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the Spirit； 1 John v。 12。 Again； 〃Whosoever transgresseth； and
abideth not in the doctrine of Christ； hath not God： he that abideth
in the doctrine of Christ； hath both the Father and the Son；〃 2 John
i。 9。
Christ； and Christ only； is he that can make us capable to enjoy God
with life and joy to all eternity。 Hence he calls himself the way to
the Father； the true and living way； John xiv。 6； Heb。 x。 19； 20； for
we cannot come to the Father but by him。 Satan knows this； therefore
he hates him。 Deluded persons are ignorant of this； and； therefore；
they are so led up and down by Satan by the nose as they are。
There are many things by which Satan has taken occasion to greaten
his rage against Jesus Christ。
As； first； his love to man； and then the many expressions of that
love。 He hath taken man's nature upon him； he hath in that nature
fulfilled the law to bring in righteousness for man； and hath spilt
his blood for the reconciling of men to God； he hath broke the neck
of death； put away sin； destroyed the works of the devil； and got
into his own hands the keys of death： and all these are heinous
things to Satan。 He cannot abide Christ for this。 Besides； he hath
eternal life in himself； and that to bestow upon us； and we in all
likelihood are to possess the very places from which the Satans by
transgression fell； if not places more glorious。 Wherefore he must
needs be angry。 And is it not a vexatious thing to him； that we
should be admitted to the throne of grace by Christ； while he stands
bound over in chains of darkness； to answer for his rebellions
against God and his Son； at the terrible day of judgment。 Yea； we
poor dust and ashes must become his judges； and triumph over him for
ever： and all this long of Jesus Christ； for he is the meritorious
cause of all this。
Now though Satan seeks to be revenged for this； yet he knows it is in
vain to attack the person of Christ； he has overcome him： therefore
he tampers with a company of silly men； that he may vilify him by
them。 And they； bold fools as they are； will not spare to spit in
his face。 They will rail at his person； and deny the very being of
it； they will rail at his blood； and deny the merit and worth of it。
They will deny the very end why he accomplished the law； and by
jiggs； and tricks； and quirks； which he helpeth them to； they set up
fond names and images in his place； and give the glory of a Saviour
to them。 Thus Satan worketh under the name of Christ； and his
ministers under the name of the ministers of righteousness。
And by his wiles and stratagems he undoes a world of men； but there
is a seed； and they shall serve him； and it shall be counted to the
Lord for a generation。 These shall see their sins； and that Christ
is the way to happiness。 These shall venture themselves； both body
and soul； upon his worthiness。
All this Satan knows； and therefore his rage is kindled the more。
Wherefore； according to his ability and allowance； he assaulteth；
tempteth； abuseth； and stirs up what he can to be hurtful to these
poor people； that he may； while his time shall last； make it as hard
and difficult for them to go to eternal glory as he can。 Oftentimes
he abuses them with wrong apprehensions of God； and with wrong
apprehensions of Christ。 He also casts them into the mire； to the
reproach of religion； the shame of their brethren； the derision of
the world； and dishonour of God。
He holds our hands while the world buffets us； he puts bear…skins
upon us； and then sets the dogs at us。 He bedaubeth us with his own
foam； and then tempts us to believe that that bedaubing comes from
ourselves。
Oh！ the rage and the roaring of this lion； and the hatred that he
manifests against the Lord Jesus； and against them that are purchased
with his blood！ But yet； in the midst of all this； the Lord Jesus
sends forth his herald to proclaim in the nations his love to the
world； and to invite them to come in to him for life。 Yea； his
invitation is so large； that it offereth his mercy in the first place
to the biggest sinners of every age； which augments the devil's rage
the more。
Wherefore； as I said before； fret he； fume he； the Lord Jesus will
divide the spoil with this great one； yea； he shall divide the spoil
with the strong； because he hath poured out his soul unto death； and
he was numbered with the transgressors； and he bare the sin of many；
and made intercession for the transgressors； Isa。 liii。 12。
Ninthly； Would Jesus Christ have mercy offered in the first place to
