the jerusalem sinner saved-第7章

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Ananias　（good　man）　made　intercession　to　my　Lord　against　me；　yet　he
would　have　mercy　upon　me；　yea；　joined　mercy　to　mercy；　until　he　had
made　me　a　monument　of　grace！　　He　made　a　saint　of　me；　and　persuaded　me
that　my　transgressions　were　forgiven　me。

When　I　began　to　preach；　those　that　heard　me　were　amazed；　and　said；
〃Is　not　this　he　that　destroyed　them　that　called　on　this　name　in
Jerusalem；　and　came　hither　for　that　intent；　that　he　might　bring　them
bound　to　the　high…priest？〃　　Hell　doth　know　that　I　was　a　sinner；
heaven　doth　know　that　I　was　a　sinner；　the　world　also　knows　that　I　was
a　sinner；　a　sinner　of　the　greatest　size；　but　I　obtained　mercy；　1　Tim
i。　15；　16。

Shall　not　this　lay　obligation　upon　me？　　Is　not　love　of　the　greatest
force　to　oblige？　　Is　it　not　strong　as　death；　cruel　as　the　grave；　and
hotter　than　the　coals　of　juniper？　　Hath　it　not　a　most　vehement　flame？
can　the　waters　quench　it？　can　the　floods　drown　it？　　I　am　under　the
force　of　it；　and　this　is　my　continual　cry；　What　shall　I　render　to　the
Lord　for　all　the　benefits　which　he　has　bestowed　upon　me？

Ay；　Paul！　this　is　something；　thou　speakest　like　a　man；　like　a　man
affected；　and　carried　away　with　the　love　and　grace　of　God。　　Now；　this
sense；　and　this　affection；　and　this　labour；　giveth　to　Christ　the　love
that　he　looks　for。　　But　he　might　have　converted　twenty　little
sinners；　and　yet　not　found；　for　grace　bestowed；　so　much　love　in　them
all。

I　wonder　how　far　a　man　might　go　among　the　converted　sinners　of　the
smaller　size；　before　one　could　find　one　that　so　much　as　looked　any
thing　this　wayward。　　Where　is　he　that　is　thus　under　pangs　of　love　for
the　grace　bestowed　upon　him　by　Jesus　Christ？　　Excepting　only　some
few；　you　may　walk　to　the　world's　end；　and　find　none。　　But；　as　I　said；
some　there　are；　and　so　there　has　been　in　every　age　of　the　church；
great　sinners；　that　have　had　much　forgiven　them；　and　they　love　much
upon　this　account。

Jesus　Christ　therefore　knows　what　he　doth；　when　he　lays　hold　on　the
hearts　of　sinners　of　the　biggest　size。　　He　knows　that　such　an　one
will　love　more　than　many　that　have　not　sinned　half　their　sins。

I　will　tell　you　a　story　that　I　have　read　of　Martha　and　Mary；　the　name
of　the　book　I　have　forgot；　I　mean　of　the　book　in　which　I　found　the
relation；　but　the　thing　was　thus：　　Martha；　saith　my　author；　was　a
very　holy　woman；　much　like　Lazarus　her　brother；　but　Mary　was　a　loose
and　wanton　creature；　Martha　did　seldom　miss　good　sermons　and
lectures；　when　she　could　come　at　them　in　Jerusalem；　but　Mary　would
frequent　the　house　of　sports；　and　the　company　of　the　vilest　of　men
for　lust：　　And　though　Martha　had　often　desired　that　her　sister　would
go　with　her　to　hear　her　preachers；　yea；　had　often　entreated　her　with
tears　to　do　it；　yet　could　she　never　prevail；　for　still　Mary　would
make　her　excuse；　or　reject　her　with　disdain　for　her　zeal　and
preciseness　in　religion。

After　Martha　had　waited　long；　tried　many　ways　to　bring　her　sister　to
good；　and　all　proved　ineffectual；　at　last　she　comes　upon　her　thus：
〃Sister；〃　quoth　she；　〃I　pray　thee　go　with　me　to　the　temple　to…day；　to
hear　one　preach　a　sermon。〃　　〃What　kind　of　preacher　is　he？〃　said　she。
Martha　replied；　〃It　is　one　Jesus　of　Nazareth；　he　is　the　handsomest
man　that　ever　you　saw　with　your　eyes。　　Oh！　he　shines　in　beauty；　and
is　a　most　excellent　preacher。〃

Now；　what　does　Mary；　after　a　little　pause；　but　goes　up　into　her
chamber；　and　with　her　pins　and　her　clouts；　decks　up　herself　as　fine
as　her　fingers　could　make　her。

This　done；　away　she　goes；　not　with　her　sister　Martha；　but　as　much
unobserved　as　she　could；　to　the　sermon；　or　rather　to　see　the
preacher。

