Fifteen Sermons, Sermon 9
SERMON IX.
THE CONVERSION OF ZACCHEUS.
LUKE xix. 9, 10.
And Jeſus ſaid unto him, This day is ſalvation come to this houſe, foraſmuch as he alſo is the ſon of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to ſeek and to ſave that which was loſt.
SALVATION, every where through the whole ſcripture, is ſaid to be the free gift of God, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. Not only free, becauſe God is a ſovereign agent, and therefore may withhold it from, or confer it on, whom he pleaſeth; but free, becauſe there is nothing to be found is man, that can any way induce God to be merciful unto him. The righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt is the ſole cauſe of our finding favour in God's light: This righteouſneſs apprehended by faith (which is alſo the gift of God) makes it our own; and this faith, if true, will work by love.
Theſe are parts of thoſe glad tidings which are publiſhed in the goſpel; and of the certainty of them, next to the expreſs word of God, the experience of all ſuch as have been ſaved, is the beſt, and as I take it, the moſt unbounded proof. That God might teach us every way, he has been pleaſed to live upon record many inſtances of the power of his grace exerted in the ſalvation, of ſeveral perſons, that we hearing how he dealt with them, might from thence inter the manner we muſt expect to be dealt with ourſelves, and learn in what way we muſt look for ſalvation, if we truly deſire to be made partakers of the inheritance with the ſaints in light.
The converſion of the perſon referred to in the text, I think will be of no ſmall ſervice to us in this matter, if rightly improved. I would hope, moſt of you know who the perſon is, to whom the Lord Jeſus ſpeaks; it is the Publican Zaccheus, to whoſe houſe the bleſſed Jeſus ſaid, ſalvation came, and whom he pronounces a ſon of Abraham.
It is my deſign (God helping) to make ſome remarks upon his converſion recorded at large in the preceding verſes, and then to inforce the latter part of the text, as an encouragement to po… … done ſinners to come to Jeſus Chriſt. For the Son of man is come to ſeek and to ſave that which was loſt.
The evangeliſt Luke introduces the account of this man's converſion thus, ver. 1. And Jeſus entered and paſſed through Jericho. The holy Jeſus made it his buſineſs to go about doing good. As the ſun in the firmament is continually ſpreading his benign, quickening, and cheering influences over the natural; ſo the Son of Righteouſneſs aroſe with healing under his wings, and was daily and hourly diffuſing his gracious influences over the moral world. The preceding chapter acquaints us of a notable miracle wrought by the holy Jeſus on a poor blind Bartime…; and in this, a greater preſents itſelf to our conſideration. The evangeliſt would have us take particular notice of it; for he introduces it with the word behold: And behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, who was the chief among the Publicans, and he was rich.
Well might the evangeliſt uſher in the relation of this man's converſion with the word behold! For, according to human judgment, how many inſurmountable obſtacles lay in the way of it! Surely no, one will ſay there was any fitneſs in Zaccheus for …vation; for we are told that he was a Publican, and therefore in all probability a notorious ſinner. The Publicans were gatherers of the Roman taxes; they were infamous for their abominable extortion; their very name therefore became ſo odious, that we find the Phariſees often reproached our Lord, as very wicked, becauſe he was a friend unto and far down to meat with them. Zaccheus then, being a Publican, was no doubt a ſinner; and, being chief among the Publicans, conſequently was chief among ſinners. Nay, he was rich. And one inſpired apoſtle has told us, that not many mighty, not many noble, are called. Another ſaith, God has choſen the poor of this world, rich in faith. And he who was the Maker and the Redeemer of the apoſtles, aſſures 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 God. Let not therefore the rich glory in the multitude of their riches.
