the jerusalem sinner saved-第5章

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saved　Magdalen；　to　encourage　other　Magdalens　to　come　to　him　for
mercy；　he　saved　Saul；　to　encourage　Sauls　to　come　to　him　for　mercy；
and　this　Paul　himself　doth　say；　〃For　this　cause；〃　saith　he；　〃I
obtained　mercy；　that　in　me　first　Jesus　Christ　might　shew　forth　all
long…suffering　for　a　pattern　to　them　which　should　hereafter　believe
on　him　to　life　everlasting；〃　1　Tim。　i。　16。

How　plain　are　the　words！　　Christ；　in　saving　of　me；　has　given　to　the
world　a　pattern　of　his　grace；　that　they　might　see　and　believe；　and
come；　and　be　saved；　that　they　that　are　to　be　born　hereafter　might
believe　on　Jesus　Christ　to　life　everlasting。

But　what　was　Paul？　　Why；　he　tells　you　himself；　I　am；　says　he；　the
chief　of　sinners：　　I　was；　says　he；　a　blaspheme；　a　persecutor；　an
injurious　person；　but　I　obtained　mercy；　1　Tim。　i。　14；　15。　　Ay；　that
is　well　for　you；　Paul；　but　what　advantage　have　we　thereby？　　Oh；　very
much；　saith　he；　for；　〃for　this　cause　I　obtained　mercy；　that　in　me
first；　Jesus　Christ　might　shew　all　long…suffering　for　a　pattern　to
them　which　shall　believe　on　him　to　life　everlasting。〃

Thus；　therefore；　you　see　that　this　third　reason　is　of　strength；
namely；　that　Jesus　Christ　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
mercy。

It　may　well　therefore　be　said　to　God；　Thou　delightest　in　mercy；　and
mercy　pleases　thee；　Mich。　vii。　18。

But　who　believes　that　this　was　God's　design　in　shewing　mercy　of　old
namely；　that　we　that　come　after　might　take　courage　to　come　to　him　for
mercy；　or　that　Jesus　Christ　would　have　mercy　offered　in　the　first
place　to　the　biggest　sinners；　to　stir　up　others　to　come　to　him　for
life？　　This　is　not　the　manner　of　men；　O　God！

But　David　saw　this　betimes；　therefore　he　makes　this　one　argument　with
God；　that　he　would　blot　out　his　transgressions；　that　he　would　forgive
his　adultery；　his　murders；　and　horrible　hypocrisy。　　Do　it；　O　Lord；
saith　he；　do　it；　and　〃then　will　I　teach　transgressors　thy　ways；　and
sinners　shall　be　converted　unto　thee；〃　Psalm　li。　7…13。

He　knew　that　the　conversion　of　sinners　would　be　a　work　highly
pleasing　to　God；　as　being　that　which　he　had　designed　before　he　made
mountain　or　hill：　　wherefore　he　comes；　and　he　saith；　Save　me；　O　Lord；
if　thou　wilt　but　save　me；　I　will　fall　in　with　thy　design；　I　will　help
to　bring　what　sinners　to　thee　I　can。　　And；　Lord；　I　am　willing　to　be
made　a　preacher　myself；　for　that　I　have　been　a　horrible　sinner：
wherefore；　if　thou　shalt　forgive　my　great　transgressions；　I　shall　be
a　fit　man　to　tell　of　thy　wondrous　grace　to　others。　　Yea；　Lord；　I　dare
promise；　that　if　thou　wilt　have　mercy　upon　me；　it　shall　tend　to　the
glory　of　thy　grace；　and　also　to　the　increase　of　thy　kingdom；　for　I
will　tell　it；　and　sinners　will　hear　on't。　　And　there　is　nothing　so
suiteth　with　the　hearing　sinner　as　mercy；　and　to　be　informed　that　God
is　willing　to　bestow　it　upon　him。　　〃I　will　teach　transgressors　thy
ways；　and　sinners　shall　be　converted　unto　thee。〃

Nor　will　Christ　Jesus　miss　of　his　design　in　proffering　of　mercy　in
the　first　place　to　the　biggest　sinners。　　You　know　what　work　the　Lord；
by　laying　hold　of　the　woman　of　Samaria；　made　among　the　people　there。
They　knew　that　she　was　a　town　sinner；　an　adulteress；　yea；　one　that
after　the　most　audacious　manner　lived　in　uncleanness　with　a　man　that
was　not　her　husband：　　but　when　she；　from　a　turn　upon　her　heart；　went
into　the　city；　and　said　to　her　neighbours；　〃Come；〃　Oh　how　they　came！
how　they　flocked　out　of　the　city　to　Jesus　Christ！　　〃Then　they　went
out　of　the　city；　and　came　to　him。〃　　〃And　many　of　the　Samaritans
（people　perhaps　as　bad　as　herself）　believed　on　him；　for　the　saying　of
the　woman；　which　testified；　saying；　he　told　me　all　that　ever　I　did；〃
John　iv。　39。

