the jerusalem sinner saved-第11章

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〃Be　not　thou　far　from　me；　O　Lord！　　O　my　strength；　haste　thou　to　help
me　I　say；　put　in　thy　name　with　Magdalen；　with　Manasseh；　that　thou
mayst　fare　as　the　Magdalen　and　the　Manasseh　sinners　do。　　The　man　in
the　gospel　made　the　desperate　condition　of　his　child　an　argument　with
Christ　to　haste　his　cure：　　〃Sir；　come　down；〃　saith　he；　〃ere　my　child
die；〃　John　iv。　49；　and　Christ　regarded　his　haste；　saying；　〃Go　thy
way；　thy　son　liveth；〃　ver。　50。　　Haste　requires　haste。　　David　was　for
speed；　〃Deliver　me　speedily；〃　〃Hear　me　speedily；〃　〃Answer　me
speedily；〃　Psalm　xxxi。　2；　lxix。　17；　cii。　2。　　But　why　speedily？　　I　am
in　〃the　net；〃　〃I　am　in　trouble；〃　〃My　days　are　consumed　like　smoke；〃
Psalm　xxxi。　4；　lxix。　17；　cii。　3。　　Deep　calleth　unto　deep；　necessity
calls　for　help；　great　necessity　for　present　help。

Wherefore；　I　say；　be　ruled　by　me　in　this　matter；　feign　not　thyself
another　man；　if　thou　hast　been　a　filthy　sinner；　but　go　in　thy　colours
to　Jesus　Christ；　and　put　thyself　among　the　most　vile；　and　let　him
alone　to　put　thee　among　the　children；　Jer。　iii。　19。　　Confess　all　that
thou　knowest　of　thyself；　I　know　thou　wilt　find　it　hard　work　to　do
thus；　especially　if　thy　mind　be　legal；　but　do　it；　lest　thou　stay　and
be　deferred　with　the　little　sinners；　until　the　great　ones　have　had
their　alms。　　What　do　you　think　David　intended　when　he　said；　his
wounds　stunk　and　were　corrupted；　but　to　hasten　God　to　have　mercy　upon
him；　and　not　to　defer　his　cure？　　〃Lord；〃　says　he；　〃I　am　troubled；　I
am　bowed　down　greatly；　I　go　mourning　all　the　day　long。〃　　〃I　am　feeble
and　sore　broken；　by　reason　of　the　disquietness　of　my　heart；〃　Psalm
xxxviii。　3…8。

David　knew　what　he　did　by　all　this；　he　knew　that　his　making　the　worst
of　his　case；　was　the　way　to　speedy　help；　and　that　a　feigning　and
dissembling　the　matter　with　God；　was　the　next　way　to　a　demur　as　to
his　forgiveness。

I　have　one　thing　more　to　offer　for　thy　encouragement；　who　deemest
thyself　one　of　the　biggest　sinners；　and　that　is；　thou　art　as　it　were
called　by　thy　name；　in　the　first　place；　to　come　in　for　mercy。　　Thou
man　of　Jerusalem；　hearken　to　thy　call；　men　do　so　in　courts　of
judicature；　and　presently　cry　out；　Here；　Sir；　and　then　they　shoulder
and　crowd；　and　say；　Pray　give　way；　I　am　called　into　the　court。　　Why；
this　thy　case；　thou　great；　thou　Jerusalem　sinner；　be　of　good　cheer；
he　calleth　thee；　Mark　x。　46…49。　　Why　sitttest　thou　still？　arise：　　why
standest　thou　still？　come　man；　thy　call　should　give　thee　authority　to
come。　　〃Begin　at　Jerusalem；〃　is　thy　call　and　authority　to　come；
wherefore　up　and　shoulder　it；　man；　say；　Stand　away；　devil；　Christ
calls　me；　stand　away　unbelief；　Christ　calls　me；　stand　away　all　ye　my
discouraging　apprehensions；　for　my　Saviour　calls　me　to　him　to　receive
of　his　mercy。　　Men　will　do　thus；　as　I　said；　in　courts　below；　and　why
shouldst　not　thou　approach　thus　to　the　court　above？　　The　Jerusalem
sinner　is　first　in　thought；　first　in　commission；　first　in　the　record
of　names；　and　therefore　should　give　attendance　with　expectation；　that
he　is　first　to　receive　mercy　of　God。

Is　not　this　an　encouragement　to　the　biggest　sinners　to　make　their
application　to　Christ　for　mercy？　〃Come　unto　me　all　ye　that　labour　and
are　heavy　laden；〃　doth　also　confirm　this　thing；　that　is；　that　the
biggest　sinner；　and　he　that　has　the　biggest　burden；　is　he　who　is
first　invited。　　Christ　pointeth　over　the　heads　of　thousands；　as　he
sits　on　the　throne　of　grace；　directly　to　such　a　man；　and　says；　Bring
in　hither　the　maimed；　the　halt；　and　the　blind；　let　the　Jerusalem
sinner　that　stands　there　behind　come　to　me。　　Wherefore；　since　Christ
says；。　　Come；　to　thee；　let　thee　angels　make　a　lane；　and　let　all　men
give　place；　that　the　Jerusalem　sinner　may　come　to　Jesus　Christ　for
mercy。

