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 than in the will; as a figure of truth or of knowledge, rather than of good. Its growth on low ground, and especially in Egypt, shews that it represents something of no high degree. Truth, it may be, as received by the natural man, in whom it makes more display of leaves and wood, than of flowers of wisdom and fruits of charity. Fruits there are, however, of a humble kind, devoid of spirituality, yet owing their production to the circulation caused by the apparently idle boughs. Even these poor, unproductive, infected fruits, can only be ripened by exposure to the light and air of heaven, and the rough usage of the world and its temptations. The prophet's description of his humble calling has, therefore, greater force than appears at first sight. "No prophet, neither a prophet's son;" not even a shepherd, or a vinedresser; but a herdsman (or a ploughman with oxen), and a cutter open of sycamore fruit. As if he had said, as the expressive words of the original seem to imply, "I was no opener of divine things, but only of the ground and of sycamore fruit." Would that every one who, like Zaccheus, may not be well versed in the law of spiritual order, and may therefore be despised as a publican by the better informed scribes, were like him, charitable and just; "little of stature," and humble enough to mount the sycamore tree! to use the knowledge at his command, in order to gain a better view of the blessed Saviour, who never lets an honest effort be slighted. Assuredly he will receive the gracious invitation—"Zaccheus, make haste and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house." The door of his heart will be knocked at by Him whose promise extends to every human being,