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Word of God has conquered； and to whom it offereth free remission of
sins； by the redemption that is in Jesus Christ。
When the jailor cried out； 〃Sirs； What must I do to be saved？〃 The
answer was； 〃Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ； and thou shalt be
saved。〃 He that sees his sins aright； is brought to his wit's end by
them； and he that is so； is willing to part from them； and to be
saved by the grace of God。
If this be thy case； fear not； give no way to despair； thou presumest
not； if thou believest to life everlasting in Jesus Christ： yea；
Christ is prepared for such as thou art。
Therefore take good courage and believe。 The design of Satan is to
tell the presumptuous； that their presuming on mercy is good； but to
persuade the believer； that his believing is impudent bold dealing
with God。 I never heard a presumptuous man in my life say that he
was afraid that he presumed； but I have heard many an honest humble
soul say； that they have been afraid that their faith has been
presumption。 Why should Satan molest those whose ways he knows will
bring them to him？ And who can think that he should be quiet when
men take the right course to escape his hellish snares？ This；
therefore； is the reason why the truly humbled is opposed； while the
presumptuous goes on by wind and tide。 The truly humble Satan hates；
but he laughs to see the foolery of the other。
Does thy hand and heart tremble？ Upon thee the promise smiles。 〃To
this man will I look；〃 says God； 〃even to him that is poor； and of a
contrite spirit； and trembles at my word；〃 Isa。 lxvi。 2。
What； therefore； I have said of presumption concerns not the humble
in spirit at all。 I therefore am for gathering up the stones； and
for taking the stumblingblocks out of the way of God's people： and
forewarning of them that lay the stumblingblock of their iniquity
before their faces； and that are for presuming upon God's mercy； and
let them look to themselves； Ezek。 xiv。 6…8。
Also our text stands firm as ever it did； and our observation is
still of force； that Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in the
first place to the biggest sinners。 So then let none despair； let
none presume； let none despair that are sorry for their sins； and
would be saved by Jesus Christ； let none presume that abide in the
liking of their sins； though they seem to know the exceeding grace of
Christ； for though the door stands wide open for the reception of the
penitent； yet it is fast enough barred and bolted against the
presumptuous sinner。 Be not deceived； God is not mocked； whatsoever
a man sows； that he shall reap。 It cannot be that God should be
wheedled out of his mercy； or prevailed upon by lips of
dissimulation； he knows them that trust in him； and that sincerely
come to him by Christ for mercy； Nahum i。 7。
It is then not the abundance of sins committed； but the not coming
heartily to God by Christ for mercy； that shuts men out of doors。
And though their not coming heartily may be said to be but a sin； yet
it is such a sin as causeth that all thy other sins abide upon thee
unforgiven。
God complains of this。 〃They have not cried unto me with their
heart； they turned； but not to the most High。 They turned
feignedly；〃 Jer。 iii。 10； Hos。 vii。 14； 16。
Thus doing； his soul hates； but the penitent； humble； brokenhearted
sinner； be his transgressions red as scarlet； red like crimson； in
number as the sand； though his transgressions cry to heaven against
him for vengeance； and seem there to cry louder than do his prayers；
or tears； or groans for mercy； yet he is safe。 To this man God will
look； Isa。 i。 18； chap lxvi。 2。
Seventhly； Would Jesus Christ have mercy offered in the first place
to the biggest sinners？ Then here is ground for those that； as to
practice； have not been such； to come to him for mercy。
Although there is no sin little of itself； because it is a
contradiction of the nature and majesty of God； yet we must admit of
divers numbers； and also of aggravations。 Two sins are not so many
as three； nor are three that are done in ignorance so big as one that
is done against light； against knowledge and conscience。 Also there
is the child in sin； and a man in sin that has his hairs gray； and
his skin wrinkled for very age。 And we must put a difference betwixt
these sinners also。 For can it be that a child of seven； or ten； or
sixteen years old； should be such a sinnera sinner so vile in the
eye of the law as he is who has walked according to the course of
this world； forty； fifty； sixty； or seventy years？ Now the youth；
this stripling； though he is a sinner； is but a little sinner； when
compared with such。
Now； I say； if there be room for the first sort； for those of the
biggest size； certainly there is room for the lesser size？ If there
be a door wide enough for a giant to go in at； there is certainly
room for a dwarf。 If Christ Jesus has grace enough to save great
sinners； he has surely grace enough to save little ones。 If he can
forgive five hundred pence； for certain he can forgive fifty； Luke
vii。 41； 42。
But you said before； that the little sinners must stand by until the
great ones have received their grace； and that is discouraging！
I answer； there are two sorts of little sinners； such as are so； and
such as feign themselves so。 They are those that feign themselves
so； that I intended there； and not those that are indeed
comparatively so。 Such as feign themselves so may wait long enough
before they obtain forgiveness。
But again； a sinner may be comparatively a little sinner； and
sensibly a great one。 There are then two sorts of greatness in sin；
greatness by reason of number； greatness by reason of thoroughness of
conviction of the horrible nature of sin。 In this last sense； he
that has but one sin； if such a one could be found； may in his own
eyes find himself the biggest sinner in the world。 Let this man or
this child therefore put himself among the great sinners； and plead
with God as great sinners do； and expect to be saved with the great
sinners； and as soon and as heartily as they。
Yea； a little sinner； that comparatively is truly so； if he shall
graciously give way to conviction； and shall in God's light
diligently weigh the horrible nature of his own sins； may yet sooner
obtain forgiveness for them at the hands of the heavenly Father； than
he that has ten times his sins； and so cause to cry ten times harder
to God for mercy。
For the grievousness of the cry is a great thing with God； for if he
will hear the widow； if she cries at all； how much more if she cries
most grievously？ Exod。 xxii。 22； 23。
It is not the number； but the true sense of the abominable nature of
sin； that makes the cry for pardon lamentable。 He； as I said； that
has many sins； may not cry so loud in the ears of God as he that has
far fewer； he； in our present sense； that is in his own eyes the
biggest sinner； is he that soonest findeth mercy。
The offer then is to the biggest sinner； to the biggest sinner first；
and the mercy is first obtained by him that first confesseth himself
to be such an one。
There are men that strive at the throne of grace f