magnify the grace of Christ, and admire his condescension to one who was so generally detested. But the spectators were filled rather with spleen and envy ; and took occasion to pour contempt on Zaccheus, on account of his past character, and to murmur against Jesus for going to be a guest with him. It was thus that the elder brother in the parable was indignant at his father's reception of the Prodigal Son : he would not so much as own him for a brother : but said to his father, " Thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends : but as soon as this thy son was come, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf." And thus it is whenever any conversion takes place, especially among the profligate, and still more if they be rich : it is always made by the proud Pharisee an occasion of pouring contempt on the converts themselves, and of venting his indignation against the Gospel of Christ. Thus is the very grace of Christ, no less than the exhibition of it in the Gospel, " a savour of life unto life to some, and to others a savour of death unto death."]
Observations —
1. How desirable it is to be found attending on God's ordinances —
[It is there, if we may so speak, that Jesus passes by ; and there that we may expect to get a sight of him. But when he will be pleased to reveal himself to us, we know not. This however we know, that, whensoever that blessed event shall take place, it will richly repay us for all the efforts we have made. That difficulties may sometimes lie in our way, is probable enough ; but we should not too easily yield to them. The difficulty that presented itself to Zaccheus, was real : he was small of stature, and could not get a sight of Jesus for " the press" that surrounded him. But this put him on the use of an expedient, by which he succeeded. So we, if we were intent upon it, might often overcome the obstacles that oppose our attendance on divine ordinances. There is " a press" of company or of business that obstructs our way: but we may run away from it, or go before it, or by various means avoid it : and, if we are in earnest to get a sight of him, we may reasonably hope that he will not suffer us to be disap- pointed. Many who have come hither from no better motive than curiosity, have found salvation unexpectedly brought home to their souls : how much more may this blessed effect be hoped for, if we come to seek salvation itself! Let us hope then, that this is the day appointed in the Divine counsels for the communication of life to our souls : and that the grace which triumphed so gloriously in the conversion of Zaccheus,