The Jerusalem Sinner Saved, Publishers advertisement

The Jerusalem Sinner Saved · Publishers advertisement

A Catalogue of Books, Printed and Sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopsgate.

1. SOlomon's Temple Spiritualiz'd: Or, Gospel-Light fetch'd out of the Temple at Jerusalem, to let us more easily into the Glory of New-Testament Truths: Wherein about Seventy Particulars relating to the Temple at Jerusalem, are Explained; and what they signifie in Gospel-Times, U…folded, Brice Bonnd 1 s.

2. The Acceptable Sacrifice: Or the Excellency of a Broken Heart: Shewing the Nature, Signs, and Proper Effects of a Contrite Spirit, Price Bound 1 s.

3. A Discourse of the Building, Nature, Excellency and Government of the House of God: With Counsels and Directions to the Inhabitants thereof, Price Stich'd 4 d.

4. The Jerusalem-Sinn…r Saved: Or, Good News for the Vilest of Men: Being a Help for Despairing Souls: Shewing that Jesus Christ would have Mercy in the first Place offered to the Biggest Sinners. The Second Edition: In which is added, An Answer to those Grand Objections that lie in the way of them that would believe: For the Comfort of those that fear they have sinned against the Holy Ghost, Price Bound 1 s. All Four by John Bunyan of Bedford.

5. Instructions for Children: Or, The Child's and Youth's Delight: Teaching an easie way to Spell and Read True English: Containing the Father's Godly Advice, directing Parents in a Right and Spiritual Manner to Educate their Children: With a Christian Catechism, wherein all the Chief Principles of True Christianity are clearly Opened: Together with many other things both Pleasant and Useful for the Education of Children. Written by B. Keach Author of War with the Devil. Recommended to the Use of all Parents and Schoolmasters, by Hanserd Knollys, Price Bound 6 d.

6. The Tutor to True English: Or, Brief and Plain Directions, whereby all that can Read and Write may Attain to Orthography, (or the Exact Writing of English) as readily as if bred Scholars. Very much conducing likewise to the due Sounding and perfect Reading all sorts of Words used in the English Tongue. With an Introduction to Arithmetick, more easie than any yet extant. And several other Observations of General Use: Especially for the use of either Sex, and Forreigners. By Henry Care, Price Bound 1 s.

7. The Great Discovery: Or, A Golden Key to unlock the Greatest Points of Divinity contained in the Old and New Testaments: Wherein the Great Design of God for the Salvation of Sinners by Jesus Christ, in a Covenant-way, is more fully laid open and discovered, than has ever been hitherto done by any. By G. W. Price Bound 2 s.

GOOD NEWS For the Vilest of Men. OR, A Help for Despairing Souls.

Luke xxiv. 47.

— Beginning at Jerusalem.

THe whole Verse runs thus: And that repentance and remission of Sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

The Words were spoken by Christ, after he rose from the Dead, and they are here rehearsed after an Historical manner, but do contain in them a formal Commission, with a special Clause, therein. The Commission is, as you see, for p. 2the Preaching of the Gospel, and is very distinctly incerted in the Holy Record by Matthew and Mark. Go teach all Nations, &c. Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel unto every Creature, Matt. 28.19. Mark 16.15. Only this Clause is in special mentioned by Luke, who saith, That as Christ would have the Doctrine of Repentance and Remission of Sins preached in his Name among all Nations, so he would have the People of Jerusalem to have the first proffer thereof. Preach it, saith Christ, in all Nations: but begin at Jerusalem.

The Apostles then, though they had a Commission so large as to give them Warrant to go and preach the Gospel in all the World, yet by this Clause they were limited, as to the beginning of their Ministry: They were to begin this Work at Jerusalem. Beginning at Jerusalem.

Before I proceed to an Observation upon the Words, I must (but briefly) t…uch upon two things: Namely,

1. Shew you what Jerusalem now was.

2. Shew you what it was to preach the Gospel to them.

So the first, Jerusalem is to be considered of, either,

p. 31. With respect to the descent of her People: Or,

2. With respect to her Preference and Exaltation: Or,

3. With respect to her present State, as to her Decays.

First, As to her Descent: She was from Abraham, the Sons of Jacob, a People that God singled out from the rest of the Nations to set his love upon them.

Secondly, As to her Preference, or Exaltation, she was the place of God's Worship, and that which had in, and with her, the special …okens and Signs of God's Favour and Presence, above any o…her People in the Word. Hence the Tribes went up to Jerusalem to Worship, there was God's House, God's High Priest, God's Sacrifices accepted, and God's Eye, and God's Heart perpetually, Ps…l. 76.1, 2. Psal. 122.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 1 King. 9.3. But,

Thirdly, We are to consider Jerus…lem also in her Decays; for as she is to considered, she is the proper object of our Text, as will be f…rther shewed by and by.

Jerus…lem, as I toId you, …as the place and fea… of God's Worship, but now decayed, deg…n…rated, and apostatiz…d. p. 4The Word, the Rule of Worship, was rejected of them, and in its place they had put and set up their own Traditions: They had rejected also the most weighty Ordinances, and put in the room thereof their own little things, (Mat. 15. Mark 7.) Jerusalem was therefore now greatly backslidden, and become the place where Truth and true Religion was much defaced.

It was also now become the very sink of Sin, and seat of Hypocrisie, and gulf where true Religion was drowned. Here also now reigned Presumption, and groundless Confidence in God, which is the bane of Souls. Amongst its Rulers, Doctors, and Leaders, Envy, Malice, and Blasphemy vented it self against the Power of Godliness, in all places where it was espied: As also against the Promoters of it; yea, their Lord and Maker could not escape them.

In a Word, Jerusalem was now become the Shambles, the very Slaughtershop for Saints. This was the place wherein the Prophets, Christ, and his People, were most horribly persecuted and murdered. Yea. so hardned at this time was this Jerusalem in her Sins, that she feared not to commit the biggest, p. 5and to bind her self by Wish under the guilt and damning evil of it; saying, when the had murdered the Son of God, His Blood be upon us and our Children.

