the jerusalem sinner saved-第16章

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than　ten　can　do　to　it　that　are　in　the　world。

Was　it　not；　think　you；　the　devil　that　stirred　up　the　damsel　that　you
read　of　in　Acts　xvi。；　to　cry　out；　〃These　are　the　servants　of　the　most
high　God；　that　shew　unto　us　the　way　of　salvation！〃　　Yes　it　was；　as　is
evident；　for　Paul　was　grieved　to　hear　it。　　But　why　did　the　devil　stir
up　her　to　cry　so？　but　because　that　was　the　way　to　blemish　the　Gospel；
and　to　make　the　world　think　that　it　came　from　the　same　hand　as　did
her　soothsaying　and　witchery；　verse　l6…18；　〃Holiness；　O　Lord；　becomes
thy　house　for　ever。〃

Let；　therefore；　whoever　they　be　that　profess　the　name　of　Christ；　take
heed　that　they　scandal　not　that　profession　which　they　make　of　him；
since　he　has　so　graciously　offered　us；　as　we　are　sinners　of　the
biggest　size；　in　the　first　place；　his　grace　to　save　us。

Having　thus　far　spoken　of　the　riches　of　the　grace　of　Christ；　and　of
the　freeness　of　his　heart　to　embrace　the　Jerusalem　sinners；　it　may
not　be　amiss　to　give　you　yet；　as　a　caution；　an　intimation　of　one
thing；　namely；　that　this　grace　and　freeness　of　his　heart　is　limited
to　time　and　day；　the　which；　whoso　overstandeth；　shall　perish
notwithstanding。

For　as　a　king；　who；　of　grace；　sendeth　out　to　his　rebellious　people　an
offer　of　pardon；　if　they　accept　thereof　by　such　a　day；　yet　beheadeth
or　hangeth　those　that　come　not　in　for　mercy　until　the　day　or　time　be
past；　so　Christ　Jesus　has　set　the　sinner　a　day；　a　day　of　salvation；
an　acceptable　time；　but　he　who　standeth　out；　or　goeth　on　in　rebellion
beyond　that　time；　is　like　to　come　off　with　the　loss　of　his　soul；　2
Cor。　vi。　2；　Heb。　iii。　13；　16；　17；　18；　19；　chap。　iv。　7；　Luke　xix。　41；
42。

Since；　therefore；　things　are　thus；　it　may　be　convenient　here　to　touch
a　little　upon　these　particulars。

First；　That　this　day；　or　time　thus　limited；　when　it　is　considered
with　reference　to　this　or　that　man；　is　ofttimes　undiscerned　by　the
person　concerned　therein；　and　always　is　kept　secret　as　to　the
shutting　up　thereof。

And　this；　in　the　wisdom　of　God；　is　thus　to　the　end；　no　man；　when
called　upon；　should　put　off　turning　to　God　to　another　time。　　Now；　and
to…day；　is　that　and　only　that　which　is　revealed　in　holy　writ；　Psal。
1。　22；　Eccles。　xii。　1；　Heb。　iii。　13；　16。

And　this　shews　us　the　desperate　hazards　which　those　men　run；　who　when
invitation　or　conviction　attends　them；　put　off　turning　to　God　to　be
saved　till　another；　and；　as　they　think；　a　more　fit　season　and　time。
For　many；　by　so　doing；　defer　this　to　do　till　the　day　of　God's
patience　and　long…suffering　is　ended；　and　then；　for　their　prayers　and
cries　after　mercy；　they　receive　nothing　but　mocks；　and　are　laughed　at
by　the　God　of　heaven；　Prov。　i。　20…30；　Isaiah　lxv。　12…16；　chap。　lxvi。
4；　Zech。　xii。　11…13。

Secondly；　Another　thing　to　be　considered　is　this；　viz。　that　the　day
of　God's　grace　with　some　men　begins　sooner；　and　also　sooner　ends　than
it　doth　with　others。　　Those　at　the　first　hour　of　the　day；　had　their
call　sooner　than　they　who　were　called　upon　to　turn　to　God　at　the
sixth　hour　of　the　day；　yea；　and　they　who　were　hired　at　the　third
hour；　had　their　call　sooner　than　they　who　were　called　at　the
eleventh；　Matt。　xx。　1…6。

1。　　The　day　of　God's　patience　began　with　Ishmael；　and　also　ended
before　he　was　twenty　years　old。　　At　thirteen　years　of　age　he　was
circumcised；　the　next　year　after　Isaac　was　born；　and　then　Ishmael　was
fourteen　years　old。　　Now　that　day　that　Isaac　was　weaned；　that　day　was
Ishmael　rejected；　and　suppose　that　Isaac　was　three　years　old　before
he　was　weaned；　that　was　but　the　seventeenth　year　of　Ishmael；
wherefore　the　day　of　God's　grace　was　ended　with　him　betimes；　Gen。
xvii。　24；　25；　chap。　xxi。　2…11；　Gal。　iv。　30。

