The Sinners Conversion, Religious tract
THE SINNERS CONuersion.
By Henrie Smith.
Math. 18. verse, 3.
Verily, I ſay vntounto you, except yee be conuerted, and become as little children, y… …all not enter into the kingdome of Heauen.
ET VSQVE AD NVBES VERITAS TVA·
PS
At London printed for William Leake, and are to be ſolde at his ſhop in Paules Church-yard, at the ſigne of the Crane. 1594.
The Text.
Luke, 19. verſes, 1. 2. 3. 4 5.
¶1. Nowe when Ieſus entred and paſſed through Iericho, 2. Beholde, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the chiefe receiuer of the trybute, and he was rich. 3. And hee ſought to ſee Ieſus, who hee ſhoulde be, and coulde not for the preaſe, becauſe he was of a lowe stature. 4. Wherefore he ranne before, and climbed vp into a wilde figge tree, that hee might ſee him: for hee ſhoulde come that way. 5. And when Ieſus came to the place, he looked vp, and ſawe him, and ſaide vntounto him, Zaccheus, come downe at once: for to day I must abide at thine houſe.
IN the ende of the Chapter before going, wee may ſee how Chriſt healed a man, blinde in his bodily ſight, namely Bartimeus, wherby he ſheweth himſelfe to be the phiſition of the body: Heere we ſhall ſee how he cured one blind in mind, namely Zaccheus, whereby he ſheweth himſelfe to be the Phiſition of the ſoule,Epheſ. 5. 23 and therefore the Sauiour of the whole man.
In ſpeaking of Zaccheus and his conuerſion, wee will obſerue foure circumſtances. Firſt, the place where he was called, which was Iericho. Secondly, the perſon that was called, Zaccheus the Publican. Thirdly, by whom and how he was called, by the voice of Chriſt. And laſtly, the effect and fruite of his calling, his good confeſsion.
The firſt Circumſtance.
Firſt therefore for the place where he was conuerted, it appeareth to be Iericho, a Cittie not farre diſtant from Ieruſalem. It was ſometime a notable Citie, till it was ſubuerted and ruinated by the Lordes Champion Ioſua. Ioſua, 6,It was builded againe in the dayes of Ahab, 1. Reg. 16, 34by Hiel the Bethelite, and remaineth at this day with the reſt of that holy-land, vnderunder the Turkiſh Empire. VntoUnto this Iericho, the Lord of heauen and earth vouchſafeth to come, in the likeneſſe of a ſeruaunt. And as Ioſua compaſſed Iericho ſeuen times, minding to deſtroy it, ſo Chriſt the true Ioſua, reſorted oftentimes to Iericho, minding to ſaue it. But as in the deſtruction of Iericho, Ioſua ſpared none but Rahab the harlot: ſo Ieſus in his iourney to Iericho, conuerted none but Zaccheus the Publican. When Ioſua had conquered and raſed Iericho, hee ſowed ſalt in it to make it barren, and curſed him that ſhould attempt to build it vp: yet in thys barren ſoyle Chriſt hath his ſpirituall haiueſt, and in this curſed Cytty he hath a holy Temple a bleſſed building. Samaria that wicked Citty affordeth many that belieue in Chriſt.Iohn, 4, 49. Iohn, 4, 39. And out of Galile, Iohn, 1, 46from whence they thought no good thing might come.Iohn, 7, 52, Iohn, 1, ver. 46. Chriſt called diuers of his Apoſtelles, and euen in Iericho this curſed Cittie, Chriſt hath a rich man that is to be ſaued. In euerie place Chriſt hath his choſen. There is neither Iewe nor Gentile, Barbarian nor Scythian, bound nor free,Rom, 10, 12 but Chriſt is all in all, to all that call vponupon him. Rom. 10, 12.
The ſecond circumſtance.
