may see that indeed you are the Sons of Love. Love your Saviour Yea shew one to another that you love him not only by a seeming love of Affection but with the love of Duty Practical Love is best Many love Christ with nothing but the lick of the Tongue Alas Christ Jesus the Lord must not be put off thus He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them saith he he it is that loveth me Joh. 14.21 Practical Love which stands in Self-denial in Charity to my Neighbour and a Patient enduring of Affliction for his Name This is counted Love. Right Love to Christ is that which carries in it a provoking Argument to others of the Brethren Heb. 10.24 Should a Man ask me how he should know that he loveth the Children of God The best answer I could give him would be in the Words of the Apostle John By this saith he we know we love the Children of God when we love God and keep his Commandments 1 Joh. 5.2 Love to God and Christ is then 〈◊〉 when we are tender of his Name and then we shew our selves tender of his Name when we are afraid to break any the least of his Commandments And when we are here then do we shew our love to our Brother also Now we have Obligation sufficient thus to do for that our Lord loved us and gave himself for us to deliver us from Death that we might live through him The World when they hear the Doctrine that I have asserted and handled in this little Book to wit That Jesus Christ would have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners will be apt because themselves are Unbelievers to think that this is a Doctrine that leads to Looseness and that gives liberty to the Flesh but if you that Believe love your Brethren and your Neighbours truly and as you should you will put to silence the ignorance of such foolish Men and stop their mouths from speaking Evil of you And I say let the love of Christ constrain us to this Who deserveth our Heart our Mouth our Life our Goods so much as Jesus Christ who has bought us to himself by his Blood to this very end that we should be a peculiar Peâ—â—le zealous of good Works There is nothing more seemly in the World than to see a Christian walk as becomes the Gospel nor any thing more unbecoming a Reasonable Creature than to hear a man say I believe in Christ and yet see in his Life Debauchery and Profaneness Might I such men should be counted the basest of men such men should be counted by all unworthy of the Name of a Christian and should be shunned by every good man as such who are the very Plague of Profession For so it is written We should carry it towards them Whoso has a Form of Godliness and deny the power thereof from such we must turn away It has oft-times come into my mind to ask by what means it is That the Gospel Profession should be so Taunted with Loose and Carnal Gospellers And I could never arrive to better Satisfaction in the matter than this Such men are made Professors by the Devil and so by him put among the rest of the Godly A certain Man had a fruitless Figg-Tree planted in his Vineyard but by whom was it planted there Even by him that sowed the Tares his own Children among the Wheat Luke 13.6 Matt. 13.37 38 39 40. And that was the Devil But why doth the Devil do thus Not of love to them but to make of them Offences and Stumbling blocks to others For he knows that a loose Professor in the Church does more mischief to Religion than ten can do to it that are in the World. Was it not think you the Devil that stirred up the Damosel that you read of in Acts 16. to cry out These are the Servants of the Most high God that shew unto us the way of Salvation Yes it was as is evident For Paul was grieved to hear it But why did the Devil stir up her to cry so But because that was the way to blemish the Gospel and to make the World think that it came from the same hand as did her Sooth-saying and Witchery Ver. 16.17 18. Holiness O Lord becomes thy House for ever Let therefore whoever they be that profess the Name of Christ take heed that they Scandal not that Profession which they make of him since he has so graciously offered us as we are Sinners of the biggest size in the first place his Grace to Save us HAving thus far spoken of the riches of the Grace of Christ and of the freeness of his Heart to imbrace the Jerusalem-sinners it may not be amiss to give you yet as a caution an intimatimation of one thing namely That this grace and freeness of his Heart is limited to time and day the which whoso overstandeth shall perish notwithstanding For as a King who of Grace sendeth out to his Rebellious People an offer of Pardon if they accept thereof by such a day yet beheadeth or hangeth those that come not in for mercy until the day or time be past So Christ Jesus has set the Sinner a day a day of Salvation an acceptable time but he who standeth out or goeth on in Rebellion beyond that time is like to come off with the loss of his Soul 2 Cor. 6.2 Heb. 3.13 16 17 18 19. chap. 4.7 Luk. 19.41 42. Since therefore things are thus it may be convenient here to touch a little upon these particulars First That this Day or Time thus limited when it is considered with reference to this or that man is oft-times undiscerned by the person concerned therein and always is kept secret as to the shutting up thereof And this in the wisdom of God is thus to the end no man when called upon should put off turning to God to another time Now and to Day is that and only that which is revealed in Holy Writ Psal. 50.22 Eccles. 12.1 Hâ—b 3.13 16. And this shews us the desperate hazzards which those men run who when invitation or conviction attends them put off turning to God to be saved till another and as they think a more fit season and time For many by so doing defer this to do till the day of God's patience and long-suffering is ended and then for their Prayers and Cryes after mercy they receive nothing but mocks and are laughed at by the God of Heaven Prov. 1.20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29. Isa. 65.12 13 14 15. chap. 66.4 Zech. 7.11 12 13. Secondly Another thing to be considered is this namely that the day of God's grace with some men begins sooner and also sooner ends than it doth with others Those at the first hour of the day had their Call sooner than they who were called upon to turn to God at the sixth hour of the day yea and they who were hired at third hour had their Call sooner than