2。　　Cain's　day　ended　with　him　betimes；　for　after　God　had　rejected
him；　he　lived　to　beget　many　children；　and　build　a　city；　and　to　do
many　other　things。　　But　alas！　all　that　while　he　was　a　fugitive　and　a
vagabond。　　Nor　carried　he　any　thing　with　him　after　the　day　of　his
rejection　was　come；　but　this　doleful　language　in　his　conscience；
〃From　God's　face　shall　I　be　hid；〃　Gen。　iv。　10…15。

3。　　Esau；　through　his　extravagancies　would　needs　go　to　sell　his
birth…right；　not　fearing　（as　other　confident　fools）　but　that　yet　the
blessing　would　still　be　his；　after　which　he　lived　many　years；　but　all
of　them　under　the　wrath　of　God；　as　was；　when　time　came；　made　appear
to　his　destruction；　for　〃When　he　would　have　inherited　the　blessing；
he　was　rejected；　for　he　found　no　place　of　repentance；　though　he
sought　it　carefully　with　tears；〃　Heb。　xii。　14…16。

Many　instances　might　be　given　as　to　such　tokens　of　the　displeasure　of
God　against　such　as　fool　away；　as　the　wise　man　has　it；　the　prize
which　is　put　into　their　hand；　Prov。　xvii。　16。

Let　these　things；　therefore；　be　a　further　caution　to　those　that　sit
under　the　glorious　sound　of　the　Gospel；　and　hear　of　the　riches　of　the
grace　of　God　in　Christ　to　poor　sinners。

To　slight　grace；　to　despise　mercy；　and　to　stop　the　ear　when　God
speaks；　when　he　speaks　such　great　things；　so　much　to　our　profit；　is　a
great　provocation。

He　offereth；　he　calls；　he　woos；　he　invites；　he　prays；　he　beseeches　us
in　this　day　of　his　grace　to　be　reconciled　to　him；　yea；　and　has
provided　for　us　the　means　of　reconciliation　himself。　　Now；　this
despised　must　needs　be　provoking；　and　it　is　a　fearful　thing　to　fall
into　the　hands　of　the　living　God。

But　some　man　may　say　unto　me；　Fain　I　would　be　saved；　fain　I　would　be
saved　by　Christ；　but　I　fear　this　day　of　grace　is　past；　and　that　I
shall　perish；　notwithstanding　the　exceeding　riches　of　the　grace　of
God。

Answer。　　To　this　doubt　I　would　answer　several　things。

First；　With　respect　to　this　day。

Secondly；　With　respect　to　thy　desires。

Thirdly；　With　respect　to　thy　fears。

First；　With　respect　to　the　day；　that　is；　whether　it　be　ended　with　a
man　or　no。

1。　　Art　thou　jogged；　and　shaken　and　molested　at　the　hearing　of　the
Word？　　Is　thy　conscience　awakened　and　convinced　then　that　thou　art　at
present　in　a　perishing　state；　and　that　thou　hast　need　to　cry　to　God
for　mercy？　　This　is　a　hopeful　sign　that　this　day　of　grace　is　not　past
with　thee。　　For　usually　they　that　are　past　grace；　are　also；　in　their
conscience；　past　feeling；　being　〃seared　with　an　hot　iron；〃　Eph。　iv。
18；　19；　1　Tim。　iv。　1；　2。

Consequently；　those　past　grace　must　be　such　as　are　denied　the
awakening　fruits　of　the　Word　preached。　　〃The　dead　that　hear；〃　says
Christ；　〃shall　live；〃　at　least　while　Christ　has　not　quite　done　with
them；　the　day　of　God's　patience　is　not　at　an　end　with　them；　John　v。
25。

2。　　Is　there　in　thy　more　retired　condition；　arguings；　strugglings；
and　strivings　with　thy　spirit　to　persuade　thee　of　the　vanity　of　what
vain　things　thou　lovest；　and　to　win　thee　in　thy　soul　to　a　choice　of
Christ　Jesus　and　his　heavenly　things？　　Take　heed　and　rebel　not；　for
the　day　of　God's　grace　and　patience　will　not　be　past　with　thee　till
he　saith　his　〃Spirit　shall　strive　no　more〃　with　thee；　for　then　the
woe　comes；　when　〃he　shall　depart　from　them；〃　and　when　he　says　to　the
means　of　grace；　〃Let　them　alone；〃　Hos。　iv。　17；　chap。　ix。　12。

3。　　Art　thou　visited　in　the　night…seasons　with　dreams　about　thy
state；　and　that　thou　art　in　danger　of　being　lost？　　Hast　thou　heart…
shaken　apprehensions　when　deep　sleep　is　upon　thee；　of　hell；　death；
and　judgment　to　come？　　These　are　signs　that　God　has　not　wholly　left
thee；　or　cast　thee　behind　his　back　for　ever。　　〃For　God　speaketh　once；
yea　twice；　yet　man　perceiveth　it　not；　in　a　dream；　in　a　vision　of　the
night；　when　deep　sleep　falleth　upon　men；　in　slumberings　upon　the　bed；
then　he　openeth　the　ears　of　men；　and　sealeth　their　instruction；　that
he　may　withdraw　man　from　his　purpose　（his　sinful　purposes）　and　hide
pride　from　man；〃　Job　xxxiii。　14…17。

