ZACCHÆUS. ZACCHEUS was a little man, but he could, and did, climb up into a tree "to see Jesus." Thus Immanuel and the sinner, loved from everlasting to everlasting, were now to meet in God's appointed way and means. The set time to favour an heir of Zion had come. He who had seen Nathanael "under the fig tree,” knew all about the poor sinner who "sought to see Jesus, and could not." How like the case of many a poor mourner now who seeks to see Jesus, but whose desire is not yet granted! But, in this case, the set time being come, the dear Redeemer seemed to have (for the time) no eyes for any that pressed around Him, having fixed His whole attention on the loved one in the tree who wanted to see Him. The word of the King of kings was about to be spoken with power to a poor, sinful man. "Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house." It was as if the loving heart of the blessed Redeemer yearned over him who was ordained to eternal life," to bless him, and to reveal to him his interest in His great salvation. "Make haste, Zacchaeus! Don't delay to come down!" and it is said he "made haste, and came down, and received Him joyfully." And so it is now. If the Lord graciously deigns to bid a poor sinner "make haste" to seek Him, that sinner will need no coaxing to "come to Jesus," being "made willing" in the day of God's power; and, if my dear reader is of little stature (spiritually) in his own eyes, and has been brought by divine teaching to feel and to know that "None but Jesus Can do helpless sinners good,” why, then, He has in substance said to you, "Make haste, and come down!" and, sooner or later, you will sup with Him here, and be ultimately brought to one of the "many mansions" in the "Father's house," all of which favours are the effect of being "loved with a dateless love." "One view of Him that bled and died D. F. Is better far than all beside."-Daniel Herbert. A CORRUPT heart is like an ants' nest, on which, while the stone lieth, none of them appear; but take off the stone, and stir them up but with the point of a straw, and you will see what a swarm is there, and how lively they be. Just such a sight would thy heart afford thee, did the Lord but withdraw the restraint He has laid upon it, and suffer Satan to stir it up by temptation. THE CHRISTMAS DINNER. THE following narrative is a further relation of the goodness of God to the poor woman for whom He so graciously provided the money to pay her baker's bill.* It was very near Christmas Day, when, one evening, the children who had been playing with their little associates came in, and with very gloomy countenances surrounded their mother. One of them sorrowfully looked up at her and said, "Mother, I don't think that your Jesus Christ is so good as you say, for there is Henry says he is going to have such a nice plumpudding, and beef too, mother; and you know we shan't have. any." "Yes," said another little one, "and Sally says her mother has got such a bouncing leg of mutton." The poor woman, who found this appeal from her dear children almost too keen to allow her to speak for a time, presently said, "Oh, my dears, what are you saying? You know I generally get you nice bread and butter, and now and then a rice pudding. You should not be discontented. Remember, my dears, how God sent His judgments among the children of Israel in the wilderness for murmuring against Him." Not long after this, a knock was heard at the door, and when it was opened, a person inquired for Mrs. The poor woman told him that was her name, when the person said he was directed to leave a hamper which he had with him, but did not say, nor did she know, from whom it came. Upon examination, it was found to contain a quantity of vegetables and a fine leg of mutton. She immediately called her children around the hamper, and reminded them of their recent discontent, when one immediately exclaimed, "Oh, mother, pray to God for us, that His judgments may not come upon us for murmuring!" "Oh," said another, "what a bouncing leg of mutton, ain't it, mother?” She doubtless did not fail to take advantage of this remarkable providence to impress upon their minds that her Jesus was as good-nay, infinitely better-than she had ever been able to describe Him. Yes, and that precious Saviour says still to all His needy family, "Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things." After a considerable lapse of time, a relation died, leaving her property yielding her a sufficient income to live upon comfortably, when her own brother disputed her title to it, and it was thrown into Chancery. Here was another trial for faith. Her brother, being in easy circumstances, could employ counsel, and obtain every necessary assistance, while she was almost penniless. Ah! * See the SOWER for February, page 42. but she had a powerful and never-failing Advocate in heaven. It was Jesus to whom she betook herself. Oh, what has that cry of necessity done? Has it not moved the Great Omnipotent Himself to rise from His throne, and, as it were, hush for a time the harps of glory while He made bare His mighty arm on behalf of His suffering people? See it in the case of the suffering sons of Jacob, detained in cruel bondage by their oppressors. Hear the great Jehovah exclaim, "Surely I have seen the affliction of My people, which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry, by reason of their task-masters; and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians." It was at the time that the case remained undecided that her heartless husband, of whom she had heard nothing for years, came home, having ascertained that some property had been left to his wife. Here, then, was a sore trial. A new scene of discomfiture indeed had opened to her view, as he was the same abandoned character still; yet she was constant in prayer to God, and sought His direction and protection; and, as she could not think of living with her husband, she eventually offered to allow him a certain sum if the cause was decided in her favour, which he refused, saying, "No; I shall do as I please with it." However, in a short time, the judge, contrary to all expectation, decided the case by saying, "The property evidently belongs to Mrs. and she shall have it ;" and, almost at the same time, before