And though Jesus Christ did both by Doctrine Miracles, and Holiness of Life, seek to put a stop to their Villanies; yet they shut their eyes, stopt their ears, and rested not, till, as was hinted before, they had driven him out of the World. Yea, that they might, if possible, have extinguished his Name, and exploded his Doctrine out of the World, they against all Argument, and in despite of Heaven, its mighty hand, and undeniable proof of his Resurrection, did hire Souldiers to invent a Lye, saying, His Disciples stole him away from the Grave; on purpose that Men might not count him the Saviour of the World, nor trust in him for the Remission of Sins.

They were, saith Paul, contrary to all Men: For they did not only shut up the Door of Life against themselves, but forbad that it should be opened to any else. Forbidding us, saith he, to preach to the Gentiles, that they might be saved, to fill up their sin alway, Matt. 23.35 chap. 15.7, 8, 9. Mar. 7. …, 7 8, Mat. 3 7.8 9. Joh. 8.33, 41. Mat. 27.18. Mar. 3.30. Luk. 265. Mat. 23. p. 637. Luk. 13 33, 34. Psal. 2.22, 23. Chap. 4.10. Mat. 27.25 Chap. 20.11, 12, 13, 14, 15. 1 Thes. 2.14, 15, 16.

This is the City, and these are the People: This is their Character, and th…se are their Sins. Nor can there be produced their parallel in all this World. Nay, what World! what People! what Nation, for Sin, and Transgression, could, or can be comp…red to Jerusalem! Especially if you joyn to the matter of fact, the Light they sinned against, and the Patience which they abused. Infinite was the Wickedness upon this account which they committed.

After all their abusings of wise Men, and Prophets, God sent unto them John Baptist, to reduce them, and then his Son to redeem them; but they would be neither reduced nor redeemed, but persecuted both to the Death. Nor did they, as I said, stop here; the Holy Apostles they afterwards persecuted also to Death, even so many as they could, the rest …he drove from them unto the utmost Corners.

Secondly, I come now to shew you what it was to preach the Gospel to them. It was, saith Luke, to preach to them Repentance and remission of Sins in p. 7Christs Name. Or as Mark has it, to bid th…m repent and believe the Gospel, Mar. 1.15. Not that Repentance is a cause of Remission, but a sign of our hearty reception thereof. Repentance is therefore here put to intimate, that no pretended Faith of the Gospel is good, that is not accompanied with it. And this he doth on purpose 'cause he would not have them deceive themselves: For with what Faith can he expect remission of Sins in the Name of Christ, that is not heartily sorry for them? Or how shall a man be able to give to others a satisfactory account of his unseigned subjection to the Gospel, that yet abides in his impenitency?

Wherefore Repentance is here joined with Faith in the way of receiving the Gospel. Faith is that without which it cannot be received at all: And Repentance that without which it cannot be received unseignedly. When therefore Christ says, he would have Repentance and Remission of Sins preached in his Name among all Nations; it is as much as to say, I will that all men every where be sorry for their sins, and accept of mercy at Gods hand thorow me, lest they fall under his wrath in the Judgment. For as p. 8I said, without Repentance, what pretence soever men have of Faith, they cannot escape the wrath to come. Wherefore Paul saith, God commands all men ev…ry where to repent (in order to their Salvation) because he hath appointed a day in the which he will Judge the World in Righte…usness by that man whom he hath ordained, Acts 17.30.

And now to come to this Clause, Beginning at Jerusalem: That is, that Christ would have Jerusalem have the first offer of the Gospel.

1. This cannot be so commanded, because they had now any more right of themselves thereto than had any of the Nations of the World; for their Sins had divested them of all self-deservings.

2. Nor yet, because they stood upon the advance ground with the worst of the Sinners of the Nations. Nay, rather the Sinners of the Nations had the advanc…-ground of them. For Jerusalem was long, before she had added this Iniquity to her sin, worse than the very Nations that God cast out before the Children of Israel, 2 Chron. 33.

3. It must therefore follow that this Cl…use, B…gin at Jerusalem, was put into this Commission of meer Grace and Compassion; Even from the overflowings of the Bowels of Mercy. For indeed they were the worst, and so in the most deplorable condition of any People under the Heavens.

Whatever therefore their relation was to Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob, however they formerly had been the People among whom God had placed his Name and Worship, they were now degenerated from God, more than the Nations were from their Idols, and were become guilty of the highest Sins which the People of the World were capable of committing. Nay, none can be capable of committing of such pardonable Sins as they committed against their God, when they slew his Son, and persecuted his Name and Word.

From these Words therefore thus explained, we gain this 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 Jerus…lem-sinners in the first place,

One would a-thought, since the J… 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 af…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 Jerus…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 p. 13body 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-sin…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 p. 14they 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 p…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 p. 15Application. 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, think you?

Peter. I am to preach Repentance and Remission of Sins to every one of you, says Peter.

Object. But I was one of them that did spit in his face when he stood before his Accusers. I also was one that mocked him, when in anguish he hanged bleeding on the tree. Is there room for me?

Peter. For every one of you, says, Peter.

Object. But I was one of them that in his extremity said, Give him Gall and Vinegar p. 16to drink, why may not I expect the same when anguish and guilt is upon me?

Peter. Repent of these your wickednesses, and here is remission of sins for every one of you.

Object. But I railed on him, I reviled him, I hated him, I rejoyced to see him mocked at by others. Can there be hopes. for me?

Peter. There is for every one of you. Repent and be Baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ, for the Remission of Sins, and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Oh! what a blessed Every one of you, i… here! How willing was Peter and the Lord Jesus, by his Ministry, to catch these Murderers with the Word of the Gospel, that they might be made Monuments of the Grace of God! How unwilling, I say, was he, that any of these should escape the hand of Mercy! Yea, what an amazing wonder is it, to think, that above all the World, and above every body in it, These should have the first offer of Mercy! Beginning at Jerusalem.

