the jerusalem sinner saved-第14章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
for mercy； 〃Begin at Jerusalem。〃 Never did one thing answer another
more fitly in this world； than this text fitteth such kind of
sinners。 As face answereth face in a glass； so this text answereth
the necessities of such sinners。 What can a man say more； but that
he stands in the rank of the biggest sinners？ let him stretch himself
whither he can； and think of himself to the utmost； he can but
conclude himself to be one of the biggest sinners。 And what then？
Why the text meets him in the very face； and saith； Christ offereth
mercy to the biggest sinners； to the very Jerusalem sinners。 What
more can be objected？ Nay； he doth not only offer to such his mercy；
but to them it is commanded to be offered in the first place； 〃Begin
at Jerusalem。〃 Preach repentance and remission of sins among all
nations。 〃Begin at Jerusalem。〃 Is not here encouragement for those
that think； for wicked hearts and lives； they have not their fellows
in the world？
Object。 But I have a heart as hard as a rock。
Answ。 Well； but this doth but prove thee a bigger sinner。
Object。 But my heart continually frets against the Lord。
Answ。 Well； this doth but prove thee a bigger sinner。
Object。 But I have been desperate in sinful courses。
Answ。 Well； stand thou with the number of the biggest sinners。
Object。 But my grey head is found in the way of wickedness。
Answ。 Well； thou art in the rank of the biggest sinners。
Object。 But I have not only a base heart； but I have lived a
debauched life。
Answ。 Stand thou also among those that are called the biggest
sinners。 And what then？ Why the text swoops you all； you cannot
object yourselves beyond the text。 It has a particular message to
the biggest sinners。 I say； it swoops you all。
Object。 But I am a reprobate。
Answ。 Now thou talkest like a fool； and of that thou understandest
not： no sin； but the sin of final impenitence； can prove a man a
reprobate； and I am sure thou hast not arrived as yet unto that；
therefore thou understandest not what thou sayest； and makest
groundless conclusions against thyself。 Say thou art a sinner； and I
will hold with thee； say thou art a great sinner； and I will say so
too； yea； say thou art one of the biggest sinners； and spare not； for
the text yet is beyond thee； is yet betwixt he and thee； 〃Begin at
Jerusalem；〃 has yet a smile upon thee； and thou talkest as if thou
wast a reprobate； and that the greatness of thy sins do prove thee so
to be； when yet they of Jerusalem were not such； whose sins； I dare
say； were such； both for bigness and heineousness； as thou art
incapable of committing beyond them； unless now； after thou hast
received conviction that the Lord Jesus is the only Saviour of the
world； thou shouldst wickedly and despitefully turn thyself from him；
and conclude he is not to be trusted to for life； and so crucify him
for a cheat afresh。 This； I must confess； will bring a man under the
black rod； and set him in danger of eternal damnation； Heb。 vi。 6：
chap。 x。 29。 This is trampling under foot the Son of God； and
counting his blood an unholy thing。 This did they of Jerusalem； but
they did it ignorantly in unbelief； and so were yet capable of mercy：
but to do this against professed light； and to stand to it； puts a
man beyond the text indeed； Acts iii。 14…17； 1 Tim。 i。 13。
But I say； what is this to him that would fain be saved by Christ？
His sins did； as to greatness； never yet reach to the nature of the
sins that the sinners intended by the text； had made themselves
guilty of。 He that would be saved by Christ； has an honourable
esteem of him； but they of Jerusalem preferred a murderer before him；
but as for him； they cried； Away； away with him； it is not fit that
he should live。 Perhaps thou wilt object； That thyself hast a
thousand times preferred a stinking lust before him： I answer； Be it
so； it is but what is common to men to do； nor doth the Lord Jesus
make such a foolish life a bar to thee； to forbid thy coming to him；
or a bond to his grace； that it might be kept from thee； but admits
of thy repentance； and offereth himself unto thee freely； as thou
standest among the Jerusalem sinners。
Take therefore encouragement； man； mercy is； by the text； held forth
to the biggest sinners； yea； put thyself into the number of the
worst； by reckoning that thou mayst be one of the first； and mayst
not be put off till the biggest sinners are served； for the biggest
sinners are first invited； consequently； if they come； they are like
to be the first that shall be served。 It was so with Jerusalem；
Jerusalem sinners were they that were first invited； and those of
them that came first （and there came three thousand of them the first
day they were invited； how many came afterwards none can tell）； they
were first served。
Put in thy name； man； among the biggest； lest thou art made to wait
till they are served。 You have some men that think themselves very
cunning； because they put up their names in their prayers among them
that feign it； saying； God； I thank thee I am not so bad as the
worst。 But believe it； if they be saved at all； they shall be saved
in the last place。 The first in their own eyes shall be served last；
and the last or worst shall be first。 The text insinuates it； 〃Begin
at Jerusalem；〃 and reason backs it； for they have most need。 Behold
ye； therefore； how God's ways are above ours； we are for serving the
worst last； God is for serving the worst first。 The man at the pool；
that to my thinking was longest in his disease； and most helpless as
to his cure； was first healed； yea； he only was healed； for we read
that Christ healed him； but we read not then that he healed one more
there！ John v。 1…10。
Wherefore； if thou wouldst soonest be served； put in thy name among
the very worst of sinners。 Say； when thou art upon thy knees； Lord；
here is a Jerusalem sinner！ a sinner of the biggest size！ one whose
burden is of the greatest bulk and heaviest weight！ one that cannot
stand long without sinking into hell； without thy supporting hand！
〃Be not thou far from me； O Lord！ O my strength； haste thou to help
me I say； put in thy name with Magdalen； with Manasseh； that thou
mayst fare as the Magdalen and the Manasseh sinners do。 The man in
the gospel made the desperate condition of his child an argument with
Christ to haste his cure： 〃Sir； come down；〃 saith he； 〃ere my child
die；〃 John iv。 49； and Christ regarded his haste； saying； 〃Go thy
way； thy son liveth；〃 ver。 50。 Haste requires haste。 David was for
speed； 〃Deliver me speedily；〃 〃Hear me speedily；〃 〃Answer me
speedily；〃 Psalm xxxi。 2； lxix。 17； cii。 2。 But why speedily？ I am
in 〃the net；〃 〃I am in trouble；〃 〃My days are consumed like smoke；〃
Psalm xxxi。 4； lxix。 17； cii。 3。 Deep calleth unto deep； necessity
calls for help； great necessity for present help。
Wherefore； I say； be ruled by me in this matter； feign not thyself
another man； if thou hast been a filthy sinner； but go in thy colours
to Jesus Christ； and put thyself among the most vile； and let him
alone to put thee among the children； Jer。 iii。 19。 Confess all that
thou knowest of thyself； I know thou wilt find it hard work to do
thus； especially if thy mind be legal； but do it； lest thou stay and
be deferred with the little sinners； until the great ones have had
their alms。 What do you think David intended when he said； his
wounds stunk and were corrupted； but to hasten God to have mercy upon
him； and not to defer his cure？ 〃Lord；〃 says he； 〃I am troubled； I
am bowed down greatly； I go mourning all the day long。〃 〃I am feeble
and sore broken； by reason of the disquietness of my heart；〃 Psalm
xxxviii。 3…8。
David knew what he did by all this； he knew that his making the worst
of his case； was the way to speedy help； and that a feigning and
dissembling the matter with God； was the next way to a demur as to
his forgiveness。
I have one thing more to offer for thy encouragement； who deemest
thyself one of the biggest sinners； and that is； thou art as it were
called by thy name； in the first place； to come in for mercy。 Thou
man of Jerusalem； hearken to thy call； men do so in co
