按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ss and mercy。 For verily； all these postures signify sense； sight of a lost condition； and a heart in good earnest for mercy。
I know that they may be counterfeited； and Christ Jesus knows who doth so too； but that will not hinder； or make weak or invalid what hath already been spoken about it。 But to forbear to make a further prologue； and to come to the handling of particulars：
〃And the Publican standing afar off； would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven； but smote upon his breast；〃 &c。
Three things； as I told you already； we may perceive in these words； by which his publican posture or gestures are set forth。
1。 He stands 〃afar off。〃
2。 He 〃would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven。〃
3。 He 〃smote upon his breast；〃 &c。
For the first of these； He stood afar off。 〃And the Publican standing afar off。〃 This is； I say； the first thing； the first posture of his with which we are acquainted； and it informeth us of several things。
First； That he came not with senselessness of the majesty of God when he came to pray； as the Pharisee did； and as sinners commonly do。 For this standing back； or afar off； declares； that the majesty of God had an awe upon his spirit； he saw whither； to whom； and for what； he was now approaching the temple。 It is said in the 20th of Exodus； that when the people saw the thunderings and lightnings； and the noise of the trumpet； and the mountain smoking （and all these were signs of God's terrible presence and dreadful majesty）； they removed themselves； and 〃stood afar off；〃 Exod。 xx。 18。 This behaviour； therefore； of the Publican did well become his present action； especially since； in his own eyes； he was yet an unforgiven sinner。 Alas！ what is God's majesty to a sinful man but a consuming fire？ And what is a sinful man in himself； or in his approach to God； but as stubble fully dry？
How then could the Publican do otherwise （than what he did） than stand afar off if he either thought of God or himself？ Indeed the people afore named； before they saw God in his terrible majesty； could scarcely be kept off from the mount with words and bounds； as it is now the case of many： their blindness gives them boldness； their rudeness gives them confidence； but when they shall see what the Publican saw； and felt； and understood； as he； they will pray and stand afar off even as these people did。 They removed and stood afar off； and then fell to praying of Moses； that this dreadful sight and sound might be taken from them。 And what if I should say； he stood afar off for fear of a blow； though he came for mercy； as it is said of them； 〃They stood afar off for fear of her torments；〃 Rev。 xviii。 10； 18。
I know what it is to go to God for mercy； and stand all that while through fear afar off； being possessed with this； will not God now smite me at once to the ground for my sins？ David thought something when he said as he prayed； 〃Cast me not away from thy presence； and take not thy Holy Spirit from me；〃 Psalm li。 11。
There is none knows； but those that have them； what turns and returns； what coming on and going off； there is in the spirit of a man that indeed is awakened； and that stands awakened before the glorious Majesty in prayer。 The prodigal also made his prayer to his Father intentionally； while he was yet a great way off。 And so did the lepers too： 〃And as he entered into a certain village there met him ten men that were lepers； which stood afar off： and they lifted up their voices and said； Jesus； Master； have mercy on us；〃 Luke xvii。 12； 13。
See here； it has been the custom of praying men to keep their distance； and not to be rudely bold in rushing into the presence of the holy and heavenly Majesty； especially if they have been sensible of their own vileness and sins； as the prodigal； the lepers； and our poor Publican was。 Yea； Peter himself； when upon a time he perceived more than commonly he did of the majesty of Jesus his Lord； what doth he do？ 〃When Simon Peter saw it （says the text）； he fell down at Jesus' knees； saying； Depart from me； for I am a sinful man； O Lord；〃 Luke v。 3…8。 Oh！ when men see God and themselves； it fills them with holy fear of the greatness of the majesty of God； as well as with love to； and desire after； his mercy。
Besides； by his standing afar off； it might be to intimate that he now had in mind； and with great weight upon his conscience； the infinite distance that was betwixt God and him。 Men should know that； and tremble in the thoughts of it； when they are about to approach the omnipotent presence。
What is poor sorry man； poor dust and ashes； that he should crowd it up； and go jostlingly into the presence of the great Godespecially since it is apparent the disproportion that is betwixt God and him？ Esther； when she went to supplicate the king her husband for her people； made use neither of her beauty nor relation； nor the privileges of which she might have had temptation to make use of； especially at such a time； and in such exigencies； as then did compass her about； but； I say； she made not use of them to thrust herself into his presence； but knew； and kept her distance； standing in the inward court of his palace until he held out the golden sceptre to her； then Esther drew near； and touched the top thereof； Esth。 v。 1； 2。
Men； also； when they come into the presence of God； should know their distance； yea； and shew that they know it too； by such gestures； and carriages； and behaviour； that are seemly。 A remarkable saying is that of Solomon； 〃Keep thy foot；〃 saith he； 〃when thou goest into the house of God； and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools； for they consider not that they do evil。〃 And as they should keep their foot； so also he adds； 〃Be not rash with thy mouth； and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God； for God is in heaven； and thou upon earth； therefore let thy words be few；〃 Eccles。 v。 1； 2。
Three things the Holy Ghost exhorteth to in this text。
The one is； That we look to our feet； and not be forward to crowd into God's presence。
Another is； That we should also look well to our tongues； that they be not rash in uttering any thing before God。
And the third is； Because of the infinite distance that is betwixt God and us； which is intimated by these words； 〃For God is in heaven； and thou upon earth。〃
The Publican therefore shewed great wisdom； holy shame； and humility； in this brave gesture of his； namely； in his standing afar off when he went up into the temple to pray。 But this is not all。
Secondly； The Publican； in standing afar off； left room for an Advocate and high…priest； a Day's…man； to come betwixt； to make peace between God and his poor creature。 Moses； the great mediator of the Old Testament； was to go nigher to God than the rest of the elders； or those of the people； Exod。 xx。 21。 Yea； the rest of the people were expressly commanded to worship； 〃standing afar off。〃 No man of the sons of Aaron that had a blemish was to come nigh。 〃No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire。 He shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God；〃 Lev。 xxi。 21。