Zachaeus, lo, who climbed up into the tree, for desire that he had to behold our Saviour:  at such a time as Christ called aloud unto him and said, “Zachaeus, make haste and come down, for this day must I dwell in thy house,” he was glad and touched inwardly with special grace to the profit of his soul.  All the people murmured much that Christ would call him and be so familiar with him as, of his own offer, to come unto his house.  For they knew him for the chief of the publicans, who were custom-men or toll-gatherers of the Emperor’s duties, all which whole company were among the people sore infamous for ravine, extortion, and bribery.  And then Zachaeus not only was the chief of the fellowship but also was grown greatly rich, whereby the people accounted him in their own opinion for a man very sinful and wicked.  Yet he forthwith, by the instinct of the spirit of God, in reproach of all such temerarious bold and blind judgment, given upon a man whose inward mind and sudden change they cannot see, shortly proved them all deceived.  And he proved that our Lord had, at those few words outwardly spoken to him, so wrought in his heart within that whatsoever he was before, he was then, unawares to them all, suddenly waxed good.  For he made haste and came down, and gladly received Christ, and said, “Lo, Lord, the one half of my goods here I give unto poor people.  And yet, over that, if I have in anything deceived any man, here am I ready to recompense him fourfold as much.”

VINCENT:  This was, uncle, a gracious hearing.  But yet I marvel me somewhat, wherefore Zachaeus used his words in that manner of order.  For methinketh he should first have spoken of making restitution unto those whom he had beguiled, and then spoken of giving his alms afterward.  For restitution is, you know, duty, and a thing of such necessity that in respect of restitution almsdeed is but voluntary.  Therefore it might seem that to put men in mind of their duty in making restitution first, and doing their alms afterward, Zachaeus would have spoken more fittingly if he had said first that he would make every man restitution whom he had wronged, and then give half in alms of that which remained afterward.  For only that might he call clearly his own.

ANTHONY:  This is true, cousin, where a man hath not enough to suffice for both.  But he who hath, is not bound to leave his alms ungiven to the poor man who is at hand and peradventure calleth upon him, till he go seek up all his creditors and all those whom he hath wronged—­who are peradventure so far asunder that, leaving the one good deed undone the while, he may, before they come together, change that good intent again and do neither the one nor the other.  It is good always to be doing some good out of hand, while we think on it; grace shall the better stand with us and increase also, to go the further in the other afterward.