the jerusalem sinner saved-第15章

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burden　thereof　upon　their　consciences。

Whether　a　thing　be　wrong　or　right；　guilt　may　pursue　him　that　doth
contrary　to　his　conscience。　　But　suppose　a　man　should　deny　his　God；
or　his　Christ；　or　relinquish　a　good　profession；　and　be　under　the　real
guilt　thereof；　shall　he　therefore　conclude　he　is　gone　for　ever？　　Let
him　come　again　with　Peter's　tears；　and　no　doubt　he　shall　obtain
Peter's　forgiveness。　　For　the　text　includes　the　biggest　sinners。

And　it　is　observable；　that　before　this　clause　was　put　into　this
commission；　Peter　was　pardoned　his　horrible　revolt　from　his　Master。
He　that　revolteth　in　the　day　of　trial；　if　he　is　not　shot　quite　dead
upon　the　place；　but　is　sensible　of　his　wound；　and　calls　out　for　a
surgeon；　shall　find　his　Lord　at　hand　to　pour　wine　and　oil　into　his
wounds；　that　he　may　again　be　healed；　and　to　encourage　him　to　think
that　there　may　be　mercy　for　him：　　besides　what　we　find　recorded　of
Peter；　you　read　in　the　Acts；　some　were；　through　the　violence　of　their
trials；　compelled　to　blaspheme；　and　yet　are　called　saints；　Acts　xxvi。
9…11。

Hence　you　have　a　promise　or　two　that　speak　concerning　such　kind　of
men；　to　encourage　us　to　think　that　at　least　some　of　them　shall　come
back　to　the　Lord　their　God。　　〃Shall　they　fall；〃　saith　he；　〃and　not
arise？　　Shall　they　turn　away；　and　not　return？〃　Jer。　viii。　4。　　〃And　in
that　day　I　will　assemble　her　that　halteth；　and　I　will　gather　her　that
was　driven　out；　and　her　that　I　have　afflicted。　　And　I　will　make　her
that　halteth　a　remnant；　and　her　that　was　cast　off　a　strong　nation；
and　the　Lord　shall　reign　over　them　in　Mount　Zion　for　ever。〃　　What　we
are　to　understand　by　her　that　halteth；　is　best　expressed　by　the
Prophet　Elijah；　Mic。　iv。　6；　7；　Zeph。　iii。　19；　1　Kings　xviii。　21。

I　will　conclude；　then；　that　for　them　that　have　halted。　or　may　halt；
the　Lord　has　mercy　in　the　bank；　and　is　willing　to　accept　them　if　they
return　to　him　again。

Perhaps　they　may　never　be　after　that　of　any　great　esteem　in　the　house
of　God；　but　if　the　Lord　will　admit　them　to　favour　and　forgiveness：　　O
exceeding　and　undeserved　mercy！　　See　Ezekiel　xliv。　10…14。

Thou；　then；　that　mayst　be　the　man；　remember　this；　that　there　is　mercy
also　for　thee。　　Return　therefore　to　God；　and　to　his　Son；　who　hath　yet
in　store　for　thee；　and　who　will　do　thee　good。

But　perhaps　thou　wilt　say；　he　doth　not　save　all　revolters；　and；
therefore；　perhaps　not　me。

Answr。　　Art　thou　returning　to　God？　　If　thou　art　returning；　thou　art
the　man；　〃Return　ye　backsliding　children；　and　I　will　heal　your
backslidings；〃　Jer。　iii。　22。

Some；　as　I　said；　that　revolt；　are　shot　dead　upon　the　place；　and　for
them；　who　can　help　them？　　But　for　them　that　cry　out　of　their　wounds；
it　is　a　sign　they　are　yet　alive；　and　if　they　use　the　means　in　time；
doubtless　they　may　be　healed。

Christ　Jesus　has　bags　of　mercy　that　were　never　yet　broken　up　or
unsealed。　　Hence　it　is　said；　he　has　goodness　laid　up；　things　reserved
in　heaven　for　his。　　And　if　he　breaks　up　one　of　these　bags；　who　can
tell　what　he　can　do！

Hence　his　love　is　said　to　be　such　as　passeth　knowledge；　and　that　his
riches　are　unsearchable。　　He　has；　no　body　knows　what；　for　no　body
knows　whom：　　he　has　by　him　in　store　for　such　as　seem　in　the　view　of
all　men　to　be　gone　beyond　recovery。　　For　this　the　text　is　plain。
What　man　or　angel　could　have　thought　that　the　Jerusalem　sinners　had
been　yet　on　this　side　of　an　impossibility　of　enjoying　life　and　mercy？
Hadst　thou　seen　their　actions；　and　what　horrible　things　they　did　to
the　Son　of　God；　yea；　how　stoutly　they　backed　what　they　did　with
resolves　and　endeavours　to　persevere；　when　they　had　killed　his
person；　against　his　name　and　doctrine；　and　that　there　was　not　found
among　them　all　that　while；　as　we　read　of；　the　least　remorse　or　regret
for　these　their　doings；　couldst　thou　have　imagined　that　mercy　would
ever　have　took　hold　of　them；　at　least　so　soon！　　Nay；　that　they
should；　of　all　the　world；　be　counted　those　only　meet　to　have　it
offered　to　them　in　the　very　first　place！　　For　so　my　text　commands；
saying；　〃Preach　repentance　and　remission　of　sins　among　all　nations；
beginning　at　Jerusalem。〃

