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still of force； that Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in the
first place to the biggest sinners。 So then let none despair； let
none presume； let none despair that are sorry for their sins； and
would be saved by Jesus Christ； let none presume that abide in the
liking of their sins； though they seem to know the exceeding grace of
Christ； for though the door stands wide open for the reception of the
penitent； yet it is fast enough barred and bolted against the
presumptuous sinner。 Be not deceived； God is not mocked； whatsoever
a man sows； that he shall reap。 It cannot be that God should be
wheedled out of his mercy； or prevailed upon by lips of
dissimulation； he knows them that trust in him； and that sincerely
come to him by Christ for mercy； Nahum i。 7。
It is then not the abundance of sins committed； but the not coming
heartily to God by Christ for mercy； that shuts men out of doors。
And though their not coming heartily may be said to be but a sin； yet
it is such a sin as causeth that all thy other sins abide upon thee
unforgiven。
God complains of this。 〃They have not cried unto me with their
heart； they turned； but not to the most High。 They turned
feignedly；〃 Jer。 iii。 10； Hos。 vii。 14； 16。
Thus doing； his soul hates； but the penitent； humble； brokenhearted
sinner； be his transgressions red as scarlet； red like crimson； in
number as the sand； though his transgressions cry to heaven against
him for vengeance； and seem there to cry louder than do his prayers；
or tears； or groans for mercy； yet he is safe。 To this man God will
look； Isa。 i。 18； chap lxvi。 2。
Seventhly； Would Jesus Christ have mercy offered in the first place
to the biggest sinners？ Then here is ground for those that； as to
practice； have not been such； to come to him for mercy。
Although there is no sin little of itself； because it is a
contradiction of the nature and majesty of God； yet we must admit of
divers numbers； and also of aggravations。 Two sins are not so many
as three； nor are three that are done in ignorance so big as one that
is done against light； against knowledge and conscience。 Also there
is the child in sin； and a man in sin that has his hairs gray； and
his skin wrinkled for very age。 And we must put a difference betwixt
these sinners also。 For can it be that a child of seven； or ten； or
sixteen years old； should be such a sinnera sinner so vile in the
eye of the law as he is who has walked according to the course of
this world； forty； fifty； sixty； or seventy years？ Now the youth；
this stripling； though he is a sinner； is but a little sinner； when
compared with such。
Now； I say； if there be room for the first sort； for those of the
biggest size； certainly there is room for the lesser size？ If there
be a door wide enough for a giant to go in at； there is certainly
room for a dwarf。 If Christ Jesus has grace enough to save great
sinners； he has surely grace enough to save little ones。 If he can
forgive five hundred pence； for certain he can forgive fifty； Luke
vii。 41； 42。
But you said before； that the little sinners must stand by until the
great ones have received their grace； and that is discouraging！
I answer； there are two sorts of little sinners； such as are so； and
such as feign themselves so。 They are those that feign themselves
so； that I intended there； and not those that are indeed
comparatively so。 Such as feign themselves so may wait long enough
before they obtain forgiveness。
But again； a sinner may be comparatively a little sinner； and
sensibly a great one。 There are then two sorts of greatness in sin；
greatness by reason of number； greatness by reason of thoroughness of
conviction of the horrible nature of sin。 In this last sense； he
that has but one sin； if such a one could be found； may in his own
eyes find himself the biggest sinner in the world。 Let this man or
this child therefore put himself among the great sinners； and plead
with God as great sinners do； and expect to be saved with the great
sinners； and as soon and as heartily as they。
Yea； a little sinner； that comparatively is truly so； if he shall
graciously give way to conviction； and shall in God's light
diligently weigh the horrible nature of his own sins； may yet sooner
obtain forgiveness for them at the hands of the heavenly Father； than
he that has ten times his sins； and so cause to cry ten times harder
to God for mercy。
For the grievousness of the cry is a great thing with God； for if he
will hear the widow； if she cries at all； how much more if she cries
