a manner)
heaven of them, where he saith unto the rich men, "Make yourselves
friends of the wicked riches, that when you fail here they may
receive you into everlasting tabernacles."

But now, although this be thus, in respect of the riches and the
poverty compared together, yet if a rich man and a poor man be
both good men, there may be some other virtue beside in which the
rich man may peradventure so excel that he may in heaven be far
above that poor man who was here on earth in other virtues far
under him. And the proof appeareth clear in Lazarus and Abraham.

Nor I say not this to the intent to comfort rich men in heaping up
riches, for a little comfort will bend them enough thereto. They
are not so proud-hearted and obstinate but what they would, I
daresay, with right little exhortation be very conformable to that
counsel! But I say this for those good men to whom God giveth
substance, and the mind to dispose it well, and yet not the mind
to give it all away at once, but for good causes to keep some
substance still. Let them not despair of God's favour for not
doing the thing which God hath given them no commandment of, nor
drawn them to by any special calling.

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,