I　tell　you　the　thing　is　a　wonder；　and　must　for　ever　stand　for　a
wonder　among　the　sons　of　men。　　It　stands　also　for　an　everlasting
invitation　and　allurement　to　the　biggest　sinners　to　come　to　Christ
for　mercy。

Now　since；　in　the　opinion　of　all　men；　the　revolter　is　such　a　one；　if
he　has；　as　I　said　before；　any　life　in　him；　let　him　take　encouragement
to　come　again；　that　he　may　live　by　Christ。

Eleventhly；　Would　Jesus　Christ　have　mercy　offered　in　the　first　place
to　the　biggest　sinners？　　Then　let　God's　ministers　tell　them　so。
There　is　an　incidence　in　us；　I　know　not　how　it　doth　come　about；　when
we　are　converted；　to　contemn　them　that　are　left　behind。　　Poor　fools
as　we　are；　we　forget　that　we　ourselves　were　so；　Tit。　iii。　2；　3。

But　would　it　not　become　us　better；　since　we　have　tasted　that　the　Lord
is　gracious；　to　carry　it　towards　them　so；　that　we　may　give　them
convincing　ground　to　believe；　that　we　have　found　that　mercy　which
also　sets　open　the　door　for　them　to　come　and　partake　with　us。

Ministers；　I　say；　should　do　thus；　both　by　their　doctrine；　and　in　all
other　respects。

Austerity　doth　not　become　us；　neither　in　doctrine　nor　in
conversation。　　We　ourselves　live　by　grace；　let　us　give　as　we　receive；
and　labour　to　persuade　our　fellow…sinners　which　God　has　left　behind
us；　to　follow　after；　that　they　may　partake　with　us　of　grace。　　We　are
saved　by　grace；　let　us　live　like　them　that　are　gracious。　　Let　all　our
things　（to　the　world）　be　done　in　charity　towards　them；　pity　them；
pray　for　them；　be　familiar　with　them　for　their　good。　　Let　us　lay
aside　our　foolish；　worldly；　carnal　grandeur；　let　us　not　walk　the
streets；　and　have　such　behaviours　as　signify　we　are　scarce　for
touching　of　the　poor　ones　that　are　left　behind；　no　not　with　a　pair　of
tongs。　　It　becomes　us　not　thus　to　do。

Remember　your　Lord；　he　was　familiar　with　publicans　and　sinners　to　a
proverb；　〃Behold　a　gluttonous　man；　and　a　wine…bibber；　a　friend　of
publicans　and　sinners；〃　Matt。　xi。　19。　　The　first　part；　concerning　his
gluttonous　eating　and　drinking；　to　be　sure；　was　an　horrible　slander；
but　for　the　other；　nothing　was　ever　spoke　truer　of　him　by　the　world。
Now；　why　should　we　lay　hands　cross　on　this　text：　　that　is；　choose
good　victuals；　and　love　the　sweet　wine　better　than　the　salvation　of
the　poor　publican？　　Why　not　familiar　with　sinners；　provided　we　hate
their　spots　and　blemishes；　and　seek　that　they　may　be　healed　of　them？

Why　not　fellowly　with　our　carnal　neighbours？　　If　we　do　take　occasion
to　do　so；　that　we　may　drop；　and　be　yet　distilling　some　good　doctrine
upon　their　souls？　　Why　not　go　to　the　poor　man's　house；　and　give　him　a
penny；　and　a　Scripture　to　think　upon？　　Why　not　send　for　the　poor　to
fetch　away　at　least　the　fragments　of　thy　table；　that　the　bowels　of
thy　fellow…sinner　may　be　refreshed　as　well　as　thine？

Ministers　should　be　exemplary；　but　I　am　an　inferior　man；　and　must
take　heed　of　too　much　meddling。　　But　might　I；　I　would　meddle　with
them；　with　their　wives；　and　with　their　children　too。　　I　mean　not　this
of　all；　but　of　them　that　deserve　it；　though　I　may　not　name　them。

But；　I　say；　let　ministers　follow　the　steps　of　their　blessed　Lord；　who
by　word　and　deed　shewed　his　love　to　the　salvation　of　the　world；　in
such　a　carriage　as　declared　him　to　prefer　their　salvation　before　his
own　private　concern；　For　we　are　commanded　to　follow　his　steps；　〃who
did　no　sin；　neither　was　guile　found　in　his　mouth。〃

