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

commandment, that mercy should, in the first place, be offered to the
biggest sinners: because such, when converted, are usually the best
helps in the church against temptations, and fittest for the support of
the feeble-minded there.
Sixthly, Another reason why Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in
the first place to the biggest sinners, is, because they, when converted,
are apt to love him most.
This agrees both with Scripture and reason. Scripture says so: “To
whom much is forgiven, the same loveth much. To whom little is
forgiven, the same loveth little;” Luke vii. 47. Reason says so: for as it
would be the unreason-ablest thing in the world to render hatred for
love, and contempt for forgiveness; so it would be as ridiculous to think,
that the reception of a little kindness should lay the same obligations
upon the heart to love, as the reception of a great deal. I would not
disparage the love of Christ; I know the least drachm of it, when it
reaches to forgiveness, is great above all the world; but comparatively,
there are greater extensions of the love of Christ to one than to
another. He that has most sin, if forgiven, is partaker of the greatest
love, of the greatest forgiveness.
I know also, that there are some, that from this very doctrine say, “Let
us do evil that good may come;” and that turn the grace of our God into
lasciviousness. But I speak not of these; these will neither be ruled by
grace nor reason. Grace would teach them, if they know it, to deny
ungodly courses; and so would reason too, if it could truly sense the
love of God; Titus ii. 11, 12; Rom. xi. 1.
Doth it look like what hath any coherence with reason or mercy, for a
man to abuse his friend? Because Christ died for men, shall I therefore
spit in his face? The bread and water that was given by Elisha to his
enemies, that came into the land of Israel to take him, had so much
Page
37 of 106