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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 difficult for them to go to eternal glory as he can。 Oftentimes
he abuses them with wrong apprehensions of God； and with wrong
apprehensions of Christ。 He also casts them into the mire； to the
reproach of religion； the shame of their brethren； the derision of
the world； and dishonour of God。
He holds our hands while the world buffets us； he puts bear…skins
upon us； and then sets the dogs at us。 He bedaubeth us with his own
foam； and then tempts us to believe that that bedaubing comes from
ourselves。
Oh！ the rage and the roaring of this lion； and the hatred that he
manifests against the Lord Jesus； and against them that are purchased
with his blood！ But yet； in the midst of all this； the Lord Jesus
sends forth his herald to proclaim in the nations his love to the
world； and to invite them to come in to him for life。 Yea； his
invitation is so large； that it offereth his mercy in the first place
to the biggest sinners of every age； which augments the devil's rage
the more。
Wherefore； as I said before； fret he； fume he； the Lord Jesus will
divide the spoil with this great one； yea； he shall divide the spoil
with the strong； because he hath poured out his soul unto death； and
he was numbered with the transgressors； and he bare the sin of many；
and made intercession for the transgressors； Isa。 liii。 12。
Ninthly； Would Jesus Christ have mercy offered in the first place to
the biggest sinners？ Let the tempted harp upon this string for their
help and consolation。 The tempted wherever he dwells； always thinks
himself the biggest sinner； one most unworthy of eternal life。
This is Satan's master…argument： thou art a horrible sinner； a
hypocrite； one that has a profane heart； and one that is an utter
stranger to a work of grace。 I say this is his maul； his club； his
master…piece； he doth with this as some do with their most enchanting
songs； sings them everywhere。 I believe there are but few saints in
the world that have not had this temptation sounding in their ears。
But were they but aware； Satan by all this does but drive them to the
gap out at which they should go； and so escape his roaring。
Saith he； thou art a great sinner； a horrible sinner； a profane
hearted wretch； one that cannot be matched for a vile one in the
country。
And all this while Christ says to his ministers； offer mercy； in the
first place； to the biggest sinners。 So that this temptation drives
thee directly into the arms of Jesus Christ。
Were therefore the tempted but aware； he might say； Ay； Satan； so I
am； I am a sinner of the biggest size； and therefore have most need
of Jesus Christ； yea； because I am such a wretch； therefore Jesus
Christ calls me； yea； he calls me first： the first proffer of the
Gospel is to be made to the Jerusalem sinner： I am he； wherefore
stand back Satan； make a lane； my right is first to come to Jesus
Christ。
This now will be like for like。 This would foil the devil： this
would make him say； I must not deal with this man thus； for then I
put a sword into his hand to cut off my head。
And this is the meaning of Peter； when he saith； 〃Resist him stedfast
in the faith；〃 1 Pet。 v。 9。 And of Paul； when he saith； 〃Take the
shield of faith； wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery
darts of the wicked；〃 Eph。 vi。 16。
Wherefore is it said； 〃Begin at Jerusalem；〃 if the Jerusalem sinner
is not to have the benefit of it？ And if I am to have the benefit of
it； let me call it to mind when Satan haunts me with the continual
remembrance of my sins； of my Jerusalem sins。 Satan and my
conscience say I am the biggest sinner；Christ offereth mercy； in
the first place； to the biggest sinners。 Nor is the manner of the
offer other but such as suiteth with my mind。 I am sorry for my sin；
yea； sorry at my heart that ever sinful thought did enter； or find
the least entertainment in my wicked mind； and might I obtain my
wish； I would never more that my heart should be a place for ought
but the grace； and spirit； and faith of the Lord Jesus。
I speak not this to lessen my wickedness； I would not for all the
world but be placed by mine own conscience in the very front of the
biggest sinners； that I might be one of the first that are beckoned
by the gracious hand of Jesus the Saviour； to come to him for mercy。
Well； sinner； thou now speakest like a Christian； but say thus in a
strong spirit in the hour of temptation； and then thou wilt； to thy
commendation and comfort； quit thyself well。
This improving of Christ in dark hours； is the life； though the
hardest part of our Christianity。 We should neither stop at
darkness； nor at the raging of our lusts； but go on in a way of
venturing and casting the whole of our affairs for the next world at
the foot of Jesus Christ。 This is the way to make the darkness
light； and also to allay the raging of our corruption。
The first time the Passover was eaten； was in the night； and when
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； g