Luke 19:1

The history which relates the calling and conversion of Zaccheus the publican, is ushered in with. note of wonder: Behold, there was. man named Zaccheus. It is both great and good news to hear of. soul converted unto God: especially such. remarkable sinner as Zaccheus was: for,

1. He was by profession. publican;. calling that carried extortion in its face, and bade defiance to his conversion; yet, behold, from the toll-booth is Zaccheus called to be. disciple, and Matthew an apostle: such is the freeness of divine grace, that it often calls the greatest sinners, and triumph in their powerful conversion.

2. He was. chief publican, and probably one of the chief of sinners, yet behold him among the chief of saints. Lord! What penitent need despair of thy mercy, when he sees. publican, no, the chief of publicans, home to heaven!

3. It is added. as. farther circumstance, that he was rich: his trade was not. greater obstacle to his conversion than his wealth: not that there is any malignity in riches, considered in themselves, but they become. snare through the corruption of our natures. Zaccheus had not been so famous. convert, if he had not been rich; if more difficulty, yet there was more glory on the conversion of rich Zaccheus. To all these might be added. fourth circumstance, namely, that Zaccheus was converted in his old age, after. long habit of sin contracted. Such instances, though few, has God left upon record in Scripture; Abraham and Manasses on the Old Testament, Zaccheus and Paul in the New.