The Jerusalem Sinner Saved; or Good News for the Vilest of Men by John Bunyan 1689

’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 Magdalen, 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 favor 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.
Secondly, And as for the secrets of Satan, such as are suggestions to
question the being of God, the truth of his word, and to be annoyed
with devilish blasphemies; none more acquainted with these than the
biggest sinners at their conversion; wherefore thus also they are
prepared to be helps in the church to relieve and comfort the other.
I might also here tell you of the contests and battles that such are
engaged in, wherein they find the be-settings of Satan, above any other
of the saints. At which times Satan assaults the soul with darkness,
fears, frightful thoughts of apparitions; now they sweat, pant, cry out,
and struggle for life.
The angels now come down to behold the sight, and rejoice to see a bit
of dust and ashes to overcome principalities and powers, and might,
and dominions. But, as I said when these come a little to be settled, they
are prepared for helping others, and are great comforts unto them.
Their great sins give great encouragement to the devil to assault them;
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