to wit because such sinners when converted are apt to love him most The Jerusalem-sinners were they that out-stript when they were Converted in some things all the Churches of the Gentiles They were of one heart and of one soul neither said any of â—hem that ought of the things that they possâ—ssed was their own neither was there any among them that lacked for as many as were possessors of Lands or Houses sold them and brought the price of the things that were sold and laid them down at the Apostles feet c. Acts 4.32 33 34 35. Now show me such another Pattern if you can But why did these do thus Oh! they were Jerusalem-sinners These were the Men that but a little before had killed the Prince of Life and those to whom he did that notwithstanding send the first offer of Grace and Mercy And the sense of this took them up betwixt the Earth and the Heaven and carried them on in such ways and methods as could never be trodden by any since They talk of the Church of Rome and set hâ—r in her Primitive state as a Pattern and Mother of Churches when the Truth is they were the Jerusalem-sinners when Converts that out-did all the Churches that ever was Seventhly Christ Jesus would have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest sinners beacause Grace when it is received by such finds matter to kindle upon more freely than it finds in other sinners Great Sinners are like the dry Wood or like great Candles which burns best and shines with biggest light I lay not this down as I did those Reasons before to shew that when great Sinners are Converted they will be encouragement to others though that is true but to shew that Christ has a delight to see Grace the Grace we receive to shine We love to see things that bear a good gloss yea we chuse to buy such kind of matter to work upon as will if wrought up to what we intend cast that lustre that we desire Candles that burn not bright we like not Wood that is green will rather smother and spuâ—ter and smoak and orâ—ok and flounce than cast a brave light and pleasant heat Wherefore great Folks care not much not so much for such kind of things as for them that will better answer their ends Hence Christ desires the biggest Sinner in him there is Matter to work by to wit a great deal of sin for as by the Tallow of the Candle the Fire takes occasion to burn the brighter so by the sin of the Soul Grace takes occasion to shine the clearer Little Candles shine but little for there wanteth matter for the Fire to work upon but in the great Sinner here is more matter for Grace to work by Faith shines when it worketh towards Christ through the sides of many and great Transgressors and so does Love for that much is forgiven And what matter can be found in the Soul for Humility to work by so well as by a sight that I have been and am an abominable Sinner And the same is to be said of Patience Meekness Gentleness Self-denial or of any other Grace Grace takes occasion by the vileness of the man to shine the more even as by the ruggidness of a very strong Distemper or Disease the vertue of the Medicine is best made manifest Where Sin abounds Grace much more abounds Rom. 5.20 A black string makes the Grace burn clear Some say when Grace and a good Nature meet together they do make shinning Christians but I say when Grace and a great Sinner meets and when Grace shall subdue that great Sinner to it self and shall operate after its kind in the Soul of that great Sinner then we have a shinning Christian Witness all those of whom mention was made before Abraham was among the Idolaters when in the Land of Assyria and served Idols with his Kindred on the other side of the Flood Jos. 24.2 Gen. 11.31 but who when called was there in the World in whom Grace shone so bright as in him The Thessalonians were Idolaters before the Word of God came to them but when they had received it they became examples to all that did believe in Macedonia and Achaia 1 Thess. 1.6 7 8 9 10. God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son are for having things seen for having the Word of Life held forth They light not a Candle that it might be put under a Bushel or under a Bed but on a Candlestick that all that come in may see the light Matt. 5.15 Mar. 4.21 Luk. 8.16 chap. 11.33 And I say as I said before in whom is it like so to shine as in the Souls of great sinners When the Jewish Pharisees dallied with the Gospel Christ threatned to take it from them and to give it to the barbarous Heathens and Idolaters Why so For they saith he will bring forth the Friends thereof in their season Therefore I say unto you The Kingdom of God Shall be taken from you and given to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof Mat. 21.41 43. I have often marvelled at our Youth and said in my heart What should be the reason that they should be so generally at this day debauched as they are For they are now Profane to amazement And sometimes I have thought one thing and sometimes another That is why God should suffer it so to be At last I have thought of this How if the God whose ways are past finding out should suffer it so to be now that he might make of some of them the more glorious Saints hereafter I know Sin is of the Devil but it cannot work in the world without permission and if it happens to be as I have thought it will not be the first time that God the Lord hath caught Satan in his own design For my part I believe that the time is at hand that we shall see better Saints in the World than has been seen in â—t this many aday And this Vileness that at present does so much swallow up out Youth is one cause of my thinking so For out of them for from among them when God sets to his Hand as of old you shall see what penitent ones what trembling ones and what â—dmirers of Grace will be found to profess the Gospel to the glory of God by Christ. Alas We are a company of worn-out Christians our Moon is in the Ware we are much more black than white more dark than light we shine but a little Grace in the most of us is dâ—cayed But I say when they of theâ—e debauched ones that are to be saved shall be brought in when these that look more like Devils than Men shall be Converted to Christ and I believe sâ—veral of them will then will Christ be exâ—lted Grace adored the World prized Sions Paths better trodden and Men in the pursuite of their own Salvation to the amazement of them that are left behind Just before Christ came
