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fool for standing out against him； Matt。 v。 25； 26。 〃It is a fearful
thing to fall into the hands of the living God。〃 He will gripe hard；
his fist is stronger than a lion's paw； take heed of him； he will be
angry if you despise his Son； and will you stand guilty in your
trespasses； when he offereth you his grace and favour？ Exod。 xxxiv。
6； 7； Heb。 x。 29…31。
Now we come to the text； 〃Beginning at Jerusalem。〃 This text； though
it be now one of the brightest stars that shineth in the Bible；
because there is in it； as full； if not the fullest offer of grace
that can be imagined； to the sons of men； yet to them that shall
perish from under this word； even this text will be to such； one of
the hottest coals in hell。
This text； therefore； will save thee or sink thee： there is no
shifting of it： if it saves thee； it will set thee high； if it sinks
thee； it will set thee low。
But； I say； why so unconcerned？ Hast no soul？ or dost think thou
mayst lose thy soul； and save thyself？ Is it not pity； had it
otherwise been the will of God； that ever thou wast made a man； for
that thou settest so little by thy soul？
Sinner； take the invitation； thou art called upon to come to Christ：
nor art thou called upon but by order from the Son of God though thou
shouldst happen to come of the biggest sinners； for he has bid us
offer mercy； as to all the world in general； so； in the first place；
to the sinners of Jerusalem； or to the biggest sinners。
Fifthly； Would Jesus Christ have mercy offered in thee first place；
to the biggest sinners？ then this shews how unreasonable a thing it
is for men to despair of mercy： for those that presume； I shall say
something to them afterward。
I now speak to them that despair。
There are four sorts of despair。 There is the despair of devils；
there is the despair of souls in hell； there is the despair that is
grounded upon men's deficiency； and there is the despair that they
are perplexed with that are willing to be saved； but are too strongly
borne down with the burthen of their sins。
The despair of devils； the damned's despair； and that despair that a
man has of attaining of life because of his own deficiency； are all
unreasonable。 Why should not devils and damned souls despair？ yea；
why should not man despair of getting to heaven by his own abilities？
I therefore am concerned only with the fourth sort of despair； to
wit； with the despair of those that would be saved； but are too
strongly borne down with the burden of their sins。
I say； therefore； to thee that art thus； And why despair？ Thy
despair； if it were reasonable； should flow from thee； because found
in the land that is beyond the grave； or because thou certainly
knowest that Christ will not； or cannot save thee。
But for the first； thou art yet in the land of the living； and for
the second； thou hast ground to believe the quite contrary； Christ is
able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by him； and if he
were not willing； he would not have commanded that mercy； in the
first place； should be offered to the biggest sinners。 Besides； he
hath said； 〃And let him that is athirst come； and whosoever will； let
him take the water of life freely；〃 that is； with all my heart。 What
ground now is here for despair？ If thou sayst； The number and burden
of my sins； I answer； Nay； that is rather a ground for faith：
because such an one； above all others； is invited by Christ to come
unto him； yea； promised rest and forgiveness if they come； Matt。 xi。
28。 What ground then to despair？ Verily none at all。 Thy despair
then is a thing unreasonable and without footing in the word。
But I have no experience of God's love； God hath given me no comfort；
or ground of hope； though I have waited upon him for it many a day。
Thou hast experience of God's love； for that he has opened thine eyes
to see thy sins： and for that he has given thee desires to be saved
by Jesus Christ。 For by thy sense of sin thou art made to see thy
poverty of spirit； and that has laid thee under a sure ground to hope
that heaven shall be thine hereafter。
Also thy desires to be saved by Christ； has put thee under another
promise； so there is two to hold thee up in them； though thy present
burden be never so heavy； Matt。 v。 3； 6。 As for what thou sayst； as
to God's silence to thee； perhaps he has spoken to thee once or twice
already； but thou hast not perceived it； Job xxxiii。 14； 15。
However； thou hast Christ crucified； set forth before thine eyes in