bare the sin of many and made Intercâ—ssion for the transgressors Isa. 53.12 Ninthly Would Jesus Christ have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners Let the Tempted harp upon This string for their hâ—lp and consolation The Tempted wherever he dwells always thinks himself the biggest Sinner one most unworthy of eternal Life This is Satans master Argument Thou art a horrible Sinner a Hypocrite one that has a profane heart and one that is an utter stranger to a work of Grace I say this is his Maul his Clâ—h his Master-piece He doth with this as some do by their most inchanting Songs sings them every where I believe there are but few Saints in the World that have not had this temptation sounding in their Ears But were they but aware Satan by all this does but drive them to the Gaâ— out at which they should go and so escape his roaring Saith he Thou art a great Sinner a horrible Sinner a profane hearted Wretch one that cannot be matchâ— for a Vile one in the Country And all this while Christ says to his Ministers offer Mercy in the first place to the biggest Sinners So that this Temptation drives thee directly into the Arms of Jesus Christ. Was therefore the Tempted but aware he might say Ay Satan so I am I am a Sinner of the biggest size and therefore have most need of Jesus Christ Yea because I am such a wretch therefore Jesus Christ calls me yea he calls me first The first proffer of the Gospel is to be made to the Jerusalem sinner I am he wherefore stâ—nd back Satan make a lane my right is first to come to Jesus Christ. This now would be like for like This would foil the Devil This would make him say I must not deal with this man thus for then I put a Sword into his hand to cut off my head And this is the meaning of Peter when he saith Resist him stedfast in the Faith 1 Pet. 5.9 And of Paul when he saith Take the Shiâ—ld of Faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery Darts of the Wicked Ephes. 6.16 Wherefore is it said Begin at Jerusalem if the Jerusalem sinner is not to have the benefit of it And if I am to have the benefit of it let me call it to mind when Satan haunts me with the continual remembrance of my sins of my Jerusalem-sins Satan and my Conscience says I am the biggest sinner Christ offereth Mercy in the first place to the biggest sinners Nor is the manner of the Offer other but such as suiteth with my mind I am sorry for my sin yea sorry at my heart that ever sinful Thought did enter or find the least entertainment in my wicked mind And might I obtain my Wish I would never more that my heart should be a place for ought but the Grace and Spirit and Faith of the Lord Jesus I speak not this to lessen my Wickedness I would not for all the World but be placed by mine own Conscience in the very front of the biggest Sinners that I might be one of the first that are beckoned by the gracious Hand of Jesus the Saviour to come to him for Mercy Well Sinner thou now speakest like a Christian but say thus in a stronâ— Spirit in the hour of Temptation and then thou wilt to thy commendation and comfort quit thy self well This improving of Christ in dark hours is the Life though the hardest part of our Christianity We should neither stop at Darkness nor at the raging of our Lusts but go on in a way of venturing and casting the whole of our Affair for the next World at the foot of Jesus Christ. This is the way to make the Darkness Light and also to alay the raging of our Corruption Tâ—e first time the Passover â—as eaten was in the night and when Israel took Courage to go forward though the Sea stood in their way like a devouring Gulf and the Host of the Aegyptians follow them at the heels yet the Sea gives place and their Enemies were as still as a stone till they were gone over Exod. 12.8 chap. 14.13 14 21 21 22. chap. 15 16. There is nothing like Faith to help at a pinch Faith dissolves Doubts as the Sun drives away the Mists And that you may not be put out know your time as I said of believing is always There are times when some Graces may be out of use but there is no time wherein Faith can be said to be so Wherefore Faith must be always in exercise Faith is the eye is the mouth is the hand and one of these is of use all day long Faith is to see to receive to work on to eat and a Christian should be seeing or receiving or working or feeding all day long Let it rain let it blow let it thunder let it lighten a Christian must still believe At what time said the good man I am afraid I will trust in thee Psal. 56.2 3. Nor can we have a better encouragement to do this than is by the Text set before us even an open heart for a Jerusalem Sinner And if for a Jerusalem-Sinner to come then for such an one when come If such a one To Be saved then for such a one that Is saved If for such a one To be pardoned his great transgressions then for such a one who Is pardoned these to come daily to Jesus Christ too to be cleansed and set free from his common Infirmities and from the Iniquities of his holy things Therefore let the poor Sinner that would be saved labour for skill to make the best Improvement of the grace of Christ to help him against the temptations of the Devil and his Sins Tengthly Would Jesus Christ have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners Let those men consider this that have or may in a day of trial have spoken or done what their Profession or Conscience told them they should not and that have the guilt and burden thereof upon their Consciences Whether a thing be wrong or right Guilt may pursue him that doth contrary to his Conscience But suppose a man should deny his God or his Christ or relinquish a good Profession and be under the real guilt thereof Shall he therefore conclude he is gone for ever Let him come again with Peter's tears and no doubt but he shall obtain Peter's Forgiveness For the Text includes the biggest sinners And 't is observable That before this Glâ—use was put into this Commission Peter was pardoned his horrible Revolt from his Master He that Revolteth in the day of Trial if he is not shot quite dead upon the place but is sensible of his Wound and calls out for a Chyrurgion shall find his Lord at hand to pour Wine and Oyl into his Wounds that he may again be healed And to incourage him to think that there may be Mercy for him Besides what we find Recorder of Peter you read
