The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-04-30
The Modern zaccheas.


The Modern zaccheas.
Or take another case. Here Is Il
plain. honest. simple farmer from one
of the country districts elected to our
state Legislature. He is not'at heart Il
bad man. He has always tried to lead
a simple, honest, true, faithful life. He
goes to our state capitol. His term Of
office IS drawing to Il close. He has Il
big mortgage on his farm. He has
tried for years to lift that mortgage.
but it is an impossibility. Just as the
session of the Legislature is nearing an
end a railroad corporation tries to push
through a bill to grab some land for
Its private use. That farmer knows
the bill Is wrong. But one day the lob
byist or representative of the railroad
comes to him and says: I'VE need Your
vote to pass that bill. We know you
are opposed to its passage. But If You
can change your mind and vote for 1t
we will give you five one-thousand
dollar bills That $4,000 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 strug-
giles against the temptation and at last
yields. At once the newspapers 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
greeted the publican of old, do you not
believe you might lead him to the bet
ter 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 we'll 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 Zaccheus pod man? Nay. BE
hold, there was a man named zac
cheus, which was the chief among the
publicans, 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 pic
ture him having all that money can
buy. 1t was to Zaccheus, rich man,
that Christ carried the gospel.
Bat, 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 III Il carriage and to
one who has scores of servants to run
at his bidding! 1t Is easy enough for
me to go to murderer in his cell, Just
about to be executed for his crimes
and beg him TO trust in Jesus, who
saved the dying thief on the cross:
but, oh, how hard it is for one to go
to the rich man and say: Merchant.
with your gold; lawyer and doctor.
with your lucrative practice; states
men, sitting In senatorial halls and In
gubernatorial chair, Christ came to
save the rich man. He came to save
the aristOcrat He came to save Zac-
cheus He came TO save you. Oh, We
wealthy Zaccheuses, bulwarked up in
your gold, will you not believe Jesus
came to save you, even your"
Sale Of Beauty's Soul.
In all probability you have heard the
old story about Rowland Hill many
years ago preaching upon the outskirts
of London. A great multitude was
gathered about the popular preacher
While he was preaching there drove to
the outskirts of the crowd the carriage
Of the noted aristocratic beauty, Lady
Erskine. Suddenly Rowland Hill in his
blunt way stopped and said: Now,
brethren, we are going to have an auc
ton sale. We are going to sell the soul
Of Lady Erskine, who Is here, to the
highest bidder. Who will bid first for
this soul? 1 will cries the world
What will you give for this soul?' L
will give riches and honor and pleasure
and fame is that allY Yes, that is
ALL Who is the next bidder| L am
says Satan. I will give all the king
doms of the earth. | will make men
bow down to her. l will give her full
license for all her evil desires until she
reaches the grave Is that all? Yes.
that Is ALL who Is the next bidder"
cried Rowland Hill L am says
Christ. What will you give" Il will
give peace and joy on earth. l will
give. her many years of usefulness to
maa1hd Then ] will give her eternal
joy aud life and peace beyond. l WITH
give her crown that shall never
fade" Dramatic was that Oh, yes
Only Rowland Hill dared preach such
a gospel to proud aristocrat But
what Rowland Hill said was true
Over every rich man as well as over
every poor these three forces are strut,-
Cling. Christ wants to save the arts
tocrat just as much as he wants to
save the poorest peasant. Zaccheus
was q rich man.
There is beautiful legend told
about Zaccheus which goes thus: Long
after his conversion he continued to
live in Jericho. He lived there until
he became very old man and till his
hofr hna Iii