But was there not something of moment in this Clause of the Commission? Did not Peter, think you, see a great deal in it, that he should thus begin with p. 17these men, and thus offer, so particularly, this Grace to each particular man of them?

But, as I told you, This is not all. These Jerusalem-sinners must have this offer again and again; Every one of them, must be offered it over and over. Christ would not take their first rejection for a denial; nor their second repulse for a denial: But he will have Grace offered once, and twice, and thrice, to these Jerusalem-sinners. Is not this amazing Grace! Christ will not be put off. These are the Sinners, that are sinners indeed. They are Sinners of the biggest sort, consequently such as Christ can, if they convert and be saved, best serve his ends and designs upon. Of which more anon.

But what a pitch of Grace is this! Christ is minded to amaze the World, and to shew that he acteth not like the Children of men. This is that which he said of old, I will not execute the fierceness of my wrath, I will not return to destroy Ephraim, for I am God and not Man, Hos. 11.9. This is not the manner of Men; Men are shorter winded; Men are soon moved to take Vengeance, and to right themselves in a way of Wrath and Indignation p. 18But God is full of Grace, full of Patience, ready to Forgive, and one that delights in Mercy. All this is seen in our Text. The biggest sinners must First be offered Mercy. They must, I say, have the Cream of the Gospel offered. unto them.

But we will a little proceed. In the Third C…apter we find, that they who escaped Converting by the first Sermon, are called upon again, to accept of Grace and Forgiveness for their Murder committed upon this Son of God. You have killed; yea, you have denyed the Holy one and the Just, and desired a Murderer to be granted unto you. And killed the Prince of Life. M…rk, He falls again upon the very Men that actually were, as you have it in the Chapters following, his very Betrayers and Murderers, Acts 3.14, 15. As being loth that they should escape the mercy of Forgiveness. And Exhorts them again to repent, that their sins might be blotted out, Ver. 19.20.

Ag…in, in the Fourth Chapter, he charges them afresh with this Murder, Ver. 10. But withall tells them, Salvation is in no other. Then like a heavenly Decoy, he puts himself also among them, to draw them the better under p. 19the Net of the Gospel; saying, There is none other Name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved, Ver. 12.

In the fifth Chapter you find them railing at him, because he continued preaching among them Salvation in the Name of Jesus. But he tells them, That that very Jesus whom they had slain and hanged on a Tree, him God had raised up, and exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give Repentance to Isra…l, and Forgiveness of Sins, Vir. 29.30, 31. Still insinuating, that tho they had killed him, and to this day rejected him, yet his business was to bestow upon them, Repentance and Forgiveness of Sins.

'Tis true, after they began to kill again, and when nothing but killing would serve their turn; then they that were scattered abroad, went every where preaching the Word. Yet even some of them to hankered after the Conversion of the Jews, that they preached the Gospel only to them. Also the Apostles still made their abode at Jerusalem, in hopes that they might yet let down their Net for another draught of these Jerusalem-sinners. Neither did Paul and Barnabas, who were the Ministers of God to the p. 20Gentiles, but offer the Gospel in the first place to those of them that for their wickedness were scattered like Vagabonds among the Nations. Yea, and when they rendred Rebellion and Blasphemy for their Service and Love; they replied, It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to them, Acts 1.8. chap. 13.46, 47.

Nor was this their Preaching unsuccessful among these People: But the Lord Jesus so wrought with the Word thus spoken, that thousands of them came flocking to him for Mercy. Three thousand of them closed with him at the first; and afterwards two thousand more; for now they were in number about five thousand; whereas before Sermons was preached to these Murderers, the number of the Disciples were not above a hundred and twenty, Acts 1.15. chap. 2.41. chap. 4, 4.

Also among these People that thus flocked to him for Mercy, there was a great company of the Priests, chap. 6.7. Now the Priests were they that were the greatest of these biggest Sinners; they were the Ringleaders, they were the Inventors and Ringleaders in the mischief. 'T…as they that set the People against p. 21the Lord Jesus, and that was the cause why the upro…r increased, until Pilate had given Sentence upon him. The chief Priests and Elders, says the Text, perswaded (the People) the multitude, that they should ask Barabas, and destroy Jesus, Mat. 27.20. And yet behold, the Priests, yea, a great company of the Priests became obedient to the Faith.

Oh the Greatness of the Grace of Christ!! That he should be thus in love with the Souls of Jerusalem-sinners! That he should be thus delighted with the Salvation of the Jerusalem-sinners! That he should not only will that his Gospel should be offered them, but that it should be offered unto them first, and before other Sinners were admitted to a hearing of it; 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 p. 22is 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 p. 23Jerusalem-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 p. 24and 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, p. 25and 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 'twas 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.

p. 26First, 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 p…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 p. 27are 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 him; his Pen…y, his Care, and his Swadling-bands for him; for alas, Wretch! he had most need, Luke 10.30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35.

Zacheus the Publican, the chief of the Publicans, one that had made himself the richer by wronging of o…hers; the Lord at that time singl…th him out from all the rest of his brother Publicans, and that in the face of many Pharisees, and proclaimed in the audience of them all, That that day Salvation was come to his …ouse, Luke 19.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

p. 28The Woman also that had been bound down by Satan for eighteen years together, his compassions putting him upon it, he loosed her, though those that stood by snarled at him for so doing, Luk. 13.11, 12, 13.

And why the Woman of Sarepta, and why Naaman the Syrian, rather than Widows and Lepers in Israel; but because their conditions were more deplorable, (for that) they were most forlorn, and farthest from help, Luk. 4.25, 27.

But I say, why all these, thus named? why have we not a Catalogue of some Holy men that were so in their own eyes, and in the judgment of the World? Alas! if at any time any of them are mentioned, how seemingly coldly doth the Record of Scripture present them to us? Nicodemus, a Night-Professor, and Simon the Pharisee, with his Fifty Pence; and their great ignorance of the methods of Grace, we have now and then touched upon.