and many others made mention of in this Book Yea here are their Names their Sins and their Salvations recorded together that you may read and know what a Saviour he is and do him honour in the World. For why are these things thus recorded but to shew to Sinners what he can do to the praise and glory of his grace And it is observable as I said before we have but very little of the Salvation of little sinners mentioned in God's Book because that would not have answered the design to wit to bring glory and fame to the Name of the Son of God. What should be the reason think you why Christ should so easily take a denial of the great ones that wear the Grandure of the World and struggle so hard for Hedge creepers and Highway men as that Parable Luke 14. seems to import he doth but to shew forth the riches of the glory of his Grace to his praise This I say is one Reason to be sure They that had their Grounds their yoke of Oxen and their mâ—rriage Joys were invited to come but they made their excuse and that servâ—d the turn But when he comes to deal with the worst he saith to his Servants Go ye out and bring them in higher Go out quickly and bring in hither the poor the maimed the halt and the blind And they did so And he said again Go out into the high ways and Hedâ—es and Compel them to come in that my house may be fillâ—d Luk. 14.18 19 23. These poor lame maimed blind hedge-creepers and high way men Must come in Must be forced in These if saved will make his Merits shine When Christ was crucified and hanged up between the Earth and Heavens there was two Thieves crucified with him and behold he lays hold of one of them and will have him away with him to Glory Was not this a strange act and a display of unthought-of grace Were there none but Thieves there or were the rest of that company out of his reach Could he not think you have stooped from the Cross to the Ground and have laid hold on some honester man if he would Yes doubtless Oh but then he would not have displayed his Grace nor so have pursued his own designs namely to get to himself a praise and a name But now he has done it to purpose For who that shâ—ll read this Story but must confess that the Son of God is full of grace for a proof of the riches therâ—of he left behind him when upon the Cross he took the Tâ—ief away with him to glory Nor can this one act of his be buried It will be talked of to the end of the World to his praise Men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts and will declare thy greatness Thâ—y shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness and shall sing of thy righteousness They shall speak of the glory of thy Kingdom and talk of thy power To make known to the Sons of men his mighty acts and the glâ—rious Majesty of his Kingdom Psal. 145.6 7 8 9 10 11 12. When the Word of God came among the Conjurers and those Sooth-sayers that you read of Act. 19. and had pâ—evailed with some of them to accept of the grace of Christ the Holy Ghost records it with a boast for that it would redound to his praise saying And many of them that used curious Arts brought their Books togeâ—her and burned thâ—m before all men and counted the price of them and found it fifty thousand piecâ—s of Silver So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed Acts 19. 19 20. It wrenched out of the clutches of Satan some of those of whom he thought himself most sure So mightily grew the Word of God. It grew mightily it incroached upon the Kingdom of the Devil It pursued him and took the prey It forced him to let go his hold It brought away captive as Prisoners taken by force of Arms some of the most valiant of his Army It fetch back from as it were the confines of Hell some of those that were his most trusty and that with Hell had been at an agreement It made them come and confess their deeds and burn their Books before all men So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed Thus therefore you see why Christ will have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners They have most need thereof and this is the most ready way to extol his name that rideth upon the Heavens to our help But Thirdly Christ Jesus would have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners Because by their Forgiveness and Salvation others hearing of it will be encouraged the more to come to him for Life For the Physiâ—ian by curing of the most desperate at the first doth not only get himself a Name but begets Encouragement in the minds of other diseased folk to come to him for help Hence you read of our Lord that after through his tender mercy he had Cured many of great Diseases his Fame was spread abroad They brought unto him all sick People that were taken with divers Diseases and Torments and those which were possâ—sseâ— with Devils and those which were Lunatick and those that had the Palsie and he healed them and there followed him great multitudes of People from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond Jordan Mat. 4.24 25. See here He first by working gets himself a Fame a Name and Renown and now men take Encouragement and bring from all quarters their Diseased to him being helped by what they had heard to believe that their Diseased should be healed Now as he did with those outward Cures so he does in the proffers of his Grace and Mercy he proffers that in the first place to the biggest Sinners that others may take Heart to come to him to be saved I will give you a Scripture or two I mean to shew you that Christ by commanding that his Mercy should in the first place be offered to the biggest of Sinners has a design thereby to encourage and provoke others to come also to him for Mercy God saith Paul who is rich in Mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in our sins hath quickened us together with Christ. by Grace ye are saved and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus But why did he do all this That in the Ages to come he might shew the exceeding Râ—ches of his Grace in his kindness towards us thorow Christ Jesus Ephes. 2.4 5 6 7. See here 's a design God lets out his Mercy to Ephâ—sus of design even to shew to the Ages to come the exceeding Riches of his Grace in his kindness to them thorow Christ Jesus And why to shew by these the exceeding Riches of his Grace to the Ages to come thorow Christ Jesus But to alure them and
