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receive； to shine。 We love to see things that bear a good gloss；
yea； we choose to buy such kind of matter to work upon； as will； if
wrought up to what we intend； cast that lustre that we desire。
Candles that burn not bright； we like not： wood that is green will
rather smother； and sputter； and smoke； and crack； and flounce； than
cast a brave light and a pleasant heat： wherefore great folks care
not much； not so much for such kind of things； as for them that will
better answer their ends。
Hence Christ desires the biggest sinner； in him there is matter to
work by； to wit； a great deal of sin； for as by the tallow of the
candle； the fire takes occasion to burn the brighter； so by the sin
of the soul； grace takes occasion to shine the clearer。 Little
candles shine but little； for there wanteth matter for the fire to
work upon； but in the great sinner； here is more matter for grace to
work by。 Faith shines； when it worketh towards Christ； through the
sides of many and great transgressors； and so does love； for that
much is forgiven。 And what matter can be found in the soul for
humility to work by so well； as by a sight that I have been and am an
abominable sinner？ And the same is to be said of patience； meekness；
gentleness； self…denial； or of any other grace。 Grace takes occasion
by the vileness of the man to shine the more； even as by the
ruggedness of a very strong distemper or disease； the virtue of the
medicine is best made manifest。 Where sin abounds； grace much more
abounds； Rom。 v。 20。 A black string makes the neck look whiter；
great sins make grace burn clear。 Some say； when grace and a good
nature meet together； they do make shining Christians： but I say；
when grace and a great sinner meet； and when grace shall subdue that
great sinner to itself； and shall operate after its kind in the soul
of that great sinner； then we have a shining Christian； witness all
those of whom mention was made before。
Abraham was among the idolaters when in the land of Assyria； and
served idols with his kindred on the other side of the flood； Jos。
xxiv。 2； Gen。 xi。 31。 But who； when called； was there in the world；
in whom grace shone so bright as in him？
The Thessalonians were idolaters before the word of God came to them；
but when they had received it； they became examples to all that did
believe in Macedonia and Achaia； 1 Thess。 i。 6…10。
God the Father； and Jesus Christ his Son； are for having things seen；
for having the word of life held forth。 They light not a candle that
it might be put under a bushel； or under a bed； but on a candlestick；
that all that come in may see the light； Matt。 v。 15； Mark iv。 21；
Luke viii。 16； chap。 xi。 33。
And； I say； as I said before； in whom is light like so to shine； as
in the souls of great sinners？
When the Jewish Pharisees dallied with the gospel； Christ threatened
to take it from them； and to give it to the barbarous heathens and
idolaters。 Why so？ For they； saith he； will bring forth the fruits
thereof in their season： 〃Therefore say I unto you； The kingdom of
God shall be taken from you； and given to a nation bringing forth the
fruits thereof；〃 Matt。 xxi。 41…43。
I have often marvelled at our youth； and said in my heart； What
should be the reason that they should be so generally at this day
debauched as they are？ For they are now profane to amazement； and
sometimes I have thought one thing； and sometimes another； that is；
why God should suffer it so to be。 At last I have thought of this：
How if the God； whose ways are past finding out； should suffer it so
to be now； that he might make of some of them the more glorious
saints hereafter。 I know sin is of the devil； but it cannot work in
the world without permission： and if it happens to be as I have
thought； it will not be the first time that God the Lord hath caught
Satan in his own design。 For my part； I believe that the time is at
hand； that we shall see better saints in the world than has been seen
in it this many a day。 And this vileness； that at present does so
much swallow up our youth； is one cause of my thinking so： for out
of them； for from among them； when God sets to his hand； as of old；
you shall see what penitent ones； what trembling ones； and what
admirers of grace； will be found to profess the gospel to the glory
of God by Christ。
Alas！ we are a company of worn…out Christians； our moon is in the
wane； we are much more black than white； more dark than light； we
shine but a little； grace in the most of us is decayed。 But I say；
when they of these debauched ones that are to be saved shall be
brought in； when these that look more like devils than men shall be
converted to Christ （and I believe several of them will）； then will
Christ be exalted； grace adored； the word prized； Zion's path better
trodden； and men in the pursuit of their own salvation； to the
amazement of them that are left behind。
Just before Christ came into the flesh； the world was degenerated as
it is now： the generality of the men in Jerusalem； were become
either high and famous for hypocrisy； or filthy base in their lives。
The devil also was broke loose in a hideous manner； and had taken
possession of many： yea； I believe that there was never generation
before nor since； that could produce so many possessed with devils；
deformed； lame； blind； and infected with monstrous diseases； as that
generation could。 But what was the reason thereof； I mean the reason
from God？ Why one （and we may sum up more in that answer that Christ
gave to his disciples concerning him that was born blind） was； that
the works of God might be made manifest in them； and that the Son of
God might be glorified thereby； John ix。 2； 3； chap。 xi。 4。
Now if these devils and diseases； as they possessed men then； were to
make way and work for an approaching Christ in person； and for the
declaring of his power； why may we not think that now； even now also；
he is ready to come by his Spirit in the gospel to heal many of the
debaucheries of our age？ I cannot believe that grace will take them
all； for there are but few that are saved； but yet it will take some；
even some of the worst of men； and make blessed ones of them。 But； O
how these ringleaders in vice will then shine in virtue！ They will
be the very pillars in churches； they will be as an ensign in the
land。 〃The Lord their God shall save them in that day as the flock
of his people： for they shall be as the stones of a crown； lifted up
as an ensign upon his land；〃 Zech。 ix。 16。 But who are these？ Even
idolatrous Ephraim； and backsliding Judah； ver。 13。
I know there is ground to fear； that the iniquity of this generation
will be pursued with heavy judgments： but that will not hinder what
we have supposed。 God took him a glorious church out of bloody
Jerusalem； yea； out of the chief of the sinners there； and left the
rest to be taken and spoiled； and sold； thirty for a penny； in the
nations where they were captives。 The gospel working gloriously in a
place； to the seizing upon many of the ringleading sinners thereof；
promiseth no security to the rest； but rather threateneth them with
the heavie