the jerusalem sinner saved-第4章

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a　good　report　in　the　hearts　of　the　children　of　men。　　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。　xxxiii。　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；
Matt。　iv。　23；　24。

When　Christ　had　cast　the　legion　of　devils　out　of　the　man　of　whom　you
read；　Mark　v。；　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　v。　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
saving　of　one　of　them　he　makes　all　men　marvel。　　As　'tis　said　of　the
man　last　mentioned；　whom　Christ　cured　towards　the　beginning　of　his
ministry：　　〃And　he　departed；〃　says　the　text；　〃and　began　to　publish　in
Decapolis；　how　great　things　Jesus　had　done　for　him；　and　all　men　did
marvel；〃　ver。　20。

When　John　told　Christ；　that　they　saw　one　casting　out　devils　in　his
name；　and　they　forbade　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；　and　that
the　world　may　see　what　he　can　do。　　And　to　this　end；　he　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；
inserted　the　very　names　of　persons；　the　places　of　their　abode；　and
the　great　cures　that；　by　the　means　of　his　salvations；　he　has　wrought
upon　them　to　this　very　end。　　Here　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　saved　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；　Manasseh；　Peter；　Magdalen；　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　show　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　of　the　great　ones；　that　were　the　grandeur　of　the　world；
and　struggle　so　hard　for　hedge…creepers　and　highwaymen　（as　that
parable；　Luke　xiv。；　seems　to　import　he　doth）；　but　to　show　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　marriage
joys；　were　invited　to　come；　but　they　made　their　excuse；　and　that
served　the　turn。　　But　when　he　comes　to　deal　with　the　worst；　he　saith
to　his　servants；　Go　ye　out　and　bring　them　in　hither。　　〃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
highways　and　hedges；　and　compel　them　to　come　in；　that　my　house　may　be
filled；〃　Luke　xiv。　18；　19；　23。　　These　poor；　lame；　maimed；　blind；
hedge…creepers　and　highwaymen；　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　were　two　thieves　crucified　with　him；　and　behold；　he
lays　hold　of　one　of　them　and　will　have　him　away　with　him　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　shall　read　this　story；　but　must　confess；　that　the　Son　of　God　is
full　of　grace；　for　a　proof　of　the　riches　thereof；　he　left　behind　him；
when　upon　the　cross　he　took　the　thief　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；　they　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　glorious　majesty　of　his　kingdom；〃　Psalm　cxlv。　6…12。

When　the　word　of　God　came　among　the　conjurers　and　those　soothsayers
that　you　read　of；　Acts　xix。；　and　had　prevailed　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　together；　and　burned
them　before　all　men：　　and　counted　the　price　of　them；　and　found　it
fifty　thousand　pieces　of　silver。　　So　mightily　grew　the　word　of　God；
and　prevailed；〃　Acts　xix。　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　encroached
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
fetched　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。〃

Thus；　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　physician；　by　curing　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　possessed　with　devils；　and　those　which　were
lunatic；　and　those　that　had　the　palsy；　and　he　healed　them。　　And　there
followed　him　great　multitudes　of　people　from　Galilee；　and　Decapolis；
and　Jerusalem；　and　Judea；　and　from　beyond　Jordan；〃　Matt。　iv。　24；　25。

See　here；　he　first　by　working　gets　himself　a　fame；　a　name；　and
renown；　and　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　show　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　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　riches　of　his　grace　in　his　kindness　towards
us　through　Christ　Jesus；〃　Eph。　ii。　4…7。

See；　here　is　a　design；　God　lets　out　his　mercy　to　Ephesus　of　design；
even　to　shew　to　the　ages　to　come　the　exceeding　riches　of　his　grace；
in　his　kindness　to　them　through　Christ　Jesus。　　And　why　to　shew　by
these　the　exceeding　riches　of　his　grace　to　the　ages　to　come；　through
Christ　Jesus；　but　to　allure　them；　and　their　children　also；　to　come　to
him；　and　to　partake　of　the　same　grace　through　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　goddess；　men　far　off　from　God；
aliens　and　strangers　to　all　good　things；　such　as　were　far　off　from
that；　as　I　said；　and　consequently　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；
Eph。　ii。　1…3；　11；　12；　Acts　xix。　35。

Wherefore　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　exceeding　riches
of　his　grace；〃　says　he；　〃in　his　kindness　towards　us　through　Christ
Jesus。〃　　There　is　yet　one　hint　behind。　　It　is　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；　it　is　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　encoura