their Children also to come to him and to partake of the same Grace thorow Christ Jesus But what was Paul and the Ephesian-Sinners of Paul we will speak anon These Ephesian-Sinners They were men dead in Sins men that walked according to the dictates and motions of the Devil worshippers of Diana that Effeminate Goddâ—ss Men far off from God aliens and strangers to all good things such as were far off from that as I sâ—id and consâ—quently in a most deplorable condition As the Jerusalem-Sinners were of the highest sort among the Jews so these Ephesian-Sinners were of the highest sort among the Gentiles Ephes. 2.1 2 3. Acts 19.35 Ephes. 2.11 12. Wâ—erefore as by the Jerusalem-Sinners in saving them first he had a design to provoke others to come to him for Mercy so The same design is here set on foot again in his calling and converting the Ephesian-Sinners that in the Ages to come he might shew the â—xceeding Riches of his Grace says he in his kindness towards us thorow Christ Jesus Tâ—ere is yet one hint behind 'T is said that God saved these FOR his love That is as I think for the setting forth for the commendations of his love for the advance of his love in the Hearts and minds of them that should come after As who should say God has had Mercy upon and been Gracious to you that he might shew to others for their encouragement that they have ground to come to him to be saved When God saves one great Sinner 't is to encourage another great Sinner to come to him for Mercy He saved the Thief to encourage Thieves to come to him for Mercy He saved Magdalen to encourage other Magdalens to come to him for Mercy He saved Saul to encourage Sauls to come to him for Mercy And this Paul himself doth say For this cause saith he I obtained Mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long suffering for a Pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting 1 Tim. 1.16 How plain are the words Christ in saving of me has given to the World a Patern of his Grace that they might see and believe and come and be saved That they that are to be born hereafter might believe on Jesus Christ to life everlasting But what was Paul Why he tells you himself I am says he the chief of Sinners I was says he a Blasphemer a Persâ—cutor an injurious Person but I obtained Mercy 1 Tim. 1.14 15. Ay that 's well for you Paul but what advantage have we thereby Oh very much saith he For for this cause I obtained Mâ—rcy that in me First Jesus Christ might shew all long suffering for a pattern to them which shall believe on him to life everlasting Thus therefore you see that this third Reason is of strength namely That Jesus Christ would have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners because by their Forgiveness and Salvation others hearing of it will be encouraged the more to come to him for Mâ—rcy It may well therefore be said to God Thou delightâ—st in Mercy and Mercy pleases thee Mich. 7.18 But who believes that this was Gods design in shewing Mercy of old Namely That we that come after might take courage to come to him for Mercy or that Jesus Christ would have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners to stir up others to come to him for Life This is not the manner of men O God! But David saw this betimes therefore he makes this one Argument with God That he would blot out his Transgressions that he would forgive his Adultery his Murders and horrible Hypocrisie Do it O Lorâ— saith he do it And then will I teach Transâ—ressors thy ways and Sinners shall be Converted unto thee Psal. 51.7 8 9 10 11 12 13. He knew that the Conversion of Sinners would be a work highly pleasing to God as being that which he had designed before he made Mountain or Hill Wherefore he comes and he saith Save me O Lord if thou wilt but save me I will fall in with thy design I will help to bring what Sinners to thee I can And Lord I am willing to be made a Preacher my self for that I have been a horriâ—le Sinner wherefore if thou shâ—lt forgive my great Transgressions I shâ—ll be a fit man to tell of thy wonderous Grace to others Yea Lord I dare promise that if thou wilt have mercy upon me it shall tend to the glory of thy Grace and also to the increase of thy Kingdom for I will tell it and Sinners will hear on'â— And there is nothing so suiteth with the hearing Sinner as Mercy and to be inform'd that God is willing to bestow it upon him I will teach Transgressors thy ways and Sinners shâ—ll be Converted unto thee Nor will Christ Jesus miss of his design in profering of Mercy in the first place to the biggest Sinners You know what work the Lord by laying hold of the Woman of Samaria made among the People there They knew that she was a Town-Sinner an Adultress Yea one that after the most audacious manner lived in Uncleanness with a man that was not her Husband But when she from a turn upon her Heart went into the City and said to her Neighbours Come Oh how they came how they flocked out of the City to Jesus Christ Then they went out of the City and came to him and many of the Samaritans People perhaps as bad as her self believed on him for the saying of the woman which testified saying He told me all that ever I did John 4.39 That word He told me all that ever I did was a great Argument with them for by that they gathered That tho he knew her to be vile yet he did not despise her nor refuse to shew how willing he was to communicate his Grace unto her And this fetched over fiâ—st her then them This woman as I said was a Samaritan-Sinner a Sinner of the worst Complexion For the Jews abhorred to have ought to do with them verse 9. wherefore none more fit than she to be made one of the Decoys of Heaven to bring others of these Samaritan Wild-Fowls under the Net of tâ—e Grace of Christ. And she did the work to purpose Many and many more of the Samaritans believed on him Verse 40 41 42. The Heart of man tho set on Sin will when it comes once to a perswasion that God is willing to have Mercy upon us incline to come to Jesus Christ for life witness those turn-a-ways from God that you also read of in Jeremiah for after they had heard three or four times over that God had Mercy for backsliders they broke out and said Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God. Or as those in Hosea did For in thee the Fâ—therless find mercy Jer. 3.22 Hos. 14.1 2 3. Mercy and the revelation thereof is the only Antidote against Sin.