But rich as he was, we are told, verſe 3. that "he ſought to ſee Jeſus." And that was a wonder indeed! The common people heard our Lord gladly, and the poor received the Goſpel. The multitude, the very mob, the people that knew not the law, as the proud high-prieſts called them, uſed to follow him on foot into the country, and ſometimes ſtayed 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, perſecuted and ſpoke all manner of evil againſt him, falſely. Let not the miniſters of Chriſt marvel, if they meet with the like treatment from the rich men of this wicked and adulterous generation. I ſhould think it no ſcandal (ſuppoſing it true) to hear it affirmed, that none but the poor attended my miniſtry. Their ſouls are as precious to our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as the ſouls of the greateſt men. They were the poor that attended him in the days of his fleſh: Theſe are they whom he hath choſen to be rich in faith, and to be the greateſt in the kingdom of heaven. Were the rich in this world's goods generally to ſpeak well of me, woe be unto me; I ſhould think it a dreadful ſign that I was only a wolf in ſheep's clothing, that I ſpoke peace, peace, when there was no peace, and propheſied ſmoother things than the goſpel would allow of. Hear ye this, O ye rich. Let who will dare to do it, God forbid that I ſhould deſpiſe the poor; in doing ſo, I ſhould reproach my Maker. The poor are dear to my ſoul; I rejoice to ſee them fly to the doctrine of Chriſt, like the doves to their windows. I only pray that the poor who attend, may be evangelized, and turned into the ſpirit of the goſpel: If ſo, bleſſed are ye; for yours is the kingdom of heaven.
But we muſt return to Zaccheus. He ſought to ſee Jeſus. That is good news. I heartily wiſh I could ſay, it was out of a good principle: But, without ſpeaking contrary to that charity which hopes and believeth all things for the beſt, we may ſay, that the ſame principle drew him after Chriſt, which now draws multitudes (to ſpeak plainly, it may be multitudes of you) to hear a particular preacher, even curioſity: For we are told, that he came not to …ear his doctrine, but to view his perſon, or to uſe the words of the evangeliſt, to ſee who he was. Our Lord's fame was now ſpread abroad through all Jeruſalem, and all the country round about: Some ſaid he was a good man; others, nay, but he deceiveth the people. And therefore curioſity drew out this rich Publican Zaccheus to ſee who this perſon was, of whom he had heard ſuch various accounts. But it ſeems he could not conveniently get a ſight of him for the preſs, and becauſe he was little of ſtature. Alas! how many are kept from ſeeing Chriſt in glory, by reaſon of the preſs. I mean, how many are aſhamed of being ſingularly good, and therefore follow a multitude to do evil, becauſe they have a preſs or throng of polite acquaintance! And, for fear of being ſet at nought by thoſe with whom they uſed to ſet at meat, they deny the Lord of glory, and are aſhamed to confeſs him before men. This baſe, this ſervile fear of man, is the bane of true Chriſtianity; it brings a dreadful ſnare upon the ſoul, and is the ruin of ten thouſands: For I am fully perſuaded, numbers are rationally convicted of goſpel truths; but, not being able to brook contempt, they will not proſecute their convictions, nor reduce them to practice. Happy thoſe, who in this reſpect, at leaſt, like Zaccheus, reſolved to overcome all impediments that lie in their way to a ſight of Chriſt: For finding he could not ſee Chriſt becauſe of the preſs, and the littleneſs of his natural ſtature, he did not ſmite upon his breaſt, and depart, ſaying, It is in vain to ſeek after a ſight of him any longer, I can never attain unto it. No, finding he could not ſee Chriſt, if he continued in the midſt of the preſs, he run before the multitude, and climbed up into a ſycamore-tree, to ſee him; for he was to paſs that way.
There is no ſeeing Chriſt in glory, unleſs we run before the multitude, and are willing to be in the number of thoſe deſpiſed few, who take the kingdom of God by violence. The broad way, in which ſo many go, can never be that ſtraight and narrow way which leads to life. Our Lord's flock was, and always will be, comparatively a little one: And unleſs we dare to run before the multitude in a holy ſingularity, and can rejoice in being accounted fools for Chriſt's ſake, we ſhall never ſee Jeſus with comfort, when he appears in glory. From mentioning the ſycamore-tree, and conſidering the difficulty with which Zaccheus muſt climb it, we may farther learn, that thoſe who would ſee Chriſt, muſt undergo other difficulties and hardſhips, beſides contempt. Zaccheus, without doubt, went through both. Did not many, think you, laugh at him … 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 ſtation, he ran before a pitiful, giddy mob, and climbed up a ſycamore-tree, to ſee an enthuſiaſtic preacher! But Zaccheus cares not for all that; his curioſity was ſtrong: If he could but ſee who Jeſus was, he did not value what ſcoffers ſaid of him. Thus, and much more will it be with all thoſe who have an effectual deſire to ſee Jeſus in heaven: They will go on from ſtrength to ſtrength, break through every difficulty lying in their way, and care not what men or devils ſay of or do unto them. May the Lord make us all thus minded, for his dear Son's ſake!
