Againe , as Christ said to Zaccheus , To day I must abide at thy house : so Christ saith to vs , To daye my poore afflicted members should receiue some succour at your hands . But as the Priest & the Leuite Luc. 10. passed Luc. 10. by the wounded man leauing him halfe dead : so we ( for the most part ) passe by our needie brethren , leauing them vnreleeued . Thus are we euerie way disobedient to the voice of Christ . He teacheth vs to be humble as he himselfe is , Matt. 11. 29. and wee Matt. 11. 29. wax proud and insolent as Sathan is . Hee willeth vs to bee mercifull , as our heauenly father is , Luc. 6. 36. and we are cruel and vnmercifull , Luc. 6. 36. Luc. 16. as the rich glutton was , Luc. 16. This is the cause why the earth deceiueth & rendreth not her fruite , Esa. 24. 5. This is Esa. 24. 5. the cause why the sword deuoureth abroad & the pestilence destroyeth at home , Deut. Deut. 28. 15 Leuit. 26. 24 25. 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 , wee are vnduetifull and disobedient to the voyce of Christ , that calleth vs so louingly to come vnto him , Mat. 11. 28. Matt. 11. 28.

Zaccheus was called but once , & he commeth quickly : but we are called oftentimes and almost euerie day , and that by the voice of Christ himselfe : for hee that heareth you Luc. 10. 16. ( saith Christ , Luc. 10. 16. ) heareth mee : and yet we cannot finde the way to Christ . The word of GOD which is the lanterne vnto Ps. 119. 105. our feete , and the light vnto our paths , Psal. 119. hath been plainly and plentifully preached amongst vs these manie yeres ; and yet manie amongst 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 all the day idle , Mat. 20. & as he loueth a cheerefull giuer , 2. Cor. 9. 7. so he Matt. 20. 2. Cor. 9. 7. 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 hart when he desired to see him , & then into his house when gaue him hospitalitie . Manie receiued Christ to house , but not into their hearts , and therefore receiued him grudgingly : but Zaccheus receiued Christ first into his hart ; and then into his house , and therefore receiued him ioyfully . Of Zaccheus his ioyfulnes , we must learne to be ioyfull when we do anie thing for the cause of Christ : wee must bee glad to harbour Christ in his members , as Zaccheus was ioyfull to harbor Christ himselfe . As before in comming downe from the tree , Zaccheus shewed his obedience : so heere in receyuing Christ into his house , hee 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 into his owne house , yea , he reioyceth to haue gotten so good aguest , like Abraham that vsed to sit at the Gen. 18. doore of his Tent , and reioyced to enterteine strangers that went by the waye : and therefore though Zaccheus were a Gentyle borne , yet heerein he sheweth himselfe the childe of Abraham , because hee dooth the workes of Abraham , Iohn the eighth chapter Iohn 8. 39. the nine and thirtieth verse . So did Abraham , and so must wee doo , if wee wyll shewe our selues to be the children of Abraham .

When Abraham thought onelie to haue enterteined men , hee receyued Angells in the shape and likenesse of men : and when Zaccheus thought to enterteine the sonne of man , he receiueth the sonne of God himselfe . Let vs therefore ( as the Apostle willeth vs Heb. 13. 2. ) bee mindfull to enterteine strangers , forasmuch as thereby some haue receiued Angells into theyr Abraham . Gen. 18. 3. Lot . Gen. 19. 3. houses vnawares : and why should not wee hope to entertein 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 blinde man : and when hee commeth , he commeth hungrie , or thirstie , or naked , or harborlesse , or sicke , or imprisoned , and happie are they that feede , or cloathe , or harbor , or visite him , when hee commeth thus afflicted . When Abraham enterteined the Angells , he was not onely busie himself , but his wife and all his household were carefull to make prouision for them : so when Zaccheus receiued Christ into his house , his whole familie ( no doubt ) were no lesse willing & carefull to enterteine Christ , than their Maister was : and therefore not onely to Zaccheus , but euen to his whole house Saluation is promised , because the whole familie reioyced at Christ his comming . Let rich men learne of Zaccheus , to enterteine Christ in his needie members , and let rich mens seruants learne of Zaccheus familie , to shewe themselues merciful like their merciful masters , that they maye receiue the reward of mercie and hospitalitie at the last day , Come Matth. 