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DISCOURSE XXXIII.

THE PATTERNS OF MERCY.

1 TIM. XV. 16.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all accepta tion, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief; howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to everlasting life.

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N St. Paul's epistle to Timothy, wherein he represents the great doctrines of godliness, as became a person in his high office and place of trust, and which he delivers now into his successor's care to keep for Christ's sake, he several times speaks after this manner : "This is a faithful saying, &c." and this was not done as if any part of the scriptures or this his charge were of less authority or truth, but as Moses often renewed his message and errand to the Israelites, with, "All these words the Lord thy God commanded;" or, as the prophets very often repeated, "Thus saith the Lord;" and Jesus himself, when he delivered doctrines of the utmost importance and things necessary to our eternal happiness, generally began with, "Verily, verily, I say unto you:" Thus does the apostle in the text, when he writes to another great minister

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of Christ, and indeed all who labour in God's vineyard, that with boldness and courage they might propagate such confirmed doctrines with all their might, and give more heed to the divine charges delivered in so extraordinary and in so solemn a manner.

"This

The time will not allow me to speak of the many blessed doctrines handed down to us in this way. I shall therefore speak chiefly of this main doctrine of the apostle, and upon which all the hopes of poor men are grounded, namely, our Saviour's coming from heaven into the world to save sinners. is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." This doctrine is properly the substance of the whole gospel, and is every where taught us in the New Testament, both from our Lord himself and by all who heard him, and were sent by him to bear the glad tidings, through the earth, to every land and nation, and to invite and beseech sinners to be reconciled to God, and come back to Jesus the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls, that they might be saved. This (however slighted by so many, and though by some even scorned and despised, especially by all the opposers of salvation by grace alone) is a true doctrine, and worthy to be heard and believed, it is worthy the acceptation of all men.

If an offer of life and pardon could be made to rebels in distress and chains, or if the news of liberty and redemption should be brought to the slaves in the gallies, or such as spend their melancholy days in prison or banishment, or should the most wretched and poor person in the world be offered a full receipt from all his creditors, and a fine estate besides for the longest term, all would think the offers worthy of their acceptance, and leap for

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joy at the good news; but should the news of liberty come to his ears who thinks himself in no danger, or should the tidings of a general release: be sent to freemen, or bread be brought to the exceeding rich, and to such as fare delicately every day, it would have no such effect, and it is no other than a false conclusion of their being safe, good enough, not fallen from God, or so desperately wicked and in danger of perishing as they really are, that makes the gospel to be heard so coldly and indifferently by more than half the world. Could a preacher tell his auditors where every one should find treasure hid, or how they might ensure to themselves a vast fortune, or could he teach them how to free themselves of every pain and sickness at once, and in what way they could be immensely rich, O how would people flock to hear him! there would be scarce room for the concourse any where, and he would not be able to make his voice reach to the least part of his hearers; but when a messenger of the King of saints comes and brings the news of the kingdom of God opened, and preaches free grace, redemption from death and hell, eternal life, and all the blessings of the world to come, into which all should press eagerly, how coldly is he heard? When he speaks of

the treasure hid in the field," how few believe the report? And when he declares how near our Saviour is to justify and help the sinner, how willing he is to pardon all sin, and to come with his Father in to them and there make his abode, how very few open the door and look for him? and in how exceeding few is "the arm of the Lord revealed?" The enemy of souls, the god of this world, succeeds amazingly even in christian countries, in keeping men ignorant of Jesus and his love to sinners; and when his divinity is only slightly confessed,

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fessed and his eternal redemption considered but superficially and at a distance, it is no wonder that the blessed news is so indifferently entertained.

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When Jesus entered Simon the Pharisee's house, he got no kiss, no hearty welcome, no water to wash his feet, no oil for his head, no incense burnt before him, and no precious ointment perfumed his chamber; the reason was, he did not know his guest, he did not feel how much he wanted a Saviour; but the sinner, the harlot Mary, who was called by him out of her sins and invited to the kingdom of heaven, thought she could never make enough of the Lord, she embraced his feet, kissed them, washed them with tears, and broke her alabaster box of spikenard upon them, and loved much. Thus is it now-while men deceive themselves and fancy they are good churchmen, pious and religious enough, and that there is no danger of their future state; there a few prayers, a little alms or some acts of self-denial and mortification lull to sleep the stirring conscience, and make the poor heart at peace without Christ. To such, as well as to the wanton, the profane, the worldling, the resolutely wicked and lover of pleasure, the gospel of salvation seems unworthy their acceptance, and is neglected to the very last; but an awakened soul, a man who feels his own sinfulness as an intolerable burden, and who wants to be saved, but trembles at the word of God, has many fears about his condition, &c. he hears that God our Saviour came from heaven, out of mere pity and compassion, to save undone souls, to help poor people and to undertake for them and be their Saviour, and this is the best news to such an heart. Deep humility and a solid conviction and consciousness of his sin and whole corrupted nature, makes him only wiling to know, if Jesus can receive such a wretch

as

as he has been? And when he can be persuaded of, this, O how entirely does he leave all his old and darling sins! With what joy does he receive our Saviour's offer of forgiveness, and is glad in his salvation! His heart leaps and bounds in him for joy when the Holy Spirit within whispers the word of reconciliation; and then he thinks upon inviting. others to the same grace, and is ready every where to tell how worthy of all men's acceptation, this good doctrine is, that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom (he thinks) he is chief."

It is indeed a glorious gospel; it is a privilege bestowed upon men beyond all hopes and wishes, and which makes all who accept it happy and blessed for ever; and all who slight or reject or delay the closing in with so gracious an offer, thereby make themselves of all men the most miserable., But then who is Jesus that is coming into the world that is of such importance? He is the eter nal God! he is that Lord, that Creator and divine Being, against whom all had sinned, and who out of tender mercy to the world came from his throne and majesty, and was incarnate, a man, a servant, and whose whole painful life, sorrowful and shameful death, was endured by him with this sole andpure view, to save sinners. He had no desigu but singly and entirely to help them out of their condemnation and slavery, and to bring them in peace back to him. He would have been glorious and high the same, if we had been left in our guilt and suffered hell eternally; but as he loved all his works and chose not the death of a sinner, and as he knew hell was not made for man but for the, devil and his angels, he pitied us when we were sunk into their ruin and come under their judg ment, and before all his innumerable company of

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angels

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