their guiltles blood which is powred forth in euery place without all compassion shall pull downe hasty and sudden vengeance from heauen vppon the heads of those vnmercifull cormorants vnlesse while this time of mercy lasteth they shew mercy to their distressed neighbours Thus you haue heard how Zaccheus behaued himselfe in entertaining of Christ now you shall see the behauiour of the Pharisies in disdaining at Christ When all they saw it they murmured saying that he was gone in to lodge with a sinfull man Before they hated Zaccheus for his vices because he was couetous now they enuy him for his vertues because he was giuen to hospitalitie For the wicked will alwaies haue something to finde fault with in the children of God like the sonnes of Iacob Gen. 37. that hated their brother Ioseph because of his dreames and like Saul that vnhappy King that enuied Dauid for his happy victories 1. Sam. 18. 29. Thus the wicked when they cannot charge the godly with anie grieuous crime they beginne to grudge at their well doing and therefore not onely Zaccheus is hated for receiuing of Christ but Christ is hated also for beeing his guest When they could not accuse Christ for sinne they accuse him for companying with sinners For they must still be accusing some or other for one thing or other like their father the diuell that both by name Reuel 12. 10. and by nature Job 16. 7. is a continuall accuser of the brethren It had beene the dutie of the Pharisies to haue receiued Christ and made much of him as Zaccheus did but they are so far off from entertaining him themselues that it greeueth them to see Zaccheus giue him entertainment And surely such is the peruerse nature of the wicked that they will neither receiue the grace of God when it is offred them nor willingly suffer any other to embrace the same like the wicked Iewes Acts 13. 50. that would neither beleeue the doctrine which Paul preached nor could abide that the Gentiles should be brought to the faith of Christ The high Priests thought themselues too high to haue poore humble Christ amongst them The Scribes and the Pharisies in their owne conceit were too good too wise and too holy to receiue him into their company and not content to sequester and estrange themselues from Christ they disdained also that he should be conuersant with Publicans and sinners as though he were not worthy to be conuersant amongst them If it were the office of Christ to conuert sinners why should the Pharisies be offended at him if he were sometimes Mat. 9. 13. conuersant with sinners to work their connersion If Christ were a Physitian to cure the sicknesse of the soule that is to saue the people from their sinnes why Mat. 9. 13. should the pharisies murmure at him for keeping of company with Zaccheus that was sicke in soule for as it is expedient for the Phisitian to visit his patients for their better recouery so it was conuenient Christ should visit sinners for their speedier conuersion But as the Phisitian that resorteth vnto sicke persons is not straitway infected so the soules Phisitian that conuerseth with sinners is not thereby polluted And therefore as Christ performed his office though the Pharisies murmured so let the ministers of God learne by this example to performe their duties though the wicked be offended It was the office of Christ to call sinners to repentance yea hee came to call Pharisie sinners as wel as Publican sinners if the pharises would haue confessed themselues Luke 18. to be sinners as the Publicans did but because they stood so much vpon their owne righteousnesse and despised others therefore Christ denounceth so many woes against them and preferreth the penitent Publican that Matth. 23. trusted in the Lords mercy before the proud Pharisie that trusted in his owne merits Though Paul was a Pharisie and the sonne of a pharisie yet hee shameth not to confesse himselfe one of the Acts 23. 6. chiefe sinners that Christ came to saue So if the Pharisies that murmured at Zaccheus would haue beene saued they should haue confessed themselues chiefe sinners as Paul did They should not haue accused Christ for 1. Tim. 1. 15. keeping company with sinners but they should haue accused themselues for not keeping company with Christ The iust man saith Salomon Pro. 18. is the first accuser of himselfe but the Pharises are so farre from accusing themselues that they began to accuse Zaccheus Christ together Thus the pharisies of our time that make religion a cloake to couer their corrupt dealing haue this property to thinke other men to be heinous sinners and themselues only to be righteous in so much as they will not sticke to speake like that proud people that was wont to say Depart from me for I am holier then thou and like the presumptuous pharisie Luk. 18. I thank God I am not as others are extortioners vsurers adulterers drūkards or such like I sanctifie the Sabbath which other men prophane I frequent sermons which they neglect J reuerēce the name of God which they blaspheme I pay tith which others withhold and fast oftentimes which they doe seldome or neuer These were the speeches of the Pharisies Mat. 15. 