he that would indeed be saved as before has sinned the sin unpardonable The Scriptures must not be made void nor their truth be cast to the ground Here 's a Promise and here 's a Sinner a Promise that saies he shall not be cast out that comes and the sinner comes wherefore he must be received Consequently he that comes to Christ for life has not cannot have sinned that sin for which there is no forgiveness And this might suffice for an answer to any coming soul that fears though he comes that he has sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost 2. But again He that has sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost cannot come has no heart to come can by no means be made willing to come to Jesus Christ for life for that he has received such an opinion of him and of his things as deters and holds him back 1. He counteth this blessed Person this Son of God a Magician a Conjurer a Witch or one that did when he was in the World what he did by the power and spirit of the Devil Mat. 9.34 Mat. 12.24 25 c. Mar. 3.22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30. Now he that has this opinion of this Jesus cannot be willing to cast himself at his foot for life or to come to him as the only way to God and to Salvation And hence 't is said again that such an one puts him to open shame and treadeth him under foot that is by contemning reproaching vilifying and despising of him as if he were the vilest one or the greatest Cheat in the World and has therefore as to his esteem of him called him accursed crucified him to himself or counted him one hanged as one of the worst of Malefactors Heb. 6.6 and chap. 10.29 1 Cor. 12.3 2. His Blood which is the meritorious cause of mans redemption even the blood of the everlasting Covenant he counteth an unholy thing or that which has no more vertue in it to save a Soul froâ— sin than has the blood of a Dog Heb. 10.29 For when the Apostle saies he counts it an unholy thing he means he makes it of less value than that of a Sheep or Cow which were clean according to the Law. And therefore must mean that his blood was of no more worth to him in his account than was the blood of Dog an Ass or a Swine which always was as to sacrifices rejected by the God of Heaven as unholy or unclean Now he who has no better esteem of Jesus Christ and of his Death and Blood will not be perswaded to come to him for Life or to trust in him for Salvation 3. But further all this mâ—st be done against manifest Tokens to prove the contrary or after the shining of Gospel Light upon the soul or some considerable profession of him as the Mâ—ssias or that he was the Sâ—viour of the World. 1. It must be done against manifest tokens to prove the contrary and thus the reprobate Jews committed it when they saw the works of God which put forth themselves in him and called them the works of the Devil and Beelzebub 2. It must be done against some sâ—ining light of the Gospel upon them And thus it was with Judas and with those who after they were enlightned and had tasted and had felt something of the powers of the World to come fell away from the Faith of him and put him to open shame and disgrace Heb. 6.5 6. 3. It must also be done after and in opposition to ones own open profession of him For if after they have escaped the pollution of the World through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are again intangled therein and overcome the latter end is worse with them than the beginning for it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandment which is the Word of Faith delivered unto them 4. All this must be done openly before witnâ—sses in the Face Sight and View of the World by Word and Act. This is the sin that is unpardonable and he that hath thus done can never 't is impossible he ever should be renewed again to repentance and that for a double reason first such an one doth say he will not and of him God saies he shall not have the benefit of Salvation by him Object But if this be the sin unpardonable why is it called the sin against the Holy Ghost and not rather the sin against the Son of God Answ. It is called the sin against the Holy Ghost because such count the works he did which were done by the Spirit of God the works of the spirit of the Devil Also because all such as so reject Christ Jesus the Lord they do it in despight of that testimony which the Holy Ghost has given of him in the Holy Scriptures for the Scriptures are the breathings of the Holy Ghost as in all other things so in that testimony they bear of the Person of the Works Sufferings Resurrection and Ascention of Jesus Christ. Sinner This is the sin against the Holy Ghost What saist thou Hast thou committed it nay I know thou hast not if thou wouldst be saved by Christ. Yea 't is impossible thou shouldst have done it if indeed thou wouldst be saved by him No man can desire to be saved by him whom he yet judgeth to be an Impostor a Magician a Witch No man can hope for redemption by that Blood which he yet counteth an unholy thing Nor will God ever suffer such an one to repent who has after light and profession of him thus horribly and Devil-like contemned and trampled upon him True Words and Wars and Blasphemies against this Son of Man are pardonable but then they must be done ignorantly and in unbelief Also all blasphemous thoughts are likewise such as may be passed by if the Soul afflicted with them indeed is sorry for them 1 Tim. 1.13 14 15. Mar. 3.28 All but this Sinner all but this If God had said he will forgive one sin it had been undeserved Grace But when he saies he will pardon all but one this is grace to the height Nor is that one unpardonable otherwise but because the Saviour that should save them is rejected and put away Jacob's Ladder Christ is Jacob's Ladder that reacheth up to Heaven and he that refuseth to go by this Ladder thither will scarce by other means get up so high There is none other name given under Heaven among men whereby we must be saved There is none other Sacrifice for sin than his he also and he only is the Mediator that reconcileth men to God. And Sinner if thou wouldst be saved by him his Benefits are thine yea though thou art a great and Jerusalem Transgressor FINIS
Observation That Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners That these Jerusalem Sinners were the biggest Sinners that ever were in the World I think none will deny that believes that Christ was the best Man that ever was in the World and also was their Lord God. And that they were to have the first offer of his Grace the Text is as clear as the Sun for it saith Begin at Jerusalem Preach saith he Repentance and remission of sins to the Jerusalem-sinners to the Jerusâ—lem-sinners in the first place One would a-thought since the Jâ—rusalem-sinners were the worst and greatest Sinners Christ's greatest enemies and those that not only despised his Person Doctrine and Miracles but that a little before had had their hands up to the elbows in his Heart-bloud That he should rather have said Go into all the World and preach Repentance and Remission of Sins among all Nations and afâ—er that offer the same to Jerusalem Yea it had been infinite Grace if he had said so But what Grace is this Or what Name shall we give it when he commands that this Repentance and Remission of Sins which is designed to be preached in all Nations should first be offered to Jerusalem in the first place to the worst of Sinners Nor was this the first time that the Grace which was in the Heart of Christ thus shewed it self to the World. For while he was yet alive even while he was yet in Jerusâ—lem and perceived even among these Jerusalem-sinners which was the most vile amongst them he still in his preaching did signifie that he had a desire that the worst of these worst should in the first place come unto him The which he sheweth where he saith to the better sort of them The Publicans and Harlots enter into the Kingdom of God before you Matt. 21.31 Also when he compared Jerusalem