At length, after taking much pains, and going (as we may well ſuppoſe) through much contempt, Zaccheus has climbed the tree; and there he …its, as he thinks, hid in the leaves of it, and watching when he ſhould ſee Jeſus paſs by: For he was to paſs by that way.
But ſing, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth! Praiſe, magnify, and adore ſovereign, electing, free, preventing love; Jeſus the everlaſting God, the Prince of peace, who ſaw Nathaniel under the fig-tree, and Zaccheus from eternity, now ſees him in the ſycamore-tree, and calls him in time.
Ver. 5. And when Jeſus came to the place, he looked up, and ſaw him, and ſaid unto him, Zaccheus, make haſte and come down; for this day I muſt abide at thy houſe. Amazing love! Well might Luke uſher in the account with behold! It is worthy of our higheſt admiration. When Zaccheus thought of no ſuch 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 the houſe of Zaccheus, ſaying, Zaccheus, make haſte and 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 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: therefore he muſt abide at his houſe, that day. For whom he did predeſtinate, them he alſo called.
Here then, as through a glaſs, we may ſee 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 ſo, but rich, and came to ſee Chriſt only out of curioſity: but ſovereign grace triumphs over all. And if we do God juſtice, and are effectually wrought upon, we muſt acknowledge there was no more fitneſs in us than in Zaccheus; and, had not Chriſt prevented us by his call, we had remained dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, and alienated from the divine life, even as others. Jeſus looked up, and ſaw him, and ſaid unto him, Zaccheus; make haſte and come down; for this day I muſt abide at thy houſe.
With what different emotions of heart may we ſuppoſe Zaccheus received this invitation? Think you not that he was ſurpriſed to hear Jeſus Chriſt call him by name, and not only ſo, but invite himſelf to his houſe? Surely, thinks Zaccheus, I dream: it cannot be; how ſhould he know me? I never ſaw him before: beſides, I ſhall undergo much contempt, if I receive him under my …. Thus, I ſay, we may ſuppoſe Zaccheus th… … within himſelf. But what ſaith the ſcripture? I will make a willing people in the day of my power. With this outward call, there went an efficacious power from God, which ſweetly over-ruled his natural will: and therefore, verſe 6. He made haſte, 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 alſo by his Spirit. Hereby they are enabled to open their hearts, and are made willing to receive the King of glory. For Zaccheus' ſake, let us not entirely condemn people that come unto the word, out of no better principle than curioſity, Who knows, but God may call them? It is good to be where the Lord is paſſing by. May all who are now preſent out of this principle, hear the voice of the Son of God ſpeaking to their ſouls, and ſo hear that they may live! Not that men ought therefore to take encouragement to come out of curioſity. For perhaps a thouſand more, at other times, came to ſee Chriſt out of curioſity, as well as Zaccheus, who were not effectually called by his grace. I only mention this for the encouragement of my own ſoul, and the conſolation of God's children, who are too apt to be angry with thoſe who do not attend on the word out of love to God: but let them alone. Brethren, pray for them. How do you know but Jeſus Chriſt may ſpeak to their hearts? A few words from Chriſt applied by his Spirit, will ſave their ſouls. Zaccheus, ſays Chriſt, make … and come down. And he made haſte, and came down, and received him joyfully.
