Wright - BT300 W8 1788

; LORD and SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST. 79 the ',intuit, and inftead of happinefs, find themfelves plunged in trouble, vexation, and woe ; they find themfelves burdened with many griefs, but will not come to him who only is able to relieve them. What blindnels, Ilupidity, and abominable pride potters the human heart, and excite it to rejea the gracious calls and invitations of the only Saviour of finners ! After our great Redeemer had finifhed his difcourfe, hewas invited by one Simon, à leper, to go to his houle, and take Tome refrefhment. The invitation he accept- ed, and accompanied him to his apart- ment, where, as he fat at meat, a woman whole courfe of life was known to have been loofe and profligate, fat at his feet beholding him with the tendereft affeltion, and (hed fuch floods of tears that they trickled down his feet, which according to the cuflom of the country were bare. She feeing that her tears had wet the feet of her beloved Lord, wiped them with her hair, frequently kiffing them with the ut- molt tendernefs and affection, and anointed them with precious ointment. It was doubtlefs the fenfe of her former courfe of life, and a deep conviCion of her crimes, which canted this woman to (hed fuch a profufion of tears; and her love to the bleffed Jesus arofe from the benefit fhehad received from his heavenly difcourfes. The cuftom, which then prevailed in the Eaftern countries, of pouring fragrant oil on the heads of thole guefls on whom they defigned to bellow peculiar and diflin- guithed marks of honour, feems to have brought this woman to our Redemer at this time : and it appears to have been her original intention to have poured the ointment on his head ; but being deeply humbled under a tenfe ofher unworthinefs, The couldnot approach her divine Inftruétor with fo much freedom as to accomplifh her firlt intention,but thought it more confiftent with her humility and felf-abafement to anoint only his feet. The leper, who itTeems wasa Pharifee, had attentively obfervedthe woman,and knowing her charaEter, concluded that Jesus could not be a prophet. This man, laid Simon to himfelf, if he were a prophet, would have knownwhoandwhat mannerofwoman this is that touchedhim ; forfhe is a'iinner. And to full ofpride and felf-fufllcïencywas the man, that he was offended at, and was ready to rebuke the bleffed JESUS for his deigning to take notice of and converting with fuch contemptible characters : but our great Re- deemer, to convince him that he wat a prophet, and that he knew not only the charaCerofthewoman whohad touched him, but was acquainted with the thoughts of all who thought mean of hint in their hearts, began a converfation with him on the very fubjeC he had been revolving in his mind. He did not expofe his folly to the company, by openly relating the fecret thoughts of his heart, and infifting on the abfurdity of them, but with the utmoft delicacy pointed out to Simon himfelf the unreafonablenefs of the conclufion he had formed. Simon, faid the bleffed Jesus, I have fomewhat to fay unto thee: there was a certain creditor which had two debtors, the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty; and when they had .nothing to pay he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of then will love him moft. Simon anfwered and ¡aid, Ifuppofe that he to whom he forgave molt. And he Paid unto him, thou haft rightly judged. Our divine InftruEtor then immediately applied this (host parable to the caufe of the woman, concerningwhom the Pharifee had fo unjuflly reafoned in his heart. Simon, continued he, fee thou this woman? Ientered into thinehoule, thougavel me no waterfor myfeet ; butfhe hathwafhed myfeet with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gave me no k f ; but this womanlince the time Icame in hath not ceafed to kifc my feet. Mine head with oil thou didit not anoint ; but this . woman hath anointed myfeet with ointment. Wherefore, Ifay unto thee, her fins, which are many, areforgiven ; for /he lovedmuch: but

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