25. yee blessed , for I was harborlesse , and yee tooke me in . Generally , as Zaccheus gladly receyued Christ : so let euerie one that is able , be glad to distribute to the necessitie of the poore Saints : if we haue much , let vs giue plentifully : if wee haue little , let vs giue gladly of that little : if we be not able to giue a pennie , yet haply we may affoord a morsell of bread : but if not that , yet ther is none so needie , that cannot giue a cup of colde Matth. 10. water , and euen so small a gift shall not lose his iust reward , Matth. 10. 41. Zaccheus receiued Christ into his heart , but manie amongst vs are readie to driue Christ out , & to receiue sathan in stead of him : Zaccheus receiued Christ into his house , but there are manie rich men amongst vs , that like Diues Luc. 16. Luc. 16. will not affoord poore Lazarus the crummes that fall from their table : but as the damsell Act. 12. opened not the doore Act. 12. for ioy when she heard Peters voyce : so by contrarie , these men for verie griefe shut their gates , when they perceiue a begger there . Finally , Zaccheus was ioyfull when hee enterteined Christ , but manie amongst vs are sorrowfull when they should releeue the poore : like churlish Nabal , 1. Sam. 25. 1. Sam. 25. that reuiled Dauid , when hee should haue releeued him .

So long as Iob prospered , he kept a worthie and a worshipfull house , he suffred not the stranger to lie in the streetes , but opened his doore to the trauailer that went by the way , Job . 31. 32. but now manie Gentlemen Iob. 31. 32. of the countrey , are content to suffer the stranger , the fatherles and the widdow , not onely to lye , but euen to starue and die in the streetes with hunger and colde , & neuer receiue them to house or harbour , nor affoord them anie releefe or succour . But as the voyce of Abels blood did crie from the earth to God , for vengeaunce against hys Gen. 4. 10. brothers crueltie : so the voyce of the poore and their piteous cries , shall enter into the eares of the Lord , and their guiltles blood ( which is powred foorth in euerie place without all compassion ) shall pull downe hastie and sodaine vengeance from heauen vppon the heads of these vnmercifull cormorants , vnles while this time of mercy lasteth , they shewe mercie to their distressed neighbors . Thus you haue heard how Zaccheus behaued himselfe in enterteining of Christ : now you shall see the behauiour of the Pharesies in disdaining at Christ . When all they saw it , they murmured , saying , that hee was gone in to lodge with a sinfull man . Before they hated Zaccheus for his vyces , because he was couetous : now they enuie him for his vertues , because he was giuen to hospitality . For the wicked wil alwaies haue somthing to finde fault with in the children of God , like the sonnes of Iacob , Gen. 37. that Gen. 37 hated their brother Joseph , because of hys dreames : and like Saul that vnhappy King , that enuied Dauid for his happy victoryes , 1. Sam. 18. 29. Thus the wicked when they 1. Sam. 18. cannot charge the godly with any greeuous crime , they begin to grudge at their weldoing : and therefore not onely Zaccheus is hated for receiuing Christ , but Christ is hated also for being his guest . When they could not accuse Christ for sinne , they accuse him for companying with sinners : for they must still bee accusing some or other , for one thing or other , like their father the diuell , that both by name , Reuel . chapt. 12. verse 10. Reuel. 12. and by nature , Job . 1. 6. 7. is a continuall accuser Iob. 1. 6. of the brethren . It had been the duetie of the Pharesies to haue receiued Christ , & made much of him as Zaccheus did : but they are so farre off from enterteining him themselues , that it greeueth them to see Zaccheus giue him enterteinement . And surely , such is the peruerse nature of the wicked , that they will neither receiue the grace of God when it is offered them , nor willingly suffer anie other to embrace the same : like the wicked Iewes , Actes . 13. 50. Act. 13. 50. that woulde 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 them selues too high , to haue poore humble Christ amongst them : the Scribes and the Pharesies in their owne conceipt , were too good , too wise , and too holie to receyue him into their companie : and not content to sequester and estrange themselues from Christ , they disdained also that hee should be conuersant with Publicans and sinners , as though he were not worthie to be conuersant amongst men .