with the Sinners of the Nations then he commands that the Jerusalem-sinners should have the Gospel at present confined to them Go not saith he into the way of the Gentiles and into any of the Cities of the Samaritans enter ye not but go rather to the lost Sheep of the house of Israel Matt. 10.5 6. chap. 23.37 But go rather to them for they were in the most fearful plight These therefore must have the Cream of the Gospel namely the first offer thereof in his Life-time Yea when he departed out of the World he left this as part of his last Will with his Preachers that they also should offer it first to Jerusalem He had a mind a careful mind as it seems to priviledge the worst of Sinners with the first offer of Mercy and to take from among them a People to be the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. The fifteenth of Luke also is famous for this where the Lord Jesus takes more care as appears there by three Parables for the lost Sheep lost Groat and the Prodigal Son than for the other Sheep the other Pence or for the Son that said he had never transgressed Yea he shews that there is Joy in Heaven among the Angels of God at the repentance of one Sinner more than over Ninety and nine Just Persons which need no repentance Luke 15. After this manner therefore the mind of Christ was set on the Salvation of the biggest Sinners in his Life-time But joyn to this this Clause which he carefully put into the Apostles Commission to preach when he departed hence to the Father and then you shall see that his Heart was vehemently set upon it for these were part of his last words with them Preach my Gospel to all Nations but see that you begin at Jerusalem Nor did the Apostles overlook this Clause when their Lord was gone into Heaven They went first to them of Jerusalem and preached Christ's Gospel to them They abode also there for a season and time and preached it to no body else for they had regard to the Commandment of their Lord. And it is to be observed namely that the first Sermon which they preached after the Ascension of Christ it was preached to the very worst of these Jerusalem-sinâ—ers even to those that were the murderers of Jesus Christ Acts 2.23 For these are part of the Sermon Ye took him and by wicked hands have Crucified and slain him Yea the next Sermon and the next and also the next to that was preached to the self-same murderers to the end they might be saved Acts 3. 14 15 16. chap. 4 10 11. chap. 5 30. chap. 7.52 But we will return to the first Sermon that was preached to these Jerusalem-sinners by which will be manifest more than great Grace if it be duly considered For after that Peter and the rest of the Apostles had in their Exhortation perswaded these Wretches to believe that they had killed the Prince of Life and after they had duly fallen under the guilt of their Murder saying Men and Brethren what shall we do He replies by an universal Tender to them all in general considering them as Christ-killers That if they were sorry for what they had done and would be Baptized for the Remission of their sins in his Name they should receive the gift of the Holy Ghost Acts 2.37 38. This he said to them all though he knew that they were such sinners Yea he said it without the least stick or stop or pâ—use of Spirit as to whether he had best to say so or no. Nay so far off was Peter from making an Objection against one of them that by a particular Clause in his Exhortation he endeavours that not one of them may escape the Salvation offered Repent saith he and be Baptized every one of you I shut out never a one of you For I am commanded by my Lord to deal with you as it were one by one by the Word of his Salvation But why speaks he so particularly Oh! there were reasons for it The People with whom the Apostles were now to deal as they were Murderers of our Lord and to be charged in the general with his Blood so they had their various and particular acts of Villany in the guilt thereof now lying upon their Consciences And the guilt of these their various and particular acts of wickedness could not perhaps be reached to a removal thereof but by this particular Application Repent every one of you be Baptized every one of you in his Name for the Remission of Sins and you shall every one of you receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost Object But I was one of them that plotted to take away his Life May I be saved by him Peter Every one of you Object But I was one of them that bare false Witness against him Is there Grace for me Peter For every one of you Object But I was one of them that cryed out Crucifie Crucifie him and that desired that Barabas the Murderer might live rather than him What will become of me
Begin at Jerusalem Was this Doctrine well believed where would there be place for a doubt or a fear of the Damnation of the Soul if the Sinner be penitent How bad a Life soever he has lived how many soever in number are his sins But this Grace is hid from the Eyes of Men the Devil hides it from them for he knows it is alluring he knows it has an attracting Vertue in it For this is it that above all Arguments can draw the Soul to God. I cannot help it but must let drop another Word The first Church the Jerusalem Church from whence the Gospel was to be sent into all the World was a Church made up of Jerusalem-sinners These great Sinners were here the most shining Monuments of the exceeding Grace of God. Thus you see I have proved the Doctrine and that not only by shewing you that this was the practice of the Lord Jesus Christ in his Life-time but his last Will when he went up to God saying Begin to preach at Jerusalem Yea it is yet further manifested in that when his Ministers first began to preach there he joyned his Power to the Word to the Converting of thousands of his Betrayers and Murderers and also many of the Ringleading Priests to the Faith. I shall now proceed and shall shew you 1. The Reasons of the point 2. And then make some Application of the whole The Observation you know is this Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners to the Jerusalem-sinners preach Repentance and remission of sins in my Name among all Nations Beginning at Jerusalem The Reasons of the Point are First Because the biggest Sinners have most need thereof He that has most need Reason says should be helped first I mean when a helping hand is offered and now it is For the Gospel of the Grace of God is sent to help the World Acts 16.9 But the biggest sinner has most need Therefore in reason when Mercy is sent down from Heaven to men the worst of men should have the first offer of it Begin at Jerusalem This is the reason which the Lord Christ himself renders why in his Life-time he left the best and turned him to the worst why he sat so loose from the Righteous and stuck so close to the Wicked The whole saith he have no need of the Physician but the sick I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Mark 2.15 16 17. Above you read that the Scribes and Pharisees said to his Disciples How is it that he eateth and drinketh with Publicans and Sinners Alas they did not know the reason But the Lord renders them one and such an one as is both natural and cogent Saying