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hue； yet now； I say； they are in their shining and heavenly robes
before the throne of God and of the Lamb； blessing for ever and ever
that Son of God for their salvation； who died for them upon the tree；
admiring that ever it should come into their hearts once to think of
coming to God by Christ； but above all； blessing God for granting of
them light to see those encouragements in his testament； without
which； without doubt； they had been daunted and sunk down under guilt
of sin and despair； as their fellow…sinners have done。
But now they also are witnesses for God； and for his grace against an
unbelieving world； for； as I said； they shall come to convince the
world of their speeches； their hard and unbelieving words； that they
have spoken concerning the mercy of God； and the merits of the
passion of his blessed Son Jesus Christ。
But will it not； think you； strangely put to silence all such
thoughts； and words； and reasonings of the ungodly before the bar of
God？ Doubtless it will； yea and will send them away from his
presence also； with the greatest guilt that possibly can fasten upon
the consciences of men。
For what will sting like this？I have； through mine own foolish；
narrow； unworthy； undervaluing thoughts； of the love and ability of
Christ to save me； brought myself to everlasting ruin。 It is true； I
was a horrible sinner； not one in a hundred did live so vile a life
as I： but this should not have kept me from closing with Jesus
Christ： I see now that there are abundance in glory that once were
as bad as I have been： but they were saved by faith； and I am damned
by unbelief。
Wretch that I am！ why did not I give glory to the redeeming blood of
Jesus？ Why did I not humbly cast my soul at his blessed footstool
for mercy？ Why did I judge of his ability to save me by the voice of
my shallow reason； and the voice of a guilty conscience？ Why betook
not I myself to the holy word of God？ Why did I not read and pray
that I might understand； since now I perceive that God said then； he
giveth liberally to them that pray； and upbraideth not； Jam。 i。 5。
It is rational to think； that by such cogitations as these the
unbelieving world will be torn in pieces before the judgment of
Christ； especially those that have lived where they did or might have
heard the gospel of the grace of God。 Oh！ that saying； 〃It shall be
more tolerable for Sodom at the judgment than for them；〃 will be
better understood。 See Luke x。 8…12。
This reason； therefore； standeth fast； namely； that Christ； by
offering mercy in the first place to the biggest sinner now； will
stop all mouths of the impenitent at the day of judgment； and cut off
all excuse that shall be attempted to be made （from the thoughts of
the greatness of their sins） why they came not to him。
I have often thought of the day of judgment； and how God will deal
with sinners at that day； and I believe it will be managed with that
sweetness； with that equitableness； with that excellent
righteousness； as to every sin； and circumstance； and aggravation
thereof； that men that are damned； before the judgment is over shall
receive such conviction of the righteous judgment of God upon them；
and of their deserts of hell…fire； that they shall in themselves
conclude that there is all the reason in the world that they should
be shut out of heaven； and go to hell…fire： 〃These shall go away
into everlasting punishment；〃 Matt。 xxv。 46。
Only this will tear them； that they have missed of mercy and glory；
and obtained everlasting damnation through their unbelief； but it
will tear but themselves； but their own souls； they will gnash upon
themselves； for in that mercy was offered to the chief of them in the
first place； and yet they were damned for rejecting of it； they were
damned for forsaking what they had a sort of propriety in； for
forsaking their own mercy。
And thus much for the reasons。 I will conclude with a word of
application。
THE APPLICATION。
First； Would Jesus Christ have mercy offered in the first place to
the biggest sinners？ then this shews us how to make a right judgment
of the heart of Christ to men。 Indeed we have advantage to guess at
the goodness of his heart； by many things； as by his taking our
nature upon him； his dying for us； his sending his word and ministers
to us； and all that we might be saved。 But this of beginning to
offer mercy to Jerusalem； is that which heightens all the rest； for
this doth not only confirm to us； that love was the cause of his
dying for us； but it shews us yet more the depth of that love。 He
