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much swallow up our youth； is one cause of my thinking so： for out
of them； for from among them； when God sets to his hand； as of old；
you shall see what penitent ones； what trembling ones； and what
admirers of grace； will be found to profess the gospel to the glory
of God by Christ。
Alas！ we are a company of worn…out Christians； our moon is in the
wane； we are much more black than white； more dark than light； we
shine but a little； grace in the most of us is decayed。 But I say；
when they of these debauched ones that are to be saved shall be
brought in； when these that look more like devils than men shall be
converted to Christ （and I believe several of them will）； then will
Christ be exalted； grace adored； the word prized； Zion's path better
trodden； and men in the pursuit of their own salvation； to the
amazement of them that are left behind。
Just before Christ came into the flesh； the world was degenerated as
it is now： the generality of the men in Jerusalem； were become
either high and famous for hypocrisy； or filthy base in their lives。
The devil also was broke loose in a hideous manner； and had taken
possession of many： yea； I believe that there was never generation
before nor since； that could produce so many possessed with devils；
deformed； lame； blind； and infected with monstrous diseases； as that
generation could。 But what was the reason thereof； I mean the reason
from God？ Why one （and we may sum up more in that answer that Christ
gave to his disciples concerning him that was born blind） was； that
the works of God might be made manifest in them； and that the Son of
God might be glorified thereby； John ix。 2； 3； chap。 xi。 4。
Now if these devils and diseases； as they possessed men then； were to
make way and work for an approaching Christ in person； and for the
declaring of his power； why may we not think that now； even now also；
he is ready to come by his Spirit in the gospel to heal many of the
debaucheries of our age？ I cannot believe that grace will take them
all； for there are but few that are saved； but yet it will take some；
even some of the worst of men； and make blessed ones of them。 But； O
how these ringleaders in vice will then shine in virtue！ They will
be the very pillars in churches； they will be as an ensign in the
land。 〃The Lord their God shall save them in that day as the flock
of his people： for they shall be as the stones of a crown； lifted up
as an ensign upon his land；〃 Zech。 ix。 16。 But who are these？ Even
idolatrous Ephraim； and backsliding Judah； ver。 13。
I know there is ground to fear； that the iniquity of this generation
will be pursued with heavy judgments： but that will not hinder what
we have supposed。 God took him a glorious church out of bloody
Jerusalem； yea； out of the chief of the sinners there； and left the
rest to be taken and spoiled； and sold； thirty for a penny； in the
nations where they were captives。 The gospel working gloriously in a
place； to the seizing upon many of the ringleading sinners thereof；
promiseth no security to the rest； but rather threateneth them with
the heaviest and smartest judgments； as in the instance now given； we
have a full demonstration； but in defending； the Lord will defend his
people； and in saving； he will save his inheritance。
Nor does this speak any great comfort to a decayed and backsliding
sort of Christians； for the next time God rides post with his gospel；
he will leave such Christians behind him。 But I say； Christ is
resolved to set up his light in the world； yea； he is delighted to
see his graces shine； and therefore he commands that his gospel
should to that end be offered； in the first place； to the biggest
sinners； for by great sins it shineth most； therefore he saith；
〃Begin at Jerusalem。〃
Eighthly； and lastly； Christ Jesus will have mercy to be offered in
the first place to the biggest sinners； for that by that means the
impenitent that are left behind will be at the judgment the more left
without excuse。
God's word has two edges； it can cut back…stroke and fore…stroke： if
it doth thee no good； it will do thee hurt； it is the savour of life
unto life to those that receive it； but of death unto death to them
that refuse it； 2 Cor。 ii。 15； 16。 But this is not all； the tender
of grace to the biggest sinners in the first place； will not only
leave the rest； or those that refuse it； in a deplorable condition；
but will also stop their mouths； and cut off all pretence to excuse
at that day。 〃If I had not come and spoken unto them；〃 saith Christ；
