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〃Let us do evil that good may come；〃 and that turn the grace of our
God into lasciviousness。 But I speak not of these； these will
neither be ruled by grace nor reason。 Grace would teach them； if
they know it； to deny ungodly courses； and so would reason too； if it
could truly sense the love of God； Titus ii。 11； 12； Rom。 xi。 1。
Doth it look like what hath any coherence with reason or mercy； for a
man to abuse his friend？ Because Christ died for men； shall I
therefore spit in his face？ The bread and water that was given by
Elisha to his enemies； that came into the land of Israel to take him；
had so much influence upon their minds； though heathens； that they
returned to their homes without hurting him： yea； it kept them from
coming again in a hostile manner into the coasts of Israel； 2 Kings
vi。 19…23。
But to forbear to illustrate till anon。 One reason why Christ Jesus
shews mercy to sinners； is； that he might obtain their love； that he
may remove their base affections from base objects to himself。 Now；
if he loves to be loved a little； he loves to be loved much； but
there is not any that are capable of loving much； save those that
have much forgiven them。 Hence it is said of Paul； that he laboured
more than them all； to wit； with a labour of love； because he had
been by sin more vile against Christ than they all； 1 Cor。 xv。 He it
was that persecuted the church of God； and wasted it； Gal。 i。 13。 He
of them all was the only raving bedlam against the saints： 〃And
being exceeding mad；〃 says he； 〃against them； I persecuted them； even
to strange cities；〃 Acts xxvi。 11。
This raving bedlam； that once was so； is he that now says； I laboured
more than them all； more for Christ than them all。
But Paul； what moved thee thus to do？ The love of Christ； says he。
It was not I； but the grace of God that was with me。 As who should
say； O grace！ It was such grace to save me！ It was such marvellous
grace for God to look down from heaven upon me； and that secured me
from the wrath to come； that I am captivated with the sense of the
riches of it。 Hence I act； hence I labour； for how can I otherwise
do； since God not only separated me from my sins and companions； but
separated all the powers of my soul and body to his service？ I am
therefore prompted on by this exceeding love to labour as I have
done； yet not I； but the grace of God with me。
Oh！ I shall never forget his love； nor the circumstances under which
I was； when his love laid hold upon me。 I was going to Damascus with
letters from the high…priest； to make havock of God's people there；
as I had made havock of them in other places。 These bloody letters
were not imposed upon me。 I went to the high…priest and desired them
of him； Acts ix。 1； 2； and yet he saved me！ I was one of the men； of
the chief men； that had a hand in the blood of his martyr Stephen；
yet he had mercy on me！ When I was at Damascus； I stunk so horribly
like a blood…sucker； that I became a terror to all thereabout。 Yea；
Ananias （good man） made intercession to my Lord against me； yet he
would have mercy upon me； yea； joined mercy to mercy； until he had
made me a monument of grace！ He made a saint of me； and persuaded me
that my transgressions were forgiven me。
When I began to preach； those that heard me were amazed； and said；
〃Is not this he that destroyed them that called on this name in
Jerusalem； and came hither for that intent； that he might bring them
bound to the high…priest？〃 Hell doth know that I was a sinner；
heaven doth know that I was a sinner； the world also knows that I was
a sinner； a sinner of the greatest size； but I obtained mercy； 1 Tim
i。 15； 16。
Shall not this lay obligation upon me？ Is not love of the greatest
force to oblige？ Is it not strong as death； cruel as the grave； and
hotter than the coals of juniper？ Hath it not a most vehement flame？
can the waters quench it？ can the floods drown it？ I am under the
force of it； and this is my continual cry； What shall I render to the
Lord for all the benefits which he has bestowed upon me？
Ay； Paul！ this is something； thou speakest like a man； like a man
affected； and carried away with the love and grace of God。 Now； this
sense； and this affection； and this labour； giveth to Christ the love
that he looks for。 But he might have converted twenty little
sinners； and yet not found； for grace bestowed； so much love in them
all。
I wonder how far a man might go among the converted sinners of the
smaller size； before one could find one that so much as looked any