might have died for us； and yet have extended the benefit of his
death to a few； as one might call them； of the best conditioned
sinners； to those who； though they were weak； and could not but sin；
yet made not a trade of sinning； to those that sinned not
lavishingly。 There are in the world； as one may call them； the
moderate sinners； the sinners that mix righteousness with their
pollutions； the sinners that though they be sinners； do what on their
part lies （some that are blind would think so） that they might be
saved。 I say； it had been love； great love； if he had died for none
but such； and sent his love to such： but that he should send out
conditions of peace to the biggest of sinners； yea； that they should
be offered to them first of all； （for so he means when he says；
〃Begin at Jerusalem；〃） this is wonderful！ this shews his heart to
purpose； as also the heart of God his Father； who sent him to do
thus。
There is nothing more incident to men that are awake in their souls；
than to have wrong thoughts of God； thoughts that are narrow； and
that pinch and pen up his mercy to scanty and beggarly conclusions；
and rigid legal conditions； supposing that it is rude； and an
intrenching upon his majesty； to come ourselves； or to invite others；
until we have scraped and washed； and rubbed off as much of our dirt
from us as we think is convenient； to make us somewhat orderly and
handsome in his sight。 Such never knew what these words meant；
〃Begin at Jerusalem：〃 yea； such in their hearts have compared the
Father and his Son to niggardly rich men； whose money comes from them
like drops of blood。 True； says such； God has mercy； but he is loath
to part with it； you must please him well； if you get any from him；
he is not so free as many suppose； nor is he so willing to save as
some pretended gospellers imagine。 But I ask such； if the Father and
Son be not unspeakably free to shew mercy； why was this clause put
into our commission to preach the gospel？ Yea； why did he say；
〃Begin at Jerusalem：〃 for when men； through the weakness of their
wits； have attempted to shew other reasons why they should have the
first proffer of mercy； yet I can prove （by many undeniable reasons）
that they of Jerusalem （to whom the apostles made the first offer；
according as they were commanded） were the biggest sinners that ever
did breathe upon the face of God's earth； （set the unpardonable sin
aside）； upon which my doctrine stands like a rock； that Jesus the Son
of God would have mercy in the first place offered to the biggest
sinners： and if this doth not shew the heart of the Father and the
Son to be infinitely free in bestowing forgiveness of sins； I confess
myself mistaken。
Neither is there； set this aside； another argument like it； to shew
us the willingness of Christ to save sinners； for； as was said
before； all the rest of the signs of Christ's mercifulness might have
been limited to sinners that are so and so qualified； but when he
says； 〃Begin at Jerusalem；〃 the line is stretched out to the utmost：
no man can imagine beyond it； and it is folly here to pinch and pare；
to narrow； and seek to bring it within scanty bounds； for he plainly
saith； 〃Begin at Jerusalem；〃 the biggest sinner is the biggest
sinner； the biggest is the Jerusalem sinner。
It is true； he saith； that repentance and remission of sins must go
together； but yet remission is sent to the chief； the Jerusalem
sinner； nor doth repentance lessen at all the Jerusalem sinner's
crimes； it diminisheth none of his sins； nor causes that there should
be so much as half a one the fewer： it only puts a stop to the
Jerusalem sinner's course； and makes him willing to be saved freely
by grace； and for time to come to be governed by that blessed word
that has brought the tidings of good things to him。
Besides； no man shews himself willing to be saved that repenteth not
of his deeds； for he that goes on still in his trespasses； declares
that he is resolved to pursue his own damnation further。
Learn then to judge of the largeness of God's heart； and of the heart
of his Son Jesus Christ； by the word； judge not thereof by feeling；
nor by the reports of thy conscience； conscience is oftentimes here
befooled and made to go quite beside the word。 It was judging
without the word that made David say； I am cast off from God's eyes；
and shall perish one day by the hand of Saul； Psalm xxxi。 22； 1 Sam。
xxvii。 1。
The word had told him another thing； namely； that he should be king
in his stead。 Our text says also； that Jesus Christ bids preachers；
in their preaching repentance and r