Fourthly；　Would　Jesus　Christ　have　mercy　offered；　in　the　first　place；
to　the　biggest　sinners？　　Then　come　thou　profane　wretch；　and　let　me　a
little　enter　into　an　argument　with　thee。　　Why　wilt　thou　not　come　to
Jesus　Christ；　since　thou　art　a　Jerusalem　sinner？　　How　canst　thou　find
in　thy　heart　to　set　thyself　against　grace；　against　such　grace　as
offereth　mercy　to　thee？　　What　spirit　possesseth　thee；　and　holds　thee
back　from　a　sincere　closure　with　thy　Saviour？　　Behold　God　groaningly
complains　of　thee；　saying；　〃But　Israel　would　none　of　me。〃　　〃When　I
called；　none　did　answer；〃　Psl。　lxxxi。　11；　Isa。　lxvi。　4。

Shall　God　enter　this　complaint　against　thee？　　Why　dost　thou　put　him
off？　　Why　dost　thou　stop　thine　ear？　　Canst　thou　defend　thyself？　　When
thou　art　called　to　an　account　for　thy　neglects　of　so　great　salvation；
what　canst　thou　answer？　or　doest　thou　think　thou　shalt　escape　the
judgment？　　Heb。　ii。　3。

No　more　such　Christs！　　There　will　be　no　more　such　Christs；　sinner！
Oh；　put　not　the　day；　the　day　of　grace；　away　from　thee！　if　it　be　once
gone；　it　will　never　come　again；　sinner。

But　what　is　it　that　has　got　thy　heart；　and　that　keeps　it　from　thy
Saviour？　　〃Who　in　the　heaven　can　be　compared　unto　the　Lord？　who　among
the　sons　of　the　mighty　can　be　likened　unto　the　Lord？〃　　Psl。　lxxxix。
6。　　Hast　thou；　thinkest　thou；　found　anything　so　good　as　Jesus　Christ？

Is　there　any　among　thy　sins；　thy　companions；　and　foolish　delights；
that　like　Christ　can　help　thee　in　the　day　of　thy　distress？　　Behold；
the　greatness　of　thy　sins　cannot　hinder；　let　not　the　stubbornness　of
thy　heart　hinder　thee；　sinner。

Object。　　But　I　am　ashamed。

Answ。　　Oh！　　Do　not　be　ashamed　to　be　saved；　sinner。

Object。　　But　my　old　companions　will　mock　me。

Answ。　　Oh！　　Do　not　be　mocked　out　of　eternal　life；　sinner。

Thy　stubbornness　affects；　afflicts　the　heart　of　thy　Saviour。　　Carest
thou　not　for　this？　　Of　old　he　beheld　the　city；　and　wept　over　it。
Canst　thou　hear　this；　and　not　be　concerned？　　Luke　xix。　41；　42。　　Shall
Christ　weep　to　see　thy　soul　going　on　to　destruction；　and　wilt　thou
sport　thyself　in　that　way？　　Yea；　shall　Christ；　that　can　be　eternally
happy　without　thee；　be　more　afflicted　at　the　thoughts　of　the　loss　of
thy　soul；　than　thyself；　who　art　certainly　eternally　miserable　if　thou
neglectest　to　come　to　him。

Those　things　that　keep　thee　and　thy　Saviour；　on　thy　part　asunder；　are
but　bubbles；　the　least　prick　of　an　affliction　will　let　out；　as　to
thee；　what　now　thou　thinkest　is　worth　the　venture　of　heaven　to　enjoy。

Hast　thou　not　reason？　　Canst　thou　not　so　much　as　once　soberly　think
of　thy　dying　hour；　or　of　whither　thy　sinful　life　will　drive　thee
then？　　Hast　thou　no　conscience？　or　having　one；　is　it　rocked　so　fast
asleep　by　sin；　or　made　so　weary　with　an　unsuccessful　calling　upon
thee；　that　it　is　laid　down；　and　cares　for　thee　no　more？　　Poor　man！
thy　state　is　to　be　lamented。　　Hast　no　judgment？　　Art　not　able　to
conclude；　that　to　be　saved　is　better　than　to　burn　in　hell？　and　that
eternal　life；　with　God's　favour；　is　better　than　a　temporal　life　in
God's　displeasure？　　Hast　no　affection　but　what　is　brutish？　what；　none
at　all？　no　affection　for　the　God　that　made　thee？　what！　none　for　his
loving　Son　that　has　shewed　his　love；　and　died　for　thee？　　Is　not
heaven　worth　thy　affection？　　O　poor　man！　which　is　strongest　thinkest
thou；　God　or　thee？　　If　thou　art　not　able　to　overcome　him；　thou　art　a
fool　for　standing　out　against　him；　Matt。　v。　25；　26。　　〃It　is　a　fearful
thing　to　fall　into　the　hands　of　the　living　God。〃　　He　will　gripe　hard；
his　fist　is　stronger　than　a　lion's　paw；　take　heed　of　him；　he　will　be
angry　if　you　despise　his　Son；　and　will　you　stand　guilty　in　your
trespasses；　when　he　offereth　you　his　grace　and　favour？　　Exod。　xxxiv。
6；　7；　Heb。　x。　29…31。