That　word；　〃He　told　me　all　that　ever　I　did；〃　was　a　great　argument
with　them；　for　by　that　they　gathered；　that　though　he　knew　her　to　be
vile；　yet　he　did　not　despise　her；　nor　refuse　to　shew　how　willing　he
was　to　communicate　his　grace　unto　her；　and　this　fetched　over；　first
her；　then　them。

This　woman；　as　I　said；　was　a　Samaritan　sinner；　a　sinner　of　the　worst
complexion：　　for　the　Jews　abhorred　to　have　ought　to　do　with　them；
ver。　9；　wherefore　none　more　fit　than　she　to　be　made　one　of　the　decoys
of　heaven；　to　bring　others　of　these　Samaritan　wild…fowls　under　the
net　of　the　grace　of　Christ。　　And　she　did　the　work　to　purpose。　　Many；
and　many　more　of　the　Samaritans　believed　on　him；　ver。　40…42。　　The
heart　of　man；　though　set　on　sin；　will；　when　it　comes　once　to　a
persuasion　that　God　is　willing　to　have　mercy　upon　us；　incline　to　come
to　Jesus　Christ　for　life。

Witness　those　turn…aways　from　God　that　you　also　read　of　in　Jeremiah；
for　after　they　had　heard　three　or　four　times　over；　that　God　had　mercy
for　backsliders；　they　broke　out；　and　said；　〃Behold；　we　come　unto
thee；　for　thou　art　the　Lord　our　God。〃　　Or　as　those　in　Hosea　did；　〃For
in　thee　the　fatherless　find　mercy；〃　Jer。　iii。　22；　Hos。　xiv。　1…3。

Mercy；　and　the　revelation　thereof；　is　the　only　antidote　against　sin。
It　is　of　a　thawing　nature；　it　will　loose　the　heart　that　is　frozen　up
in　sin；　yea；　it　will　make　the　unwilling　willing　to　come　to　Jesus
Christ　for　life。　　Wherefore；　do　you　think；　was　it　that　Jesus　Christ
told　the　adulterous　woman；　and　that　before　so　many　sinners；　that　he
had　not　condemned　her；　but　to　allure　her；　with　them　there　present；　to
hope　to　find　favour　at　his　hands？　　（As　he　also　saith　in　another
place；　〃I　came　not　to　judge；　but　to　save　the　world。〃）　　For　might　they
not　thence　most　rationally　conclude；　that　if　Jesus　Christ　had　rather
save　than　damn　an　harlot；　there　was　encouragement　for　them　to　come　to
him　for　mercy。

I　heard　once　a　story　from　a　soldier；　who　with　his　company　had　laid
siege　against　a　fort；　that　so　long　as　the　besieged　were　persuaded
their　foes　would　shew　them　no　favour；　they　fought　like　madmen；　but
when　they　saw　one　of　their　fellows　taken；　and　received　to　favour；
they　all　came　tumbling　down　from　their　fortress；　and　delivered
themselves　into　their　enemies'　hands。

I　am　persuaded；　did　men　believe　that　there　is　that　grace　and
willingness　in　the　heart　of　Christ　to　save　sinners；　as　the　word
imports　there　is；　they　would　come　tumbling　into　his　arms：　　but　Satan
has　blinded　their　minds；　that　they　cannot　see　this　thing。　　Howbeit；
the　Lord　Jesus　has；　as　I　said；　that　others　might　take　heart　and　come
to　him；　given　out　a　commandment；　that　mercy　should　in　the　first　place
be　offered　to　the　biggest　sinners。　　〃Begin；〃　saith　he；　〃at
Jerusalem。〃　　And　thus　I　end　the　third　reason。

Fourthly；　Jesus　Christ　would　have　mercy　offered　in　the　first　place　to
the　biggest　sinners；　because　that　is　the　way；　if　they　receive　it；
most　to　weaken　the　kingdom　of　Satan；　and　to　keep　it　lowest　in　every
age　of　the　world。　　The　biggest　sinners；　they　are　Satan's　colonels　and
captains；　the　leaders　of　his　people；　and　they　that　most　stoutly　make
head　against　the　Son　of　God。　　Wherefore　let　these　first　be　conquered；
and　his　kingdom　will　be　weak。　　When　Ishbosheth　had　lost　his　Abner；
his　kingdom　was　made　weak：　　nor　did　he　sit　but　tottering　then　upon
his　throne。　　So　when　Satan　loseth　his　strong　men；　them　that　are
mighty　to　work　iniquity；　and　dexterous　to　manage　others　in　the　same；
then　is　his　kingdom　weak；　2　Sam。　iii。　　Therefore；　I　say；　Christ　doth
offer　mercy　in　the　first　place　to　such；　the　more　to　weaken　his
kingdom。　　Christ　Jesus　was　glad　to　see　Satan　fall　like　lightning　from
heaven；　that　is；　suddenly　or　head　long；　and　it　was；　surely；　by
casting　of　him　out　of　strong　possessions；　and　by　recovering　of　some
notorious　sinners　out　of　his　clutches；　Luke　x。　17…19。