I have obſerved in holy ſcripture, how particularly it is remarked, that perſons rejoiced upon believing in Chriſt. Thus the converted Eunuch went on his way rejoicing; thus the jailor rejoiced with his whole houſe; thus Zaccheus received Chriſt joyfully. And well may thoſe rejoice who receive Jeſus Chriſt; for with him they receive righteouſneſs, ſanctification, and eternal redemption. Many have brought up an ill report upon our good land, and would fain perſuade 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 righteouſneſs, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoſt. To rejoice in the Lord, is a goſpel duty. Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I ſay, rejoice. And who can be ſo joyful, as thoſe who know that their pardon is ſealed before they go hence and are no more ſeen? The godly may, but cannot … how many ungodly men can rejoice: … cannot be truly cheerful. What if wicked … have laughter amongſt them? … the laughter of fools; in the midſt of it …; at the beſt, it is but like the … of thorns under a pot; It makes a blaze, … goes out. But, as for the godly, it is not … them; their joy is ſolid and laſting. As … joy that a ſtranger intermedieth not with, ſo … a joy that no man taketh from them, it is a joy in God, a joy unſpeakable and full of glory.
It ſhould ſeem that Zaccheus was under … but a little while; "perhaps," ſays Guthric, in his book intitled, the trial concerning a ſaving intereſt in Chriſt, not above a quarter of an hour; I add, perhaps not ſo long: For as one obſerves, ſometimes the Lord Jeſus delights in deliver ſpeedily. God is a ſovereign agent, and works upon his children in their effectual calling, according to the counſel of his eternal will. It is with the ſpiritual, as natural birth: All … have not the like pangs; all Chriſtians have not the like degree of conviction. But all agree in this, that all have Jeſus Chriſt formed in their hearts! And thoſe who have not ſo many trials at …; may be viſited with the greater conflicts hereafter; though they never come into bondage again, after they have once received the ſpirit of adoption. We have not (ſays Paul) received the ſpirit of bondage again unto fear. We know not what Zaccheus underwent before he died: However this one thing I know, he now believed in Chriſt, and was juſtified, or acquitted, and looked upon as righteous in God's ſight, though a Publican chief among the Publicans, not many moments before. And thus it is with all, that, like Zaccheus, receive Jeſus Chriſt, by faith into their hearts. The very moment they find reſt in him, they are freely juſtified from all things from which they could not be juſtified by the law of Moſes; for by grace are we ſaved, through faith, and that not of ourſelves, it is the gift of God.
Say not within yourſelves this is a licentious, Antinomian doctrine; for this faith, if true, will work by love, and be productive of the fruits of holineſs. See an inſtance in this convert Zaccheus: No ſooner had he received Jeſus Chriſt by faith into his heart, but he evidences it by his works; For ver. 8. we are told Zaccheus ſtood forth, and ſaid unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods … give unto the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by falſe accuſation, I reſtore him fourfold.
Having believed on Jeſus in his heart, he now makes confeſſion of him with his mouth to ſalvation. Zaccheus ſtood forth: He was not aſhamed, but ſtood forth before his brother Publicans; for true faith caſts out all ſervile, ſinful fear of men; And ſaid, Behold, Lord. It is remarkable, how readily people in ſcripture have owned the divinity of Chriſt immediately, upon their converſion. Thus the woman at Jacob's well; Is not this the Chriſt? Thus the man born blind; Lord, I believe; and worſhipped him. Thus Zaccheus, "Behold, Lord." An inconteſtitle proof this to me, that thoſe who deny our Lord's divinity, never effectually felt his power: If they had, they would not ſpeak ſo lightly of him; they would ſcorn to deny his eternal power and Godhead. Zaccheus ſtood forth, and ſaid, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken any thing from any man by falſe accuſation, I reſtore him fourfold. Noble fruits of a true living faith in the Lord Jeſus! Every word calls for our notice. Not ſome 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; …, I give now, even now. Zaccheus would be his own executor. For whilſt 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 linnen, of whom he might be recompenſed again; but to the poor, the maimed, the halt, the blind, from which he could expect no recompenſe till the reſurrection of the dead. "I give to the poor." But knowing that he muſt be juſt, before be could be charitable, and conſcious to himſelf that in his public adminiſtrations he had wronged many perſons, he adds, And, If I have taken any thing from any man by falſe accuſation, I reſtore him fourfold. Hear ye this, all ye that make no conſcience of cheating the king of his taxes, or of buying or ſelling run goods. If ever God gives you true faith you will never reſt, till, like Zaccheus, you have made reſtitution to the utmoſt of your power. I ſuppoſe, before his converſion he thought it no harm to cheat thus, no more than you may do now, and pleaſed himſelf frequently, to be ſure, that he got rich by doing ſo: But now he is grieved for it at his heart; he confeſſes his injuſtice before men, and promiſes to make ample reſtitution. Go, ye cheating Publicans, learn of Zaccheus, go away and do likewiſe; if you do not make reſtitution here, the Lord Jeſus ſhall make you confeſs your ſins 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 reaſon might our Lord ſay unto him, This day is ſalvation come to this houſe; foraſmuch as he is the ſon of Abraham; not ſo much by a natural as by a ſpiritual birth. He was made partaker of like precious faith with Abraham: Like Abraham, he believed on the Lord, and it was accounted to him for righteouſneſs: His faith, like Abraham's, worked by love; and I doubt not, but he has been long ſince ſitting In Abraham's harbour.
