The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05

DIR. TALMAGE'S SERMON
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 BY THE REV FRANK DEWITT TALMAGE, D. D.

tion are sometimes the easiest men to reach and lead to the better life. man may be a thief and a robber or even a murderer and yet not be welded to his sins. He may long to become pure and true and honest and upright. zaccheus was a publican. Zaceheus was dishonest tax collector But Zaceheus was one who, at the first sa1utation of Jesus, was willing to come down from that sycamore tree and welcome the Mas ter to his home. That is the type of sinner who can be most easily reached for Christ by us in the present day.
 Again. believe that Zaccheus was at heart an honest man and wanted to do right. When a man is converted and says to Christ, Behold, Lord the half of my goods I give to the poor, and If l have taken anything from any man by false ac- cusation I restore to him fourfold," he gives evidence that he had primarily been of an honest nature. Then perhaps it was his honesty that led the Romans to offer the office of tax collector to him Perhaps the Roman officials came to him and said: "Zaccheus, would you not like to be the tax collector for the city of Jericho? You know everybody. You know Just how much they are worth, You can make more out of it than any body else" "Oh, mo-" think I hear zaccheus say, 'I don't want the posi- tion. It is one of the meanest and most contemptible positions on earth '1 know it. says the Roman governor, "but remember, somebody has to take this po- sition, and if you take 1t think of all the money you can make and how rich you can leave your family. You had better take it, zaccheus." Then in a moment of great temptation, perhaps, Zaccheus fell. Do you not think he ever regretted ! that he took that position? And when Jesus called him back to the better life do you wonder that he gladly climbed down out of that sycamore tree and asked Christ into. his home? Do not make the mistake of thinking that a great sinner never has desire to come back to the better life.
 How many men are there whom, like Zaccheus you might lead to Christ? Here is one whom you call stony hearted brutal saloon keeper You think he is brutal, but he Is not. There never was man who loathed the curse of liquor more than he loathes 1t. If you talked to him, you might find that he drifted into the whisky business as thousands of whisky dealers have done. They hon. estly tried to find other employment but could not. Then in a spirit of despera- ton they took employment in a saloon. Before they knew it they commenced to make lots of money. But in the midnight hour, in the darkness of their rooms, some of these saloon keepers have real ized again and again that the road they are taking to fortune is marked by tomb stones and coffin lids and open graves. Only too willing would thousands of the saloon keepers be to turn their backs upon the evil traffic if they only knew a way to get out. If you, man, would accost some of these modern saloon keep CTS as Christ saluted zaccheus you might lead them to the better and truer life, even as the publican of old turned his back upon his dishonest tax collecting.
 Modern Zaccheus.
 Or take another case. Here is a plain, honest, simple farmer from one of the country districts elected to our state legislature. He is not at heart a bad man. He has always tried to lead @ simple, honest. true, faithful life. He goes to state capitol. His term of office Is drawing to close. He has a big mortgage on his farm. He has tried for years to lift that mortgage, but it Is an impossbility. Just as the session of the legislature Is nearing an end a rail- road corporation tries to push through a bill to grab some land for it's pri- vate use. That farmer knows the bill Is wrong. But one day the lobbyist or representative Of, the railroad comes to him and says: "We need your vote to pass that bill We know you are op- posed to Its passage. But If you can change your mind and vote for 1t we will give you five one-thsousand dollar bills. That $5000 will just pay off your mortgage and leave your farm free of debt and you can make an easy living for the rest of your life" The farmer looks at the money. He struggles against the tempta- ton and at last yields. At once the news papers open their broadsides against him. His good reputation is gone. Do you not believe this modern Zaccheus ever regrets what he has done? Do you not believe he is regretting his dishonest acts now? If you accost him as Christ greet ed the publican of old, do you not believe you might lead him to tho better and truer life?
 But, again. I think that Christ went to the house of Zaccheus to prove to the world that he wishes to save the rich man in his palace as well as the poor man in his hut. He wants to be the Saviour of Dives in his mansion. as well as the beggar Lazarus in his rags. The story of Zaccheus proves this Was Zac- cheus a poor man? Nay. Behold, there was a man named zaccheus, which was the chief among the publcans and he was rich" Yes, whenever you think of Zaccheus you must think of him living in mansion. You must think of him dressed in the most expensive robes. You must picture him having all that money can buy. It was to Zaccheus, rich man, that Christ carried the gospel
 But though Christ came to save the rich man, how hard it is to preach re- pentance and faith and judgment to come to the merchant prince and to the man who rides in a carriage and to one who has scores of servants to run at his bidding! It is easy enough for me to go to murderer in his cellA just about to uurzuu