so he saith to the same Zaccheus, To day and hence-forth for ever, thou and thy house must abide with me in heaven. Here is a happy change in stead of a little worldly treasure, subject to loss by thieves, and to spoil by rust and moths, to have all store of heavenly treasure, which neither thieves can steal, nor canker can corrupt: in stead of an earthly house, subject to fire and falling, 1to have a house given of GOD: not made with hands, but eternal in heaven, 2. Cor. 5. 1. Who would not rather choose with Zaccheus to give half his goods to the poor, that he may be an heir of salvation, and ⟨image 19⟩the Son of Abraham to rest in his, Fathers bosom, than with Dives to keep all from the poor, & be tormented in those eternal flames? That rich glutton that denied the crumbs from his table, challenged Abraham for his father, but he was refused, because he had not the faith nor works of Abraham: but Zaccheus, though by nature he 2were not the child of Abraham, yet by grace he is become the child of Abraham, because he walked in the steps of that faithful Father. Abraham believed before he was 3circumcised, so Zaccheus believed before he was circumcised. As Abraham left his country and all that he had 4when God called him, so Zaccheus left his office and the most part of his riches, when he was called by the Son of God: & as Abraham desired to see the day of Christ, & saw it & rejoiced; so Zaccheus desired to see Christ, & he saw 5him & rejoiced. Now is Zaccheus a gentile become the child of Abraham, & not only he, but his whole house also is become the house of Abraham; for when Zaccheus 6is converted, his whole house is converted. As the Master is, such are the servants; if he be godly and religious, they prove godly and religious; if he be an Atheist, they prove Atheists likewise. Therefore keep no company with the wicked, for it is most, pernicious: but associate thy self with those that fear the Lord, that thou also mayest learn to fear the Lord: who for his mercy grant that we may with Zaccheus be desirous to see Christ, joyful to receive Christ, liberal to relieve the members of Christ, and ready to make amends when we have 7wronged any of our brethren, that so with Zaccheus we may be heirs of salvation, and the true sons of Abraham to reign with Christ in heaven for ever, by the means and merits of him that died and rose again for us.
so he saith to the same Zaccheus, To day and hence-forth for euer, thou and thy house must abide with me in heauen. Here is a happy change in stead of a little worldly treasure, subiect to losse by theeues, and to spoile by rust and moths, to haue all store of heauenly treasure, which neither theeues can steale, nor canker can corrupt: in stead of an earthly house, subiect to fire and falling, 1to haue a house giuen of GOD: not made with hands, but eternall in heauen, 2. Cor. 5. 1. Who would not rather choose with Zaccheus to giue halfe his goods to the poore, that he may be an heire of saluation, and ⟨image 19⟩the Son of Abraham to rest in his, Fathers bosome, than with Diues to keep all from the poor, & be tormented in those eternall flames? That rich glutton that denied the crums from his table, chalenged Abraham for his father, but he was refused, because he had not the faith nor works of Abraham: but Zaccheus, though by nature he 2were not the child of Abrahā, yet by grace he is become the child of Abraham, because he walked in the steps of that faithfull Father. Abraham beleeued before he was 3circumcised, so Zaccheus beleeued before he was circū cised. As Abraham left his countrey and all that he had 4when God called him, so Zaccheus left his office and the most part of his riches, when he was called by the Son of God: & as Abrahā desired to see the day of Christ, & saw it & reioyced; so Zaccheus desired to see Christ, & he saw 5him & reioyced. Now is Zaccheus a gentile become the child of Abraham, & not only he, but his whole house also is become the house of Abraham; for when Zaccheus 6is conuerted, his whole house is conuerted. As the Master is, such are the seruants; if he be godly and religious, they proue godly and religious; if he bee an Atheist, they prooue Atheists likewise. Therefore keep no companie with the wicked, for it is most, pernicious: but associate thy selfe with those that feare the Lord, that thou also maiest learne to feare the Lord: who for his mercy grant that we may with Zaccheus be desirous to see Christ, ioyfull to receiue Christ, liberall to releeue the members of Christ, and ready to make amends when we haue
- 1Mat. 6.
- 2Luke 16.
- 3John 8. 39.Iohn 8. 39.
- 4Rom. 4. 12.
- 5Gen. 32. 1. Acts 7. 3.
- 6John 8. 56.Iohn 8. 56.
- 7Psal. 18.