Now　we　come　to　the　text；　〃Beginning　at　Jerusalem。〃　　This　text；　though
it　be　now　one　of　the　brightest　stars　that　shineth　in　the　Bible；
because　there　is　in　it；　as　full；　if　not　the　fullest　offer　of　grace
that　can　be　imagined；　to　the　sons　of　men；　yet　to　them　that　shall
perish　from　under　this　word；　even　this　text　will　be　to　such；　one　of
the　hottest　coals　in　hell。

This　text；　therefore；　will　save　thee　or　sink　thee：　　there　is　no
shifting　of　it：　　if　it　saves　thee；　it　will　set　thee　high；　if　it　sinks
thee；　it　will　set　thee　low。

But；　I　say；　why　so　unconcerned？　　Hast　no　soul？　or　dost　think　thou
mayst　lose　thy　soul；　and　save　thyself？　　Is　it　not　pity；　had　it
otherwise　been　the　will　of　God；　that　ever　thou　wast　made　a　man；　for
that　thou　settest　so　little　by　thy　soul？

Sinner；　take　the　invitation；　thou　art　called　upon　to　come　to　Christ：
nor　art　thou　called　upon　but　by　order　from　the　Son　of　God　though　thou
shouldst　happen　to　come　of　the　biggest　sinners；　for　he　has　bid　us
offer　mercy；　as　to　all　the　world　in　general；　so；　in　the　first　place；
to　the　sinners　of　Jerusalem；　or　to　the　biggest　sinners。

Fifthly；　Would　Jesus　Christ　have　mercy　offered　in　thee　first　place；
to　the　biggest　sinners？　then　this　shews　how　unreasonable　a　thing　it
is　for　men　to　despair　of　mercy：　　for　those　that　presume；　I　shall　say
something　to　them　afterward。

I　now　speak　to　them　that　despair。

There　are　four　sorts　of　despair。　　There　is　the　despair　of　devils；
there　is　the　despair　of　souls　in　hell；　there　is　the　despair　that　is
grounded　upon　men's　deficiency；　and　there　is　the　despair　that　they
are　perplexed　with　that　are　willing　to　be　saved；　but　are　too　strongly
borne　down　with　the　burthen　of　their　sins。

The　despair　of　devils；　the　damned's　despair；　and　that　despair　that　a
man　has　of　attaining　of　life　because　of　his　own　deficiency；　are　all
unreasonable。　　Why　should　not　devils　and　damned　souls　despair？　yea；
why　should　not　man　despair　of　getting　to　heaven　by　his　own　abilities？
I　therefore　am　concerned　only　with　the　fourth　sort　of　despair；　to
wit；　with　the　despair　of　those　that　would　be　saved；　but　are　too
strongly　borne　down　with　the　burden　of　their　sins。

I　say；　therefore；　to　thee　that　art　thus；　And　why　despair？　　Thy
despair；　if　it　were　reasonable；　should　flow　from　thee；　because　found
in　the　land　that　is　beyond　the　grave；　or　because　thou　certainly
knowest　that　Christ　will　not；　or　cannot　save　thee。

But　for　the　first；　thou　art　yet　in　the　land　of　the　living；　and　for
the　second；　thou　hast　ground　to　believe　the　quite　contrary；　Christ　is
able　to　save　to　the　uttermost　them　that　come　to　God　by　him；　and　if　he
were　not　willing；　he　would　not　have　commanded　that　mercy；　in　the
first　place；　should　be　offered　to　the　biggest　sinners。　　Besides；　he
hath　said；　〃And　let　him　that　is　athirst　come；　and　whosoever　will；　let
him　take　the　water　of　life　freely；〃　that　is；　with　all　my　heart。　　What
ground　now　is　here　for　despair？　　If　thou　sayst；　The　number　and　burden
of　my　sins；　I　answer；　Nay；　that　is　rather　a　ground　for　faith：
because　such　an　one；　above　all　others；　is　invited　by　Christ　to　come
unto　him；　yea；　promised　rest　and　forgiveness　if　they　come；　Matt。　xi。
28。　　What　ground　then　to　despair？　　Verily　none　at　all。　　Thy　despair
then　is　a　thing　unreasonable　and　without　footing　in　the　word。

But　I　have　no　experience　of　God's　love；　God　hath　given　me　no　comfort；
or　ground　of　hope；　though　I　have　waited　upon　him　for　it　many　a　day。

Thou　hast　experience　of　God's　love；　for　that　he　has　opened　thine　eyes
to　see　thy　sins：　　and　for　that　he　has　given　thee　desires　to　be　saved
by　Jesus　Christ。　　For　by　thy　sense　of　sin　thou　art　made　to　see　thy
poverty　of　spirit；　and　that　has　laid　thee　under　a　sure　ground　to　hope
that　heaven　shall　be　thine　hereafter。