〃they had not had sin； but now they have no cloak for their sin；〃 for
their sin of persevering in impenitence； Job xv。 22。
But what did he speak to them？ Why； even that which I have told you；
to wit； That he has in special a delight in saving the biggest
sinners。 He spake this in the way of his doctrine； he spake this in
the way of his practice； even to the pouring out of his last breath
before them； Luke xxiii。 34。
Now； since this is so； what can the condemned at the judgment say for
themselves； why sentence of death should not be passed upon them？ I
say； what excuse can they make for themselves； when they shall be
asked why they did not in the day of salvation come to Christ to be
saved？ Will they have ground to say to the Lord； Thou wast only for
saving of little sinners； and therefore because they were great ones；
they durst not come unto him？ or that thou hadst not compassion for
the biggest sinners； therefore I died in despair？ Will these be
excuses for them； as the case now standeth with them？ Is there not
every where in God's book a flat contradiction to this； in multitudes
of promises； of invitations； of examples； and the like？ Alas； alas！
there will then be there millions of souls to confute this plea；
ready； I say； to stand up； and say； O！ deceived world； heaven swarms
with such； as were； when they were in the world； to the full as bad
as you。
Now； this will kill all plea or excuse； why they should perish in
their sins； yea； the text says； they shall see them there。 〃There
shall be weeping； when you shall see Abraham； and Isaac； and Jacob；
and all the prophets in the kingdom of heaven； and you yourselves
thrust out。 And they shall come from the east； and from the west；
and from the north； and from the south； and shall sit down in the
kingdom of God；〃 Luke xiii。 28； 29。 Out of which company it is easy
to pick such as sometimes were as bad people as any that now breathe
on the face of the earth。 What think you of the first man； by whose
sins there are millions now in hell？ And so I may say； What think
you of ten thousand more besides？
But if the world will not stifle and gag them up （I speak now for
amplification's sake）； the view of those who are saved shall。
There comes an incestuous person to the bar； and pleads； That the
bigness of his sins was a bar to his receiving the promise。 But will
not his mouth be stopped as to that； when Lot and the incestuous
Corinthian shall be set before him； Gen。 xix。 33…37； 1 Cor。 v。 1； 2。
There comes a thief； and says； Lord； my sin of theft； I thought； was
such as could not be pardoned by thee！ But when he shall see the
thief that was saved on the cross stand by； as clothed with beauteous
glory； what further can he be able to object？ Yea； the Lord will
produce ten thousand of his saints at his coming； who shall after
this manner execute judgment upon all； and so convince all that are
ungodly among them； of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners
have spoken against him。 And these are hard speeches against him； to
say that he was not able or willing to save men； because of the
greatness of their sins； or to say that they were discouraged by his
word from repentance； because of the heinousness of their offences。
These things； I say； shall then be confuted： he comes with ten
thousand of his saints to confute them； and to stop their mouths from
making objections against their own eternal damnation。
Here is Adam； the destroyer of the world； here is Lot； that lay with
both his daughters； here is Abraham； that was sometime an idolater；
and Jacob； that was a supplanter； and Reuben； that lay with his
father's concubine； and Judah that lay with his daughter…in…law； and
Levi and Simeon that wickedly slew thee Shechemites； and Aaron that
great backslider； and Manassah that man of blood and that made an
idol to be worshipped； and that proclaimed a religious feast unto it。
Here is also Rachab the harlot； and Bathsheba that bare a bastard to
David。 Here is Solomon a witch。 Time would fail me to tell you of
the woman of Canaan's daughter； Magdalen； of Matthew the publican；
and of Gideon and Sampson； and many thousands more。
Alas！ alas！ I say； what will these sinners do； that have； through
their unbelief； eclipsed the glorious largeness of the mercy of God；
and gave way to despair of salvation； because of the bigness of their
sins？
For all these； though now glorious saints in light； were sometimes
sinners of the biggest size； who had sins that were of a notorious
hue； yet now； I say； they are in their shining and heavenly robes
before the throne of God and of the Lamb；