you partake of the judgments thereof." Men delay, and are even averfe from coming to God; but, in the day of effectual calling, Chrift, the Angel of the covenant, by his Spirit, pulls them out, and compels them to come down in hafte: in the day of effectual calling, the foul makes hafte. "Now is the accepted time, and now is the day of falvation.I made hafte; I delayed not to keep thy righteous judgments."

3. remark," It is a day of love and kindness, I "wherein Chrift gives a kindly look, as well as a kindly "word." It is here faid, "Chrift looked up to Zaccheus, and faw him." Zaccheus wanted to have a look or a fight of Chrift; but he little thought that Chrift wanted to give a look to him. But as Jefus looked down upon Peter, when he was too low, in order to bring him up; fo we may fay, he looked up upon Zaccheus, when he was too high, in order to bring him down. In both thefe cafes the look was a kindly look. Chrift injoins us to look unto him and be faved; but he must give the first look. *

4. We remark, "That the day of effectual calling "is a day wherein Chrift invites himself to an interview "with the poor foul: for, "To-day, fays Chrift, must "I abide at thy houfe." Here Chrift invites himself: and, indeed, when he calls effe&tually, he invites himfelf to the houfe, to the home, to the heart of his people. He feeks not our invitation, but prevents it: he is faid to "Prevent us with the bleffings of goodness," Pfalm xxi. 3. Kindnefs begins on his fide; he lays himself in our way, by promifes, and proffers of mercy. O! happy these to whom Chrift is faying, "This day "I must come to your houfe, to your family, to your "clofet, to your dwelling."

5. I remark, That the day of effectual calling is "a neceffary day; "This day, fays he, I must abide "in thine houfe." There is a bleffed neceffity he is under; as it was with Chrift, when he met with the woman of Samaria, John iv. 4. it is faid, "He muft needs go through Samaria." And, as it is faid of his * See this particular further illuftrated in the explication, p. 110, III, 112.

bringing in his scattered flock, John x. 16. " Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold, them alfo I must bring, and they shall hear my voice." There was a neceffity of purpose, of purchase, of promise; and a neceffity of love, in the cafe; and the thing must take effect.

6. We remark, "That the day of effectual calling "is an abiding day, fo to speak it is a day wherein "Chrift comes not to make a tranfient vifit, but a de

figned vifit; defigning to tarry and abide: "This day "I must abide at thy houfe." It is a fet day, wherein he designed from all eternity, to meet with fuch a foul. As it is faid of Ifrael, Pfalm cii. 13. The time to

favour her is come; yea, the fet time." A time fet and appointed for his flay and abode, in order to fhew his favour; and though his fenfible prefence is not ftill abiding; yet he gives such a vifit, as to leave a pledge of his conftant abode: "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever," John xiv. 16.

7. We remark, "That the day of effectual calling "is a meeting day between Chrift and the finner a day of communion and fellowship between him and "them; wherein he makes homely and free with them "and theirs: "To-day I mult abide at thy house." As if he had faid, "You and I must be houfed together: "your houfe must be my houfe; your table my table; yea, your heart must be my home: I will not only "ftand at the door and knock, but I will make king's"keys; you must open to me, and I will come in, "and fup with you, and you with me."

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 refpects, viz. the remarkable names, and the remarkable figns and properties of it.

[1] It hath remarkable names in fcripture; it is called a day of power, Pfalm cx. 2. A day wherein God exerts his power, for breaking the rebellion of the nature; as he did in the cafe of Zaccheus the publican. It is called a day of efpoufals, and a day of the gladnefs of Chrift's heart, Song iii. 11. For then the match

is made up, between Chrift and the believer. It is called a day of falvation, z Cor. vi. 2. "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of falvation." It is true, every gofpel-day may be fo called; but, in a fpecial manner, the day of effectual calling; for then, as Chrift faid to Zaccheus, it may be faid, "This day is falvation come to thine houfe."Again, it is fometimes called a day of vengeance, Ifa. xi. z. "The day of vengeance is in mine heart; for the year of my redeemed is come." Then the Lord takes vengeance on all fpiritual enemies, fin,Satan, and strong corruption; the vengeance of God and the temple pursue them.Sometimes it is called a day of fmall things? Zech. iv. 10. “ Who hath defpifed the day of small things?" The beginnings are ordinarily fmall, but the latter end may greatly in creafe. It is called a day or time of love, Ezek. xvi. 8. "Behold, when I faw 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 converfion of the Jews fhall be, Rom. xi. 15. Then "The hour cometh, when the dead fhall 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, Pfalm 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; minifters cannot make fuch a day.

