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