And now are you not aſhamed of yourſelves, who ſpeak againſt the doctrines of grace eſpecially that doctrine of being juſtified by faith alone, as though it leaded to licentiouſneſs? What can … more unjuſt than ſuch a charge? Is not the inſtance of Zaccheus a ſufficient proof to the contrary? Have I ſtrained it to ſerve my own turn? God forbid. To the beſt of my knowledge I have ſpoken the truth in ſincerity, and the truth as it is in Jeſus. I do affirm that we are ſaved by grace, and that we are juſtified by faith alone: But I do alſo affirm, that faith muſt be evidenced by good works where there is an opportunity of performing them.
What therefore has been ſaid of Zaccheus, may ſerve as a rule, whereby all may judge whether they have faith or not, You ſay you have faith; but how do you prove it? Did you ever hear the Lord Jeſus call you by name? Were you ever made to obey that call? Did you ever, like Zaccheus, receive Jeſus Chriſt joyfully into your hearts? Are you influenced, by the faith you ſay you have, to ſtand up and confeſs the Lord Jeſus before men? Were you ever made willing to own, and humble yourſelves for, your paſt offences? Does your faith work by love, ſo that you conſcientiouſly lay up, according as God has proſpered you, for the ſupport of the poor? Do you give alms of all things that you poſſeſs? And have you made due reſtitution to thoſe you have wronged? If ſo, happy are ye; ſalvation is come to your ſouls; you are ſons, you are daughters of, you ſhall ſhortly be everlaſtingly bleſſed with faithful Abraham. But, if you are not thus minded, do not deceive your own ſouls; though you may talk of juſtification by faith, like angels, it will do you no good; it will only increaſe your damnation. You hold the truth, but it is in unrighteouſneſs: Your faith being without works, is dead; you have the devil, not Abraham, for your father. Unleſs you get a faith of the heart, a faith working by love, with devils and damned ſpirits ſhall you dwell for evermore.
