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

An encouraging book for those who feel guilty about their sins. It is a wonderful reminder that Christ's grace to his people knows no bounds and that his power to save even the worst sinner is not limited. "I have been vile myself, but I have obtained mercy; and I would have my companions in sin partake of mercy too: and therefore, I have writ this little book." Thus wrote John Bunyan about this unique gem. The premise of this book is that Jesus wanted his disciples to proclaim the gospel to the worst of sinners - those in Jerusalem who crucified their Messiah. To Bunyan's mind, this was the worst possible sin. The apostles were to begin there, with these worst of sinners, because, in Christ's eyes, they had the greatest need. Also, when they believed in Christ, his name would receive the greatest fame, and thus others would be encouraged to come to Christ. The kingdom of Satan would then be weakened, and the tempted and the weak would be helped. Further, the greatest sinners would love Christ the most when saved, and those who refused to repent would be left with no excuse. To Bunyan's way of thinking, this command to preach the gospel to "Jerusalem sinners" shows the gracious intentions of Christ toward men and his sufficiency to save the worst of sinners, and gives encouragement to those who think that their sin is too great to be forgiven.

An encouraging book for those who feel guilty about their sins. It is a wonderful reminder that Christ's grace to his people knows no bounds and that his power to save even the worst sinner is not limited.
"I have been vile myself, but I have obtained mercy; and I would have my companions in sin partake of mercy too: and therefore, I have writ this little book." Thus wrote John Bunyan about this unique gem.
The premise of this book is that Jesus wanted his disciples to proclaim the gospel to the worst of sinners - those in Jerusalem who crucified their Messiah. To Bunyan's mind, this was the worst possible sin. The apostles were to begin there, with these worst of sinners, because, in Christ's eyes, they had the greatest need. Also, when they believed in Christ, his name would receive the greatest fame, and thus others would be encouraged to come to Christ. The kingdom of Satan would then be weakened, and the tempted and the weak would be helped. Further, the greatest sinners would love Christ the most when saved, and those who refused to repent would be left with no excuse. To Bunyan's way of thinking, this command to preach the gospel to "Jerusalem sinners" shows the gracious intentions of Christ toward men and his sufficiency to save the worst of sinners, and gives encouragement to those who think that their sin is too great to be forgiven.

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sins, <strong>or</strong> to say that <strong>the</strong>y were discouraged <strong>by</strong> his w<strong>or</strong>d from repentance,<br />

because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> heinousness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>of</strong>fense.<br />

<strong>The</strong>se things, I say, shall <strong>the</strong>n be confuted: he comes with ten thousand<br />

<strong>of</strong> his saints to confute <strong>the</strong>m, and to stop <strong>the</strong>ir mouths from making<br />

objections against <strong>the</strong>ir own eternal damnation.<br />

Here is Adam, <strong>the</strong> destroyer <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> w<strong>or</strong>ld; here is Lot, that lay with both<br />

his daughters; here is Abraham, that was sometime an idolater, and<br />

Jacob, that was a supplanter, and Reuben, that lay with his fa<strong>the</strong>r’s<br />

concubine, and Judah that lay with his daughter-in-law, and Levi and<br />

Simeon that wickedly slew <strong>the</strong>e Shechemites, and Aaron that great<br />

backslider, and Manassah that man <strong>of</strong> blood and that made an idol to be<br />

w<strong>or</strong>shipped, and that proclaimed a religious feast unto it. Here is also<br />

Rachab <strong>the</strong> harlot, and Bathsheba that bare a bastard to David. Here is<br />

Solomon a witch. Time would fail me to tell you <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> woman <strong>of</strong><br />

Canaan’s daughter, Magdalen, <strong>of</strong> Mat<strong>the</strong>w <strong>the</strong> publican, and <strong>of</strong> Gideon<br />

and Sampson, and many thousands m<strong>or</strong>e.<br />

Alas! alas! I say, what will <strong>the</strong>se sinners do, that have, through <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

unbelief, eclipsed <strong>the</strong> gl<strong>or</strong>ious largeness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mercy <strong>of</strong> God, and gave<br />

way to despair <strong>of</strong> salvation, because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bigness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir sins?<br />

F<strong>or</strong> all <strong>the</strong>se, though now gl<strong>or</strong>ious saints in light, were sometimes<br />

sinners <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> biggest size, who had sins that were <strong>of</strong> a not<strong>or</strong>ious hue;<br />

yet now, I say, <strong>the</strong>y are in <strong>the</strong>ir shining and heavenly robes bef<strong>or</strong>e <strong>the</strong><br />

throne <strong>of</strong> God and <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lamb, blessing f<strong>or</strong> ever and ever that Son <strong>of</strong><br />

God f<strong>or</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir salvation, who died f<strong>or</strong> <strong>the</strong>m upon <strong>the</strong> tree; admiring that<br />

ever it should come into <strong>the</strong>ir hearts once to think <strong>of</strong> coming to God <strong>by</strong><br />

Christ; but above all, blessing God f<strong>or</strong> granting <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m light to see<br />

those encouragements in his testament; without which, without doubt,<br />

<strong>the</strong>y had been daunted and sunk down under guilt <strong>of</strong> sin and despair, as<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir fellow-sinners have done.<br />

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51 <strong>of</strong> 106

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