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

this side of an impossibility of enjoying life and mercy? Hadst thou
seen their actions, and what horrible things they did to the Son of God;
yea, how stoutly they backed what they did with resolves and endeavors
to persevere, when they had killed his person, against his name and
doctrine; and that there was not found among them all that while, as we
read of, the least remorse or regret for these their doings; couldst thou
have imagined that mercy would ever have took hold of them, at least
so soon! Nay, that they should, of all the world, be counted those only
meet to have it offered to them in the very first place! For so my text
commands, saying, “Preach repentance and remission of sins among all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
I tell you the thing is a wonder, and must for ever stand for a wonder
among the sons of men. It stands also for an everlasting invitation and
allurement to the biggest sinners to come to Christ for mercy.
Now since, in the opinion of all men, the revolter is such a one; if he
has, as I said before, any life in him, let him take encouragement to
come again, that he may live by Christ.
Eleventhly, Would Jesus Christ have mercy offered in the first place to the
biggest sinners? Then let God’s ministers tell them so. There is an
incidence in us, I know not how it doth come about, when we are
converted, to contemn them that are left behind. Poor fools as we are,
we forget that we ourselves were so; Tit. iii. 2, 3.
But would it not become us better, since we have tasted that the Lord is
gracious, to carry it towards them so, that we may give them convincing
ground to believe, that we have found that mercy which also sets open
the door for them to come and partake with us.
Ministers, I say, should do thus, both by their doctrine, and in all other
respects.
Page
88 of 106