Now followeth the deſcription of Zaccheus, which is moſt plainlie and fully ſette forth vntounto vsus. The holy Ghoſt ſpeaking of Zaccheus and his conuerſion, comes in with an Ecce, behold, as if it were a wonder that Zaccheus ſhold be conuerted. Zaccheus was a Gentile, a Publican, and a rich man, and therefore behold a miracle, as if in the conuerſion of Zaccheus, theſe three ſhould be conuerted al once.
Zaccheus was a Gentile, a meruaile to ſee a Gentile become a Iew:Rom. 2. 28. that is, to belieue in Chriſt. He was a principall Publican. A ſtrange thing to ſee a chiefe Cuſtomer to giuegive ouer his office: and he was rich alſo, a rare matter to ſee a rich man to enter into the kingdome of God:Mat. 19. 23. and therefore behold a miracle, as if at this day, the Turck: the Pope, and the King of Spaine, were at once perſwaded to forſake their Idolatry and ſuperſtition. Chriſt going to Ieruſalem, conuerteth a Gentile, to ſignifie the calling of the Gentiles: he conuerteth a Publican, to ſhewe that notorious ſinners may hope to be ſaued, if they repent and amend, as Zaccheus did. He cōuerteth a rich man, to ſhew that all rich men are not excluded from the kingdome of heauen,
Hee was called Zaccheus before his conuerſion, but he was neuer trulie called Zaccheus till Chriſt called him ſo. His name ſignifieng, ſimple, pure honeſt, but his lyfe was ſubtile, impure, and moſt deteſtable. Thus manie are called by honeſt names, whoſe deedes bewray their diſhonest natures, and vices oftentimes are ſhrowded in the habites of vertue, like Eſops Aſſe, masking in the Lyons ſkinne, till hys long eares detect his folly; or like the Crowe that is decked in other plumes, till euerie byrd doe plucke his feather.
Zaccheus by his profeſſion was a Publican, and therefore much deteſted of the Iewes: for Publicans were the Romaine Officers, appoynted to gather and receiue publique cuſtome or tribute of the Iewes, who were at that tyme in ſubiection vntounto the Romaines. And amongſt theſe Officers, Zaccheus was the chiefe, and (as it ſeemeth) Ouer-ſeer of the reſt that where in Ierico, and therefore in chiefe hatred among the Iewes, as one that chiefely fauored the Romans tiranny, and ſerued to abridge their Country liberty, which ought not be ſubiect to any Nation.
Beſides, he contemned the ceremonies of the Iewes, and regarded not their Religion, nor liued after theyr Lawe, and therefore with the reſt of the Heathen Publicans, was excommunicate out of theyr Sinagogue Math. Math. 18.18.
Thus was he hated for his profeſſion, becauſe he was a Publican, & for his religion, becauſe he was a Heathen. Yet was hee beloued for his wealth, for rich men hauehave manie friends.Prou. 14, 20 Prou. 14. 20. And though they doe neuer ſo wickedly, yet hauehave they ſome to take theyr parts. If they ſpeake neuer ſo proudly, yet are there ſome to prayſe their ſaying.Eccle, 13, 23 24. Eccle 13, 23, 24.
Zaccheus was a Publican, and therefore riche: for Publicanes muſte needes he rich, and Vſurers will be welthy. But rich Publicans make poore princes, and wealthy Vſurers make many beggers. In eueryevery Prouince there were many Publicans, and therefore much poore people in eueryevery place: for where there be many Caterpillers, the fruit is ſoone conſumed, and where there be many extorcioners, beggers muſt needes abound.
By the Law of God,Deut. 15 there might be nobegger in Iſraell, but when ſo many Publicans were ſuffered to receiue tribute of the Iewes contrarie to Gods Law, no maruaile though ſo many ſate and begged, contrarie to Gods Law.Luke, 18 Luke. 18. Iohn, 9. Acts. 3 By the Lawe of God.Iohn, 9 There ought to bee no beggers among Chriſtians.Acts, 3 Pſal, 37, 25 Pſal. 3. 2. 25. but when ſo manie Vſurers are tollerated in a Chriſtian Common-wealth, contrarie to the Law of Chirſt,Luke, 6. 35. Luke. 6. 35. no meruaile though we hauehave ſo many beggers,Leuit. 25. 36. 37. contrarie to the minde of Chriſt.Mark. 14. 7. The poore (ſayth Chriſt) yee ſhall hauehave alwaies with you, but when you will you may doe them good: and we ſhall be ſure to hauehave the poore amongſt vsus alwaies,Pſalm. 37. but wee muſt make ſuch good prouiſion for them, that they be not faine to begge theyr bread.
