October 21

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned. — PSALM ii. 4.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. — LUKE xviii. 13.

THIS publican, despised and hated of men, now spiritually convicted, knows, and therefore condemns and hates himself. Utterly humbled, he dares only to step over the threshold of the temple, because there dwells God, against whom he has sinned. He does not presume to look up to heaven, because God is there. In agony he smites upon his now broken heart, out of which so much sin has come. His sense of utmost need no longer lets him be silent. Deeply penitent he cries, not for his fancied rights, not for some earned reward, but for mercy, unmerited forgiveness. Earnestly he cries to God, that God against whom he has sinned. He feels that no other can reach his desperate case. Twin-born with his penitence is faith, appropriating belief in God's ability and willingness to save even him.

"To me, the sinner." He no more mistakes his condition than its cause, sin. Not "to me" as a publican, as one unfortunate, an unwilling victim of others, but "to me, the sinner." This prayer of humble faith earnestly offered by a self-condemning, penitent, believing sinner, always has been, always will be heard. "He went down to his house, justified."

A. Huntington Clapp.

Behold, we fall before thy face;

Our only refuge is thy grace.

No outward forms can make us clean;

The leprosy lies deep within.

WATTS.