Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/508

 cause he  conceived  himself  perfect,  he  prays  for  no  favor from God,  neither  for  the  forgiveness  of  his  sins,  nor  an increase  of  grace. Under the  pretence  of  giving  thanks to God,  he  commends  himself  for his  own  good  works, and arrogantly  prefers  himself  to  others. Not content with this  he  contemns  the  publican,  whom  he  rashly judges a  sinner. Thus all  proud  men  are  blind  and  say to themselves,  "  I  am  rich  and  made  wealthy;"  but  alas! "thou knowest"  not, proud  soul,  "that  thou  art  wretched and  miserable,  and  poor,  and  blind,  and  naked." (Apoc. iii. 19.)

II. The publican,  on  the  other  hand,  expresses  the greatest degree  of  humility. He stands  at  a  distance, and does  not  deem  himself  worthy  of  appearing  in  the sight of  God,  or  even  of  the  Pharisee. He does  not  dare to lift  up  his  eyes  to  Heaven,  from  confusion  for  his  sins. He strikes  his  breast  with  a  contrite  and  humble  heart, and wishes  to  make  satisfaction  for  his  transgressions. He begs  pardon  for  his  sins  and  humbly  prays,  "  O  God be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner." Such ought  to  be  your prayers; humble,  contrite,  and  accompanied  with  a  firm purpose of  amendment.

III. Consider the  sentence,  which  Christ  pronounced on these  two  men:  "This  man  (the  publican)  went  down to  his  house  justified  rather  than  the  other." If pride destroyed all  the  good  works  of  the  Pharisee,  so  on  the other side,  did  humility,  accompanied  with  penance,  blot out the  sins  of  the  publican:  "Because  everyone,  that exalteth  himself  shall  be  humbled,  and  he  that  humbleth  himself  shall  be  exalted." (Luke xviii.  14,)  This is frequently  the  case  here,  but  it  is  always  so  in  the next life. Choose then  whether  you  would  rather  be humbled  in  this  short  and  uncertain  world,  or  in  the eternal world  to  come.