Mercy seems to be out of his proper Chanel, when it deals with Self-righteous men; but then it runs with a full stream when it extends it self to the biggest sinners. As God's mercy is not regulated by Man's goodness, nor obtained p. 29by Man's worthiness; so not much set one by saving of any such. But more of this anon.

And here let me ask my Reader a Question: Suppose that as thou art walking by some Pond-side, thou shouldst espy in it, four or five Children all in danger of drowning, and one in more danger than all the rest; judge which has most need to be helped out first? I know thou wilt say, he that is nearest drowning: Why, this is the case; the bigger Sinner, the nearer d…o…ning; therefore the bigger sinner, the more need of mercy; yea, of help by mercy in the first place. And to this our Text agrees, when it saith, Beginning at Jerusalem. Let the Jerusalem Sinner, says Christ, have the first offer, the first invitation, the first tender of my grace and mercy, for he is the biggest sinner, and so has most need thereof.

Secondly, Christ Jesus would have mercy offered in the first place to the biggest sinners, because when they, any of them, receive it, it redound, most to the fame of his Name.

Christ Jesus, as you may perceìve, has, put himself under the term of a Physician, a Doctor for curing of Diseases: p. 30And you know that Applause, and a Fame, is a thing that Physicians much desire. That is it that helps them to Patients, and that also that will help their Patients to commit thems…lves to their Skill for Cure, with the more confidence and repose of Spirit. And the best way for a Doctor or Physician to get themselves a Name, is in the first place to take in hand, and Cure some such as all others have given off for lost and dead. Physician… get neither Name nor Fame by pricking of Wheals or pi…king out Thistles, or by laying of Plaisters to the scratch of a P…n. Every old Woman can do this. But if they will have a Name and a Fame, if they will have it quickly, they must, as I said, do some great and desperate Cures. Let them fetch one to Life that was Dead; let them recover one to his Wits, that was Mad; let them make one that was born Blind, to See; or let them give ripe Wits to a Fool; these are ro…able Cures; and he that can do th…s, and if he doth thus first, he shall have the Name and Fame he desires; he may lye a B…d till Noon.

Why, Christ Jesus forgiveth Sins for a Name, and so beg…ts of himself a go…d Report in the hearts of the Children of p. 31men. And therefore in reason, he must be willing, as also he did command, that his mercy should be offered first to the biggest Sinners.

I will forgive their sins, iniquities, and transgressions, says he, and it shall turn to me for a name of Joy, and a praise, and an honour, before all the Nations of the earth, Jer. 33.8, 9.

And hence it is that at his first appearing he took upon him to do such mighty works. He got a Fame thereby; he got a Name thereby, Mat. 4.23, 24.

When Christ had cast the legion of Devils out of the man of whom you read, Mark 5. He bid him go home to his Friends and tell it. Go home, saith he, to thy friends, and tell them how great things God has done for thee, and has had compassion on thee, Mark 5.19. Christ Jesus seeks a Name, and desireth a Fame in the World; and therefore, or the better to obtain that, he commands that mercy should first be proffered to the biggest sinners, because by the saying of one of them, he makes all men marvel. As 'tis said of the man l…st mentioned, whom Christ cured toward the beginning of his Ministry: And he departed, says the Text, and began to publish in Decapolis, p. 32how great things Jesus had done for him, and all men did m…rvel, Ver. 20.

When John told Christ, that they saw one casting out Devils in his Name, and they forbad him because he followed not with them: What is the answer of Christ? Forbid him not, for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my Name, that can lightly speak evil of me. No, they will rather cause his Praise to be heard, and his Name to be magnified, and so put Glory on the head of Christ.

But we will follow a little our Metaphor: Christ, as I said, has put himself under the term of a Physician; Consequently he desireth that his Fame, as to the Salvation of sinners, may spread abroad, that the World may see what he can do. And to this end, has not only commanded that the biggest sinners should have the first offer of his mercy; but has, as Physicians do, put out his Bills, and published his doings, that things may be read and talked of. Yea, he has moreover in these his blessed Bills, the Holy Scriptures, I mean, incerted the very Names of Persons, the places of their abode, and the great Cures that by the means of his Salvations he has w…ought upon th…m to this very end: p. 33Here is, Item, Such a one by my grace and redeeming Blood, was made a Monument of everlasting Life: And such a one by my perfect Obedience, became an Heir of Glory. And then he produceth their Names.

Item, I s…ved Lot from the guilt and damnation that he had procured to himself by his incest.

Item, I saved David from the Vengeance that belonged to him for committing of Adultery and Murder.

Here is also Solomon, M…nasseh, Pet…r, Magdal…n, 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 p. 34of 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 m…rriage Joys, were invited to come; but they made their excuse, and that serv…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 Hed…es, and Compel them to come in, that my house may be fill…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 p. 35him 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 sh…ll read this Story, but must confess that the Son of God is full of grace; for a proof of the riches ther…of, he left behind him, when upon the Cross, he took the T…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. Th…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 gl…rious Majesty of his Kingdom. Psal. 145.6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.

When the Word of God came among p. 36the Conjurers and those Sooth-sayers, that you read of Act. 19. and had p…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 toge…her and burned th…m before all men, and counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand piec…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.

p. 37Thus 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 Physi…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 poss…sse… 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, p. 38and 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 R…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 Eph…sus of design, even to shew p. 39to 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 Godd…ss: Men far off from God, aliens and strangers to all good things, such as were far off from that, as I s…id, and cons…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.)

W…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 …xceeding p. 40Riches of his Grace, says he, in his kindness towards us thorow Christ Jesus. T…ere is yet one hint behind. 'Tis 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, 'tis 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. p. 41That 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 Pers…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 M…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 M…rcy.

