the jerusalem sinner saved-第14章

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that　he　do　not　dissemble：　　for　there　is　as　great　an　aptness　in　the
little　sinner　to　dissemble；　as　there　is　in　the　great　one。　　〃He　that
hideth　his　sins　shall　not　prosper；〃　be　he　a　sinner　little　or　great；
Prov。　xxviii。　13。

Eighthly；　Would　Jesus　Christ　have　mercy　offered；　in　the　first　place；
to　the　biggest　sinners？　　Then　this　shews　the　true　cause　why　Satan
makes　such　head　as　he　doth　against　him。

The　Father　and　the　Holy　Spirit　are　well　spoken　of　by　all　deluders　and
deceived　persons；　Christ　only　is　the　rock　of　offence。　　〃Behold　I　lay
in　Zion　a　stumbling…stone　and　a　rock　of　offence；〃　Rom。　ix。　33。　　Not
that　Satan　careth　for　the　Father　or　the　Spirit　more　than　he　careth
for　the　Son；　but　he　can　let　men　alone　with　their　notions　of　the
Father　and　the　Spirit；　for　he　knows　they　shall　never　enjoy　the　Father
nor　the　Spirit；　if　indeed　they　receive　not　the　merits　of　the　Son。
〃He　that　hath　the　Son；　hath　life；　he　that　hath　not　the　Son　of　God
hath　not　life；〃　however　they　may　boast　themselves　of　the　Father　and
the　Spirit；　1　John　v。　12。　　Again；　〃Whosoever　transgresseth；　and
abideth　not　in　the　doctrine　of　Christ；　hath　not　God：　　he　that　abideth
in　the　doctrine　of　Christ；　hath　both　the　Father　and　the　Son；〃　2　John
i。　9。

Christ；　and　Christ　only；　is　he　that　can　make　us　capable　to　enjoy　God
with　life　and　joy　to　all　eternity。　　Hence　he　calls　himself　the　way　to
the　Father；　the　true　and　living　way；　John　xiv。　6；　Heb。　x。　19；　20；　for
we　cannot　come　to　the　Father　but　by　him。　　Satan　knows　this；　therefore
he　hates　him。　　Deluded　persons　are　ignorant　of　this；　and；　therefore；
they　are　so　led　up　and　down　by　Satan　by　the　nose　as　they　are。

There　are　many　things　by　which　Satan　has　taken　occasion　to　greaten
his　rage　against　Jesus　Christ。

As；　first；　his　love　to　man；　and　then　the　many　expressions　of　that
love。　　He　hath　taken　man's　nature　upon　him；　he　hath　in　that　nature
fulfilled　the　law　to　bring　in　righteousness　for　man；　and　hath　spilt
his　blood　for　the　reconciling　of　men　to　God；　he　hath　broke　the　neck
of　death；　put　away　sin；　destroyed　the　works　of　the　devil；　and　got
into　his　own　hands　the　keys　of　death：　　and　all　these　are　heinous
things　to　Satan。　　He　cannot　abide　Christ　for　this。　　Besides；　he　hath
eternal　life　in　himself；　and　that　to　bestow　upon　us；　and　we　in　all
likelihood　are　to　possess　the　very　places　from　which　the　Satans　by
transgression　fell；　if　not　places　more　glorious。　　Wherefore　he　must
needs　be　angry。　　And　is　it　not　a　vexatious　thing　to　him；　that　we
should　be　admitted　to　the　throne　of　grace　by　Christ；　while　he　stands
bound　over　in　chains　of　darkness；　to　answer　for　his　rebellions
against　God　and　his　Son；　at　the　terrible　day　of　judgment。　　Yea；　we
poor　dust　and　ashes　must　become　his　judges；　and　triumph　over　him　for
ever：　　and　all　this　long　of　Jesus　Christ；　for　he　is　the　meritorious
cause　of　all　this。

Now　though　Satan　seeks　to　be　revenged　for　this；　yet　he　knows　it　is　in
vain　to　attack　the　person　of　Christ；　he　has　overcome　him：　　therefore
he　tampers　with　a　company　of　silly　men；　that　he　may　vilify　him　by
them。　　And　they；　bold　fools　as　they　are；　will　not　spare　to　spit　in
his　face。　　They　will　rail　at　his　person；　and　deny　the　very　being　of
it；　they　will　rail　at　his　blood；　and　deny　the　merit　and　worth　of　it。
They　will　deny　the　very　end　why　he　accomplished　the　law；　and　by
jiggs；　and　tricks；　and　quirks；　which　he　helpeth　them　to；　they　set　up
fond　names　and　images　in　his　place；　and　give　the　glory　of　a　Saviour
to　them。　　Thus　Satan　worketh　under　the　name　of　Christ；　and　his
ministers　under　the　name　of　the　ministers　of　righteousness。