'T is of a thawing nature 't will lose the Heart that is frozen up in Sin yea 't will make the Unwilling willing to come to Jesus Christ for Life Wherefore do you think was it that Jesus Christ told the Adulterous woman and that before so many Sinners That he had not Condemned her but to alure her with them there present to hope to find favour at his hands As he also saith in another place I came not to Judge but to Save the World for might they not thence most rationally conclude That if Jesus Christ had rather save than damn an Harlot there was encouragement for them to come to him for Mercy I heard once a story from a Souldier who with his Company had laid Siege against a Fort that so long as the Besieged were perswaded their Foes would show them no favour they Fought like Mad-men but when they saw one of their Fellows taken and received to favour they all came tumbling down from their Fortress and dâ—livered themselves into their Enemies hands I am perswaded did men believe that there is that Grace and Willingness in the Heart of Christ to save Sinners as the Word imports there is they would come tumbling into his Arms But Satan has blinded their Minds that they cannot see this thing Howbeit the Loâ—d Jesus has as I said that others might take Heart and come to him given out a commandment that Mercy should in the fiâ—st place be offered to the biggest Sinners Begin saith he at Jerusalem And thus I end the third Reason Fourthly Jesus Christ would have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners Because that is the way if they receive it most to weaken the Kingdom of Satan and to keep it lowâ—st in every Age of the World. The biggest Sinners they are Satans Colonâ—ls and Captains the Leaders of his People and they that most stoutly make Head against the Son of God. Wherefore let these first be conquered and his Kingdom will be weak When Ishbosheth had lost his Abner his Kingdom was made weak nor did he sit but tottering then upon his Throne So when Satan loseth his strong men them that are mighty to work Iniquity and dextrous to manage others in the same then is his Kingdom weak 2 Sam. 3. Therefore I say Christ doth offer Mercy in the first place to such the more to weaken his Kingdom Christ Jesus was glad to see Satan fâ—ll like Lightning from Heaven that is suddenly or headlong and it was surely by casting of him out of strong Possessions and by râ—covering of some notorious Sinners out of his Clutches Luke 10.17 18 19. Samptson when he would pull down the Philistians Temple took hold of the two main Pillars of it and breaking them down came the House Christ came to destroy the works of the Devil and to destroy by converting Grace as well as by redeeming Blood. Now Sin swarms and lieth by Legions and whole Armies in the Souls of the biggest Sinners as in Garrisons Wherefore the way the most direct way to destroy it is first to deal with such Sinners by the Word of his Gospel and by the Merits of his Passion For Example tho I shall give you but a homely one Suppose a Family to be very Lowzy and one or two of the Family to be in chief the breeders the way the quickest way to clear that Family or at least to weaken the so swarming of those Vermine is in the first place to sweeten the Skin Head and Cloaths of the chief breeders And then though all the Family should be apt to breed them the number of them and so the greatness of that Plague there will be the more impaired Why there are some people that are in chief the Devils Sin-Breeders in the Towns and Places where they live The Place Town or Family where they live must needs be horrible lowsie and as it were eaten up with Vermin Now let the Lord Jesus in the first place cleanse these great Breeders and there will be given a nip to those swarms of Sins that use to be committed in such places throughout the Town House or Family where such sin-breeding Persons used to be I speak by Experience I was one of these lowzy ones one of these great sin-breeders I infected all the Youth of the Town where I was born with all manner of youthful Vanities The neighbours counted me so my practise proved me so Wherefore Christ Jesus took me first and taking me first the Contagion was much allayed all the Town over When God made me sigh they would harken and enquiringly say What 's the matter with John They also gave their I various opinions of me But as I said Sin cooled and failed as to his full carrier When I went out to seek the Bread of Life some of them would follow and the rest be put into a muse at home Yea almost the Town at first at times would go out to hear at the place where I found good Yea young and old for a while had some reformation on them also some of them perceiving that God had mercy upon me came crying to him for mercy too But what need I give you an Instance of poor I I will come to Manasseh the King So long as he was a ringleading Sinner the great Idolater and chief for Devilism the whole Land flowed with wickedness For he made them to sin and do worse than the Heathen that dwelt round about them or that was cast out from before them But when God converted him the whole Land was reformed Down went the Groves the Idols and Altars of Baal and up went true Religion in much of the Power and Purity of it You 'll say The King reformed by Power I answer doubtless and by Example too for People observe their Leaders as their Fathers did so did they 2 Chron. 33.2 King. 17.41 This therefore is another Reason why Jesus would have mercy offered in the first place to the biggest sinners because that is the best way if they receive it most to weaken the kingdom of Satan and to keep it poor and low And do you not think now that if God would but take hold of the hearts of some of the most notorious in your Town in your Family or Countrey that this thing would be verified before your faces It would it would to the Joy of you that are godly to the making of Hell to sigh to the great suppressing of Sin the glory of Christ and the joy of the Angels of God. And Ministers should therefore that this Work might go on take advantages to perswade with the biggest Sinners to come into Christ according to my Text and their Commissions Beginning at Jerusalem Fifthly Jesus Cbrist would have mercy offered in the first place to the biggest sinners Because such when converted are usually the best helps in the Church against temptations and fittest for the support of the feeble minded there Hence usually you
