Posted by
The Chiefest of Sinners on Saturday, November 15, 2008 11:39:53 PM
Satan is loath to part with a great sinner.
What my true servant (quoth he), my old servant, wilt thou forsake me now? having so often sold thyself to me to work wickedness, wilt thou forsake me now?
Thou horrible wretch, dost not know, that thou hast sinned thyself beyond the reach of grace, and dost think to find mercy now? Art not thou a murderer, a thief, a harlot, a witch, a sinner of the greatest size, and dost thou look for mercy now?
Dost thou think that Christ will foul his fingers with thee?
'Tis enough to make angels blush, saith Satan, to see so vile a one knock at heaven-gates for mercy, and wilt thou be so abominably bold to do it?
Thus Satan dealt with me, says the great sinner, when at first I came to Jesus Christ.
And what did you reply? saith the tempted.
Why, I granted the whole charge to be true, says the other.
And what, did you despair, or how?
No, saith he, I said, I am Magdalene, I am Zaccheus, I am the thief, I am the harlot, I am the publican, I am the prodigal, and one of Christ's murderers: yea, worse than any of these; and yet God was so far off from rejecting of me (as I found afterwards), that there was music and dancing in his house for me, and for joy that I was come home unto him.
O blessed be God for grace (says the other), for then I hope there is favour for me.
Yea, as I told you, such a one is a continual spectacle in the church, for every one to behold God's grace and wonder by.
--from Jerusalem Sinner Saved by John Bunyan