The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-02-21

our Lord declares
49, this man went
~ down to his house
"a justified rather
-------=---- than the other.
Certainly. our Lord was not blind
10 the sins of the publican any more
than he was to the excellencies OF the
Pharisec. The puhlicans were hard
lot. unjust. rapacious. cruel. A story
Is told OF a publican who restored
necklace to 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
any other prayer. II is SO direct, so
brief, that II has been called "a holy
telegram"
The story OF mhn belonging TO such
"A class, feeling lis own slnfulness and
praying such a prayer, will always be
Of interest 20 saints and sinners.
How II illustrates the beauty of pen
itencei True. 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 sinners part Is Illustrated
IN the publican's cry, God be mercifui
10 me the sinner" The very fact that
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
llcan for mercy the very first time the
message Of the cross has been pre-
scented 10 them.
Conversion Of q CannibaI.
The son of John G. Patton, the ia
nous missionary TO the New Hebrides.
tells story which illustrates this
point. lie came unexpectedly one
night upon n group OF cannibals. His
fellow missionaries advised that he 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. lie
took his place before the cannibal
chief and told OF the coming OF Gods
son 10 the world of his life and his
/ death. As he spoke. the Spirit OF God
wrought and the heart Of the savage
before him was broken. When the
story was finished. the chleftain raised
wooden knife and said. missionary,
this knife has entered the bodies OF
thousand men OF whom 1 have eaten
M fensts. But | never heard before
of the love OF God which sent his son
10 die for us. II has broken my heart
Take this knife as a token that l be
come this night a follower or 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 a peniteni
heart is ready TO accept a Saviour
As already pointed out. the publican
prayer, "God be propitiated to me-
(See X. W The doctrine of Christ as
n substitute is distasteful to many IN
this age, but is radiant with glory tC
those who feel their need OF a Saviour
They require no proof OF II but accept
Il with the eagerness Of a famishec
man TO whom water Is given. Spur
geon in one of his sermons, pictures
the messenger of mercy journeying II
search of resting place. He hastenet
by RAINY a hosiery and tarried moi
till at length he came to little inr
which bore the sign OF The Broker
Heart. "Here," said mercy's mes
senger, II would fain tarry. for know
by experience l shall be welcome
here"
Justification Versus Pardon
Finally, this parable illustrates tn
blessedness of Justification. Man!
Christians are content TO believe thei
sins are pardoned, for man can con
ceive Of nothing higher than pardon
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 II they had neve
slnnedi Through the cross, God u
able TO be Just and yet the justifer o
the believer In Jesus. How marvel
Gus
Surely. there should be no need 4
urge men to accept such blessing
Rather let us take our places at ono
with the publican. crying. God b
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