It may well therefore be said to God, Thou delight…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 p. 42stir 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 Lor…, saith he, do it, And then will I teach Trans…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 horri…le Sinner; wherefore, if thou sh…lt forgive my great Transgressions, I sh…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'…. And there is nothing so suiteth with the p. 43hearing 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 sh…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 p. 44her: And this fetched over, fi…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 t…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 F…therless find mercy. (Jer. 3.22. Hos. 14.1, 2, 3.)

Mercy, and the revelation thereof, is the only Antidote against Sin. 'Tis of a thawing nature: 'twill lose the Heart that is frozen up in Sin: yea, 'twill make the Unwilling willing to come to Jesus Christ for, Life.

p. 45Wherefore 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 Madmen; but when they saw one of their Fellows taken, and received to favour, they all came tumbling down from their Fortress, and d…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 Lo…d Jesus has, as I said, that others might take Heart p. 46and come to him, given out a commandment that Mercy should in the fi…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 low…st in every Age of the World. The biggest Sinners, they are Satans Colon…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 f…ll like Lightning from Heaven, that is suddenly or headlong; and it was, surely, by casting of him out of strong Possessions, and by r…covering p. 47of 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.

p. 48Why, 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, p. 49at 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.

p. 50And 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 have some such in the first plantation of Churches; or quickly upon it. Churches would do but sorrily, if Christ Jesus did not put such Converts among them; they are the Monuments and Mirrors of Mercy. The very sight of such a Sinner in God's House, yea, the very thought of him, where the sight of him p. 51cannot he had, is oft-times greatly for the help of the Faith of the feeble.

When the Churches (said Paul) that were in Judea, heard this concerning me, that he which persecuted them in time past, now preached the Faith which once he destroyed, They glorified God in me, Gal. 1.20, 21, 22, 23, 24.

Glorified God] How is that? Why, they praised him, and took courage to believe the more in the mercy of God: For that he had had mercy on such a great sloner as he. They glorified God [in me] They wondred that Grace should be so rich, as to take hold of such a Wretch as I was; and for my sake believed in Christ the more.

There are two things that great sinners are acquainted with, when they come to divulge them to the Saints, that are a great relief to their Faith.

1. The Contests that they usually have with the Devil at their parting with him.

2. Their knowledge of his Secret i… his workings.

For the First, The biggest sinnes hav… …sually great contests with the Devil at …heir partings; and this is an help to …aints. For ordinary Saints find afterwards p. 52what the vile ones find at first; but when at the opening of hearts the one finds himself to be as the other, the one is a comfort to the other. The lesser sort of sinners find but little of this, till after they have been some time in profession; but the Vile Man meets with his at the beginning. Wherefore he, when the other is down, is ready to tell that he has met with the same before. For I say, he has had it before. Satan is loth to part with a great Sinner. What, my true Servant (quoth he) my old Servant, wilt thou forsake me now? Having so often sold thy self to me to work wickedness, wilt thou forsake me now? Thou horrible Wretch, dost not know, that thou hast sinned thy self beyond the reach of Grace, and dost think to find Mercy now? Art not thou a Murderer, a Thief, a Harlot, a Witch, a sinner of the greatest size, and dost thou look for mercy now? Dost thou think that Christ will foul his fingers with thee?

'Tis enough to make Angels blush, saith Satan, to see so vile a one knoc… at Heaven gates… or Mercy, and wilt tho… be so abominable bold to do it? Thus Satan dealt with me, says the great Sinner when at first I came to Jesus Christ. An… p. 53what did you reply, saith the Tempted? Why, I granted the whole Charge to be true, says the other. And what, did you d…spair? or how? No (saith he) I said, I am Magdalene, I am Zicheus, I am the Thief, I am the Harlot, I am the Publican, I am the Prodigal, and one of Christ's Murderers: Yea, worse than any of these, and yet God was so far off from rejecting of me, (as I found afterwards) that there was musick and dancing in his House for me, and for Joy that I was come home unto him. Oh blessed be God for Grace, (says the other) for then I hope there is favour for me. Yea, as I told you, such a one is a continual Spectacle in the Church, for every one by, to behold God's grace, and wonder!

Secondly, And as for the Secrets of Satan, such as are Suggestions to question the Being of God, the truth of his Word, and to be annoyed with devilish Blasphemies: None more acquainted with these than the biggest sinners at their Conversion; wherefore thus also they are prepared to be helps in the Church to relieve and comfort the other.

I might also here tell you of the Contests and Battels that such are engaged in, wherein they find the beffettings of p. 54Satan, above any other the Saints. At which times Satan assaults the Soul with darkness, fears, frightful thoughts of Apparitions; now they sweat, pant, cryout, and struggle for life.

The Angels now come down to behold the sight, and rejoyce to see a bit of Dust and Ashes to overcome Principalities and Powers, and Might, and Dominions. But, as I said, when these come a little to be setled, they are prepared for help for others, and are great Comforts unto them. Their great sins give encouragement to the Devil to assault them, and by these temptations Christ takes advantage to make them the more helpful to the Churches.

The biggest sinner, when he is Converted and comes into the Church, say… to them all, by his very coming in, Behold me, all you that are Men and Wom…n of a low and timerous spirit; you whose hearts are narrow, for that you never had the advantage to know, because your sins are few, the largeness of the grace of God. Behold, I say, in me, the exceeding riches of his grace! I am a Pattern set forth before your faces, o… whom you may look and take hear… ▪ This, I say, the great sinner …an say, to the exceeding comfort of … the rest.

p. 55Wherefore, as I have hinted before, when God intends to stock a place with Saints, and to make that place excellently to flourish with the riches of his grace; he usually begins with the Conversion of some of the most notorious there abouts, and lays them as an Example to allure others, and to build up when they are converted.

'Twas Paul that must go to the Gentiles, because Paul was the most outragious of all the Apostles, in the time of his unregeneracy: Yea, Peter must be he that after his horrible fall, was thought fittest, when recovered again, to comfort and strengthen his Brethren. See Luke 22.31, 32.