All　this　while　God　has　not　left　the　sinner；　nor　is　come　to　the　end　of
his　patience　towards　him；　but　stands　at　least　with　the　door　of　grace
a…jar　in　his　hand；　as　being　loth　as　yet　to　bolt　it　against　him。

4。　　Art　thou　followed　with　affliction；　and　dost　thou　hear　God's　angry
voice　in　thy　afflictions？　　Doth　he　send　with　thy　affliction　an
interpreter　to　shew　thee　thy　vileness；　and　why；　or　wherefore；　the
hand　of　God　is　upon　thee；　and　upon　what　thou　hast；　to　wit；　that　it　is
for　thy　sinning　against　him；　and　that　thou　mightest　be　turned　to　him？
If　so；　thy　summer　is　not　quite　ended；　thy　harvest　is　not　quite　over
and　gone。　　Take　heed；　stand　out　no　longer；　lest　he　cause　darkness；
and　lest　thy　feet　stumble　upon　the　dark　mountains；　and　lest；　while
you　look　for　light；　he　turn　it　into　the　shadow　of　death；　and　make　it
gross　darkness；　Jer。　viii。　20；　chap。　xiii。　15…17。

5。　　Art　thou　crossed；　disappointed；　and　way…laid；　and　overthrown　in
all　thy　foolish　ways　and　doings？　　This　is　a　sign　God　has　not　quite
left　thee；　but　that　he　still　waits　upon　thee　to　turn　thee。　　Consider；
I　say；　has　he　made　a　hedge　and　a　wall　to　stop　thee？　　Has　he　crossed
thee　in　all　thou　puttest　thy　hand　unto？　　Take　it　as　a　call　to　turn　to
him；　for；　by　his　thus　doing；　he　shews　he　has　a　mind　to　give　thee　a
better　portion。　　For　usually　when　God　gives　up　men；　and　resolves　to
let　them　alone　in　the　broad　way；　he　gives　them　rope；　and　lets　them
have　their　desires　in　all　hurtful　things；　Hos。　ii。　6…15；　Psalm
lxxiii。　3…13；　Rom。　xi。　9。

Therefore　take　heed　to　this　also；　that　thou　strive　not　against　this
hand　of　God；　but　betake　thyself　to　a　serious　inquiry　into　the　causes
of　this　hand　of　God　upon　thee；　and　incline　to　think；　it　is　because
the　Lord　would　have　thee　look　to　that；　which　is　better　than　what　thou
wouldst　satisfy　thyself　withal。　　When　God　had　a　mind　to　make　the
prodigal　go　home　to　his　father；　he　sent　a　famine　upon　him；　and　denied
him　a　bellyful　of　the　husks　which　the　swine　did　eat。　　And　observe　it；
now　he　was　in　a　strait；　he　betook　him　to　consideration　of　the　good
that　there　was　in　his　father's　house；　yea；　he　resolved　to　go　home　to
his　father；　and　his　father　dealt　well　with　him；　he　received　him　with
music　and　dancing；　because　he　had　received　him　safe　and　sound；　Luke
xv。　14…32。

6。　　Hast　then　any　enticing　thoughts　of　the　word　of　God　upon　thy　mind？
Doth；　as　it　were；　some　holy　word　of　God　give　a　glance　upon　thee；　cast
a　smile　upon　thee；　let　fall；　though　it　be　but　one　drop　of　its　savour
upon　thy　spirit；　yea；　though　it　stays　but　one　moment　with　thee？　　O
then　the　day　of　grace　is　not　past！　　The　gate　of　heaven　is　not　shut！
nor　God's　heart　and　bowels　withdrawn　from　thee　as　yet。　　Take　heed；
therefore；　and　beware　that　thou　make　much　of　the　heavenly　gift；　and
of　that　good　word　of　God　of　the　which　he　has　made　thee　taste。
Beware；　I　say；　and　take　heed；　there　may　be　a　falling　away　for　all
this；　but；　I　say；　as　yet　God　has　not　left　thee；　as　yet　he　has　not
cast　thee　off；　Heb。　vi。　1…9。

Secondly；　With　respect　to　thy　desires；　what　are　they？　　Wouldst　thou
be　saved！　　Wouldst　thou　be　saved　with　a　thorough　salvation？　　Wouldst
thou　be　saved　from　guilt　and　filth　too？　　Wouldst　thou　be　the　servant
of　thy　Saviour？　　Art　thou　indeed　weary　of　the　service　of　thy　old
master　the　devil；　sin；　and　the　world？　　And　have　these　desires　put　thy
soul　to　flight？　　Hast　thou　through　desires　betaken　thyself　to　thy
heels？　　Dost　fly　to　him　that　is　a　Saviour　from　the　wrath　to　come；　for
life？　　If　these　be　thy　desires；　and　if　they　be　unfeigned；　fear