These have need most need Their great necessity requires that I should be most friendly and shew my grace first to them Not that the other were sinless and so had no need of a Saviour But the Publicans and their Companions were the biggest sinners they were as to view worse than the Scribes and therefore in reason should be helped first because they had most need of a Saviour Men that are at the point to dye have more need of the Physician than they that are but now and then troubled with are Heart-fainting-qualm The Publicans and Sinners were as it were in the mouth of Death Death was swallowing of them down and therefore the Lord Jesus receives them first offers them mercy first The whole have no need of the Physician but the sick I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance The Sick as I said is the biggest sinner whether he sees his Disease or not He is stained from Head to Foot from Heart to Life and Conversation This man in every mans judgment has the most need of mercy There is nothing attends him from Bed to Board and from Board to Bed again but the visible characters and obvious symptoms of eternal damnation This therefore is the man that has need most need and therefore in reason should be helped in the first place Thus 't was with the People concerned in the Text they were the worst of sinners Jerusalem-sinners sinners of the biggest size and therefore such as had the greatest need Wherefore they must have mercy offered to them before it be offered any where else in the World. Begin at Jerusalem offer mercy first to a Jerusalem-sinner This man has most need he is farthest from God nearest to Hell and so one that has most need This mans sins are in number the most in cry the loudest in weight the heaviest and consequently will sink him soonest Wherefore he has most need of mercy This man is shut up in Satans hand fastest bound in the cords of his sins one that Justice is whetting his Sword to cut off and therefore has most need not only of mercy but that it should be extended to him in the first place But a little further to shew you the true nature of this Reason to wit That Jesus Christ would have mercy offer'd in the first place to the biggest sinners First Mercy ariseth from Bowels and Compassion from Pity and from a feeling of the Condition of those in misery In his Love and in his Pity he saveth us And again The Lord is pâ—tiful very petiful and of great mercy Isa. 63.9 Jam 5.11 Now where Pity and Compassion is there is yearning of Bowels and where there is that there is a readiness to help And I say again The more deplorable and dreadful the Condition is the more directly doth Bowels and Compassion turn themselves to such and offer help and deliverance All this flows from our first Scripture proof I came to call them that have need to call them first while the rest look on and murmur How shall I give thee up Ephraim Ephraim was a Revolter from God a man that had given himself up to Devilism A company of men the ten Tribes that worshiped Devils while Judah kept with his God. But how shall I give thee up Ephraim How shall I deliver thee Israel How shall I make thee as Admah How shall I set thee 〈◊〉 Zeboim and yet thou art worse than they nor has Samaria committed half thy sins Ezek. 16.46 47 48 49 50 51. My heart is turned within me and my repentings are kindled together Hos. 11.8 But where do you find that ever the Lord did thus rowl in his Bowels for and after any Self-righteous man No no they are the Publicans and Harlots Idolaters and Jerusalem-sinners for whom his Bowels thus yearn and tumble about within him For alas poor Worms they have most need of mercy Had not the good Samaritan more compassion for that man that fell among Thieves though that fall was occasioned by his going from the place where they worshipped God to Jerico the cursed City than we read he had for any other besides His Wine was for him his Oyl was for him his Breast for
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.
in what he undertakes to do that for a spurt which he cannot continue and hold out in This is our Lord 's own Argument He began to build saith he but was not able to finish Luk. 14.28 29 30. Shouldest thou hear a Man say I am resolved to be kind to the Poor and should begin giving with handfuls of Guinea's you would conclude that either he is wonderful rich or must straighten his hand or will soon be at the bottom of his Riches Why this is the Case Christ at his Resurrection gave it out that he would be good to the World and first sends to the biggest Sinners with an intent to have Mercy on them Now the biggest Sinners cannot be saved but by abundance of Grace 't is not a little that will save great sinners Rom. 5.17 And I say again since the Lord Jesus mounts thus high at the first and sends to the Jerusalem-sinners that they may come first to partake of his Mercy it follows that either he has unsearchable Riches of Grace and Worth in himself or else he must straighten his hand or his Grace and Merits will be spent before the World 's at an end But let it be believed as surely as spoken he is still as full as ever He is not a jot the poorer for all the Forgivenesses that he has given away to great Sinners Also he is still as free as at first for he never yet called back this Word Begin at the Jerusalem-sinners And as I said since his Grace is extended according to the worth of his Merits I conclude that there is the same vertue in his Merits to save now as there was at the very beginning O the Riches of the Grace of Christ Oh the Riches of the Blood of Christ Thirdly Would Jâ—sus Christ have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest sinners Then here is encouragâ—ment for you that think for wicked hearts and lives you have not your fellows in the World yet to come to him There is a People that therefore fear lest they should be rejected of Jesus Christ because of the greatness of their sins when as you see here such are sent to sent to by Jesus Christ to come to him for Mercy Begin at Jerusalem Never did one thing answer another more fitly in this world than this Text sitteth such kind of sinners As Face answereth Face in a Glass so this Text answereth the necessities of such sinners What can a Man say more but that he stands in the rank of the biggest sinners let him stretch himself whether he can and think of himself to the utmost he can but conclude himself to be one of the biggest Sinners And what then Why the Text meets him in the very Face and saith Christ offereth Mercy to the biggest Sinners to the very Jerusalem Sinners What more can be objected Nay he doth not only offer to such his Mercy but to them 't is commanded to be offâ—red in the first place Begin at Jerusalem Preach Repentance and Remission of Sins among all Nations beginning at Jerusâ—lem Is not here incouragement for those that think for wicked Hearts and Lives they have not their fellows in the World Objection But I have a Heart as hard as a Rock Answ. Well but this doth but prove thee a biggest sinner Object But my Heart continually frets against the Lord Answ. Well this doth but prove thee a biggest sinner Object But I have been desperate in sinful courses Answ. Well stand