the biggest sinners？ Let the tempted harp upon this string for their
help and consolation。 The tempted wherever he dwells； always thinks
himself the biggest sinner； one most unworthy of eternal life。
This is Satan's master…argument： thou art a horrible sinner； a
hypocrite； one that has a profane heart； and one that is an utter
stranger to a work of grace。 I say this is his maul； his club； his
master…piece； he doth with this as some do with their most enchanting
songs； sings them everywhere。 I believe there are but few saints in
the world that have not had this temptation sounding in their ears。
But were they but aware； Satan by all this does but drive them to the
gap out at which they should go； and so escape his roaring。
Saith he； thou art a great sinner； a horrible sinner； a profane
hearted wretch； one that cannot be matched for a vile one in the
country。
And all this while Christ says to his ministers； offer mercy； in the
first place； to the biggest sinners。 So that this temptation drives
thee directly into the arms of Jesus Christ。
Were therefore the tempted but aware； he might say； Ay； Satan； so I
am； I am a sinner of the biggest size； and therefore have most need
of Jesus Christ； yea； because I am such a wretch； therefore Jesus
Christ calls me； yea； he calls me first： the first proffer of the
Gospel is to be made to the Jerusalem sinner： I am he； wherefore
stand back Satan； make a lane； my right is first to come to Jesus
Christ。
This now will be like for like。 This would foil the devil： this
would make him say； I must not deal with this man thus； for then I
put a sword into his hand to cut off my head。
And this is the meaning of Peter； when he saith； 〃Resist him stedfast
in the faith；〃 1 Pet。 v。 9。 And of Paul； when he saith； 〃Take the
shield of faith； wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery
darts of the wicked；〃 Eph。 vi。 16。
Wherefore is it said； 〃Begin at Jerusalem；〃 if the Jerusalem sinner
is not to have the benefit of it？ And if I am to have the benefit of
it； let me call it to mind when Satan haunts me with the continual
remembrance of my sins； of my Jerusalem sins。 Satan and my
conscience say I am the biggest sinner；Christ offereth mercy； in
the first place； to the biggest sinners。 Nor is the manner of the
offer other but such as suiteth with my mind。 I am sorry for my sin；
yea； sorry at my heart that ever sinful thought did enter； or find
the least entertainment in my wicked mind； and might I obtain my
wish； I would never more that my heart should be a place for ought
but the grace； and spirit； and faith of the Lord Jesus。
I speak not this to lessen my wickedness； I would not for all the
world but be placed by mine own conscience in the very front of the
biggest sinners； that I might be one of the first that are beckoned
by the gracious hand of Jesus the Saviour； to come to him for mercy。
Well； sinner； thou now speakest like a Christian； but say thus in a
strong spirit in the hour of temptation； and then thou wilt； to thy
commendation and comfort； quit thyself well。
This improving of Christ in dark hours； is the life； though the
hardest part of our Christianity。 We should neither stop at
darkness； nor at the raging of our lusts； but go on in a way of
venturing and casting the whole of our affairs for the next world at
the foot of Jesus Christ。 This is the way to make the darkness
light； and also to allay the raging of our corruption。
The first time the Passover was eaten； was in the night； and when
Israel took courage to go forward； though the sea stood in their way
like a devouring gulf； and the host of the Egyptians follow them at
the heels； yet the sea gives place； and their enemies were as still
as a stone till they were gone over； Exod。 xii。 8； chap。 xiv。 13； 14；
21； 22； chap。 xv。 16。
There is nothing like faith to help at a pinch； faith dissolves
doubts as the sun drives away the mists。 And that you may not be put
out； know your time； as I said； of believing it always。 There are
times when some graces may be out of use； but there is no time
wherein faith can be said to be so。 Wherefore faith must be always
in exercise。
Faith is the eye； is the mouth； is the hand； and one of these is of
use all day long。 Faith is to see； to receive； to work； or to eat；
and a Christian should be seeing or receiving； or working； or feeding
all day long。 Let it rain； let it blow； let it thunder； let it
lighten； a Christian must still believe： 〃At what time；〃 said thee
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
t