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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； guilt may pursue him that doth
contrary to his conscience。 But suppose a man should deny his God；
or his Christ； or relinquish a good profession； and be under the real
guilt thereof； shall he therefore conclude he is gone for ever？ Let
him come again with Peter's tears； and no doubt he shall obtain
Peter's forgiveness。 For the text includes the biggest sinners。
And it is observable； that before this clause was put into this
commission； Peter was pardoned his horrible revolt from his Master。
He that revolteth in the day of trial； if he is not shot quite dead
upon the place； but is sensible of his wound； and calls out for a
surgeon； shall find his Lord at hand to pour wine and oil into his
wounds； that he may again be healed； and to encourage him to think
that there may be mercy for him： besides what we find recorded of
Peter； you read in the Acts； some were； through the violence of their
trials； compelled to blaspheme； and yet are called saints； Acts xxvi。
9…11。
Hence you have a promise or two that speak concerning such kind of
men； to encourage us to think that at least some of them shall come
back to the Lord their God。 〃Shall they fall；〃 saith he； 〃and not
arise？ Shall they turn away； and not return？〃 Jer。 viii。 4。 〃And in
that day I will assemble her that halteth； and I will gather her that
was driven out； and her that I have afflicted。 And I will make her
that halteth a remnant； and her that was cast off a strong nation；
and the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion for ever。〃 What we
are to understand by her that halteth； is best expressed by the
Prophet Elijah； Mic。 iv。 6； 7； Zeph。 iii。 19； 1 Kings xviii。 21。
I will conclude； then； that for them that have halted。 or may halt；
the Lord has mercy in the bank； and is willing to accept them if they
return to him again。
Perhaps they may never be after that of any great esteem in the house
of God； but if the Lord will admit them to favour and forgiveness： O
exceeding and undeserved mercy！ See Ezekiel xliv。 10…14。
Thou； then； that mayst be the man； remember this； that there is mercy
also for thee。 Return therefore to God； and to his Son； who hath yet
in store for thee； and who will do thee good。
But perhaps thou wilt say； he doth not save all revolters； and；
therefore； perhaps not me。
Answr。 Art thou returning to God？ If thou art returning； thou art
the man； 〃Return ye backsliding children； and I will heal your
backslidings；〃 Jer。 iii。 22。
Some； as I said； that revolt； are shot dead upon the place； and for
them； who can help them？ But for them that cry out of their wounds；
it is a sign they are yet alive； and if they use the means in time；
doubtless they may be healed。
Christ Jesus has bags of mercy that were never yet broken up or
unsealed。 Hence it is said； he has goodness laid up； things reserved
in heaven for his。 And if he breaks up one of these bags； who can
tell what he can do！
Hence his love is said to be such as passeth knowledge； and that his
riches are unsearchable。 He has； no body knows what； for no body
knows whom： he has by him in store for such as seem in the view of
all men to be gone beyond recovery。 For this the text is plain。
What man or angel could have thought that the Jerusalem sinners had
been yet on this side of an impossibility of enjoying life and mercy？
Hadst thou seen their actions； and what horrible things they did to
the Son of God； yea； how stoutly they backed what they did with
resolves and endeavours to persevere； when they had killed his
person； against his name and doctrine； and that there was not found
among them all that while； as we read of； the least remorse or regret
for these their doings； couldst thou have imagined that mercy would
ever have took hold of them； at least so soon！ Nay； that they
should； of all the world； be counted those only meet to have it
offered to them in the very first place！ For so my text commands；
saying； 〃Preach repentance and remission of sins among all nations；
beginning at Jerusalem。〃
I tell you the thing is a wonder； and must for ever stand for a
wonder among the sons of men。 It stands also for an everlasting
invitation and allurement to the biggest sinners to come to Christ
for mercy。
Now since； in the opinion of all men； the revolter is such a one； if
he has； as I said before； any life in him； let him take encouragement
to come again； that he may live by Christ。
Eleventhly； Would Jesus Christ have mercy offered in the first place
to the biggest sinners？ Then let God's ministers tell them so。
There is an incidence in us； I know not how it doth come about； when
we are converted； to contemn them that are left behind。 Poor fools
as we are； we forget that we ourselves were so； Tit。 iii。 2； 3。
But would it not become us better； since we have tasted that the Lord
is gracious； to carry it towards them so； that we may give them
convincing ground to believe； that we have found that mercy which
also sets open the door for them to come and partake with us。
Ministers； I say； should do thus； both by their doctrine； and in all
other respects。
Austerity doth not become us； neither in doctrine nor in
conversation。 We ourselves live by grace； let us give as we receive；
and labour to persuade our fellow…sinners which God has left behind
us； to follow after； that they may partake with us of grace。 We are
saved by grace； let us live like them that are gracious。 Let all our
things （to the world） be done in charity towards them； pity them；
pray for them； be familiar with them for their good。 Let us lay
aside our foolish； worldly； carnal grandeur； let us not walk the
streets； and have such behaviours as signify we are scarce for
touching of the poor ones that are left behind； no not with a pair of
tongs。 It becomes us not thus to do。
Remember your Lord； he was familiar with publicans and sinners to a
proverb； 〃Behold a gluttonous man； and a wine…bibber； a friend of
publicans and sinners；〃 Matt。 xi。 19。 The first part； concerning his
gluttonous eating and drinking； to be sure； was an horrible slander；
but for the other； nothing was ever spoke truer of him by the world。
Now； why should we lay hands cross on this text： that is； choose
good victuals； and love the sweet wine better than the salvation of
the poor publican？ Why not familiar with sinners； provided we hate
their spots and blemishes； and seek that they may be healed of them？
Why not fellowly with our carnal neighbours？ If we do take occasion
to do so； that we may drop； and be yet distilling some good doctrine
upon their souls？ Why not go to the poor man's house； and give him a
penny； and a Scripture to think upon？ Why not send for the poor to
fetch away at least the fragments of thy table； that the bowels of
thy fellow…sinner may be refreshed as well as thine？
Ministers should be exemplary； but I am an inferior man； and must
take heed of too much meddling。 But might I； I would meddle with
them； with their wives； and with their children too。 I mean not this
of all； but of them that deserve it； though I may not name them。
But； I say； let ministers follow the steps of their blessed Lord； who
by word and deed shewed his love to the salvation of the world； in
such a carriage as declared him to prefer their salvation before his
own private concern； For we are commanded to follow his steps； 〃who
did no sin； neither was guile found in his mouth。〃
And as I have said concerning ministers； so I say to all the
brethren； carry it so； that all the world may see； that indeed you
are the sons of love。
Love your Saviour； yea； shew one to another that you love him； not
only by a seeming love of affection； but with the love of duty。
Practical love is best。 Many love Christ with nothing but the lick
of the tongue。 Alas！ Christ Jesus the Lord must not be put off
thus： 〃He that hath my commandments； and keepeth them；〃 saith he；
〃he it is that loveth me；〃 John xiv。 21。
Practical love； which stands in self…denial； in charity to my
neighbour； and a patient enduring of affliction for his name； this