Some must be Pillars in God's House, and if they be Pillars of Cedar, they must stand while they are stout and sturdy sticks in the Forrest, before they are cut down, and planted or placed there.

No man, when he buildeth his House, makes the principal parts thereof, of weak or feeble Timber; for how could such bear up the rest; but of great and able Wood. Christ Jesus also goeth this way to work, he makes of the biggest Sinners, Bearers and Supporters to p. 56the rest. This then may serve for another Reason, why Jesus Christ gives out in Commandment, that Mercy should in the first place be offered to the biggest Sinners, Because such when converted, are usually the best h…lps in the Church against temptations, and fittest for the support of the fe…ble-minded there.

Sixthly, Another reason, why Jesus Christ would have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners, is, Because They, when converted, are apt to Live him most.

This agrees both with Scripture, and Reason. Scripture says so. To whom much is forgiven, the same loveth much. To whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little, Luk. 7.47. Reason says so. For as it would be the unreasonablest thing in the world, to render hatred for love, and contempt for forgiveness; so 'twould be as ridiculous to think that the reception of a little kindness should lay the same obligations upon the heart to love, as the reception of a great deal. I would not disparage the love of Christ; I know the least dram of it, when it reaches to forgiveness, is great above all the world; But comparatively, there i… greater extentions of the love of Chris… p. 57to one, than to another: He that has most sin, it forgiven, is partaker of the greatest love, of the greatest forgiveness.

I know also, that there are some, that from this very Doctrine, say, Let us do evil, that good may come; and that turn the Grace of our God into Lasciviousness. But I speak not of these, These will neither be ruled by Grace nor Reason. Grace would teach them, if they know it, to deny Ungodly Courses; and so would Reason too, if it could truly sense the Love of God, Tim. 2 11, 1…. Rom. 11.1.

Doth it look like what hath any Coherence with Reason or Mercy, for a man to abuse his Friend? Because Christ died for men, shall I therefore Spit in his Face? The Bread and Water that was given by Elisha to his Enemies, that came the Land of Israel to take him, had so muc… influence upon their Minds, tho Heathens, that they returned to their homes without hurting him: Yea, it kept them from coming again in a hostile manner into the Coasts of Israel, 2 Kings 6.19, 20, 21, 22, 23.

But to forbear to Illustrate till anon; one reason why Ch…ist Jesus shews Mercy to Sinners, is that he might obtain their p. 58Love, that he may remove their base affections, firm base objects, to himself. Now if he loves to be loved a little, he loves to be loved much; but there is not any that are capable of loving much, save those that have much forgiven them. Hence 'tis said of Paul, That he laboured more than them all, to wit, with a labour of love, because he had been by Sin more vile against Christ than they all, 1 Cor. 15. He it was that persecuted the Church of God, and wasted it, Gal. 1.13. He, of them all, was the only raving Bedlam against the Saints: And being exceeding mad, says he, against them, I persecuted them even to strange Cities, Acts 26.11.

This raving Bedlam, that once was so, is he that now says, I laboured more than them all; more for Christ than them all.

But Paul, what moved thee thus to do? The love of Christ, says he. It was not I, but the grace of God that was with me. As who should say; O Grace! 'Twas such Grace to save me! 'Twas such marvelous Grace for God to look down from Heaven upon me, and that secured me from the wrath to come, that I am captivated with the sense of the rich…s of it. Hence I act, hence I labour; p. 59For how can I otherwise do, since God not only separated me from my Sins and Companions, but separated all the powers of my Soul and Body to his Service? I am therefore prompted on by this exceeding love, to labour as I have done; yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

Oh! I shall never forget his love, nor the circumstances under which I was, when his love laid hold upon me. I was going to Damascus with Letters from the High Priest to make Havock of God's People there, as I had made Havock of them in other places. These bloody Letters was not imposed upon me. I went to the High Priest and desired them of him, Acts 9.1, 2. And yet he saved me! I was one of the men, of the chief men that had a hand in the Blood of his Martyr Stephen, yet he had mercy on me! When I was at Damas…us, I stunck so horribly like a Blood-sucker, that I became a Terrour to all thereabout. Yea, Ananias (good man) made intercession to my Lord against me, yet he would have mercy upon me! Yea, joyned mercy to mercy, until he had made me a monument of Grace. He made a Saint of the, land perswaded me, that my transgressions were forgiven me.

p. 60When I began to preach, those that heard me were amazed; and said, Is not this he that destroyed them that called on t…is Name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound to the High P…iest? Hell doth know that I was a Sinner; Heaven doth know that I was a Singer: Th… World also knows that I was a Sinner, a Sinner of the greatest size; but I obtained mercy, Acts 9.20, 21.

Shall not this lay Obli…ation upon me? Is not Love of the greatest force to oblige? Is it not strong as Death? Cruel as the Grave? and hotter than the Coals of Juniper? Hath it not a most vehement flame? Can the Waters quench it? Can the Floods drown it? I am under the force of it, and this is my continual cry, What shall I render to the Lord for all the Benefits which he has bestow…d upon me?

Ay! Paul, this is something, thou speakest like a Man, like a man affected, and carried away with the love and gra…e of God. Now this sense, and this affection, and this labour, giveth to Christ the love that he looks for. But he might have converted twenty little sinners, and yet not found, for grace bestowed, …o …uch love in them all.

p. 61I wonder how far a man might go among the Converted Sinners of the smaller size, before one could find one that so much as look any thing this wayward. Where is he that is thus under pangs of love for the Grace bestowed upon him by Jesus Christ? Excepting only some few; you may walk to the Worlds end and find none. But, as I sail, some there are, and so there has been in every age of the Church, great sinners, that have had much forgiven them. And they love much upon this account.

Jesus Christ therefore knows what he doth, when he lays hold on the hearts of sinners of the biggest size. He knows that such an one will love more than many that have not sinned half their sins.

