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abasement, self-abhorrence, self-judging, and self-condemnation: yea, self-hatred and detestation; "Now mine eyes see thee, said Job; wherefore 1 abhor myself, and repent in dust and in ashes," Job. xlii. 5, 6.

2. They come down to the gospel-terms of life and salvation; that is, to the renouncing of all legal terms and conditions, to which you can never come up.You have heard, perhaps, men speak of coming up to the terms of the gospel, saying, You must be so and so qualified, humbled and penitent, before you can come to Christ; why, this is indeed, an ascending up, instead of coming down. But the call is, "Come down, Zaccheus," to the terms of the gospel-market; that is, to get all things freely, without money, and without price; all things for nothing, Isa. lv. 1.

3. They come down to God's righteousness, and submit to that, quitting all righteousness of their own as filthy rags. This, proud man has no will, by nature, to come down or submit to: "They being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God," Rom. x. 3. They that answer the gospel-call, they come down to the sure foundation that God has laid in Zion, disclaiming all confidence in the flesh; all confidence in their duties, prayers, tears, frames, and good affections or actions.

4. They come down to God's will: both his commanding and disposing will; to his commanding will, saying, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Brought down to an appropriation of the holiness of the law, and to a disapprobation of themselves, for want of conformity to it. They are brought down also to the disposing will of God, to a submission to his providence, though he should order poverty, adversity, reproach, and contempt, if it be for his glory and their good. The man is delivered from the power and rule of a murmuring spirit. It is much for proud nature thus tc come down.

III. The third thing proposed, was, To offer some remarks on the day of effectual calling. We observe only these things shortly from the context concerning

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1. "It is a particular day, wherein the Lord gives "a particular call to such and such a person, as it were, by name; Zaccheus, come down:" I have called "thee by name." Though God, in calling his children, doth not give them all the particular names wherein they were baptized; yet he particularizes them so, as they are made to see that they, in particular, are called, as it were, by name: for, God deals with their heart as particularly as if he were speaking to none else: yea, the Spirit of God directs the word as close as Nathan to David, "Thou art the man."

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2. We remark, "That the day of effectual calling " is a day of dispatch: "Make HASTE and come down, "says the text." the text." Much business is done and dispatched in that day: and the Lord does not suffer the soul to linger, but hastens it, as the angels did Lot out of Sodom. When Lot lingered, the angels pulled him out. God cries to us by his word, saying, "Haste you, "man, woman; come out of this world, lest you par"take of the judgments thereof." Men delay, and are even averse from coming to God; but, in the day of effectual calling, Christ, the Angel of the covenant, by his spirit, pulls them out, and compels them to come down in haste: in the day of effectual calling, the soul makes haste. "Now is the accepted time, and now is the day of salvation.-I made haste; I delayed not to keep thy righteous judgments."

3. I remark, "It is a day of love and kindness, "wherein Christ gives a kindly look, as well as a kindly "word." It is here said, "Christ looked up to Zaccheus, and saw him." Zaccheus wanted to have a look or a sight of Christ; but he little thought that Christ wanted to give a look to him. But as Jesus looked down upon Peter, when he was too low, in order to bring him up; so, we may say, he looked up upon Zaccheus, when he was too high, in order to bring him down. In both these cases the look was a kindly look. Christ enjoins us to look unto him and be saved; but he must give the first look.

4. We remark, "That the day of effectual calling "is a day wherein Christ invites himself to an inter

"view with the poor soul: for, "To-day, says Christ, "must I abide at thy house." Here Christ invites himself: and, indeed, when he calls effectually, he invites himself to the house, to the home, to the heart of his people. He seeks not our invitation, but prevents it: he is said to "Prevent us with the blessings of goodness," Psal xxi. 3. Kindness begins on his side; he lays himself in our way, by promises, and proffers of mercy. O happy these to whom Christ is saying, "This day I must come to your house, to your family, "to your closet, to your dwelling."

5. I remark, "That the day of effectual calling is a necessary day; "This day, says he, I must abide in "thine house." There is a blessed necessity he is under; as it was with Christ, when he met with the woman of Samaria, John iv. 4. it is said, "He must needs go through Samaria." And, as it is said of his bringing in his scattered flock, John x. 16. " Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice." There was a necessity of purpose, of purchase, of promise; and a necessity of love, in the case; and the thing must take effect.