[2] It is remarkable for the figns and properties of it. I name four. It is remarkable for fuccefs, liberty, victories, and difcoveries.

(1.) The day of effectual calling is remarkable for, fuccefs, becaufe then the pleasure of the Lord profpers. in his hand, and hearts are drawn to him, as Zaccheus's heart here was; for, he made hafte and came down. Why, then Chrift rides in his majesty, according to Pfalm xlv. 3, 4. "Gird thy fword upon thy thigh, O moft Mighty; with thy glory and thy majefty; and in thy majefty ride profperoufly; becaufe of truth, and meeknefs, and righteoufnefs." 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. thro'

thro', and in-thro' your heart, and opened all the bolted doors thereof to the King of glory? It is a day remarkable for fuccefs.

(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,'' Ifa. Ixi. 1. Many have come hand and feet bound, tongue and heart bound to preachings and facraments; but there came a word of power that opened all their prifon doors. The entrance of the word gives light, life, and liberty; liberty and freedom from all the threatenings and curfes of the law; freedom to enjoy and make use of all the promifes of the gofpel; 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 frength is renewed; he mounts up on wings as an eagle. Such freedom had Zaccheus, when he not only received Chrift joyfully; but frankly forfook 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 hafte, and came down, and received him joyfully. And Zaccheus ftood, and faid unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor: and if I have taken any thing from any man, by falfe accufation, I restore him fourfold."

(3.) It is remarkable for victory; victories over hearts, victories over corruptions, victories over Satan. O Sirs, do any of you remember the day when, though one would have given you all the world, you could not get heart to follow the Lord in duties and worship; yet, lo! quickly you had it to fay, "Or ever I was aware, my foul made me like the chariots of Amminadib." When though you were frighted with legions of devils, and legions of lufts, and great regiments of corruptions within you, or ever you was aware, you was made to believe and lay hold on Christ, and fo, by faith, to turn to flight the armies of the aliens, and fay, "Thro' God I fhall do Valiantly: Thanks be to God who giveth the victory," I Cor. xv. 57

Vol. IX.

+ I

(4.) It

(4.) It is remarkable for difcoveries; fuch difcoveries of God, as makes the foul to fay with Job, "Now mine eye feeth thee; wherefore I abhor myfelf." Such dif coveries of fin and felf, as makes one fay with Afaph, "So foolish was I and ignorant, I was as a beaft before thee. Truth, Lord, I am a dog;" I am a devil, a monfter. Such difcoveries of the world and the vanity thereof, as makes it appear nothing. Pleasures, and honours, and crowns, and fceptres, all vanishing nothings. Such discoveries of fpiritual and eternal things, as make them appear in their excellency, and makes the man to give tranfient thoughts to tranfient things, and permanent thoughts to permanent things. But efpecially fuch discoveries of Chrift by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, in the knowledge of Chrift, as makes him to be feen and admired in his infinite worth and excellency, fo as all things appear worthlefs in comparison of him. The man fells his all for this pearl of great price. He is feen in his fulness and fufficiency, as he in whom dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily in his fulness of merit and Spirit, beauty and bounty, majefty and mercy, grace and glory. He is feen in his wonderful meetnefs and fitnefs for glorifying all the perfections of God, and for answering all the needs, ftraits and wants of the foul. The work of redemption is feen in him to be a work worthy of God's glorious excellencies, and fuiting to the foul's left condition, which is made to go into this method of falvation with wonder and admiration. O Sirs, have you ever feen the King in his beauty, and beheld King Solomon with the crown upon his head? Have ever the beams of his glory fhined in upon your heart, according to 2 Cor. iv. 6. "God, who commanded the light to fhine out of darkness, hath fhined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jefus Chrift?"

Some may think, O! what is that the man is talking of? A fight and difcovery of Chrift's glory! That must be fome wild enthufiaftic notion; for our part, we never faw any glory beyond that of the fun, moon, and ftars. O poor foul! faw you never any greater glory than that? I tell you, there is an infinitely great

er