If it were the office of Christ to conuert Matt. 9. 13. sinners , why should the Pharesies bee offended at him , if he were sometime conuersant with sinners to work their conuersion ? If Christ were a Phisition to cure the sickenes Matt. 9. 12. of the soule , that is , to saue the people from their sinnes , why should the Pharesies murmur at him for keeping company with Zaccheus , that was sicke in soule : for as it is expedient for the Phisition to visite hys patients for their better recouerie , so it was conuenient Christ should visite sinners for their speedier conuersion . But as the Phisition that resorteth to sicke persons , is not straightway infected : so the soules Phisition that conuerseth with sinners , is not therby polluted . And therefore , as Christ perfourmed his office , though the Pharesies murmured , so let the ministers of GOD learne by his example , to performe theyr dueties , though the wicked be offended . It was the office of Christ to call sinners to repentance , yea he came to call Pharesie sinners aswell as Publican sinners , if the Pharesies would haue confessed themselues to be sinners , as the Publicanes did : but because Luc. 18. they stood so much vpon their owne righteousnesse , and despised others , therefore Christ denounceth so manie woes against Matth. 23. them , and preferreth the penitent Publican that trusted in the Lords ▪ mercie ▪ before the proud Pharesie that trusted in his owne merites . Though Paul was a Pharesie , Act. 23. 6. and the sonne of a Pharesie , yet he shameth not to confesse himselfe one of the chiefe sinners which Christ came to saue . So 1. Tim. 1. 15 if the Pharesies that murmured at Zaccheus would haue been saued , they shuld haue confessed themselues chiefe sinners , as Paul did . They should not haue accused Christ for keeping company with sinners , but they shuld haue accused themselues for not keeping companie with Christ . The iust man ( saith Salomon , Pro. 18. ) is the first accuser of Prou. 18. himselfe : but the Pharesies are so far from accusing of themselues , that they begin to accuse Zaccheus and Christ together . Thus the Pharesies of our time , that make religion a cloake to couer their corrupt dealing , haue thys propertie to thinke other men to be hainous sinners , and themselues onely to be righteous : insomuch , as they wil not stick to speake like that proud people that was wont to say , Depart from me , for I am holier than thou : and like that presumptuous pharesie , Luc. 18. I. thanke God I am not as others Luc. 18. are , extortioners , vsurers , adulterers , drunkards , or such like : I sanctifie the Saboth , which other men prophane : I frequent sermons , which they neglect : I reuerence the name of God , which they blaspheme : I pay tythe , which others with-holde : and I fast oftentimes , which they doo seldome , or neuer . These were the speaches of the Pharesies , that liued in the time of Christ , whom he so often calleth hypocrites : and these are the speaches Matt. 15. 7. Luke . 11. 44 Luc. 12. 1. Act. 26. 5. Matt. 23. 25. 27. of the hypocrits of our age , that seeme to liue after the straightest sect of our religion , Act. 26. They wash the outside of the cup , and of the platter : that is , they iustifie themselues , and seeme meruailous holie in the sight of men , which can discerne by the outward appearance onely : but vnto God , that seeth and searcheth the secretes of the harts and reynes , they appeare like paynted tombes full of dead mens bones , and all filthines : that is , they haue their inward parts full of rauening , and all kinde of wickednes . Wherefore , as Christ said to his Disciples , Except your righteousnes exceed the righteousnes Matt. 5. 2● . of the Scribes & Pharesies , you cannot enter into the kingdome of heauen : so I say vnto you , that except your righteousnes exceede the righteousnes of these Pharisaicall hypocrites , ye cannot be saued . These holy Pharises did vse to cal the Publicans , not vsurers nor extortioners , as they themselues were : but by the general name of sinners , as thogh they themselues were free from sinne . Thus the papists at this day do vse to cal the most sincere professours of the Gospell , not Lutherans , Caluinists , Zuinglians , or protestants , as they wer wont to call them : but now they tearme vs heretiques , a name more odious than anie other , whereas in the meane season , they themselues are of all other the great heretiques . So the Atheists of our time , when they cannot accuse the godlie that are amongst vs of vsurie , or briberie , or extortion , or drunkennes , or anie such notorious sinne , they call them hypocrites , which is the summe of all : when as in verie truth , they themselues do best deserue that name : but it makes no matter what they cal vs , neither are we to be moued at their despiteful speaches ; for as the bitter taunts of these murmuring pharises could not hinder Zaccheus in his conuersion , so the slaunders of these godles men , must not discourage the seruaunts of God from their good profession . The Pharises did Zaccheus great wrong for calling