rightly improved. I would hope, most of you know who the perfon is, to whom the LORD JESUS speaks; it is the publican Zaccheus, to whofe house the bleffed JESUS faid, falvation came, and whom he pronounces a Son of Abraham.. . It is my defign (GOD helping) to make fome remarks upon his converfion recorded at large in the preceding verfes, and then to inforce the latter part of the text, as an encouragement to poor undone finners to come to JESUS CHRIST. "For the Son of man is come, to feek and to fave that which was loft."

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The evangelift Luke introduces the account of this man's converfion thus, verfe 1." And JESUS entered and paffed through Jericho." The holy JESUS made it his bufinefs to go about doing good. As the fun in the firmament is continually spreading his benign, quickening, and cheering influences over the natural; fo the Son of righteoufness arose with healing under his wings, and was daily and hourly diffufing his gracious influences over the moral world. The preceding chapter acquaints us of a notable miracle wrought by the holy JESUS, on poor blind Bartimeus fents itself to our confideration rus take particular notice of it; word behold:"" and behold, there was a man named Zaċbeus, who was the chief among the Publicans, and he was rich,"

and in this, a greater preThe evangelift would have for he introduces it with the

7.6 Well might the evangelift afher in the relation of this man's converfion with the word 5 behold Fory according to human judgment, how many unfurmountable.sobstacles Jay in the way of it! Surely no one will fay there was any fitness in Zaccheus for falvation; for we are told that he was a Publican, and therefore in all probability a notorious friner. The Publicans were gatherers of the Roman taxes they were infamous for their abominable extortion; their very name therefore became fo odious, that we find the Pharifoes often preproached our LORD, as very wicked, because he was a friend unto and sat down to meat with them. Zaccheus then, being a Publicans was no doubt a finner; and, being chief among the Publicans, confequently was chief among finners. Nay, he was rich." One inspired apoftle has told us, that not many mighty, not many noble are called. Another faith,

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faich, GoD has Chofen the poor of this world, rich in faith." And he who was the Maker and Redeemer of the apostles, affures us, that it is easier for a camel, (or cable rope) to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Gop." Let not therefore the rich glory in the multitude of their riches.

But rich as he was, we are told, verfe 3. that "he fought to fee JESUS." A wonder indeed! The common people heard our LORD gladly, and the poor received the gospel. The multitude, the oxass, the mob, the people that knew not the law, as the proud high-priefts called them, ufed to follow him on foot into the country, and fometimes flaid with him three days together to hear him preach: But did the rich believe or attend on him? No! Our LORD preached up the doctrine of the cross ; he preached too searching for them, and therefore they counted him their enemy, perfecuted and poke all manner of evil against him falfly. Let not the minifters of CHRIST marvel, if they meet with the like treatment from the rich men of this wicked and adulterous generations Ifhould think it no scandal (fuppofing it true) to hear it affirmed, that none but the poor attended my miniftry.w Their fouls are as precious to our LORD JESUS CHRIST, as the fouls of the greatest men. They were the poor that attended him in the days of his fefh: thefe are they whom he hath chosen to be rich in faith, and to be the greatest in theckingdom of heaven. Were the rich in this world's goods generally to speak well of me, wo be unto me; I fhould think its a dreadful fign that I was only a wolf in sheep's clothing, thatwIs spoke peace; peace; when there was no peace, and prophefied: smoother things than the gospel would allow of. Hear ye this, Oye rich. Let who will dare to do it, GoD forbid that & fhould defpife the poors in doing fo, I fhould reproach my Maker. The poor are dear to my foul ; I rejoice to see them fly to the doctrine of CHRIST, like the doves to

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their windows. I only pray, that the poor who attend; may be evangelized, and turned into the fpirit of the gofpel: if fo, Bleffed are ye;" for yours is the kingdom of heaven."

But we must return to Zaccheus. He fought to fee JESUS." That is good news. I heartily wish I could fay, it was out of a good principle: but, without speaking contrary to that charity

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charity which hopes and believeth all things for the best, we may say, that the fame principle drew him after CHRIST, which now draws multitudes to speak plainly, it may be multitudes of you) to hear a particular preacher, even curie ofity: for we are told, that he came not to hear his doctrine, but to view his perfon, or, to ufe the words of the evangelift, "to fee who he was." Our LORD's fame was now spread abroad through all Jerusalem, and all the country round about: fome faid he was a good man; others, Nay, but he deceiveth the people." And therefore curiofity drew out this rich Publican Zaccheus, to fee who this person was, of whom he had heard fuch various accountsanwButs it ofeems he could not conveniently get a fight of him for the prefs, and becaufe he was little of ftature. Alas how many are kept from fee! ing CHRIST in glory, by reason of the prefs! I mean, how many are ashamed of being fingularly good, and therefore follow a multitude to do evil, because they have a prefs or throng of polite acquaintance! And, for fear of being set at nought by thofe with whom they used to fit at meat, they deny the LORD of glory, and are afhamed to confefs him before men of his bafe, this fervile fear of man, is the bane of true christianity; it brings a dreadful fnare upon the foul, and is the ruin of ten thousands: for I am fully perfuaded, numbers are rationtally convicted of gospel-truths; but, not being able to brook contempt, they will not profecute their convictions, nor res duce them to practice. Happy those, who in this respect, like Zaccheus, are refolved to overcome all impediments that lie in their way to a fight of CHRIST for finding he could not fee CHRIST because of the prefs and the littleness ofthisvha tural ftature, he did not smite upon his breast, and depart, faying, “It is in vain to seek after a fight of him any longer, I can never attain unto it." No, finding he could not fee CHRIST, if he continued in the midst of, he ran before the multitude, and climbed up into a fycamore-trees to fee him; for he was to pafs that way."

