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The Jerusalem Sinner Saved; or, Good News for the Vilest of Men by John Bunyan
page 79 of 116 (68%)
thy conscience weigh judgment down, and so minister comfort to thy
soul. The Lord take the yoke from off thy jaws, since he has set
meat before thee; Hos. xi. 4; and help thee to remember that he is
pleased in the first place to offer mercy to the biggest sinners.

Sixthly, Since Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in the first
place to the biggest sinners, let souls see that they lay right hold
thereof, lest they, notwithstanding, indeed come short thereof.
Faith only knows how to deal with mercy; wherefore put not in the
place thereof presumption. I have observed, that as there are herbs
and flowers in our gardens, so there are their counterfeits in the
field; only they are distinguished from the other by the name of wild
ones. Why, there is faith, and wild faith; and wild faith is this
presumption. I call it wild faith, because God never placed it in
his garden, his church; it is only to be found in the field, the
world. I also call it wild faith, because it only grows up and is
nourished where other wild notions abound. Wherefore take heed of
this, and all may be well; for this presumuptuousness is a very
heinous thing in the eyes of God: "The soul," saith he, "that doeth
ought presumptuously (whether he be born in the land, or a stranger),
the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from
among his people;" Numb. xv. 30.

The thoughts of this made David tremble, and pray that God would hold
him back from presumptuous sins, and not suffer them to have dominion
over him; Psal. xix. 13.

Now this presumption, then, puts itself in the place of faith, when
it tampereth with the promise for life, while the soul is a stranger
to repentance. Wherefore you have in the text, to prevent doing
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