thou with the number of the biggest sinners Object But my grey Head is found in the way of wickedness Answ. Well thou art in the rank of the biggest sinners Object But I have not only a base Heart but I have lived a debauched Life Ans. Stand thou also among those that are called the biggest sinners And what then Why the Text swoops you all you cannot object your selves beyond the Text It has a particular message to the biggest sinners I say it swoops you all Object But I am a Reprobate Ans. Now thou talkest like a fool and medlest with what thou understandest not No sin but the sin of final impenitence can prove a Man a Reprobate And I am sure thou hast not arrived as yet unto that Therefore thou understandest not what thou sayest and makest groundless conclusions against thy self Say thou art a Sinner and I will hold with thee Say thou art a great sinner and I will say so too Yea say thou art one of the biggest sinners and spare not for the Text yet is beyond thee is yet betwixt Hell and thee Begin at Jerusalem has yet a smile upon thee And thou talkest as if thou wast a Reprobate and that the greatness of thy sins do prove thee so to be when yet they of Jerusalem were not such whose sins I dare say were such both for bigness and heinousness as thou art not capable of committing beyond them unless now after thou hast received Conviction that the Lord Jesus is the only Saviour of the World thou shouldest wickedly and despightfully turn thy self from him and conclude he is not to be trusted to for Life and so crucifie him for a Cheat afrâ—sh This I must confess will bring a Man under the Black rod and set him in danger of eternal Damnation Heb. 6.6 chap. 10.29 This is trampling under foot the Son of God and counting his Blood an unholy thing This did thâ—y of Jerusalem but they did it ignorantly in Unbelief and so were yet capable of Mercy But to do this against professed Light and to stand to it puts a man beyond the Text indeed Act. 3 14 15 l6 17. 1 Tim. 1.13 But I say what is this to him that would fain be saved by Christ His sins did as to greatness never yet reach to the nature of the sins that the sinners intended by the Text had made themselves guilty of He that would be saved by Christ has an honourable esteem of him but they of Jerusalem preferred a Murderer before him but as for him they cried away away with him 't is not fit that he should live Perhaps thou wilt object That thy self hast a thousand times prâ—ferred a stinking Lust before him I answer Be it so it is but what is common to Men to do nor doth the Lord Jesus make such a foolish Life a Barr to thee to forbid thy coming to him or a Bond to his Grace that it might be kept from thee but admits of thy Repentance and offereth himself unto thee freely as thou standest among the Jerusalem-sinners Take therefore incouragement Man Mercy is by the Text held forth to the biggest sinners Yea put thy self into the number of the worst by reckoning that thou mayest be one of the first and mayest not be put off till the biggest sinners are served For the biggest sinners are first invited consequently if they come they are like to be the first that shall be served 'T was so with Jerusalem Jerusâ—lem-sinners were
am ashamed Answer Oh! don't be ashamed to be saved Sinner Object But my old Companions will mock me Ans. Oh! don't be mocked out of Eternal Life Sinner Thy stubbornness affects afflicts the Heart of thy Saviour Carest thou not for this Of old He beheld the City and wept over it Canst thou hear this and not be concerned Luke 19.41 42. Shall Christ weep to see thy Soul going on to destruction and wilt thou sport thy self in That way Yea shall Christ that can be eternally Happy without thee be more afflicted at the thoughts of the loss of thy Soul than thy self who art certainly eternally miserable if thou neglectest to come to him Those things that keep thee and thy Saviour on thy part asunder are but Bubbles the least prick of an affliction will let out as to thee what now thou thinkest is worth the venture of Heaven to enjoy Hast thou not Reason Canst thou not so much as once soberly think of thy dyiâ—g hour or of whether thy sinful life will drive thee then Hast thou no Conscience or having one is it rocked so fast asleep by Sin or made so weary with an unsuccessful calling upon thee that it is laid down and cares for thee no more Poor Man thy state is to be lamented Hast no Judgmemt Art not able to conclude that to be saved is better than to burn in Hell and that Eternal Life with God's favour is better than a Temporal Life in God's displeasure Hast no affliction but what is bruitish what none at all No affection for the God that made thee What none for his loving Son that has shewed his love and dyed for thee Is not Heâ—ven worth thy affection O poor Man which is strongest think'st thou God or thee If thou art not able to overcomâ— him thou art a fool for standing out against him Mat. 5.25 26. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. He will gripe hard his Fift is stronger than a Lions Paw take heed of him he will be angry if you despise his Son and will you stand guilty in your Trespasses when he offereth you his Grace and Favour Exod. 34.6 7 〈…〉 10 29 30 31. Now we come to the Text Beginning at Jerusalem This Text though it be now one of the brightest Stars that shineth in the Bible because there is in it as full if not the fullest offer of Grace that can be imagined to the Sons of Manâ— yet to them that shall perish from under this Word even this Text will be to such one of â—he hottest Goals in Hell. This Text therefore will save thee or sinâ— thee there is no shifting of it If it saves thee it will set thee high if it sinks thee it will set thee low But I say Why so unconcerned Hast no Soul Or dost think thou mayest lose thy Sâ—ul and save thy self Is it not pity had it otherwise been the Will of God that ever thou wast made a Mâ—n for that thou settest so little by thy Soul Sinner Take the Invitation Thou art called upon to come to Christ Nor art thou called upon but by order from the Son of God though thou shouldest happen to come of the biggest sinners For he has bid us offâ—r Mercy as to all the World in general so in the first place To the Sinners of Jâ—rusalem or to the biggest sinners Fifthly Would Jesus Christ have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest sinners Then this shews how unreasonable a thing it is for men to despair of Mercy For those that presume I shall say something to them afterward I now speak to them that Despair There are four sorts of Despair There is the despair of Devils There is the despair of Souls in Hell There is the despair that is grounded upon Mens Deficiency And there is the despair that they are perplexed with that are willing to be saved but are too strongly born down with the burden of their sins The despair of Devils the Damneds despair and that despair that a Man has of attaining of Life because of his own Deficience are all unreasonable Why should not Devils and Damned Souls dâ—spair Yea why should not Man despair of getting to Heaven by his own abilities I therefore am concerned only with the fouâ—th sort of Despair to wit with the despair of