And　as　I　have　said　concerning　ministers；　so　I　say　to　all　the
brethren；　carry　it　so；　that　all　the　world　may　see；　that　indeed　you
are　the　sons　of　love。

Love　your　Saviour；　yea；　shew　one　to　another　that　you　love　him；　not
only　by　a　seeming　love　of　affection；　but　with　the　love　of　duty。
Practical　love　is　best。　　Many　love　Christ　with　nothing　but　the　lick
of　the　tongue。　　Alas！　　Christ　Jesus　the　Lord　must　not　be　put　off
thus：　　〃He　that　hath　my　commandments；　and　keepeth　them；〃　saith　he；
〃he　it　is　that　loveth　me；〃　John　xiv。　21。

Practical　love；　which　stands　in　self…denial；　in　charity　to　my
neighbour；　and　a　patient　enduring　of　affliction　for　his　name；　this　is
counted　love。

Right　love　to　Christ　is　that　which　carries　in　it　a　provoking　argument
to　others　of　the　brethren；　Heb。　x。　24。

Should　a　man　ask　me　how　he　should　know　that　he　loveth　the　children　of
God？　　The　best　answer　I　could　give　him；　would　be　in　the　words　of　the
Apostle　John；　〃By　this；〃　saith　he；　〃we　know　we　love　the　children　of
God；　when　we　love　God；　and　keep　his　commandments；〃　1　John；　v。　2。

Love　to　God　and　Christ　is　then　shewn　when　we　are　tender　of　his　name；
and　then　we　shew　ourselves　tender　of　his　name　when　we　are　afraid　to
break　any　the　least　of　his　commandments。　　And　when　we　are　here；　then
do　we　shew　our　love　to　our　brother　also。

Now；　we　have　obligation　sufficient　thus　to　do；　for　that　our　Lord
loved　us；　and　gave　himself　for　us；　to　deliver　us　from　death；　that　we
might　live　through　him。

The　world；　when　they　hear　the　doctrine　that　I　have　asserted　and
handled　in　this　little　book；　to　wit；　that　Jesus　Christ　would　have
mercy　offered　in　the　first　place　to　the　biggest　sinners；　will　be　apt；
because　themselves　are　unbelievers；　to　think　that　this　is　a　doctrine
that　leads　to　looseness；　and　that　gives　liberty　to　the　flesh；　but　if
you　that　believe　love　your　brethren　and　your　neighbours　truly；　and　as
you　should；　you　will　put　to　silence　the　ignorance　of　such　foolish
men；　and　stop　their　mouths　from　speaking　evil　of　you。

And；　I　say；　let　the　love　of　Christ　constrain　us　to　this。　　Who
deserveth　our　heart；　our　mouth；　our　life；　our　goods；　so　much　as　Jesus
Christ；　who　has　bought　us　to　himself　by　his　blood；　to　this　very　end；
that　we　should　be　a　peculiar　people；　zealous　of　good　works？

There　is　nothing　more　seemly　in　the　world；　than　to　see　a　Christian
walk　as　becomes　the　Gospel；　nor　any　thing　more　unbecoming　a
reasonable　creature；　than　to　hear　a　man　say；　I　believe　in　Christ；　and
yet　see　in　his　life　debauchery　and　profaneness。　　Might　I；　such　men
should　be　counted　the　basest　of　men；　such　men　should　be　counted　by
all　unworthy　of　the　name　of　a　Christian；　and　should　be　shunned　by
every　good　man；　as　such　who　are　the　very　plague　of　profession。

For　so　it　is　written；　we　should　carry　it　towards　them。　　Whoso　have　a
form　of　godliness；　and　deny　the　power　thereof；　from　such　we　must　turn
away。

It　has　ofttimes　come　into　my　mind　to　ask；　by　what　means　it　is　that
the　gospel　profession　should　be　so　tainted　with　loose　and　carnal
gospellers？　and　I　could　never　arrive　to　better　satisfaction　in　the
matter　than　this；such　men　are　made　professors　by　the　devil；　and　so
by　him　put　among　the　rest　of　the　godly。　　A　certain　man　had　a
fruitless　fig…tree　planted　in　his　vineyard；　but　by　whom　was　it
planted　there？　　Even　by　him　that　sowed　the　tares；　his　own　children；
among　the　wheat；　Luke　xiii。　6；　Matt。　xiii。　37…40。　　And　that　was　the
devil。　　But　why　doth　the　devil　do　thus？　　Not　of　love　to　them；　but　to
make　of　them　offences　and　stumblingblocks　to　others。　　For　he　knows
that　a　loose　professor　in　the　church　does　more　mischief　to　religion
than　ten　can　do　to　it　that　are　in　the　world。

Was　it　not；　think　you；　the　devil　that　stirred　up