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us through Christ Jesus；〃 Eph。 ii。 4…7。
See； here is a design； God lets out his mercy to Ephesus of design；
even to shew to the ages to come the exceeding riches of his grace；
in his kindness to them through Christ Jesus。 And why to shew by
these the exceeding riches of his grace to the ages to come； through
Christ Jesus； but to allure them； and their children also； to come to
him； and to partake of the same grace through Christ Jesus？
But what was Paul； and the Ephesian sinners？ （of Paul we will speak
anon）。 These Ephesian sinners； they were men dead in sins； men that
walked according to the dictates and motions of the devil；
worshippers of Diana； that effeminate goddess； men far off from God；
aliens and strangers to all good things； such as were far off from
that； as I said； and consequently in a most deplorable condition。 As
the Jerusalem sinners were of the highest sort among the Jews； so
these Ephesian sinners were of the highest sort among the Gentiles；
Eph。 ii。 1…3； 11； 12； Acts xix。 35。
Wherefore as by the Jerusalem sinners； in saving them first； he had a
design to provoke others to come to him for mercy； so the same design
is here set on foot again； in his calling and converting the Ephesian
sinners； 〃That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches
of his grace；〃 says he； 〃in his kindness towards us through Christ
Jesus。〃 There is yet one hint behind。 It is said that God saved
these for his love； that is； as I think； for the setting forth； for
the commendations of his love； for the advance of his love； in the
hearts and minds of them that should come after。 As who should say；
God has had mercy upon； and been gracious to you； that he might shew
to others； for their encouragement； that they have ground to come to
him to be saved。 When God saves one great sinner； it is to encourage
another great sinner to come to him for mercy。
He saved the thief； to encourage thieves to come to him for mercy； he
saved Magdalen； to encourage other Magdalens to come to him for
mercy； he saved Saul； to encourage Sauls to come to him for mercy；
and this Paul himself doth say； 〃For this cause；〃 saith he； 〃I
obtained mercy； that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all
long…suffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe
on him to life everlasting；〃 1 Tim。 i。 16。
How plain are the words！ Christ； in saving of me； has given to the
world a pattern of his grace； that they might see and believe； and
come； and be saved； that they that are to be born hereafter might
believe on Jesus Christ to life everlasting。
But what was Paul？ Why； he tells you himself； I am； says he； the
chief of sinners： I was； says he； a blaspheme； a persecutor； an
injurious person； but I obtained mercy； 1 Tim。 i。 14； 15。 Ay； that
is well for you； Paul； but what advantage have we thereby？ Oh； very
much； saith he； for； 〃for this cause I obtained mercy； that in me
first； Jesus Christ might shew all long…suffering for a pattern to
them which shall believe on him to life everlasting。〃
Thus； therefore； you see that this third reason is of strength；
namely； that Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in the first place
to the biggest sinners； because； by their forgiveness and salvation；
others； hearing of it； will be encouraged the more to come to him for
mercy。
It may well therefore be said to God； Thou delightest in mercy； and
mercy pleases thee； Mich。 vii。 18。
But who believes that this was God's design in shewing mercy of old
namely； that we that come after might take courage to come to him for
mercy； or that Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in the first
place to the biggest sinners； to stir up others to come to him for
life？ This is not the manner of men； O God！
But David saw this betimes； therefore he makes this one argument with
God； that he would blot out his transgressions； that he would forgive
his adultery； his murders； and horrible hypocrisy。 Do it； O Lord；
saith he； do it； and 〃then will I teach transgressors thy ways； and
sinners shall be converted unto thee；〃 Psalm li。 7…13。
He knew that the conversion of sinners would be a work highly
pleasing to God； as being that which he had designed before he made
mountain or hill： wherefore he comes； and he saith； Save me； O Lord；
if thou wilt but save me； I will fall in with thy design； I will help
to bring what sinners to thee I can。 And； Lord； I am willing to be
made a preacher myself； for that I have been a horrible sinner：
wherefore； if thou shalt forgive my great transgressions； I shall be
a fit man to tell of thy wondrous grace to others。 Yea； Lord； I dare
promise； that if thou wilt have mercy upon me； it shall tend to the
glory of thy grace； and also to the increase of thy kingdom； for I
will tell it； and sinners will hear on't。 And there is nothing so
suiteth with the hearing sinner as mercy； and to be informed that God
is willing to bestow it upon him。 〃I will teach transgressors thy
ways； and sinners shall be converted unto thee。〃
Nor will Christ Jesus miss of his design in proffering of mercy in
the first place to the biggest sinners。 You know what work the Lord；
by laying hold of the woman of Samaria； made among the people there。
They knew that she was a town sinner； an adulteress； yea； one that
after the most audacious manner lived in uncleanness with a man that
was not her husband： but when she； from a turn upon her heart； went
into the city； and said to her neighbours； 〃Come；〃 Oh how they came！
how they flocked out of the city to Jesus Christ！ 〃Then they went
out of the city； and came to him。〃 〃And many of the Samaritans
（people perhaps as bad as herself） believed on him； for the saying of
the woman； which testified； saying； he told me all that ever I did；〃
John iv。 39。
That word； 〃He told me all that ever I did；〃 was a great argument
with them； for by that they gathered； that though he knew her to be
vile； yet he did not despise her； nor refuse to shew how willing he
was to communicate his grace unto her； and this fetched over； first
her； then them。
This woman； as I said； was a Samaritan sinner； a sinner of the worst
complexion： for the Jews abhorred to have ought to do with them；
ver。 9； wherefore none more fit than she to be made one of the decoys
of heaven； to bring others of these Samaritan wild…fowls under the
net of the grace of Christ。 And she did the work to purpose。 Many；
and many more of the Samaritans believed on him； ver。 40…42。 The
heart of man； though set on sin； will； when it comes once to a
persuasion that God is willing to have mercy upon us； incline to come
to Jesus Christ for life。
Witness those turn…aways from God that you also read of in Jeremiah；
for after they had heard three or four times over； that God had mercy
for backsliders； they broke out； and said； 〃Behold； we come unto
thee； for thou art the Lord our God。〃 Or as those in Hosea did； 〃For
in thee the fatherless find mercy；〃 Jer。 iii。 22； Hos。 xiv。 1…3。
Mercy； and the revelation thereof； is the only antidote against sin。
It is of a thawing nature； it will loose the heart that is frozen up
in sin； yea； it will make the unwilling willing