she had realized any income from the property, the Lord removed her husband suddenly by death. Here, then, was a complete deliverance, and this person was favoured to live in peace and comfort, as a monument of the goodness and constant care which an unchanging God exercises towards His believing and redeemed family. Oh, my soul, art thou not able, while ruminating on this account, so glorifying to thy God, to bring to remembrance a long train of deliverances which thou hast already experienced? And canst thou ever doubt thy God again, when He has so often said to thee by those providences, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee"? Wilt thou in future complain at every renewed trial of thy faith, instead of adoring in gratitude the boundless compassion of thy heavenly Father, and confiding in His untiring watchfulness and care, as manifested towards thee? Oh, how often hast thou,i n answer to the enquiries of kind friends as to thy welfare, been full of words expressive of thy physical and mental suffering, and not one word of thankfulness and praise to thine almighty Friend has escaped thy lips; and how frequently have the effusions of thy friends' hearts, warm with the love of God, been chilled with a long catalogue of thy complaints, as if none were tried like thee; whereas a kindred feeling in thy P own breast might have caused us to exclaim, "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us by the way?” Oh, then, may the Lord help us to sing "Dear Jesus, let me lie and rest Within Thy arms divine; Thy daily care to make me blest -From an old Magazine. "SUFFER THE WORD OF EXHORTATION." ONE thing I shall earnestly request all the people of God into whose hands this shall fall-that now, at last, they will be persuaded to end all their unbrotherly quarrels and strifes among themselves, which have wasted so much precious time, decayed the vital spirit of religion, ... and increased and confirmed the atheism of the times, and now, at last, opened a breach at which the common enemy is ready to enter, and end the quarrel for us to our cost. Oh, put on, as the elect of God, bowels of mercies, and a strict charity and forbearance, if not for your own sakes, yet for the Church's sake! I remember it is noted in our English history, as a very remarkable thing, that when the Severn overflowed part of Somersetshire, it was observed that dogs and hares, cats and rats, to avoid the common destruction, would swim to the next rising ground, and abide quietly together in that common danger without the least discovery of their natural antipathy. The story applies itself; and oh, that Christians would everywhere depose their animosities that the hearts of the fathers might be turned to the children, and the children to the fathers-lest God come and smite the earth with a curse! Oh, that you would dwell more in your closets, and be more frequently and fervently upon your knees! Oh, that you would search your hearts more narrowly, and sift them more than ever, before the day pass as the chaff, and the Lord's fierce anger come upon you! Look into your Bibles, then into your hearts, and then to heaven, for a true discovery of your conditions; and, if this poor mite may contribute anything to that end, it will be a great reward of the unworthy labours of thy servant in Christ, JOHN FLAVEL. WE darken the cages of birds when we wish to teach them to sing. For the same reason, it may be, God sends dark shadows over the hearts and homes of His people. Affliction is God's "Hush!" bidding us be still and listen to Him.-Culross. THE OLD SOLDIER AND THE RENT DAY. SOME years ago, there lived in a cold damp cellar an old soldier, who had lost one of his legs in fighting for his country. This, however, did not afflict him; no, nor yet his deep poverty, nor his damp, dark lodging. But his wife was ungodly, and this lay as a heavy burden on his heart. He had a trifling pension, which, with the scanty product of a mangle, scarcely sufficed for their maintenance. They had fifteen-pence per week to pay for the cellar, where rats ran over their wretched bed at night. The simple faith and piety of the old soldier at once won my heart. I often visited him, to be refreshed and edified by his remarks while reading the Word of God to him. One morning, the post brought me a letter from a friend to whom I had written about this aged couple, and, being much interested with their history, sent me five shillings for them, to be laid out as I might judge best. I set out at once to carry them the good news. In vain, however, did I stand at the top of the dark stairs, and call aloud to Mrs. G- to open the door, that I might find my way down. It was of no use. She was scolding aloud, and was deaf to every other sound. I groped my way, and, making for the door, gave a loud rap, which soon brought Mrs. G's voice to a momentary hush, and an expression of regret that she had not heard me. I replied that I was greatly surprised and troubled to find her scolding so loudly. "It is enough to provoke a saint," she said, "to see him go on as he does." 'Oh, don't trouble the lady with them things," said her husband; "let's have some of the words of God, for truly we need them this morning." Mrs. G― was not, however, to be so silenced; she would give vent to her anger that swelled her breast. I will relate her grievance in her own words: "Now, here's a man for you, ma'am, without a bit of care for his wife. The other day we had only one penny in the house, and I sent him to get us a bit of bread. But, instead of that, he goes and gives it away to a tramp he knows nothing of." The old soldier looked deeply grieved, and, addressing me, said, "There are two ways of telling every story;" and then, with much emotion, he gave me his version. It was very true. The penny was all he had, and he was proceeding to the baker's, when a travelling man, with his wife and three children, sitting on a door-step, arrested his attention. He found that, like himself, they were natives of Scotland, sick and hungry. He spoke to them words of consolation from the Bible, and found, to his joy, they were fellow-believers in the Lord Jesus. On parting, he slipped his penny, with a thankful heart, into the hand of his afflicted brother. It was not until he had F |