those that would be saved but are to strongly born down â—ith the burden of their sins I say therefore to thee that art thus And wâ—y Despair Thy despair if it was reasonable should flow from thee because found in the Land that is beyond the Grave or because thou certainly knowest that Christ will not or cannot save thee But for the first thou art yet in the Land of thâ— Living and for the second thou hast ground to believe the quite contrary Christ is able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by him and if he were not willing he wouâ—d not have commanded that Mercy iâ— the first place should be offered to the biggest sinners Besides he hath said Aâ—d lâ—t him that is athirst come and whosoever will lâ—t him take the Water of Life Freâ—ly that is with all my heart What groâ—nd now is here for Despair If thou sayâ—st The number and burden of my sins I answer Nay That is rather a ground for Faith because such an one above all others is invited by Christ to come unto him yea promised Rest and Forgiveness if they come Matt. 11.28 What ground then to despair Verily none at all Thy despair then is a thing unreasonable and without footing in the Word But I have no â—xperience of God's love Gâ—d has given me no comfort or ground of hope though I have waited upon him for it many a day Thou hâ—st experience of God's love for that he has opened thine eyes to see thy sins and for that he has given thee desires to be saved by Jesus Christ. For by thy sense of Sin thou act made to see thy poverty of Spirit and that has laid thee under a sure ground to hope that Heaven shall be thine hereafter Also thy desires to be saved by Christ has put thee under another Promise so â—here is two to hold thee up in hope though thy present burden be never so heavy Matt. 5 3 6. As for what thou sayest as to God's silence to thee perhaps he has spoken to thâ—e once or twice already but thou hast not perceived it Job 33.14 15. However thou hast Christ Crucified set forth before thine eyes in the Bible and an invitation to come unto him though thou be a Jerusalem-sinner tho thou be a biggest Sinner and so no ground to despair What if God will be silent to thee is that ground of despair Not at all so long as there is a Promise in the Bible that God will in no wise cast away the coming sinner and so long as he invites the Jerusalem-sinner to come unto him Job 6.37
rejoyceth against Judgment Wherefore believe All and Mercy will to thy Conscience weigh Judgment down and so minister Comfort to thy Soul. Thâ— Lord take the Yoke from off thy Jaws since he has set Meat before thee Hâ—s 11.4 And help thee to remember that he is pleased in the first place to offer Mercy to the biggest sinners Sixthly Since Jesus Christ would have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest sinners Let Souls see that they lay right hold thereof lest they notwithstanding indeed come short thereof Faith only knows how to deal with Mercy wherefore put not in the place thereof Presumption I have observed that as there are Herbs and Flowers in our Gardenâ— so there are their Counterfeits in the Field only they are distinguiâ—hed from the other by the Name of Wild Ones Why there is Faith and Wild Faiâ—h and Wild Faith is this Presumption I call it Wild Faith because God never placed â—t in his Garden his Church 't is only to be found in the Field the World. I also call it Wild Faith because it only grows up and is nourished where other wild notions abounds Wherefore take heed of this and all may be well For this presumptuousness is a very heinous thing in the eyes of God The Soul saith he that shall do ought presumptuously â—hether born in the Land or a stranger the same reproacheth the Lord And that Soul shall be cut off from among his people Num 15.30 The thoughts of this made David tremble and pray That God would hold him back from presumptuous sins and not suffer them to have dominion over him Psal. 19.13 Now this Presumption Then put its self in the place of Faith when it tampereth with the promise for Life while the Soul is a stranger to Repentance Wherefore you have in the Text to prevent doing thus both Repentance and Remission of Sins to be offered to Jerusalem not Remission without Repentance For all that repent not shall perish let them presume on Grace and the Promise while they will Luk. 13.1 2 3. Presumption then is that which severeth Faith and Repentance concluding that the Soul shall be saved by Grace though the man was never made sorry for his sins nor the love of the Heart turned therefrom This is to be sâ—lf-willed as Peter has it And this is a despising the Word of the Lord for that has put Repentance and Faith together Mark 1.15 And because he hath despisâ—d the Word of the Lord and hath broken the Commandment that Soul shall utterly be cut off his iniquities shall be upon him Numb 15.31 Let such therefore look it who yet are and abide in their sins for such if they hope as they are to be saved presume upon the grace of God. Wherefore Presumption and not hearkning to God's Word are put together Dâ—ut 17.12 Again Then men presume when they are resolved to abide in their sins and sins yet expect to be saved by God's grace through Christ. This is as much as to say God liketh of Sin as well as I do and careth not how men live if so be they lean upon his Son. Of this sort are they that build up Zion with Blood and Jerusalem with Iniquity That Judge for reward and teach for hire and Divine for mony and lean upon the Lord Mic. 3.10 11. This is doing things with an high hand against the Lord our God and a taking him as it were at the Catch This is as we lay among men to seek to put a trick upon God as if he had not sufficiently fortified his Proposals of Grace by his holy Word against all such kind of fools as these But look to it Such will be found at the day of God not among that great company of Jerusalem-sinners that shall be saved by Grace but among those that have been the great abusers of the grace of God in the World. These that say Let us sin that Grace may abound and let us do Evil that Good may come their Damnation is just And if so they are a great way off of that Salvation that is by Jesus Christ presented to the Jerusalem sinners I have therefore these things to propound to that Jerusalem-sinner that would know if he may be so bold to venture himself upon this Grace First Dost thou see thy sins Secondly Art thou weary of them Thirdly Wouldst thou with all thy heart be saved by Jesus Christ I dare say no less I dare say no more But if it be truly thus with thee how great soever thy sins have been how bad soever thou feelest thy heart how far soever thou art from thinking that God has mercy for thee thou art the Man the Jerusalem-sinner that the Word of God has conquered and to whom it offereth free Remission of sins by the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ. When the Jayler cried out Sirs What must I do to be saved The answer was Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved He that sees his sins aright is brought to his wits-end by them and he that is so is willing to part from them and to be saved by the grace of God. If this be thy Case fear not give no way to Despair thou