The new South-news., 1908-04-25
THE PULPIT.
4 BRILLIANT SUNDAY SERMON ~
THE Rev. J. A HANSEN.


baptlet NnuFcn. sunday. tHe pastor,
the Rev. j. A. Hansen. had for his
subject "A Small Mans Great Treas
ures-" The text was taken from
Luke s:1-lo. 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 a very interesting pic
ture. "A Genuine Conversion" As a
chief publican he had bought the
right to lullect the Roman taxes. All
the publicAns were despised by the
Jews. not only because they served
the goats. but more 70 because they
sheared the sheep II was not only
matter OF what Rome wanted, but
what the publican could get 1t was
this taking OF the pound OF nesh"
that hurt and humbled the Jew and
made him hate the publicans.
Thus allied with Rome and ar
raigned against the Jews by an un-
popular and dishonest method, Zac-
cheus had grown wealthy. He was
not only rich, but he was rich pub
licAn. This not only said he had
money. but told how 1t had been se-
cured. 1t proved him what We would
call a CRATER. and a good one--more
correctly. a bad one. His wealth was
greater than his treasures: a 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 a 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 frst treasure that came into
the experience OF Zaccheus was un-
doubtedly the gems Of truth. which
that day he discovered and found
precious. A walk. a talk. meal.
Jesus a guest. and the man Is
chanKed-converted. 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
fluencing each other. OF course, he
had seen Jesus. but like another, He
had Him, now" Words OF divine
truth and sublime thought had flowed
from His gracious lips. The Water
IL n
fresh and fruitful the best where the
worst had predominated.
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
blesses the soul. "Ye shall know the
truth and the truth shall make you
free" II the Son make you free, ys
shall be free indeed. 1t was undoubt.
edly these two-personality and
truth-that proved of inestimablt
value to Zeccheus.
Christianity Is the nroadest anf
oest tnlns ol eVersu~y nieor ou
mstter-o!-laet dsy. - y1u p.s1's
brother a missionary. II those whs
love and live the truth would give
the truth. who doubts the result.
1t was not only what Jesus was. bu
what He was and said that touched
the conscience and moved the hear
of Zeccheus. We have this treas
ure" indeed in earthern vessels: yet
whatever the vehicle, the treasures O
truth are committed to us and b,
them we persuade men to be recon
.ciled to God. Oh, for a willingness
and effort to make our walking, talk
Ing and visiting tell for religion ans
life. go teaching then
Whatsoever have commanded
and 10 am with you Away, sais
Jesus" THE truth" is after all tn
worlds and the church's CREATES
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 grea
rabbi, but seeing himself that prove
his great blessing. Self-sight Is
thing to be prized and prayed for.
~ ~.a .ome mover the stftie ei
m..
ro a.. curse,ve. a. tther. ace ~.
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we Deneve tne ,sn. scveanee ss Mes
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SHRINK INTO men 'oo .msn " o1 o.
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COmeS OIS enough ~ VIC "''.'"o