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their sins。
〃He would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven。〃
He could not； he would not： which yet more fully makes it appear； that it was shame； not guilt only； or chiefly； though it is manifest enough that he had guilt； by his crying； 〃God be merciful to me a sinner。〃 I say； guilt was not the chief cause of hanging down his head； because it saith； he WOULD not； for when guilt is the cause of stooping； it lieth not in the will； or in the power thereof； to help one up。
David tells us； that when he was under guilt； his iniquities were gone over his head： as an heavy burden； they were too heavy for him； and that with them he was bowed down greatly。 Or； as he says in another place； 〃Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me； so that I am not able to look up；〃 Psalm xxxviii。； xl。 I am not able to do it： guilt disableth the understanding； and conscience； shame makes all willingly fall at the feet of Christ。
He would not。 He knew what he was； what he had been； and should be； if God had not mercy upon him； yea； he knew also that God knew what he was； had been； and would be； if mercy prevented not； wherefore； thought he； Wherefore should I lift up the head？ I am no righteous man； no godly man； I have not served God； but Satan； this I know； this God knows； this angels know； wherefore I will not lift up the head。 It is as much as to say； I will not be an hypocrite； like the Pharisee： for lifting up of the head signifies innocency and harmlessness of life； or good conscience； and the testimony thereof； under and in the midst of all accusations。 Wherefore this was the counsel of Zophar to Job〃If；〃 saith he； 〃thou prepare thine heart； and stretch out thine hand towards him； if iniquity be in thine hand； put it far away； and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles。 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot； yea； thou shalt be steadfast； and shalt not fear；〃 Job xi。 13…15。
This was not the Publican's state： he had lived in lewdness and villany all his days； nor had he prepared his heart to seek the Lord God of his fathers； he had not cleansed his heart nor hands from violence； nor done that which was lawful and right。 He only had been convinced of his evil ways； and was come into the temple as he was； all foul； and in his filthy garments； and amidst his pollutions； how then could he be innocent； holy； or without spot？ and； consequently； how could he lift up his face to God？ I remember what Abner said to Asahel； 〃Turn thee aside （said he） from following me； wherefore should I smite thee to the ground？ how then should I hold up my face to Joab； thy brother？〃 2 Sam。 ii。 22。
As if he had said； If I kill thee； I shall blush； be ashamed； and hang my head like a bulrush the next time I come into the company of thy brother。
This was the Publican's case： he was guilty； he had sinned； he had committed a trespass； and now being come into the temple； into the presence of that God whose laws he had broken； and against whom he had sinned； how could he lift up his head？ how could he do it？ No； it better became him to take his shame； and to hang his head in token of guilt； and indeed he did； and did it to purpose too； for he would not lift up； no not so much as his eyes to heaven。
True； some would have done it； the Pharisee did it； though if he had considered that hypocrisy and the leaning to his own righteousness had been a sin； he would have found as little cause to have done it as did the Publican himself。 But； I say he did it； and sped therein； he went down to his house； as he came up into the temple； a poor unjustified Pharisee； whose person and prayer were both rejected； because； like the whore of whom we read in the Proverbs； after he had practised all manner of hypocrisy； he comes into the temple and wipes his mouth； and saith； 〃I have done no wickedness；〃 Prov。 xxx。 20。 He lifts up his head； his face； his eyes； to heaven； he struts； he vaunts himself； he swaggers； he vapours； and cries up himself； saying； 〃God I thank thee that I am not as other men are。〃
True； had he come and stood before a stock or stone； he might have said thus； and not have been reprehended； for such are gods that see not； nor hear； neither do they understand。 But to come before the true God； the living God； the God that fills heaven and earth by his presence； and that knows the things that come into the mind of man； even every one of them； I say； to come into his house； to stand before him； and thus to lift up his head and eyes in such hypocrisy before him； this was abominable； this was to tempt God； and to prove him； yea； to challenge him to know what was in man； if he could； even as those who said； 〃How doth God （see） know？ can he judge through the dark cloud？〃 Job xxii。 13； Psalm lxxiii。 11。
But the Publicannohe would not do this； he would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven。 As who should say； O Lord； I have been against thee a traitor and a rebel； and like a traitor and a rebel before thee will I stand。 I will bear my shame before thee in the presence of the holy angels； yea； I will prevent thy judging of me by judging myself in thy sight； and will stand as condemned before thee before thou passest sentence upon me。
This is now for a sinner to go to the end of things。 For what is God's design in the work of conviction for sin； and in his awakening of the conscience about it？ What is his end； I say； but to make the sinner sensible of what he hath done； and that he might unfeignedly judge himself for the same。 Now this our Publican doth； his will therefore is now subjected to the word of God； and he justifies him in all his ways and works towards him。 Blessed be God for any experience of these things。
〃He would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven。〃 He knew by his deeds and deservings that he had no portion there； nor would he divert his mind from the remembering； and from being affected with the evil of his ways。
Some men； when they are under the guilt and conviction of their evil life； will do what they can to look any way； and that on purpose to divert their minds； and to call them off from thinking on what they have done； and by their thus doing； they bring many evils more upon their souls； for this is a kind of striving with God； and a shewing a dislike to his ways。 Would not you think； if when you are shewing your son or your servant his faults； if he should do what he could to divert and take off his mind from what you are saying； that he striveth against you； and sheweth dislike of your doings？ What else mean the complaints of masters and of fathers in this matter？ 〃I have a servant； I have a son； that doth contrary to my will。〃 〃O but why do you not chide them for it？〃 The answer is； 〃So I do； but they do not regard my words； they do what they can； even while I am speaking； to divert their minds from my words and counsels。〃 Why； all men will cry out； 〃This is base； this is worthy of great rebuke； such a son； such a servant； deserveth to be shut out of doors； and so made to learn better breeding by want and hardship。〃
But the Publican would not divert his mind from what at present God was about to make him sensible of； no； not by a look on the choicest object； he would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven。 They are but bad scholars whose eyes； when their master is teaching of them； are wandering off their books。
God saith unto men； when he is teaching them to know the evil of their ways； as the angel said to the prophet when he came to shew him the pattern of the temple； 〃Son of man；〃 says he； 〃behold with thine eyes； and hear with thine ears； and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee； for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither；〃 Ezek。 xl。 4。 So to the intent that God might shew to the Publican the evil of his ways； therefore was he brought under the power of convictions； and the terrors of the law； and he also； like a good learner； gave good heed unto that lesson that now he was learning of God； for he would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven。
Looking downwards doth ofttimes bespeak men very ponderous and deep in their cogitations； also that the matter about which in their minds they are now concerned hath taken great hold of their spirits。 The Publican hath now new things； great things； and long…lived things； to concern himself about： his sins； the curse； with death； and hell； began now to stare him in the face： wherefore it was no time now to let his heart； or his eyes； or his cogitations； wander； but to be fixed； and to be vehemently applying of himself （as a sinner） to the God of heaven for mercy。
Few know the weight of sin。 When the guilt thereof takes hold of the conscience； it commands homewards all the faculties of the soul。 No man can go out or off now： now he is wind…bound； or； as Paul says； 〃caught：〃 now he is made to possess bitter days； bitter nights； bitter hours； bitter thoughts； nor can he shift them； for his sin is ever before him。 As David said； 〃For I acknowledge my transgressions： and my sin is ever before me；〃in my eye； and sticketh fast in every one of my thoughts； Psalm li。 3。
〃He would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven； but smote upon his breast。〃 This was the third and