is at the bottom of our hearts, though men are never so low in the world, never so poor in knowledge, never so little in grace, let them be assured, if they are willing, there is a way to see Jesus.

5. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house.

It was happy for Zacchæus that Jesus observed him. He saw him through and through, knew what brought him to the place, and perceived what was in his heart. So he sees every one of us, at the moment when our wills turn to him. Christ said to him, Come down, make haste; so he says in effect to all who express a real desire to see him by the eye of faith, and to embrace him. "For to-day I must abide at thy house." These are sweet words to a fainting soul! And wherever he comes, it is to abide always, if it is not our own fault. Has he been knocking, day by day, at the door of our house, and do we still shut him out? Let the hardened, and unhappily blinded, whosoever they are, know, that as sure as Christ is not there, Satan is.

6. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

Let each one ask, was it ever such a day with me? Can I think of a time when my heart longed for Jesus, and sprang forward to welcome him? Let not any fly to their Christian name and profession, good meanings, outward appearance, or lifeless performances in religion, when there is no inward prizing, or joyful acceptance of Jesus, from a sense of their helpless and undone state.

7. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

He never was a guest with a sinner who proudly says this. Where can he be a guest upon earth, if not with sinners? Sinner, this is joyful news to thee. Thy soul is a polluted lodging for him; but he hath set his love upon

it, and, if thou receivest him, he will make it fit for himself.

8. And Zacchæus stood, and said unto the Lord, 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 return him four-fold.

He promised from that day forward to give the half of his goods. If this command, "Sell all that thou hast, and distribute to the poor," was an absolute command to all, at all times, Christ would have told him at once, that this was not enough. But what we are principally to remark, is the effect of his conversion. He was a changed man, his heart was turned within him, and he was ready to make full proof of it by his actions. say, as he did, “the half of my goods since but few have so much to spare. But we must say, one and all, and we shall say, when Christ comes to us : "Behold, Lord, I give myself wholly up to thee; and whatsoever evil I have done, I am heartily troubled for it, and resolve to do so no more." Till you come to this, all is darkness and self-deceit.

I

How very few can give to the poor,"

"I restore fourfold." This was a great deal more than the law required in case of voluntary restitution. But nevertheless full restitution must be made by all, as far as it is in their power, or else there can be no repentance. This very thing makes the repentance of great numbers almost impossible.

9. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abrahaın.

The meaning of our Saviour was, that salvation was come along with himself, by whom alone, indeed, it can come, and who brings it freely to all. He declares Zacchæus to be a son of Abraham by descent, but now truly so by faith, and conversion. Nothing but this spiritual birth, whether in Jew or Christian, makes a son of Abraham.

10. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Let us

All men are indeed lost, if sin makes us lost.

find a lost state in ourselves, and he will certainly find us. Till then he seeks, but does not save.

SECTION LXIV.

Chap. xix. ver. 11—27,

PARABLE OF THE TEN PIECES OF SILVER.

11. And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

Which they supposed would be a glorious kingdom upon earth, with the Jewish nation at the head of it. Let us not mistake in our day. If we belong to the kingdom of Christ, he has work for us to do in it, and will come in his own time to inquire how we have performed it.

12. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

As Christ has received for himself, and his faithful servants a kingdom. But let us remember the word return.

13. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

Every man has his work, under Christ, assigned him. What kind of Christians are those who never take account of it? Each one of us has sins to be forgiven, an evil nature which needs to be cleansed, and a heart to be turned from the world unto God; and he who says, "Occupy," does not leave you without helps. This should be thought of. Again, attend to the words, "Till I come."

14. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will n have this man to reign over us.

The citizens who hated Christ were the Jews at the

time the parable was spoken, and all persons now who will not see a want of him, or who love their old state better.

15. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

Let us set that time always before our eyes when Christ will call us, and think we hear that call now.

How few know what the Christian's trade is,—consider it as the great business of life,-compute or compare its great advantages,—or keep any regular account of gain and loss, as men do for this world!

16. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

17. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

It is but a very little we have to be faithful in, or can do for Christ; and yet our reward will be unspeakably great; for every pound gained authority over a city. Yea, more, an everlasting kingdom in heaven.

18. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

Why did not he also gain ten? God alone can answer this question. Let us be faithful to our ability, and he will require no more of us; our reward will be in proportion to our gains. But if we make this a pretence for sloth, and think to be accepted for doing nothing, that which follows will strike all our hopes dead.

19. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. A similar diligence has a similar reward.-Edit.

20. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin.

Every one is this hider of his pound, who does not plainly purpose and sincerely endeavour to grow in grace,

and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ; and who does not carry on his work by prayer.

21. For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst

not sow.

God knows what we shall have to say to him at the last day. But this very excuse lies closer to our hearts than we imagine; and though our souls are at stake, many say openly, this, or that is hard. And what is this but making God a hard task-master? What did this man say more?

22. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I

judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow.

Every mouth will be stopped, when God comes to reckon with us, and our consciences will join with him in condemning us. And mark it well; he is a wicked servant, because he is a slothful one. He is condemned, not so much for doing ill, as for doing nothing. perish by idleness, as well as by a stab. Think of thy soul. It is in a sickly, starving condition, and if thou wouldest save it, thou must be working for it day and night.

Our bodies will

23. Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

As if he had said, Why didst thou not endeavour to do what was commanded, if thou thoughtest such a strict account would be required of thee?

24. And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

A reward beyond his desert. The answer of the Lord implies that the servant had been faithful, and therefore he should have more.

25. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

26. For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall