the jerusalem sinner saved-第6部分

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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
would；　it　would；　to　the　joy　of　you　that　are　godly；　to　the　making　of
hell　to　sigh；　to　the　great　suppressing　of　sin；　the　glory　of　Christ；
and　the　joy　of　the　angels　of　God。　　And　ministers　should；　therefore；
that　this　work　might　go　on；　take　advantages　to　persuade　with　the
biggest　sinners　to　come　into　Christ；　according　to　my　text；　and　their
commissions；　〃Beginning　at　Jerusalem。〃

Fifthly；　Jesus　Christ　would　have　mercy　offered；　in　the　first　place；
to　the　biggest　sinners；　because　such；　when　converted；　are　usually　the
best　helps　in　the　church　against　temptations；　and　fittest　for　the
support　of　the　feeble…minded　there。　　Hence；　usually；　you　have　some
such　in　the　first　plantation　of　churches；　or　quickly　upon　it。
Churches　would　do　but　sorrily；　if　Christ　Jesus　did　not　put　such
converts　among　them：　　they　are　the　monuments　and　mirrors　of　mercy。
The　very　sight　of　such　a　sinner　in　God's　house；　yea；　the　very　thought
of　him；　where　the　sight　of　him　cannot　be　had；　is　ofttimes　greatly　for
the　help　of　the　faith　of　the　feeble。

〃When　the　churches　（said　Paul）　that　were　in　Judea；　heard　this
concerning　me；　that　he　which　persecuted　them　in　time　past；　now
preached　the　faith　which　once　he　destroyed；　they　glorified　God　in
me；〃　Gal。　i。　20…24。

〃Glorified　God。〃　　How　is　that？　　Why；　they　praised　him；　and　took
courage　to　believe　the　more　in　the　mercy　of　God；　for　that　he　had　had
mercy　on　such　a　great　sinner　as　he。　　They　glorified　God　〃in　me；〃　they
wondered　that　grace　should　be　so　rich；　as　to　take　hold　of　such　a
wretch　as　I　was；　and　for　my　sake　believed　in　Christ　the　more。

There　are　two　things　that　great　sinners　are　acquainted　with；　when
they　come　to　divulge　them　to　the　saints；　that　are　a　great　relief　to
their　faith。

1。　　The　contests　that　they　usually　have　with　the　devil　at　their
parting　with　him。

2。　　Their　knowledge　of　his　secrets　in　his　workings。

For　the　first；　The　biggest　sinners　have　usually　great　contests　with
the　devil　at　their　partings；　and　this　is　an　help　to　saints：　　for
ordinary　saints　find　afterwards　what　the　vile　ones　find　at　first；　but
when　at　the　opening　of　hearts；　the　one　finds　himself　to　be　as　the
other；　the　one　is　a　comfort　to　the　other。　　The　lesser　sort　of　sinners
find　but　little　of　this；　till　after　they　have　been　some　time　in
profession；　but　the　vile　man　meets　with　his　at　the　beginning。
Wherefore　he；　when　the　other　is　down；　is　ready　to　tell　that　he　has
met　with　the　same　before；　for；　I　say；　he　has　had　it　before。　　Satan　is
loath　to　part　with　a　great　sinner。　　What　my　true　servant　（quoth　he）；
my　old　servant；　wilt　thou　forsake　me　now？　having　so　often　sold
thyself　to　me　to　work　wickedness；　wilt　thou　forsake　me　now？　　Thou
horrible　wretch；　dost　not　know；　that　thou　hast　sinned　thyself　beyond
the　reach　of　grace；　and　dost　think　to　find　mercy　now？　　Art　not　thou　a
murderer；　a　thief；　a　harlot；　a　witch；　a　sinner　of　the　greatest　size；
and　dost　thou　look　for　mercy　now？　　Dost　thou　think　that　Christ　will
foul　his　fingers　with　thee？

'Tis　enough　to　make　angels　blush；　saith　Satan；　to　see　so　vile　a　one
knock　at　heaven…gates　for　mercy；　and　wilt　thou　be　so　abominably　bold
to　do　it？　　Thus　Satan　dealt　with　me；　says　the　great　sinner；　when　at
first　I　came　to　Jesus　Christ。　　And　what　did　you　reply？　saith　the
tempted。　　Why；　I　granted　the　whole　charge　to　be　true；　says　the　other。
And　what；　did　you　despair；　or　how？　　No；　saith　he；　I　said；　I　am
Magdalen；　I　am　Zaccheus；　I　am　the　thief；　I　am　the　harlot；　I　am　the
publican；　I　am　the　prodigal；　and　one　of　Christ's　murderers：　　yea；
worse　than　any　of　these；　and　yet　God　was　so　far　off　from　rejecting　of
me　（as　I　found　afterwards）；　that　there　was　music　and　dancing　in　his
house　for　me；　and　for　joy　that　I　was　come　home　unto　him。　　O　blessed
be　God　for　grace　（says　the　other）；　for　then　I　hope　there　is　favour
for　me。　　Yea；　as　I　told　you；　such　a　one　is　a　continual　spectacle　in
the　church；　for　every　one　to　behold　God's　grace　and　wonder　by。

Secondly；　And　as　for　the　secrets　of　Satan；　such　as　are　suggestions　to
question　the　being　of　God；　the　truth　of　his　word；　and　to　be　annoyed
with　devilish　blasphemies；　none　more　acquainted　with　these　than　the
biggest　sinners　at　their　conversion；　wherefore　thus　also　they　are
prepared　to　be　helps　in　the　church　to　relieve　and　comfort　the　other。

I　might　also　here　tell　you　of　the　contests　and　battles　that　such　are
engaged　in；　wherein　they　find　the　besettings　of　Satan；　above　any
other　of　the　saints。　　At　which　times　Satan　assaults　the　soul　with
darkness；　fears；　frightful　thoughts　of　apparitions；　now　they　sweat；
pant；　cry　out；　and　struggle　for　life。

The　angels　now　come　down　to　behold　the　sight；　and　rejoice　to　see　a
bit　of　dust　and　ashes　to　overcome　principalities　and　powers；　and
might；　and　dominions。　　But；　as　I　said　when　these　come　a　little　to　be
settled；　they　are　prepared　for　helping　others；　and　are　great　comforts
unto　them。　　Their　great　sins　give　great　encouragement　to　the　devil　to
assault　them；　and　by　these　temptations　Christ　takes　advantage　to　make
them　the　more　helpful　to　the　churches。

The　biggest　sinner；　when　he