Samson；　when　he　would　pull　down　the　Philistines　temple；　took　hold　of
the　two　main　pillars　of　it；　and　breaking　them；　down　came　the　house。
Christ　came　to　destroy　the　works　of　the　devil；　and　to　destroy　by
converting　grace；　as　well　as　by　redeeming　blood。　　Now　sin　swarms；　and
lieth　by　legions；　and　whole　armies；　in　the　souls　of　the　biggest
sinners；　as　in　garrisons：　　wherefore　the　way；　the　most　direct　way　to
destroy　it；　is　first　to　deal　with　such　sinners　by　the　word　of　his
gospel；　and　by　the　merits　of　his　passion。

For　example；　though　I　shall　give　you　but　a　homely　one：　　suppose　a
family　to　be　troubled　with　vermin；　and　one　or　two　of　the　family　to　be
in　chief　the　breeders；　the　way；　the　quickest　way　to　clear　that
family；　or　at　least　to　weaken　the　so　swarming　of　those　vermin；　is；　in
the　first　place；　to　sweeten　the　skin；　head；　and　clothes　of　the　chief
breeders；　and　then；　though　all　the　family　should　be　apt　to　breed
them；　the　number　of　them；　and　so　the　greatness　of　that　plague　there；
will　be　the　more　impaired。

Why；　there　are　some　people　that　are　in　chief　the　devil's　sin…breeders
in　the　towns　and　places　where　they　live。　　The　place；　town；　or　family
where　they　live；　must　needs　be　horribly　verminous；　as　it　were；　eaten
up　with　vermin。　　Now；　let　the　Lord　Jesus；　in　the　first　place；　cleanse
these　great　breeders；　and　there　will　be　given　a　nip　to　those　swarms
of　sins　that　used　to　be　committed　in　such　places　throughout　the　town；
house；　or　family；　where　such　sin…breeding　persons　used　to　be。

I　speak　by　experience：　　I　was　one　of　these　verminous　ones；　one　of
these　great　sin…breeders；　I　infected　all　the　youth　of　the　town　where
I　was　born；　with　all　manner　of　youthful　vanities。　　The　neighbours
counted　me　so；　my　practice　proved　me　so：　　wherefore　Christ　Jesus　took
me　first；　and　taking　me　first；　the　contagion　was　much　allayed　all　the
town　over。　　When　God　made　me　sigh；　they　would　hearken；　and
enquiringly　say；　What　is　the　matter　with　John？　　They　also　gave　their
various　opinions　of　me：　　but；　as　I　said；　sin　cooled；　and　failed；　as
to　his　full　career。　　When　I　went　out　to　seek　the　bread　of　life；　some
of　them　would　follow；　and　the　rest　be　put　into　a　muse　at　home。　　Yea；
almost　the　town；　at　first；　at　times　would　go　out　to　hear　at　the　place
where　I　found　good；　yea；　young　and　old　for　a　while　had　some
reformation　on　them；　also　some　of　them；　perceiving　that　God　had　mercy
upon　me；　came　crying　to　him　for　mercy　too。

But　what　need　I　give　you　an　instance　of　poor　I；　I　will　come　to
Manasseh　the　king。　　So　long　as　he　was　a　ring…leading　sinner；　the
great　idolater；　the　chief　for　devilism；　the　whole　land　flowed　with
wickedness；　for　he　〃made　them　to　sin；〃　and　do　worse　than　the　heathen
that　dwelt　round　about　them；　or　that　was　cast　out　from　before　them：
but　when　God　converted　him；　the　whole　land　was　reformed。　　Down　went
the　groves；　the　idols；　and　altars　of　Baal；　and　up　went　true　religion
in　much　of　the　power　and　purity　of　it。　　You　will　say；　The　king
reformed　by　power。　　I　answer；　doubtless；　and　by　example　too；　for
people　observe　their　leaders；　as　their　fathers　did；　so　did　they；　2
Chron。　xxxiii。　2。

This；　therefore；　is　another　reason　why　Jesus　would　have　mercy　offered
in　the　first　place　to　the　biggest　sinners；　because　that　is　the　best
way；　if　they　receive　it；　most　to　weaken　the　kingdom　of　Satan；　and　to
keep　it　poor　and　low。

And　do　you　not　think　now；　that　if　God　would　but　take　hold　of　the
hearts　of　some　of　the　most　notorious　in　your　town；　in　your　family；　or
country；　that　this　thing　would　be　verified　before　your　faces？　　It
wou