failed to render the service due to any of our fellow-creatures; in those points, when God has brought us to see our error, to a better mind, to an awakened, humbled, repentant sense of our condition-in those points, we should be doubly careful and diligent, to recover our lost ground, to make amends for past evil, to redeem the time that remains. Such was evidently the feeling and purpose of the individual before us, though instanced only in a single case; he would not have a burden resting upon his conscience; he would not have a wrong remaining, which it was in his power to repair, whatever might be the cost and sacrifice. Oh! that every one, who professes to repent, may drink deeply of this spirit, and copy this example: thus we shall be "saved from our sins," be "cleansed from all unrighteousness," and stand acknowledged and accepted in the image of our God.

It was on account of this living faith, this holy principle, this genuine and abun

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dant fruit of righteousness, that "Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come unto this house." It was come to the master of the house, to his unspeakable joy, and would thus be probably communicated to others of his household. In this view, of his own blessed fellowship with the Redeemer of his soul, and of being the instrument of eternal blessedness to those around him, how largely must Zaccheus have felt himself repaid for all that he was about to forsake: be was forsaking a portion of his earthly gains, for an everlasting treasure in heaven; forsaking that which it would have been pain to possess, for the pure and perfect pleasures, which are at "God's right hand for evermore." He had a promise from the God of truth and love, from "the Lord of all power and might:" he had all that his heart could wish, and more than his mind could conceive. A new light had burst upon his satisfied and enraptured soul; it was the light of glory; a new

prospect lay before him-an inheritance in the skies. Salvation! there is every thing in that word.

The Lord added a reason for the blessing thus conferred: "forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham;" not merely by natural birth, if by birth indeed he was so; but by his likeness to Abraham in spirit, in faith, in character; he believ ed, as the father of the faithful did; and he obeyed in like manner. It would have been no matter, what his family, what his outward privileges, what his knowledge and worship had been, if he had not been born of the spirit of Christ, and surren dered his heart to Him in righteous obedience and love: he was a true child of Abraham, because he had become a true child of God. This, we must remember, is the universal rule: outward blessings and privileges, though exceedingly valuable as the signs and means of inward grace, are nothing of themselves. If we are saved, forasmuch as we are members of Christ, it will be, not because of our

admission into visible communion with Him by the waters of baptism, or the mark of the cross in our forehead, but because our souls are verily washed and sanctified, and we have the image of the cross in our hearts; because the "world is crucified unto us, and we unto the world" because we carry about with us. the fruit and demonstration of our member-ship; "adding to our faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly-kindness; and to brotherlykindness charity."

And now, my brethren, I conclude by entreating you, in a few words, to go and ponder upon the vast import of the text. Should the knowledge of "the truth as it is in Jesus" have not yet entered into your soul, I pray that it may come this day: and should the Saviour's words be applicable, on your account, to the house in which you dwell; if salvation is come to your

*2 Pet. i, 57.

house, because it is come to you, you cannot but delight in the assurance of your hope, and in the preciousness of the promise that is made to you; you will not deny it to be an inestimable benefit, and favour, and honour. If the head of a family can rejoice in this persuasion, it must be to him a peculiar blessedness, a source of especial comfort, a high and constant theme for thanksgiving: for he is thereby likely to be made, in the hands of his reconciled God, the instrument of spreading the light of life to many, who are near and dear to him; who are placed under his care, on purpose to be blessed : he can never be sufficiently thankful for the mercies of redeeming love; not only for the sake of his own soul, but also for the gracious opportunity of "turning many to righteousness." But there is no indi vidual in any house, however narrow his influence, and however he may stand alone, who will not rejoice with all his soul in this unutterable blessing. If there be none whom he can persuade and win,