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NATIONAL PREACHER.

No. 1. VOL. 8. NEW-YORK, JUNE, 1833. WHOLE No. 85.

SERMON CXLV.

BY REV. GEORGE B. MILLER,

PROFESSOR IN THE LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT HARTWICK, NEW-YORK.

THE CONVERSION OF ZACCHEUS.

LUKE xix. 5.-Zaccheus, make haste and come down.

THE publicans were persons concerned in collecting the tolls and customs, which the Roman government were used to let out to the highest bidder. And they sometimes gained wealth by those frauds and impositions for which their situation afforded so very favorable an opportunity. But a variety of causes concurred to bring the whole body of publicans into abhorrence and contempt with the Jews. For first, the Jews still considered themselves a free people, though in the time of our Savior they were under the power of the Romans, who with their usual policy allowed to them in a great measure the exercise of their own laws. This independent spirit made them regard imposts and taxes under every shape as the badge of slavery. What tended still more to aggravate the animosity against the publicans was their being themselves Jews. Of a stranger, a heathen, nothing better could be expected; but, for one of their brethren to take part with the enemies of God's people was an injury not to be endured. Hence you may form some idea of the nature and degree of that antipathy with which these men were regarded by the rest of the nation. Our blessed Lord drew upon himself much obloquy and resentment, by the condescending familiarity with which he conversed with a set of men so universally detested. This single trait in his character was enough, in the sight of bigoted Pharisees, to disparage every excellence that the strongest prejudice had to acknowledge in him. "Why eateth your master with publicans and sinners?" was the taunting reproach made to his disciples. If this man were a prophet, he would know that they were sinners; that is, abandoned outcasts, whose touch was polluting. These were the principles that governed the judgment of self-righteous Jews, and caused them to condemn the noble conduct of the Redeemer, who considered none too low, too wretched, VOL. VIII.-1

or too dissolute, to be beneath his regard or instruction. His efforts were directed to reclaim the most sinful: as he aptly expresses himself,-"I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

To the class of despised publicans belonged the person to whom Christ addressed the words of our text: "Zaccheus, make haste and come down." Of his previous character not much is said by the sacred writer; only from the account of his riches, and his own confession, it is evident that he was not behind his brethren in extortion and covetousness. We are told that "he was the chief among the publicans, and was rich"-one that speculated on a large scale; and who probably took large contracts, and let them out again to others. Had he dealt fairly and honestly in this matter there might have been no just cause for reproach. But there was too much ground for the dislike to which he and his fraternity were subject: though this does by no means excuse the virulent hatred of the Jews; much less does it justify the indiscriminate contempt with which they regarded a whole body of men, among whom, we may suppose, there must have been many honorable exceptions.

It appears that, for some reason or other, the publican named in the text had a very strong desire to see Jesus. Under the influence of this feeling he had come out with the multitude that flocked to Christ, as he was about to enter Jericho. Owing to his small stature, he was unable to gratify his wishes, while the press was so great as to prevent his near approach. He therefore ran before, and climbed up a tree, standing near the road where Jesus was to pass. Was it the mere curiosity to see a celebrated prophet that induced him to take this pains? It may be. Then it was the happiest curiosity that ever possessed the breast of Zaccheus. But the consideration of all the circumstances connected with the history, leads one rather to suppose that it was something more than an idle curiosity. It is very probable, that the accounts which he had previously received of the miracles and doctrines of Christ, had excited in his mind a wish to be more fully acquainted with this great Teacher. The desire to be taught, and the earnest wish to forsake his sinful course and to become a follower of Christ, were beginning to spring up in the recesses of his soul; but he deemed himself unworthy of notice from this sacred personage. He wants to obtain a sight of one whom he revered and dreaded. He must first be satisfied whether he is indeed of that mild and gracious and condescending character generally ascribed to him. Behold him seated in a convenient place, where he hopes, unobserved, to examine the features of the Savior, concerning whom he has exalted ideas. Here he waits in breathless expectation the approach of Jesus; but judge what was his surprise, when he observed that the Savior cast his eye upon him. "How did he discover me?" Jesus speaks "Zaccheus !" "What! does he call me by name? Whence does he know me? Wo is me! Now he will expose me before all this multitude for my crimes. What shall I do? where shall I hide myself?"Zaccheus, make haste and come down, for to-day I must abide at thy house." What language can describe the min