The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-04-24
THE PULPIT.
A BRILLIANT SUNDAY SERMON BY
THE REV. J. A. HANSEN.
Theme: Small Mans Treasures.

>
the Rev. ]. A. Hansen. had for his
subject A Small Mans Great Treas
nres. a." The text was taken from
Luke 1910. Mr. Hansen said:
We need not know much about
some people TO know all about them.
OF Zaccheus we know just three
things: He was chief among the
publicans, he was rich and of small
stature. These facts constitute the
background of very interesting pic
ture, A Genuine Conversion" AS a
chief publican he had bought the
right 10 I1llect the Roman taxes. All
the publicans were despised by the
Jews, not only because they served
the goats, but more so because they
eheared the sheep. 1t was not only a
matter Of what Rome wanted, but
what the publican could get. 1t was
this taking of the pound of flesh"
that hurt and humbled the Jew and
made him hate the publicans.
Thus allied with Rome and ar
Taigned against the Jews by an un-
popular and dishonest method, Fac
cheus had grown wealthy. He was
not only rich. but he was a rich pub
lican. This not only said he had
money, but told how II had been Sc
cured, IL proved him what We would
call CRATER, and a good one-more
correctly, a bad one. His wealth was
greater than his treasures; q man
may be rich and not have much that
belongs to himself. Zaccheus at
least feared that some OF his means
belonged with the assets of others
What shrinking and swelling of
bank accounts there would be II all
financial injustice were righted by
the return of the amount multiplied
by four.
The first treasure that came into
the experience Of Zacchcus was un-
doubtedly the gems OF truth. which
that day he discovered and found
precious. A walk, talk, meal,
Jesus guest. and the man Is
changed A little man
who could not see, could thank God,
hear. Truly, faith came not by sight.
but by hearing. And what did he
hear? Millions Of men have walked,
talked and dined together without in
fuencing each other. Of.course. he
had seen Jesus, but like al ther. HE
had Him, now" Words OF divine
truth and sublime thought had flowed
from His gracious lips. The Water
of Life" became stream making
fresh and fruitful the best where the
worst had predomlnated.
What an ancient lesson for modern
needs. The Christian worker of to-
day has left the path OF success be-
cause he seeks changes that Will con-
vert the man. Change the man and
he will change his conditions. And
yet here is an external force that
ch ha
truth and the truth shall make you
free" II the Son make you free, ye
shall be free indeed. 1t was undoubt-
edly these two-personallty and
truth--that proved Of inestimable
value 20 Zeccheus.
Christianity Is the broadest and
best thing OF everyday life--for our
matter of-fact day. IL you please. 1t
makes every man brother and every
brother missionary. II those who
love and live the truth would give
the truth, who doubts the result?
II was not only what Jesus was, hut
what He was and said that touched
the conscience and moved. the heart
OF Zeccheus. We have this treas
ure" indeed In earthern vessels; yet.
whatever the vehicle, the treasures of
truth are committed 20 us and by
them we persuade men TO be recon-
ciled TO God oh, for willingness
and effort 10 make our walking, talk
ing and visiting tell for religion and
life. Go teaching them
whatsoever ! have commanded
and 10 ! am with you alway, said
Jesus" THE truth" is after all the
worlds and the church's greatest
treasure.
The second treasure that he Sc
cured was light and sight together
they were created for each other.
Again IT was not seeing the great
rabbi, but seeing himself that proved
his great blessing. Self-slght Is a
thing to be priced and prayed for.
Oh, yad some power the giftie gle
us:
To see ourselves as ithers see us.
We believe the light revealed Fac
cheua that day to be small, not only
in stature, but in character as well.
As Achan, with his wedge OF gold and
Judas with his thirty pieces of silver
shrink into men too small TO be SOL
der end apostle, so Zaccheus is af-
fected by his wealth. He happily be-
comea big enough to be willing TO
give away OHt-Hdll W ItSNOIt dS
much as necessary. But he is small
before the implied methods OF its OBJ
tanning.
The lack OF character is not only
want 20 be 6eplored. but littleness in
this sense II the. ground of great
evils. A man OF small body, small
mind, small beart must be limited in
his ability to do good; but the small
character Is unlimited in his pOssibil-
tiles Of evil. He maybe restrained
by self-fear or interposed providence,
yet the probst ilities are he will be
whitening and blighting curse. In
making money the publican was con-
stantly tempted 10 fleece both the
rich and the poor. Dishonesty" was
his ability and "tricking" his trade.
Herein lies the value of the truth ac-
quired that day. Money secured at
the price OF the SORROWS and suffer
ings of others Is acquired at the cost
OF blighted conscience and lost
soul. His contact with the good in
life and thought In Jesus made him
see himself and seek betterment