But it is now time to enforce the latter part of the text; For the Son of man is come to ſeek and to ſave that which was loſt. Theſe words are ſpoken by our Saviour, in anſwer to ſome ſelf-righteous Phariſees, who inſtead of rejoicing with the angels in heaven, at the converſion of ſuch a ſinner, murmured, that he was gone to be gueſt with a man that was a ſinner. To vindicate his conduct, he tells them, that this was an act agreeable to the deſign of his coming; For the Son of man is come to ſeek and to ſave that which was loſt. He might have ſaid, the "Son of God." But O the wonderful condeſcenſion of our Redeemer! He delights to ſtyle himſelf the Son of man. He came not only to ſave, but to ſeek and to ſave that which was loſt. He came to Jericho to ſeek and ſave Zaccheus; for otherwiſe Zaccheus would never have been ſaved by him. But from whence came he? Even from heaven, his dwelling-place, to this lower earth, this vale of tears, to ſeek and ſave that which was loſt; or all that feel themſelves loſt, and are willing, like Zaccheus, to receive him into their hearts to ſave them; with how great a ſalvation? even from the guilt, and alſo from the power of their ſins; to make them heirs of God, and joint heirs with himſelf, and partakers of that glory which he enjoyed with the Father before the world began. Thus will the Son of man ſave that which is loſt. He was made the Son of man, on purpoſe that he might ſave them. He had no other end but this in leaving his Father's throne, in obeying the moral law, and hanging upon the croſs: All that was done and ſuffered, merely to ſatisfy, and procure a righteouſneſs for poor, loſt undone ſinners, and that too without reſpect of perſons. "That which was loſt:" all of every nation and language, that feel, bewail, and are truly deſirous of being delivered from their loſt ſtate, did the Son of man come down to ſeek and to ſave: For he is mighty, not only ſo, but willing, to ſave to the uttermoſt all that come to God thro' him; he will in no wiſe caſt them out. For he is the ſame to-day, as he was yeſterday. He comes now to ſinners, as well as formerly; and, I hope, hath ſeat me out this day to ſeek, and, under him, to bring home ſome of you, the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael.
What ſay you? Shall I go home rejoicing, ſaying, that many like ſheep, have gone aſtray, but they have now believed on Jeſus Chriſt, and ſo returned home to the great Shepherd and Biſhop of their ſouls? If the Lord would be pleaſed thus to proſper my handy-work, I care not how many legaliſts and ſelf-righteous Phariſees murmur againſt me, for offering ſalvation to the worſt of ſinners; For I know the Son of man came to ſeek and to ſave them; and the Lord Jeſus will now be a gueſt to the worſt Publican, the vileſt ſinner that is amongſt you, if he does but believe on him. Make haſte then, O ſinners, make haſte, and come by faith to Chriſt. Then, this day, even this hour, nay this moment, if you believe, Jeſus Chriſt ſhall come and make his eternal abode in your hearts. Which of you is made willing to receive the King of glory? Which of you obeys the call, as Zaccheus did? Alas! why do you ſtand ſtill? How know you, whether Jeſus Chriſt may ever call you again? Come then, poor, guilty ſinners; come away, poor, loſt, undone Publicans: Make haſte, I ſay, and come away to Jeſus Chriſt. The Lord condeſcends to invite himſelf to come under the filthy roofs of the houſes of your ſouls. Do not be afraid of entertaining him; he will fill you with all peace and joy in believing. Do not be aſhamed to run before the multitude, and to have all manner of evil ſpoken againſt you falſely for his ſake: One ſight of Chriſt will make amends for all. Zaccheus was laughed at; and all that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, ſhall ſuffer perſecution. But what of that? Zaccheus is now crowned in glory; as you alſo ſhall ſhortly be, if you believe on, and are reproached for Chriſt's ſake. Do not, therefore, put me off with frivolous excuſes; there is no excuſe can be given for your not coming to Chriſt. You are loſt, undone, without him; and if he is not glorified in your ſalvation, he will be glorified in your deſtruction: if he does not come and make his abode in your hearts, you muſt take up an eternal abode with the devil and his angels. O that the Lord would be pleaſed to paſs by ſome of you at this time! O that he may call you by his Spirit, and make you a willing people in this day of his power! For I know my calling will not do, unleſs he, by his efficacious grace, compel you to come in. O that you once felt what it is to receive Jeſus Chriſt into your hearts! You would ſoon, like Zaccheus, give him every thing. You do not love Chriſt, becauſe you do not know him; you do not come to him, becauſe you do not feel your want of him: you are whole and not broken-hearted; you are not ſick, at leaſt not ſenſible of your ſickneſs; and, therefore, no wonder you do not apply to Jeſus Chriſt, that great, that almighty phyſician. You do not feel yourſelves loſt, and therefore do not ſeek to be found in Chriſt. O that God would wound you with the ſword of his Spirit, and cauſe his arrows of conviction to ſtick deep in your hearts! O that he would dart a ray of divine light into your ſouls! For if you do not feel yourſelves loſt without Chriſt, you are of all men moſt miſerable: your ſouls are dead; you are not only an image of hell, but in ſome degree hell itſelf: you carry hell about with you, and you know it not. O that I could ſee ſome of you ſenſible of this, and hear you cry out, Lord, break this hard heart; Lord, deliver me from the body of this death; draw me, Lord make me willing to come after thee; I am loſt; Lord, ſave me, or I periſh! Was this your caſe, how ſoon would the Lord ſtretch forth his almighty hand, and ſay, be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid? What a wonderful calm would then poſſeſs your troubled ſouls! Your fellowſhip would then be with the Father and the Son: Your life would be hid with Chriſt in God.
