The publican went to his house justified

Adam, David, Peter, and Paul were all grievous sinners, yet each went to his house justified. Each was the publican who beat on his breast. Each cried for mercy, the kind of mercy that is found at the mercy seat. For the mercy seat is where the blood was sprinkled; yet the true mercy seat is the cross, where the blood of Christ was sprinkled for us; and behold, we receive the Blood of this precious sacrifice at  the altar. And so we join the chorus of sinners who cried for mercy, and receive it by the grace of God. Sermon on the Pharisee and the Publican (Trinity XI).