7. Luk. 11. 44. that liued in the time of Christ whom hee so often calleth hypocrits and these are the speeches of the hypopocrits of our age that seeme to liue after the straightest Luke 11. 1. Act. 26. 5. Mat. 23. 25. 27 sect of our religion Acts. 26. They wash the outside of the cup and of the platter that is they iustifie themselues and seeme maruellous holy in the sight of men which can discerne by the outward appearance only but vnto God that seeth and searcheth the secrets of the harts and reines they appeare like painted toombes full of dead mens bones and all filthinesse that is they haue their inward parts full of rauening and all kinde of wickednesse Wherefore as Christ said to his Disciples Except your righteousnes exceed the righteousnes of the Scribes and Pharisies you cannot enter into the Kingdome of heauen Mat. 5. 20. So J say vnto you that except your righteousnesse exceed the righteousnes of these pharisaicall hypocrites ye cannot be saued These holy pharisies did vse to call the publicans not vsurers nor extortioners as they themselues were but by the generall name of sinners as though they themselues were free from sinne Thus the Papists at this day doe vse to call the most sincere professors of the Gospell not Lutherans Caluinists Zwinglians or Protestants as they were wont to call them but now they terme vs hereticks a name more odious then any other whereas in the meane season they themselues are of all others the greatest heretickes So the Atheists of our time when they cannot accuse the godly that are amongst vs of vsurie or briberie or extortion or drunkennesse or any such notorious sinne they call
signifying that by the guiding of the word and spirit of God the Gentiles should come from all the places of the world to embrace Christ Iesus with ioy The second type or figure was Christ his going into Egypt signifying thereby that he should goe from the Iewes to the Gentiles because the Iewes refused him through vnbeliefe abundance of wickednesse want Math. 2. of reformation so we see that nothing can driue away Christ but sinne The third type was Christ whipping the Iewes out of the Temple shewing thereby that the Jewes should bee Mat. 21. 12. whipped or cast out of the spirituall Temple and the Gentiles should occupie it This beloued belongeth vnto vs to whom the Lord so wonderfully hath made his light to shine The fourth figure is the parable of the Vineyard that Mat. 21. 33. was taken from them that possessed it giuen to them that should bring forth the fruits thereof and yeeld better increase vnto the Lord of the vineyard The fift figure was the parable of the two sonnes that were bidden to goe worke in their fathers vineyard Mat. 22. 28. of whom the first said he would and did not the second said he would not and did repent and went to labour in the vineyard the first signified the Iewes which made many vowes with such a shew of godlinesse which was but hypocrisie whom the Lord reiected and cast off and said that the Publicans and sinners should stand in iudgement to condemne the greatest of them The sixt figure was the feast that the Lord made vnto Mat. 22. 2. the disobedient guests whom the Lord inuited to his banquet which was onely ordained for them and who promised to come vnto it and yet refused would not come but alledged slight excuses taken from their loue of earthly and transitory things aboue God Therefore the Lord sent into the hie waies to call and compell the Gentiles to come which came though some left their wedding garments behind them The seuenth type or figure was the vision of Peter in Joppa when he was on the top of the house where hee Act. 10. saw the vessell come downe that had in it all manner of foure footed beasts of the earth and wilde beastes and fowles of the ayre and creeping things where also the voyce said vnto him Arise Peter kill and eat wherein the Lord shewed vnto him that hee should count no man vncleane although the Gentiles then were counted vncleane as were the vncleane beasts set downe in the law of God therefore when Peter was sent for to Cornelius house hee saide Of a truth I perceiue that God hath no respect of persons but in euery nattō he that feareth God worketh Verse 34. righteousnesse is accepted of him Many other examples of our calling as the straied Luke 15. Luk. 5. sheepe the lost groat the prodigall sonne and Christ eating with Publicans sinners which when we reade we should cast our figure and say Of whom is this spoken of the Gentiles then is it of mee for I am a Gentile But am I conuerted if I be not then haue I not fulfilled this prophecie therefore let vs striue to doe well and to mortifie subdue sinne which dwelleth in our mortall bodies for none but the valiant can enter into the kingdome of heauen Now all these prophecies are