X.

off, would not lift up fo much as SERM.
his Eyes unto
eaven: But mote
upon his Breast, faying,—“ GOD
"be merciful to me a Sinner.”

T

HIS Parable was spoken by our Saviour for the Inftruction of a certain fort of Perfons, who trufted in themselves that they were righteous, and defpifed others; as the preface to it informs us, ver. 9. The Defign of it was to fhew, that every one that exalteth himself shall be abased, and be that humbleth himself fhall be exalted; as we learn from our Saviour's own Application of it, ver.

14.

Two Perfons of very different Characters, a Pharifee and a Publican, addreffed themfelves to the Duty of Prayer, at the fame time, and place, viz. the Temple. We are told in what manner each of them prayed, and the different Succefs they met with. The Parable itself is so plain, that, I think, nothing can be faid to make it more fo.

What I propose, is to make fome general Obfervations on the different manner in

which

X.

SERM. which these two perfons prayed, and then improve this inftructive paffage of Scripture with some practical Remarks.

I. I shall make some general Observations on the different manner in which these two

Perfons prayed. And,

rifee.

1. Let us confider the Prayer of the PhaWhich was this" GOD, I thank as other Men are,

"thee, that I am not

Extortioners, Unjuft, Adulterers, or even as "this Publican; I faft twice in the Week, 1 give Tithes of all that I poffefs.”

This Prayer, you fee, (if we may call it fo) is exactly in the Character of those Perfons for whofe Admonition this Parable was intended; that is, the Pharifees, who trufted in themselves that they were righteous, and deSpifed others. And that this Pharisee did so, appears from his very Prayer. I fast twice "a Week, I give Tithes of all I poffefs;" there is his Self-righteousness, and his Boast of it. And, "I thank GOD that I am not as other "Men, nor as this Publican," fhews how much he defpifed others.

But to confider this Prayer of the Pharisee more particularly,

1. There

1. There is much Self-confidence in it.. He flood and prayed thus with himself. Or, as fome render it, he stood by himself, (at a distance from the profane Publican, in some confpicuous Place, where he might be seen by others) and prayed thus. "GOD, I thank

"thee, that I am not as other Men are."
What a bold affuming Air is this, with
which to come into the prefence of the great
GOD! And after this general Self-applause,
he descends to particulars; that he was no
Extortioner, no Adulterer, &c. Nay, his
Righteousness was not negative only, but
pofitive. And he mentions fome particu-
lars alfo of that fort. I fast twice in the
Week; as the Pharifees were wont to do,
viz. on Monday and Thurfday. I give Tithes
of all that I poffefs. Indeed he thanks GOD,
for this; but it is in fuch a manner as
plainly fhews, he thought the Thanks due to
himself; and is a Language and Temper
very different from that of the Apostle Paul,
when he faid, by the Grace of GoD I am what
1 am.
His words exprefs no real thank-
fulness of Heart for the Grace of GoD that
had made the difference between him and
others; but have evidently the Air of an

arro

SERM.

X.

X.

SERM. arrogant and oftentatious Hypocrite. I am not fo bad as others, I thank GOD. When at the fame time, it is plain that all he meant was Self-applause.

2. There appears a good deal of fecret Pride in this Addrefs.

He was fully perfuaded that he was more holy than other Men, and

mighty fond of himself.

upon that grows

The particular

and dwells

As if all his

Detail of his good Works fhews the vanity
of his Heart. He boafts of this,
with pleasure on the Subject.
Business at the Temple was, to tell Al-
mighty GoD how good he was; like
those Hypocrites mentioned, Ifai. Iviii. 3.
Wherefore have we fafted, fay they, and thou
feeft not. Here is not the leaft Expreffion
of any fenfe he had either of his wants or
his Sins. His Pride had made him blind
to both.

3. He not only discovers much' Pride but great Ignorance.

For fuppofing all the many good things he here fays of himself were true, it amounts to no more than this, That he was no profligate, or openly profane Sinner, but that he conformed to fome of

the

the external Modes of Religion. Which SERM. he might do, and yet be a bad Man; X. by indulging Iniquity in his Heart; as Malice, Envy, Pride, Covetoufnefs, Hatred, Ambition, Hypocrify, and Worldlinefs. And however fond he was of the Forms, he might still be a stranger to the Power, of Godliness. For it is great Ignorance to think, that Religion confifts only in doing no Body any harm, and obferving a few external Rites; in which this Pharifee placed all his Religion.

4.

Prayer.

There is much Hypocrify in this

Hypocrify confifts in a person's affecting to appear more religious than he really is. And it is always a fhrewd Sign of it, when there is an over-eager Zeal for the Formalities and Circumstantials of Religion; which this Prayer of the Pharifee fhews to be exactly his Character.

5. It fhews him to be at the same time very uncharitable and cenforious.

There was but one Man in the World that he seemed to have a good Opinion of, and that was himself. I thank GoD, that I am not as other men are. He speaks indefi

nitely