The Jerusalem-sinner saved: or, Good news for the vilest of men, being a help…

They that had their Grounds, their yoke of Oxen, and their Marriage Joys were invited to come; but they made their Excuse, and that served the turn, But when he comes to deal with the worst, he saith to his Servant, Go ye out and bring them in hither, Go out quickly and bring in hither the poor, the maimed, the halt and the blind: And they did so. And he said again, Go out into the high ways & hedges, and compel them to come in, that my ⟨p. 31⟩House may be filled, Luke 14.19, 23. These poor, lame, maimed, blind hedge-creepers, and high-way Men, must come in, must be forced in: These if saved, will make his Merits shine.

When Christ was crucified and hanged up between the Earth and Heavens, there were two Thieves crucified with him; and behold, he lays hold of one of them, and will have him away with him to Glory. Was not this a strange act, and a display of unthought of Grace? Were there none but Thieves there, or were the rest of that Company out of his reach? Could he not think you, have stooped from the Cross to the Ground, and have laid hold on some honester Man if he would? Yes doubtless: Oh, but then he would not have displayed his Grace, nor so have pursued his own designs; namely to get himself a praise, and a Name: But how he has done it to purpose. For, who that shall read this Story, but must confess that the Son of God is full of Grace? For a proof of the riches thereof he left behind him when upon the Cross; he took the Thief away with him to Glory. Nor can this one act of his be buried: It will be talked of to the end of the World to his Praise, Men shall speak of the might of thy terrible Acts, and will declare thy Greatness: They shall abundantly utter the ⟨p. 32⟩Memory of thy great Goodness, and shall sing of thy Righteousness: They shall speak of the Glory of thy Kingdom, and talk of thy Power. To make known to the sons of Men, his mighty Acts, and the glorious Majesty of his Kingdom,