Serm. CXVI. of Kejlltatlon. 83 ufed by the Apottle, of Sinners of the Gentiles. And hence likewife probably it Ts, that Publicans and Sinners, Publicans and Heathens, are joyned feveral times together, becaufe of the occafions of frequent Convene which the Publicans had with Heathens. 3. But principally they were odious becaufeof the common injuftice and op- prefion, which they ufed in the management of their Calling, by fraud and vio- lence extorting more than was due, to inhance the profit of their Places. Hence it is, that this fort ofOfficers have been generally branded, and reckoned among the wort} fort ofmen. So he in the Comedy, 7edv1<4 z'ttPlwvar, 0,5 eV d;,rttyEC, all Publicans are Rapacious or Robbers. And this is molt probably the Sin which Zacheus here repents of, and in regard to which he promiles Rettitution, TWO; iawcopív1nau, And ifl have taken any thing fromany Man by Pileaccufation ; fo we render the words in our Tranflation : but the word iavxnpzv7nox figbifies more generally, If I have been injurious to any one, ifI have wronged any Man, as ap- pears by the con(tant ufe ofthis wordby the LXX, who by this word do tran- flate the molt general Hebrew words, which lignifie any kind of Injury or Op- prefion, either by fraudor violence or calumny. So that there is no Reafon bere to reftrain it, wronging men by falfe accufation: for Zecheus his Sin being in all probability extorting more thanwas due, this might as eafily be done many other ways, as by falfe accufation. And that this was the common Sin of the Publicans, appears by the Counfel which john the Baptift gives them, Luke 3. 12, i3. Then came alfa the Publicans to be baptized, andfaid unto him, Mailer, what /hall we do? And hefaid unto them, Exafäno more than that which is appointed you that is, do not by fraud or violence extort from any Man, ,anymore than the Tribute which is laid upon bim. So that Zacheus here promifeth, that if hehad been injurious to any Man in his Office, by extorting more than was due, he would rettore to him fourfold. And if Zacheus calculated his Eftate right, and intended to referve any part of it to himfelf, which is but reafonable to fuppofe, it could be no very great part of his Mate which was injurioufly got; and I am afraid a far fmaller proporti- on than many are guilty of, who yet pafs for very honett men in comparifon of the Publicans. The Text faith, he was a rich Man. Suppofe he was worth ten or twelve thoufand Pounds; half he gives to the Poor; That was well got, or elfe his whole Eftate could not have made fourfold Reftitution for it. Suppofe he referved a thoufand or two to himfelf, then at the rate of rettoring fourfold, not above a thoufand can be injurioufly got, that is about a Penny in the Shilling. I am afraid that now a-days there are few fuch moderate Oppreffors : nay, it is poflible the proportion of his Eftate injurioufly got might be much lefs; more it could not eafily be. But whateverit was, he does not plead that by way of ex- cure for himfelf; he freely confeffeth he had finned in this kind, and offersRefti- tutioa to the utmoft, much more than the Law did require in fuch Cafes. II. You have the Declaration our Saviour makes hereupon, of the truth of his Repentance and Converfion, and the happy ffate he was thereby put into, This day is Salvation come to this Houfe. The Obfervation I (hall make from hence is this, That Reftitution and Satisfa- &ion for the Injuries we have done to others, is a proper and genuine Effeec of true Repentance. I know the Text only (peaks of Reltitution in cafe of Oppref- fon and Exa&ion : but becaufe there is the fameReafon why Reftitution (hould be made for all other Injuries, I think I may without any force or violence to my Text, very well make it the Foundation of a more general Difcourfe concer- ning Refitution. In the handlingof this, I (hall, FirJI, Open toyou the Nature of this Duty. Secondly, Confirm the truth of the Propofition, by (hewing the Neceffity of it. Thirdly, Endeavour to perfwade men to the difcharge of this Neceffary Duty. Firfl, For the opening the Nature of this Duty, I will confider, I. The AQ. II. The Latitude or Extent of the Objell, as I may call it, orthe Matter about which itis converfant. M z III. The
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