The　hour　and　preacher　being　come；　and　she　having　observed　whereabout
the　preacher　would　stand；　goes　and　sets　herself　so　in　the　temple；
that　she　might　be　sure　to　have　the　full　view　of　this　excellent
person。　　So　he　comes　in；　and　she　looks；　and　the　first　glimpse　of　his
person　pleased　her。　　Well；　Jesus　addresseth　himself　to　his　sermon；
and　she　looks　earnestly　on　him。

Now；　at　that　time；　saith　my　author；　Jesus　preached　about　the　lost
sheep；　the　lost　groat；　and　the　prodigal　child。　　And　when　he　came　to
shew　what　care　the　shepherd　took　for　one　lost　sheep；　and　how　the
woman　swept　to　find　her　piece　which　was　lost；　and　what　joy　there　was
at　their　finding；　she　began　to　be　taken　by　the　ears；　and　forgot　what
she　came　about；　musing　what　the　preacher　would　make　of　it。　　But　when
he　came　to　the　application；　and　shewed；　that　by　the　lost　sheep　was
meant　a　great　sinner；　by　the　shepherd's　care；　was　meant　God's　love
for　great　sinners；　and　that　by　the　joy　of　the　neighbours；　was　shewed
what　joy　there　was　among　the　angels　in　heaven　over　one　great　sinner
that　repenteth；　she　began　to　be　taken　by　the　heart。　　And　as　he　spake
these　last　words；　she　thought　he　pitched　his　innocent　eyes　just　upon
her；　and　looked　as　if　he　spake　what　was　now　said　to　her：　　wherefore
her　heart　began　to　tremble；　being　shaken　with　affection　and　fear；
then　her　eyes　ran　down　with　tears　apace；　wherefore　she　was　forced　to
hide　her　face　with　her　handkerchief；　and　so　sat　sobbing　and　crying
all　the　rest　of　the　sermon。

Sermon　being　done；　up　she　gets；　and　away　she　goes；　and　withal
inquired　where　this　Jesus　the　preacher　dined　that　day？　and　one　told
her；　At　the　house　of　Simon　the　Pharisee。　　So　away　goes　she；　first　to
her　chamber；　and　there　strips　herself　of　her　wanton　attire：　　then
falls　upon　her　knees　to　ask　God　forgiveness　for　all　her　wicked　life。
This　done；　in　a　modest　dress　she　goes　to　Simon's　house；　where　she
finds　Jesus　sat　at　dinner。　　So　she　gets　behind　him；　and　weeps；　and
drops　her　tears　upon　his　feet　like　rain；　and　washes　them；　and　wipes
them　with　the　hair　of　her　head。　　She　also　kissed　his　feet　with　her
lips；　and　anointed　them　with　ointment。　　When　Simon　the　Pharisee
perceived　what　the　woman　did；　and　being　ignorant　of　what　it　was　to　be
forgiven　much　（for　he　never　was　forgiven　more　than　fifty　pence）；　he
began　to　think　within　himself；　that　he　had　been　mistaken　about　Jesus
Christ；　because　he　suffered　such　a　sinner　as　this　woman　was；　to　touch
him。　　Surely；　quoth　he；　this　man；　if　he　were　a　prophet；　would　not　let
this　woman　come　near　him；　for　she　is　a　town…sinner　（so　ignorant　are
all　self…righteous　men　of　the　way　of　Christ　with　sinners。）　　But　lest
Mary　should　be　discouraged　with　some　clownish　carriage　of　this
Pharisee　and　so　desert　her　good　beginnings；　and　her　new　steps　which
she　now　had　begun　to　take　towards　eternal　life；　Jesus　began　thus　with
Simon。　　〃Simon；〃　saith　he；　〃I　have　somewhat　to　say　unto　thee。　　And　he
saith；　Master；　say　on。　　There　was；〃　said　Jesus；　a　certain　creditor
had　two　debtors；　the　one　owed　five　hundred　pence；　and　the　other
fifty。　　And　when　they　had　nothing　to　pay；　he　frankly　forgave　them
both。　　Tell　me　therefore　which　of　them　will　love　him　most？　　Simon
answered　and　said；　I　suppose　that　he　to　whom　he　forgave　most。　　And　he
said　unto　him；　Thou　hast　rightly　judged。　　And　he　turned　to　the　woman；
and　said　unto　Simon；　Seest　thou　this　woman？　　I　entered　into　thy
house；　thou　gavest　me　no　water　for　my　feet；　but　she　hath　washed　my
feet　with　tears；　and　wiped　them　with　the　hairs　of　her　head。　　Thou
gavest　me　no　kiss：　　but　this　woman；　since　the　time　I　came　in；　hath
not　ceased　to　kiss　my　feet。　　My　head　with　oil　thou　didst　not　anoint；
but　this　woman　hath　anointed　my　feet　with　ointment。　　Wherefore　I　say
unto　thee；　Her　sins　which　are　many；　are　forgiven；　for　she　loved　much；
but　to　whom　little　is　forgiven；　the　same　loveth　little。　　And　he　said
unto　her；　Thy　sins　are　forgiven；〃　Luke　vii。　36…50。