thing this wayward。 Where is he that is thus under pangs of love for
the grace bestowed upon him by Jesus Christ？ Excepting only some
few； you may walk to the world's end； and find none。 But； as I said；
some there are； and so there has been in every age of the church；
great sinners； that have had much forgiven them； and they love much
upon this account。
Jesus Christ therefore knows what he doth； when he lays hold on the
hearts of sinners of the biggest size。 He knows that such an one
will love more than many that have not sinned half their sins。
I will tell you a story that I have read of Martha and Mary； the name
of the book I have forgot； I mean of the book in which I found the
relation； but the thing was thus： Martha； saith my author； was a
very holy woman； much like Lazarus her brother； but Mary was a loose
and wanton creature； Martha did seldom miss good sermons and
lectures； when she could come at them in Jerusalem； but Mary would
frequent the house of sports； and the company of the vilest of men
for lust： And though Martha had often desired that her sister would
go with her to hear her preachers； yea； had often entreated her with
tears to do it； yet could she never prevail； for still Mary would
make her excuse； or reject her with disdain for her zeal and
preciseness in religion。
After Martha had waited long； tried many ways to bring her sister to
good； and all proved ineffectual； at last she comes upon her thus：
〃Sister；〃 quoth she； 〃I pray thee go with me to the temple to…day； to
hear one preach a sermon。〃 〃What kind of preacher is he？〃 said she。
Martha replied； 〃It is one Jesus of Nazareth； he is the handsomest
man that ever you saw with your eyes。 Oh！ he shines in beauty； and
is a most excellent preacher。〃
Now； what does Mary； after a little pause； but goes up into her
chamber； and with her pins and her clouts； decks up herself as fine
as her fingers could make her。
This done； away she goes； not with her sister Martha； but as much
unobserved as she could； to the sermon； or rather to see the
preacher。
The hour and preacher being come； and she having observed whereabout
the preacher would stand； goes and sets herself so in the temple；
that she might be sure to have the full view of this excellent
person。 So he comes in； and she looks； and the first glimpse of his
person pleased her。 Well； Jesus addresseth himself to his sermon；
and she looks earnestly on him。
Now； at that time； saith my author； Jesus preached about the lost
sheep； the lost groat； and the prodigal child。 And when he came to
shew what care the shepherd took for one lost sheep； and how the
woman swept to find her piece which was lost； and what joy there was
at their finding； she began to be taken by the ears； and forgot what
she came about； musing what the preacher would make of it。 But when
he came to the application； and shewed； that by the lost sheep was
meant a great sinner； by the shepherd's care； was meant God's love
for great sinners； and that by the joy of the neighbours； was shewed
what joy there was among the angels in heaven over one great sinner
that repenteth； she began to be taken by the heart。 And as he spake
these last words； she thought he pitched his innocent eyes just upon
her； and looked as if he spake what was now said to her： wherefore
her heart began to tremble； being shaken with affection and fear；
then her eyes ran down with tears apace； wherefore she was forced to
hide her face with her handkerchief； and so sat sobbing and crying
all the rest of the sermon。
Sermon being done； up she gets； and away she goes； and withal
inquired where this Jesus the preacher dined that day？ and one told
her； At the house of Simon the Pharisee。 So away goes she； first to
her chamber； and there strips herself of her wanton attire： then
falls upon her knees to ask God forgiveness for all her wicked life。
This done； in a modest dress she goes to Simon's house； where she
finds Jesus sat at dinner。 So she gets behind him； and weeps； and
drops her tears upon his feet like rain； and washes them； and wipes
them with the hair of her head。 She also kissed his feet with her
lips； and anointed them with ointment。 When Simon the Pharisee
perceived what the woman did； and being ignorant of what it was to be
forgiven much （for he never was forgiven more than fifty pence）； he
began to think within himself； that he had been mistaken about Jesus
Christ； because he suffered such a sinner as this woman was； to touch
him。 Surely； quoth he； this man； if he were a prophet； would not let
this woman come near him； for she is a town…sinner （so igno