The narrative is beautifully simple. We are first told that Jesus entered and passed through Jericho; and having mentioned this, the sacred historian immediately passes on, to give an account of the blessed result, to the household of Zaccheus, of the Saviour's visit to this place.

Zaccheus was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich, both of which circumstances tended to make his conversion more unlikely. The publicans were persons who were employed as tax-gatherers, who, in order to enrich themselves, generally exacted more than was their due; and it is likely that Zaccheus was particularly guilty in this respect, from the fact, that he had really become rich. But is any thing too hard for the Lord? Mark the power of divine grace!" He sought to see Jesus." This was the first drawing of the Spirit, although, in all probability, he was only actuated by an idle curiosity; but to obtain the object of his desire, he left no means untried. The multitude passes on, and Zaccheus obtains a full view of Jesus; but what must have been his surprise and delight, when he heard the Saviour's voice calling him by name, and commanding him to come down, saying, To-day I must abide at thy house." Let us now pause What was

He was a great

and consider the freeness of the Saviour's love. there in Zaccheus to attract his notice? sinner. The publicans were generally the most abandoned characters among the Jews. He came to see Jesus it is true; but it was to see his person; so far as we can know, he does not appear to have had any higher end in view. Yet the Lord observes him, and calls him from the tree, and chooses to abide at his house. He might have called some from among the multitude, but this was not his will; he chose in this instance to make the soul of Zaccheus a vessel of mercy -the residence of his Holy Spirit. And now observe the effect produced on the mind of the publican by the words of Jesus-it is evident that they instantly-produced in him a decided change of mind; for instead of making excuses, and refusing to receive the Lord Jesus as his guest, he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully, shewing that he really knew the value and high dignity of having such an one under his roof. The Holy Spirit had shed his enlightening beams into his heart, convincing him of his sin, and his need of Jesus as a Saviour. He confesses his sin, and brings forth fruit meet for repentance; and the interesting narrative closes with those gracious words of the compassionate Saviour, "This day is salvation come to this house." In this account

of Zaccheus, we have a beautiful instance of the fulness and freeness with which the Lord Jesus dispenses the blessings of salvation. It matters not how great our sins have been. "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin." Though careless and unconcerned about our Lord's salvation-stubborn and disinclined to all good-one look from Jesus will cause the tear of penitence to flow, and draw forth the expression of deep self-abasement, "I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." "His people are made willing in the day of his power." The Saviour calls us by his word, saying, "Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters."-Isa. lv. 1. "Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt. xi. 28. And blessed are they who, like Zaccheus, hearken to these gracious offers of mercy, instead of (as it is too often the case) making light of them, or offering some vain worldly excuse. Jesus says to Zaccheus, To-day I must abide at thy house." He offers to come

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and make his abode with us. Rev. iii. 8,--" Behold I stand at the door and knock. If any man will hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me." Will you refuse admittance to such a guest? The Saviour calls you by his word, by his ordinances; they are as so many sycamore trees, from which you may see Jesus, and hear his voice, and will you not hearken? Pray for the Holy Spirit. It was his influence on the heart of Zaccheus that caused him instantly to attend to the Saviour's words, and to make haste to obey him. And the same divine power is still present where the Gospel is faithfully proclaimed, opening the heart of some poor unthinking sinner, among the crowd of hearers, like Lydia, to attend unto the things which are spoken. But are there not many in our assemblies, careless hearers, who derive no benefit from all the means of grace which they enjoy, and to whom the words of the apostle may be justly addressed,-" Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye."-Acts vii. 51.

Let us now contemplate the change which took place in the character of Zaccheus. When he came to see Jesus, he was a rich covetous man-an extortioner-one whose great object in life was to get money; it mattered not how it was obtained, whether by oppression or unjust dealing: gold was his god, and he cared not what he sacrificed to obtain it. And is it not too true, that characters such as his are far from uncommon, even among those who call themselves Christians?

who, unmindful of the word, which delares "covetousness to be idolatry," 99 66 say unto gold, thou art my hope; and to fine gold, thou art my confidence ;" and who are not over scrupulous about the means they employ to keep their treasure together.

