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in a net； Isa。 ii。 20。
Despair！ it drives a man to the study of his own ruin； and brings him
at last to be his own executioner； 2 Sam。 xvii。 23； Matt。 xxvii。 3…5。
Besides； I am persuaded also； that despair is the cause that there
are so many that would fain be Atheists in the world： For because
they have entertained a conceit that God will never be merciful to
them； therefore they labour to persuade themselves that there is no
God at all； as if their misbelief would kill God； or cause him to
cease to be。 A poor shift for an immortal soul； for a soul who
liketh not to retain God in its knowledge！ If this be the best that
despair can do； let it go； man； and betake thyself to faith； to
prayer； to wait for God； and to hope； in despite of ten thousand
doubts。 And for thy encouragement； take yet （as an addition to what
has already been said） the following scripture； 〃The Lord taketh
pleasure in them that fear him； in those that hope in his mercy；〃
Psal。 cxlvii。 11。
Whence note； They fear not God； that hope not in his mercy： also God
is angry with them that hope not in his mercy： for he only taketh
pleasure in them that hope。 He that believeth； or hath received his
testimony； 〃hath set to his seal that God is true；〃 John iii。 33； but
he that receiveth it not hath made him a liar； and that is a very
unworthy thing； 1 John v。 10； 11。 〃Let the wicked forsake his ways；
and the unrighteous man his thoughts； and let him return to the Lord；
and he will have mercy on him； and to our God； for he will abundantly
multiply pardons。〃 Perhaps thou art weary of thy ways； but art not
weary of thy thoughts； of thy unbelieving and despairing thoughts；
now； God also would have thee cast away these thoughts； as such which
he deserveth not at thy hands； for he will have mercy upon thee； and
he will abundantly pardon。
〃O fools； and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have
spoken！〃 Luke xxiv。 25。 Mark you here； slowness to believe is a
piece of folly。 Ay！ but sayst thou； I do believe some； and I believe
what can make against me。 Ay； but sinner； Christ Jesus here calls
thee fool for not believing all。 Believe all； and despair if thou
canst。 He that believes all； believes that text that saith； Christ
would have mercy preached first to the Jerusalem sinners。 He that
believeth all； believeth all the promises and consolations of the
word； and the promises and consolations of the word weigh heavier
than do all the curses and threatenings of the law； and mercy
rejoiceth against judgment。 Wherefore believe all； and mercy will to
thy conscience weigh judgment down； and so minister comfort to thy
soul。 The Lord take the yoke from off thy jaws； since he has set
meat before thee； Hos。 xi。 4； and help thee to remember that he is
pleased in the first place to offer mercy to the biggest sinners。
Sixthly； Since Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in the first
place to the biggest sinners； let souls see that they lay right hold
thereof； lest they； notwithstanding； indeed come short thereof。
Faith only knows how to deal with mercy； wherefore put not in the
place thereof presumption。 I have observed； that as there are herbs
and flowers in our gardens； so there are their counterfeits in the
field； only they are distinguished from the other by the name of wild
ones。 Why； there is faith； and wild faith； and wild faith is this
presumption。 I call it wild faith； because God never placed it in
his garden； his church； it is only to be found in the field； the
world。 I also call it wild faith； because it only grows up and is
nourished where other wild notions abound。 Wherefore take heed of
this； and all may be well； for this presumuptuousness is a very
heinous thing in the eyes of God： 〃The soul；〃 saith he； 〃that doeth
ought presumptuously （whether he be born in the land； or a stranger）；
the same reproacheth the Lord； and that soul shall be cut off from
among his people；〃 Numb。 xv。 30。
The thoughts of this made David tremble； and pray that God would hold
him back from presumptuous sins； and not suffer them to have dominion
over him； Psal。 xix。 13。
Now this presumption； then； puts itself in the place of faith； when
it tampereth with the promise for life； while the soul is a stranger
to repentance。 Wherefore you have in the text； to prevent doing
thus； both repentance and remission of sins to be offered to
Jerusalem； not remission without repentance： for all that repent not
shall perish； let them presume on grace and the promise while they
will； Luke xiii。 1…3。
Presumption； then； is that which severeth faith and repentance；
concluding； that the soul shall be saved by grace； though the man was
never made sorry for his sins； nor the love of the heart turned
therefrom。 This is to be self…willed； as Peter has it； and this is a
despising the word of the Lord； for that has put repentance and faith
together； Mark i。 15。 And 〃because he hath despised the word of the
Lord； and hath broken his commandment； that soul shall utterly be cut
off： his iniquity shall be upon him。〃 Numb。 xv。 31。
Let such therefore look to it； who yet are； and abide in their sins；
for such； if they hope； as they are； to be saved； presume upon the
grace of God。 Wherefore presumption and not hearkening to God's word
are put together； Deut。 xvii。 12。
Again； Then men presume when they are resolved to abide in their
sins； and yet expect to be saved by God's grace through Christ。 This
is as much as to say； God liketh sin as well as I do； and careth not
how men live； if so be they lean upon his Son。 Of this sort are they
that build up Zion with blood； and Jerusalem with iniquity； that
judge for reward； and teach for hire； and divine for money； and lean
upon the Lord； Mic。 iii。 10； 11。 This is doing things with an high
hand against the Lord our God； and a taking him； as it were； at the
catch。 This is； as we say among men； to seek to put a trick upon
God； as if he had not sufficiently fortified his proposals of grace
by his holy word； against all such kind of fools as these。 But look
to it。
Such will be found at the day of God； not among that great company of
Jerusalem sinners that shall be saved by grace； but among those that
have been the great abusers of the grace of God in the world。 Those
that say； Let us sin that grace may abound； and let us do evil that
good may come； their damnation is just。 And if so； they are a great
way off of that salvation that is by Jesus Christ presented to the
Jerusalem sinners。
I have therefore these things to propound to that Jerusalem sinner
that would know； if he may be so bold as to venture himself upon this
grace。
First； Dost thou see thy sins？
Secondly； Art thou weary of them？
Thirdly； Wouldst thou with all thy heart be saved by Jesus Christ？ I
dare say no less； I dare say no more。 But if it be truly thus with
thee； how great soever thy sins have been； how bad soever thou
feelest thy heart； how far soever thou art from thinking that God has
mercy for these： thou art the man； the Jerusalem sinner； that the
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 t