December 11

Twenty-first Wednesday after Trinity

How many are mine iniquities and sins? Job 13:23.

OUR trial, by God's appointment and mercy, lies mostly in some few things. We bring trials upon ourselves, which God did not intend for us. We increase our own trials by every consent to sin. Most are born with some one leading fault, in which their own chief trial lies. Most have some natural graces. And so whereas, if we were wise, we should forget any good thing in us, owning that whatever it is, it is God's gift in us, and should think only of our remaining evil, people blind themselves to their own evil by thinking of the evil of others and of their own good. Such was the Pharisee, whom our Lord condemns. Doubtless he was "not an extortioner, unjust, adulterer," or, in many ways, "even as that publican;" he used some bodily denial, and gave alms. These things he dwelt upon. And so he contrived to hide from himself his own besetting sins, pride and contempt. We ought to compare ourselves with no one, except to abase ourselves; and men do compare themselves with others, only to exalt themselves. We may see in wellnigh every one some grace better than our own, from which we may learn; and men look to see in every one some evil which is not in themselves, to comfort themselves that they are not worse than others. To see defects in the good is a comfort to them, because they themselves look less evil.

Ah, vain Man from the heart must weed the bitter root, While the new law ingrafted puts forth fruit And drinks the blessing of the pitying skies.