sulfilled the blinde see the lame goe the dumbe speake the deafe heare the maimed worke the dead are quickened the leapers are cleansed and the poore receiue the Gospell Therefore who wil despaire and say light is not reuealed vnto me when as he seeth it to be reuealed vnto whole Nations And so solemne is our calling as that in so many places of the scripture it is foretold whereby we see how deerely the Lord tendreth our saluation like as a kind spouse which was longed for while she was in a strange countrey for Christ longed for the Gentiles till they came home againe vnto him Therefore let vs now consider what he giueth vs namely righteousnes and saluation first righteousnes then saluation first repentance and then forgiuenesse of sinnes the Sun of the Gospell lest we should see heauen in hell and light in darknesse and ioy in anguishes Let vs not contemne our light or grow carelesse of it let vs not build with one hand and ouerthrow with the other by profanenesse like those men which while they surfetted at their gluttenous tables called vpon God for health Christ is not receiued with the left hand if the Father offering a gift do see the Son stretch foorth his left hand hee will withdraw his gift from him I say let vs not contemne our light as the Iewes contemned their glory For what is light to him that will shut his eies against is What is this light It is such a glorious light and Natth 13. such an excellent reuelation that great and mightie Kings haue earnestly desired to see and Princes haue laid down their crownes to reueale it Let vs embrace this light let vs take and put on the wedding garment and goe to the banquet vnto which a thousand messengers haue inuited vs and alledge none excuses say not I haue married a wife I haue bought Oxen I goe to see a Farme c. and Math. 12. therefore I cannot come neither wil I come Well do so if that yee will needes but remember that thou wast inuited and therefore the blessing shall bee giuen to another and Esau shall weepe for the blessing but shall not Heb. 12. haue it But giue mee a reason I pray thee why thou wilt bee called the seruant of God which dost not serue him or the childe of God which dost not loue him or the disciple of Christ which dost not learne of him yet his raine falleth vpon all iust and vniust and hee giueth thee all things for nothing The Sunne doth giue his light for nothing the dew doth giue his moisture for nothing the riuers doth giue their waters for nothing and the earth doth giue her fruit for nothing What shall wee doe then when the Sunne shineth Rom. 13. Ephes 5. Wee must not doe as wee doe in the darke for then men ought to betake them to their labour Learne of the sauage beasts who as soone as the day springs betake them to their trauell and euery bird welcommeth it with many a sweete song Christ is light and this light is come therefore hee that seeth not now is blinde Are not they then blind which yet see not that praier for the dead is vaine needlesse and bootelesse But thicke darkenesse haue a mighty light to chase it away So that hee which beginneth to roote out some error or superstition at the first shall haue much adoe for custome and naturall corruption are the first causers of heresie and shall crie against her in the maintenance thereof and withstanders of reformation shall say Great is Diana of Ephesus and so
at your hands But as the Priest and the Leuite Luke 10. passed by the wounded man leauing him halfe dead so we for the most part passe by our needy brethren leauing them vnreliued Thus are we euery way disobedient to the voice of Christ He teacheth vs to be humble as he himselfe is Matth. 11. 29. and we waxe proud and insolent as Satan is Hee willeth vs to be mercifull as our heauenly Father is Luke 6. 36. and we are cruell and vnmercifull as the rich Glutton was Luke 16. This is the cause why the earth deceiueth and rendreth not her fruit Esay 24. 5. This is the cause why the sword deuoureth abroad and the pestilence destroyeth at home Deut. 28. 15. Leuit. 26. 24. 25. and in a word this is the cause of all the mischiefes and calamities that are threatned euen because we are obstinate and rebellious against the Lord we are vndutifull and disobedient to the voice of Christ that calleth vs so louingly to come vnto him Math. 11. 28. Zaccheus was called but once he commeth quickly but we are called oftentimes and almost euery day and that by the voyce of Christ himselfe For hee that heareth you saith Christ Luke 10. 16. heareth mee and yet we cannot find the way to Christ The word of God which is the lanterne vnto our feete and the light vnto our paths Psalm 119. hath beene plainely and plentifully preached amongst vs these many yeers and yet many amōgst vs haue not yet learned to come to Christ Zaccheus comes quickly when Christ calleth him let vs therefore learne of Zaccheus to come quickly when Christ calleth vs. We must be quicke in the Lords busines for God cannot abide loyterers standing al the day idle Mat. 20. and as he loueth a cheerfull giuer 2. Cor. 9. 