him sinner , when he had repented of his sinne : and the Atheists at this day do greatly wrong the true professors , in calling them hypocrites , which haue truely repented of their former sinnes , and endeuor by al good means to lead a godly life . Therfore as Zaccheus preferred his soules health before al their murmuring : so it behooueth vs to looke to our soules saluation , notwithstanding al the reproches and slanders that are deuised against vs . And as the Pharises might call Zaccheus sinner , but could not hinder his Conuersion : so the malicious worldlings may take awaye our goods , our good names , yea , and our liues also , but cannot depriue vs of our saluation . Wherefore as our Sauior said to his Apostles , Feare not Matt. 10. them that can kill the bodie , and then can doo no more : so I say vnto you , Feare not the frownes of the wicked , for they are not able to hurt your better part : seeke not to gaine the fauor of the world , for the whole world is not able to saue a soule , but feare to offend him that is able to destroy both bodie and soule in hell , and seeke to please him that is able to saue them both in heauen for euer .

Now followeth another frute of Zaccheus conuersion ; namely , his good confession : for , as he beleeued with the hart vnto righteousnes , so hee confessed with the mouth Rom. 10. 10 vnto saluation . When Zaccheus was mocked of the Pharises , it seemeth that hee should stoup downe for shame : but when hee was thus reproued & reuiled by them , the scripture saith that he stood vp in signe of gladnes . As the Apostles went away reioycing Acts. 5. that they wer counted worthie to suffer rebuke for the name of Christ : so Zaccheus the Publican went forth reioycing , that hee was reproched for the cause of Christ . Before Zaccheus was a Publican , and therefore stood in sinne verie daungerouslie , like the house that is builded vpon the sand , readye Luke . 6. 49. to be ouerturned with euerie tempest : but now Zaccheus is become a true Christian , & therefore stands in righteousnesse very safely , like the house that is built vpon a tocke , free from anie danger of falling . Behold Lord , the halfe of my goods , &c.

There are two parts of this confession . The first is his gift to the poore : the second is , the restitution of his vniust gotten goods . Before , Zaccheus was an oppressour of the poore , now hee is a great benefactor to the poore : before , he was an encroacher vpon other mens goods , now he is a distributer of his owne goods : before , hee was a receiuer and a taker , now he is a restorer and a giuer : neither doth hee giue sparingly , but hee giueth liberally , laying vp a good foundation 1. Tim. 6. against the time to come . Now hath Zaccheus found that precious pearle , & for ioy Matt. 13. thereof he is content , not to sell , but to giue all that he hath to enioy the same . When the rich Ruler ( in the former chapter ) was Luke 18. willed to sel all that he had , and to giue it to the poore , hee went away verie sorrowfull , for he was verie rich : but Zaccheus , perhaps as rich as he , is content of his owne accord and vnbidden , to bestow half his goods vppon the poore , and that with a cheerefull minde . If Zaccheus had giuen onely the third part of his goods , no doubt but Christ wold haue accepted it , for he accepteth the widowes farthing , because it was giuen with Luke 21. a willing minde : but if he had giuen all hys goods to feed the poor , as the Pharises gaue their almes to bee seene of men , yea , or his bodie to bee burned , as some Romanes haue 1 , Cor. 13. done to get renowne , it should haue been to no purpose , because it was done to a wrong end Now , as Zaccheus was rich in the goods of this life , so was hee rich in faith also : neither was it an idle or dead faith that Zaccheus had , but it was a fruitfull & a liuely faith , a faith that worketh and laboureth by loue , Gal. 5. 6. such as is required at the handes of Christians . S. Iames saith , Shew mee thy faith by thy workes , & here Zaccheus doth shew his faith by his workes . Before , hee was exercised in vngodly works , which are the frutes of infidelitie : but now he is exercised in the works of mercie , which are the fruites of a liuelie faith . Zaccheus is verie liberall in releeuing the poore , but he is liberall of that which is his own : so ther are manie now a daies that are verie liberall , but it is of that which is none of theirs : for as Nadab and Abihu offred Leuit. 10. strange fire vnto the Lord , so these men offer strange goods vnto the Lord . There are some amongst vs , that thinke to make amends for their vniust dealing , by giuyng part of that to some good vses , which they haue gotten by bad meanes : if they haue gotten a pound by vsury & oppression , they are content perhaps to giue a pennie to releeue the poore . But , as it was not lawfull for the Israelits to bring the price or the hire of a harlot into the house of the Lord : so it Deut. 23. is not lawful for vs to apply the gaine of our ill gotten goods to the seruice of God . The halfe of my goods , I giue , &c.