Thus was Zaccheus rich to himſelfe,Luke, 12. 21 for he was a Publican, but he was rich towarde God alſo, for he had a deſire to ſee Chriſt. Almightie God,Ephe, 2. who is rich in merciemercy, Eph. 2. hath ſo inſpyred his hart with the deſire of heauenlie riches, that whereas before, hys whole delight was in ſeeking of worldlie wealth, now his greateſt care is to ſeeke for heauenlie treaſure. He now forgetteth what his profeſſion is, and begins to be of a newe profeſſion: and he whoſe hart was whollie ſette vponupon earthlie profit, is now like old Simeon, moſt deſirous to ſee his Sauiour. The Tetrach Herod deſired to ſee Chriſt, and deſpiſed him when hee ſaw him.Luke, 23. 8. Luke. 23. 8. 11. but Zaccheus the Publican, deſired to ſee Chriſt, and reioyced when hee ſawe him, like Abraham that deſired to ſee the day of Chriſt.Iohn, 8, 56. Iohn. 8. 56. and therefore of the ſeruant of Sathan, Zaccheus is nowe become the childe of Abraham, which reioyced to ſee the day of Chriſt. Happie were his eyes that ſawe ſo bleſſed a ſight, for manie Prophets and righteous men hauehave deſired to ſee and to heare thoſe thinges that Zaccheus both ſaw and heard,Luke. 10. and coulde not ſee nor heare the ſame. If Iacob thought himſelfe happy,Gene. 45. if that hee might but ſee his Sonne Ioſeph before his death, then ſurelie thriſe happie Zaccheus, whoſe hap it was, not onelyonly to ſee (as Iacob did) but to reioyce (as Marie did) in Chriſt his Sauiour.
As Zaccheus was deſirous to ſee Chriſt in earth, ſo I would hauehave the riche men of our time, deſirous to ſee Chriſt in heauen. For although with the eies of our bodie we cannot ſee Chriſt as Zaccheus did, yet with the eies of our faith wee may beholde him as Stephen did.Acts. 7. Actes. 7. But if our faith be ſo weake ſighted that wee cannot ſee Chriſt, yet let vsus hauehave a deſire to heare Chriſt in his word, whereby our faith may be increaſed, for faith commeth by hearing the worde of God.Rom. 10. And as the Queene of the South deſired to heare the wiſedome of Salomon, 1. Reg. 10.ſo let vsus bee deſirous to heare the wiſedome of Chriſt our Sauiour.
King Salomon left ſome bookes in writing, wherein is ſeene ſome part of his wiſedome, and Chriſt our king, hath left vntounto vsus his moſt ſacred word, as it were a taſt of his wiſedome,Iohn. 20. 31 ſufficient matter for our ſaluation. This is that heauenly foode,Math. 4, 4 Math. 4. 4. whereby our ſoules are fedde vntounto eternall life, let vsus therefore labour for that heauenly foode: and as the Iſraelites were carefull to gather Manna to ſuſtaine their bodies,Exod. 16 ſo let vsus be as carefull to heare the word to feede our ſoules. The people in the time of Chriſt,Iobn, 6, 24 Iohn, 6. 24. tooke great paines to follow Chriſt both by land and ſea, and many nowe a dayes (I confeſſe) are verie forward to follow his faithfull Miniſters, but as they followed Chriſt ſo faſt toaIoh. 6, 26 fill their bellies, ſo theſe frequent Sermons for faſhion to ſerue the time.
