Secondly, As to their conditions (I do not mean by condition, so much
a habit of mind, as the state that they had each of them put
themselves into by that mind.) "The one," says the text, "was a
Pharisee, the other a Publican." A Pharisee: that is, one that hath
chosen to himself such a course of life. A Publican: that is, one
that hath chosen to himself such a course of life. These terms,
therefore, shew the divers courses of life that they had put
themselves into. The Pharisee, as he thought, had put himself into a
condition for heaven and glory; but the Publican was for this world
and his lusts. Wherefore when the Pharisee stands in the temple, he
boasteth of himself and good condition, but condemneth the Publican,
and bitterly inveigheth against him. But, as I said, their personal
state, by the law, was not at all changed. The Pharisee made himself
never the better; the Publican also abode in his place.

Indeed the Publican is here found to recant, and repent of his
condition, and of the condition that he had put himself into; and the
Pharisee to boast of his. But the Publican's repentance was not of
himself, but of God, who can also, yea, and sometimes it is evident
(Acts ix.) he doth, make Pharisees also repent of that condition that
they have chosen to be in themselves; Phil. iii. 3-8. The Pharisee,
therefore, in commending of himself, makes himself never the better;
the Publican also, in condemning of himself, makes himself never the
worse. Nay, contrariwise, the Pharisee, by commending of himself,
makes himself much the worse, ver. 14; and the Publican, by
condemning of himself, makes himself much the better. "I tell you
(says Christ) 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."