And　by　his　wiles　and　stratagems　he　undoes　a　world　of　men；　but　there
is　a　seed；　and　they　shall　serve　him；　and　it　shall　be　counted　to　the
Lord　for　a　generation。　　These　shall　see　their　sins；　and　that　Christ
is　the　way　to　happiness。　　These　shall　venture　themselves；　both　body
and　soul；　upon　his　worthiness。

All　this　Satan　knows；　and　therefore　his　rage　is　kindled　the　more。
Wherefore；　according　to　his　ability　and　allowance；　he　assaulteth；
tempteth；　abuseth；　and　stirs　up　what　he　can　to　be　hurtful　to　these
poor　people；　that　he　may；　while　his　time　shall　last；　make　it　as　hard
and　difficult　for　them　to　go　to　eternal　glory　as　he　can。　　Oftentimes
he　abuses　them　with　wrong　apprehensions　of　God；　and　with　wrong
apprehensions　of　Christ。　　He　also　casts　them　into　the　mire；　to　the
reproach　of　religion；　the　shame　of　their　brethren；　the　derision　of
the　world；　and　dishonour　of　God。

He　holds　our　hands　while　the　world　buffets　us；　he　puts　bear…skins
upon　us；　and　then　sets　the　dogs　at　us。　　He　bedaubeth　us　with　his　own
foam；　and　then　tempts　us　to　believe　that　that　bedaubing　comes　from
ourselves。

Oh！　the　rage　and　the　roaring　of　this　lion；　and　the　hatred　that　he
manifests　against　the　Lord　Jesus；　and　against　them　that　are　purchased
with　his　blood！　　But　yet；　in　the　midst　of　all　this；　the　Lord　Jesus
sends　forth　his　herald　to　proclaim　in　the　nations　his　love　to　the
world；　and　to　invite　them　to　come　in　to　him　for　life。　　Yea；　his
invitation　is　so　large；　that　it　offereth　his　mercy　in　the　first　place
to　the　biggest　sinners　of　every　age；　which　augments　the　devil's　rage
the　more。

Wherefore；　as　I　said　before；　fret　he；　fume　he；　the　Lord　Jesus　will
divide　the　spoil　with　this　great　one；　yea；　he　shall　divide　the　spoil
with　the　strong；　because　he　hath　poured　out　his　soul　unto　death；　and
he　was　numbered　with　the　transgressors；　and　he　bare　the　sin　of　many；
and　made　intercession　for　the　transgressors；　Isa。　liii。　12。

Ninthly；　Would　Jesus　Christ　have　mercy　offered　in　the　first　place　to
the　biggest　sinners？　　Let　the　tempted　harp　upon　this　string　for　their
help　and　consolation。　　The　tempted　wherever　he　dwells；　always　thinks
himself　the　biggest　sinner；　one　most　unworthy　of　eternal　life。

This　is　Satan's　master…argument：　　thou　art　a　horrible　sinner；　a
hypocrite；　one　that　has　a　profane　heart；　and　one　that　is　an　utter
stranger　to　a　work　of　grace。　　I　say　this　is　his　maul；　his　club；　his
master…piece；　he　doth　with　this　as　some　do　with　their　most　enchanting
songs；　sings　them　everywhere。　　I　believe　there　are　but　few　saints　in
the　world　that　have　not　had　this　temptation　sounding　in　their　ears。
But　were　they　but　aware；　Satan　by　all　this　does　but　drive　them　to　the
gap　out　at　which　they　should　go；　and　so　escape　his　roaring。

Saith　he；　thou　art　a　great　sinner；　a　horrible　sinner；　a　profane
hearted　wretch；　one　that　cannot　be　matched　for　a　vile　one　in　the
country。

And　all　this　while　Christ　says　to　his　ministers；　offer　mercy；　in　the
first　place；　to　the　biggest　sinners。　　So　that　this　temptation　drives
thee　directly　into　the　arms　of　Jesus　Christ。

Were　therefore　the　tempted　but　aware；　he　might　say；　Ay；　Satan；　so　I
am；　I　am　a　sinner　of　the　biggest　size；　and　therefore　have　most　need
of　Jesus　Christ；　yea；　because　I　am　such　a　wretch；　therefore　Jesus
Christ　calls　me；　yea；　he　calls　me　first：　　the　first　proffer　of　the
Gospel　is　to　be　made　to　the　Jerusalem　sinner：　　I　am　he；　wherefore
stand　back　Satan；　make　a　lane；　my　right　is　first　to　come　to　Jesus
Christ。

This　now　will　be　like　for　like。　　This　would　foil　the　devil：　　this
would　make　him　say；　I　must　not　deal　with　this　man　thus；　for　then　I
put　a　sword　into　his　hand　to　cut　off　my　head。

And　this　is　the　meaning　of　Peter；　when　he　saith；　〃Resist　him　stedfast
in　the　faith；〃　1　Pet。　v。　9。　　And　of　Paul；　when　he　saith；　〃Take　the
shield　of　faith；　wherewith　ye　shall　be　able　to　quench　all　the　fiery
darts　of　the　wicked；〃　Eph。　vi。　16。