Zaccheus is deſirous to ſee Chriſt, a godly care, but yet hee coulde not obtaine his purpoſe: a thing common, for euerie one that hath any good motion, hath alwaies ſome hinderaunce to croſſe the ſame,Two impediments. and Zaccheus hath a double impediment to hinder his honeſt enterpriſe: The preaſe of the people, And his little ſtature. Whereof the former, that is, the multitude, is alwaies wont to be an enemie to thoſe that woulde come to Chriſt. This hindered the blinde man from receiuing his ſight.Luke, 18 Luke, 18. for the people rebuked him that he ſhould hold his peace, till Chriſt called him and opened his eyes. This hindered them that brought the man ſicke of the Palſie.Marke, 2 Marke, 2. for they could not come at Chriſt for ye preaſe, till they vncouered the roofe of the houſe, and let downe the bed wherein the ſicke of the Palſey lay.
This hindered the healing of the deafe and dumbe,Marke, 7 Marke, 7. till Chriſt tooke him aſide out of the multitude and cured him. This hindered the raiſing of the Rulers daughter.Math. 9 Mathew, 9. till Chriſt had thruſt out the Minſtrels and the multitude, and then reſtored the maid to life. Finally, this hindered Zaccheus here from comming vntounto Chriſt, till Chriſt vouchſafed to call him to himſelfe. Thus alwaies a multitude that is prone to euill, doth withdrawe and hinder vsus from approching vntounto Chriſt: and therefore wee muſt not followe a multitude to doe euill, nor decline after many to ouerthrow the trueth.Exod. 23 Exod. 23.
The ſecond impediment that hindereth Zaccheus from ſeeing Chriſt, is his little ſtature. Hee was ſo lowe of ſtature, that hee coulde not ſee Chriſt aboue the multitude: but Chriſt was aboue the multitude, and therefore coulde ſee Zaccheus though hee were ſo lowe of ſtature. For God looketh not on the countenance,Sam. 16. 7 nor on the height of a mans ſtature, but the Lord beholdeth the heart, and preferreth little Dauid before Eliab his eldeſt brother,1. Sam. 16 12. becauſe he findeth in him a better heart to ſerue the Lord. And Zaccheus in his little bodie, hath a heart and minde prepared to ſeeke and ſee the Lord. Zaccheus was ſo lowe that he could not ſee Chriſt, but many amongeſt vsus are ſo high that they will not ſee Chriſt. The common people in the time of Chriſt, were ſo deſirous to followe Chriſt, that neither lameneſſe, nor blindnes, nor ſicknes, coulde ſtaie them from comming to him: but the Common people in our time, are more readie to follow their ſport and paſtime, then to come to the Church to heare of Chriſt. And as for our rich men, who ſeeth not that they will make great haſt to ſee a commoditie, but will ſcarce come out of doores to heare a Sermon?
They come to Church,Iohn, 32 as Nichodemus came to Chriſt by night, as if they were aſhamed to come to Church: but they runne after profite to gette riches,2. King. 5 as Gehezi ran after Naaman the Syrian to get a bribe.
Thus hath Zaccheus two lettes, that hee could not ſee Chriſt, the one in the people, the other in himſelfe: and wee hauehave many lettes to withdrawe vsus from Chriſt, ſome are externall and without vsus, as the inticementes of the world, and ſome are internall and within vsus, as the luſtes of our owne fleſhe. The preaſe of the people, hindereth Zaccheus from ſeeing Chriſt in his humilitie, and the multitude of our ſinnes,Eſay. 59. 2 doe preſſe vsus downe that wee cannot ſee Chriſt in glorie. Zaccheus was a man of little ſtature, and that hindered him from ſeeing Chriſt in earth, and we are men of little faith, and that is the cauſe wee cannot beholde Chriſt in heauen.
