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to be such an one。
There are men that strive at the throne of grace for mercy； by
pleading the greatness of their necessity。 Now their plea； as to the
prevalency of it； lieth not in the counting up of the number； but in
the sense of the greatness of their sins； and in the vehemency of
their cry for pardon。 And it is observable； that though the
birthright was Ruben's； and； for his foolishness； given to the sons
of Joseph； yet Judah prevailed above his brethren； and of him came
the Messias； 1 Chron。 v。 1； 2。
There is a heavenly subtilty to be managed in this matter。 〃Thy
brother came with subtilty； and hath taken away thy blessing。〃 The
blessing belonged to Esau； but Jacob by his diligence made it his
own； Gen。 xxvii。 33。 The offer is to the biggest sinner； to the
biggest sinner first； but if he forbear to cry； the sinner that is a
sinner less by far than he； both as to number and the nature of
transgression； may get the blessing first； if he shall have grace to
bestir himself well； for the loudest cry is heard furthest； and the
most lamentable pierces soonest。
I therefore urge this head； not because I would have little sinners
go and tell God that they are little sinners； thereby to think to
obtain mercy； for； verily； so they are never like to have it： for
such words declare； that such a one hath no true sense at all of the
nature of his sins。
Sin； as I said； in the nature of it； is horrible； though it be but
one single sin as to act； yea； though it be but a sinful thought； and
so worthily calls for the damnation of the soul。
The comparison； then； of little and great sinners； is to go for good
sense among men。 But to plead the fewness of thy sins； or the
comparative harmlessness of their quantity before God； argueth no
sound knowledge of the nature of thy sin； and so no true sense of the
nature or need of mercy。
Little sinner； when therefore thou goest to God； though thou knowest
in thy conscience that thou； as to acts； art no thief； no murderer；
no whore； no liar； no false swearer； or the like； and in reason must
needs understand that thus thou art not so profanely vile as others；
yet when thou goest to God for mercy； know no man's sins but thine
own； make mention of no man's sins but thine own。 Also labour not to
lessen thy own； but magnify and greaten them by all just
circumstances； and be as if there was never a sinner in the world but
thyself。 Also cry out； as if thou wast the only undone man； and that
is the way to obtain God's mercy。
It is one of the comeliest sights in the world to see a little sinner
commenting upon the greatness of his sins； multiplying and
multiplying them to himself； till he makes them in his own eyes
bigger and higher than he seeth any other man's sins to be in the
world； and as base a thing it is to see a man do otherwise； and as
basely will come on it； Luke xviii。 10…14。
As； therefore； I said to the great sinner before； let him take heed
lest he presume； I say now to the little sinner； let him take heed
that he do not dissemble： for there is as great an aptness in the
little sinner to dissemble； as there is in the great one。 〃He that
hideth his sins shall not prosper；〃 be he a sinner little or great；
Prov。 xxviii。 13。
Eighthly； Would Jesus Christ have mercy offered； in the first place；
to the biggest sinners？ Then this shews the true cause why Satan
makes such head as he doth against him。
The Father and the Holy Spirit are well spoken of by all deluders and
deceived persons； Christ only is the rock of offence。 〃Behold I lay
in Zion a stumbling…stone and a rock of offence；〃 Rom。 ix。 33。 Not
that Satan careth for the Father or the Spirit more than he careth
for the Son； but he can let men alone with their notions of the
Father and the Spirit； for he knows they shall never enjoy the Father
nor the Spirit； if indeed they receive not the merits of the Son。
〃He that hath the Son； hath life； he that hath not the Son of God
hath not life；〃 however they may boast themselves of the Father and
the Spirit； 1 John v。 12。 Again； 〃Whosoever transgresseth； and
abideth not in the doctrine of Christ； hath not God： he that abideth
in the doctrine of Christ； hath both the Father and the Son；〃 2 John
i。 9。
Christ； and Christ only； is he that can make us capable to enjoy God
with life and joy to all eternity。 Hence he calls himself the way to
the Father； the true and living way； John xiv。 6； Heb。 x。 19； 20； for
we cannot come to the Father but by him。 Satan knows this； therefore
he hates him。 Deluded persons are ignorant of this； and； therefore；
they are so led up and down by Satan by the nose as they are。
There are many things by which Satan has taken occasion to greaten
his rage against Jesus Christ。
As； first； his love to man； and then the many expressions of that
love。 He hath taken man's nature upon him； he hath in that nature
fulfilled the law to bring in righteousness for man； and hath spilt
his blood for the reconciling of men to God； he hath broke the neck
of death； put away sin； destroyed the works of the devil； and got
into his own hands the keys of death： and all these are heinous
things to Satan。 He cannot abide Christ for this。 Besides； he hath
eternal life in himself； and that to bestow upon us； and we in all
likelihood are to possess the very places from which the Satans by
transgression fell； if not places more glorious。 Wherefore he must
needs be angry。 And is it not a vexatious thing to him； that we
should be admitted to the throne of grace by Christ； while he stands
bound over in chains of darkness； to answer for his rebellions
against God and his Son； at the terrible day of judgment。 Yea； we
poor dust and ashes must become his judges； and triumph over him for
ever： and all this long of Jesus Christ； for he is the meritorious
cause of all this。
Now though Satan seeks to be revenged for this； yet he knows it is in
vain to attack the person of Christ； he has overcome him： therefore
he tampers with a company of silly men； that he may vilify him by
them。 And they； bold fools as they are； will not spare to spit in
his face。 They will rail at his person； and deny the very being of
it； they will rail at his blood； and deny the merit and worth of it。
They will deny the very end why he accomplished the law； and by
jiggs； and tricks； and quirks； which he helpeth them to； they set up
fond names and images in his place； and give the glory of a Saviour
to them。 Thus Satan worketh under the name of Christ； and his
ministers under the name of the ministers of righteousness。
And by his wiles and stratagems he undoes a world of men； but there
is a seed； and they shall serve him； and it shall be counted to the
Lord for a generation。 These shall see their sins； and that Christ
is the way to happiness。 These shall venture themselves； both body
and soul； upon his worthiness。
All this Satan knows； and therefore his rage is kindled the more。
Wherefore； according to his ability and allowance； he assaulteth；
tempteth； abuseth； and stirs up what he can to be hurtful to these
poor people； that he may； while his time shall last； make it as hard
and diffi