Some of you, I hope, have experienced this, and can ſay, I was loſt, but I am found; I was dead, but am alive again. The Son of man came and ſought me in the day of his power, and ſaved my ſinful ſoul. And do you repent that you came to Chriſt? Has he not been a good Maſter? Is not his preſence ſweet to your ſouls? Has he not been faithful to his promiſe? And have you not found, that even in doing and ſuffering for him, there is an exceeding preſent great reward? I am perſuaded you will anſwer, Yes. O then, ye ſaints, recommend and talk of the love of Chriſt to others, and tell them, what great things the Lord has done for you! This may encourage others to come unto him. And who knows but the Lord may make you fiſher of men? The ſtory of Zaccheus was left on record for this purpoſe. No truly convicted ſoul, after ſuch an inſtance of divine grace has been laid before him, need deſpair of mercy, What if you are Publicans? Was not Zaccheus a Publican? What if you are chief among the Publicans? Was not Zaccheus likewiſe? What if you are rich? Was not Zaccheus rich alſo? And yet almighty grace made him more than conqueror over all theſe hindrances. All things are poſſible to Jeſus Chriſt▪ nothing is too hard for him: he is the Lord almighty. Our mountains of ſins muſt all fall before this great Zerubbabel. On him God the Father has laid the iniquities of all that ſhall truly believe; and in his own body he bare them on the tree. There, there by faith, O mourners in Sion, may you ſee your …aviour hanging with arms ſtretched out, and … him, as it were, thus ſpeaking to your ſouls; Behold how I have loved you! Behold my hands and my feet! Look, look into my wounded ſide, and ſee a heart flaming with love: Love ſtronger than death▪ Come into my arms, O ſinners, come waſh your ſpotted ſouls in my heart's blood. See here is a fountain opened for all ſin and uncleanneſs! See, O guilty ſouls, how the wrath of God is now abiding upon you: Come, haſte away, and hide yourſelves in the clefts of my wounds; for I am wounded for your tranſgreſſions; I am dying that you may live for evermore. Behold, as Moſes lifted up the ſerpent in the wilderneſs, ſo I am here lifted up upon a tree. See how I am become a curſe for you: The chaſtiſement of your peace is upon me. I am thus ſcourged, thus wounded, thus crucified, that you by my ſtripes may be healed. O look unto me all ye trembling ſinners, even to the ends of the earth! Look unto me by faith, and you ſhall be ſaved: For … came thus to be obedient even unto death, that I might ſave that which was loſt.
And what ſay you to this, O ſinners? Suppoſe you ſaw the King of glory dying, and thus ſpeaking to you; would you believe on him? No, you would not, unleſs you believe on him now: For though he is dead, he yet ſpeaketh all this in the ſcripture; nay, in effect, ſays all this in the words of the text, The Son of man is come to ſeek and to ſave that which was loſt. Do not therefore any longer crucify the Lord of glory: Bring thoſe rebels, your ſins, which will not have him to reign over them, bring them out to him: Though you cannot ſlay them yourſelves, yet he will ſlay them for you. The power of his death and reſurrection is as great now as formerly. Make haſte therefore, make haſte, O ye Publicans and ſinners, and give the dear Lord Jeſus your heart…, your whole hearts. If you refuſe to hearken to this call of the Lord, remember your damnation will be juſt: I am free from the blood of you all: You muſt acquit my Maſter and me at the terrible day of judgment. O that you may know the things that belong to your everlaſting peace, before they are eternally hid from your eyes! Let all that love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in ſincerity, ſay, Amen.