Though Zaccheus was a man of little ſtature, yet it appeareth that hee was not a man of little wit: For when hee coulde not come to the ſight of Chriſt for the multitude, he had the wit to runne before, and to clime vp into a tree to obtaine his purpoſe. And for the moſte part it falleth out, that men of lowe ſtature, are men of high conceite, and the ſhorteſt bodies, hauehave the ſharpeſt wittes, God ſo prouiding, that the defectes of their bodies, might bee ſupplied with the giftes of their minde. Nowe Zaccheus that before was loth to moue his foote from the Cuſtom-houſe for looſing his profite, beginnes to runne after Chriſt for feare of a greater loſſe, like Eliſa that left his plowing, and ranne after Elias to followe his newe vocation.1, Reg. 19 But Zaccheus doth not onelyonly runne, but alſo clymbe vp into a Tree to ſee Chriſt: A ſtrange thing, that Zaccheus a rich man, and a chiefe Cuſtomer, ſhoulde behaue himſelfe ſo childiſhly in the ſight of ſo great a multitude: but the deſire hee had to ſee Chriſt, made him forget himſelfe, and to commit ſuch thinges as were not fitting for his ſtate and credite. So they that wil follow Chriſt, muſt make account to doe manie thinges contrarie to theaRom. 12 faſhion of the worlde, and their owne liking. If Chriſt himſelfe were content to leaue the glorie which he had with his father to come down to vsus, ſhall not wee be content to leaue the reputation which wee hauehave with men, to go vp to him?
But alas where is there any almoſt, that preferreth not the fruition of this earthly priſon, before the poſſeſſion of that heauenlie manſion: and had rather hazard the hope which they hauehave of eternall glory, then leeſe the preſent enioying of theyr fading pleaſure.
The ambitious man hunteth after honor, and will not leeſe an inche of his eſtimation. The couetous man ſeekes after profit, and counts (like Iudas) all loſt that comes not to his bags. And the voluptuous man beſtowes his time in pleaſure,Iohn. 12. 6. and thinketh that hys chiefe felicittie. Thus euerie man makes his heauen of that wherein he moſt delighteth, & is content to take great paines to accōpliſh his fond deſires. But here Zaccheus is of another minde, for being a publique officer, he climbes into a tree, which ſtoode not with his grauitie: and being a rich man, he runnes to ſee Chriſt, which was not for his worldly profit; yea hee takes great paines to ſee Chriſt, not reſpecting his eaſe or pleaſure.
Thus muſt we be affected if we deſire to come to Chriſt, that neither honours nor preferments, nor profit nor pleaſure, nor kyndred nor freends, be able to holde vsus backe.Mat. 8. 22. We muſt be readie not only to run,Luk. 14. 26. but alſo to climbe (if need require) as Zaccheus dyd: that is, to take ſome payne and trauaile to hauehave a ſight of Chriſt.
The Queene of the South,1. King. 10. vndertooke a great and tedious iourney, to heare the wiſedome of Salomon, but we are lothe to take any paine to heare one that is greater then Salomon.
The people in Dauids tyme, brought ſo much treaſure,1. Chr. 29. 9. and ſo many gyfts to the building of Gods Temple, that the Prieſtes were fayne to byd them ceaſe, but a great part of the people in our tyme, are ſo ſparing of their paynes and coſt, that they thinke that very time miſpent whiche is imployed in the ſeruice of God: and that money ill beſtowed, which is gyuen to the maintenaunce of his Miniſters.
When Zaccheus could not ſee Chriſt for the multitude, he climbes vp into a tree, that groweth in the way where he was to paſſe, that from a tree he might behold him, which was to ſuffer on a tree for mans ſaluation. So when wee cannot drawe neere to Chriſt by reaſon of our ſinnes that preſſe vsus downe, we muſt clymb vp by a liuely faith, whiche is the tree of life, that groweth in the waie to eternall life, that ſo with the eyes of our fayth, we may behold him that dyed for our ſinnes vponupon a tree.
It was a wilde figge tree that Zaccheus clymbed,Math. 21, 19 but not like that vnfruitfull one which our Sauiour curſed: for this bare moſt pretious fruite, euen ſuch as Chriſt himſelfe vouchſafed to plucke. A happie tree that bare ſuche pretious fruite as Zaccheus was, but thriſe happie Zaccheus, that ſo happily clymbed on that happie tree.
