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Nor was this their preaching unsuccessful among these people： but
the Lord Jesus so wrought with the word thus spoken； that thousands
of them came flocking to him for mercy。 Three thousand of them
closed with him at the first； and afterwards two thousand more； for
now they were in number about five thousand； whereas before sermons
were preached to these murderers； the number of the disciples was not
above 〃a hundred and twenty；〃 Acts i。 15； chap。 ii。 41； chap。 iv。 4。
Also among these people that thus flocked to him for mercy； there was
a 〃great company of the priests；〃 chap。 vi。 7。 Now the priests were
they that were the greatest of these biggest sinners； they were the
ringleaders； they were the inventors and ringleaders in the mischief。
It was they that set the people against the Lord Jesus； and that were
the cause why the uproar increased； until Pilate had given sentence
upon him。 〃The chief priests and elders；〃 says the text； 〃persuaded
（the people） the multitude；〃 that they should ask Barabbas； and
destroy Jesus； Matt。 xxvii。 20。 And yet behold the priests； yea； a
great company of the priests； became obedient to the faith。
Oh the greatness of the grace of Christ； that he should be thus in
love with the souls of Jerusalem sinners！ that he should be thus
delighted with the salvation of the Jerusalem sinners！ that he should
not only will that his gospel should be offered them； but that it
should be offered unto them first； and before other sinners were
admitted to a hearing of it。 〃Begin at Jerusalem。〃
Were this doctrine well believed； where would there be a place for a
doubt； or a fear of the damnation of the soul； if the sinner be
penitent； how bad a life soever he has lived； how many soever in
number are his sins？
But this grace is hid from the eyes of men； the devil hides it from
them； for he knows it is alluring； he knows it has an attracting
virtue in it： for this is it that above all arguments can draw the
soul to God。
I cannot help it； but must let drop another word。 The first church；
the Jerusalem church； from whence the gospel was to be sent into all
the world； was a church made up of Jerusalem sinners。 These great
sinners were here the most shining monuments of the exceeding grace
of God。
Thus you see I have proved the doctrine； and that not only by showing
you that this was the practice of the Lord Jesus Christ in his
lifetime； but his last will when he went up to God； saying； Begin to
preach at Jerusalem。
Yea； it is yet further manifested； in that when his ministers first
began to preach there； he joined his power to the word； to the
converting of thousands of his betrayers and murderers； and also many
of the ringleading priests to the faith。
I shall now proceed； and shall show you；
1。 The reasons of the point：
2。 And then make some application of the whole。
The observation； you know； is this： Jesus Christ would have mercy
offered； in the first place； to the biggest sinners； to the Jerusalem
sinners： 〃Preach repentance； and remission of sins； in my name；
among all nations； beginning at Jerusalem。〃
The reasons of the point are：
First； Because the biggest sinners have most need thereof。 He that
has most need； reason says； should be helped first。 I mean； when a
helping hand is offered； and now it is： for the gospel of the grace
of God is sent to help the world； Acts xvi。 9。 But the biggest
sinner has most need。 Therefore； in reason； when mercy is sent down
from heaven to men； the worst of men should have the first offer of
it。 〃Begin at Jerusalem。〃 This is the reason which the Lord Christ
himself renders； why in his lifetime he left the best； and turned him
to the worst； why he sat so loose from the righteous； and stuck so
close to the wicked。 〃The whole；〃 saith he； 〃have no need of the
physician； but the sick。 I came not to call the righteous； but
sinners to repentance；〃 Mark ii。 15…47。
Above you read； that the scribes and pharisees said to his disciples；
〃How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners？〃
Alas！ they did not know the reason： but the Lord renders them one；
and such an one as is both natural and cogent； saying； These have
need； most need。 Their great necessity requires that I should be
most friendly； and show my grace first to them。
Not that the other were sinless； and so had no need of a Saviour； but
the publicans and their companions were the biggest sinners； they
were； as to view； worse than the scribes； and therefore in reason
should be helped first； because they had most need of a Saviour。
Men that are at the point to die have more need of the physician than
they that are but now and then troubled with an heart…fainting qualm。
The publicans and sinners were； as it were； in the mouth of death；
death was swallowing of them down： and therefore the Lord Jesus
receives them first； offers them mercy first。 〃The whole have no
need of the physician； but the sick。 I came not to call the
righteous； but sinners to repentance。〃 The sick； as I said； is the
biggest sinner； whether he sees his disease or not。 He is stained
from head to foot； from heart to life and conversation。 This man； in
every man's judgment； has the most need of mercy。 There is nothing
attends him from bed to board； and from board to bed again； but the
visible characters； and obvious symptoms； of eternal damnation。 This
therefore is the man that has need； most need； and therefore in
reason should be helped in the first place。 Thus it was with the
people concerned in the text； they were the worst of sinners；
Jerusalem sinners； sinners of the biggest size； and therefore such as
had the greatest need； wherefore they must have mercy offered to
them； before it be offered any where else in the world。 〃Begin at
Jerusalem；〃 offer mercy first to a Jerusalem sinner。 This man has
most need； he is farthest from God； nearest to hell； and so one that
has most need。 This man's sins are in number the most； in cry the
loudest； in weight the heaviest； and consequently will sink him
soonest： wherefore he has most need of mercy。 This man is shut up
in Satan's hand； fastest bound in the cords of his sins： one that
justice is whetting his sword to cut off； and therefore has most
need； not only of mercy； but that it should be extended to him in the
first place。
But a little further to show you the true nature of this reason； to
wit； That Jesus Christ would have mercy offered； in the first place；
to the biggest sinners。
First； Mercy ariseth from the bowels and compassion； from pity； and
from a feeling of the condition of those in misery。 〃In his love；
and in his pity； he saveth us。〃 And again； 〃The Lord is pitiful；
very pitiful； and of great mercy；〃 Isa。 lxiii。 9； James v。 11。
Now； where pity and compassion is； there is yearning of bowels； and
where there is that； there is a readiness to help。 And； I say again；
the more deplorable and dreadful the condition is； the more directly
doth bowels and compassion turn themselves to such； and offer help
and deliverance。 All this flows from our first scripture proof； I
came to call them that have need； to call them first