most grievously？ Exod。 xxii。 22； 23。
It is not the number； but the true sense of the abominable nature of
sin； that makes the cry for pardon lamentable。 He； as I said； that
has many sins； may not cry so loud in the ears of God as he that has
far fewer； he； in our present sense； that is in his own eyes the
biggest sinner； is he that soonest findeth mercy。
The offer then is to the biggest sinner； to the biggest sinner first；
and the mercy is first obtained by him that first confesseth himself
to be such an one。
There are men that strive at the throne of grace for mercy； by
pleading the greatness of their necessity。 Now their plea； as to the
prevalency of it； lieth not in the counting up of the number； but in
the sense of the greatness of their sins； and in the vehemency of
their cry for pardon。 And it is observable； that though the
birthright was Ruben's； and； for his foolishness； given to the sons
of Joseph； yet Judah prevailed above his brethren； and of him came
the Messias； 1 Chron。 v。 1； 2。
There is a heavenly subtilty to be managed in this matter。 〃Thy
brother came with subtilty； and hath taken away thy blessing。〃 The
blessing belonged to Esau； but Jacob by his diligence made it his
own； Gen。 xxvii。 33。 The offer is to the biggest sinner； to the
biggest sinner first； but if he forbear to cry； the sinner that is a
sinner less by far than he； both as to number and the nature of
transgression； may get the blessing first； if he shall have grace to
bestir himself well； for the loudest cry is heard furthest； and the
most lamentable pierces soonest。
I therefore urge this head； not because I would have little sinners
go and tell God that they are little sinners； thereby to think to
obtain mercy； for； verily； so they are never like to have it： for
such words declare； that such a one hath no true sense at all of the
nature of his sins。
Sin； as I said； in the nature of it； is horrible； though it be but
one single sin as to act； yea； though it be but a sinful thought； and
so worthily calls for the damnation of the soul。
The comparison； then； of little and great sinners； is to go for good
sense among men。 But to plead the fewness of thy sins； or the
comparative harmlessness of their quantity before God； argueth no
sound knowledge of the nature of thy sin； and so no true sense of the
nature or need of mercy。
Little sinner； when therefore thou goest to God； though thou knowest
in thy conscience that thou； as to acts； art no thief； no murderer；
no whore； no liar； no false swearer； or the like； and in reason must
needs understand that thus thou art not so profanely vile as others；
yet when thou goest to God for mercy； know no man's sins but thine
own； make mention of no man's sins but thine own。 Also labour not to
lessen thy own； but magnify and greaten them by all just
circumstances； and be as if there was never a sinner in the world but
thyself。 Also cry out； as if thou wast the only undone man； and that
is the way to obtain God's mercy。
It is one of the comeliest sights in the world to see a little sinner
commenting upon the greatness of his sins； multiplying and
multiplying them to himself； till he makes them in his own eyes
bigger and higher than he seeth any other man's sins to be in the
world； and as base a thing it is to see a man do otherwise； and as
basely will come on it； Luke xviii。 10…14。
As； therefore； I said to the great sinner before； let him take heed
lest he presume； I say now to the little sinner； let him take heed
that he do not dissemble： for there is as great an aptness in the
little sinner to dissemble； as there is in the great one。 〃He that
hideth his sins shall not prosper；〃 be he a sinner little or great；
Prov。 xxviii。 13。
Eighthly； Would Jesus Christ have mercy offered； in the first place；
to the biggest sinners？ Then this shews the true cause why Satan
makes such head as he doth against him。
The Father and the Holy Spirit are well spoken of by all deluders and
deceived persons； Christ only is the rock of offence。 〃Behold I lay
in Zion a stumbling…stone and a rock of offence；〃 Rom。 ix。 33。 Not
that Satan careth for the Father or the Spirit more than he careth
for the Son； but he can let men alone with their notions of the
Father and the Spirit； for he knows they shall never enjoy the Father
nor the Spirit； if indeed they receive not the merits of the Son。
〃He that hath the Son； hath life； he that hath not the Son of God
hath not life；〃 however they may boast themselves of the Father and
the Spirit； 1 John v。 12。 Again； 〃Whosoever transgresseth； and
abideth not in the doctrine of Ch