This tree grewe in the way that Chriſt was to paſſe, for elſe Zaccheus might hauehave climbed to no purpoſe: So if wee deſire to finde Chriſt, we muſt ſeeke him in the waie where hee hath promiſed to ſhewe himſelfe vntounto vsus, that is, in his holy Temple, where his word is duely preached,Math. 18, 20 and his Sacramentes reuerently adminiſtred, for where two or three are ſo gathered together, hee hath promiſed to be preſent amongſt them.
The third Circumſtance.
When Chriſt came to the place, he looked vp and ſaw Zaccheus.
As Zaccheus ranne before to ſee Chriſt, ſo Chriſt followed after to ſee Zaccheus. Sathan for his part, went about like a roaring Lyon, 1, Pet. 5, 8ſeeking to deuoure him, but Chriſt for his part,Iohn, 10 goeth about like a good Sheepeheard, minding to ſaue him.Luke, 11, 21 And although Sathan a ſtrong armed man, had taken ſome poſſeſsion in ye heart of Zaccheus, yet Chriſt a ſtronger then he, commeth vnarmed, and taketh from him his harneſſe wherein hee truſted, and reſcueth the ſpoyle.
Chriſt comes to the place where Zaccheus was, becauſe otherwiſe, it had been vnpoſsible for Zaccheus to come to his preſence: for vnleſſe the Lorde vouchſafe to come vntounto vsus, we cannot attaine to the preſence of God. As no man might hauehave anie acceſſe to King Aſſuerus, Heſter. 4except hee ſtretched out his golden Scepter, ſo no man may come to Chriſt, vnleſſe hee be called by the golden ſcepter of his ſacred word.
Chriſt looked vp and ſaw Zaccheus, before Zaccheus could looke down to behold him. Thus doth the Lord preuent vsus with his merciemercy, whome hee might caſt off in his iuſtice: and if hee perceiue in vsus a willing minde to come vntounto him, he is content to come firſt vntounto vsus. And like that good Father, Luke, Luke, 1515. to beholde vsus while wee are yet a great way off, and to hauehave compaſsion on vsus.
When Iobs three friends that came to viſite him in his great calamitie,Iob. 2. 12. lift vp their eyes a farre of, they knewe not Iob, becauſe he was ſo ſore afflicted: but Chriſt who is the myrror of true friendſhip, cannot ſo ſoone forget his friendes, howſoeuer they be diſguiſed. He knoweth his owne ſheepe where ſoeuer hee ſeethe them.Iohn, 10, Iohn 10. whether they be vnderunder the figge-tree as Nathaniell was,Iohn. 1. or vppon the figge-tree as Zaccheus was, he hath reſpect vntounto them. And if they hauehave a deſire to ſeeke, they ſhall be ſure to find.Math. 7. Math, 7. And if they labour and are heauie laden,Math. 11. he will refreſh them. Math. 11. Chriſt is nowe come to the place where Zaccheus is to be called, and as Abraham, Gene. Gene. 22.22. lift vp his eyes and ſaw in the buſhe a Ramme that was to be ſacrificed, ſo Chriſt lifting vp his eyes, ſawe in the tree, Zaccheus the ſinner that was to bee conuerted. And now beginnes the conuerſion of Zaccheus, for now Chriſt beginnes to ſpeake vntounto him.
Zaccheus deſired onelyonly to ſee Chriſt, but now Chriſt calleth him by name, and offereth hys owne ſelfe vntounto him. This was more then Zaccheus expected, and yet no more then Chriſt vouchſafeth, namelie, to giuegive more then is deſired. The ſicke of the Palſey that asked health,Luke. 5. obtained alſo forgiueneſſe of ſinnes. Salomon deſired wiſedome,1. Kings, 3, 12. 13. and the Lord gaue him wiſedome & aboundance of wealth beſide. Iacob asked but meate and clothing,Gen. 28 20. and God made him a great rich man. And Zaccheus deſired onelyonly to hauehave a ſight of Chriſt, and was ſo happie as to entertaine him into hys houſe.