Wherefore　is　it　said；　〃Begin　at　Jerusalem；〃　if　the　Jerusalem　sinner
is　not　to　have　the　benefit　of　it？　　And　if　I　am　to　have　the　benefit　of
it；　let　me　call　it　to　mind　when　Satan　haunts　me　with　the　continual
remembrance　of　my　sins；　of　my　Jerusalem　sins。　　Satan　and　my
conscience　say　I　am　the　biggest　sinner；Christ　offereth　mercy；　in
the　first　place；　to　the　biggest　sinners。　　Nor　is　the　manner　of　the
offer　other　but　such　as　suiteth　with　my　mind。　　I　am　sorry　for　my　sin；
yea；　sorry　at　my　heart　that　ever　sinful　thought　did　enter；　or　find
the　least　entertainment　in　my　wicked　mind；　and　might　I　obtain　my
wish；　I　would　never　more　that　my　heart　should　be　a　place　for　ought
but　the　grace；　and　spirit；　and　faith　of　the　Lord　Jesus。

I　speak　not　this　to　lessen　my　wickedness；　I　would　not　for　all　the
world　but　be　placed　by　mine　own　conscience　in　the　very　front　of　the
biggest　sinners；　that　I　might　be　one　of　the　first　that　are　beckoned
by　the　gracious　hand　of　Jesus　the　Saviour；　to　come　to　him　for　mercy。

Well；　sinner；　thou　now　speakest　like　a　Christian；　but　say　thus　in　a
strong　spirit　in　the　hour　of　temptation；　and　then　thou　wilt；　to　thy
commendation　and　comfort；　quit　thyself　well。

This　improving　of　Christ　in　dark　hours；　is　the　life；　though　the
hardest　part　of　our　Christianity。　　We　should　neither　stop　at
darkness；　nor　at　the　raging　of　our　lusts；　but　go　on　in　a　way　of
venturing　and　casting　the　whole　of　our　affairs　for　the　next　world　at
the　foot　of　Jesus　Christ。　　This　is　the　way　to　make　the　darkness
light；　and　also　to　allay　the　raging　of　our　corruption。

The　first　time　the　Passover　was　eaten；　was　in　the　night；　and　when
Israel　took　courage　to　go　forward；　though　the　sea　stood　in　their　way
like　a　devouring　gulf；　and　the　host　of　the　Egyptians　follow　them　at
the　heels；　yet　the　sea　gives　place；　and　their　enemies　were　as　still
as　a　stone　till　they　were　gone　over；　Exod。　xii。　8；　chap。　xiv。　13；　14；
21；　22；　chap。　xv。　16。

There　is　nothing　like　faith　to　help　at　a　pinch；　faith　dissolves
doubts　as　the　sun　drives　away　the　mists。　　And　that　you　may　not　be　put
out；　know　your　time；　as　I　said；　of　believing　it　always。　　There　are
times　when　some　graces　may　be　out　of　use；　but　there　is　no　time
wherein　faith　can　be　said　to　be　so。　　Wherefore　faith　must　be　always
in　exercise。

Faith　is　the　eye；　is　the　mouth；　is　the　hand；　and　one　of　these　is　of
use　all　day　long。　　Faith　is　to　see；　to　receive；　to　work；　or　to　eat；
and　a　Christian　should　be　seeing　or　receiving；　or　working；　or　feeding
all　day　long。　　Let　it　rain；　let　it　blow；　let　it　thunder；　let　it
lighten；　a　Christian　must　still　believe：　　〃At　what　time；〃　said　thee
good　man；　〃I　am　afraid；　I　will　trust　in　thee；〃　Psal。　vi。　2；　3。

Nor　can　we　have　a　better　encouragement　to　do　this；　than　is　by　the
text　set　before　us；　even　an　open　heart　for　a　Jerusalem　sinner。　　And
if　for　a　Jerusalem　sinner　to　come；　then　for　such　an　one　when　come。
If　for　such　a　one　to　be　saved；　then　for　such　a　one　that　is　saved。　　If
for　such　a　one　to　be　pardoned　his　great　transgressions；　then　for　such
a　one　who　is　pardoned　these；　to　come　daily　to　Jesus　Christ；　too；　to
be　cleansed　and　set　free　from　his　common　infirmities；　and　from　the
iniquities　of　his　holy　things。

Therefore　let　the　poor　sinner　that　would　be　saved　labour　for　skill　to
make　the　best　improvement　of　the　grace　of　Christ　to　help　him　against
the　temptations　of　the　devil　and　his　sins。

Tenthly；　Would　Jesus　Christ　have　mercy　offered　in　the　first　place　to
the　biggest　sinners？　　Let　those　men　consider　this；　that　（have；　or）
may　in　a　day　of　trial　have　spoken　or　done　what　their　profession　or
conscience　told　them　they　should　not；　and　that　have　the　guilt　and
burden　thereof　upon　their　consciences。

Whether　a　thing　be　wrong　or　right；　guilt　may　pursue　him　that　doth
contra