ngs, and
served as a place for the confession of sin and its forgiveness.
Brethren, I am glad to think we are like this tabernacle, that we have
a most holy place, an inner sanctuary, in the inmost of our heart,
where Jesus has his dwelling place with us, and where his voice alone
is heard. In this holy of holies we feel his love, and it is there we
see his face. It is there that he appears to us the fairest among ten
thousand, and the one altogether lovely. It is here that we sing:

"Jesus, I love thy charming name;
'Tis music in mine ear;
Fain would I sound it out so loud
That earth and heaven might hear.

"Yes, thou art precious to my soul;
My transport and my trust:
Jewels to thee are gaudy toys,
And gold is sordid dust.

"I'll speak the honors of thy name
With my last fleeting breath:
And, dying, clasp thee in my arms,
The antidote of death."

Brethren, this is what I have gained, it is what you have gained, it
is what we all have gained by placing ourselves in sight of the Lord
as he was passing by. In itself, it was a small thing that Zaccheus
did. The tree which he ascended was not hard to climb; he was nimble,
for he _ran_ on before; and it did not take him long to climb, for he
had not much time. But in motive the act was great, because it was
done to get a sight of Jesus the Lord. The Lord knew this, and knew
also that his motive was not one of idle curiosity, but honest desire
to see him and to learn something more concerning him. And see how he
was blessed. Although he was looked down upon as being a sinner, and
felt in his heart that he was a sinner, still the blessed Savior
regarded it not out of place for him to go and be guest with him, and
crown the occasion with the joyful annunciation: "This day is
salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of
Abraham." All who believe in the Lord from the heart are sons of
Abraham, and heirs of God according to the promise.

Now, when any one goes to church to hear the Gospel preached, and
thereby to learn something about the Lord that he may have knowledge
of Jesus, he is doing in effect just what Zaccheus did. The same may
be said with regard to reading the Divine Word. It matters not how
great a sinner he may have been. No one now is likely to be a greater
sinner than was Mary Magdalene out of whom seven devils were cast; and
yet the Lord could say of her: "Her sins, which are many, are
forgiven, for