There is no feeing CHRIST in Glory, unless we run before the multitude, and are willing to be in the number of thofe defpifed few, who take the kingdom of God by violence. The broad way, in which fo many go, can never be that ftrait and narrow way which leads to life. Our LORD's flock

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was, and always will be,comparatively a little one: and unless we dare to run before the multitude in a holy fingularity, and can rejoice in being accounted fools for CHRIST's fake, we shall never fee JESUS with comfort, when he appears in glory. From mentioning the fycamore-tree, and confidering the difficulty with which Zaccheus must climb it, we may farther learn, that thofe who would fee CHRIST, muft undergo other difficulties and hardships, befides contempt. Zaccheus, without doubt, went through both. Did not many, think you, laugh at him as he ran along, and in the language of Michal, Saul's daughter, cry out, "How glorious did the rich Zaccheus look to-day, when, forgetting the greatness of his ftation, hesran before a pitiful, giddy mob, and climbed up a fycamore-tree, to fee an enthusiastic preacher ! But Zaccheus cares not for all that; his curiofity was ftrong if he could but fee who JESUS was, he did not value what fcoffers faid of himao Thus, and much more will it be with all those who have an effectual defire to fee JESUS in heaven: they will go on from ftrength to ftrength, break through every difficulty lying in their way, and care not what men or devils fay of or do unto them. May the LORD make us all thus minded, for his dear Son's fake!

At length, after taking much pains, and going (as we may well fuppofe) through much contempt, Zaccheus has climbed the tree grand there he fits, as he thinks, hid in the leaves of it, and watching when he should fee JESUS pafs by: "For he was to país by that way is o0 CUL

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Butching, Q heavens, and rejoice, O earth! Praife, magnify, and adore fovereign, electing, free, preventing love; Jesus the everlasting Gop, the Prince of peace, who faw Nathanaelsunder the fig-tree, and Zaccheus from eternity, now fees himbin the fycamore-tree, and calls him in time.

Verfe 5. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and faw him, and faid unto him, Zaccheus, make hafte and come down; for this day I must abide at thy house." Amazing love! Well might Luke ufher in the account with * behold !? It is worthy of our highest admiration. When Zaccheus thought of no fuch thing, nay, thought that CHRIST JESUS did not know him; behold, CHRIST does what we never hear he did before or after, I mean, invite himself to

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Zaccheus, make haste and

the boufe of Zaccheus, faying,

come down, for this day I must abide at thy house." Not pray let me abide, but I must abide this day at thy house. He allo calls him by name, as though he was well acquainted with him: and indeed well he might; for his name was writ ten in the book of life, he was one of those whom the Father had given him from all eternity: therefore, he must abide at his house that day. "For whom he did predeftinate, them he alfo called."

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Here then, as through a glass, we may fee the doctrine of free grace evidently exemplified before us. Here was no fitnefs in Zaccheus. He was a Publican, chief among the Publicans; not only fo, but rich, and came to fee. CHRIST Only out of curiofity: but foyereign grace triumphs over all. wAnd if we do GoD juftice, and are effectually wrought upon, we must acknowledge there was no more, fitness in us than da Zaccheus; and, had not CHRIST prevented us by his call we had remained dead in trefpaffes and fins, and alienated from the divine life, even as others." JESUS looked up, and faw him, and faid unto him, Zacchues, make hafte and come down for this day I must abide at thy houfe."

With what different emotions of heart may we suppose Zaccheus received this invitation? Think you not that he was furprised to hear JESUS CHRIST call him by name, and ɔnot only fo, but invite himself to his house? Surely, thinks Zac abeus, I dream: it cannot beg how fhould he know med never faw him before: befides, I fhall undergo much con tempt, if I receive him under my roofs Thus, fay, we may fuppofe Zaccheus thought within himself. But what faith the fcripture.? I will make a willing people in the day of my power. With this outward call, there went an effica cious power from GOD, which fweetly over-ruled his natural will and therefore, verfe 6. "He made hafte, and came down, and received him joyfully not only into his house, but also into his heart.

Thus it is the great God brings home his children. He calls them by name, by his word or providence; he speaks to them alfo by his fpirit, Hereby they are enabled to open their hearts, and are made willing to receive the King of glory For Zaccheus's fake, let us not entirely condemn people that

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