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sorry for their sins； and accept of mercy at God's hand through me；
lest they fall under his wrath in the judgment。 For as I had said；
without repentance； what pretence soever men have of faith； they
cannot escape the wrath to come。 Wherefore Paul saith； God commands
〃all men every where to repent；〃 （in order to their salvation）；
〃because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world
in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained；〃 Acts xvii。 31。
And now to come to this clause； 〃Beginning at Jerusalem；〃 that is；
that Christ would have Jerusalem have the first offer of the gospel。
1。 This cannot be so commanded； because they had now any more right
of themselves thereto than had any of the nations of the world； for
their sins had divested them of all self…deservings。
2。 Nor yet； because they stood upon the advance…ground with the
worst of the sinners of the nations； nay； rather； the sinners of the
nations had the advance…ground of them： for Jerusalem was； long
before she had added this iniquity to her sin； worse than the very
nations that God cast out before the children of Israel； 2 Chron。
xxxiii。
3。 It must therefore follow； that this clause； Begin at Jerusalem；
was put into this commission of mere grace and compassion； even from
the overflowings of the bowels of mercy； for indeed they were the
worst； and so in the most deplorable condition of any people under
the heavens。
Whatever； therefore； their relation was to Abraham； Isaac； or Jacob；
however they formerly had been the people among whom God had placed
his name and worship； they were now degenerated from God； more than
the nations were from their idols； and were become guilty of the
highest sins which the people of the world were capable of
committing。 Nay； none can be capable of committing of such
pardonable sins as they committed against their God； when they slew
his Son； and persecuted his name and word。
From these words； therefore； thus explained； we gain this
observation：
That Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in the first place to the
biggest sinners。
That these Jerusalem sinners were the biggest sinners that ever were
in the world； I think none will deny； that believes that Christ was
the best man that ever was in the world； and also was their Lord God。
And that they were to have the first offer of his grace； the text is
as clear as the sun； for it saith； 〃Begin at Jerusalem。〃 〃Preach；〃
saith he； 〃repentance and remission of sins〃 to the Jerusalem
sinners： to the Jerusalem sinners in the first place。
One would a…thought； since the Jerusalem sinners were the worst and
greatest sinners； Christ's greatest enemies； and those that not only
despised his person； doctrine； and miracles； but that a little before
had had their hands up to the elbows in his heart…blood； that he
should rather have said； Go into all the world； and preach repentance
and remission of sins among all nations； and after that offer the
same to Jerusalem； yea； it had been infinite grace； if he had said
so。 But what grace is this； or what name shall we give it； when he
commands that this repentance and remission of sins； which is
designed to be preached in all nations； should first be offered to
Jerusalem； in the first place to the worst of sinners！
Nor was this the first time that the grace which was in the heart of
Christ thus shewed itself to the world。 For while he was yet alive；
even while he was yet in Jerusalem； and perceived even among these
Jerusalem sinners； which was the most vile amongst them； he still in
his preaching did signify that he had a desire that the worst of
these worst should in the first place come unto him。 The which he
showeth； where he saith to the better sort of them； 〃The publicans
and harlots enter into the kingdom of God before you；〃 Matt。 xxi。 31。
Also when he compared Jerusalem with the sinners of the nations； then
he commands that the Jerusalem sinners should have the gospel at
present confined to them。 〃Go not；〃 saith he； 〃into the way of the
Gentiles； and into any of the cities of the Samaritans enter ye not；
but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel；〃 Matt。 x。 5；
6； chap。 xxiii。 37； but go rather to them； for they were in the most
fearful plight。
These therefore must have the cream of the gospel； namely； the first
offer thereof in his lifetime： yea； when he departed out of the
world； he left this as part of his last will with his preachers； that
they also should offer it first to Jerusalem。 He had a mind； a
careful mind； as it seems； to privilege the worst of sinners with the
first offer of mercy； and to take from among them a people to be the
first fruits unto God and to the Lamb。
The 15th of Luke also is famous for this； where the Lord Jesus takes
more care； as appears there by three parables； for the lost sheep；
lost groat； and the prodigal son； than for the other sheep； the other
pence； or for the son that said he had never transgressed； yea； he
shows that there is joy in heaven； among the angels of God； at the
repentance of one sinner； more than over ninety and nine just
persons； which need no repentance； Luke xv。
After this manner therefore the mind of Christ was set on the
salvation of the biggest sinners in his lifetime。 But join to this；
this clause； which he carefully put into the apostles' commission to
preach； when he departed hence to the Father； and then you shall see
that his heart was vehemently set upon it； for these were part of his
last words with them； Preach my gospel to all nations； but see that
you begin at Jerusalem。
Nor did the apostles overlook this clause when their Lord was gone
into heaven： they went first to them of Jerusalem； and preached
Christ's gospel to them： they abode also there for a season and
time； and preached it to no body else； for they had regard to the
commandment of their Lord。
And it is to be observed； namely； that the first sermon which they
preached after the ascension of Christ； it was preached to the very
worst of these Jerusalem sinners； even to these that were the
murderers of Jesus Christ； Acts ii。 23； for these are part of the
sermon： 〃Ye took him； and by wicked hands have crucified and slain
him。〃 Yea； the next sermon； and the next； and also the next to that；
was preached to the self…same murderers； to the end they might be
saved； Acts iii。 14…16； chap。 iv。 10； 11； chap。 v。 30； chap。 vii。 52。
But we will return to the first sermon that was preached to these
Jerusalem sinners； by which will be manifest more than great grace；
if it be duly considered。
For after that Peter； and the rest of the apostles； had； in their
exhortation； persuaded these wretches to believe that they had killed
the Prince of life； and after they had duly fallen under the guilt of
their murder； saying； 〃Men and brethren； what shall we do？〃 he
replies； by an universal tender to them all in general； considering
them as Christ's killers； that if they were sorry for what they had
done； and would be baptized for the remission of their sins in his
name； they should receive the gift of the Holy Ghost； Acts ii。 37；
38。
This he said to them all； thou