Thus the Lord that is rich in mercy to all that call vppon him,Rom. 10. 12. pheſ. 2. 4. vſeth oftentimes to giuegive more then wee aske: and hee that is alwaies found of them that ſeeke him with their whole heart,Ierem, 29. is founde alſo ſometime of Gentiles that knew not God.Eſay, 65. 1. Eſa. 65. 1. Let vsus therefore that were ſometime ſinners of the Gentiles,Rom. 10. 20 ſeeke the Lord as Zaccheus did while he may be founde,Eſay, 55. and call vppon him while hee is nigh. Hee will be found of them that ſeeke him heartilie, and is nigh to all them that call vppon him faithfully. Pſalm. Pſalm, 145,145. 18.
Zaccheus come downe at once. Now Chriſt begins to call Zaccheus from the tree to be conuerted, as God called Adam from among the trees of the Garden to be curſed.Gene, 3. Gene, 3. Before, Zaccheus was too lowe, and therefore was faine to climbe, but nowe he is too high, and therefore hee muſt come downe. And we (for the moſt part) are either too high, or too low, too hot or too cold, too quick, or too ſlothfull in the Lords buſines. Somtime wee flock together to heare a Sermon,Luke. 5 like the people Luke, 5, that preſſed vponupon Chriſt to heare the word: and anone wee runne to ſee ſome pleaſant paſttime, like the Athenians, Acts. 17whoſe eares alwaies itched to heare ſome newes. Who make more ſhewe of conſcience and religion, then they that ſhewe themſelues moſt irreligious and vnconſcionable? Who ſeemed more confident and vertuous in Chriſt hys cauſe then Peter? Math, 26and not long after, who more trayterous and faint-harted.
Many can ſaie with Peter, that they will not ſtick to die before they will denye Chriſt, but when it comes to the tryall they are readie to abiure Chriſt and his religion, before they will hazarde either life or lyuing.
He that will come to Chriſt, muſt come at once, without delay, for delays (ſpecially in the matter of our ſaluation) are moſt daungerous, & repentance may not be deferred. We muſt make no tarrying to turne vntounto the Lord, Eccle, 5, 7nor put off from day to day, leaſt the wrath of the Lord breake forth ſudainelie and we be deſtroyed in our ſecuritie and periſh in the time of vengeance. When the Lord is minded to doe vsus good, he wil hauehave vsus come quickly like Ioſeph, Gene, Gene. 4545. 6. that in the tyme of famine, would hauehave his Father Iacob to come downe quickly vntounto him, to ſoiourne in Egypt, where there was ſome plentie of foode.
As the children of thys world are verie nimble to worke wickednes, ſo the children of light, ſhoulde be as nimble to followe goodneſſe. Iudas was nimble to betraie Chriſt, Iohn. 13. 27. and the badde debters, Luke. Ioh, 13, 2716.Luke, 16 could ſitte downe quickly to misreckon their creditor: ſo let vsus come quicklie to heare of Chriſt, that Chriſt may accept of vsus quicklie, let vsus be nimble to make our account before,Luke, 14. 28 that we doe not (lyke the fooliſh builder) come ſhort of our reckoning.
But why muſt Zaccheus come downe ſo haſtily? euen to entertaine Chriſt into hys houſe. For to day (ſayth Chriſt) I muſt abide with thee. This was ioyfull newes to little Zaccheus. Not long before, he wanted meanes to ſee Chriſt, but now he hath opportunitie to entertaine him into his houſe. There was more humanitie in Chriſt then in Zaccheus, for if Chriſt had not bidden himſelfe to dinner, hee had not been bidden for Zaccheus. So if Chriſt doe not offer himſelfe vntounto vsus in his afflicted members, hee may go long enough before we will offer him any entertainment.Math, 25, 40 As often as the poore craueth anie reliefe at our handes, let vsus imagine that Chriſt asketh ſomething of vsus: but as Zaccheus muſt entertaine him preſently without delay, ſo let vsus be readie to helpe them preſently, becauſe they ſtand in neede of preſent helpe. And as hee muſt receiue Chriſt into his houſe, ſo wee muſt make account to receiue his needie members into our houſes:Luke, 16. And as the vniuſt Steward procureth himſelfe friendes with his maiſters goodes, ſo let vsus make the poore to be our friendes, by our beneficence and bountie towards them, that ſo receiuing thē (when they hauehave neede) into our earthly houſes, they may receiue vsus when we ſtand in greateſt neede, into euerlaſting habitations.
