as Abraham Gene. 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 vnto him Zaccheus desired onely to see Christ but now Christ calleth him by name and offereth hys owne selfe vnto him This was more then Zaccheus expected and yet no more then Christ vouchsafeth namelie to giue more then is desired The sicke of the Palsey that asked health obtained also forgiuenesse of sinnes Salomon desired wisedome and the Lord gaue him wisedome aboundance of wealth beside Iacob asked but meate and clothing and God made him a great rich man And Zaccheus desired onely to haue 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 vseth oftentimes to giue more then wee aske and hee that is alwaies found of them that seeke him with their whole heart is founde also sometime of Gentiles that knew not God Esa 65. 1. Let vs therefore that were sometime sinners of the Gentiles seeke the Lord as Zaccheus did while he may be founde 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 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. 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 like the people Luke 5 that pressed vpon Christ to heare the word and anone wee runne to see some pleasant past-past-time like the Athenians whose 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 and 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 vnto the Lord nor 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 vs good he wil haue vs come quickly like Ioseph Gene 45. 6. that in the tyme of famine would haue his Father Iacob to come downe quickly vnto 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 16. could sitte downe quickly to misreckon their creditor so let vs come quicklie to heare of Christ that Christ may accept of vs quicklie let vs be nimble to make our account before 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 vnto vs in his afflicted members hee may go long enough before we will offer him any entertainment As often as the poore craueth anie reliefe at our handes let vs imagine that Christ asketh something of vs but as Zaccheus must entertaine him presently without delay so let vs 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 And as the vniust Steward procureth himselfe friendes with his maisters goodes so let vs make the poore to be our friendes by our beneficence and bountie towards them that so receiuing thē when they haue neede into our earthly houses they may receiue vs when we stand in greatest neede into euerlasting habitations They that were inuited to the marriage Math. 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. 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 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 vnto 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 vs 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 euery one of vs This day I must abide in your harts Wherefore as the Prophet Dauid sayth Open your gates that the King of glorie may come in so I say vnto 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 vnto you and who knoweth whether he shall liue to heare it the next Saboth To day therefore if ye will heare his voyce harden not your hearts as did y e 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 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 euen vnto 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 vnto Gods holy Mountaine the Hauen of all happinesse whither hee bring vs that hath deerely bought vs 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 Ephes 5. 23 Iosua 6 1. Reg. 16 34 Iohn 4 49. Iohn 1 46 Iohn 7 52 Rom 10 12 Rom. 2. 28. Mat. 19. 23. Math. 18. Prou. 14 20 Eccle 13 23 24. Deut. 15 Luke 18 Iohn 9 Acts 3 Psal 37 25 Luke 6. 35. Leuit. 25. 36. 37. Mark 14. 7. Psalm 37. Luke 12. 21 Ephe 2. Luke 23. 8. Iohn 8 56. Luke 10. Gene. 45. Acts. 7. Rom. 10. 1. Reg. 10. Iohn 20. 31 Math. 4 4 Exod. 16 Iobn 6 24 a Ioh. 6 26 Two impediments Luke 18 Marke 2 Marke 7 Math. 9 Exod. 23 Sam. 16. 7 1. Sam. 16 12. Iohn 32 2. King 5 Esay 59. 2 1 Reg. 19 a Rom. 12 Iohn 12. 6. Mat. 8. 22. Luk. 14. 26. 1. King 10. 1. Chr. 29. 9. Math. 21 19 Math. 18 20 1 Pet. 5 8 Iohn 10 Luke 11 21 Hester 4 Luke 15 Iob. 2. 12. Iohn 10 Iohn 1. Math. 7. Math. 11. Gene. 22. Luke 5. 1. Kings 3 12. 13. Gen. 28 20. Rom. 10. 12. phes 2. 4. Ierem 29. Esay 65. 1. Rom. 10. 20 Esay 55. Psalm 145 Gene 3. Luke 5 Acts. 17 Math 26 Eccle 5 7 Gene. 45 Ioh 13 27 Luke 16 Luke 14. 28 Math 25 40 Luke 16. Math. 22. Math. 8. Iere. 14. Psalm 24 Psal 95 Exod 16 1 Reg. 19.
THE SINNERS CONuersion By Henrie Smith Math. 18. verse 3. Verily I say vnto you except yee be conuerted and become as little children yâ—â—â—â—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 vnto 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 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 It was builded againe in the dayes of Ahab by Hiel the Bethelite and remaineth at this day with the rest of that holy-land vnder the Turkish Empire Vnto 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 39. And out of Galile from whence they thought no good thing might come 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 but Christ is all in all to all that call vpon him Rom. 10 12. The second circumstance Now followeth the description of Zaccheus which is most plainlie and fully sette forth vnto vs. 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 that is to belieue in Christ He was a principall Publican A strange thing to see a chiefe Customer to giue ouer his office and he was rich also a rare matter to see a rich man to enter into the kingdome of God 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 coÌ„uerteth 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 vnto 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. 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 haue manie friends Prou. 14. 20. And though they doe neuer so wickedly yet haue they some to take theyr parts If they speake neuer so proudly yet are there some to prayse their saying 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 euery Prouince there were many Publicans and therefore much poore people in euery 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 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. Iohn 9. Acts. 3 By the Lawe of God There ought to bee no beggers among Christians Psal 3. 2. 25. but when so manie Vsurers are
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 haue 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 But Zaccheus doth not onely 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 the 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 vs shall not wee be content to leaue the reputation which wee haue 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 haue 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 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 vs backe We must be readie not only to run but also to climbe if need require as Zaccheus dyd that is to take some payne and trauaile to haue a sight of Christ The Queene of the South 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 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 vs 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 vpon a tree It was a wilde figge tree that Zaccheus clymbed 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 haue 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 vnto vs that is in his holy Temple where his word is duely preached 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 seeking to deuoure him but Christ for his part goeth about like a good Sheepeheard minding to saue him And although Sathan a strong armed man had taken some possession in y e 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 vnto vs we cannot attaine to the presence of God As no man might haue anie accesse to King Assuerus except 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 vs with his mercie whome hee might cast off in his iustice and if hee perceiue in vs a willing minde to come vnto him he is content to come first vnto vs. And like that good Father Luke 15. to beholde vs while wee are yet a great way off and to haue compassion on vs. When Iobs three friends that came to visite him in his great calamitie 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. whether they be vnder the figge-tree as Nathaniell was or vppon the figge-tree as Zaccheus was he hath respect vnto them And if they haue a desire to seeke they shall be sure to find Math 7. And if they labour and are heauie laden he will refresh them Math. 11. Christ is nowe come to the place where Zaccheus is to be called and