vER. 1— 10. GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 625 AMBBOSE. Zacchaeusin the sycamore,the blindman by the wayside: upon the one our Lord waitsto shew mercy, upon theotherHe confersthe greatgloryof abidingin hishouse. Thechiefamong the Publicansis here fitlyintroduced.For who willhereafterdespairof himself,now that he attainsto gracewho gained his livingby fraud. And he too more overa richman, that we may know that not allrich men arecovetous. CYRIL. But Zacchaeus made no delay in what he did,and so was accounted worthy of the favour ofGod, which givessightto the blind,and callsthem who areafaroff. TIT.BOST. The seed of salvationhad begun to springup inhim,forhe desiredto see Jesus,having never seen Him. Forifhe had seen Him, he would long sincehave givenup thePublican'swicked life. No one that sees Jesus can remainany longerin wickedness. But there were two ob staclesto his seeingHim. The multitudenot so much of men as ofhissinspreventedhim, forhe was littleofstature. AMBROSE. What means the Evangelistby describinghis stature,and thatof none other? It is perhaps because he wasyoung in wickedness,or as yet weak in the faith. For hewas not yet prostratein sinwho couldclimb up. He had notyet seen Christ. TIT.BOST. But he discovereda good device; running beforehe climbed np intoa sycamore,and sawHim whom he had longwishedfor,i.e.Jesus,passingby. Now Zacchffiusdesiredno more than to see,but He who isableto do more than we ask for,granted to him farabove whathe expected; as itfollows,And when Jems came tothe place,He lookedup, and saw him. He saw the soul of the man strivingearnestlyto livea holy life,and convertshim to godliness.AMBROSE. Uninvited He invitesHimself to hishouse; as it follows,Zacch&us, make haste,and come down,fyc.for He knew how richlyHe would reward his hospitality.And though He had not yet heard the word of invitation,He had alreadyseen the will. BBDB. See here,the camel disencumbered of his hunch passesthrough the eye of a needle,thatis,the richman and thepublicanabandoning his loveof riches,and loathinghis dishonestgains,receivesthe blessingof his Lord's com pany. It follows,And he made haste,and came down, and re- VOL.in. 2 s