presumest not if thou believest to life everlasting in Jesus Christ. Yea Christ is prepared for such as thou art Therefore take good courage and believe The design of Satan is to tell the Presumptuous that their presuming on Mercy is good but to perswade the Believer that his believing is impudent bold dealing with God. I never heard a presumptuous man in my life say that he was afraid that he presumed but I have heard many an honest humble Soul say that they have been afraid that their Faith has been Presumption Why should Satan molest those whose ways he knows will bring them to him And who can think that he should be quiet when men take the right course to escape his hellish snares This therefore is the reason why the truly humbled is opposed while the Presumptuous goes on by Wind and Tide The truly humble Satan hates but he laughs to see the foolery of the other Does thy hand and heart tremble Upon thee the Promise smiles To this man will I look says God even to him that is poor and of a coâ—trite sâ—irit and trembles at my Word Isa. 66.2 What therefore I have said of Presumption concerns not the humble in Spirit at all I therefore am for gaâ—hering up the Sâ—ones and for taking the Stumbling-blocks out of the way of God's People and fore-warning of them that they lay the stumbling block of their Iniquity before their faces and that are for presuming upon God's mercy and let them look to themselves Ezekiel 14.6 7 8. Also our Text stands firm as ever it did and our Observation is still of force That Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners So then let none Desâ—air let none Presume Let
knowledge of the nature of thy Sin and so no true sense of the nature or need of Mercy Little Sinner when therefore thou goest to God though thou knowest in thy Conscience that thou as to acts art no Thief no Murderer no Whore no Liar no false Swearer or the like and in reason must needs understand that thus thou art not so profanely vile as others yet when thou goest to God for Merey know no mans sins but thine own make mention of no mans sins but thine own Also labour not to lessen thy own but magnifie and greaten them by all just Circumstances and be as if there was never a Sinner in the World but thy self Also cry out as if thou wast the only undone Man and that is the way to obtain God's Mercy It is one of the comeliest Sights in the world to see a little Sinner commenting upon the greatness of his sins multiplying and mulâ—iplying them to himself till he makes them in his own eyes bigger and higher than he seeth any other man's sins to be in the World and as base a thing it is to see a man do otherwise and as basely will come on 't Luk. 18.10 11 12 13. As therefore I said to the great Sinner before let him take heed lest he presumes I say now to the little Sinner let him take heed that he don't dissemble For there is as great an aptness in the little Sinner to dissemble as there is in the great one He that hideth his sins shall not prosper be he a sinner little or great Prov. 28.13 Eighthly Would Jesus Christ have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners Then this shews the true cause why Satan makes such head as he doth against him The Father and the holy Spirit are well spâ—kâ—n of by all Deluders and deceived Persons Christ only is the Rock of Offence Behold I lay in Zion a stumbling-Stone and a Rock of Offence Rom. 9.33 Not that Satan careth for the Father or the Spirit more than he careth for the Son but he can let men alone with their notions of the Father and the Spirit for he knows they shall never enjoy the Father or the Spirit if indeed they receive not the Merits of the Son. He that hath the Son hath Life he that hath not the Son of God hath not Life however they may boast themselves of the Father and the Spirit 1 Jâ—hn 5.12 Again Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God He that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son 2 John 9. Christ and Christ only is he that can make us capâ—ble to enjoy God with Life and Joy to all eternity Hence he calls himself The Way to the Father The true and lâ—ving Way Joh. 14.6 Heb. 10.19.20 For we cannot come to the Father but by him Satan knows this therefore he hates him Deluded Persons are ignorant of this and therefore they are so led up and down by Satan by the nose as they are Tâ—ere are many things by which Satan has taken occasion to greaten his rage against Jesus Christ. As first His love to Man and then the many expressions of that love He hath taken Man's nature upon him he hath in that nature fulfilled the Lâ—w to bring in Righteousness for Man and hath spilt his Blood for the Reconciling of Man to God he hath broke the neck of Death put away Sin destroyed the works of the Devil and got into his own hands the Keys of Death and all these are heinous things to Satan He cannot abide Christ for this Besides he hath eternal Life in himself and that to bestow upon us and we in all liklihood are to possess the very places from which the Satans by transgression fell if not places more glorious Wherefore he must neâ—ds be angry And is it not a vexatious thing to him that we should be admitted to the Throne of Grace by Christ while he stands bound over in Chains of Darkness to answer for his Rebellions against God and his Son at the terrible day of Judgment Yea we poor Dust and Ashes must become his Judges and triumph over him for ever and all this long of Jâ—sus Christ for he is the Meritorious Cause of all this Now though Satan seeks to be revenged for this yet he knows it is in vain to attack the Person of Christ he has overcome him therefore he tampers with a company of silly Men that he may Villifie him by them And they bold fools as they are will not spare to spit in his face They will rail at his Person and deny the very Being of it they will rail at his Blood and deny the Merit and Worth of it They will deny the very end why he accomplished the Law and by figgs and tricks and quiâ—ks which he helpeth them to they set up fond Nâ—mes and Images in his plâ—ce and give the glory of a Saviour to them Thus Satan workeâ—h under the Name of Christ and his Ministers under the name of the Ministers of Righteousness And by his Wiles and Stratagems he undoes a world of men But there is a Seâ—d and they shall serve him and it shall be counted to the Lord for a Generation Tâ—ese shall see their sins and thâ—t Câ—rist is the Way to Happiness These shâ—ll venture themselves both Body and Soul upon his Worthiness All this Satan Knows and therefore his rage is kindleâ— the more Wherefore acâ—ording to his ability and allowance he assaulteth tempteth abuseth and stirs up what he can to be hurtful to these poor People that he may while his time shall last make it as hard and difficult for them to go to eternal Glory as he can Often-times he abuses them with wrong appreheâ—sions of God and with wrong apprehensions of Christ. He also casts them into the Mire to the reproach of Religion the shame of their Brethren the derision of the World and dishonour of God. He holds our hands while the World buffets us he puts Bear-skins upon us and then sets the Dogs at us He bedawbeth us with his own Fome and then tempts us to believe that that bedawding comes from ourselves Oh! the rage and the roaring of this Lion and the hatred that he manifests against the Lord Jâ—sus and against them that are purchased with his Blood But yet in the midst of all this the Lord Jesus sends forth his Herrald to proclaim in the Nations his love to the World and to invite them to come in to him for Life Yea his Invitation is so large that it offereth his Mercy in the first place to thâ—â—iggest Sinners of every Age which augments the Devils rage the more wherefore as I said before fret he sume he the Lord Jesus will divide the Spoil with this great one yea he shall divide the Spoil with the strong because he hâ—th poured out his Soul unto death and was numbred with the Transgressiors and
