Zaccheus

I

  Zaccheus climb’d the tree,
  And thought himself unknown;
  But how surprised was he
  When Jesus call’d him down!
The Lord beheld him, though conceal’d,
And by a word his power reveal’d.

II

  Wonder and joy at once
  Were painted in his face;
  “Does he my name pronounce,
  And does he know my case?
Will Jesus deign with me to dine?
Lord, I, with all I have, are thine.”

III

  Thus, where the gospel’s preach’d,
  And sinners come to hear,
  The hearts of some are reach’d
  Before they are aware:
The word directly speaks to them,
And seems to point them out by name.

IV

  ’Tis curiosity
  Oft brings them in the way,
  Only the man to see
  And hear what he can say;
But how the sinner starts to find
The preacher knows his inmost mind!

V

  His long-forgotten faults
  Are brought again in view,
  And all his secrets thoughts
  Reveal’d in public too.
Though compass’d with a crowd about,
The searching word has found him out.

VI

  While thus distressing pain
  And sorrow fill his heart,
  He hears a voice again,
  That bids his fears depart,
Then like Zaccheus he is blest,
And Jesus deigns to be his guest.