proved ineffectual At last she comes upon her thus Sister quoth she I pray thee go with me to the Temple to day to hear one preach a Sermon What kind of Preacher is he said she Martha replied It is one Jesus of Nazareth he is the handsomest man that ever you saw with your eyes Oh! he shines in Beauty and is a most excellent Preacher Now what does Mary After a little pause but goes up into her Chamber and with her Pins and her Clouts decks up her self as fine as her fingers could make her This done away she goes not with her Sister Marâ—ha but as much unobserved as she could to the Sermon or rather to See the Preacher The Hour and Preacher being come and she having observed whereabout the Preacher would stand goes and sets her self so in the Temple that she might be sure to have the full view of this excellent Person So he comes in and she looks and the first glimps of his Person pleased her Well Jesus addresseth himself to his Sermon and she looks earnestly on him Now at that time saith my Author Jesus Preached about the lost Sheep the lost Goat and the prodigal Child And when he came to shew what care the Shepherd took for one lost Sheep and how the Woman swept to find her Piece which was lost and what Joy there was at their finding she began to be taken by the Ears and forgot what she came about musing what the Preacher would make on 't But when he came to the Application and shewed that by the lost Sheep was meant a great Sinner by the Shepherds care was meant God's love for great Sinners and that by the joy of the Neighbours was shewed what joy there was among the Angels in Heaven over one great Sinner that repenteth She began to be taken by the Heart And as he spake these last words she thought he pitched his innocent Eyes just upon her and looked as if he spake what was now said to her Wherefore her heart began to tremble being shaken with affection and fear then her Eyes run down with tears apace wherefore she was forced to hide her face with her Handkerchief and so sat sobbing and crying all the rest of the Sermon Sermon being done up she gets and away she goes and withal enquired where this Jesus the Preacher dined that day And one told her at the house of Simon the Pharisee So away goes she first to her Chamber and there strips her self of her wanton Attire then falls upon her knees to ask God forgiveness for all her wicked life This done in a modest dress she goes to Simon 's house where she finds Jesus set at Dinner So she gets behind him and weeps and drops her tears upon his Feet like Rain and washes them and wipes them with the Hairs of her Head. She also kissâ—d his Feet with her Lips and anointed them with Oyntment When Simon the Pharisee perceived what the Woman did and being ignorant of what it was to be forgiven much for he never was forgiven more than Fifty Pence He began to think within himself that he had been mistaken about Jesus Christ because he suffered such a Sinner as this Woman was to touch him Surely quoth he this Man if he were a Prophet would not let this Woman come near him for she is a Town Sinner so ignorant are all Self-righteous men of the way of Christ with Sinners But lest Mary should be discouraged with some clownish carriage of this Pharisee and so desert her good beginnings and her new steps which she now had began to take towards eternal Life Jesus began thus with Simon Simon saith he I have somewhat to say unto thee And he saith Master say on There was said Jesus a certain Creditor had two Debtors the one owed him Five hundred Pence and the other Fifty And when they had nothing to pay he frankly forgave them both Tell me therefore which of them will love him most Simon answered and said I supâ—â—se he to whom he forgave most And he said unto him Thou hast rightly judged And he turned to the Woman and said unto Simon Seest thou this Woman I entred into thy house thou gavest me no Water for my Feet But she hath washed my Feet with tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head Thou gavest me no kiss but this Woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my Feet My Head with Oyl â—hou didst not anoint but this Woman hath anointed my Feet with Oyntment Wherefore I say unto thee Her Sins which are many are forgiven for she loved much but to whom little is forgiven the same loveth little And he said unto her thy Sins are forgiven Luk. 7.36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50. Thus you have the Story If I come short in any Circumstance I beg Pardon of those that can correct me 'T is three or four and twenty Years since I saw the Book yet I have as far as my memory will admit given you the relation of the Matter However Luke as you see doth here present you with the Substance of the whole Alas Christ Jesus has but little thanks for the saving of the little Sinners To whom litâ—le is forgiven the same lovers little He gets not Water for his Feet by his saving of such Sinners There are abundance of dry-eyed Christians in the World and abundance of dry eyed Duties too Duties that never was wetted with the tears of Contrition and Repentance nor ever sweetned wish the great Sinners box of Oyntment And the reason is such sinners have not great sins to be saved from or if they have they look upon them in the diminishing-glass of the Holy Law of God. But I rather believe that the Professors of our days want a due sense of what they are for verily for the generality of them both before and since Conversion they have been sinners of a lusty size But if their Eyes be holden if Convictions are not shown if their knowledge of their sins is but like to the eye-sight in twilight the Heart cannot be affected with that grace that has laid hold on the man and so Christ Jesus sows much and has little coming in Wherefore His way is oft-times to step out of the way to Jeriâ—o to Samaria to the Country of the Gaddarens to the Coasts of Tyre and Sidon and also to Mount Calvary that he may lay hâ—ld of such kind of Sinners as will love him to his liking Luk. 19.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. John 4.3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 c. Mark 5.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20. Matt. 15.21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28. Luke 23.33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43. But thus much for the Sixth Reason why Christ Jesus would have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners
send out conditions of Peace to the biggest of Sinners yea that they should be offered to them first of all for so he means when he says Begin at Jerusalem This is wonderful this shows his heart to purpose as also the heart of God his Father who sent him to do thus There is nothing more incident to Men that are awake in their Souls than to have wrong thoughts of God Thoughts that are narrow and that pinch and pen up his Mercy to scanty and beggarly conclusions and ridged legal conditions supposing that it is rude and an intrenching upon his Majesty to come our selves or to invite others until we have scraped and washed and rubbed off as much of our dirt from us as we think is convenient to make us somewhat orderly and handsome in his sight Such never knew what these Words meant Begin at Jerusalem Yea such in their hearts have compared the Father and his Son to niggardly rich Men whose Money comes from them like drops of blood True says such God has Mercy but he is loth to part with it You must please him well if you get any from him He is not so free as many suppose nor is he so willing to save as some pretended Gospellers imagine But I ask such If the Father and Son be not unspeakably free to shew Mercy why was this Clause put into our Commission to preach the Gospel Yëa why did he say Begin at Jerusalem For when men through the weakness of their wits have attempted to shew other reasons why they should have the first proffer of Mercy yet I can prove by many undeniable Reasons that they of Jerusalem to whom the Apostles made the First offer according as they were commanded were the biggest Sinners that ever did breathe upon the face of God's earth set the unpardonable sin aside upon which my Doctrine stands like a Rock That Jesus the Son of God would have Mercy in the fiâ—st place offered to the biggest Sinners And if this doâ—h not shew the heart of the Father and the Son to be infinitely free in bestowing forgiveness of Sins I confess my self mistaken Neither is there set this aside another Argument like it to shew us the willingness of Christ to save Sinners For as was said before all the rest of the signs of Christ's mercifulness might have been limitted to Sinners that are so and so qualified but when he says Begin at Jerusalem the Line is stretched out to the utmost no man can imagine beyond it and it is folly here to pinch and pare to narrow and seek to bring it within scanty bounds for he plainly saith Begin at Jerusalem The biggest Sinner is the biggest Sinner the biggest is the Jerusalem-sinner 'T is true he saith that Repentance and Remission of sins must go together but yet Remission is sent no the chief the Jerusalem sinner nor doth Repentance lessen at all the Jerusâ—lem-sinners crimes it diminisheth none of his sins nor causes that there should be so much as half a one the fewer It only puts a stop to the Jerusalem-sinners course and makes him willing to be saved freely by Grace and for time to come to be governed by that blâ—ssâ—d Word that has brought the Tidings of good things to him Besides no man shâ—ws himself willing to be saved that repenteth not of his deeds for he that goes on still in his trespasses declares that he is resolved to puâ—sue his own damnation further Learn then to judge of the largeness of God's heart and of the heart of his Son Jâ—sus Christ by the Word Judge not thereof by feeling nor by the reports of thy Conscience Conscience is oft-times here befooled and made to go quite besides the Word 'T was judging without the Word that made David say I am cast off from God's eyes and shall perish one day by the hand of Saul Psal. 3.1.22 1 Sam. 27.1 The Word had told him another thing namely that he should be King in his stead Our Text says also that Jesus Châ—ist bids Preachers in their preaching Repentance and Remission of Sins Begin first at Jâ—rusalem Thereby declaring most truly the infinite largeness of the merciful heart of God and his Son to the sinful Children of Men. Judge thou I say therefore of the goodness of the heart of God and his Son by this Text and by other of the same import so shalt thou not dishonour the grâ—ce of God nor needlesly fright thy self nor give away thy Faith nor gratifie the Devil nor lose the benefit of his Word I speak now to weak Believers Secondly Would Jesus Christ have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners to the Jerusalem sinners Thâ—n by this also you must learn to judge of the sufficiency of the merits of Christ not that the Merits of Christ can be comprehended for that they are beyond the Conceptions of the whole World being called The unsearchable riches of Christ but yet they may be apprehended to a considerable degree Now the way to apprehend them most is to consider what offers after his Resurrection he makes of his Grace to Sinners for to be sure he will not offer beyond the vertue of his Merits because as Grace is the cause of his Merits so his Merits are the basis and bounds upon and by which his Grace stands good and is let out to Sinners Doth he then command that his Mercy should be offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners It declares that there is a sufficiency in his Blood to save the biggest Sinners The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all Sin. And again Be it known unto you Men and Brethren That through this Man this Man's Merits is preached to you the forgiveness of Sins and by him All that believe are justified from All things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Acts 13.38 Observe then thy Rule to make Judgement of the Sufficiency of the blessed Merits of thy Saviour if he had not been able to have reconciled the biggest Sinners to his Father by his Blood he would not have sent to them have sent to them in the first place the Doctrine of Remission of Sins for Remission of Sins is through Faith in his Blood We are justified freely by the Grace of God through the Redemption that is in the Blood of Christ. Upon the square as I may call it of the worthiness of the Blood of Christ Grace Acts and offers Forgiveness of Sin to Men Ephes. 1.7 chap. 2.13 14. Colos. 1.20 21 22. Hence therefore we must gather That the Blood of Christ is of infinite value for that he offereth Mercy to the biggest of Sinners Nay further since he offereth Mercy in the first place to the biggest Sinners Considering also that this first act of his is that which the World will take notice of and expect it should be continued unto the end Also it is a disparagement to a Man that seeks his own Glory