in the Acts some was through the violence of their Trials compelled to Blaspheme and yet are called Saints Acts 26.9 10 11. Hence you have a Promise or two that speaks concerning such a kind of Men to incourage us to think that at least some of them shall come back to the Lord their God. Shall they fall saith he and not arise Shall they turn away and not return Jer. 8 4. And in that day I will assemble her that halteth and I will gather her that was driven out and her that I have Afflicted And I will make her that halteth a Remnant and her that was cast off a strong Nation And the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion for ever What we are to understand by her that halteth is best expressed by the Prophet Elijah Mic. 4.6 7. Zeph. 3.19 1 Kings 18.21 I will conclude then that for them that have halted or may halt the Lord has Mercy in the Bank and is willing to accept them if they return to him again Perhaps they may never be after that of any great esteem in the House of God but if the Lord will admit them to favour and forgiveness O exceeding and undeserved Mercy See Ezâ—k 44.10.11 12 13 14. Thou then that mayest be the Man Remember this that there is Mercy also for thee Return therefore to God and to his Son who hath yet in store for thee and who will do thee good But perhaps thou wilt say He doth not save all Revolters and therefore perhaps not me Answer Art thou returning to God If thou art returning thou art the Man. Râ—turn ye back sliding Children and I will heal your back slidings Jer. 3.22 Some as I said that Revolt are shot dead upon the place and for them who can help them But for them that cry out of their Wounds 't is a sign they are yet alive and if they use the means in time doubtless they may be healed Christ Jesus has bags of Mercy that was never yet broken up or unsealed Hence it is said he has goodness laid up things reserved in Heaven for his And if he breaks up one of these bags who can tell what he can do Hence his Love is said to be such as passeth Knowledge and that his Riches are unsearchable He has no body knows what for no body knows who He has by him in store for such as seem in the view of all men to be gone beyond recovery For this the Text is plain What Man or Angel could have thought that the Jerusalem-sinners had been yet on this side of an impossibity of enjoying Life and Mercy Hadst thou seen their actions and what horrible things they did to the Son of God Yea how stoutly they backed what they did with resolves and endeavours to persevere when they had killed his Person against his Name and Doctrine And that there was not found among them all that while as we read of the least remorse or regret for these their doings Couldst thou have imagined that Mercy would ever have took hold of them at least so soon Nay that they should of all the World be counted those Only meet to have it offered to them in the very first place For so my Text commands saying Preach Repentance and Remission of Sin among all Nations Beginning at Jerusalem I tell you the thing is a Wonder and must for ever stand for a Wonder among the Sons of Men. It stands also for an everlasting Invitation and Allurement to the biggest Sinners to come to Christ for Mercy Now since in the Opinion of all Men the Revolter is such a one if he has as I said before any Life in him let him take incouragment to come again that he may live by Christ. Eleventhly Would Jesus Christ have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners Then let God's Ministers tell them so There is an Incidence in us I know not how it doth come about when we are Converted to contemn them that are left behind Poor fools as we are we forget that we our selves were so Tit. 3.2 3. But would it not become us better since we have tasted that the Lord is gracious to carry it towards them so that we may give them Convincing ground to believe that we have found that Mercy which also sets open the Door for them to come and partake with us Ministers I say should do thus both by their Doctrine and in all other respects Austerity doth not become us neither in Doctrine nor in Conversation We our selves live by Grace Let us give as we receive and labour to perswade our fellow-sinners which God has left behind us to follow after that they may partake with us of Grace We are saved by Grace let us live like them that are gracious Let all our things to the World be done in Charity towards them Pity them Pray for them be familiar with them for their good Let us lay aside our foolish worldly carnal grandure Let us not walk the Streets and have such behaviours as signifie we are scarce for touching of the poor ones that are left behind no not with a pair of Tongs It becomes not Ministers thus to do Remember your Lord he was familiar with Publicans and Sinners to a Proverb Behold a gluttonous man and a Wine-bibber a friend of Publicans and Sinners Matt. 11.19 The first part concerning his gluttonous eating and drinking to be sure was an horrible slander but for the other nothing was over spoke truer of him by the World. Now why should we lay hands cross on this Text that is choose good Victuals and love the sweet Wine better than the Salvation of the poor Publican Why not familiar with sinners provided we hate their spots and blemishes and seek that they may be healed of them Why not fellowly with our Carnal Neighbours If we do take occasion to do so that we may drop and be yet distilling some good Doctrine upon their Souls Why not go to the poor Man's House and give him a Penny and a Scripture to think upon Whâ— not send for the Poor to fetch away at least the Fragments of thy Table that the Bowels of thy fellow-sinner my be refresht as well as thine Ministers should be Exemplary But I am an inferiour Man and must take heed of too much medling But might I I would meddle with them with their Wives and with their Children too I mean not this of all but of them that deserve it though I may not name them But I say let Ministers follow the steps of their blessed Lord who by Word and Deeds shewed his Love to the Sâ—lvation of the World in such a carriage as declared him to prefer their Salvation before his own private Concern For we are commanded to follow his steps who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth And as I have said concerning Ministers so I say to all the Brethren carry it so that all the World
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