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6. We remark, "That the day of effectual calling " is an abiding day, so to speak: it is a day wherein "Christ comes not to make a transient visit, but a designed visit; designing to tarry and abide: "This day "I must abide at thy house." It is a set day, wherein he designed from all eternity, to meet with such a soul. As it is said of Israel, Psalm cii. 13. The time to favour her is come; yea, the set time." A time set and appointed for his stay and abode, in order to shew his favour; and though his sensible presence is not still abiding; yet he gives such a visit, as to leave a pledge of his constant abode: "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever," John xiv. 16.

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7. We remark, "That the day of effectual calling is a meeting day between Christ and the sinner: a day "of communion and fellowship between him and them; “wherein he makes homely and free with them and "theirs: "To-day I must abide at thy house." As if

he had said, You and I must be housed together: your house must be my house; your table my table; "yea, your heart must be my home: I will not only "stand at the door and knock, but I will make king'skeys; you must open to me, and I will come in, and 66 sup with you, and you with me."

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8. I remark, "That the day of effectual calling is a "notable and remarkable day." The day of effectual calling is a remarkable day, and that in two respects, viz. The remarkable names, and the remarkable signs and properties of it.

[1] It hath remarkable names in scripture; it is called a day of power, Psalm cx. 2. A day wherein God exerts his power, for breaking the rebellion of the nature; as he did in the case of Zaccheus the publican. It is called a day of espousals, and a day of the gladness of Christ's heart, Song iii. 11. For then the match is made up, between Christ and the believer.-It is called a day of salvation, 2 Cor. vi. 2. "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation," It is true, every gospel-day may be so called; but, in a special manner, the day of effectual calling; for then, as Christ said to Zaccheus, it may be said, "This day is salvation come to thine house."-Again, it is sometimes called a day of vengeance, Isa. lxi. 2. "The day of vengeance is in mine heart; for the year of my redeemed is come." Then the Lord takes vengeance on all spiritual enemies, sin, Satan, and strong corruption; the vengeance of God and the temple pursue them. Sometimes it is called a day of small things? Zech. iv. 10." Who hath despised the day of small things ?" The beginnings are ordinarily small, but the latter end may greatly increase. It is called a day or time of love, Ezek. xvi. 8.

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hold, when I saw thee polluted in thy blood, thy time was a time of love: for then he gives many a love-token. It is called a day of life from the dead, as the day of the conversion of the Jews shall be, Rom. xi. 15. Then "The hour cometh, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and live," John v. 25. In a word, it is called a day of the Lord's making, Psalm cxviii. 24. “This is the day which the Lord hath made,

we will rejoice and be glad in it. All days are of his making, but this especially; ministers cannot make such a day.

[2] It is remarkable for the signs and properties of I name four. It is remarkable for success, liberty, victories and discoveries.

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(1.) The day of effectual calling is remarkable for success, because then the pleasure of the Lord prospers in his hand, and hearts are drawn to him, as Zaccheus's heart here was; for, he made haste and came down. Why, then Christ rides in his majesty, according to Psalm xlv. 3, 4. "Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most Mighty; with thy glory and thy majesty; and in thy majesty ride prosperously; because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness." O man, woman, came there ever a word of power to your heart, that made you a volunteer to the Son of God? Such a word as went out-through, and in-through your heart, and opened all the bolted doors thereof to the King of glory? It is a day remarkable for success.

(2.) It is a day remarkable for liberty; "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because he hath anointed me to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound," Isa. Ixi. 1. Many have come hand and feet bound, tongue and heart bound to preachings and sacraments; but there came a word of power that opened all their prison doors. The entrance of the word gives light, life, and liberty; liberty and freedom from all the threatenings and curses of the law; freedom to enjoy and make use of all the promises of the gospel: freedom to go in the strength of the Lord, making mention of his righteousness, even of his only. Then the man is at liberty to walk, to run, to fly, for his strength is renewed; he mounts up on wings as an eagle. Such freedom had Zaccheus, when he not only received Christ joyfully; but frankly forsook his former wicked way of living, and made restitution of all the wrongs he had done, ver. 6th, and 8th, of this chapter, where the text lies. "And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the

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