They that were inuited to the marriage, Math. Math. 22.22. refuſed to come, but Chriſt is content to come to Zaccheus houſe before he was inuited. Wherein alſo, hee ſheweth his great humilitie, in comming before hee was requeſted, as they bewrayed their great arrogancie, in refuſing to come beeing ſolemnely bidden. It was a part of great humilitie, that he that was moſt free from ſinne, woulde vouchſafe to come into a ſinners houſe: but it was a ſigne of greater humilitie, that he would be wray his great neceſſitie, & ſeeke for ſuccour at a ſinners hand.
Alas poore humble Sauiour, who though thou be Lord of heauen and earth, as thou art the ſonne of God, yet as thou art the ſonne of man, haſt not whereon to lay thy head, Math. Math. 8.8. How iuſtly did thy Prophet Ieremy wonder at thy humble pouerty, ſaying. O thou hope of Iſraell, the Sauiour thereof in the time of trouble, Iere. 14.why art thou as a ſtraunger in the land, or as one that paſſeth by to tarry for a night? The ſonne of GOD vouchſafeth to come and that vnrequeſted, to a ſinfull mans houſe, a ſpeciall fauour: but hee diſdaineth not to make his neceſsity knowne vntounto him, O ſtraunge humilitie!
Heere therefore appeareth the ſinguler humanitie and great humilitie of Chriſt to ſinfull men; he offereth himſelfe to bee their gueſt if he finde them willing to entertaine him for their gueſt. And Zaccheus no doubt was willing to entertaine him: for although Chriſt heard not the voyce, yet he heard the affection of Zaccheus inuiting him to dynner. As therefore Zaccheus was willing to receiue Chriſt into his houſe, ſo let vsus be ready to receiue him into our harts. For as Chriſt ſayd to Zaccheus: This day I muſt abide at thy houſe, ſo he ſaith to eueryevery one of vsus, This day I muſt abide in your harts.
Wherefore as the Prophet Dauid ſayth,Pſalm, 24 Open your gates that the King of glorie may come in, ſo I ſay vntounto you, Open your hartes that the word of God may enter in. This daie the word of God may abide in your harts, for thys day the word is preached vntounto you, and who knoweth whether he ſhall liue to heare it the next Saboth.Pſal, 95 To day therefore if ye will heare his voyce, harden not your hearts: as did ye Iſraelites, leaſt if you harden your harts, his voice be heard no more amōgſt you. This day you may gather this heauenlie Manna, as the Iſralites might gather theyr Manna ſixe dayes together,Exod, 16 but to morrow (perhaps) and ſixe dayes after you, may not gather it, as on the ſeauenth day Manna might not be found.
The Lord graunt that you may gather ſufficient foode for the ſuſtentation of your ſoules, that as Elias the Prophet iournied in the ſtrength of the meate that the Angell brought him,1, Reg. 19. euen vntounto Horeb the Mount of God, ſo you in the ſtrength of this ſpirituall meate which heere I bring you, may be able to paſſe thorowe the daungerous wayes of this troubleſome worlde, vntounto Gods holy Mountaine, the Hauen of all happineſſe, whither hee bring vsus that hath deerely bought vsus with his precious bloud, euen Chriſt Ieſus the righteous: to whome with the Father and the holy Ghoſt, three perſons and one GOD, be giuen all glorie and maieſtie, world without, end Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Henry Smith, The Sinners Conversion (1594)