the jerusalem sinner saved-第20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！
Israel took courage to go forward； though the sea stood in their way
like a devouring gulf； and the host of the Egyptians follow them at
the heels； yet the sea gives place； and their enemies were as still
as a stone till they were gone over； Exod。 xii。 8； chap。 xiv。 13； 14；
21； 22； chap。 xv。 16。
There is nothing like faith to help at a pinch； faith dissolves
doubts as the sun drives away the mists。 And that you may not be put
out； know your time； as I said； of believing it always。 There are
times when some graces may be out of use； but there is no time
wherein faith can be said to be so。 Wherefore faith must be always
in exercise。
Faith is the eye； is the mouth； is the hand； and one of these is of
use all day long。 Faith is to see； to receive； to work； or to eat；
and a Christian should be seeing or receiving； or working； or feeding
all day long。 Let it rain； let it blow； let it thunder； let it
lighten； a Christian must still believe： 〃At what time；〃 said thee
good man； 〃I am afraid； I will trust in thee；〃 Psal。 vi。 2； 3。
Nor can we have a better encouragement to do this； than is by the
text set before us； even an open heart for a Jerusalem sinner。 And
if for a Jerusalem sinner to come； then for such an one when come。
If for such a one to be saved； then for such a one that is saved。 If
for such a one to be pardoned his great transgressions； then for such
a one who is pardoned these； to come daily to Jesus Christ； too； to
be cleansed and set free from his common infirmities； and from the
iniquities of his holy things。
Therefore let the poor sinner that would be saved labour for skill to
make the best improvement of the grace of Christ to help him against
the temptations of the devil and his sins。
Tenthly； Would Jesus Christ have mercy offered in the first place to
the biggest sinners？ Let those men consider this； that （have； or）
may in a day of trial have spoken or done what their profession or
conscience told them they should not； and that have the guilt and
burden thereof upon their consciences。
Whether a thing be wrong or right； guilt may pursue him that doth
contrary to his conscience。 But suppose a man should deny his God；
or his Christ； or relinquish a good profession； and be under the real
guilt thereof； shall he therefore conclude he is gone for ever？ Let
him come again with Peter's tears； and no doubt he shall obtain
Peter's forgiveness。 For the text includes the biggest sinners。
And it is observable； that before this clause was put into this
commission； Peter was pardoned his horrible revolt from his Master。
He that revolteth in the day of trial； if he is not shot quite dead
upon the place； but is sensible of his wound； and calls out for a
surgeon； shall find his Lord at hand to pour wine and oil into his
wounds； that he may again be healed； and to encourage him to think
that there may be mercy for him： besides what we find recorded of
Peter； you read in the Acts； some were； through the violence of their
trials； compelled to blaspheme； and yet are called saints； Acts xxvi。
9…11。
Hence you have a promise or two that speak concerning such kind of
men； to encourage us to think that at least some of them shall come
back to the Lord their God。 〃Shall they fall；〃 saith he； 〃and not
arise？ Shall they turn away； and not return？〃 Jer。 viii。 4。 〃And in
that day I will assemble her that halteth； and I will gather her that
was driven out； and her that I have afflicted。 And I will make her
that halteth a remnant； and her that was cast off a strong nation；
and the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion for ever。〃 What we
are to understand by her that halteth； is best expressed by the
Prophet Elijah； Mic。 iv。 6； 7； Zeph。 iii。 19； 1 Kings xviii。 21。
I will conclude； then； that for them that have halted。 or may halt；
the Lord has mercy in the bank； and is willing to accept them if they
return to him again。
Perhaps they may never be after that of any great esteem in the house
of God； but if the Lord will admit them to favour and forgiveness： O
exceeding and undeserved mercy！ See Ezekiel xliv。 10…14。
Thou； then； that mayst be the man； remember this； that there is mercy
also for thee。 Return therefore to God； and to his Son； who hath yet
in store for thee； and who will do thee good。
But perhaps thou wilt say； he doth not save all revolters； and；
therefore； perhaps not me。
Answr。 Art thou returning to God？ If thou art returning； thou art
the man； 〃Return ye backsliding children； and I will heal your
backslidings；〃 Jer。 iii。 22。
Some； as I said； that revolt； are shot dead upon the place； and for
them； who can help them？ But for them that cry out of their wounds；
it is a sign they are yet alive； and if they use the means in time；
doubtless they may be healed。
Christ Jesus has bags of mercy that were never yet broken up or
unsealed。 Hence it is said； he has goodness laid up； things reserved
in heaven for his。 And if he breaks up one of these bags； who can
tell what he can do！
Hence his love is said to be such as passeth knowledge； and that his
riches are unsearchable。 He has； no body knows what； for no body
knows whom： he has by him in store for such as seem in the view of
all men to be gone beyond recovery。 For this the text is plain。
What man or angel could have thought that the Jerusalem sinners had
been yet on this side of an impossibility of enjoying life and mercy？
Hadst thou seen their actions； and what horrible things they did to
the Son of God； yea； how stoutly they backed what they did with
resolves and endeavours to persevere； when they had killed his
person； against his name and doctrine； and that there was not found
among them all that while； as we read of； the least remorse or regret
for these their doings； couldst thou have imagined that mercy would
ever have took hold of them； at least so soon！ Nay； that they
should； of all the world； be counted those only meet to have it
offered to them in the very first place！ For so my text commands；
saying； 〃Preach repentance and remission of sins among all nations；
beginning at Jerusalem。〃
I tell you the thing is a wonder； and must for ever stand for a
wonder among the sons of men。 It stands also for an everlasting
invitation and allurement to the biggest sinners to come to Christ
for mercy。
Now since； in the opinion of all men； the revolter is such a one； if
he has； as I said before； any life in him； let him take encouragement
to come again； that he may live by Christ。
Eleventhly； Would Jesus Christ have mercy offered in the first place
to the biggest sinners？ Then let God's ministers tell them so。
There is an incidence in us； I know not how it doth come about； when
we are converted； to contemn them that are left behind。 Poor fools
as we are； we forget that we ourselves were so； Tit。 iii。 2； 3。
But would it not become us better； since we have tasted that the Lord
is gracious； to carry it towards them so； that we may give them
convincing ground to believe； that we have found that mercy which
also sets open the door for them to come and partake with us。
Ministers； I say； should do thus； both by their doctrine； and in all
other respects。
Austerity doth not become us； neither in doctrine nor in
conversation。 We ourselves live by grace； let us give as we receive；
and labour to persuade our fellow…sinners which God has left behind
us； to follow after； that they may partake with us of grace。 We are
saved by grace； let us live like them that are gracious。 Let all our
things （to the world） be done in charity towards them； pity them；
pray for them； be familiar with them for their good。 Let us lay
aside our foolish； worldly； carnal grandeur； let us not walk the
streets； and have such behaviours as signify we are scarce for
touching of the poor ones that are left behind； no not with a pair of
tongs。 It becomes us not thus to do。
Remember your Lord； he was familiar with publicans and sinners to a
proverb； 〃Behold a gluttonous man； and a wine…bibber； a friend of
publicans and sinners；〃 Matt。 xi。 19。 The first part； concerning his
gluttonous eating and drinking； to be sure； was an horrible slande