But

The Scripture says, that "the love of money is the root of all evil," and so it is. Many and great are the sins which are committed for the sake of obtaining it; and even those minor acts of dishonesty, which are not punishable by law, and which persons excuse by saying, "it is in the way of business," are evident violations of the divine command. It was from a desire to be rich that caused Zaccheus to exact more than was due in collecting the taxes; and it is the same motive which causes many among us to over-reach and defraud their neighbours in their transactions with them. observe the change which the Holy Spirit has wrought in the publican. His besetting sin is dethroned. He now stands before the Lord, and says, "The half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." How amazing is the power of the grace of God! No wonder it is said in Scripture, that they who are under its influence are a new creation. It turns the lion into a lamb !-the rapacious oppressor into a benevolent liberal soul! Before the grace of God reached his heart, Zaccheus was a hard covetous man. We may suppose he would not have parted with a penny to the poornow he gives the half of his goods. Before he cared not who he injured, so as he got wealth to himself-now he says, "I restore fourfold." I desire to make ample restitution, though I should not have a farthing left of all my formerly idolized riches! Here was more than a mere change of opinion-it was a real change of heart, evidenced by a decided change of character, produced by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and this is the fruit which true faith must always bear. It must purify the heart, and if the faith which we profess to have has not wrought a real change in our disposition and character, it is dead-it is no faith at all. Reader, are you a covetous person? Hearken to the voice of Jesus calling you in his word; come to him, and he will pardon your past sin, and deliver you now from your iniquity. Do you profess to be a believer in Jesus-to have heard and obeyed his voice, and yet continuestill unchanged-still covetous-greedy of gain, and unwilling to give to him that needeth? Assuredly you are deceiving yourself. Look at the change produced in

Zaccheus. Jesus never could make his abode in a covetous heart. There must be a present salvation from the besetting sin, and this Jesus bestows. Oh! do not rest satisfied until you also obtain it. "For the covetous shall not inherit the kingdom of God." But we may observe, all are not alike inclined to covetousness; though the heart of man is naturally inclined to all evil, we generally find in individuals, that one or more sin has the dominion over them; and, therefore, a deliverance from the easily besetting sin, whatever it may be, is the best evidence of a work of grace. Again, we may observe, that in the case of Zaccheus there was an entire surrender of himself, and all that he possessed, to the service of the Lord. He first received the Saviour joyfully, and then laid all he had at his feet.

"Lord, I and all I have are thine.”

there

This was the genuine fruit of saving faith, and its fruits are always the same. The Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of all those who are partakers of divine grace. They are fore sanctified, that is, set apart for holy purposes. They willingly give themselves up to the service of the Lord, and desire, according to the words of the apostle, to "present their bodies a living sacrifice unto God, as their reasonable service." The love of Christ constrains them to live no longer to themselves, but to him who died for them, and rose again. Christian professor! has the change which you say you have experienced, produced these blessed fruits?

Do you devote to the service of Jesus, what before you had wasted in the pursuit of sensual gratification? Remember, if you be indeed a Christian-a follower of him who was despised and rejected of men-who had no place to lay his head, you must not act as you did when you were in an unrenewed state-you must not live as the world around you do, nor waste the talents which God has entrusted to you, on "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life.". Zaccheus did not act thus. "The half of my goods I give to the poor."

Oh! how unlike him are those who lavish large sums of money in gratifying their vanity, in dress or equipage, and think a comparatively small sum a sufficient proportion to devote to the cause of God! The Lord will not be satisfied with this half-hearted religion. It is not the religion of him, who, though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor.' It is not the fruit of a union with Jesus. In conclusion, let sinners follow the example of Zaccheus. Let them hasten to

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see Jesus. He is to be found in his word-in his house. Let then view him by the eye of faith, as an all-sufficient Saviour, "able and willing to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him.' He calls us to turn unto him. "Unto you, oh men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men."-Prov. viii. 4; John i. 37.

"Oh sinners! the message obey !
No more vain excuses pretend,
But come without further delay,

To Jesus our brother and friend."

And then, like Zaccheus, you shall be made new creatures. You shall be delivered from the dominion of sin, and enabled, from a principle of heartfelt love and gratitude, to consecrate all that you possess to the service of your Lord and Saviour.

S.

APPROACHING MEETING OF THE GENERAL SYNOD OF ULSTER.

THE Synod of Ulster, as our readers may be aware, holds its next annual meeting in Derry, on the last Tuesday of the month of June. This announcement, even although accompanied by no explanatory observations, should excite the anxious and prayerful interest of every friend to our beloved Zion. For truly, when we consider how much the spiritual prosperity of a church depends upon the deliberations of its representatives; when we think of the many blessed effects that may result from the recurrence of a season dedicated to the purposes of ministerial fellowship and converse; and recollect how many mighty movements have been begun and perfected in the assemblies of the church in other days, it is impossible to contemplate such a meeting as we have announced with any other feelings than those of lively interest and high anticipation. It is on their stated and solemn occasions that the standard-bearers in the Christian army are accustomed to concert new schemes, by which to assail the enemies of Immanuel, and advance the triumphs of his reign. It is then that they recount their battles, and rehearse the trophies they have won. Then it is that the good soldiers of the cross acquire new courage for the combat, cheering each other forward to finish their course with joy. Then,