I will tell you a Story that I have …ead of Martha and Mary; the Name of the Book I have forgot. I mean of the Book in which I found the Relation; but the thing was thus:

Martha, saith my Author, was a very holy Woman, much like Lazarus, her Brother▪ but Mary was a loose and wan…on creature. Martha did seldom miss good Sermons, …nd Lectures, when she could come at them in Jerusalem; but p. 62Mary would frequent the house of Sports, and the company of the vilest of Men for lust. And though Martha had often desired that her Sister would go with her to hear her Preachers: Yea, had often entreated her with Tears, to do it, yet could she never prevail; for still Many would make her excuse, or reject her with disdain for her Zeal and Preciseness in Religion.

After Martha had waited long, tried many ways to bring her Sister to good, and all 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 Mar…ha, but as much unobserved as she could, to the Sermon, or rather to See the Preacher.

p. 63The 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 p. 64he 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 kiss…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 p. 65to 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 sup…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. p. 66Thou gavest me no kiss, but this Woman, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my Feet. My Head with Oyl …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. 'Tis 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 lit…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 p. 67the 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 Jeri…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 h…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.

p. 68But thus much for the Sixth Reason, why Christ Jesus would have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners; 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 …hem, that ought of the things that they poss…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 h…r in her Primitive state, as a Pattern, and p. 69Mother 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 spu…ter and smoak, and or…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.

p. 70Hence 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 p. 71do 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.

p. 72And, 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 p. 73hath 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 …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 …dmirers of Grace, will be found to profess the Gospel, to the glory of God by Christ.

Alas! We are a company of wornout 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 d… cayed. But I say, when they of the…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 s… veral of them will) then will Christ be ex…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.

p. 74Just before Christ came into the Flesh, the World was Degenerated as it is now; The generality of the Men in Jerus…lem were become either high and famous for Hypocrisie, or filthy base in their Lives. The Devil also was broke loose in hideous manner, and had taken possession of many: Yea, I believe that there was never Generation before nor since, that could produce so many possessed with Devils, deformed, lame, blind, and infected with monstrous Diseases, as that Generation could. But what was the reason thereof? I mean the reason from God? Why one (and we may sum up more in that answer that Christ gave to his Disciples concerning him that was born Blind) was, that the Works o… God might be made manifest in them and that the Son of God might be glorified thereby, Joh. 9.2, 3. chap. 11.4.

Now if these Devils and Diseases, a… they possessed Men then, were to mak… way and work for an approaching Chr…s… in Person, and for the declaring of hi… Power, why may we not think that now even now also, he is ready to come b… his Spirit in the Gospel to heal man of the Debaucheries of our Age? I can not believe that Grace will take them a… p. 75for there are but few that are saved: But yet it will take some, even some of the worst of Men, and make Blessed ones of them. But O! how these Ringleaders in Vice, will then shine in Vert…e! They will be the very Pillars in Churches, they will be as an Ensign in the Land; The Lord their God shall save them in that day, as the Flock of his People, for they shall he as the Stones of a Crown, lift up as an Ensign upon the Land, Zech. 9.16. But who are these? Even Idolatrous Ephraim, and backsliding Judah, Ver. 13.

I know there is groand to fear, that the Iniquity of this Generation will be pursued with heavy Judgments: But that will not hinder what we have supposed: God took him a glorious Church out of Bloody Jerusalem, yea, out of the chief of the Sinners there, and left the rest to be taken and spoiled, and sold Thirty for a Penny, in the Nations where they were Cap…ives. The Gospel working gloriously in a place, to the seizing upon many of the ringleading Sinners thereof, promiseth no security to the rest, but rather threatneth them with the heaviest and smartest Judgments; as in the Instance now given, we have a full demonstration; but in p. 76defending, the Lord will defend his People; and in saving, he will save his Inheritance.

Nor does this speak any great comfort to a decayed and backsliding sort of Christians, for the next time God rides Post with his Gospel, he will leave such Christians, behind him. But I say, Christ is resolved to set up his Light in the World; yea, he is delighted to see his Graces shine, and therefore he commands that his Gospel should to that end, be offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners; for by great Sins it shineth most: Therefore he saith, Begin at Je…usalem.

Eighthly, And lastly, Christ Jesus will have Mercy to be offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners, For that by that means the Impenitent that are l…ft behind, will be at the Judgment, the more left without excuse.

God's Word has two edges, it can cut back-stroke and fore-stroke. If it doth thee no good, it will do thee hurt; 'Tis the savour of Life unto Life to those that receive it, but of Death unto Death to them that refuse it, 2 Cor. 2.15, 16. But this is not all, the tender of Grace to the biggest Sinners, in the p. 77first place, wi…l not only leave the rest, or those that refuse it, in a deplorable condi…ion, but will also stop their mouths, and cut off all pretence to excuse at that day. If I had not come and spok…n unto them, saith Christ, they had not had Sin; but now th…y have no cloke for their sin, for their sin of persevering in Impenitence, Job 15.22.

But what did he speak to them? Why even that which I have told you; to wit, That he has in special, a delight in saving the biggest Sinners. He spake this in the way of his Doctrine, he spake this in the way of his Practice, even to the pouring out of his last breath before them, Luk. 23.34.

Now since this is so, what can the Condemned at the Judgement say for themselves, why Sentence of Death should not be passed upon them? I say, what excuse can they make for themselves, when they shall be asked why they did not in the day of S…lvation come to Christ to be saved? Will they have ground to say to the Lord, Thou wast only for saving of little Sinners, and therefore because they were great ones, they durst not come unto him; Or that thou hadst not comp…ssion for the biggest Sinners, p. 78therefore I died in despair; will these be excuses for them as the Case now standeth with them? Is there not every where in God's Books sl…t contradiction to this, in multitudes of Promises, of Invitations, of Examples, and the like? Alas, alas! there will then be there millions of Souls to confute this Plea; ready I say, to stand up and say, O! deceived World, Heaven swarms with such, as was, when they were in the World, to the full as bad as you.

