And
if I have wrongfully exacted aught of any man, I restore fourfold." There
can be little doubt that any publican would find large opportunities for
such restoration; and nothing more definitely indicates true repentance
than the desire to make amends for the past.

What did Jesus say? This is most important of all, "To-day is salvation
come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham." By his
faith the publican of Jericho showed himself to be a true son of Abraham,
the "father of the faithful." His trust in Christ secured for him that
salvation which is offered to all, even to the lowest and most hopeless
and despised. "For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was
lost."

10. The Parable of the Pounds. Ch. 19:11-28

11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable,
because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and _because_ they supposed that
the kingdom of God was immediately to appear. 12 He said
therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive
for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called ten
servants of his, and gave them ten pounds, and said unto them,
Trade ye _herewith_ till I come. 14 But his citizens hated him,
and sent an ambassage after him, saying, We will not that this man
reign over us. 15 And it came to pass, when he was come back
again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these
servants, unto whom he had given the money, to be called to him,
that he might know what they had gained by trading. 16 And the
first came before him, saying, Lord, thy pound hath made ten
pounds more. 17 And he said unto him, Well done, thou good
servant: because thou wast found faithful in a very little, have
thou authority over ten cities. 18 And the second came, saying,
Thy pound, Lord, hath made five pounds. 19 And he said unto him
also, Be thou also over five cities. 20 And another came, saying,
Lord, behold, _here_ is thy pound, which I kept laid up in a
napkin: 21 for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man:
thou takest up that which thou layedst not down, and reapest that
which thou didst not sow. 22 He saith unto him, Out of thine own
mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I
am an austere man, taking up that which I laid not down, and
reaping that which I did not sow; 23 then wherefore gavest thou
not my money