the jerusalem sinner saved-第7部分

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them　the　more　helpful　to　the　churches。

The　biggest　sinner；　when　he　is　converted；　and　comes　into　the　church；
says　to　them　all；　by　his　very　coming　in；　Behold　me；　all　you　that　are
men　and　women　of　a　low　and　timorous　spirit；　you　whose　hearts　are
narrow；　for　that　you　never　had　the　advantage　to　know；　because　your
sins　are　few；　the　largeness　of　the　grace　of　God。　　Behold；　I　say；　in
me；　the　exceeding　riches　of　his　grace！　　I　am　a　pattern　set　forth
before　your　faces；　on　whom　you　may　look　and　take　heart。　　This；　I　say；
the　great　sinner　can　say；　to　the　exceeding　comfort　of　all　the　rest。

Wherefore；　as　I　have　hinted　before；　when　God　intends　to　stock　a　place
with　saints；　and　to　make　that　place　excellently　to　flourish　with　the
riches　of　his　grace；　he　usually　begins　with　the　conversion　of　some　of
the　most　notorious　thereabouts；　and　lays　them　as　an　example　to　allure
others；　and　to　build　up　when　they　are　converted。

It　was　Paul　that　must　go　to　the　Gentiles；　because　Paul　was　the　most
outrageous　of　all　the　apostles；　in　the　time　of　his　unregeneracy。
Yea；　Peter　must　be　he；　that　after　his　horrible　fall；　was　thought
fittest；　when　recovered　again；　to　comfort　and　strengthen　his
brethren。　　See　Luke　xxii。　31；　32。

Some　must　be　pillars　in　God's　house；　and　if　they　be　pillars　of　cedar；
they　must　stand　while　they　are　stout　and　sturdy　sticks　in　the　forest；
before　they　are　cut　down；　and　planted　or　placed　there。

No　man；　when　he　buildeth　his　house；　makes　the　principal　parts　thereof
of　weak　or　feeble　timber；　for　how　could　such　bear　up　the　rest？　but　of
great　and　able　wood。　　Christ　Jesus　also　goeth　this　way　to　work；　he
makes　of　the　biggest　sinners　bearers　and　supporters　to　the　rest。
This　then；　may　serve　for　another　reason；　why　Jesus　Christ　gives　out
in　commandment；　that　mercy　should；　in　the　first　place；　be　offered　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。

Sixthly；　Another　reason　why　Jesus　Christ　would　have　mercy　offered　in
the　first　place　to　the　biggest　sinners；　is；　because　they；　when
converted；　are　apt　to　love　him　most。

This　agrees　both　with　Scripture　and　reason。　　Scripture　says　so：　　〃To
whom　much　is　forgiven；　the　same　loveth　much。　　To　whom　little　is
forgiven；　the　same　loveth　little；〃　Luke　vii。　47。　　Reason　says　so：
for　as　it　would　be　the　unreasonablest　thing　in　the　world　to　render
hatred　for　love；　and　contempt　for　forgiveness；　so　it　would　be　as
ridiculous　to　think；　that　the　reception　of　a　little　kindness　should
lay　the　same　obligations　upon　the　heart　to　love；　as　the　reception　of
a　great　deal。　　I　would　not　disparage　the　love　of　Christ；　I　know　the
least　drachm　of　it；　when　it　reaches　to　forgiveness；　is　great　above
all　the　world；　but　comparatively；　there　are　greater　extensions　of　the
love　of　Christ　to　one　than　to　another。　　He　that　has　most　sin；　if
forgiven；　is　partaker　of　the　greatest　love；　of　the　greatest
forgiveness。

I　know　also；　that　there　are　some；　that　from　this　very　doctrine　say；
〃Let　us　do　evil　that　good　may　come；〃　and　that　turn　the　grace　of　our
God　into　lasciviousness。　　But　I　speak　not　of　these；　these　will
neither　be　ruled　by　grace　nor　reason。　　Grace　would　teach　them；　if
they　know　it；　to　deny　ungodly　courses；　and　so　would　reason　too；　if　it
could　truly　sense　the　love　of　God；　Titus　ii。　11；　12；　Rom。　xi。　1。

Doth　it　look　like　what　hath　any　coherence　with　reason　or　mercy；　for　a
man　to　abuse　his　friend？　　Because　Christ　died　for　men；　shall　I
therefore　spit　in　his　face？　　The　bread　and　water　that　was　given　by
Elisha　to　his　enemies；　that　came　into　the　land　of　Israel　to　take　him；
had　so　much　influence　upon　their　minds；　though　heathens；　that　they
returned　to　their　homes　without　hurting　him：　　yea；　it　kept　them　from
coming　again　in　a　hostile　manner　into　the　coasts　of　Israel；　2　Kings
vi。　19…23。

But　to　forbear　to　illustrate　till　anon。　　One　reason　why　Christ　Jesus
shews　mercy　to　sinners；　is；　that　he　might　obtain　their　love；　that　he
may　remove　their　base　affections　from　base　objects　to　himself。　　Now；
if　he　loves　to　be　loved　a　little；　he　loves　to　be　loved　much；　but
there　is　not　any　that　are　capable　of　loving　much；　save　those　that
have　much　forgiven　them。　　Hence　it　is　said　of　Paul；　that　he　laboured
more　than　them　all；　to　wit；　with　a　labour　of　love；　because　he　had
been　by　sin　more　vile　against　Christ　than　they　all；　1　Cor。　xv。　　He　it
was　that　persecuted　the　church　of　God；　and　wasted　it；　Gal。　i。　13。　　He
of　them　all　was　the　only　raving　bedlam　against　the　saints：　　〃And
being　exceeding　mad；〃　says　he；　〃against　them；　I　persecuted　them；　even
to　strange　cities；〃　Acts　xxvi。　11。

This　raving　bedlam；　that　once　was　so；　is　he　that　now　says；　I　laboured
more　than　them　all；　more　for　Christ　than　them　all。

But　Paul；　what　moved　thee　thus　to　do？　　The　love　of　Christ；　says　he。
It　was　not　I；　but　the　grace　of　God　that　was　with　me。　　As　who　should
say；　O　grace！　　It　was　such　grace　to　save　me！　　It　was　such　marvellous
grace　for　God　to　look　down　from　heaven　upon　me；　and　that　secured　me
from　the　wrath　to　come；　that　I　am　captivated　with　the　sense　of　the
riches　of　it。　　Hence　I　act；　hence　I　labour；　for　how　can　I　otherwise
do；　since　God　not　only　separated　me　from　my　sins　and　companions；　but
separated　all　the　powers　of　my　soul　and　body　to　his　service？　　I　am
therefore　prompted　on　by　this　exceeding　love　to　labour　as　I　have
done；　yet　not　I；　but　the　grace　of　God　with　me。

Oh！　　I　shall　never　forget　his　love；　nor　the　circumstances　under　which
I　was；　when　his　love　laid　hold　upon　me。　　I　was　going　to　Damascus　with
letters　from　the　high…priest；　to　make　havock　of　God's　people　there；
as　I　had　made　havock　of　them　in　other　places。　　These　bloody　letters
were　not　imposed　upon　me。　　I　went　to　the　high…priest　and　desired　them
of　him；　Acts　ix。　1；　2；　and　yet　he　saved　me！　　I　was　one　of　the　men；　of
the　chief　men；　that　had　a　hand　in　the　blood　of　his　martyr　Stephen；
yet　he　had　mercy　on　me！　　When　I　was　at　Damascus；　I　stunk　so　horribly
like　a　blood…sucker；　that　I　became　a　terror　to　all　thereabout。　　Yea；
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　s