In every work there must be a beginning, and in epiriteal work that beginning is often very small. Do we see a careless brother beginning to use means of graoe^ whiek in time past he neglected P Do we see him coming to Church and listening to the Gospel after a ]ong coiuse of Sabbath-breaking P When we see such things let ns re* member Zaochseus and be hopeful. Let us not look cold- ly on him because his motives are at present very poor and questionable. Let us believe that it is far better to hear the Gospel out of mere curiosity, than not to hear it at all. Our brother is with Zacchseus in the tree ! For anything we know he may go further. Who can tell but that he may one day receive Christ joyfully ?
We learn, thirdly, from these verses, Christ* b free com- passion towards sinners, and Chrisfs potver to change hearts. A more striking instance than that before us it is impossible to conceive. Unasked, our Lord stops and speaks to Zacchaeus. Unasked, He offers Himself to be a guest in the house of a sinner. Unasked, He sends into the heart of a publican the renewing grace of the Spirit, and puts him that very day among the children of God. (Jerem iii. 19.)
It is impossible, with such a passage as this before us, to exalt too highly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot maintain too strongly that there is in Him an infinite readiness to receive, and an in- finite ability to save sinners. Above all, we cannot hold too firmly that salvation is not of works, but of ^nuse. If ever there was a soul sought and saved, without having done anything to deserve it, that 60ul was theasul of Zacchseus. Let us grasp these doctrines