the Bible； and an invitation to come unto him； though thou be a
Jerusalem sinner； though thou be the biggest sinner； and so no ground
to despair。 What； if God will be silent to thee； is that ground of
despair？ Not at all； so long as there is a promise in the Bible that
God will in no wise cast away the coming sinner； and so long as he
invites the Jerusalem sinner to come unto him John vi。 37。
Build not therefore despair upon these things； they are no sufficient
foundations for it； such plenty of promises being in the Bible； and
such a discovery of his mercy to great sinners of old； especially
since we have withal a clause in the commission given to ministers to
preach； that they should begin with the Jerusalem sinners in their
offering of mercy to the world。
Besides； God says； They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength； they shall mount up with wings like eagles； but perhaps it
may be long first。 〃I waited long；〃 saith David； 〃and did seek the
Lord；〃 and at length his cry was heard： wherefore he bids his soul
wait on God； and says； For it is good so to do before thy saints；
Psalm xl。 1； lxii。 5； lii。 9。
And what if thou waitest upon God all thy days？ Is it below thee？
And what if God will cross his book； and blot out the hand…writing
that is against thee； and not let thee know it as yet？ Is it fit to
say unto God； Thou art hard…hearted？ Despair not； thou hast no
ground to despair； so long as thou livest in this world。 It is a sin
to begin to despair before one sets his foot over the threshold of
hell…gates。 For them that are there； let them despair and spare not；
but as for thee； thou hast no ground to do it。 What！ despair of
bread in a land that is full of corn！ despair of mercy when our God
is full of mercy！ despair of mercy； when God goes about by his
ministers； beseeching of sinners to be reconciled unto him！ 2 Cor。
v。 18…20。
Thou scrupulous fool； where canst thou find that God was ever false
to his promise； or that he ever deceived the soul that ventured
itself upon him？ He often calls upon sinners to trust him； though
they walk in darkness； and have no light； Isa。 1。 10。
They have his promise and oath for their salvation； that flee for
refuge to the hope set before them； Heb。 vi。 17； 18。
Despair！ when we have a God of mercy； and a redeeming Christ alive！
For shame； forbear： let them despair that dwell where there is no
God； and that are confined to those chambers of death which can be
reached by no redemption。
A living man despair when he is chid for murmuring and complaining！
Lam。 iii。 39。 Oh！ so long as we are where promises swarm； where
mercy is proclaimed； where grace reigns； and where Jerusalem sinners
are privileged with the first offer of mercy； it is a base thing to
despair。
Despair undervalues the promise； undervalues the invitation；
undervalues the proffer of grace。 Despair undervalues the ability of
God the Father； and the redeeming blood of Christ his Son。 Oh
unreasonable despair！
Despair makes man God's judge； it is a controller of the promise； a
contradicter of Christ in his large offers of mercy： and one that
undertakes to make unbelief the great manager of our reason and
judgment； in determining about what God can and will do for sinners。
Despair！ It is the devil's fellow； the devil's master； yea； the
chains with which he is captivated and held under darkness for ever：
and to give way thereto in a land； in a state and time that flows
with milk and honey； is an uncomely thing。
I would say to my soul； O my soul！ this is not the place of despair；
this is not the time to despair in： as long as mine eyes can find a
promise in the Bible； as long as there is the least mention of grace；
as long as there is a moment left me of breath or life in this world；
so long will I wait or look for mercy； so long will I fight against
unbelief and despair。
This is the way to honour God and Christ； this is the way to set the
crown on the promise； this is the way to welcome the invitation and
inviter； and this is the way to thrust thyself under the shelter and
protection of the word of grace。 Never despair so long as our text
is alive； for that doth sound it out；that mercy by Christ is
offered； in the first place； to the biggest sinner。
Despair is an unprofitable thing； it will make a man weary of waiting
upon God； 2 Kings vi。 33； it will make a man forsake God； and seek
his heaven in the good things of this world； Gen。 iv。 13…18。 It will
make a man his own tormentor； and flounce and fling like a wild bull
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 ex