christ us
a substitute is distasteful to many In
this age. but is radiant with glory to
those who feel their need of Il Saviour.
They require no proof of IL but accept
Il with the eagerness of furnished
man to whom water Is given. Spur.
geon In one of his sermons. pictures
he messenger of mercy journeying In
search of u resting place. lie haStened
by many a hostelry and tarried not
fill at length he came to little inn
which bore the sign of The Broken
Heart. Here" said mercy's mes.
'enLer, 81 would fain tarry, for know
by experience shall be welcome
lere."
Justification Versus Pardon.
Finally, this parable Illustrates the
of justification. Many
Christians are content to believe their
'lns are pardoned, for man can con.
'ei,e Of nothing higher than pardon
or the guilty. In human courts only
he innocent are justified. But In the
,ourt of heaven, the ungodly are justl
led and sent away us If they had never
'innedl Through the cross, God is
lble to be just and yet the justiier OF
he believer In Jesus. How marvel
,us
Surely, there should be no need to
lrge men to accept such blessing
Rather let us take our places at once
With the publican, crying. "God be
ncrcifnl 10 me the slnnnrn