Build not therefore Despair upon these things they are no sufficient foundation for it such plenty of Promises being in the Bible and such a discovery of his Mercy to great sinners of old especially since we have withall a Clause in the Commission given to Ministers to Preach that they should begin with the Jerusalem-sinners in their offering of Mercy to the World. Besides God says They that wait upâ—n the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings like Eagles but perhaps it may be long first I waited long saith David and did seek the Lord and at length his cry was heard Wherefore he bids his Soul wait on God and says for it is good so to do before thy Saints Psal. 40.1 Psal. 62.5 Psal. 52.9 And what if thou waitest upon God all thy days Is it below thee And what if God will cross his Book and blot out the hand-writing that is against thee and not let thee know it as yet Is it fit to say unto God Thou art hard-hearted Despair not Thou hast no ground to dâ—spair so long as thou livest in this World. 'T is a sin to begin to despair before one sets his foot over the threshold of Hell-gates For them that are there let them despair and spare not but as for thee thou hast no ground to do it What! Despair of Bread in a Land that is full of Corn Despair of Mercy when our God is full of Mercy Despair of Mercy when God goes about by his Ministers beseeching of Sinners to be reconciled unto him 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20. Thou scrupulous fool where canst thou find that God was ever false to his Promise or that he ever deceived the Soul that ventured it self upon him He often calls upon Sinners to trust him though they walk in darkness and have no light Isa. 50.10 They have his Promise and Oath for their Salvation that flee for refuge to the hope set before them Heb 6.17 18. Despair When we have a God of Mercy and a Redeeming Christ Alive For shame forbear Let them despair that dwell where there is no God and that are confined to those Chambers of Death which can be reached by no Redemption A Living Man despair When he is chid for murmuring and complaining Lam. 3.39 Oh! so long as we are where Promises swarm where Mercy is proclaimed where Grace reigns and where Jerusalem-sinners are priviledged with the first ofter of Mercy it is a base thing to despair Despair undervalues the Promise undervalues the Invitation undervalues the proffer of Grace Despair undervalues the ability of God the Fathâ—r and the redeeming Blood of Christ his Son Oh unreasonable Despair Despair makes Man God's Judge 't is a Controller of the Promise a Contradicter of Christ in his large offers of Mercy And one that undertakes to make Vnbâ—lief the great manager of our Reason and Judgment in determining about what God can and will do for Sinners Despair It is the Devils fellow the Devils master yea the Chains with which he is captivated and held under darkness for ever And to give way thereto in a Land in a State and Time that flows with Milk and Honey is an uncomely thing I would say to my Soul O my Soul this is not the place of Despair this is not the time to despair in As long as mine eyes can find a Promise in the Bible as long as there is the least mention of Grace as long as there is a moment left me of breath or life in this World so long will I wait or look for Mercy so long will I fight against Unbelief and Despair This is the way to honour God and Christ this is the way to set the Crown on the Promise this is the way to welcome the Invitation and Inviter and this is the way to thrust thy self under the shelter and proâ—ection of the word of Grace Never despair so long as our Text is alive for that doth sound it out That Mercy by Christ is offered in the first place to the biggest sinner Despair is an unprofitable thing 't will make a man weary of waiting upon God 2 King. 6.33 'T will make a man forsake God and seek his Heaven in the good things of this world Gen. 4.13 14 15 16 17. 'T will make a man his own tormenter and flounce and fling lâ—ke a wild Bull in a net Isa. 51.20 Despair It drives a man to the study of his own ruine and brings him at last to be his own Executioner 2 Sam. 17.23 Matt. 27 3 4 5. Besides I am perswaded also that Despair is the cause that there are so many that would fain be Atheists in the World For because they have entertained a Conceit that God will never be merciful to them therefore they labour to perswade themselves that there is no God at all as if their misbelief would kill God or cause him to cease to be A poor shift for an Immortal Soul for a Soul who liketh not to retain God in its knowledge If this be the best that Despair can do let it go Man and betake thy self to Faith â—o Prayer to wait for God and to hope in despight of ten thousand doubts And for thy encouragement take yet as an addition to what has already been said these following Scriptures The Lord takes pleasure in them that fear him in them that hope in his mercy Psal. 147.11 Whence note They fear not God that hope not in his mercy Also God is angry with them that hope not in his Mercy for he only taketh pleasure in them that hope He that believeth or hath received his Testimony hath set to his Seal that God is true Joh. 3.33 But he that receiveth it not hath made him a liar and that is a very unworthy thing 1 Joh. 5.10 11. Let the Wicked forsake his ways and the Vnrighteous man his thoughts and let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy on him and to our God for he will abundantly multiply pardons Isa. 55.7 Perhaps thou art weary of thy ways but art not weary of thy thoughts of thy unbelieving and despairing thoughts Now God also would have thee cast away these thoughts as such which he deserveth not at thy hands for he will have mercy upon thee and he will abundantly pardon O fools and flow heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken Luk. 24.25 Mark you here showness to believe is a piece of folly Ay! but sayest thou I do believe some and I believe what can make agâ—inst me Ay but Sinner Christ Jesus here calls thee fool for not believing All. Believe All and despair if thou canst He that believes All believes that Text that saith Christ would have Mercy Preached first to the Jerusalem-sinners He that believeth All believeth all the Promises and Consolations of the Word and the Promises and Consolations of the Word weigh heavier than do all the Curses and Threatnings of the Law. And Mercy