Jefus did not know him; behold, Chrift does what we never hear he did before or after, I mean, invite himself to the houfe of Zaccheus, faying " Zaccheus, "make hafte and come down; for this day I must "abide at thy houfe." Not, pray let me abide, but I must abide this day at thy houfe. He also calls him by name, as though he was well acquainted with him': and indeed well he might; for his name was written in the book of life, he was one of those whom the Father had given him from all eternity: therefor he must abide at his house that day. "For whom " he did predeftinate, them he also called."

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

With what different emotions of heart may we fuppofe Zaccheus received this invitation? Think you not that he was surprised to hear Jefus Chrift call him by name, and, not only fo, but invite himfelf to his houfe? Surely, thinks Zaccheus, I dream : it cannot be; how fhould he know me? I never faw him before: befides, I fhall undergo much contempt, if I receive him under my roof. Thus, I fay, we may fuppofe Zaccheus thought within himfelf. But what faith the fcripture?" I will make a willing people in the day of my power." With this outward call, there went an efficacious power from God,

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which fweetly over-ruled his natural will: and therefore, verse 6." He made hafte, and came down, and "received him joyfully," not only into his house, but alfo into his heart.

Thus it is the great God brings home his children. He calls them by name, by his Word, or providence; he fpeaks to them alfo by his Spirit. Hereby they are enabled to open their hearts, and are made willing to receive the King of glory. For Zaccheus' fake, let us not entirely condemn people that come unto the Word, out of no better principle than curiofity. Who knows but God may call them? It is good to be where the Lord is paffing by. May all who are now prefent out of this principle, hear the voice of the Sox of GOD fpeaking to their fouls, and fo hear that they may live! Not that men ought therefore to take encouragement to come out of curiolity. For perhaps a thousand more, at other times, came to see Chrift out of curiofity, as well as Zaccheus, who were not effectually called by his grace. I only mention this for the encouragement of my own foul, and the confolation of God's children, who are too with those who do not attend on the apt to be angry Word out of love to God; but let them alone. Brethren, pray for them. How do you know but Jefus Christ may fpeak to their hearts? A few words from Chrift, applied by his Spirit, will fave their fouls. "Zaccheus, fays Chrift, make hafte "and come down And he made hafte, and came down, and received him joyfully."

I have obferved in Holy Scripture, how particularly it is remarked, that perfons rejoiced upon believ ing in Chrift. Thus the converted Eunuch went on his way rejoicing; thus the jailor rejoiced with his whole houfe; thus Zaccheus received Chrift joyfully. And well may thofe rejoice who receive Jefus Chrift for with him they receive righteoufnels, fanctifica tion, and eternal redemption. Many have brought

up an ill report upon our good land, and would fain perfuade people that religion will make them melancholy mad. So far from it, that joy is one ingredient of the kingdom of God in the heart of a believer; the kingdom of God is righteoufnefs, peace, and "joy in the Holy Ghoft." To rejoice in the Lord, is a gospel duty. Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I fay, rejoice. And who can be fo joyful, as thofe who know that their pardon is fealed before they go hence and are no more feen? The godly may, but I cannot fee how any ungodly men can rejoice: they cannot be truly cheerful. What if wicked men may fometimes have laughter amongst them? It is only the laughter of fools; in the midst of it there is heavinefs; at the beft, it is but like the crackling of thorns under a pot; it makes a blaze, but foon goes out. But as for the godly, it is not so with them; their joy is folid and lafting. As it is a joy that a ftranger, intermeddleth not with, fo it is a joy that no man taketh from them, it is a joy in God, a joy unfpeakable and full of glory.

It should seem that Zaccheus was under fouldiftrefs but a little while; "perhaps," fays Guthrie, in his book entitled, The trial concerning a faving Intereft in Chrift, "not above a quarter of an hour;" I add, perhaps not fo long: For as one obferves, fometimes the Lord Jefus delights to deliver speedily. God is a fovereign agent, and works upon his children in their effectual calling, according to the counfel of his eternal will. It is with the fpiritual, as natural birth: All women have not the like pangs; all Christians have not the like degree of conviction. But all agree in this, that all have Jefus Chrift formed in their hearts: And thofe who have not fo many trials at first, may be visited with the greater conflicts hereafter; though they never come into bondage again, after they have once received the fpirit of adoption We have not (fays Paul) received the spirit of bondage again unto fear." We know not what Zac

cheus underwent before he died: However this one thing I know, he now believed in Chrift, and was juftified, or acquitted, and looked upon as righteous in God's fight, though a Publican, chief among the Publicans, not many moments before. And thus it is with all, that, like Zaccheus, receive Jefus Chrift, by faith into their hearts. The very moment they find reft in him, they are freely juftified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Mofes; "for by grace are we faved, through "faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God."

Say not within yourselves this is a licentious, Antinominian doctrine; for this faith, if true, will work by love, and be productive of the fruits of holiness. See an inftance in this convert Zaccheus: No fooner had he received Jefus Chrift by faith into his heart, but he evidences it by his works: For ver. 8. we are "told Zaccheus ftood forth, and faid unto the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give unto the "poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man "by falfe accufation, I reftore him fourfold."

Having believed on Jefus in his heart, he now makes confeffion of him with his mouth unto falvation. Zaccheus ftood forth: He was not ashamed, but stood forth before his brother Publicans; for true faith cafts out all fervile, finful fear of men; "And faid, Behold, "Lord." It is remarkable, how readily people in Scripture have owned the divinity of Chrift immediately, upon their converfion. Thus the woman at Jacob's well; " Is not this the Chrift?" Thus the man born blind; "Lord, I believe; and worshipped " him." Thus Zaccheus, "Behold, Lord." An inconteftible proof this to me, that those who deny our Lord's divinity, never effectually felt his power: If they had, they would not speak fo lightly of him: they would fcorn to deny his eternal power and Godhead. "Zaccheus stood forth, and faid, Behold, "Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and "if I have taken any thing from any man by falfe ac

"cufation, I restore him fourfold." Noble fruits of a true living faith in the Lord Jefus! Every word calls for our notice. Not fome small, not the tenth part, but the half. Of what? My goods; things that were valuable. My goods, his own, not another's: I give: Not, I will give when I die, when I can keep them no longer; but, I give now, even now. Zaccheus would be his own executor. For whilft we have time we should do good. But to whom would he give half of his goods? Not to the rich, not to those who were already clothed in purple and fine linen, of whom he might be recompenfed again; but to the poor, the maimed, the halt, the blind, from whom he could expect no recompence, till the refurrection of the dead. "I give to the poor." But knowing that he must be juft, before he could be charitable, and confcious to himself that in his public adminiftrations he had wronged many perfons, he adds, " And, if I have "taken any thing from any man by falfe accufation, "I reftore him fourfold." Hear ye this, all ye that make no confcience of cheating the king of his taxes, or of buying or felling run goods. If ever God gives you true faith you will never reft, till, like Zaccheus, you have made reftitution to the utmost of your power. I suppose, before his converfion he thought it no harm to cheat thus, no more than you may do now, and pleased himself frequently, to be fure, that he got rich by doing fo: But now he is grieved for it at his heart; he confeffes his injuftice before men, and promifes to make ample reftitution. Go, ye cheating Publicans, learn of Zaccheus, go away and do likewife; if you do not make reftitution here, the Lord Jefus fhall make you confefs your fins before men and angels, and condemn you for it, when he comes in the glory of his Father to judgment hereafter.

After all this, with good reafon might our Lord fay unto him, "This day is falvation come to this house; forafmuch as he is the son of Abraham;" not fo much by a natural as by a spiritual birth. He