Imaginary Righteousness

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

 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.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” ~ Luke 18:10-14

“The Pharisee prays not for supply of defects, nor acknowledgeth a defect of supplies; but tells his own fullness, and that great difference which his mistaken eyes saw between himself and the publican; swelling with his own wind till he burst.

They plough with the oxen of their own imaginary righteousness, and contemplate the farm which their own works have purchased, and marry themselves to merit as to wife; therefore in the pride of their preemptory stomachs they scorn the Lamb’s supper.

Therefore Christ refuseth them in his call, but seeks sinners; not sinners in perverseness, but sinners in sense and conscience, in plea, action, confession, and condemnation of themselves. It is a needy and acknowledged emptiness, that lies at his gate, who is rich in mercy.” ~ Thomas Adams

There is a City that Makes Glad the Heart of Man

“It is observable that to the two chief apostles, Paul and Peter, God did afford this privilege, in this mortal life to have a taste of heaven’s joys, that they might feelingly and effectually raise up our affections to that supernatural city.

Paul was rapt up to the third heaven, and so ravished with this joy, that he knew not whether he had his body about him or not: “Whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell,” 2 Corinthians 12:2. And, methinks, when he comes down again out of heaven, he writes so contemptibly of these worldly things, that he calls them very dross and dung. Such respect hath any man of all the things under the sun, that hath but tasted the sweetness of paradise.

So Peter, together with James and John, on Mount Tabor, saw a glimpse of heaven. They beheld it that they might preach it: preaching, lift up our hearts to it; and our hearts being lifted up to it, might be blessed in it. On purpose they were showed this glory, that they might inflame our affections with it.

Imagine that it were possible for the most worldly soul here, to be lifted up so high as was Paul; be admitted to look into paradise; to see that glorious society of saints and angels, and so much of that beatifical vision as their nature is capable of: and from thence to look down again upon this earth, hanging like a little clod in the midst of the world; and see so many millions of men busied about nothing, like ants on a molehill, or flies in a sun-beam: how basely would he esteem this world and contemn that which is now his glory, for which he is content to venture his soul.” ~ Thomas Adams


“But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” Hebrews 12:16

“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” Revelation 21:23