Now this will kill all plea or excuse, why they should not perish in their sins; yea, the Text says, they shall see them there; There shall be weeping, when you shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of Heaven, and you your selves thrust out. And they shall come from the East, and from the West, and from the North, and from the South, and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God, Luk. 13.28, 29. Out of wh…ch company it is easie to pick such, as sometimes were as bad People as any now b…eathe on the face of the Earth. What think you of the first Man, by whose sins there are millions now in Hell? And so I may say, what think you of ten thousand more besides?

p. 79But if the Word will not stifle and gagg them up, I speak now for amplification sake, the view of those who are saved shall

There comes an Incestuous Person to the Barr, and pleads that the bigness of his Sins was a bar to his receiving the Promise; But will not his mouth be stopt as to that, when Lot and the Incestuous Corinthian shall be set before him, Gen. 19.33, 34, 35, 36. 1 Co…. 5.1, 2.

There comes a Thief and says, Lord! my sin of Theft, I thought, was such as could not be pardoned by thee! But when he shall see the Thief that was saved on the Cross, stand by, as clothed with beauteous Glory, what further can he be able to object? Yea, the Lord will produce ten thousand of his S…ints at his coming, who shall after this manner execute Judgment upon all, and so convince all that are ungodly among them, of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him, Jude 15, 16. And these are hard speeches against him, To say that he was not able or willing to save Men, because of the greatness of their sins, or to say that they were discouraged by his Word from Repentance, because of the heinousness of their offences.

p. 80These things, I say, shall then be confuted; He comes with ten thousand of his S…ints to confute them, and to stop their mouths from making objections against their own eternal damnation.

Here is Adam the destroyer of the World; he…e is Lot that lay with both his Daughters; here is Abraham that was sometimes an Idolater, and Jacob that was a Supplanter, and Ruben that lay with his Fathers Concubine, and Judah that lay …ith his Daughter-in-Law, and Levy and Simeon that wickedly slew the Sechemites; and Aaron that made an Idol to be Worshipped, and that proclaimed a Religious Feast unto it. Here is also Rahab the Harlot, and Bathsheba that bare a B…stard to David. Here is Solomon that great Backslider, and Manasseh that man of Blood, and a Witch. Time would fail to tell you of the Woman of Canaans Daughter, of Mary Magdalen, of Matthew the Publican, and of Gideon and Sampson, and many thousands more.

Alas, alas! I say, what will these Sinners, do, that have, through their unbelief, eclipsed the glorious largeness of the mercy of God, and gave way to despair of Salvation because of the bigness of their sins.

p. 81For all these, though now glorious Saints in Light, were sometimes Sinners of the biggest size, who had sins that were of a notorious hue; Yet now, I say, they are in their shining and heavenly Robes before the Throne of God and of the Lamb, Blessing for ever and every, that Son of God for their Salvation, who dyed for them upon the Tree; admiring that ever it should come into their Hearts once to think of coming to God by Chirst: But above all, blessing God for granting of them light to see those incouragements in his Testament; without which, without doubt, they had be…n daunted and sunk down under guilt of Sin and Despair, as their fellow sinn…rs have done.

B…t now they also are all Witness…s for God and for his Grace against an unb…lieving World; for as I said, they shall come to convince the World of their Speeches, their hard and unbelieving words, that they have spoken concerning the mercy of God, and the merits of the Passion of his blessed Son Jesus Christ.

But will it not, think you, strangely put to silence all such thonghts, and words, and reasonings of the Ungodly p. 82before the Barr of God? doubtless it will; yea, and will send them away from his presence also, with the greatest guilt, that possibly can fallen upon the Consciences of Men.

For what will sting like this? I have through mine own foolish, narrow, unworthy, undervaluing thoughts of the love and ability of Christ to save me, brought my self to everlasting ruine. 'Tis true, I was a horrible sinner, not one in a hundred did live so vile a life as I, but this should not have kept me from closing, with Jesus Christ: I see now that there are abundance in Glory that once were as bad as I have been, but they were saved by Faith, and I am damned by Unbelief.

Wr…tch that I am! why did not I give glory to the Redeeming Blood of Jesus? Why did I not humbly cast my Soul at his bless…d foot stool for Mercy? Why did I judge of his ability to save me by the voice of my shallow reason, and the voice of a guilty Conscience? Why betook not I my self to the holy Word of God? Why did I not read and pray that I might understand, since now I perceive that God said then, He giveth p. 83liberally to them that pray, and upbraideth not, Jam. 1.5.

'Tis rational to think, that by such Cogitations as these, the unbelieving World will be torn in pieces before the Judgment of Christ: Especially those that have lived where they did or might have heard the Gospel of the Grace of God. Oh! that saying, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom at the Judgment, than for them, will be better understood. See Luke 10.8, 9, 10, 11, 12.

This Reason therefore standeth fast; Namely, That Christ, by offering mercy in the first place to the biggest Sinners, now, will stop all mouths of the impenitent at the day of Judgment, and cut off all excuse that shall be attempted to be made (from the thoughts of … greatness of their sins) why they ca… not to him.

I have often thought of the day of Judgement, and how God will deal with sinners at that day: And I believe it will be managed with that sweetness, with that equitableness, with that excellent Righteousness, as to every sin, and circumstance, and aggravation thereof▪ that men that are damned, before the p. 84Judgment is over, shall receive such conviction of the righteous Judgment of God upon them, and of their deserts of Hell fire, that they shall in themselves, conclude that there is all the reason in the world that they should be shut out of Heaven, and go to Hell-fire; These shall go away into everlasting fire, Matt. 25.46.

Only this will tare, That they have mist of Mercy and Glory, and obtained everlasting damnation through their unbelief. But it will tare but thems…lves, but their own Souls; they will gnash upon themselves: For in that, Mercy was offered to the chief of them in the first place, and yet they were damned for rejecting of it: They were damned for forsaking what they had a propriety in; for, forsaking their Own Mercy.

And thus much for the Reasons. I will conclude with a word of Application.