The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-01-05

- - than the other
Certainly, our Lord was not blind
to the sins Of the publican any more
than he was to the excellencies Of the
Pharisee. The publicans were hard
lot, unjust, rapacious, cruel. A story
is told Of publican who restored
necklace to merchant from whom he
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,t 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 1t has been called "a holy
telegram"
The story of a man belonging to such
q class, feeling his own sinfulness and
praying such a 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 to God. Even
the publican seemed to feel that. 'God
be mercifup' 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 publean's cry, God be uierciful
to 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
lican for mercy, the very first time the
message of the cross has been pre-
sented to them.
Conversion of q cannibal.
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 q 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. He
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
wrought and the heart of the savage
before him was broken. When the
story was finished, the chieftain raised
a wooden knife and said, missionary,
this knife has entered the bodies of
thousand men Of whom I have eaten
at feasts. But l 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 a token that I be.
come this night follower of Jesus
Christ" Yet some have heard the
story many times, but have never
cried, "God be mereiful to me the
sinner"
We need not say that a penitent
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 as
substitute is distasteful to many in
this age, but is radiant with glory to
those who feel their need of Saviour.
They require no proof Of 1t but accept
1t with the eagerness Of O famlshed
man to whom water Is given. Spur
geon in one of his sermons, pictures
the messenger Of mercy journeying in
search of resting place. He FASTENED
by many hostelry and tarried not
till at length he came to little inn
which bore the sign Of The Broken
Heart. "Here," said mercy's mes
senger, II would fam tarry, for know
by experience I shall be welcome
here"
Justification Versus Pardon.
Finally, this parable illustrates the
blessedness of justification. Many
Christians are content to believe their
sins are pardoned, for man can con-
ceive of nothing higher than pardon
for the guilty. In human courts only
the innocent are justified. But In the
court of heaven, the ungodly are juS'.
fed and sent away as If they had never
sinned Through the cross, God Is
able to be just and yet the justifier of
the believer in Jesus. How marvel
Dust
Surely, there should be no need to
urge men to accept such a blessing
Rather Let US take our places at once
with the publican, crying, "God be
melciful ia me the sinner"