Thus　you　have　the　story。　　If　I　come　short　in　any　circumstance；　I　beg
pardon　of　those　that　can　correct　me。　　It　is　three　or　four　and　twenty
years　since　I　saw　the　book：　　yet　I　have；　as　far　as　my　memory　will
admit；　given　you　the　relation　of　the　matter。　　However　Luke；　as　you
see；　doth　here　present　you　with　the　substance　of　the　whole。

Alas！　　Christ　Jesus　has　but　little　thanks　for　the　saving　of　little
sinners。　　〃To　whom　little　is　forgiven；　the　same　loveth　little。〃　　He
gets　not　water　for　his　feet；　by　his　saving　of　such　sinners。　　There
are　abundance　of　dry…eyed　Christians　in　the　world；　and　abundance　of
dry…eyed　duties　too；　duties　that　never　were　wetted　with　the　tears　of
contrition　and　repentance；　nor　ever　sweetened　with　the　great　sinner's
box　of　ointment。　　And　the　reason　is；　such　sinners　have　not　great　sins
to　be　saved　from；　or　if　they　have；　they　look　upon　them　in　the
diminishing　glass　of　the　holy　law　of　God。　　But　I　rather　believe；　that
the　professors　of　our　days　want　a　due　sense　of　what　they　are；　for；
verily；　for　the　generality　of　them；　both　before　and　since　conversion；
they　have　been　sinners　of　a　lusty　size。　　But　if　their　eyes　be　holden；
if　convictions　are　not　shewn；　if　their　knowledge　of　their　sins　is　but
like　to　the　eye…sight　in　twilight；　the　heart　cannot　be　affected　with
that　grace　that　has　laid　hold　on　the　man；　and　so　Christ　Jesus　sows
much；　and　has　little　coming　in。

Wherefore　his　way　is　ofttimes　to　step　out　of　the　way；　to　Jericho；　to
Samaria；　to　the　country　of　the　Gadarenes；　to　the　coasts　of　Tyre　and
Sidon；　and　also　to　Mount　Calvary；　that　he　may　lay　hold　of　such　kind
of　sinners　as　will　love　him　to　his　liking；　Luke　xix。　1…11；　John　iv。
3…11；　Mark　v。　1…21；　Matt。　xv。　21…29；　Luke　xxiii。　33…44。

But　thus　much　for　the　sixth　reason；　why　Christ　Jesus　would　have　mercy
offered　in　the　first　place　to　the　biggest　sinners；　to　wit；　because
such　sinners；　when　converted；　are　apt　to　love　him　most。　　The
Jerusalem　sinners　were　they　that　outstripped；　when　they　were
converted；　in　some　things；　all　the　churches　of　the　Gentiles。　　〃They
were　of　one　heart；　and　of　one　soul；　neither　said　any　of　them；　that
aught　of　the　things　that　they　possessed　was　their　own。〃　　〃Neither　was
there　any　among　them　that　lacked：　　for　as　many　as　were　possessors　of
lands　or　houses　sold　them；　and　brought　the　price　of　the　things　that
were　sold；　and　laid　them　down　at　the　apostles'　feet；〃　&c；　Acts　iv。
32…35。　　Now；　shew　me　such　another　pattern　if　you　can。　　But　why　did
these　do　thus？　　Oh！　they　were　Jerusalem　sinners。　　These　were　the　men
that　but　a　little　before　had　killed　the　Prince　of　Life；　and　those　to
whom　he　did；　that　notwithstanding；　send　the　first　offer　of　grace　and
mercy。　　And　the　sense　of　this　took　them　up　betwixt　the　earth　and　the
heaven；　and　carried　them　on　in　such　ways　and　methods　as　could　never
be　trodden　by　any　since。　　They　talk　of　the　church　of　Rome；　and　set
her　in　her　primitive　state；　as　a　pattern　and　mother　of　churches；　when
the　truth　is；　they　were　the　Jerusalem　sinners；　when　converts；　that
out…did　all　the　churches　that　ever　were。

Seventhly；　Christ　Jesus　would　have　mercy　offered；　in　the　first　place；
to　the　biggest　sinners；　because　grace　when　it　is　received　by　such；
finds　matter　to　kindle　upon　more　freely　than　it　finds　in　other
sinners。　　Great　sinners　are　like　the　dry　wood；　or　like　great　candles；
which　burn　best　and　shine　with　biggest　light。　　I　lay　not　this　down；
as　I　did　those　reasons　before；　to　shew；　that　when　great　sinners　are
converted；　they　will　be　encouragement　to　others；　though　that　is　true；
but　to　shew　that　Christ　has　a　delight　to　see　grace；　the　grace　we
receive；　to　shine。　　We　love　to　see　things　that　bear　a　good　gloss；
yea；　we　choose　to　buy　suc