Zaccheus faith not , I haue giuen , as an vpbraider of God : or , I will giue , as a delaier , that means to giue away his goods after his death , when he can keepe them no longer : but he saith , I giue , to signifie that his will is his deed , and that he meaneth not to take anie dayes of paiment for the matter . For , as before he ran apace to see Christ , and came downe hastely to enterteine Christ in hys owne person : so doth he here giue quickly to releeue Christ in his needie members . This is Zaccheus last will & testament , that hee maketh before his death , and seeth the same proued and performed before his eies , If therefore we desire to doo any good to anie of our poore brethren , let vs learne of Zaccheus to doo it quickly , while wee are aliue , for time will preuent vs , and death will preuent vs . I know ther be many that wold be willing to giue some part of their goods to the poore before their death , as Zaccheus did : but that they knowe not what neede themselues maye haue thereof before they die , and therefore for the most part they wil hardly forsake or leaue their goods , till their goods forsake and leaue them . But heerein they shewe themselues to doubt of Gods prouidence , and as it were to distrust of his paiment , who hath promised to repay what soeuer is giuen vnto the poore , as if it were lent vnto himself , & that not secretly , thogh they did theyr almes neuer so secretly , but Prou. 19. 17. the Lord will reward them openly , as our Sauiour speaketh . Math , 6. The wise Preacher , Matt. 6. Eccle. 11. Eccle. 11. willeth vs to cast our breade vpon the waters , that is , to be liberal to the poore , whose watry eyes bewray their great necessity : or , ( as others expound it ) to hazard & aduenture some of our goods vpon our needy brethren , as Merchants do aduenture their goods vppon the seas ; For although they may seeme to be in great perril & danger of perishing in the waters , yet commonly it falleth out , that by the blessing of God they return with far greater profite . So albeit the reliefe that is bestowed vpon our distressed neighbours may seeme to be lost , yet as the wise man saith , after a time we shall finde it againe : and as the precious oyle descended from Aarons beard to the Psal. 133. skirts of his clothing , so certainly the oile of mercie & charitie which we powre into the wounds of our distressed brethren , shal descend into our owne soules ; and as the widdowes Luke , 10. oyle was encreased in the cruse , because shee releeued the Lordes prophet , so 1 , King . 17. shall this precious oyle bestowed vpon the poore , be returned vpon our heads in greater measure . Thus is Zaccheus liberall , as you see : for he giueth away halfe his goods , but hee giues it not to the rich , that might giue to him againe , but hee giues it to the poore that cannot requite him : to teach vs vpon whom we should bestow our almes . As GOD that is rich in mercie , giueth all things vnto vs that cannot requite him : so the rich men of this world ( if they haue any sparke of mercie in them ) should giue vnto the poore that cannot requite them . But amongst vs in euery place almost , it is farre otherwise : for if anie thing be to be giuen , not they that are poorest and stand in greatest need , but they that can make best frends are best preferd . Thus Diues is still inriched Luke . 16. and Lazarus is still reiected . If wee send to a great man , we send an oxe for a present but if wee send to a poore man wee send a crust for an almes . Therefore , as Christ said to the Jewes , that the Niniuites should rise in Matth. 12 iudgement against them , because they repented at Jonas preaching : so it may be said vnto vs , that Zaccheus shal rise in iudgement against vs and condemne vs : for hee shewed great mercie vppon the poore , but wee are voyde of all compassion . Thus you haue heard the first part of Zaccheus confession , wherein you see his liberality to the poore .