the Eviingehil.r, confzdered. 435 that this Man went down unto his houfe juflifed, rather then the other : For every one that exalteth himfelf, (hall be abafed ; and every one that humbleth himfelf, (hall be exalted. That the defign of our Saviour herein, was to reprefent the way of our juflification before God, is evident. (r.) From the defcription given of the perlons whom he reflected on.V. 9. They were fuch as trull ed in themfelves, that they were righ- teous ; or, That they had a Perfonal Righteoufnefs of their own before God. (2.) From the general rule wherewith he confirms the judgment he had given concerning the perfons defcribed. Every one that exalteth himfelf (hall be abafed. Ver. iq.. And he that abafeth himfelf, fhall be exalted. As this is applied unto the Pharifee, and the Prayer that is afcribed unto him, it declares plainly, That every plea of our own works, as unto our f uftification before God, under any con - fideration, is a Pelf exaltation which God defpifeth 5 and as applied unto the Publican, that a fenfe of Jae is the only preparation on our part for acceptance with him on be- lieving. Wherefore both the perfons are reprefented, As feeling to be juflified, for to our Saviour exprefleth the iffue of their addrefs unto God for that purpofe ; the one was jufl ified, the other was not. The Plea of the Pharifee unto this end confifts of two parts. (r.) That he hadfulfilled the condition whereon he might be juftified. He makes no mention of any merit, either of con- gruity, or condignity. Only whereas there were two parts of Gods Covenant then with the Church, the one with re- fpea unto the Moral, the other with refpeEt unto the Cere- monial Law, he pleads the oblervation of the condition of it in both parts, which he fheweth in inftances of both kinds, only he adds, the way that he took to further him in this obedience, fomewhat beyond what was injoyned, namely, That he failed twice in the week. For when Men begin to f ek, K k k 2 for
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