7. so he liketh a cheerfull follower It followeth therefore that Zaccheus receiued him cheerefully Still Zaccheus is a receiuer before he was a receiuer of custome now he is a receiuer of Christ Zaccheus receiued Christ two waies first into his heart when he desired to see him and then into his house when he gaue him hospitalitie Many receiued Christ to house but not into their hearts and therefore receiued him grudgingly but Zaccheus receiued Christ first into his heart and then into his house and therefore receiued him ioyfully Of Zaccheus his ioyfulnesse we must learne to be ioyfull when we do any thing for the cause of Christ we must be glad to harbour Christ in his members as Zaccheus was glad to harbour Christ himselfe As before in comming downe from the tree Zaccheus shewed his obedience so heere in receiuing Christ into his house he sheweth the loue that he bare vnto him If Zaccheus had not loued Christ he might haue sent him to some common Inne But Zaccheus is content to receiue Christ in his owne house yea he reioyceth to haue gotten so good a guest like Abraham Gen. 18. that vsed to sit at the doore of his tent and reioyced to entertaine strangers that went by the way and therefore though Zaccheus were a Gentile borne yet herein he sheweth himselfe the child of Abraham because he doth the works of Abraham Ioh 8. ver 39. So did Abraham and so we must doe if we will shew our selues to be the children of Abraham When Abraham thought only to haue entertained Abraham Gen. 18. 3. men he receiueth the Angels in the shape and likenesse of men and when Zaccheus thought to entertaine the sonne of man he receiueth the sonne of God himselfe Let vs therefore as the Apostle willeth vs. Hebr. 13. 2. be mindfull to entertaine strangers for as much as thereby Lot Gen. 19. 3. some haue receiued Angels into their houses vnawares and why should we not hope to entertaine the like or better guests if we be giuen to hospitalitie as those godly Fathers were For as the Angels came to them in the likenes of men so Christ himselfe comes to vs in the likenes of a poore man of a lame man and of a blind man and when he commeth he commeth hungry or thirsty or naked or harbourlesse or sicke or imprisoned and happy are they that feede or cloath or harbour or visite him when he commeth thus afflicted When Abraham entertained the Angels he was not onely busie himselfe but his wife and all his houshold were carefull to make prouision for them so when Zaccheus receiued Christ into his house his whole familie no doubt were no lesse willing and carefull to entertaine Christ then their Master was and therefore not onely to Zaccheus but euen to his whole house saluation is promised because the whole family reioyced at Christ his comming Let rich men learne of Zaccheus to entertaine Christ in his needy members and let rich mens seruants learne of Zaccheus family to shew themselues mercifull like their mercifull masters that they may receiue the reward of mercy and hospitalitie at the last day Come ye blessed for I was harbourlesse and ye tooke me in Generally as Zaccheus gladly receiued Christ so let euery one that is able be glad to distribute to the necessity Math. 25. of the poore Saints if we haue much let vs giue plentifully if we haue little let vs giue gladly of that little if wee be not able to giue a penny yet happily wee may affoord a morsell of bread if not that yet there is none so needy that cannot giue a cup of cold water and euen so small a gift shall not lose his iust reward Matth. 10. 41. Zaccheus receiued Christ into his heart but many amongst vs are ready to driue Christ out and to receiue Sathan instead of him Zaccheus receiued Christ into his house but there are many rich men amongst vs that like Diues Luke 16. will not affoord poore Lazarus the crummes that fall from their table but as the damosell Acts 12. opened not the doore for ioy when she heard Peters voyce so by contrary these men for verie griefe shut their gates when they perceiue a begger there Finally Zaccheus was ioyfull when he entertained Christ but many amongst vs are sorrowfull when they should relieue the poore like churlish Nabal 1. Samuel 25. that reuiled Dauid when he should haue releeued him So long as Iob prospered hee kept a worthy and a worshipfull house he suffered not the stranger to lie in thee streets but opened his doore to the Trauailer that went by the way Job 31 32. But now many Gentlemen of the country are content to suffer the stranger the fatherlesse and the widow not onely to lie but euen to starue and die in the streets with hunger and cold and neuer receiue them to house or harbour nor affoord them any reliefe or succour But as the voyce of Abels blood did cry from the earth to God for vengeance against Gen. 4. 10. his brothers crueltie so the voyce of the poore and their piteous cries shal enter into the eares of the Lord and